增强企业内安全培训能力对策研究

依据中日合作项目《加强中国安全生产科学技术能力计划》成果，对比分析了中日对企业安全培训相关法规要求，明确了各自的优点、缺点，提出通过开展企业内安全培训负责人培训可增强企业内安全培训能力，并在宁波进行了试点。提出应当重视企业内安全培训工作，对生产经营单位安全培训规定进行修改，制定配套实施细则和办法，开展企业内安全培训负责人培训、把班组长培训制度化、充分利用外部培训机构等增强企业内安全培训能力的对策和建议。     

Spatial identification by satellite imagery of the crop–fallow rotation cycle in northern Laos

In the mountainous regions of northern Laos, shifting cultivation, or slash-and-burn agriculture, is widely practiced. However, the crop–fallow rotation cycle is becoming shorter owing to forest conservation policies and population pressure, causing loss of productivity that deleteriously affects farmers’ livelihoods in the region. To investigate regional land use conditions, we have developed a method of identifying the crop–fallow rotation cycle from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+) data. We assessed the impact of the identified cycle on plant production measured by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The study site was an area in Luang Prabang Province. Using eight TM and ETM+ images acquired annually from 1995 to 2003, except for 1998, when cloud-free data were not collected, we classified land use in each year as crop or fallow by the presence of vegetation in the late dry season. Conformity with fallow age determined by field investigation was 69.1%. The cultivation frequency from 1995 to 2002 showed that 77,000 ha (17.3% of the study site) had not been used for cropping during the period, but 41,000 ha (9.2%) had been used every year. Of the study site, 129,000 ha (29.1%) was cultivated one or two times, 83,000 ha (18.7%) was three or four times, and 54,000 ha (12.2%) was five or six times. The NDVI of crops in November did not provide sufficient evidence to prove the assumption that a longer fallow period would result in better crop yields. Instead, the regeneration of fallow vegetation was evidenced by the higher NDVI values after longer fallow. More than 8 years would be needed to reach the same NDVI as forest. From the produced maps indicating fallow age and cultivation frequency, we found that areas with high potential for regeneration decreased as cultivation frequency increased. Areas near rivers were intensively used, and fallow length was accordingly short. Low-potential areas were found in the western basin of the Mekong River. This spatial information can be used to detect areas where biomass productivity is at high risk of deteriorating. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Preparation of Galactomannan-Based Materials Compatibilized with Ionic Liquids

This paper reports the preparation of galactomannan/ionic liquid composite materials from the corresponding ion gels. Three kinds of galactomannans, that is, fenugreek gum (FG), guar gum (GG), and locust bean gum (LBG) and an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) were used. When the galactomannan/BMIMCl gels were immersed in ethanol, followed by dryness under reduced pressure, the galactomannan/BMIMCl composite materials were obtained. The crystalline structures of galactomannans in the materials were evaluated by the powder X-ray diffraction measurement. The mechanical property of the FG/BMIMCl composite material under compressive mode was superior compared with the GG and LBG/BMIMCl composite materials. Then, FG films compatibilized with polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) were also prepared by in situ radical polymerization of polymerizable ionic liquids, 1-(3-acryloyloxypropyl)-3-vinylimidazolium bromide and 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzylimidazolium chloride by AIBN in mixtures of FG with BMIMCl. The mechanical properties of the resulting films were affected by the FG/PIL ratios as well as the unit ratios in PILs.     

