WEEE and portable batteries in residual household waste: Quantification and characterisation of misplaced waste

A total of 26.1 Mg of residual waste from 3129 households in 12 Danish municipalities was analysed and revealed that 89.6 kg of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), 11 kg of batteries, 2.2 kg of toners and 16 kg of cables had been wrongfully discarded. This corresponds to a Danish household discarding 29 g of WEEE (7 items per year), 4 g of batteries (9 batteries per year), 1 g of toners and 7 g of unidentifiable cables on average per week, constituting 0.34% (w/w), 0.04% (w/w), 0.01% (w/w) and 0.09% (w/w), respectively, of residual waste. The study also found that misplaced WEEE and batteries in the residual waste constituted 16% and 39%, respectively, of what is being collected properly through the dedicated special waste collection schemes. This shows that a large amount of batteries are being discarded with the residual waste, whereas WEEE seems to be collected relatively successfully through the dedicated special waste collection schemes. Characterisation of the misplaced batteries showed that 20% (w/w) of the discarded batteries were discarded as part of WEEE (built-in). Primarily alkaline batteries, carbon zinc batteries and alkaline button cell batteries were found to be discarded with the residual household waste. Characterisation of WEEE showed that primarily small WEEE (WEEE directive categories 2, 5a, 6, 7 and 9) and light sources (WEEE directive category 5b) were misplaced. Electric tooth brushes, watches, clocks, headphones, flashlights, bicycle lights, and cables were items most frequently found. It is recommended that these findings are taken into account when designing new or improving existing special waste collection schemes. Improving the collection of WEEE is also recommended as one way to also improve the collection of batteries due to the large fraction of batteries found as built-in. The findings in this study were comparable to other western European studies, suggesting that the recommendations made in this study could apply to other western European countries as well.     

Polyaniline nanofibers: acute toxicity and teratogenic effect on Rhinella arenarum embryos

The fate and effect of nanomaterials in the environment is of paramount importance towards the technological application of the materials. This work shows the ecotoxicological potential of polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers in the larvae Rhinella arenarum by means of AMPHITOX test. Acute toxicity of PANI nanofibers towards embryos of the common South American toad R. arenarum (Anura: bufonidae) was evaluated in the premetamorphosis (stage 25) larvae. The exposure of R. arenarum larvae to at dose of 150, 250 and 400 mg L⁻¹ resulted in 100% viability within 96 h exposure. The embryos at 2-4 blastomers stage (early life stage teratogenic test) revealed that embryos were not killed and no teratogenic effects were observed when embryos were incubated with PANI nanofibers (150 and 250 mg L⁻¹), while only a growth retardation of embryos was induced at levels of 250 mg PANI nanofibers L⁻¹. On the other hand, at 400 mg L⁻¹ concentration, a reduction in the body length of larvae and tail malformation was observed. This results suggest that a concentration-dependent toxicity is operative, typified by phenotypes that had abnormal body axes. The presence of PANI nanofibers in gut contents and its excretion by larval stages of R. arenarum was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy.     

Using Parasitic Trematode Larvae to Quantify an Elusive Vertebrate Host

Abstract: Digenean trematode parasites require multiple host species to complete their life cycles, and their abundance can often be strongly correlated with the abundance of their host species. Species richness and abundance of parasites in easily sampled host species may yield an accurate estimate of the species richness and abundance of other hosts in a parasite's life cycle that are difficult to survey directly. Accordingly, we investigated whether prevalence and mean abundance of trematodes could be used to estimate the abundance of one of their host species, diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin), which are difficult to sample and are designated as near threatened (by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN Red List]) along some U.S. coasts. As an adult the trematode Pleurogonius malaclemys is specific to terrapins. Its larval stages live first inside mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta) and are subsequently shed into the environment where they form external metacercarial cysts on hard surfaces such as snail opercula. The life cycle of P. malaclemys is completed when terrapins ingest these cysts. At 12 sites along the coast of Georgia (U.S.A.), we determined the prevalence of internal P. malaclemys larvae in mud snails (proportion of infected snails in a population) and the prevalence and mean abundance of external trematode cysts. We examined whether these data were correlated with terrapin abundance, which we estimated with mark‐recapture methods. The abundance of external cysts and salinity explained ≥59% of the variability in terrapin abundance. We suggest that dependent linkages between the life stages of multihost parasites make them reliable predictors of host species’ abundance, including hosts with abundances that are challenging to quantify directly.     

