The quality of fiber counts using improved slides with relocatable fields

A parameter based on discrepancies between reported fibers and verified fibers of relocatable slides is shown to be effective in monitoring the quality of airborne fiber counts. Analysts report only the fibers in each field examined. The verified fibers were determined by two experienced analysts, and are here considered as a "true" value. Most of the verified fibers were confirmed by the reported fibers, and the disputed fibers or fiber counting errors were all located and accounted for. In this study, reference (REF) slides were manufactured from proficiency analytical test (PAT) filter samples from the American Industrial Hygiene Association containing chrysotile or amosite. The slides were made using coverglasses bearing a grid pattern to allow accurate re-examinations. These coverglasses are an improved version of those used in previous studies. Seventy-four out of 85 amosite results and 51 out of 60 chrysotile results of REF slides were within their PAT proficiency ranges. When all reported fibers were normalized against their respective verified fibers, the average fiber count was over-estimated for amosite by 38.3% and under-estimated for chrysotile by 30.4%. The error from counting short fibers (sizing-extra) was 82.6% of the extra fibers and accounted for the 38% over-estimation of amosite fibers. For chrysotile fibers, sizing-extra errors were 74.0% of the extra fibers, but by far the larger errors were oversight-missing errors, which were 96.7% of the missing fibers and accounted for the 30% under-estimation of the chrysotile fibers. The discrepancies were found to be linearly related to counting errors as had been noted in a previous study, giving further weight to a proposed score, calculated from the discrepancy parameter (SigmaD(+) + |SigmaD(-)|)/VF(total), for evaluating the proficiencies of analysts. If a proficiency score =60 is selected, 48 out of 85 amosite results and 17 out of 60 chrysotile results satisfied this criterion in this study. The number of fiber counting errors in this study was larger than could be expected by PAT proficiency criteria. It may be useful to complement existing proficiency test programs with these REF slides. At the end of each proficiency testing round, detailed reports of discrepancies can be provided to participants so that they can improve on their skills in searching and sizing fibers and minimize their counting errors. In addition, the internal quality control program of each laboratory could include counting REF slides regularly by all analysts with control charts of (SigmaD(+)/VF(total)), (SigmaD(-)/VF(total)), (SigmaD(+) + |SigmaD(-)|)/VF(total) and RF(total)/VF(total) maintained to monitor errors, proficiencies and intercounter variations. Ten percent of relocatable slides of routine samples could also be recounted to monitor intracounter variation.     

试验方法和接种物来源对苯甲酸钠快速生物降解率的影响

化学品的快速生物降解性直接影响其在环境中的迁移、转化和归宿,是鉴别其环境危害性和持久性的基本指标,是政府管理部门对化学品进行风险管理的重要科学依据,在生态毒理测试中具有非常重要的地位。为探讨试验方法、接种物来源以及两者的交互效应对苯甲酸钠生物降解率的影响,2013~2015年间以广州地区2个主要处理生活污水的污水处理厂(DTS、LD)为接种物来源,采用OECD 301系列试验方法(301B、301D和301F)进行了苯甲酸钠的快速生物降解性试验,共获得89个标准化测试数据。统计分析结果显示,接种物来源、试验方法与接种物来源的交互效应对苯甲酸钠生物降解率影响不显著,但试验方法单一因素的影响显著。本研究表明,当受试物为易生物降解时,接种物来源、试验方法和接种物来源的交互效应对该受试物的生物降解率无显著的影响,但在同一条件下,选择不同的试验方法往往会导致最终生物降解率出现明显差异。     

The impact of airborne particulate matter on pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia among children in Jinan,China: A case-crossover study

This study aims to examine the effect of short-term changes in the concentration of particulate matter of diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM_2.5) and ≤10 µm (PM₁₀) on pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in Jinan, China. It explores confoundings factors of weather, season, and chemical pollutants. Information on pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in 2014 was extracted from the database of Jinan Qilu Hospital. The relative risk of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia was assessed using a case-crossover approach, controlling weather variables, day of the week, and seasonality. The single-pollutant model demonstrated that increased risk of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia was significantly associated with elevated PM_2.5 concentrations the day before hospital admission and elevated PM₁₀ concentrations 2 days before hospital admission. An increment of 10 μg/m³ in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was correlated with a 6% (95% CI 1.02–-1.10) and 4% (95% CI 1.00–1.08) rise in number of admissions for pneumonia, respectively. In two pollutant models, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ remained significant after inclusion of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide but not carbon monoxide. This study demonstrated that short-term exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM_2.5/PM₁₀) may be an important determinant of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in Jinan, China.

