On the process and implications of drawing up and running a security plan according to ADR in an SME-type company

This paper is specifically related to the provisions of the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), Chapter 1.10, introduced in 2005 as a result of a recognized terrorist threat (the potential misuse of hazardous goods as a weapon), prescribing a Security Plan to be elaborated. The paper outlines the process of drawing up, implementing and running a Security Plan in an anonymous, but typical, SME company in Slovenia, involved in the storage and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and technical gases, considering the provisions set out and the available guidelines. Selected examples of the approaches and issues related to the implementation process are briefly demonstrated, e.g., the risk-assessment results with the anticipated development of the incident events, followed by general examples on personnel authorities and the responsibilities imposed, and similar. The process revealed some critical points and limitations in the expectations. For example, in a typical SME it is difficult to nominate independent representatives who are free of production-related work priorities (as their primary role) for the enforcement, evaluation and testing of the security measures introduced (which is usually their secondary role).     

Cytogenetic status of human lymphocytes after exposure to low concentrations of p,p'-DDT, and its metabolites (p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD) in vitro

Despite that the use of DDT has been restricted for more than 40 years to malaria affected areas, low doses of this pesticide and its metabolites DDE and DDD can be found in the environment around the world. Although it has been shown that these pollutants induce cell and DNA damage, the mechanisms of their cytogenotoxic activity remains largely unknown. This study looks into their possible genotoxic effects, at doses that can be found in body fluids, on human lymphocytes using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay and the comet assay. After exposure for 1, 6, and 24 h compounds p,p′-DDT (0.1 μg mL⁻¹), p,p′-DDE (4.1 μg mL⁻¹), and p,p′-DDD (3.9 μg mL⁻¹) showed increase in DNA damage. The most significant results were observed at exposure period of 24 h where number of micronucleated cells increased from control 2.5 ± 0.71 to 23.5 ± 3.54, 13.5 ± 0.71, and 16.5 ± 6.36 for DDT, DDE, and DDD, respectively. Similar effect was observed using comet test where the percentage of DNA in comets tail increased from control 1.81 ± 0.16 to 17.24 ± 0.55, 11.21 ± 0.56 and 9.28 ± 0.50 for each compound, respectively. At the same time Fpg-comet assay failed to report induction of oxidative DNA damage of these pollutants. Additionally, the type of cell death was determined using diffusion assay and necrosis dominated. Our findings suggest that even at low concentrations, these pesticides could induce cytogenetic damage to human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in that manner have the impact on human health as well.     

Dependence of home outdoor particulate mass and number concentrations on residential and traffic features in urban areas

The associations between residential outdoor and ambient particle mass, fine particle absorbance, particle number (PN) concentrations, and residential and traffic determinants were investigated in four European urban areas (Helsinki, Athens, Amsterdam, and Birmingham). A total of 152 nonsmoking participants with respiratory diseases, not exposed to occupational pollution, were included in the study, which comprised a 7-day intensive exposure monitoring period of both indoor and home outdoor particle mass and number concentrations. The same pollutants were also continuously measured at ambient fixed sites centrally located to the studied areas (fixed ambient sites). Relationships between concentrations measured directly outside the homes (residential outdoor) and at the fixed ambient sites were pollutant-specific, with substantial variations among the urban areas. Differences were more pronounced for coarse particles due to resuspension of road dust and PN, which is strongly related to traffic emissions. Less significant outdoor-to-fixed variation for particle mass was observed for Amsterdam and Birmingham, predominantly due to regional secondary aerosol. On the contrary, a strong spatial variation was observed for Athens and to a lesser extent for Helsinki. This was attributed to the overwhelming and time-varied inputs from traffic and other local sources. The location of the residence and traffic volume and distance to street and traffic light were important determinants of residential outdoor particle concentrations. On average, particle mass levels in suburban areas were less than 30% of those measured for residences located in the city center. Residences located less than 10 m from a street experienced 133% higher PN concentrations than residences located further away. Overall, the findings of this multi-city study, indicated that (1) spatial variation was larger for PN than for fine particulate matter (PM) mass and varied between the cities, (2) vehicular emissions in the residential street and location in the center of the city were significant predictors of spatial variation, and (3) the impact of traffic and location in the city was much larger for PN than for fine particle mass.     

Modeling of policies for reduction of GHG emissions in energy sector using ANN: case study—Croatia (EU)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study describes the development of tool for testing different policies for reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in energy sector using...     

Use of 15N-depleted artificial compost in bound residue studies

Association of bound residues to soil humic matter may be accomplished by different binding mechanisms such as sequestration in hydrophobic interiors of the organic material or covalent linkage to the organic matter. The structures and chemical environments of compounds can be observed by NMR spectroscopy. We applied 15N-NMR spectroscopy to study the soil-bound residues of 15N-labeled simazine. As the 15N-isotope has a low sensitivity and natural abundance 15N-NMR experiments require long measurement times and often result in low signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. Therefore, in addition to the use of 15N-labeled simazine, 15N-depleted compost was used to reduce the amount of background signal and enhance the sensitivity. The compost was produced from maize and wheat plants grown on sand with 15N-depleted NH4NO3 as sole nitrogen source. The plants were freeze-dried, ground and mixed with sand for composting. After a composting period of 224 days analysis of the compost revealed a 15N-content of 267 ppm as opposed to a natural abundance of 3650 ppm. Characterization of this artificial compost produced parameter values similar to those of a natural compost. The 13C-NMR-spectra of the humic and fulvic acids during different stages of maturity showed that there was a shift from single-bond functional groups to more complex double-bond and aromatic structures. Experiments with this compost showed an increased signal intensity. The improved sensitivity made it possible to obtain interpretable NMR signals in contrast to experiments with 15N-simazine on native soil where no signals were detectable. The data indicated that the bound residues of simazine are composed of metabolites resulting from N-dealkylation and triazine ring destruction. Silylation of the bound residues showed a very strong binding of the residues to the matrix as only a small fraction could be solubilized.     

The process of burnout in white‐collar and blue‐collar jobs: eight‐year prospective study of exhaustion

This study tested three contrasting theories about the sequential process of the three dimensions of burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy) as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory—General Survey (MBI‐GS). The causal order of the burnout components was investigated by including job stressors as antecedents of burnout in structural equation models (LISREL). The predictive effect of exhaustion on burnout dimensions eight years later was also investigated. The longitudinal models were then tested in two occupational subgroups. The participants were 713 Finnish employees (415 white‐collar and 298 blue‐collar workers) from an international industry enterprise. The best fitting model of the associations between the three burnout dimensions was obtained by a path model where exhaustion predicted cynicism, and cynicism in turn predicted lack of professional efficacy. The symptoms of exhaustion were persistent over time. There were no differences between the two occupational groups in the process of burnout. Also the work‐related antecedents of burnout (job stressors) were very similar in both groups. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.