Assessing the probability of land submergence for lowland rice cultivation in Africa using satellite imagery and geospatial data

Sub-Saharan African countries are being strongly urged to enhance their rice production, because their rice consumption and importation rates have been rapidly increasing in recent years. Areas planted to rice in Africa are classified agro-ecologically into rainfed upland, rainfed lowland, and irrigated. Rainfed lowland includes extensive areas of unexploited land that has great potential for the promotion of rice growing. For the unexploited rainfed lowlands of Ghana, we have been studying the development of low-cost rice-farming systems that require no large-scale irrigation or land reclamation. For such systems, it is important to select suitable areas where water for rice farming can be obtained naturally; floodwaters offer promise for this purpose. Delineation and mapping of floodwater prone areas suitable for rice production is important for successful utilization of this land resource. Here, we propose a method of assessing flood probability from submergence frequency, as estimated from satellite imagery and geospatial data. ALOS/PALSAR images acquired in May, June, August, and September 2010 were used to classify land and water, and then a submerged-area map was produced. From the results, we were able to accurately detect non-submerged areas and submerged areas with water depths of at least 3?cm. The number of times classified into submerged area was defined as submergence frequency, and it was approximated by distance from reservoirs representing White Volta River, ponds, and swamps. In addition, flood extent derived from reservoirs was simulated using digital elevation model (DEM). Finally, a flood probability assessment map was produced by integration of the estimated submergence frequency and flood extent simulation. The results of a comparison of soil moisture data measured at 69 points in the field and the NDVIs computed by ALOS/AVNIR showed that areas with high potential for flooding retained high levels of soil moisture and were more likely to show less deterioration of vegetation in the dry season. The validation of these results confirmed the adequacy of the flood probability assessment method.     

Water quality assessment of the Tubarão River through chemical analysis and biomarkers in the Neotropical fish Geophagus brasiliensis

The Tubarão River rises in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and has been historically affected by coal mining activities around its springhead. To evaluate its water conditions, an investigation regarding a possible decontamination gradient associated with the increased river flow toward the estuary, as well as the influence of seasonality over this gradient was performed through a series of biomarkers (vitellogenin, comet assay, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, gluthatione, gluthatione S-transferase, acetylcholinesterase, light microscopy in liver, and scanning electron microscopy in gills) and chemical analysis (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bile and metal analysis in sediment) in the cichlid Geophagus brasiliensis. Two collections (summer and winter) were made in four distinct sites along the river, while sediments were sampled between those seasons. As expected, the contamination linked exclusively to mining activities was not observed, possibly due to punctual inputs of contaminants. The decontamination gradient was not observed, although seasonality seemed to have a critical role in the responses of biomarkers and availability of contaminants. In the summer, the fish presented higher histopathological damages and lower concentrations of PAHs, while in the winter they showed both higher genetic damage and accumulation of PAHs. The Tubarão suffers impacts from diverse activities, representing health risks for wild and human populations.     

Monitoring water quality in reservoirs for human supply through multi-biomarker evaluation in tropical fish

Paraíba do Sul River is located at a very densely inhabited region of Brazil crossing the three most industrialized states of the country (S?o Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states). As a result, industrial and farming residues as well as urban sewage are frequently disposed without appropriate treatment. The current study aimed at investigating the water quality in three reservoirs along the Paraíba do Sul River (Ilha dos Pombos, Santa Cecília and Santa Branca), through physiological, morphological, biochemical, and genetic biomarkers. The bioindicator chosen was the catfish Pimelodus maculatus, sampled during the dry (June 2008) and rainy (February 2009) seasons. Also, some water physicochemical parameters were analyzed from the sampling sites, but displayed no alterations according to the Brazilian Agency for Water Quality Legislation. Branchial carbonic anhydrase activity was inhibited in the dry season, while renal carbonic anhydrase activity was inhibited in the rainy season in the Santa Branca reservoir, indicating disturbance of osmoregulatory and acid-base regulation processes. Histopathological alterations were observed in the gills (neoplasic and tissue hyperplasia processes) and liver (necrosis), indicating serious damage to the functional integrity of these organs. A high incidence of melanomacrophage centers was observed in the liver, suggesting an intense immune response in all reservoirs. Acetylcholinesterase and catalase activity showed also differences corroborating some morphological results. Likewise, the induction of the micronucleus and DNA damage indicate genotoxicity, but mainly in the Santa Branca reservoir. Thus, the health status of P. maculatus warrants caution in the use of the water from the 3 reservoirs for direct human consumption, particularly after the accidental spill of endosulfan in November 2008, three months before the rainy season sampling.     

