The new Austrian indoor radon survey (ÖNRAP 2, 2013-2019): Design, implementation, results

The delineation of radon prone areas is one of the central requirements of the European Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM. It is quite a complex task which usually requires the collection of radon data through an appropriate survey as a first step. This paper presents the design and methodology of the recent Austrian radon survey (ÖNRAP 2, 2013-2019) and its implementation. It details the results of the nationwide survey as well as correlations and dependencies with geology and building characteristics. The paper also discusses the representativeness of the survey as well as advantages and disadvantages of the selected approach. For the purpose of establishing a new delineation of radon prone areas in Austria we distributed approximately 75,000 passive long-term radon detectors. They were offered to selected members of the voluntary fire brigades and this resulted in about 50,000 radon measurements. Thus, a return rate of about 67% was achieved. The distribution of the radon results closely follows a log-normal distribution with a median of 99 Bq/m³, a geometric mean of 109 Bq/m³, and a geometric standard deviation factor of 2.29. 11% of the households show a mean radon concentration above the national reference level of 300 Bq/m³. Important data on building characteristics and the location of the measured rooms were collected by means of a specific questionnaire and a measurement protocol that were handed out together with the radon detectors. We were able to identify significant correlations between the indoor radon concentration and geology, the year of construction, and the coupling of the room to the ground (basement yes/no, floor level). Being a geographically-based and not a population-weighted survey, the comparison of building characteristics with the Austrian census data confirms that rural areas are over-represented in this survey. As a summary, the selected approach of conducting passive long-term radon measurements in selected dwellings of members of the voluntary fire brigades proved to be an efficient method to collect reliable data as a basis for the delineation of radon prone areas. The next step was to eliminate factors that influence the measured radon concentration through appropriate modelling. Based on the results predicted by the model radon areas are then be classified. This will be presented in a subsequent publication.

Evaluation of a radon-in-water pilot-proficiency test

A pilot proficiency test (PT) on measurements of the massic activity of ²²²Rn in drinking water was organised by JRC-Geel. Fourteen environmental radioactivity monitoring laboratories were invited to participate. The key aim of the study was to test, optimise and stream-line the complete process for conducting such a PT in order to perform a large scale Europe-wide PT in a robust manner. The process involved using all state-of-the art knowledge on sampling, transporting and measuring ²²²Rn in water. It was found that the majority of the participants' results (92%) were within the ±15% reference range. The pilot-PT showed that the applied process was suitable and can be used for the large scale European PT planned for the third quarter of 2018.

Qualitative overview of indoor radon surveys in Europe

The revised European Directive from 2013 regarding basic safety standard oblige EU Member States to establish a national action plan regarding the exposure to radon. At the same time, International Atomic Energy Agency started technical projects in order to assist countries to establish and implement national radon action. As a consequence, in recent years, in numerous countries national radon surveys were conducted and action plans established, which were not performed before. In this paper, a qualitative overview of radon surveys performed in Europe is given with a special attention to the qualitative and conceptual description of surveys, representativeness and QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control).

Digital version of the European Atlas of natural radiation

The European Atlas of Natural Radiation is a collection of maps displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It has been developed and is being maintained by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, in line with its mission, based on the Euratom Treaty: to collect, validate and report information on radioactivity levels in the environment of the EU Member States. This work describes the first version of the European Atlas of Natural Radiation, available in digital format through a web portal, as well as the methodology and results for the maps already developed. So far the digital Atlas contains: an annual cosmic-ray dose map; a map of indoor radon concentration; maps of uranium, thorium and potassium concentration in soil and in bedrock; a terrestrial gamma dose rate map; and a map of soil permeability. Through these maps, the public will be able to: familiarize itself with natural environmental radioactivity; be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources; have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the European population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor; and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence, to better assess the latter. Work will continue on the European Geogenic Radon Map and on estimating the annual dose that the public may receive from natural radioactivity, by combining all the information from the different maps. More maps could be added to the Atlas, such us radon in outdoor air and in water and concentration of radionuclides in water, even if these sources usually contribute less to the total exposure.

