Transfer of dioxin risk between nine major municipal waste incinerators in Taiwan

The objective of this study was to assess site-specific carcinogenic risks of incinerator-emitted dioxins and risk transfers among the areas covered by nine municipal incinerators in Taiwan. We used actual emission data and the industrial source complex short-term model (ISCST3) to determine the dioxin impact areas within the 8 x 8-km simulation regions surrounding the incinerators. We then used multimedia model to estimate cancer risks in individual impact areas for two exposure scenarios, which were sufficient (SFP) and insufficient food production (IFP) for residents' consumption in each impact area. We also used information of food supply and consumption between impact areas to calculate risk transfers among these nine incinerators. We found that dioxins' carcinogenic risks ranged from 1.4 x 10(-8) (Incinerator F) to 7.1 x 10(-5) (Incinerator A) for the nine incinerators under the exposure scenario of SFP, and ranged from 8.7 x 10(-8) (Incinerator D) to 1.1 X 10(-6) (Incinerator E) under the exposure scenario of IFP. The food ingestion was the main exposure pathway, which accounted for 64-99% of total dioxin risks among nine impact areas. For the nine major food items consumed by residents in the impact areas, eggs (14-35%) and chicken (11-26%) were two main routes of dioxin exposure in the SFP scenario, while chicken (8-78%) and vegetables (0.2-81%) were two main routes of dioxin exposure in the IFP scenario. Significant risks of dioxins were transferred among incinerators, which accounted for up to 88% among the incinerators. Incinerator E was the major risk-exporting source to six Incinerators C, D, F, G, H, and I. For these six incinerators, Incinerator E accounted for their 51-88% imported risks. We concluded that risk transfers among incinerators through routes of food consumption should be considered in assessing health risks associated with incinerator-emitted dioxins in Taiwan. We should place high priority on implementing control measures to lower dioxin emissions in important food-exporting areas like Incinerator E. We should also emphasize analyzing dioxin contents in eggs, chicken, and vegetables in order to improve dioxin-related health risk assessments in the future.     

Extraction of 17β-estradiol in water using non-imprinted polymer submicron particles in membrane filters

17β-Estradiol (E2) is an endocrine disrupting chemical of harm to both animals and human beings at a low concentration level (ng/L). It cannot be completely removed by wastewater treatments, and is often detected in both environment and drinking waters. The purpose of this feasibility study, towards environmental engineering in the field of water analysis and treatment, was to remove E2 by extraction using non-imprinted polymer (NIP) submicron particles. Experimental results showed that 0.5 mg/L of E2 could be completely extracted by adding 10 mg of NIP particles directly into 10 mL of water. However, the extraction efficiency decreased to 64% for 100 mL of water. prefilling the NIP particles inside a membrane filter showed a potential for water treatment of a large volume, requiring no effort to distribute the particles uniformly in the water. High extraction efficiency (80 ± 10)% for E2 was achieved for 100 mL of water. A total mass of 0.29 mg E2 was extracted from 1000 mL of water containing 0.8 mg/L E2 (by using only 10 mg of NIP particles). Both efficiency and mass capacity can be increased, by scaling up the amount of NIP particles, towards environmental engineering applications.     

Extraction of 17p-estradiol in water using non-imprinted polymer submicron particles in membrane filters

17β-Estradiol (E2) is an endocrine disrupting chemical of harm to both animals and human beings at a low concentration level (ng/L).It cannot be completely removed by wastewater treatments,and is often detected in both environment and drinking waters.The purpose of this feasibility study,towards environmental engineering in the field of water analysis and treatment,was to remove E2 by extraction using non-imprinted polymer (NIP) submicron particles.Experimental results showed that 0.5 mg/L of E2 could be completely extracted by adding 10 mg of NIP particles directly into 10 mL of water.However,the extraction efficiency decreased to 64% for 100 mL of water.prefilling the NIP particles inside a membrane filter showed a potential for water treatment of a large volume,requiring no effort to distribute the particles uniformly in the water.High extraction efficiency (80±10)% for E2 was achieved for 100 mL of water.A total mass of 0.29 mg E2 was extracted from 1000 mL of water containing 0.8 mg/L E2 (by using only 10 mg of NIP particles).Both efficiency and mass capacity can be increased,by scaling up the amount of NIP particles,towards environmental engineering applications.     

