Fluoride removal and its impact on oral health in Sri Lanka's dry zone: Discussion and recommendation

Fifty percent of the dry zone areas in Sri Lanka have fluoride levels above 1 ppm. This paper discusses the ground conditions and recommends an appropriate range of fluoride in drinking water which can support preventive practices for improving the oral health of children 8-years old and younger. In efforts to address the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDU), water treatment to reduce contaminant level in potable water has been implemented. Such treatment would also remove fluoride and has resulted in potable water with various fluoride levels, depending on concentrations in the raw water. While it is important to reduce fluoride levels, it is important to have appropriate residual levels for prevention of dental caries. It needs, however, to be noted fluoride in excess can cause dental fluorosis. In Sri Lanka's dry zone areas increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis with decreasing prevalence of dental caries has been noted. Consumption of tea and powdered milk could increase total intake of fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste, when used properly, may, however, result in negligible intake of fluoride. Sri Lanka's hot tropical climate which results in substantial intake of fluids reinforces the need to consider reduction in water fluoride. Consideration of local studies and international standards indicate fluoride levels should be in the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm. In the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm, the prevalence of dental fluorosis and caries was only 14% and 8%, respectively, in an endemic district. When fluoride levels are above 0.500 ppm, the issue of dental fluorosis shall need to be addressed. When levels are below 0.225 ppm, oral health care services shall need to be directed at preventing dental caries.     

Analysis of Environmental and Socio-economic Determinants Affecting Population Longevity Level at County Level in China

INTRODUCTIONIn recent thirty years, due to the decreasing fertility andincreasing life expectancy, China's population is aging ata very rapid pace and the elderly population size is keepingon growing. During the dramatic aging progress, the oldestold group in China is catching our eyes. More and moreold people of China are becoming the oldest old. Theextremely old population (aged 80 and above) is increasingat 5.1% annually, while the old population above 65 isincreasing at 2.9%, and the…     

A Marine Pollution Study of Northeast Coastal Water Off Taiwan Island

The coastal water of northeast Taiwan island, called 'Yin-Yang Hai' for its distinct yellow colour compared with blue offshore water, was investigated from 1989 to 1990 by the authors. Biological study showed the dominant species of plankton to be Copepoda, Cladocera, planktonic eggs and Diatoma. Dominant species of benthos were young crabs, Amphipoda and Annelida, with Amphipoda usually occurring in heavily polluted areas. Heavy metal data showed that the concentration of copper was high. the copper and iron concentration in algae of the intertidal zone was also high. the concentrations of iron and copper in inshore water were also higher than in offshore water. By comparison of the pH and salinity distribution of this area, we conclude that this coastal water has been polluted by acid waste water from coastal industry. the suspended solids concentration in sea water is high. Flocculation occurring at the boundary of fresh and saline water might be a reason for the distinct yellow colour of the water of this area. Further study is required.     

AMD铁絮体改性生物炭对重金属吸附机理研究 ——以Pb(II)为例

以酸性矿山废水生成的铁絮体和秸秆生物炭为原料,采用化学改性和紫外辐射联用技术制备改性生物炭,并通过正交试验确定最佳改性条件,同时利用FTIR、SEM和BET等方法对吸附材料的形貌特征、孔隙结构及其表面化学性质进行表征.结果表明,通过改性使吸附材料比表面积增大,吸附位点增多,在25℃、pH为7时,吸附材料改性后比表面积为295.71 m²·g^-1,对Pb（II）的拟合吸附量可达278 mg·g^-1.改性材料对Pb（II）的吸附过程符合Langmuir吸附等温线模型和准二级动力学模型,主要为单分子层吸附,受化学吸附控制.     

我国硒淡水水生生物水质基准值推导

水体中硒含量过高会导致水生生态系统退化,而中国现有的地表水环境质量标准对硒的标准值设定并不是基于我国水生生物相关毒理学研究得出的,难以因地制宜地保护我国水生生物.为保护我国水生生物,本研究利用物种敏感度分布法,推导出基于最大无效应浓度（NOEC）、最低有效应浓度（LOEC）的慢性硒（无机）淡水水质一级基准值和基于半数致死效应浓度（LC₅₀）、半数最大效应浓度（EC₅₀）、半数抑制浓度（IC₅₀）的急性硒（无机）淡水水质二级基准值分别为0.58 μg·L^-1、0.52 mg·L^-1,发现我国现有的水质标准可能会对我国水生生物造成欠保护.进一步推导出为保护我国鱼类的硒（无机）淡水水质一级、二级基准值分别为0.21 μg·L^-1、1.60 mg·L^-1,以及硒淡水鱼类饲料有机硒和无机硒含量一级基准值分别为97 μg·kg^-1和98 μg·kg^-1.本研究基于硒对水生生物的急性和慢性毒性效应,推导出硒的系列基准值,为保护我国淡水水生生物安全的标准制定提供数据支撑和科学依据.     