A COMPARISON OF RADON INDOOR MEASUREMENTS WITH INTERPOLATED RADON SOIL GAS VALUES USING THE INVERSE WEIGHTING METHOD ON MEASURED RESULTS

The European Basic Safety Standards demand the prediction of areas where a significant number of households exceed the reference level for the radon activity concentration. Therefore, radon maps are established which are based on indoor and soil gas measurements. In this study results of soil gas measurements are interpolated to get a value for the radon activity concentration in the soil gas at the coordinates of an indoor measurement and enable a direct comparison of both results. For the interpolation the inverse weighting value is applied. This way a prediction of the indoor radon activity concentration at the location of indoor measurements is attempted for verification. Quotients between the radon activity concentration in soil gas and indoors are analyzed. Building characteristics are also taken into account to evaluate parameters which lead to the reference level being exceeded. The results assist in the interpretation of soil gas measurements regarding the prediction of indoor radon activity concentrations.

RADON EXPOSURE AT SPECIFIC WORKPLACES IN AUSTRIA-EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

Radon exposure at specific workplaces like water works, radon spas, tourist mines and show caves were evaluated in Austria within pilot studies (2004-10) and have been regulated in an ordinance since 2008. In this article, the major results and experiences in radon measurements and dose assessments at those workplaces by the accredited AGES laboratory are presented.

The uncertainty in the radon hazard classification of areas as a function of the number of measurements

The administration in many countries demands a classification of areas concerning their radon risk taking into account the requirements of the EU Basic Safety Standards. The wide variation of indoor radon concentrations in an area which is caused by different house construction, different living style and different geological situations introduces large uncertainties for any classification scheme. Therefore, it is of importance to estimate the size of the experimental coefficient of variation (relative standard deviation) of the parameter which is used to classify an area. Besides the time period of measurement it is the number of measurements which strongly influences this uncertainty and it is important to find a compromise between the economic possibilities and the needed confidence level. Some countries do not use pure measurement results for the classification of areas but use derived quantities, usually called radon potential, which should reduce the influence of house construction, living style etc. and should rather represent the geological situation of an area. Here, radon indoor measurements in nearly all homes in three municipalities and its conversion into a radon potential were used to determine the uncertainty of the mean radon potential of an area as a function of the number of investigated homes. It could be shown that the coefficient of variation scales like 1/√n with n the number of measured dwellings. The question how to deal with uncertainties when using a classification scheme for the radon risk is discussed and a general procedure is proposed.

Indoor radon, geogenic radon surrogates and geology - Investigations on their correlation

The indoor radon concentration was measured in most houses in a couple of municipalities in Austria. At the same time the activity concentration of radium in soil, the soil gas radon concentration, the permeability of the ground and the ambient dose equivalent rate were also measured and the geological situations (geological units) were recorded too. From the indoor radon concentration and different house and living parameters a radon potential (Austrian radon potential) was derived which should represent the radon concentration in a standard room. Another radon potential (Neznal radon potential) was calculated from the soil gas radon concentration and the permeability. The aim of the investigation was to correlate all the different variables and to test if the use of surrogate data (e.g. geological information, ambient dose equivalent rate, etc.) can be used to judge the radon risk for an area without performing numerous indoor measurements.

Estimating the terrestrial gamma dose rate by decomposition of the ambient dose equivalent rate

An extensive network of dose rate monitoring stations continuously measures ambient dose rate across Europe, as part of the EURDEP system. Its purpose is early warning in radiological emergencies and documenting its temporal and spatial evolution. In normal conditions, when there is no contribution to the dose rate signal coming from fresh anthropogenic contamination, the data represent the radiation "background", i.e. the combined natural radiation and existing anthropogenic contamination (by global and Chernobyl fallout). These data are being stored, but have so far not been evaluated in depth, or used for any purpose. In the framework of the EU project 'European Atlas of Natural Radiation' the idea has emerged to exploit these data for generating a map of natural terrestrial gamma radiation. This component contributes to the total radiation exposure and knowing its geographical distribution can help establishing local 'radiation budgets'. A further use could be found in terrestrial dose rate as a proxy of the geogenic radon potential, as both quantities are related by partly the same source, namely uranium content of the ground. In this paper, we describe in detail the composition of the ambient dose equivalent rate as measured by the EURDEP monitors with respect to its physical nature and to its sources in the environment. We propose and compare methods to recover the terrestrial component from the gross signal. This requires detailed knowledge of detector response. We consider the probes used in the Austrian, Belgian and German dose rate networks, which are the respective national networks supplying data to EURDEP. It will be shown that although considerable progress has been made in understanding the dose rate signals, there is still space for improvement in terms of modelling and model parameters. An indispensable condition for success of the endeavour to establish a Europe-wide map of terrestrial dose rate background is progress in harmonising the European dose rate monitoring network.