Implications: This study demonstrated that short-term exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM_2.5/PM₁₀) may be an important determinant of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in Jinan, China, and suggested the relevance of pollutant exposure levels and their effects. As a specific group, children are sensitive to airborne particulate matter. This study estimated the short-term effects attribute to other air pollutants to provide references for relevant studies.     

Field evaluation and determination of four herbicides in a wheat ecosystem by a simple and versatile QuEChERS method with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Wheat products are consumed worldwide and every day; therefore, herbicides misuse in the wheat ecosystem has become a global food safety issue. Here, a simple and versatile method, QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed to measure four herbicides in soil, wheat, and wheat straw – florasulam, carfentrazone-ethyl, fluroxypyr-meptyl, and fluroxypyr. By adjusting the amount of graphitized carbon black from 0 to 10 mg, the herbicides could be extracted with satisfactory recoveries of 80%–110%. Application of two water-dispersible granules showed first-order kinetics as well as half-lives between 1.2 and 5.1 d under open-field conditions. The dissipation kinetics of the four herbicides differed in the soil, wheat, and wheat straw, with residual concentrations in straw at 2 h after application being higher than in soil and faster degradation occurring in straw. The terminal residues in soil, wheat grain, and wheat straw were all below the maximum residue limits. The developed method was easy to handle and versatile; thus, it will facilitate regulation and inspection for possible misuse against Good Agriculture Practices. Moreover, the results of this study will contribute to global environmental protection as well as food safety issues.     

Photoirradiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diones by UVA light leading to lipid peroxidation

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous genotoxic environmental pollutants and potentially pose a health risk to humans. In most if not all cases, PAHs in the environment can be oxidized into their corresponding PAH-diones. This process is considered a detoxification pathway with regard to tumorigenicity. Nevertheless, photo-induced toxicological activity of PAH-diones has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we show that 27 potential environmental PAH-diones induced lipid peroxidation, in a dose (light) response manner, when irradiated with UVA at 7 and 21 J cm⁻². Photoirradiation in the presence of sodium azide, deuterated methanol, or superoxide dismutase revealed that lipid peroxidation is mediated by reactive oxygen species. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping studies supported this observation. These results suggest that UVA photoirradiation of PAH-diones generates reactive oxygen species and induces lipid peroxidation.     

Numerical modeling and performance evaluation of passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB)

● A 2D finite-element solute transport model, PRB-Trans, is developed. ● PC-PRB can significantly improve the remediation efficiency of PRB. ● PC-PRB can considerably reduce the required PRB dimensions and materials costs. ● The required PRB length decreases with the increase of pipe length, L _p. The passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB) was proposed to address the limitations of traditional PRB configurations. To evaluate the hydraulic and pollutant removal performance of the PC-PRB system, we developed a simulation code named PRB-Trans. This code uses the two-dimensional (2D) finite element method to simulate groundwater flow and solute transport. Case studies demonstrate that PC-PRB technology is more efficient and cost-effective than continuous permeable reactive barrier (C-PRB) in treating the same contaminated plume. Implementation of PC-PRB technology results in a 33.3% and 72.7% reduction in PRB length (L_PRB) and height (H_PRB), respectively, while increasing 2D horizontal and 2D vertical pollutant treatment efficiencies of PRB by 87.8% and 266.8%, respectively. In addition, the PC-PRB technology has the ability to homogenize the pollutant concentration and pollutant flux through the PRB system, which can mitigate the problems arising from uneven distribution of pollutants in the C-PRB to some extent. The L_PRB required for PC-PRB decreases as the water pipe length (L_p) increases, while the H_PRB required initially decreases and then increases with increasing L_p. The effect of passive well height (H_w) on H_PRB is not as significant as that of L_p on H_PRB. Overall, PC-PRB presents a promising and advantageous PRB configuration in the effective treatment of various types of contaminated plumes.     

