The effect of different educational interventions on schoolchildren's knowledge of earthquake protective behaviour in Israel

Knowledge of appropriate behaviour during an earthquake is crucial for prevention of injury and loss of life. The Israeli Home Front Command conducts a yearly earthquake education programme in all Israeli schools, using three types of educational interventions: lectures, drills and a combination of the two. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in providing students with knowledge. We distributed a questionnaire to 2,648 children from the 5th and 6th grades in 120 schools nationwide. Knowledge scores for both 5th and 6th grades were increased, regardless of type of intervention, compared to the non-exposure group. A combined intervention of lectures and drills resulted in the highest knowledge scores. Our findings suggest that for the age group studied a combination of lectures and drills will likely prepare students best for how to behave in the event of an earthquake.     

儿童腹股沟斜疝嵌顿急诊术后阴囊积液的预防及处理

总结儿童腹股沟斜疝嵌顿急诊术后阴囊积液出现的原因以及处理方式.回顾性分析2008年1月至2012年1月儿童腹股沟斜疝嵌顿急诊术后阴囊积液42例的临床资料.42例阴囊积液患者分为轻、中、重度均痊愈,其中轻度3 d左右恢复,中度5~7 d左右恢复,重度未合并感染7~10 d左右恢复,重度合并感染14 d内恢复.儿童腹股沟斜疝嵌顿急诊术后阴囊积液应注意围手术期的积极预防以及术后及时恰当的处理,即可避免严重并发症.参8.     

沈阳市环境铅污染对儿童健康的影响

实地调查采样、结合GIS技术进行室内综合分析,系统研究了沈阳市大气、土壤、灰尘中铅污染对儿童健康的影响.结果表明,沈阳市环境中铅暴露普遍,铅污染较严重,铅浓度空间分异大,已形成4个高浓度中心.并且大气铅浓度有明显的日、季和年变化规律沈阳市环境铅污染已经影响了儿童健康,0～10岁儿童(ZPP＞2.3μmol/L)血铅范围是10.98～511.2μg/L,平均值是135.59μg/L,40%的儿童血铅水平超标.儿童血铅与大气铅相关性最大,其次是土壤和灰尘.实行无铅汽油之后,大气铅污染有了很大改善,但是土壤和灰尘中的铅容易以扬尘的方式再次进入大气,存在潜在风险,应引起有关部门足够的重视.     

Correlation between lead and iron in children's blood in Jordan

A total of 200 Jordanian children were classified into two groups: 100 Fe replete and 100 Fe deficient with ages ranging between 3.0 and 12.0 years (6.9 ± 2.7 years). All participants were chosen according to proper selection criteria followed by the sample collection: the samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and red blood cells; ferritin, an immunoassays-based instrument; and levels of Pb, Cu, and Zn. There were no significant differences between genders regarding Fe-deficiency (p = 0.57 and χ2 = 0.33), with a significant association of younger individuals (3.0–9.1 years) with Fe-deficiency (p < 0.05 and χ2 = 22.7).

In addition, there is a significant positive correlation between Fe-deficiency with blood levels of Pb, Cu, and Zn (p < 0.05), (r = 0.43, 0.35, and 0.42, respectively) as compared to control group, this findings supported, by comparing the levels of the examined metals in both groups, in individuals whom close to heavy metals source (highway traffic or oil gas station), and found that the mean of the heavy metals level in close Fe-deficient group higher than in close Fe-replete group.     

Parks,streets and “just empty space”: the local environmental experiences of children and young people in a Scottish study

This article is concerned with the nature and significance of inequality in the environmental experience of children and young people. We argue that research in this area needs to widen in perspective and address a complex set of environmental attributes that matter to children and young people, and to their development. Discussing a study conducted in three differing locations in Scotland, the paper examines the local places that were important to children and young people, and the factors that affected the benefits they derived from them. The results illustrate that unequal experiences arise partly through different material provision of environmental goods, but also issues of quality and maintenance, and that relational dynamics have a crucial role. An important concern is not just the quality of experiences in the present, but the effects that environmental experiences in early life have on skills and capacities taken forward into adulthood.     

Fluoride distribution in groundwater and survey of dental fluorosis among school children in the villages of the Jhajjar District of Haryana,India

Fluoride concentration of groundwater reserves occurs in many places in the world. A critical area for such contamination in India is alluvial soil of the plain region, consisting of five blocks (Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Beri, Matanhail, and Sahalawas) of the Jhajjar District adjacent to the National Capital Territory of India, New Delhi. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between water fluoride levels and prevalence of dental fluorosis among school children of the Jhajjar District of Haryana, India. The fluoride content in underground drinking water sources was found to vary in villages. Hence, the villages were categorized as high-fluoride villages (1.52–4.0 mg F/l) and low/normal-fluoride villages (0.30–1.0 mg F/l). The source of dental fluorosis data was school-going children (7–15 years) showing different stages and types of fluorosis who were permanent resident of these villages. The fraction of dental fluorosis-affected children varied from 30% to 94.85% in the high-fluoride villages and from 8.80% to 28.20% in the low/normal-fluoride villages. The results of the present study revealed that there existed a significant positive correlation between fluoride concentration in drinking water and dental fluorosis in high-fluoride villages (r = 0.508; p < 0.001) and insignificant correlation in low-fluoride villages.     

