A Fuzzy Model for Assessing Risk of Occupational Safety in the Processing Industry

Abstract

Managing occupational safety in any kind of industry, especially in processing, is very important and complex. This paper develops a new method for occupational risk assessment in the presence of uncertainties. Uncertain values of hazardous factors and consequence frequencies are described with linguistic expressions defined by a safety management team. They are modeled with fuzzy sets. Consequence severities depend on current hazardous factors, and their values are calculated with the proposed procedure. The proposed model is tested with real-life data from fruit processing firms in Central Serbia.     

The impact of implementation of the requirements of Standard No. OHSAS 18001:2007 to reduce the number of injuries at work and financial costs in the Republic of Croatia

This article contains the results of research into the impact of implementation of the requirements mentioned in Standard No. OHSAS 18001:2007 to reduce the number of injuries at work and the financial costs incurred in this way. The study was conducted on a determined sample by a written questionnaire survey method in the Republic of Croatia. The objective of the empirical research is to determine the impact of implementation of the requirements of Standard No. OHSAS 18001:2007 to reduce the number of injuries at work and financial costs in Croatia in business organizations that implement these requirements. To provide a broader picture, the research included the collection and analysis of data on the impact of the Standard No. OHSAS 18001:2007 on accidents and fatalities at work. Research findings are based on the analysis of performed statistical data where correlation and regression analysis has been applied.     

PAH mass concentrations measured in PM10 particle fraction

This paper presents daily, monthly and yearly variations of PAH mass concentrations measured in PM(10) particle fraction, collected at one measuring site in Zagreb air between 2001 and 2004, and seasonal differences in PAH mass concentrations in PM(10) samples collected from 21 March 2003 to 20 March 2004. Twenty-four hour samples were taken in the northern residential part of Zagreb using a low-volume (50 m(3)) sampler and glass or quartz filters. The analysis was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and fluorescence detector with changeable excitation and emission wavelength. The annual average mass concentrations over the four-year measuring period for BaP ranged from 1.17 ng/m(3) in 2004 to 1.87 ng/m(3) in 2003 and were below the limit value (2 ng/m(3)) set by the Ordinance on Recommended and Limit Air Quality Values in Croatia. The highest concentrations of all PAHs measured in PM(10) samples collected from 21 March 2003 to 20 March 2004 were found in the winter and the lowest in the summer. Winter average of BaP was 2.94 ng/m(3) and summer average 0.12 ng/m(3). Autumn average was 2.76 ng/m(3) and was very similar to winter concentrations. Spring average of 0.58 ng/m(3) was higher than the summer average (0.12 ng/m(3)). Mass concentrations of all measured PAHs were much higher in the autumn than in the spring. Although annual averages for BaP did not exceed the limit value, autumn and winter BaP mass concentrations did, which calls for measures for reducing PAH emissions in the autumn and winter.     

Exploring the Park–People Relation: Collection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium Myrtillus</Emphasis> L. by Local People From Kopaonik National Park in Serbia

Exploitation of certain resources within a protected area on a sustainable basis could contribute to higher living standards of rural people, particularly those in poor countries, and decrease conflicts between these populations and park authorities. This article presents data from a case study of Kopaonik National Park (NP), Serbia, which is a park with natural resources, most notably bilberries, which have always been relied on by local people. Vaccinium myrtillus traditionally has been collected for decades in Kopaonik NP and used by local people. However, little is known about the socioeconomic and ecological relations that affect the collection and use of this species. The aim of the present study was to understand how local people collect bilberries in Kopaonik NP and what their attitudes toward the park are. Household questionnaire data were used to examine how local people collect bilberries and how to improve the relations between local people and NP authorities. The survey questionnaire included 52 households from 7 local communities, and we applied a purposive sampling strategy. In addition, expert interviews were conducted, and from these data we obtained a broader understanding of the relation between local people and NP authorities. The results indicate that in Kopaonik NP, there is a conflict between pickers and NP authorities. Sustainable management should be directed toward the protection of bilberries. Education of local people is a key element in the sustainable collection and protection of natural resources.     

Exposure of microplastics to organic matter in waters enhances microplastic encapsulation into calcium carbonate

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Plastic pollution in water ecosystems is threatening the survival of wildlife. In particular, microplastics may be encapsulated into calcium carbonate, a crucial...     

Periphyton Developed on Artificial Substrates: Effect of Substrate Type and Incubation Depth

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of substrate type and incubation depth on periphyton that had developed on artificial substrates. Uniform rectangular tiles made out of artificial substrates: glass, ceramic, willow tree and yew tree, were fixed on a floating buoy and deployed at three different depths in a photic zone of the Sava Lake (Belgrade, Serbia). Non-taxonomic attributes in the developed biofilm were estimated week-by-week from the start of the experiment in July, until its end in September 2014. Through assessment of substrate type and depth of incubation effect we concluded that these parameters for the fact influence periphyton development and composition. Glass was preferred by autotrophic component over ceramic and wooden substrates. In general, substrate type effect was diminished by increasing incubation depth. When non-taxonomic parameters are to be used in biomonitoring studies, our results suggest that glass substrate and shallow layer of water column (up to 50 cm) for incubation should be preferred.     

The assessment and prediction of temporal variations in surface water quality—a case study

In order to optimize the processes of sampling, monitoring, and management, the initial aim of this paper was to develop a model for the definition and prediction of temporal changes of water quality. In the case of the Morava River Basin (Serbia), the patterns of temporal changes have been recognized by applying different multivariate statistical techniques. The results of the conducted cluster analysis are the indicators of the existence of the three monitoring periods: the low-water, transitional, and high-water periods, which is in accordance with changes in the water flow in the analyzed river basin. A possibility of reducing the initial data set and recognizing the main pollution sources was examined by carrying out the principal component/factor analysis. The results indicate that the natural factor has a dominant influence in temporal groups. In order to recognize the discriminatory water quality parameters, a discriminant analysis (DA) was carried out. Conducting the DA enabled a significant reduction in the data set by the extraction of two parameters (the water temperature and electrical conductivity). Furthermore, the artificial neural network technique was used for testing the possibility of predicting changes in the values of the discriminant factors in the monitoring periods. The reliability of this method for the prediction of temporal variations of both extracted parameters within all temporal clusters has been proven.     

Biochemical biomarkers in environmental studies—lessons learnt from enzymes catalase,glutathione <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-transferase and cholinesterase in two crustacean species

Background, aim and scope  

For reliable environmental risk assessment of pollutants, knowledge on the effects at different levels of biological organisation is needed. During the early days of biomarker research in environmental studies approximately two decades ago, biochemical biomarkers were considered as the most promising tool for such purposes. Among these, three enzymes have often been studied: catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cholinesterase (ChE). However, despite their intensive research, their measurements in invertebrates have not been commonly applied in environmental risk assessment (ERA) or for regulatory purposes.     

Assessment of low-level metal contamination using the Mediterranean mussel gills as the indicator tissue

Purpose  

The aim of this study was to compare the level of metal contamination in two bays in the middle part of the Eastern Adriatic coastal zone in Croatia using the gills of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis as indicator tissue. Despite the existing sources of contamination, previous studies with caged mussels only indicated moderate metal contamination of the Kaštela Bay, contrary to the Trogir Bay in which marina and shipyard present a probable source of Cu- and Zn-contamination.