Using alcohol intoxication goggles (Fatal Vision® goggles) to detect alcohol related impairment in simulated driving

Objective: Fatal vision goggles (FVGs) are image-distorting equipment used within driver education programs to simulate alcohol-related impairment. However, there is no empirical evidence comparing the behavioral effects associated with wearing FVGs to alcohol intoxication. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of FVGs in producing alcohol-related impairment in simulated driving.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy males (age: 23 ± 3 years, mean ± SD) participated in a placebo-controlled crossover design study involving 4 experimental trials. In each trial, participants completed a baseline level simulated driving task followed by an experimental driving task, involving one of 4 treatments: (1) a dose of alcohol designed to elicit 0.080% breath alcohol concentration (BrAC; AB), (2) an alcohol placebo beverage (PB), (3) FVG (estimated % blood alcohol concentration [BAC] 0.070–0.100+), and (4) placebo goggles (PGs). The driving tasks included 3 separate scenarios lasting ～5 min each; these were a simple driving scenario, a complex driving scenario, and a hazard perception driving scenario. Selected lateral control parameters (standard deviation of lane position [SDLP]; total number of lane crossings [LCs]) and longitudinal control parameters (average speed; standard deviation of speed [SDSP]; distance headway; minimum distance headway) were monitored during the simple and complex driving scenarios. Latency to 2 different stimuli (choice reaction time [CRT]) was tested in the hazard perception driving scenario. Subjective ratings of mood and attitudes toward driving were also provided during each of the trials.

Results: Neither placebo treatment influenced simulated driving performance. Mean BrAC was 0.060 ± 0.010% at the time of driving on the AB trial. Lateral control: In the simple driving scenario, SDLP and LC were not affected under any of the experimental treatments. However, in the complex driving scenario, significantly greater SDLP was observed on both the FVG and AB trials compared to their respective baseline drives. LC increased significantly from baseline on the AB trial only. Longitudinal control: Speed was not affected by any of the experimental treatments; however, SDSP increased significantly from baseline on the FVG trial. A significant reduction in distance headway and minimum distance headway was detected on the FVG trial compared to baseline. Hazard perception: Neither AB nor FVG trials were influential on CRT. Subjective mood ratings were significantly altered on the AB and FVG trials compared to baseline and placebo conditions. Participants reported reduced willingness and ability to drive under the active treatments (AB and FVG) than the placebo treatments (PB and PG).

Conclusions: FVGs may have some utility in replicating alcohol-related impairment on specific driving performance measurements. Hence, the equipment may offer an alternative approach to researching the impact of alcohol intoxication on simulated driving performance among populations where the provision of alcohol would otherwise be unethical (e.g., prelicensed drivers).     

Are you okay to drive? Commuting behavior and blood alcohol concentrations among restaurant diners

Objective: Drink driving is widely recognized as a major road safety problem. In Australia, health promotion messages encourage monitoring the number of standard drinks consumed prior to driving. This pilot research aimed to investigate commuting behavior and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of diners, including intended drivers, at Sunshine Coast restaurants.

Methods: Five hundred and forty-four diners (n = 260 males) consented to participate in a brief interview and to use a breathalyzer device to measure their BAC.

Results: Forty percent of participants advised they don't drink and drive (34% of males, 45% of females; 67.25% of <17–20 years, 30.5% of 50–59 years), and of the remaining participants, 75% advised they count the number of their drinks (69% of males, 84% of females; 32% of <17–20 years, 82% of 50–59 years), while 10% of participants monitored their BAC by how they were feeling (12% of males, 6% of females). Thirty-seven percent of participants said it was easy/very easy to estimate their BAC (41% of males; 33% of females; 21% of <17–20 years, 43% of 50–59 years). The actual BAC was less than expected for 56% of participants, with one-third underestimating BAC and some intended drivers having an actual BAC in excess of the 0.05 limit.

Conclusions: Given the proportion of diners who reported they count the number of drinks, or use feelings as a way to gauge BAC, coupled with the considerable proportion who underestimated their BAC, a safer public health message is to avoid driving if you intend to drink. In addition, targeted intervention for experienced drivers (and, arguably, drinkers) appears warranted, as every participant aged less than 21 years who stated he or she would drive home indeed had a zero BAC. Interestingly every female driver who stated she would be driving home also had a legal BAC, suggesting gender-specific intervention.     

