Estrogenic and dioxin-like potency in each step of a controlled landfill leachate treatment plant in Japan

The estrogenic activity (by E-screen bioassay), the concentrations of PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs (and their resulting toxicity equivalents, TEQ) and several endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs: e.g., bisphenol A, nonylphenol, Butyl benzylpthalate (BBP), di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), 17alpha-ethynyl-estradiol or 4-octylphenol) have been analyzed from leachates of each step (before treatment, after biodegradation/sedimentation and after charcoal treatment) of a controlled landfill leachate treatment plant. The comparison of the effluent of the examined landfill leachate treatment plant with water from a nearby river in this study indicated no additional dioxin-like (e.g., TEQ: 0.027 compared to 1.01 pg TEQ/l; PCBs: 1.2 compared to 3.9 ng/l) or estrogenic impact (2.8 compared to 3.5 ng estradiol equivalents EE/l; analyzed by E-screen bioassay) from the leachate treatment plant into the surrounding water environment. The impact of dioxin-like compounds from uncleaned leachates into the final cleaned effluents could be sufficiently reduced by the leachate treatment plant for PCDDs (75%), PCDFs (62%), dioxin-like PCBs (97%), and the sum of TEQ (78%). The leachate treatment plant also achieved a reduction of the estrogenic activity as determined by E-screen (from 4.8 to 2.8 ng EE/l = 42%), by GC/MS for bisphenol A (>96% and nonylphenol (>98%) or by ELISA for estradiol (>80%). Additionally, for the validation of the E-screen, five known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs: bisphenol A, BBP, DBP, 17 alpha-ethynyl-estradiol, 4-octylphenol) were analyzed. The EC50 values and estradiol equivalents factors (EEFs) for the five EDCs determined in this study were comparable to previously published data. The combined biological and chemical trace analysis data have provided valuable information on the relative contribution of natural, synthetic, and non-steroidal anthropogenic chemicals to the estrogenic and dioxin-like activity in leachates from a wastewater treatment plant, and water from a nearby river.     

Amphipods as one of the main food components of three pleuronectiformes from the continental shelf of south Brazil and north Uruguay

Amphipods are analysed as one of the main food components of the flatfishes: Verecundum rasile, Etropus longimanus and Simphurus jenynsi. The fish were caught on the continental shelf of south Brazil and north Uruguay. V. rasile, E. longimanus and S. jenynsi ingested respectively: 19, 17 and 8 species from a total of 29 species. Only Ampelisca panamensis, Liljeborgia quinquedentata and Pseudharpinia dentata were common prey for the three fishes. Amphipoda species were consumed in a different way by the fishes in terms of percent composition. V. rasile is an infaunal feeder, while E. longimanus is epifaunal. An equal percentage of epifaunal and infaunal species found in S. jenynsi revealed a non-preference, probably due to its characteristics of smell and touch feeders.Contribution no. 506 of the Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil     

Job Redesign Needs for Aged Workers

The aim of this paper is to explore and present a proposal for redesigning elements of the workplace for agech workers. The method of research was to observe, record, and measure the actions of sitting workers performing assembly operations on electrical products in the Kani Plant Nagoya Works of Mitsubishi Electric Co. (Japan). The evaluation index used in the experiment was obtained by measuring time motion elements, cycle time per product, and motion velocity waves of elderly workers. Those motion characteristics were then compared to the motion characteristics of young workers. The results led to job redesign elements being identified to reduce handling factors of high difficulty for aged workers and to the necessity to consider a coefficient of correction in Method Time Measurement (MTM) according to differences in the manufactured object’s weight.     

Action-Oriented Support for Occupational Safety and Health Programs in Some Developing Countries in Asia

Action-oriented support programs have been increasingly playing vital roles in promoting safety and health in developing countries in Asia. This paper studied achievements of 3 action-oriented support programs: the WISE program for small enterprises, the WIND program for farmers, and the POSITIVE program for workers and trade unions. Special attention was paid to how the programs have strengthened local efforts for sustainable actions in safety and health improvements. The results showed that there were significant achievements in action-oriented support programs in the region, including a large number of improvement examples, integration into government policies, and network support through employers’ and workers’ organizations. Participatory, action-oriented training tools such as action-checklists, local good example photos, and group work methods played key roles in the effective implementation of the programs. It was of note that there were a number of local efforts to extend the coverage of action-oriented support even to hard-to-reach workers such as home-based workers, rural workers, and ethnic minorities. The efforts included the equal participation in the training by female and male farmers, shortened and weekend training programs, photo sheets showing local good examples, and reasonable fee collection for better sustainability. In conclusion, action-oriented support programs provided local people with concrete means to promote safety and health improvements. The successful programs commonly focused on local initiatives and were built on local wisdom and resources.