Modelling and experimental studies on the transfer of radionuclides to fruit

Although fruit is an important component of the diet, the extent to which it contributes to radiological exposure remains unclear, partially as a consequence of uncertainties in models and data used to assess transfer of radionuclides in the food chain. A Fruits Working Group operated as part of the IAEA BIOMASS (BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment) programme from 1997 to 2000, with the aim of improving the robustness of the models that are used for radiological assessment. The Group completed a number of modelling and experimental activities including: (i) a review of experimental, field and modelling information on the transfer of radionuclides to fruit; (ii) discussion of recently completed or ongoing experimental studies; (iii) development of a database on the transfer of radionuclides to fruit; (iv) development of a conceptual model for fruit and (v) two model intercomparison studies and a model validation study. The Group achieved significant advances in understanding the processes involved in transfer of radionuclides to fruit. The work demonstrated that further experimental and modelling studies are required to ensure that the current generation of models can be applied to a wide range of scenarios.     

The potential-method--an economic evaluation tool

INTRODUCTION: Measuring the effect of safety and health on production is a difficult value to gauge. METHOD: This article introduces the Potential, which is an instrument for economic analysis that incorporates different changes in conditions. RESULTS: While there are a number of problems associated with methods to determine these calculations, this method is a good indicator of the effects of safety and health and produces more than 300 variables with much less input. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Organizations can use this method effectively to determine how safety and health measure can improve their bottom line. A positive business case is highlighted.     

Development of a three-year-old child FE model

OBJECTIVE: Child crash dummies are conventionally used for safety performance evaluations of the child restraint system (CRS) in vehicle crash tests. To investigate injuries to various body regions of a child in detail, mathematical models are useful, and provide information that cannot be analyzed by crash dummies. Therefore, in the present research, a finite element (FE) model of a 3-year-old child has been developed by model-based scaling from the AM50 human FE model, THUMS (Total HUman body for Safety). METHODS: The dimensions of each body region were based on the anthropometry data of United States children, and material properties of child bone were estimated from data reported in the literature. Neck flexion, thorax impact responses, and torso flexion were validated against the response corridor of the 3-year-old Hybrid III dummy in calibration tests. A test of lap belt loading to the abdomen was also conducted. FE models of two different types of CRS, a 5-point harness and a tray shield CRS, were also made, and ECE R44 sled impact test simulations were conducted using the child FE model. RESULTS: The characteristics of the child FE model proved to be close to the Hybrid III and child volunteer corridor. In the ECE R44 sled test simulations using the child FE model, the head movement down and head rotation were large in the 5-point harness CRS, and chest deflection was large in the tray shield CRS. In both CRS types, the whole spine flexed in the child FE model. This behavior is different from that of the Hybrid III, where the thorax spine is stiff and only the cervical spine and lumbar spine flex. CONCLUSIONS: Although this child FE model has several limitations in areas such as the anatomical shapes and material properties of a child, this model can be a useful tool to examine the behavior of a child in impacts, which may be difficult to predict by using the Hybrid III dummy with its stiff thorax spine box.     

Patterns of drinking four weeks prior to an alcohol-related vehicular crash

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of the study was to determine if drinking patterns on the days immediately prior to an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash (ARMVC) were significantly different than drinking patterns in the weeks prior to the crash. METHODS: Following ARMVC, 187 hospitalized non-alcohol dependent young-adults (43 females, 144 males) were enrolled. Mean age was 29.03 years, mean blood alcohol level was 165.18 mg/dL, and mean injury severity score was 10.50. When alcohol-free, subjects were interviewed by nurse clinicians to determine the quantity/frequency of alcohol consumption during the 28 days prior to the crash. Subjects reported the number of standard drinks using the Timeline Followback procedure. Total drinks/day were determined, with day 1 considered 4 weeks prior to the crash and day 28 the day of the crash. A random-intercepts general linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to test the effect of several covariates (segment 1 [days 1-26], segment 2 [days 27-28], age, sex, race, holiday/non-holiday period, driver/passenger status, and weekend/weekday crash) on the amount of standard drinks/day. RESULTS: There was no significant interaction among the covariates. The only significant predictors of drinks/day were segment 2 (b = .322, p < .0001) and gender (b = -.221, p = .016). The positive, statistically significant slope for segment 2 indicated an increase in consumption of drinks/day in the two-day period prior to the ARMVC and the negative slope for gender indicated greater consumption of drinks/day for men than women. CONCLUSION: Persons injured in an ARMVC had a significant increase in alcohol consumption on the day before and the day of vehicular crashes (days 27 and 28) as compared to the first 26 days in the 28-day period preceding the crash. When non-alcohol-dependent subjects are counseled to reduce their risk of traffic crashes, they should be alerted that when their patterns of drinking change, they are at higher risk than usual for a crash.     

Carbonation of MSWI-bottom ash to decrease heavy metal leaching, in view of recycling

The 0.1-2 mm fraction of a MSWI-bottom ash cannot be used as granular construction material because leaching of Cu exceeds Flemish limit values. In addition, leaching of Ba, Mo and Sb exceeds informal limit values. Leaching characteristics thus need to be improved. Carbonation was the chosen treatment method and this was performed by placing samples in a CO2 chamber. The CO2 percentage and the temperature of the chamber atmosphere, as well as the initial humidity of the samples, were varied to optimize carbonation parameters. Metal leaching was tested with the EN 12457 extraction test. Carbonation decreased Cu leaching from 3.3 to 1.0 mg/kg, but not yet to below the official limit value of 0.5 mg/kg. Leaching of Mo and Sb remained fairly constant or even increased after carbonation, but their limit values are only informal. Ba leaching decreased to below the informal limit value. Carbonation also caused Cr leaching to increase, in some cases to above the official limit value. Of the tested parameters, a CO2 percentage of 10% and a carbonation temperature of 50 degrees C in the atmosphere, together with ash humidity between 13% and 25% appeared to give the best leaching results. The main carbonation reactions took place within the first 24 h.     

Odour control at biowaste composting facilities

There are several options to effectively reduce odorous emissions at composting facilities depending on the type of composting system used. Some of the more relevant measures for open and enclosed composting facilities are presented in this article. Results from different investigations on odour reduction efficiencies of biological waste gas treatment systems at various scales are presented. Biofilter/bioscrubber combinations were used and different biofilter materials were tested. The more relevant odorous substances in the waste gas were identified, and their reduction in the different systems was measured. The biofilter proved to be mainly responsible for efficient odour degradation. The investigations presented in this article revealed that screened compost was very effective, and proved to be a low cost biofilter material for odour degradation purposes. Screened compost showed higher degradation rates than a coke-compost mixture newly developed by the University of Leipzig. Furthermore, it seems that enclosed systems have advantages when compared to conventional open single bed biofilters.     

Infectious waste management in Japan: a revised regulation and a management process in medical institutions

In Japan, the waste management practice is carried out in accordance with the Waste Disposal Law of 1970. The first rule of infectious waste management was regulated in 1992, and infectious wastes are defined as the waste materials generated in medical institutions as a result of medical care or research which contain pathogens that have the potential to transmit infectious diseases. Revised criteria for infectious waste management were promulgated by the Ministry of Environment in 2004. Infectious waste materials are divided into three categories: the form of waste; the place of waste generation; the kind of infectious diseases. A reduction of infectious waste is expected. We introduce a summary of the revised regulation of infectious waste management in this article.