Roadside survey on alcohol and drug use among drivers in the Arctic county of Finnmark (Norway)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of alcohol and potentially impairing drugs among the general driving population in Finnmark and to compare the prevalence among Norwegian, Russian, and other foreign drivers by analyzing samples of oral fluid.

Methods: In collaboration with local police, drivers were selected for a voluntary and anonymous study using a multistage cluster sampling procedure (selection of roads, time intervals, and drivers within each interval) from September 2014 to October 2015. Age, gender, citizenship, time, and geographical site were recorded. Samples of oral fluid were collected using the Quantisal device. The samples were analyzed for alcohol with an enzymatic method and for 12 illicit drugs and 16 medicinal drugs and some metabolites using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection.

Results: A total of 3,228 drivers were asked to participate in the study. The refusal rate was 6.2%. Of the 3,027 participants in the study, 111 (3.7%) were Russian and 204 (6.7%) had citizenship other than Norwegian or Russian. The total prevalence of psychoactive substances was 4.3%. Alcohol was detected in 0.3%, psychoactive medicinal drugs in 2.5%, and illicit drugs in 1.6% of the samples. The most commonly found substances were the sleeping agent zopiclone (1.1%), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 1.1%), and the analgesic agent codeine (0.6%). Illicit drugs were detected significantly more often in samples from drivers of citizenship other than Norwegian or Russian. The prevalence of alcohol was somewhat higher among Russian drivers but not statistically significant. There were large differences between age groups and genders concerning illicit drugs and psychoactive medicinal drugs; illicit drugs were more frequently in samples from young male drivers, whereas psychoactive medicinal drugs were more frequently in samples from elderly female drivers.

Conclusion: The total prevalence of alcohol and drugs among the general driving population in Finnmark was low and similar to previous Norwegian roadside surveys. Illicit drugs were detected significantly more often in samples from drivers with citizenship other than Russian and Norwegian and among young male drivers.     

umu试验研究饮用水氯和氯胺消毒过程中遗传毒性的变化以及消毒条件的影响

采用umu遗传毒性测试方法考察了消毒剂投加量、反应时间和消毒剂氯氮比对某饮用水厂臭氧-生物活性炭出水加氯或氯胺消毒前后遗传毒性的影响.结果表明,炭后水具有一定的遗传毒性(20～70 ng/L),加氯或氯胺消毒后遗传毒性增加.反应时间为24 h,在相同投加量下氯消毒遗传毒性(40～95 ng/L)高于氯胺消毒遗传毒性(20～40 ng/L);当氯初始投加量从0 mg/L增加到10 mg/L时,炭后水的遗传毒性先迅速增加,在0.5～1 mg左右达到极大值,然后再降低,在3～5 mg左右达到极小值后缓慢上升,但是氯胺消毒后水样遗传毒性变化规律不如氯消毒的明显.当投加量为3 mg/L时,随着反应时间从0 h延长至72 h,无论是氯消毒还是氯胺消毒,炭后水遗传毒性均是先迅速增加,在2 h时达到极大值后再下降,在18 h左右达到极小值然后缓慢上升,而且任意反应时间内,氯胺消毒的遗传毒性(20～62 ng/L)均小于氯消毒(83～120 ng/L).本试验还研究了消毒剂氯氮比对炭后水氯消毒后遗传毒性的影响.在本试验条件下,从遗传毒性的角度看,对于饮用水消毒氯胺比氯更安全,而且2种消毒方式的遗传毒性的变化规律均不同于总HAAs的变化规律.     

人工湿地对化粪池出水净化效果的对比研究

对比了四种复合人工湿地系统对化粪池出水COD、TP、NH3-N和SS的净化效果,试验系统均采用间歇式进水,时间间隔为1d。为期7个月的运行结果表明,系统出水水质均达到城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准(GB18918-2002)中的二级标准,其中潜流(水平流)+垂直流(上行流)湿地系统对COD的去除效果最好;垂直流(下行流)+垂直流(上行流)湿地系统对TP、NH3-N、SS去除效果最好;选用含钙石灰石和含铁矿粉做填料、采用间歇式的运行方式可以提高湿地系统对污染物的去除率。     

