Search

Phthalates strongly and adversely affect reproduction, development and liver function. We did a cumulative risk assessment for simultaneous exposure to nine phthalates using the hazard index (HI) and the levels of nine phthalates in 1200 foodstuff samples. DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) present the highest level (mean: 0.443 mg/kg) in 1200 samples, and the highest average daily dose (ADD) was found in DEHP, ΣDBP(i + n) (the sum of dibutyl phthalate [DBP] isomers [DnBP + DiBP]) posed the highest risk potential of all the phthalates. In seven phthalates, the 95th percentiles of the ADDs for ΣDBP(i + n) in 0–6-yr-old children accounted for 91% (79–107%) of the tolerable daily intake, and the 95th percentiles of the HIs for the anti-androgenic effects of five phthalates in 0–3-yr-old children and 4–6-yr-old girls were >1. We conclude that the health of younger Taiwanese may be adversely affected by overexposure of phthalate-contaminated foods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles were synthesized via a reduction reaction carried out in a spinning disk reactor, to which an AgNO3 solution containing a protecting agent and an alkaline solution containing a reducing agent were added simultaneously and then recycled for a certain period. Besides starch, which has been used for producing silver particles above 10nm, two more protecting agents, i.e. polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), were tested in order to prepare silver particles below 10nm. Then, the effects of other operating variables, such as rotation speed of disk, flow rates of reactant streams, concentration of reducing agent, and type and concentration of alkali, were investigated, aiming at a high production rate of silver nanoparticles with a size below 10nm. The produced silver particles were recovered using a centrifuge, and the size did not change after redispersion. The sintering temperature of the 10nm silver particles was greatly reduced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]