Radon mapping strategies in Austria

According to current European and international recommendations (e.g. by IAEA, WHO and European Union), countries shall identify high radon areas. In Austria, this task was initiated already in the early 1990s, which yielded the first Austrian Radon Potential Map. This map is still in use, updated with recent indoor radon data in 2012. The map is based on radon gas measurements in randomly selected dwellings, normalised to a standard situation. To meet the current (legal) requirements, uncertainties in the existing Austrian radon map should be reduced. A new indoor radon survey with a different sampling strategy was started, and possible mapping methods are studied and tested. In this paper, the methodology for the existing map as well as the planned strategies to improve this map is discussed.

Status of the European Atlas of Natural Radiation

According to the EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community) Treaty, one of the missions of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC) is to collect, process, evaluate and present data on environmental radioactivity. In 2006, the JRC started the 'European Atlas of Natural Radiation' project, in order to give an overview of the geographic distribution of sources of, and exposures to, natural radiation. As a first task, a map of indoor radon concentration was created, because in most cases this is the most important contribution to exposure, and since it could be expected that data collection would take quite some time, because radon (Rn) surveys are very differently advanced between European countries. The authors show the latest status of this map. A technically more ambitious map proved the one of the geogenic Rn potential (RP), due to heterogeneity of data sources across Europe and the need to develop models to estimate a harmonised quantity which adequately measures or classifies the RP. Further maps currently in the making include those of secondary cosmic radiation, of terrestrial gamma radiation and of the concentrations of the elements U, Th and K that are its source. In this article, the authors show the progress of some of these maps.

Comprehensive investigation of radon exposure in Austrian tourist mines and caves

According to Austrian Law, dose assessments in workplaces with potentially enhanced radon exposures are mandatory since 2008, including tourist mines and caves. A pilot study was carried out to evaluate the situation to test the measurement methods and to specify the main parameters controlling the radon concentration in tourist mines and caves. Radon was measured in six mines and three caves for 1 y, along with determining thoron and equilibrium factors and taking into account climatic, geological and site-related effects. The radon concentrations have a seasonal dependence with maximum in summer and minimum in winter, related to natural ventilation. Radon concentrations in the karst caves were quite low, as it was in the salt mine, whereas radon concentrations in copper and silver mines were high. The dose assessment of the employees yielded doses above 6 mSv a(-1) only in the copper mine.

From the European indoor radon map towards an atlas of natural radiation

In 2006, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission launched a project to map radon at the European level, as part of a planned European Atlas of Natural Radiation. It started with a map of indoor radon concentrations. As of May 2014, this map includes data from 24 countries, covering a fair part of Europe. Next, a European map of geogenic radon, intended to show 'what earth delivers' in terms of radon potential (RP), was started in 2008. A first trial map has been created, and a database was established to collect all available data relevant to the RP. The Atlas should eventually display the geographical distribution of physical quantities related to natural radiation. In addition to radon, it will comprise maps of quantities such as cosmic rays and terrestrial gamma radiation. In this paper, the authors present the current state of the radon maps and the Atlas.

The Austrian radon activities on the way to the national radon action plan

Based on the new Euratom Basic Safety Standards (BSS), all EU member states will be obliged to design a strategy to address long-term risks from radon exposure, which is laid down in the 'national radon action plan'. In Austria, the National Radon Centre is responsible for the development of the action plan. This paper presents the current and planned radon protection activities on the way to establish the radon action plan--like the national radon database, the definition of radon risk areas by improving the existing radon map, as well as strategies and activities to increase the radon awareness of the public and decision-makers and to involve the building sector. The impact of and the need for actions caused by the BSS requirements on the Austrian radon legislation, strategy and programme are discussed.

