Impact of Gold mining on the Environment and Human Health: A Case Study in the Migori Gold Belt, Kenya

The study of gold sites in the Migori Gold Belt, Kenya, revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals, mainly Hg, Pb and As are above acceptable levels. Tailings at the panning sites recorded values of 6.5–510 mg kg^–1 Pb, 0.06–76.0 mg kg^–1 As and 0.46–1920 mg kg^–1 Hg. Stream sediments had values of 3.0–11075 mg kg^–1 Pb, 0.014–1.87 mg kg^–1 As and 0.28–348 mg kg^–1 Hg. The highest metal contamination was recorded in sediments from the Macalder stream (11075 mg kg^–1 Pb), Nairobi mine tailings (76.0 mg kg^–1 As) and Mickey tailings (1920 mg kg^–1 Hg). Mercury has a long residence time in the environment and this makes its emissions from artisan mining a threat to health. Inhaling large amounts of siliceous dust, careless handling of mercury during gold panning and Au/Hg amalgam processing, existence of water logged pits and trenches; and large number of miners sharing poor quality air in the mines are the major causes of health hazards among miners. The amount of mercury used by miners for gold amalgamation during peak mining periods varies from 150 to 200 kg per month. Out of this, about 40% are lost during panning and 60% lost during heating Au/Hg amalgam. The use of pressure burners to weaken the reef is a deadly mining procedure as hot particles of Pb, As and other sulphide minerals burn the body. Burns become septic. This, apparently, leads to death within 2–3 years. On-site training of miners on safe mining practices met with enthusiasm and acceptance. The use of dust masks, air filters and heavy chemical gloves during mining and mineral processing were readily accepted. Miners were thus advised to purchase such protective gear, and to continue using them for the sake of their health. The miners' workshop, which was held at the end of the project is likely to bear fruit. The Migori District Commissioner and other Government officials, including medical officers attended this workshop. As a result of this, the Government is seriously considering setting up a clinic at Masara, which is one of the mining centres in the district. This would improve the health of the mining community.     

桩基施工的安全隐患及预防控制措施

分析了目前全国桩基机械施工的现状、特点以及施工中一般常见的安全事故，并结合工作实际，从人、物、环境三个方面详细阐述了在桩基施工中存在的安全隐患。提出了应该采取的预防控制措施。     

PM2.5的健康危害、毒理效应与作用机制的研究

大气颗粒物对人体健康的影响在世界范围内引起关注,尤其是细粒子（PM_2.5,fine particulate matter）因粒径小、成分复杂,对人体健康的影响尤为突出。PM_2.5的毒理效应与作用机制是当前研究的热点,分析其研究现状与存在问题能更好地把握其核心领域并开展更进一步的研究。基于文献检索与分析,系统梳理了PM_2.5危害导致的疾病类型;介绍了PM_2.5毒理研究的主要实验手段;讨论当前认知的PM_2.5毒理效应（包括PM_2.5不同组分、不同来源、不同季节的影响）;汇总PM_2.5毒理作用机制研究方法的原理、特点、检测指标与测定方法,解析目前研究认为的五种主要的PM_2.5毒理作用机制。在分析已有研究成果的基础之上,就PM_2.5毒理实验、方法和研究内容方面存在的不足进行讨论,并提出今后需要重点开展的研究方向,以期为PM_2.5健康危害的准确评估和有效防治提供科学依据。     

纳米颗粒的危害及在水体中的去除研究进展

纳米颗粒具有独特的物理化学性质且种类较多,广泛应用于多个领域.在使用的同时,纳米颗粒不可避免地通过各种途径进入水环境中,进而对生物及人类造成危害.针对近来出现的纳米颗粒,介绍了其对环境的影响及在水体中的主要去除方法,并展望了水环境中纳米颗粒的研究方向.     