Probabilistic prediction of exposures to arsenic contaminated residential soil

Probabilistic modelling using Monte Carlo simulation has been proposed as a more scientifically valid method of estimating soil contaminant exposures than conservative deterministic methods currently used by regulatory agencies. A retrospective application of probabilistic modelling to an exposure scenario involving arsenic-contaminated residential soil near the former ASARCO smelter near Tacoma, Washington is presented. The population of interest is children, aged 2–6 years, living within one-half mile (0.3 km) of the smelter site. Models that predict urinary arsenic levels based on unintentional soil ingestion and inhalation exposure pathways are used. Distributions of exposure variables are based on site-specific data and previous exposure studies. Simulated urinary arsenic levels are compared with data from two biomonitoring studies performed during the late 1980s. Arsenic distributions produced by simulation and biomonitoring are significantly different, and likely contributors to this difference are discussed. However the probabilistic model provides closer estimations of urinary arsenic levels than conservative deterministic models similar to those used by regulatory agencies, and provides useful information regarding parameter uncertainty. Soil ingestion rate was a driving variable in the probabilistic models. Further quantification of soil ingestion rates is warranted.     

被动吸烟对儿童呼吸健康的影响

指导了１９９３～１９９６年兰州、重庆、武汉和广州４个城市８所小学进行家庭被动吸烟调查结果。结果表明，在７～１２岁儿童７９７７人中，受被动吸烟暴露的儿童６３４２人占调查总人数的７９．５％；受被动吸烟暴露儿童吸附系统的１０种疾病和症状发生率明显高于不受暴露影响的儿童，其中有８种病症的比数比（ＯＲ）范围在１．２７～１．６７，住院率的ＯＲ值为１．２８；受被动吸烟暴露儿童呼吸系统病症发生率也随家庭成员每天吸     

Predicting vehicle belt fit for children ages 6–12

Objective: To predict shoulder belt fit and lap belt fit as a function of child age, vehicle seat characteristics, and belt geometry.

Methods: In a previous study, the lap belt and shoulder belt fit of 44 children aged 5–12 were measured in a simulated vehicle seat while varying cushion length, cushion angle, seatback angle, and belt anchorage geometry. A regression model was developed to predict lap belt fit and shoulder belt fit as a function of vehicle parameters and child stature. These regression models were applied to the stature distribution of 6- to 12-year-olds using a range of vehicle geometry data to predict the proportion of children expected to achieve good belt fit in the second-row, outboard seating positions of 46 vehicles when not using belt-positioning boosters.

Results: Across the ranges observed in vehicles, lap belt angle had the strongest effect on lap belt fit, although vehicle cushion length also contributed. Shoulder belt fit was most strongly affected by D-ring location. Vehicles with the geometric conditions most suitable for children are estimated to provide good lap belt fit for 25% of children aged 6 to 12. In 20% of vehicles, the shoulder belt is too far inboard for the target child population; 20% of vehicles are estimated to have shoulder belt fit too far outboard for children ages 6 to 12.

Conclusions: Based on this geometric analysis, the rear seats of most vehicles are unlikely to provide good lap belt fit for up to 75% of children ages 6–12. Shoulder belt fit is outside the target range for 40% of children. Consequently, children under 12 years of age are likely to experience markedly poorer belt fit when transitioning out of a booster seat.     

Potential exposure of children and adults to cypermethrin following use of indoor insecticide foggers

The magnitude and distribution of cypermethrin from total release, over-the-counter foggers was studied in a test room and in residences to facilitate evaluation of regulatory exposure algorithms and new human exposure assessments based upon urine biomonitoring. Surface residue (SR) was evenly distributed in a small test room (3.6 μ g cypermethrin/cm²) where thorough mixing of the aerosol occurred. In a residence SR was significantly affected by room size and distance from the fogger. Air levels in the residence were as high as 30 μ g cypermethrin/cm³ after 4.5 h. The availability of surface residues was measured with an automated surface cotton cloth wipe and ethyl acetate extraction. Only 5% of the SR was available from nylon carpet. Tile, wood and linoleum resulted in 30, 10, and 10% of SR being available, respectively. These data are used to estimate cypermethrin exposure of children and adults for comparison with existing regulatory reference dosages and exposure assessments based upon biomonitoring.