Driver's obesity and road crash risks in the United States

Objective: We assessed obesity trends in U.S. drivers involved in fatal crashes since 1999 and distinguished whether crash risk factors were different between obese and nonobese drivers.

Methods: We included only drivers of passenger cars involved in fatal traffic crashes between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2012. Obesity was classified according to the World Health Organization guidelines and profiled between 1999 and 2012 using the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) from log-binomial regression models. Differences in crash risks (e.g., driver's fatality, drunk driving, seat belt nonuse) between obese and nonobese drivers were estimated as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) using logistic regression models.

Results: A total of 753,024 U.S. drivers were involved in fatal crashes, for which obesity information was available for 534,887. About 56% (n = 299,078) were driving passenger cars. The prevalence of class I obesity increased from 10% in 1999 to 14% in 2012 (aPR = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–1.58), class II obesity from 3 to 5% (aPR = 2.22, 95% CI, 2.05–3.01), and class III obesity from 1 to 2% (aPR = 2.65; 95% CI, 2.27–3.10). Compared to nonobese controls, obese drivers had significantly higher risks for fatality (1.10 ≤ aOR ≤ 1.47), seat belt nonuse (1.00 ≤ aOR ≤ 1.21), need for extrication (1.01 ≤ aOR ≤ 1.23), and ambulance transport time ≥30 min (1.01 ≤ aOR ≤ 1.28). Compared to nonobese controls, obese drivers were less likely to drink drive (0.41 ≤ aOR ≤ 0.72) or speed >65 mph (0.78 ≤ aOR ≤ 0.93).

Conclusion: The rising national prevalence of obesity extends to U.S. drivers involved in fatal crashes and indicates the need to improve seat belt use, vehicle design, and postcrash care for this vulnerable population.     

Retrospective future proofing of a copper mine: Quantification of errors and omissions in ‘As-built’ documentation

The electrical instrumentation control systems (EICS) ‘As-built’ documentations of a copper mine were found to possess a significant errors and omissions, which hindered the asset owner’s ability to undertake effective and efficient operations and maintenance. A Systems Information Model (SIM) was used to retrospectively create a connected system to ensure all physical equipment and the associated connections that were constructed are modelled in an object-orientated database. In creating the SIM, the existing errors and omissions in the ‘As-built’ documentation were quantified, and cost savings that could be achieved for a future planned copper mine, with a similar design, were identified. The limitations of using conventional computer-aided-design (CAD) to design and document EICS are discussed. It is recommended that retrospectively creating a SIM can provide owners and operators with significant productivity benefits as well as ensure the asset’s integrity. The case study presented provides asset owners and operators with the empirical evidence to challenge conventional thinking surrounding the design, engineering and documentation of EICS using CAD and alternatively consider the use of SIM.     

Risk management in operations of petrochemical plants: Can better planning prevent major accidents and save money at the same time?

This paper presents an argument that improvement in operational safety can be achieved concurrently with increased operational efficiency. This is a fundamentally different viewpoint on the investment in safety. Traditionally, the cost of providing safety barriers is offset by the expected benefits of reducing the occurrence and severity of accidents. Our approach departs from this method of accounting for safety improvements and focuses on planning as a means of managing systems' response uncertainty and consequently reducing both major accident risk and the cost of operations. The scope of the paper is limited to interventions such as maintenance and repairs and defined in the context of major accident prevention e.g. hydrocarbon leaks. However, the developed methodology is general enough to be applied across the spectrum of process industry facilities and operations.     

