Brominated flame retardants in dust from UK cars--within-vehicle spatial variability, evidence for degradation and exposure implications

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and tetrabromobiphenol-A (TBBP-A) were measured in a preliminary study of dust from passenger cabins and trunks of 14 UK cars. Concentrations in cabin dust of HBCDs, TBBP-A, and BDEs 47, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, 196, 197, 202, 203, 206, 207, 208, and 209 exceeded significantly (p < 0.05) those in trunk dust. Sampling cabin dust thus appears to provide a more accurate indicator of human exposure via car dust ingestion than trunk dust. Elevated cabin concentrations are consistent with greater in-cabin use of BFRs. In five cars, while no significant differences (p > 0.05) in concentrations of HBCDs and most PBDEs were detected in dust sampled from four different seating areas; concentrations of TBBP-A and of PBDEs 154, 206, 207, 208, and 209 were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in dust sampled in the front seats. Possible photodebromination of BDE-209 was indicated by significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of BDE-202 in cabin dust. In-vehicle exposure via dust ingestion to PBDEs, HBCDs and TBBP-A exceeded that via inhalation. Comparison with overall exposure via diet, dust ingestion, and inhalation shows while in-vehicle exposure is a minor contributor to overall exposure to BDE-99, ΣHBCDs, and TBBP-A, it is a significant pathway for BDE-209.     

雾霾重污染期间北京居民对高浓度PM2.5持续暴露的健康风险及其损害价值评估

开展短期内高浓度空气污染造成的人体健康风险评价以及健康经济损失研究,对推进城市大气污染防控,保证人民群众的健康水平具有重要的科学价值和实际意义.研究选择2013年1月发生的北京市雾霾重污染事件,采用泊松回归模型评价全市居民对10~15日高浓度PM2.5暴露的急性健康损害风险,并采用环境价值评估方法估算人群健康损害的经济损失.结果表明,短期高浓度PM2.5污染对人群健康风险较高,约造成早逝201例,呼吸系统疾病住院1 056例,心血管疾病住院545例,儿科门诊7 094例,内科门诊16 881例,急性支气管炎10 132例,哮喘7 643例.相关健康经济损失高达4.89亿元(95%CI:2.04~7.49),其中早逝与急性支气管炎、哮喘三者占总损失的90%以上.建议应针对不同人群不同健康终点的健康风险进行健康预警并开展及早医学干预,以降低类似空气重污染事件给居民健康带来的风险和损失.     

The estimated reduction in the odds of loss-of-control type crashes for sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability control

INTRODUCTION: Using data from the NASS General Estimates System (GES), the method of induced exposure was used to assess the effects of electronic stability control (ESC) on loss-of-control type crashes for sport utility vehicles. METHOD: Sport utility vehicles were classified into crash types generally associated with loss of control and crash types most likely not associated with loss of control. Vehicles were then compared as to whether ESC technology was present or absent in the vehicles. A generalized additive model was fit to assess the effects of ESC, driver age, and driver gender on the odds of loss of control. In addition, the effects of ESC on roads that were not dry were compared to effects on roads that were dry. RESULTS: Overall, the estimated percentage reduction in the odds of a loss-of-control crash for sport utility vehicles equipped with ESC was 70.3%. Both genders and all age groups showed reduced odds of loss-of-control crashes, but there was no significant difference between males and females. With respect to driver age, the maximum percentage reduction of 73.6% occurred at age 27. The positive effects of ESC on roads that were not dry were significantly greater than on roads that were dry.     

健康风险暴露评价研究进展

综述了国内外健康风险暴露评价的最新研究进展,重点讨论了对人体进行直接监测的生物监测技术和对环境中污染因子进行间接监测并利用数学模型进行暴露剂量计算的间接方法。生物监测方法通过测定人体生理介质(如血液、尿液)中的污染物质及其代谢产物含量确定人体对环境污染物的暴露情况,监测结果反映了风险因子通过所有暴露途径进入人体的总暴露剂量。为了利用生物监测结果评价人体暴露安全性,近几年建立了生物监测等效值的概念,推导确定化学物质的生物监测等效值发展迅速。环境监测和数学模型间接方法通过对不同暴露媒介中风险因子的浓度监测和特定暴露途径的量化研究,同时利用精确的暴露计算模型(如空气分散模型、地下水扩散模型)计算人体对污染物的暴露剂量。生物监测和环境监测技术及数学模型的发展使健康风险评价和管理的暴露参数更加精确,降低了风险评价的不确定性。还介绍了利用数学模拟和剂量重建等方法插补历史空白暴露数据的方法。     