土壤含水层处理出水的回用健康风险评价

通过土壤柱实验,研究了土壤含水层处理工艺对污水处理厂二级处理出水的处理效果。初步讨论了土壤含水层处理工艺对各种污染物的去除机理,并评价了不同回用途径再生水对人体的健康风险。研究结果表明:土壤含水层处理工艺能够有效去除二级处理出水中的有机物和重金属离子,对大肠菌和粪大肠菌的去除率大于99.9%。健康风险评价结果显示:再生水的健康风险主要来自致癌物质,终生致癌风险在10-6数量级,而非致癌物质的健康危害风险在10-9数量级。     

电池生产含铅废水处理技术研究

研究针对电池生产废水含铅、含氟、含磷、高酸性的特点,采用物化加生化的混凝气浮-化学反应-曝气生物滤池的处理工艺,去除废水中的氟、铅及部分磷酸盐,同时充分吸收、吸附污水中的污染物,达到降解有机污染物、减少污水中BOD5、COD的含量,从而达到良好的处理效果,最终达标排放。     

胞外聚合物对MBR中改性无纺布过滤性能的影响

采用统计分析方法研究了胞外聚合物(extra-cellular polymeric sub6tances, EPS)对浸渍式膜生物反应器(submerged membrane bioreactor, SMBR)中聚乙烯醇改性聚丙烯无纺布过滤性能的影响.结果表明,无纺布膜组件表面污泥的溶解性EPS(soluble EPS, EPSs)、EPSs,组成(protein/carbohydrate, P/C)以及相对疏水性(relative hydrophobicity, RH)对膜的过滤性能有显著影响,与膜污染阻力的皮尔逊相关系数(rp)分别为:0.868、0.840、0.890;改性无纺布膜组件能有效抑制EPSs,的吸附、降低EPSs组分中P/C的比率、减少活性污泥的沉积.表明聚丙烯无纺布通过亲水改性后,过滤性能得到明显改善,表现出一定的耐污染性.     

Acute effects of chlorpyryphos-ethyl and secondary treated effluents on acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in Carcinus maenas

The acute effects of commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos-ethyl (Dursban(r)) and the secondary treated industrial/urban effluent (STIUE) exposure on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities in hepatopancreas and gills of Mediterranean crab Carcinus maenas were investigated. After 2 d of exposure to chlorpyriphos-ethyl, the AChE activity was inhibited in both organs at concentrations of 3.12 and 7.82 μg/L, whereas the BuChE was inhibited only at higher concentration 7.82 μg/L of commercial preparation Dursban(r). The exposure of crabs to Dursban(r) (3.12 μg/L) showed a significant decrement of AChE activity at 24 and 48 h, whereas the BuChE was inhibited only after 24 h and no inhibition for both enzymes was observed after 72 h. Moreover, a significant repression of AChE activity was observed in both organs of C. maenas exposed to 5% of STIUE. Our experiments indicated that the measurement of AChE activity in gills and hepatopancreas of C. meanas would be useful biomarker of organophosphorous (OP) and of neurotoxic effects of STIUE in Tunisia.     

组合人工湿地对城镇污水处理厂尾水中有机物的去除特征研究

采用物理分级和三维荧光光谱法,研究了组合人工湿地对城镇污水处理厂尾水中不同形态有机物的去除特征.结果表明,组合人工湿地对污水处理厂尾水具有较好的深度处理效果,出水水质基本可以达到国家地表水环境质量标准(GB38382-2002)Ⅲ或Ⅳ类水标准.组合人工湿地处理系统对尾水中CODCr和BOD5总体去除率分别达到35.2%和44.3%,对尾水中总有机碳(TOC)、溶解性有机碳(DOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)的平均去除率分别为46.9%、45.9%、48.3%.组合人工湿地系统不同单元对尾水中有机物的去除贡献率存在差异,其中,潜流湿地单元对尾水中CODCr和BOD5及其不同组分有机碳的去除效率较高.试验期间,由于藻类滋生,表流湿地单元出水中有机物含量波动较大,去除效果明显降低,藻类被打捞后,出水水质明显改善.三维荧光光谱分析结果显示,各个处理单元取样点的水样三维荧光光谱均出现4个明显的荧光峰.人工湿地各单元出水溶解性有机质(DOM)中,类蛋白和类腐殖酸物质含量较高,类富里酸物质含量较低.人工湿地对类蛋白和类腐殖酸物质有较强的去除作用.