The European map of indoor radon concentrations: status and questions of quality assurance

As a first part of the long-term project “European Atlas of Natural Radiation”, a European map of indoor radon concentrations is currently under development. By mid-2011, 21 countries participate in the project, yielding a more or less complete coverage of the European territory. In this article we shortly present the current status before concentrating on questions of quality assurance. Such questions inevitably emerge in a project which attempts to integrate and harmonize large amounts of data of methodically different origin; aggregating them into a common map raises by itself questions of statistical significance.

The European map of the geogenic radon potential

As part of its projected European Atlas of Natural Radiation (EANR), the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, in cooperation with research institutions and radioprotection authorities all over Europe, is currently developing a map of the geogenic radon potential. In an accompanying report the state of knowledge, mapping approaches and problems are discussed. We explain the rationale and the legal situation in Europe and present an overview on the main problems stemming from the heterogeneity of input datasets between participating countries and from the definition of input variables and their differently implemented sampling procedures or protocols. Further topics are definition of the target variable which quantifies the geogenic radon potential and its estimation from heterogeneous input and proxy variables, as well as problems specific to mapping, such as choice of mapping support and resolution. The geogenic map was preceded by a European map of indoor radon concentrations, which is still growing as ever more countries decide to participate, and which served as training for harmonisation problems occurring in the European data realm. We shall also briefly discuss its main results and implications for the geogenic map.

Status of the European indoor radon map

Since 2006 a European map of indoor radon (Rn) concentration is in the making. So far 20 countries have contributed with national data, allowing a fair coverage of parts of Europe. This paper presents the current (September 2010) state of the map, discusses its rationale, presents some statistical findings and addresses a few problems which arose during the work. It also briefly presents the European Atlas of Natural Radiation project, of which the Rn map will be part, and further, planned maps of environmental natural radioactivity.

Radon and other natural radionuclides in drinking water in Austria: measurement and assessment

According to the European Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC a pilot project for the assessment of the radiological situation of drinking water was realized in Austria. About 350 drinking water samples were taken in Upper Austria and analyzed for several natural radionuclides by different measuring techniques. Techniques are tested and compared and an overview of the results is given. Additionally, parameters for drinking water assessment have been worked out to standardize monitoring programs and simplify experts' activities.

Radon risk in Alpine regions in Austria: risk assessment as a settlement planning strategy

Soil gas radon measurements complement indispensable and well-established radon indoor measurements in Austria. Radon in soil gas is a result of geochemical conditions as well as of geology, mineralogy, geophysics and meteorology. Therefore, geological factors can help to predict potential indoor radon concentrations via soil gas. Soil gas radon measurements in well-defined geological units give an estimate of local and regional radon hazards and build the basis for radon risk maps, which could be used for land-use planning and urban development. The creation of maps makes an important contribution to health care. For this purpose, several research projects were carried out in Austria. On the one hand, a study was already conducted in Lower Austria to determine the influence of meteorological and soil physical parameters on radon concentrations in soil gas and to evaluate soil gas radon concentrations with a radon emanation and migration model. On the other hand, radon measurements on different geomorphologic formations in the Austrian Alps, which are potential settlement areas, are of special interest.

Environmental risks of farmed and barren alkaline coal ash landfills in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The disposal of coal combustion residues (CCR) has led to a significant consumption of land in the West Balkan region. In Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina) we studied previously soil-covered (farmed) and barren CCR landfills including management practises, field ageing of CCR and the transfer of trace elements into crops, wild plants and wastewaters. Soil tillage resulted in mixing of cover soil with CCR. Medicago sativa showed very low Cu:Mo ratios (1.25) which may cause hypocuprosis in ruminants. Total loads of inorganic pollutants in the CCR transport water, but not pH ( approximately 12), were below regulatory limits of most EU countries. Arsenic concentrations in CCR transport water were <2microgl(-1) whereas reductive conditions in an abandoned landfill significantly enhanced concentrations in leachates (44microgl(-1)). The opposite pattern was found for Cr likely due to large initial leaching of CrVI. Public use of landfills, including farming, should be based on a prior risk assessment due to the heterogeneity of CCR.

Long-term environmental monitoring and application of low-level 3H, 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb activity concentrations in the non-biotic compartments of the Danube in Austria

The aim, methods, and results of long-term low-level measurements of 3H, 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb in water and sediment of the Austrian part of the Danube are presented. The results are discussed focused on recent and obvious future applications in applied radioecology and environmental research. The long-term radiometric data supported by the low-level monitoring program act as basis for ecological modelling and environmental assessment.

