Association between radioactive fallout from 1951–1962 US nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site and cancer mortality in midwestern US populations

We determined the association between radionuclide deposition levels from nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and cancer mortality rates in 513 counties of the Midwestern states of Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The 10-day cumulative deposition for 54 radionuclides and 1-year cumulative deposition for 19 radionuclides were determined with isotope ratios based on each test and ¹³¹I levels in the 513 counties obtained from the US National Cancer Institute’s ¹³¹I fallout study. Deposition calculations were done for each test and each radionuclide. Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates for 84 organ-gender combinations for the periods 1950–1959, 1960–1969, 1970–1979, and 1979–1995 were used. Analyses included permutation-based randomization tests for Spearman rank correlation (adjusted for multiple testing). Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates for connective and soft tissue sarcoma, thymus, and female lymphosarcoma and cancer of the colon, brain, thyroid, and uterus were significantly correlated with total fallout and total precipitation during 1951–1957 and 1962. ¹⁸⁷W had the highest cumulative deposition density at 10 days postshot (2783 MBq/m²) among the NTS radionuclides considered. The most significant correlations were observed for 10-day cumulative deposition density of ¹⁸¹W, ¹⁸⁵W, ⁵⁴Mn, ¹⁸⁷W, ²⁴Na, ¹⁸⁵W, ¹⁹⁹Au, ⁷Be, ⁶⁰Co, and deposition density of ¹⁸⁵W, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁷Be, and ⁶⁰Co present at 1-year with mortality for cancers such as female connective and soft tissue sarcoma, male and female thymus, female colon, male and female thyroid, female brain, male multiple myeloma, female breast, and uterine cancer. Significant correlations included isotopic forms of mutagenic metals such as antimony, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, cesium, manganese, rhodium, selenium, tellurium, and tungsten. The large number of significant correlation tests beyond expectation warrants deeper questions related to the toxicology of fission products and induced radionuclides, validity of kriging procedures, and new studies on core sampling of watersheds and trees in regions assumed to receive the greatest levels of environmental radiocontamination. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WIND VELOCITY AND UNDERWATER IRRADIANCE IN A SHALLOW LAKE (LAKE OKEECHOBEE,FLORIDA, USA)1

ABSTRACT: Relationships between wind velocity and the vertical light attenuation coefficient (K₀) were determined at two locations in a large, shallow lake (Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA). K₀ was significantly correlated with antecedent wind conditions, which explained as much as 90 percent of the daily variation in K₀. Sub-surface irradiance began to change within 60 to 90 minutes of the time when wind velocity exceeded or dropped below a threshold value. Maximum one hour changes in K₀ were > 50 percent, however, 20 to 30 percent changes were more common. The magnitude of change in K₀ varied spatially based on differences in sediment type. K₀ never exceeded 2.8 at a location where bottom sediments were dominated by a mixture of coarse sand and shells. In comparison, K₀ exceeded 9 during episodic wind events where the bottom sediment was comprised of fine grain mud. Underwater irradiance data can be used to determine threshold wind velocity and account for the influence sediment type has on K₀. Once a threshold velocity has been established, the frequency, rate, and duration of expected change in underwater irradiance can be evaluated. This is critical information for scientists who are studying algal productivity or other light-related phenomena.     

国际石油工业环境保护协会(IPIECA)：在城市空气质量管理中的积极作用

国际石油工业环境保护协会 (IPIECA)已形成了用于发展中国家的城市空气质量管理框架 .它提出一种为削减排放从而达到空气质量标准而进行的区域项目评估、了解问题和评价对策的方法 .这一举措的目的是促进发展实用的、有科学根据的和成本效率的方法以帮助建立有益于健康的空气质量标准 .     

Scales of variation in otolith elemental chemistry of juvenile staghorn sculpin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptocottus armatus</Emphasis>) in three Pacific Northwest estuaries

Although distinct otolith elemental signatures are often observed in fish collected from different estuaries, significant differences are also observed among sites within estuaries. Variation at these smaller spatial scales is not well quantified and has the potential to lead to inappropriate interpretations of otolith elemental data. To quantify variation at multiple scales, the otolith elemental composition (Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, and Pb:Ca) of juvenile staghorn sculpin (Leptocottus armatus Girard, 1854) collected from five sites within three estuaries, the Columbia River (two sites) and Coos Bay (one site), Oregon, and Humboldt Bay, California (two sites), was examined. Using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, each otolith was sampled at three zones: (1) within the primordium, which represents the egg and early larval periods; (2) at the outer edge, which represents the juvenile period just prior to collection; and (3) midway between the primordial and edge samples, which represents the late larval and early juvenile period. There were significant differences in otolith metal-to-calcium ratios at all scales examined. Using multi-element otolith signatures, fish were classified to estuary and site within estuary with relatively high levels of accuracy (av = 70–90%). The largest differences in metal-to-calcium ratios were observed between sites within estuaries (<5 km apart) and the smallest differences were observed among otolith zones. Variation in otolith chemistry may be used to provide information on probable habitat use by estuarine fish but studies must be carefully designed. Electronic supplementary material  Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Perceptions of executive pay: does pay enhance a leader's aura?

This study used policy capturing to test the ‘figurehead’ assertion that executive pay level contributes to followers' perceptions of a leader's ability. Findings indicated human capital factors including promotion history, degree earned and university prestige all furnished more explanation than pay for CEO ratings. Results challenged the underlying logic of figurehead explanations for executive compensation to the rank and file. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.