The Latest Word, March 2004

Newsletter by IPERS about Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System news for retirees.

Inside Magazine, March, 2004

Iowa Department of Transportation Newsletter. INSIDE Magazine is developed to help keep all Iowa DOT employees informed about critical issues affecting them, recognize DOT employees for their excellent service and share interesting aspects in the lives of our co-workers.

Revenue Estimating Conference: Estimate of General Fund Receipts, March 19, 2004

The past actual tax receipts and future estimates of the General Fund used by the Revenue Estimating Conference to project incoming revenue to be used in future state budgeting.

Public health assessment : Railroad Avenue groundwater contamination, West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa EPA facility ID: IA0001610963 (2004)

The Railroad Avenue groundwater contamination site (the site) is in West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Located on approximately 120 acres. The site comprises mixed residential, industrial and commercial properties. Underneath the site, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have contaminatcd the shallow (i.e., 30-50 feet deep) groundwater. These compounds have compromised several shallow wells within the West Des Moines water works system. A contamination source, however, has not yet been identified. In 1993, routine water analysis by the City of West Des Moines identified 1, 2 cis-dichlorocthylcne (1, 2 cis-DCE) at a concentration of 1.2 μg/L (micrograms) per liter of water) in the water supply. Subsequently. several shallow municipal wells were found to be contaminated by VOCs, including 1. 2 cis-DCE, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and benzene. Five of these wells have been taken out of service. Because of the impact on the West Des Moines water supply, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has assigned the site to the National Priorities List. Surface water und sediment at the site have not been impacted by the VOCs. Testing for VOCs in surface soils has not revealed any significant VOC contamination. Subsurface soils -- generally 8 feet or greater in depth -- are contaminated with VOCs, but at levels which should not present a health hazard. The past, present, and future health hazard category chosen for this site is no apparent public health hazard. This category is used when exposure to toxins might be occurring or might have occurrcd in the past, but at levels below any known health hazard. Analysis of available environmental data has not revealed that residental or commercial water customers are or have been exposed to VOCs at concentrations that might cause any adverse health effects.

Distribution of aflatoxin contamination in maize samples

The distribution of the aflatoxin contamination was studied among four maize fractions, separated according to Brazilian grading rules for maize. The fraction that contained fermented, moldy, heated and sprouted grains normally had the highest levels of aflatoxin. However, the fraction contribution to the whole sample contamination level took into account the contamination fraction level and its weight to the whole sample. Considering this, the fraction that contained insect damaged, hollow, up to ¼ fermented and grains damaged by other causes was normally the fraction responsible for the total contamination level in the samples. Nevertheless, the fraction contributions were variable from sample to sample. Therefore, in conclusion, it was not possible to establish a standard behavior for grain fraction-type contribution for different maize lots. The Brazilian grading by qualitative types applied to samples did not show statistic correlation with aflatoxin contamination levels (P<0.05). Two type-1 samples (the best quality type) presented contamination of 380 and 146ng/g. The number of samples with contamination levels above those allowed by Brazilian law (20ng/g) was the same for qualitative types 2, 3, and BS (Below Standard).

March 2004: Film Festival Honors Brown v. Board of Education

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Novena Conferencia Regional sobre la Mujer de América Latina y el Caribe. México DF, 10 al 12 de junio de 2004: folleto informativo

Incluye Bibliografía

Ninth Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico City, 10-12 June 2004: background information

Includes bibliography

Istmo Centroamericano: evolución económica durante 2003 y perspectivas para 2004: evaluación preliminar

Incluye Bibliografía

Refuge Update – March/April 2004, Volume 1, Number 2

Table of Contents: An Encyclopedia for the Refuge, page 4 Awarded for Excellence, page 5 MBNA Donates for Refuge System Projects, page 16 The Thoughts of a Detailee, page 19