The Arabidopsis AtEm1 promoter is active in Brassica napus L. and is temporally and spatially regulated

The promoter of the Arabidopsis thaliana L. AtEm1 gene encoding a late embryogenesis abundant protein was fused to the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene and introduced into Brassica napus. The promoter is highly active in the vascular tissues of embryo and pollen grains and also active in petals, sepals, caulinar leaves, and carpels.

N-glycosylation potential of maize: the human lactoferrin used as a model

In order to determine the N-glycosylation potential of maize, a monocotyledon expression system for the production of recombinant glycoproteins, human lactoferrin was used as a model. The human lactoferrin coding sequence was inserted into the pUC18 plasmid under control of the wheat glutenin promoter. Maize was stably transformed and recombinant lactoferrin was purified from the fourth generation seeds. Glycosylation was analysed by gas chromatography, lectin detection, glycosidase digestions and mass spectrometry. The results indicated that both N-glycosylation sites of recombinant lactoferrin are mainly substituted by typical plant paucimannose-type glycans, with beta1,2-xylose and alpha1,3-linked fucose at the proximal N-acetylglucosamine, and that complex-type glycans with Lewis(a) determinants are not present in maize recombinant lactoferrin.

Triple helix assembly and processing of human collagen produced in transgenic tobacco plants

The use of tobacco plants as a novel expression system for the production of human homotrimeric collagen I is presented in this report. Constructs were engineered from cDNA encoding the human proalpha1(I) chain to generate transgenic tobacco plants expressing collagen I. The recombinant proalpha1(I) chains were expressed as disulfide-bonded trimers and were shown to fold into a stable homotrimeric triple helix. Moreover, the recombinant procollagen was subsequently processed to collagen as it occurs in animals. Large amounts of recombinant collagen were purified from field grown plant material. The data suggest that plants are a valuable alternative for the recombinant production of collagen for various medical and scientific purposes.

Structure, organization and expression of two closely related novel Lea (late-embryogenesis-abundant) genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

We have isolated and sequenced a 9.5 kb genomic region from A. thaliana, located on chromosome 2, which contains two tandemly arranged closely related genes (AtM10 and AtM17) coding for a new family of LEA proteins. The deduced proteins have a molecular mass of 11 and 29 kDa, respectively, are extremely hydrophilic except at their N-termini and share 70% amino acid (aa) identity. A 47 aa motif containing a 6-cysteine domain is present once in AtM10 and four times in AtM17. The short intergenic region, the identical position of the intron and the overall sequence homology suggest that these two genes evolved through a duplication event. This conclusion is supported by the presence of two homologous strictosidine synthase-like (pseudo)genes downstream from AtM17 and AtM10. Expression studies, using AtM10 and AtM17 cDNAs, revealed that both transcripts accumulate exclusively in seeds from late embryogenesis until two days after imbibition. Expression of both genes in young seedlings is repressed during ABA, salt or drought treatment, whereas a cold stress induces the expression of AtM17 only. In situ hybridization revealed that AtM10 transcripts are detected throughout the embryo while those of AtM17 are more localized to cotyledon cells.

Production of human lactoferrin in transgenic tobacco plants

Production and characterization of human lactoferrin (hLf) in transgenic tobacco is reported. We have engineered two constructs containing either the native signal peptide from human lactoferrin or the signal peptide from sweet potato sporamin fused to human lactoferrin encoding cDNA. N-terminal sequences of rhLf purified from tobacco were identical to Lf from human milk for both constructs. The tobacco rhLf presents a molecular mass closely identical to native protein. Overall sugar composition shows the presence of plant specific xylose while sialic acid is absent. Binding parameters of the recombinant molecule to both Jurkat lymphoblastic T-cells or HT29-18-C1 enterocytes are similar to those of human lactoferrin isolated from milk.

Longer episodes of community residential care reduce substance abuse patients' readmission rates

OBJECTIVE

The study focuses on whether substance abuse patients who enter a community residential facility (CRF) after discharge from inpatient care obtain more outpatient mental health care and have lower readmission rates than comparable patients discharged directly to the community.

