Sources, distribution, and risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in Nairobi City, Kenya

The distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air and surface waters were monitored in Nairobi City using triolein-filled semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The SPMDs were extracted by dialysis using n-hexane, followed by cleanup by adsorption chromatography on silica gel cartridges. Sample analysis was done by GC-ECD and confirmed by GC–MS. Separation of means was achieved by analysis of variance, followed by pair-wise comparison using the t-test (p≤ 0.05). The total OCPs ranged between 0.018 – 1.277 ng/m³ in the air and <LOD – 1391.000 ng/m³ in surface waters. Based on the results, the means of Industrial Area, Dandora and Kibera were not significantly different (p≤ 0.05), but were higher (p≤ 0.05) than those of City square and Ngong’ Forest. The results revealed non-significant (p≤ 0.05) contribution of long-range transport to OCP pollution in Nairobi City. This indicated possible presence of point sources of environmental OCPs in the city. The water-air fugacity ratios indicated that volatilization and deposition played an important role in the spatial distribution of OCPs in Nairobi City. This indicated that contaminated surface waters could be major sources of human exposure to OCPs, through volatilization. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) determined from inhalation of atmospheric OCPs were 2.3745  ×  10^?13 – 1.6845  ×  10^?11 (adult) and 5.5404  ×  10^?13 – 3.9306  ×  10^?11 (child) in the order: Dandora > Kibera > Industrial Area > City Square > Ngong’ Forest. However, these were lower than the USEPA acceptable risks, 10^?6 – 10^?4. This study concluded that atmospheric OCPs did not pose significant cancer risks to the residents.     

Alcohol is a predictor of mortality in motor vehicle collisions

IntroductionIt is well recognized that driving while intoxicated increases the probability of a motor-vehicle collision (MVC). The effect of alcohol on the chance of surviving the MVC is less clear. Method: Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) we conducted analyses for the outcome of mortality using alcohol and other variables as predictors. We also selected alcohol positive (AP) and alcohol negative (AN) persons from the same MVC and vehicle to control for confounding characteristics. Results: The odds ratio (OR) for mortality for alcohol positive drivers was 2.57, (p < 0.001 for all the following OR). Other harmful predictive factors were age OR 1.01 per year, vehicle age OR 1.05 per year, male sex OR 1.23, avoidance maneuver OR 1.09, speed related OR 2.89, rollover mechanism OR 2.75, and collision with a fixed object OR 6.70. Protective factors were proper restraint use – OR 0.19 and collision with another moving vehicle, OR 0.21. In the multivariate analysis the OR of mortality for AP vs AN was 1.46. Proper restraint use (OR 0.27) remained protective along with collision with another moving vehicle. When AP and AN persons from the same MVC and the same vehicle were compared, the adjusted OR’s for mortality were 1.46 and 2.08, respectively. Conclusions: Alcohol is an independent predictor of mortality in an MVC. Proper restraint use is the strongest protective factor. This finding allows a more complete understanding of the risks of driving while intoxicated, not only a higher probability of an MVC, but decreased survival once the MVC occurs. Practical Applications: Identification of alcohol as an independent predictor of mortality in an accident may improve risk assessment and influence drivers to avoid driving while intoxicated.     

销毁遗弃化学武器的环境风险评价方法研究

为履行《禁止化学武器公约》，各缔约国销毁化学武器的工作已启动。根据当前世界上化学武器的销毁情况，并针对二战期间在中国遗弃的化学武器的特点，给出了一套适应化学武器销毁流程的环境风险评价方法和技术。这套方法对将在我国进行的销毁遗弃化学武器风险评价工作有一定的实际意义。     

关于城乡生态经济一体化规划原则的思考

依据城乡生态环境中存在的一系列问题，提出应将生态经济观念引入社会经济发展中去，用生态学观点指导社会经济活动，对自然资源进行合理的开发利用；充分利用环境容量，发展环保产业，开发绿色产品。同时，由于城乡是一个完整的体系，只有进行城乡生态经济一体化规划，才能保证生态的良性循环。规划要考虑到：①打破行政区划，疏通物流渠道。②建设绿地中的城市，确保城市中的绿地。③有秩序分步骤发展生态经济。④为全球环境保护作     

生态农业是可持续发展的必然选择

通过对三明市发展生态农业的实践回顾、现状调查及其影响因素的分析，提出相应的对策。     

再生资源与原生资源的比较

分别阐述了我国目前原生资源与再生资源回收利用的现状，通过原生资源与再生资源在性能、经济发展、生态环境和节能方面的比较，使我们进一步认识再生资源，大力发展再生资源产业。     

加强城市环境风险管理,促进和谐社会建设

针对我国目前非正常死亡长期据高不下现状,分析了小尺度环境安全问题成因特点,提出用加强城市环境风险管理作为对策,并具体讨论了环境安全标准、环境安全责任、环境安全立法、环境安全经济、环境安全管理、环境安全科研等相关问题。     

西北地区油田开发对生态环境影响的几点分析

西北地区由于其特殊的地理条件 ,生态环境比较脆弱 ,因此 ,在此区域进行油田开发建设 ,一定要注意保护好当地生态环境。本文分析了西北地区油田开发对生态环境的影响 ,并提出切实可行的环保措施 ,以保护该区域脆弱的生态环境     

生态农业发展与小城镇建设

以3家生态村为例说明乡镇企业在生态农业产值中占据主导地位。通过对乡镇企业的经济效益、环境效益和社会效益以及小城镇发展的优越性分析可知，乡镇企业不宜在农村发展，应该在小城镇中发展，农村生态建设要立足农业，通过减少土地的人口承载量，提高劳动生产率和增加农民收入。     

浅谈荆马河污水资源化生态工程

遵循可持续发展的原则，针对经济欠发达地区的水环境污染现状，提出了兴建产业化的污水处理生态工程，科学地发展污灌，既有效地改善了京杭运河（徐州段）的水环境质量，又使徐州市城市污水得以资源化利用，对促进环境与社会经济协调发展具有积极意义。