Corporate environmental responsibility and criminology

This article addresses corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and aims to present a criminological analysis of it. We studied the opinion of a number of principle actors involved in CER in Europe in order to determine how they perceive it in terms of its definition, aetiology and approaches. For each of these dimensions we relate back to a criminological framework to ascertain how it is positioned in the green criminological debate. We start out by providing information on what corporate environmental responsibility is and how it relates to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Then we outline the theoretical framework in accordance with the three central themes for the criminological analysis of CER: definition, aetiology and approaches. We also explain the method that was used (semi-structured interviews). Next, we present the results according to the same threefold structure. Finally we discuss these results in a last part, which is divided in two. First, we look at the challenges that the criminological perspective poses for CER in terms of definition, aetiology and approaches. The second part of the discussion turns the question around and wonders how CER could contribute to greening criminology

Total serum vitamin C concentration in pregnant women: implications for a healthy pregnancy Concentração total de vitamina C na gestante: implicações para uma gestação saudável

OBJECTIVES: total serum vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) concentration was measured in 90 pregnant women, 30 in each trimester (age range 18-35 years) and a control group of age-matched non-pregnant women. METHODS: total serum vitamin C concentration was measured using the 2.4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method which involves the conversion of vitamin C to dehydroascorbic acid in the presence of copper (II) ions and subsequent measurement of the resulting bis-hydrazone at 540nm. RESULTS: the total vitamin C concentration in the first trimester was 2.55 &plusmn; 0.82 mg/dl and 2.32 &plusmn; 0.40 mg/dl and 0.77 &plusmn; 0.10 mg/dl in the second and third trimesters respectively. Relative to serum total vitamin C concentration in the controls (3.15 &plusmn; 0.13 mg/dl) these values are significantly lower (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: low serum vitamin C in pregnancy may indicate utilization of this vitamin to mop up the excess reactive oxygen species and maintain its normal homeostasis. Therefore, Vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy is recommended in order to boost the body's low vitamin C level and prevent the predisposition to low birth weight babies, premature delivery and pre-eclamsia all of which are known to be associated with sub-optimal vitamin C levels during pregnancy.<br>OBJETIVOS: a concentração sérica total de vitamina C (ácido 1-ascórbico) foi medida em 90 mulheres grávidas sendo 30 em cada trimestre (idade de 18-35 anos) e um grupo controle, pareado por idade, de mulheres não grávidas. MÉTODOS: a concentração sérica total de vitamina C foi medida usando o método 2.4-dinitrofenilhidrazina que envolve a conversão de vitama C a ácido dehidroascorbico na presença de íons cobre II e, em seguida, medindo a resultante bi-hidrazona em 540 nm. RESULTADOS: a concentração total de vitamina C no primeiro semestre foi de 2.55 &plusmn; 0,13 mg/dL) e de 2,32 &plusmn; 0,40 mg/dL e 0,77 &plusmn; 0,10 mg/dL no segundo e terceiro trimestres, respectivamente. Estes valores são significativamente mais baixos do que nos controles (3,15 &plusmn; 0,13 mg/dL)(p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: reduzida concentração de vitamina C sérica na gestação pode indicar a sua utilização para retirar o excesso de espécies oxigênio-reativas e manter a homeostase normal. Assim, recomenda-se a suplementação de vitamina C na gestação para aumentar o seu baixo nível no organismo e previnir a predisposição para o baixo peso ao nascer, parto prematuro e pré-eclâmpsia, condições associadas a níveis sub-ótimos da mesma na gestação