METHOD

A national sample of substance abuse patients (N = 5,176; 99% men) referred to CRFs after inpatient substance abuse care is compared to a matched sample of patients (N = 5,176; 99% men) discharged to the community.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, CRF patients were more likely to obtain outpatient mental health aftercare and obtained more intensive care. Patients with longer episodes of CRF care had lower 6-month and 1-year readmission rates than patients who dropped out of CRFs and than matched controls. These findings held for patients who had only alcohol diagnoses, patients who had drug diagnoses and patients who had psychiatric diagnoses in addition to their substance abuse disorders. Longer length of CRF care and more outpatient mental health care were significant predictors of lower readmission rates after other risk factors for readmission were controlled.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer episodes of community residential care can contribute to better outcomes for substance abuse patients, in part by maintaining patients' involvement in outpatient mental health care. CRFs may play an important role in the continuum of substance abuse patients' care.

[Expression of recombinant human hemoglobin in plants]

Human utilization of recombinant proteins of therapeutical interest, as hemoglobin, implies that the transgenic host allows a low cost production of the active proteins with minimal risks of pathogen contamination. In this regard, the use of transgenic plants could be of great interest. In particular, the systems based on plants could be one of the most economical transgenic system, compared with the others, because biomass obtention in fields is not expensive.

Transformation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): a reliable protocol

A reliable protocol for the transformation of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has been established, based on microprojectile bombardment of half shoot apices in combination with Agrobacterium tumefaciens coculture. Transgenic shoots have been obtained from 5 inbred lines, although transformation efficiencies varied with the genotype. Plants expressing the transgenes could be recovered from up to 7% of the explants. A minority of plants was shown to be chimaeric for expression of ß-glucuronidase activity while most appeared to be uniformly transformed. Genetic segregation was 3∶1 for both ß-glucuronidase and neomycine phospho transferase in some plants, indicating that the respective mother plants were uniformly transformed. Integration of the foreign genes was also shown by Southern analysis.

Pregnancy and contraception use among urban Rwandan women after HIV testing and counseling

OBJECTIVES

This study examined hormonal contraceptive use and pregnancy in urban Rwandan women, following human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing and counseling.

METHODS

A sample of 1458 childbearing urban Rwandan women aged 18 to 35 years was tested and followed for 2 years.

RESULTS

At enrollment, 17% of 998 HIV-negative women and 11% of 460 HIV-positive women were pregnant, and 17% vs 23%, respectively, were using hormonal contraceptives. One year later, half of the HIV-positive and one third of the HIV-negative hormonal-contraceptive users had discontinued use. The 2-year incidence of pregnancy was 43% in HIV-positive and 58% in HIV-negative women. HIV-positive women with fewer than four children were more likely to become pregnant than those with four or more; this association persisted in multivariate analyses but was not noted among HIV-negative women. At the end of the study, over 40% of non-users said that they would use hormonal contraception if it was provided at the study clinic, but 40% of HIV-positive women desired more children.

CONCLUSIONS

Research is needed to identify the practical and psychosocial obstacles to effective long-term contraception among HIV-positive women. HIV counseling programs must specifically address the issue of childbearing.

Localization, sequence and expression of the gene coding for tRNA(Pro) (UGG) in plant mitochondria

The four Sal I fragments of wheat mitochondrial DNA containing the 18S and 5S ribosomal RNA genes were screened for the presence of tRNA genes. Upon sequencing, a tRNA(Pro) (UGG) gene was found in two of these four fragments. The localization of the corresponding gene on the maize mitochondrial genome was established. Transcriptional studies have shown that this gene is transcribed in wheat and maize mitochondria. The sequence of the corresponding tRNA(Pro) (UGG) of bean mitochondria was determined using in vitro post-labeling techniques.

Identification of a glutathione conjugate of cambendazole formed in the presence of liver microsomes

The incubation of multiply labeled (2H, 3H, 13C, 14C) cambendazole and glutathione with hepatic microsomes from phenobarbital-dosed hamsters results in the formation of polar metabolites. The major metabolite has been characterized by a variety of isotopic, spectrometric, chromatographic, and degradative/synthetic techniques as a glutathione conjugate of cambendazole in which substitution is on the 4-position of the benzimidazole nucleus. The same metabolite is produced by hepatic microsomes from the rat.