Mathematical methods for application of experimental adiabatic data – An update and extension

The paper represents some results of comparative analysis of the methods used for processing and interpreting data of adiabatic calorimetry as well as applying it to practical situations. Specifically two approaches are compared – approximate method based on evaluation of simplified kinetics and a more comprehensive, simulation-based method that utilizes the evaluation of more detailed kinetic models.The analysis is focused on two important types of data processing – correction of experimental results on thermal inertia (phi-factor correction) and estimation of adiabatic time to maximum rate (TMR).The most widely cited method for phi-factor correction is considered and its improvement is proposed to enable more precise prediction of the adiabatic time scale. A procedure for phi-factor correction of pressure response is also proposed. The limitations of this enhanced Fisher's method are discussed by comparison with simulation-based method. All the illustrative materials are based on real examples.As an example of application, the simplified method will be used to predict TMR and its limitations will be discussed.     

Adaptation to coastal hazards: the livelihood struggles of a fishing community in Kerala,India

This case study examines the coastal hazard adaptation strategies of a fishing community in a village in Kerala, India. It shows that formal adaptation strategies are highly techno‐centric, costly, and do not take into account the vulnerabilities of the fishing community. Instead, they have contributed to ecological, livelihood, and knowledge uncertainties. The adaptation strategies of the fishing community are a response to these uncertainties. However, they may not lead to the fishing community's recovery from its vulnerability contexts. This case study is primarily qualitative in nature. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews. Insights reveal that when actors with diverse values, interests, knowledge, and power evolve or design their respective adaptation strategies, the resulting interface often aggravates existing uncertainties associated with hazards. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that local discourses on coastal hazards are livelihood‐centric and socially constructed within the struggle of the fishing community to access resources and to acquire the right to development.     

浅谈油烟的危害以及相关标准的修订

伴随着经济的繁荣和人民物质生活质量的提高,餐饮业日益繁荣起来,再结合中国素来"民以食为天",传统饮食文化的特殊性及复杂性,导致烹饪过程复杂,同时也带来了各种各样的油烟污染问题。油烟已经成为继噪声、尾气、沙尘之后的又一大污染问题,并且成为百姓环保投诉的热点问题之一。《饮食业油烟排放标准》(GB18483-2001)是目前我国环保行业监测饮食业油烟的唯一标准方法,在实际工作中存在一定的局限性和不完备性,对现行标准进行修订势在必行。     

黄河下游泥沙灾害初步研究

基于黄河下游对泥沙运动与泥沙灾害发生的关系问题进行了分析。认为下游泥沙灾害类型主要包括洪水、河岸侵蚀、土地沙化、水涝和土地盐碱化, 并认为改造下游泥沙灾害环境应通过改变泥沙堆积分布入手。     

Improving pesticide regulation in the third world: The role of an independent hazard auditor

Central to the environmental and health hazards created by the expanding use of pesticides in developing countries is the weakness of national regulatory agencies. This article reviews current international efforts aimed at supporting these institutions and describes the contribution that an external “hazard auditor” might make in assessing the pesticide industry's adherence to accepted standards of health and environmental protection. An independent evaluation of this kind may prove attractive to all parties in the long-standing confrontation over the control of pesticide technology: the industry, public interest groups, developing and developed countries, and international agencies. The article outlines one approach to operationalizing the concept and examines initial responses to the proposal. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the International Commission on Occupational Health/International Development Research Centre Symposium on the Impact of Pesticide Use on Health in Developing Countries, 17–21 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada.     

瓦斯灾害治理新技术

在分析煤矿安全科技工作现状和趋势基础上 ,介绍了近年来我国瓦斯灾害防治技术研究取得的进展和新成果。通过“十五”科技攻关项目的研究 ,提出了瓦斯煤尘爆炸危险性评价方法 ,研究出了基于瓦斯地质、地质动力区划、电磁波探测方法的煤与瓦斯突出区域预测技术和基于AE声发射、电磁辐射和瓦斯涌出等原理的煤与瓦斯突出非接触连续预测技术 ,实验成功了高瓦斯煤层群开采保护层瓦斯灾害综合防治及顺煤层强化抽放等技术 ,开发了矿井通风系统监测、可靠性评价分析及决策控制技术。另外还分析了我国煤矿安全所面临的挑战和急需开展的科技研究工作。