Destruction of polychlorinated naphthalenes by a high-temperature melting treatment (GeoMelt process)

A series of treatment experiments were carried out to evaluate the applicability of a high-temperature melting treatment (GeoMelt process) to the destruction of polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) formulation. We started with 10-kg-scale experiments in which a small melting furnace was used and then scaled up to a 1-t-scale experiment in which a melting furnace that resembled an actual treatment system was used. These runs were evaluated whether destruction efficiency (DE) of total PCNs was more than 99.999 % and whether concentrations of PCNs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs) in vitrified materials, emission gas, and scrubber water were below the target levels. Because DE values and the target levels of PCNs and PCDDs/DFs in these runs were satisfactory, then we carried out a demonstrative experiment using the actual treatment system and confirmed destruction of PCNs. Based on good results of the demonstrative experiment, stock of PCN formulation was successfully treated continuously.     

Experimental testing of an annular denuder and filter system to measure gas–particle partitioning of semivolatile bifunctional carbonyls in the atmosphere

An annular denuder and filter-pack system was tested in combination with the use of the in-tube and on-fiber O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA)-derivatization technique to simultaneously sample and measure gaseous and particulate concentrations of semivolatile bifunctional carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere. Ozone was denuded from the sampling air to avoid oxidation and PFBHA was used as the sorbent by coating the sampling denuders and impregnating the filters. The collection efficiency of the system was evaluated under different conditions in photochemical smog chamber experiments and in field samplings of urban and suburban atmospheres. The effects of concentration level, temperature, and humidity on the collection efficiency were assessed. The system showed average collection efficiencies in one denuder from 81% for pyruvic acid and 82% for glyoxylic acid to 87% for hydroxyacetone and dihydroxyacetone. The capacity of the filters to collect the gaseous fraction that cannot be collected in the denuders was also evaluated, and the system allows a correction for this artifact. The application of this method to chamber experiments and field samplings offers an easy-to-apply technique with good results that can be used to evaluate the partition mechanisms of these compounds in the atmosphere.     

Dietary patterns and blood levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in 1656 Japanese individuals

The association between dietary patterns and blood dioxin levels has not been fully investigated. The present study population consisted of 755 men and 901 women (aged 15-73 years) living in 90 different areas of 30 prefectures of Japan. Dietary habits were assessed by inquiring about the consumption frequency of 28 foods, food groups and beverages. In addition, the blood levels of 29 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (DL-PCBs) congeners were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The median total toxicity equivalent (TEQ) in the blood, which was calculated on the basis of the toxicity equivalency factors of WHO (2005), was 16 pg TEQ g⁻¹ lipid. Principal component analysis identified five dietary patterns: Healthy diet (high intake of vegetables and fruits); Meat/High fat intake (high intake of meat, meat products, and eggs); Seafood and Alcohol (high intake of fish, shellfish, and alcoholic beverages); Miscellaneous; and Milk products and Alcohol intake (high intake of milk, Milk products, and alcoholic beverages). After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, and smoking habits, the Seafood and Alcohol pattern scores were significantly related to higher blood levels of total TEQ and PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs, and the Milk products and Alcohol pattern scores were correlated with higher blood levels of DL-PCBs. More detailed analysis showed that the intake frequencies for alcoholic beverages and seafood were independently and positively associated with total TEQ and the TEQ of PCDFs and DL-PCBs. The association between alcoholic beverage intake and PCDDs was also significant. Analysis of dietary patterns may be useful for identifying the dietary characteristics of individuals with a high dioxin body burden.     

Utilization of Triacetylcellulose Waste for the Production of Carbonaceous Adsorbents

Triacetylcellulose(TAC)-based globular activated carbons having the adsorption capacity comparable with commercial ones have been derived using a carbonization system developed for this purpose. The carbonization of TAC proceeds through a liquid phase causing bubbling due to the emission of the decomposition gases. The phosphorus compounds resulting from the starting material of TAC waste promote the activation reactions to produce micro-pores.