Distributive and procedural justice as predictors of employee outcomes in Hong Kong

This study examines the extent to which employee judgments about distributive and procedural justice predict job satisfaction, intent to stay and evaluation of supervision in Hong Kong. Distributive and procedural justice each plays a role in determining work outcomes of Hong Kong employees. However, some effects of these justice variables differ from results of previous studies in the United States (U.S.). First, in previous U.S. studies, procedural justice moderates the relationship of distributive justice with evaluation of supervision, but not with job satisfaction or intent to stay. For Hong Kong employees, procedural justice moderates the effects of distributive justice on job satisfaction and intent to stay, but not on evaluation of supervision. Second, previous U.S. studies have shown that procedural justice has a larger effect on work outcomes for women, while distributive justice has larger effects on outcomes for men. For Hong Kong employees, the effects of procedural and distributive justice are about the same for men and women. Differences in the effects of distributive and procedural justice between Hong Kong and the U.S. may reflect cultural dimensions, such as collectivism/individualism and power distance, as well as the relative availability of rewards for women in the work force. Practical implications and future research directions are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physicochemical and nutritional features of Gleditsia japonica shell biochar under different pyrolysis conditions

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This study aimed to investigate the effects of pyrolysis temperature (200–700 °C) and duration (2 h, 4 h) on...     

Tailpipe emission characterizations of diesel-fueled forklifts under real-world operations using a portable emission measurement system

Non-road equipment is one of the key contributing sources to air pollution. Thus, an accurate development of emission inventory from non-road equipment is imperative for air quality management, especially for equipment with a large population such as diesel-fueled forklifts. The objective of this paper is to characterize duty-cycle based emissions from diesel-fueled forklifts using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS). Three duty-cycles were defined in this study, including idling, moving, and working (active duty operation) and used to characterize in-use emissions for diesel-fueled forklifts. A total of twelve diesel-fueled forklifts were selected for real-world emission measurements. Results showed that fuel-based emission factors appear to have smaller variability compared to time-based ones. For example, the time-based emission factors for CO, HC, NO, and PM_2.5 for forklifts were estimated to be 16.6–43.9, 5.3–15.1, 26.2–49.9, 5.5–11.1 g/hr with the fuel-based emission factors being 12.1–20.3, 4.1–8.3, 19.1–32.4, 3.5–6.5 g/kg-fuel, respectively. NO emissions appear to be the biggest concern for emissions control. Furthermore, most of the emissions factors estimated from this study are significantly different from those in both National Guideline for Emission Inventory Development for Non-Road Equipment in China and well-developed emission factor models such as NONROAD by US EPA. This implies that localized, preferably fuel-based emission factors should be adjusted based on real-world emission measurements in order to develop a representative emission inventory for non-road equipment.     

Fine particulate (PM2.5) composition in Atlanta, USA: assessment of the particle concentrator-Brigham Young University organic sampling system, PC-BOSS, during the EPA supersite study

Aerosol concentrations of carbonaceous material, sulfate, and nitrate for samples obtained using a newly designed PC-BOSS are reported. The results indicated that PM_2.5 composition in Atlanta was dominated by sulfate and organic material, with low concentrations of particulate nitrate. Observed average particulate component concentrations for the 26-day study period were: sulfate, 12.2 μg/m³ (17.0 μg/m³ as ammonium sulfate); non-volatile organic material, 11.4 μg OM/m³ (assumes organic material, OM, is 61% C); semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) lost from particles during sampling, 5.3 μg OM/m³; filter retained nitrate, 0.1 μg/m³ (0.2 μg/m³ as ammonium nitrate); nitrate lost from particles, 0.3 μg/m³ (0.4 μg/m³ as ammonium nitrate); and soot (elemental carbon), 1.5 μg/m³. The PC-BOSS particle concentrator efficiency was obtained by comparison of the PC-BOSS sulfate data with sulfate data obtained from the Federal Reference Method (FRM) sampler. A modification of the PC-BOSS design to allow independent determination of this parameter is recommended.