粗放型绿色屋顶基质层对降雨出流水质影响

为研究粗放型绿色屋顶基质层对雨水出流N、P、COD和SS淋失的影响,根据华中地区降雨强度和水质实际情况,构建了3种不同基材配方的绿色屋顶基质层,在9场模拟暴雨下进行绿色屋顶的基质出流水质监测。结果表明:本试验各绿色屋顶设施对TN、NH₄+-N、NO₃--N和SS都有较好的削减作用,但对TP和PO₄3--P淋失现象明显,绿色屋顶的出流中以颗粒态P和溶解态N为主;去除出流中SS,对净化COD效果显著;生物炭的添加对出流污染物有明显的控制作用,能有效缓解降雨初期污染物浓度高的问题,同时能显著增加植物地上部生物量;厚度为5 cm的绿色屋顶出流水中N和COD较10 cm厚度低,但其SS出流平均浓度偏高,且植物后期不能维持良好的长势。粗放型绿色屋顶设施运行稳定后截污效应良好,具有较高的可行性和广阔的应用前景。     

基于洪涝风险分析的纽约市城市绿地规划设计及其对中国的启示

1968年美国开始推行洪涝保险计划,不断完善对洪涝风险的研究,并逐步形成了一套相对完善的洪泛区管理体系,而洪涝风险分析在洪涝保险、城市规划、土地开发、应急管理等领域广泛应用。纽约市在经历了多次飓风侵害,尤其是2012年飓风桑迪（Sandy）之后,意识到城市绿地在极端暴雨事件时对雨洪调蓄的重要作用,经过持续的研究实践,提出了基于洪涝风险分析的城市绿地规划设计要求。基于总结美国纽约市在飓风桑迪影响下对洪涝风险图的调整,及其对城市绿地规划设计相关要求,提出其对我国洪涝风险管控及城市绿地规划设计的启示。     

石墨烯/聚苯胺修饰阴极对反硝化MFC性能影响

反硝化生物阴极微生物燃料电池（MFC）以电极为电子供体,在自养条件下完成硝酸盐去除过程.本研究以碳布（CC）为基底材料,分别制备获得还原氧化石墨烯修饰（rGO-CC）,聚苯胺修饰（PANI-CC）及二者复合修饰的CC电极（rGO/PANI-CC）,并考察其作为阴极材料对反硝化生物阴极MFC产电脱氮性能的影响.扫描电镜结果显示,rGO-CC和PANI-CC的碳纤维分别被片层状rGO和网状PANI覆盖,而rGO/PANI-CC表面呈现PANI在附着rGO的碳纤维上团聚的形貌,均增大了碳布的比表面积.循环伏安测试显示,rGO/PANI-CC具有最高的电化学活性.以rGO-CC,PANI-CC和rGO/PANI-CC为阴极构建MFC的产电能力分别提高了82%,24%和41%,其阴极对NO₃^--N的去除能力增强了23%,9%和13%.16S rDNA测序结果揭示修饰后电极表面微生物的多样性下降,Stappia和Pacacoccus属微生物的丰度增加.     

含油污泥处理技术进展

石油工业生产的特征固体废物——含油污泥,是一种由石油烃、水、固体颗粒物和其他物质（如重金属）组成的固态/半固态复合物,因毒性和易燃性被归入危险废物管理。我国含油污泥年产量高达500万t,其中含有15%~50%的石油烃。含油污泥的处理要兼顾无害化和资源化。基于其组成、性质和危害,介绍了含油污泥的油品资源化分离法（离心、溶剂萃取、热解）和无害化剩余含油残渣处理法（焚烧、固化、生物处理）等国内外常用的处理方法。大体上,含油污泥的处理思路为,首先预处理降低含水率、提高含油率,再经油品分离法回收含油污泥中的石油烃,最后无害化处理剩余含油残渣。讨论了各方法的特点以及国内外研究进展,提出了含油污泥处理技术的发展建议。