煤矸石堆场Fe、Mn迁移累积效应研究

通过对贵州织金典型煤矿区矸石堆场周边地表水体及耕地进行调查与采样分析,探讨了煤矸石堆场Fe、Mn元素迁移对周边地表水体及耕地累积效应的影响。研究结果表明:受煤矸石堆场酸性排水的影响,煤矸石堆场周边溪沟水Fe、Mn含量分别达0.81~32.14mg/L、1.17~8.42mg/L,超过"集中式生活饮用水地表水源地标准"限值的3~107、12~84倍。堆场周边旱作土中Fe、Mn含量分别达63 530~85 990mg/kg、243.1~910.1mg/kg,水稻土达46 940~75 810mg/kg、144.5~409.1mg/kg,Fe、Mn累积指数旱作土分别达1.61、2.97,水稻土分别达1.24、1.33。随着与堆场距离的增大,水稻土Fe、Mn含量逐步降低,在500m范围内Fe降低了35%,Mn降低了61%,而旱作土变化规律不明显。     

氧化亚铁硫杆菌生物浸出铅锌硫化矿尾矿及浸出过程中重金属形态分析研究

研究嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,A.f)对铅锌硫化矿尾矿重金属离子的生物浸出和重金属形态变化有助于了解生物浸出作用的过程变化.通过考察生物浸出体系中不同的矿浆浓度对pH值和浸出尾矿重金属的影响,探究生物浸出过程的重金属形态变化情况.结果表明,生物浸出作用对pH值和尾矿重金属的浸出影响巨大,随着矿浆浓度的增加,pH值下降速率呈现先升高后降低、重金属浸出率也呈现先增加后降低的趋势,最佳的生物浸出矿浆浓度为50 g·L~(-1),Fe和Zn的最佳浸出率分别为85.45%和97.85%.重金属形态分析表明,生物浸出作用对尾矿重金属形态变化产生巨大的影响,随着浸出时间的延长,重金属形态逐渐改变,首先易迁移的重金属被生物浸出,然后稳定的重金属也逐渐被生物浸出.     

钱塘江突发水污染事故应急系统开发与应用

采用网络信息平台和水环境模型相结合的技术手段,构建了钱塘江突发水污染事故应急系统。该系统旨在帮助应急管理部门快速应对钱塘江流域突发性水污染事故,以及保障G20峰会期间钱塘江流域的饮用水源地安全。该系统以水动力模型、溢油和化学品泄漏模型为核心,采用空间关系型中央数据库作为数据管理系统,基于网络GIS技术开发而成。通过对钱塘江流域历史事故的反演,验证了该系统的准确度和可靠性。在该系统的基础上,构建了钱塘江流域典型流场库和典型突发水污染事故情景库,以实现快速应对G20峰会期间钱塘江流域突发水污染事故风险。     

武汉地区基坑一般黏性土的力学特性与其物理指标间的相关性研究

一般黏性土作为武汉地区基坑工程中常见土层,对其工程特性与其物理力学参数的相关性研究对提高深基坑支护技术和经济性具有重要的现实意义。为研究武汉地区基坑工程典型一般黏性土的物理力学特性,以武汉地区45个基坑工程为基础,采用数理统计及回归分析方法,分析了武汉地区一般黏性土的工程特性与其物理力学参数间的相关关系。结果表明:武汉地区基坑工程一般黏性土的静力触探指标PS值变化范围为0.8~1.6 MPa,标准贯入指标N值的变化范围为3~7,土体饱和度较高,可塑及压缩性中等偏高,这将对基坑及高层建筑沉降变形产生不利影响;此外,一般黏性土的含水率、孔隙比、液限系数与直剪试验条件下抗剪强度指标c、值间呈负相关关系,一般黏性土的压缩模量与直剪试验条件下抗剪强度指标c、值间呈正相关关系。该研究结果可为武汉地区基坑工程设计的参数取值提供依据。     

试论突发性环境污染事故的应急监测

文章集中阐述了突发性污染事故的类型以及具有的基础特性,分析了环境污染事故的严重性与危害性。论述了突发性污染事故的应急监测体系的建立,应急监测工作的开展,应急监测的要求,为污染事故的应急监测起到了重要指导作用。     

水环境污染事故的危害指数评价与计算方法

针对频发的突发性水污染事故,阐述了在风险预警系统建立的基础上,如何依据水体中污染物迁移转化基本方程进行合理简化和数学推导,得出用于鉴别环境危害状态、表征环境危害程度、描述事故危害等级、估算事故危害区范围和危害时间的风险评估模式。该模式可为环境风险管理以及突发性环境污染应急预案的制定提供科学依据。