Development of a probabilistic blood lead prediction model

A partially probabilistic blood lead prediction model has been developed, based on the US Environmental Protection Agency integrated exposure-uptake-biokinetic blood lead model (IEUBK model). This study translated the IEUBK model into a spreadsheet format. The uptake submodel incorporates uncertainty distributions for exposure and bioavailability parameters. The biokinetic submodel is duplicated with a table incorporating partitioning and decay of lead levels in the body. As a case study, the probabilistic model is applied to a lead exposure scenario involving a former smelter site in Sandy, Utah. The probabilistic model produces less biased estimates of means and standard deviations than the deterministic model. Parameter uncertainty is propagated in the model by the use of Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, sensitivity analysis is possible, and driving variables can be determined.     

Lead exposure in Saudi Arabia from the use of traditional cosmetics and medical remedies

Twenty Henna samples were collected and analysed for lead by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry after a microwave acid digestion procedure. The mean lead concentration was 5.50 g g^–1, with a range from 1.29 g g^–1 to 16.48 g g^–1. The data did not show a high concentration of lead in these samples. However, if we take into account the popular use of henna, the cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to low lead especially in children cannot be ruled out.     

When signal meets noise: immunity of the frog ear to interference

Sound stimulates the tympanic membrane (TM) of anuran amphibians through multiple, poorly understood pathways. It is conceivable that interactions between the internal and external inputs to the TM contribute to the nonlinear effects that noise is known to produce at higher levels of the auditory pathway. To explore this issue, we conducted measurements of TM vibration in response to tones in the presence of noise in the frog Eupsophus calcaratus. Laser vibrometry revealed that the power spectra (n = 16) of the TM velocity in response to pure tones at a constant level of 80 dB sound-pressure level (SPL) had a maximum centered at an average frequency of 2,344 Hz (range 1,700–2,990 Hz) and a maximum velocity of 61.1 dB re 1 μm/s (range 42.9–66.6 dB re 1 μm/s). These TM-vibration velocity response profiles in the presence of increasing levels of 4-kHz band-pass noise were unaltered up to noise levels of 90 dB SPL. For the relatively low spectral densities of the noise used, the TM remains in its linear range. Such vibration patterns facilitate the detection of tonal signals in noise at the tympanic membrane and may underlie the remarkable vocal responsiveness maintained by males of E. calcaratus under noise interference.     

Governance in vulnerability assessment: the role of globalising decision-making networks in determining local vulnerability and adaptive capacity

Community-based vulnerability assessment has often assumed that the local is the relevant level of adaptation to climate change. This paper suggests that not only do a number of levels from the international to the regional influence which adaptations can take place locally, but the governance network that is made up by actors on different levels may to a large extent be formed in responses to globalising factors, such as internationalisation of economies and the changing role of the state. The paper presents a study of adaptation in reindeer (Rangifier tarandus) herding, forestry and fishing communities in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with a focus on assessing stakeholders’ own perceptions of environmental, socio-political and economic factors that affect them. In general, the paper illustrates the integration of non-subsistence economies into large and complex interactions where local adaptation is a result of the sum of stresses impacting individual entrepreneurs, and the potential they have to adapt their practices given governance (and their access to support) on different scales.

Corporate occupational exposure limits: An example of a strategy

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) developed by authorities play a key role in the implementation of programs to protect workers against hazardous chemicals. Unfortunately, many hazardous substances do not have OELs or the OEL could be outdated. To assure the health of the workers, it is therefore useful for companies to develop corporate OELs. An inhouse strategy will be presented hereafter. Expertise in toxicology, industrial hygiene, and occupational health should be available within the company and clear selection criteria for substances are needed. A corporate OEL is only developed for hazardous substances (e.g., carcinogenic or reprotoxic) with a high potential for worker exposure when an appropriate national OEL or threshold limit value is not available. The methodology to calculate corporate OELs is based on the existing methods for national or community OELs and also on the guidance from the European Union's (EU) regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). For carcinogenic substances with a nonthreshold mode of action, there is always a residual chance that a cancer develops even when the exposure of workers is low. To establish an OEL for these substances, the “German traffic light model” is recommended. It is pragmatic, defines an unacceptable, tolerable, and acceptable risk level when workers are exposed to these substances, and determines risk management for exposure reduction. Overall, the professional practice to develop OELs is a good example of corporate leadership to proactively protect the health of workers.     

二甲基甲酰胺中毒研究进展

介绍了二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)在人体的代谢、毒性作用和临床表现,以及DMF职业接触标志物的研究进展。