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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Consumer protection and managed care: the need for organized consumers.

Despite its many advantages, managed care creates new problems for consumers. Activists have proposed four types of remedies: (1) increased information and choice; (2) standards for services and marketing; (3) administrative oversight; and (4) procedural due process for complaints. Each approach offers some benefits, but they are insufficient to cope with consumer problems. What is lacking is effective, organized consumer advocacy.

Communication↗
PubMed2005

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics in the Yellow River of China.

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics (OCOs) was one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China. This study was conducted to analyze monitoring of the data on OCOs contamination for the river in 1980 and during 1992-1999 as well as examining the effect of suspended solids (SS) on chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of river water. Several significant results have arisen from the study. First, CODMn and BOD5 of the river water showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower reaches of the mainstream. BOD5 values of river water in 1992 were significantly higher than those in 1980 and showed an increasing trend during 1992-1999. Second, OCOs in river water of the mainstream was attributed mainly to point sources; the ratio of point to non-point sources of BOD5 was about 2.81. The load from point sources showed an increasing trend during 1992-1998. In contrast, the load from non-point sources manifested a decreasing trend during this period; this was caused by the decreasing trend of SS content in river water. The total load of BOD5 from point and non-point sources displayed an increasing trend during 1992-1998. Third, as the humic substances in SS can hardly be biologically oxidized in natural conditions but can be oxidized by chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, CODMn was not suitable for being regarded as a parameter reflecting the pollution degree of OCOs in river water with a high SS content.

Benzopyrans↗
PubMed2003

Surface metal adsorption on zooplankton carapaces: implications for exposure and effects in consumer organisms.

The current study aimed to determine the potential of two important aquatic invertebrate crustacean species, Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia, to adsorb cadmium on to their carapaces from aqueous solution. Using the Langmuir equation to model data outputs, it was shown that cadmium readily became associated with the carapace surfaces of both species, with uptake being dependent on exposure time and concentration. Maximum carapace-adsorption potential was found to be directly related to surface area, so that at predicted carapace saturation, D. magna neonates bound approximately five times more cadmium than the smaller C. dubia neonates. However, adsorption per unit surface area was found to be similar under the same exposure conditions. Results of surface metal adsorption studies in C. dubia suggested that short term exposures to high concentrations of aqueous cadmium would lead to similar levels of adsorption as obtained with long-term exposures to low concentrations. The study illustrates that contaminants adsorbed to prey surfaces may be an important mechanism of exposure to predators, and highlights some potential problems of feeding organisms during long-term toxicity tests.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1987

Long-term effects of commonly available weight reducing programmes in Sweden.

A majority of people attempting to lose weight will use methods that do not involve medical expertise or professional organizations. Consumer organizations continually have problems with so-called slimming products which claim results that are scientifically unfounded and impossible. In this study four methods commonly used in Sweden were studied with emphasis on long-term effects. One-hundred and twenty moderately overweight women were allocated to one of five groups and repeatedly interviewed and monitored over a 2-year period. The long-term results with a protein powder preparation and a kelp-lecithin-vitamin capsule were poor. However, results were also poor with the nutritionally adequate recommendations issued by the Stockholm Home Economics consultation service but lacking programme support or follow-up. The weight losing programme of a 'slim club' was found to result in the greatest overall sustained weight loss (2.8 +/- 4.7 kg, mean +/- s.d.). An attempt to define 'compliance' with each programme was made, which showed that the majority of overweight women were not able to adhere to these given programmes for a 2-year period, probably because of unsatisfactory results. We consider it essential to document the long-term outcome of these methods in order to facilitate understanding of the situation of these overweight subjects and to assist consumer organizations in their efforts to prevent the spread of scientifically unsound weight reduction methods.

Adult↗