Musculoskeletal Load Assessment of the Upper Limb Positions Subjectively Chosen as the Most Convenient

Work posture is determined by interdependence between work stand design, the necessity to perform given activities, and the anthropometric dimensions of the worker, but it also depends on individual preferences. The aim of the study was to compare the musculoskeletal load of the right upper extremity under conditions of imposed (standard) upper limb position and subjectively chosen ones, and to assess the influence of the changes in magnitude of the external force on the musculoskeletal load in the examined limb positions. Ten healthy male participants took part in the study. Muscular load associated with different upper extremity positions with and without external load were assessed. Musculoskeletal load for standard and subjectively chosen limb positions and two different values of external load were compared by means of theoretical and experimental methods. Results indicate that differences in musculoskeletal load between imposed and subjectively chosen limb positions were not high enough to show statistically significant differences, and the upper limb position chosen by the participant does not always cause the lowest musculoskeletal load.     

The concept of resilience in OSH management: a review of approaches

The concept of resilience has become very popular, especially in the 21st century. This concept is applicable to many fields, from mechanics to a broad range of social sciences. Resilience has even become part of the national and global policies of the USA, the United Nations and the European Commission. The concept of resilience has also been implemented in the area of safety and health based on the criticism of the traditional approach to occupational safety and health, which does not result in a satisfactory level of occupational safety. The concept of resilience was adopted to research occupational safety and health in different fields and thus with different approaches, such as via socio-technical studies, the psychological and behavioral aspects of organizational resilience and the link with research on individual or family resilience and its influence on work.     

An approach to cleaner production: from hair burning to hair saving using a lime-free unhairing system

One of the methods to decrease the pollution of tanneries' wastewater is hair saving unhairing of hides. An investigation of proteolytic activity of enzymatic preparation (EP) has shown that some EPs have high stability in strong alkaline solutions and can be used for the hair saving process.Based on this investigation, a new hair saving unhairing method using a system containing EP, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulphide, and disodium hydrophosphate was developed. The method results in a high quality pelt suitable for leather manufacturing, decreases the pollution caused by sodium sulphide and the other products of hair degradation and avoids the pollution caused by calcium compounds.     

Ozone recovery as seen in perspective of the Dobson spectrophotometer measurements at Belsk (52°N, 21°E) in the period 1963–2008

The total ozone monthly means derived from measurements by the Dobson spectrophotometer at Belsk (52°N, 21°E) and satellite observations over central and midlatitudinal Europe are analyzed for the long-term changes between 1995 and 2008. Standard explanatory variables representing physical and chemical processes known to influence the ozone distribution are considered. The potential proxies are: atmospheric loading by the ozone depleting substances characterized by the equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine (EESC) time series, various drivers of ozone dynamical variability including solar cycle, teleconnection patterns, temperature at 50 hPa, and pressure at the tropopause level. The multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) methodology is used to find optimal set of the explanatory variables and shape of the anthropogenic trend curve. Following options for the trend curve are examined: proportional to EESC, piecewise linear (with the turning points in 1980 and 1995), and selected from a smooth curve fit to the total ozone time series having “natural variations” removed. Statistical estimates and their uncertainties are calculated using block bootstrapping. The analyses indicate that ozone over Belsk, in central Europe, and in midlatitudinal Europe reaches at least first stage of recovery as defined by the World Meteorological Organization: a statistically significant reduction in the rate of decline. Model using the EESC time series as a proxy for the anthropogenic trend pattern yields even the second stage, i.e., a positive trend in time series that remains after removal dynamical signal from the analyzed data. Substantial seasonal dependent long-term ozone oscillations by the dynamical drivers are revealed causing estimation of the ozone recovery time even more uncertain.     

Phytoplankton-nutrient relationships in years with various water levels in the Pasłęka River in the vicinity of the hydroelectric power station (North-east Poland)

Relationships between abundance of basic net phytoplankton taxonomic groups (cyanobacteria, diatoms, and chlorophytes) and nutrient concentrations in water were studied on the Pas??ka River in years with varied water levels. In high water level conditions, large amounts of orthophosphates and total nitrogen from the catchment could favor development of cyanobacteria and chlorophytes. The species could be allochthonic. At low water levels, the factor stimulating phytoplankton development could be nutrients coming from mineralization of accumulated organic matter. The highest nutrient concentrations could favor diatom development. In such conditions, dominant taxa were autochthonic. In terms of numbers, F. capucina was dominant, and in terms of biomass—genus Spirogyra sp. It could come from plant periphyton inhabiting the concrete drops of the dam included in the river’s development in the vicinity of the hydroelectric power station.     

Sulphur isotope mass balance of dissolved sulphate ion in a freshwater dam reservoir

We show that sulphur isotopic composition can be a useful tool to discriminate between various sources of sulphate and a tool for better understanding of the sulphur cycling and mass balance. Our investigations, carried out in a dam reservoir, demonstrate differences in sulphur biogeochemistry between different seasons, caused by recharge water supply in spring and intensive sulphate reduction in summer. In the riverine-affected part of the reservoir δ³⁴S(SO₄ ²⁻) varied from 4.7 to 5.9‰ in spring, and from 4.1 to 4.6‰ in summer. In the lacustrine-affected part δ³⁴S(SO₄²⁻) varied from 4.0 to 5.0‰ in spring, and from 4.5 to 5.4‰ in summer. Diurnal variations of δ³⁴S(SO₄ ²⁻) were negligible as compared to seasonal variations.     

Monitoring of odors emitted from stabilized dewatered sludge subjected to aging using proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - One of the potential emission sources of odorous compounds from wastewater treatment plants is sludge processing. The odorous compounds released from...     

Technologies for deodorization of malodorous gases

There is an increasing number of citizens’ complaints about odor nuisance due to production or service activity. High social awareness imposes pressure on entrepreneurs and service providers forcing them to undertake effective steps aimed at minimization of the effects of their activity, also with respect to emission of malodorous substances. The article presents information about various technologies used for gas deodorization. Known solutions can be included into two groups: technologies offering prevention of emissions, and methodological solutions that enable removal of malodorous substances from the stream of emitted gases. It is obvious that the selection of deodorization technologies is conditioned by many factors, and it should be preceded by an in-depth analysis of possibilities and limitations offered by various solutions. The aim of the article is presentation of the available gas deodorization technologies as to facilitate the potential investors with selection of the method of malodorous gases emission limitation, suitable for particular conditions.