基于影响因素分析的给水管网主体水余氯衰减模型

余氯在管网中主要发生主体水反应和管壁反应。一方面自身会不断消耗衰减,导致管网末梢处余氯值达不到要求,另一方面,氯会与水体中的某些有机物反应生成三卤甲烷等消毒副产物。以上作为氯消毒的两个主要问题,既相互矛盾又相互联系。其中余氯在主体水中的反应受到多种因素的影响,这些因素包括温度,初始余氯浓度和水体水质情况等等。论文在正交试验设计的基础上,通过对试验结果的极差和方差分析,得出结论:温度是影响余氯衰减的最主要因素,其次是水体水质情况,影响最小的是初始余氯浓度。在正交试验结果的基础上做定性分析的同时,采用编程拟合建立了改进的主体水余氯衰减模型,得到的参数组合为A=21 428 571,m=0.539,α=2.903。该改进模型不仅能很好地拟合试验结果,而且由于是基于正交试验所建立,模型的代表性和适用性都更加优越。     

隔声薄膜褶皱对微穿孔板吸声性能的影响

为提高微穿孔板结构的吸声效果,将隔声薄膜制作成褶皱结构,加入微穿孔板后空腔中,采用驻波管法进行吸声试验,测试在125 Hz到2 000 Hz的13个1/3倍频程中心频率处的吸声系数。试验结果显示:单独的隔声薄膜褶皱结构具有一定的吸声能力,褶皱的高度对其吸声能力有一定影响;隔声薄膜褶皱结构的加入能有效提高微穿孔板的吸声性能,当褶皱高度为6 cm时,加入褶皱前后,吸声峰值由0.733提高到0.977,吸声带宽由2个(800 Hz~1 250 Hz)提高到5个(400 Hz~1 000 Hz)1/3倍频程中心频率;随着褶皱高度从2 cm提高到6 cm,复合结构的吸声系数显著增加,吸声带宽随之增大,吸声频带朝低频方向移动,当褶皱高度为6 cm时,吸声峰值达到0.977,接近全吸收。试验初步研究了隔声薄膜褶皱对微穿孔板吸声性能的影响特性,为进一步的理论计算与实际应用提供一定根据。     

Wire-on-bolt试验样品参数设计研究

Wire-on-bolt技术是一种大气腐蚀性快速评估技术。设计合理的试验样品参数是Wire-on-bolt技术研究的一项重要内容。根据不同参数样品的大气暴露试验数据,分析了各项样品参数对金属丝腐蚀率的影响。最终确定试验样品的电偶材料为T2铜和1100铝,铜螺栓为M25×6普通螺纹,铝丝长度为1 m、直径为3 mm。     

萤石选矿含氟废水处理试验研究

主要针对萤石选矿含氟废水的特点,比较了几种不同的沉淀剂和絮凝剂,筛选出氯化钙作为沉淀剂,PAC作为混凝剂,提出了氯化钙+PAC的处理工艺,并确定了该工艺药剂的最佳投药量与运行参数。试验结果表明,该工艺处理效果好,能把废水含氟量降到5 mg.L-1以下,达到国家一级排放标准。     

Survival risk factors for fatal injured car and motorcycle drivers in single alcohol-related and alcohol-unrelated vehicle crashes

Introduction

A high percentage of drivers who die as a result of a single vehicle crash are under the influence of alcohol. We aimed to better understand the prevalence of these fatalities and the ratio of death to injuries based on various risk factors. We focused on alcohol-related and -unrelated single-vehicle crashes to investigate the influence of such risk factors on the time until death for car and motorcycle drivers.

Methods

We combined data from national police reports and a vital registration database in Taiwan. Survival analysis using Cox regression models was used to identify the risk factors of time until death.

Results

Overall, nearly 60% of car driver fatalities and 40% of motorcycle driver fatalities involved the consumption of alcohol. Survival analysis of single-vehicle crashes suggested that the traffic island separation between a car moving at a higher speed and motorcycle traffic resulted in a higher risk of death over time for motorcycle drivers who consumed alcohol. The factors attributed to a higher risk of death over time for motorcycle drivers were older age, crashing into trees, night-time driving, driving on curved roads, and driving on local roads. Driving without restraints and driving on roads with higher speed limits attributed to a higher risk of death over time for car drivers.

Conclusions

The factors that influence the risk of death over time in a motor-vehicle accident involving alcohol depended on different elements, which should each be considered when attempting to reduce this risk.

Impact on Industry

More efforts should be made to investigate the various risk factors in areas with large motorcycle populations.     

Health risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides with emphasis on DDTs and HCHs in abandoned agricultural soils

The aim of this study was to evaluate the consequence of changing land use from agriculture land to other use purposes with respect to OCPs non-cancer and cancer risk on human health, based on concentrations of DDTs and HCHs in soils collected from 55 locations representing 12 different land use types. There were no non-cancer risks of DDTs and γ-HCHs on adults and children, and there were very low cancer risks of DDD, o,p'-DDE, DDT, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH based on their total concentrations in all samples. Nonetheless, there were significant correlations of DDT to its metabolites (DDE and DDD) (r = 0.506 and r = 0.648) and DDE to DDD (r = 0.438) both at p < 0.01. OCP levels should be routinely monitored in different environmental media and food in order to verify whether there is fresh input. Their potential risks on human health should also be assessed.