220千伏高压输电线路对电磁环境的影响分析及防治对策

通过对220kV输电线路电磁辐射的实际测量和理论计算,研究和讨论了220kV单回路和双回路输电线产生的电磁辐射对环境的影响,并提出降低电磁辐射水平的对策与建议。     

高加速寿命可靠性试验HALT技术研究

从研究开发HALT试验的背景出发，介绍了进行HALT试验的基本原理及其意义，并说明了该试验设备的各组成部分。同时指出了HALT试验可分为四个分段试验过程，对其分别进行了阐述，最后对HALT试验的实施步骤进行了分析，认为该试验是一个重复试验－失效－失效分析－改进并维修－再试验的过程。开展HALT试验技术及其应用的研究与工程实践，可在产品设计阶段快速消除设计缺陷，缩短研发时间和成本，迅速提供产品的质量和固有可靠性。     

The conspicuity of first-responder safety garments

Introduction

This study compared the conspicuity of three types of first-responder safety garments (NFPA 1971-2007 turnout gear coats, and ANSI/ISEA 107 and 207 safety vests).

Method

Participants drove instrumented vehicles on a closed track during both daytime and nighttime, indicating when they could first detect pedestrians in a simulated emergency response scene. Pedestrians wore one of the safety garments and stood on either side of the emergency scene, facing or perpendicular to oncoming traffic, and either stationary or walking in place.

Results

All three garment standards provided equal levels of conspicuity, in that the distances at which the pedestrians were detected were equivalent. Time of day was a significant factor, with longer mean detection distances being observed in daytime. Pedestrian orientation was significant, with mean detection distances being longest when facing traffic. Pedestrian motion did not result in significant differences in detection distance.

Discussion

The results suggest that all three garment types studied are equivalent in making first responders conspicuous as pedestrians when working an emergency response scene in close proximity to traffic.

Impact on Industry

Whether an NFPA or ANSI/ISEA compliant is worn, first responders are equally likely to be detected by passing motorists, and as such these garments should be considered to be equivalent.     

天平的不等臂性对测试的影响

天平是一种重要的试验室检测仪器,在个体防护用品的检验工作中同样不可或缺,比如防护服的透气量测试、旋转辊筒法对防护鞋外底磨耗量的检测等,都会用到天平。本文主要从产生天平不等臂的原因及不等臂的检测、不等臂的调整等方面,简要论述了天平的正确性对测量的影响。     

GB21148-2007《个体防护装备安全鞋》标准的研究

本文结合《特种劳动防护用品生产许可证实施细则》对GB21148-2007《个体防护装备安全鞋》标准的特点、整体框架新增项目的目的及内容进行具体阐述,并提出标准修改及实施的建议。     

安全人机工效实验室规划研究

安全人机工效学是安全工程科学的重要组成部分,而安全人机工效实验是该学科研究的重要基础,安全人机工效实验围绕作业环境与作业活动模拟、作业人员心理、生理、劳动负荷等参数变化需要通过大量实验进行研究,因此有必要建立基础性、综合性、开放性与动态性相结合的人机工效实验室。通过国内外调研,根据初步规划研究建立基础测量、虚拟仿真与监测、心理与行为分析、综合评估等4个实验室,可初步形成安全人机工效实验研究平台,为进一步实现安全与健康并重安全工程研究提供良好的基础条件。     

加强污染源自动监测设备运行监管的若干思考

从日常监管、运营服务、设备性能等方面分析了污染源自动监测设备市场现状,针对在实际工作中存在的问题,从设备厂商、污染源企业、环保部门的角度提出了加强污染源自动监测设备运行监管的解决思路。