Humic acid and free radical in environment of Kaschin-Beck disease areas

The humic acid contents in drinking water and soil in Kaschin-Beck disease areas were found more than that of non-disease areas in this research. Changes of free radical concentration in drinking water were agreed with that of humic acid contents in drinking water of Kaschin-Beck disease areas. A positive correlation of free radical concentration and humic acid content in drinking water has been shown (r=0.913) . The structure of I. R. spectra of humic acid under ultraviolet light has been changed. Thus it indicated that free radical was resulted from benzoqiunonyl groups of humic acid in environment.     

Effect of applying selenium fertilizer to improve soil and increase selenium level in food for prevention and treatment of Kaschin-Beck disease

For prevention and treatment of Kaschin-Beck disease by applying Se fertilizer to soil to increase Se up to normal level for the wheat grains is introduced in this paper. After use this measure the intake of Se by the residents in the exemplary area increased from 10.4μg to 33.6 μg per day in average. After supplementing Se to human body one year, there is no new patient found among 300 healthy children in the exemplary area but 4 patients found among 264 healthy children in the control area. It is shown that by applying Se fertilizer to KBD area is a effective way for preventing and cure this disease.     

Regional assessment of cadmium pollution in agricultural lands and the potential health risk related to intensive mining activities： A case study in Chenzhou City, China

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of cadmium （Cd） contamination in agricultural soil and its potential risk for people. Soils, rice, and vegetables from Chenzhou City, Southern China were sampled and analyzed. In the surface soils, the 95% confidence interval for the mean concentration of Cd varied between 2.72 and 4.83 mg/kg （P 〈 0.05） in the survey, with a geometric mean concentration of 1.45 mg/kg. Based on the GIS map, two hot spot areas of Cd in agricultural soils with high Cd concentrations were identified to be located around the Shizhuyuan, Jinshiling, and Yaogangxian mines, and the Baoshan and Huangshaping mines, in the center of the city. About 60% of the total investigated area, where the agricultural soil Cd concentration is above 1 mg/kg, is distributed in a central belt across the region. The critical distances, at which the soil Cd concentration were increased by the mining activities, from the mines of the soils were 23 km for the Baoshan mine, 46 km for the Huangshaping mine, and 63 km for the Shizhuyuan mine, respectively. These are distances calculated from models. The Cd concentrations in rice samples ranged from 0.01 to 4.43 mg/kg and the mean dietary Cd intake from rice for an adult was 191 μg/d. Results of risk indexes showed that soil Cd concentrations possessed risks to local residents whose intake of Cd from rice and vegetables grown in soils in the vicinity of the mine was 596 μg/d.     

Australian bushfire fatalities 1900–2008: exploring trends in relation to the ‘Prepare,stay and defend or leave early’ policy

In many jurisdictions, including parts of the US, authorities often dictate mandatory evacuations of communities threatened by bushfire (wildfire). Prior to the 2009 ‘Black Saturday’ fires in Victoria, Australian fire authorities in all States advised residents to decide whether they would prepare to stay and defend homes or leave early. The clear intent of that policy was to avoid late evacuations and the risks to life that this could entail. This study re-examines evidence underpinning this policy using analyses of a database of bushfire fatalities. The database contains information on 552 civilian (non-fire fighter) fatalities obtained from print media archives at Risk Frontiers and forensic, witness and police statements contained within coronial inquest reports for all bushfire fatalities between 1901 and 2008. This data, compiled before the Black Saturday fires, clearly show the dangers of being caught outside during a bushfire and the gendered division of the circumstances of these deaths. While men have been most often killed outside while attempting to protect assets, most female and child fatalities occurred while sheltering in the house or attempting to flee. The database provides a benchmark against which the Black Saturday experience can be examined.