Pesticide exposures and respiratory health in general populations

Human exposures to pesticides can occur in the workplace, in the household and through the ambient environment. While several articles have reviewed the impact of pesticide exposures on human respiratory health in occupational settings, to the best of our knowledge, this article is the first one to review published studies on the association between pesticide exposures and human respiratory health in the general populations. In this article, we critically reviewed evidences up to date studying the associations between non-occupational pesticide exposures and respiratory health in general populations. This article also highlighted questions arising from these studies, including our recent analyses using the data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), for future research. We found few studies have addressed the impact of environmental pesticide exposures on respiratory health, especially on lung function, in general populations. In the studies using the data from CHMS Cycle 1, exposures to OP insecticides, pyrethroid insecticides, and the organochlorine pesticide DDT were associated with impaired lung function in the Canadian general population, but no significant associations were observed for the herbicide 2,4-D. Future research should focus on the potential age-specific and pesticide-specific effect on respiratory health in the general population, and repeated longitudinal study design is critical for assessing the temporal variations in pesticide exposures. Research findings from current studies of non-occupational pesticide exposures and their health impact in general population will help to improve the role of regulatory policies in mitigating pesticide-related public health problems, and thereafter providing greater benefit to the general population.     

How important is wilderness? Results from a United States Survey

The designation and management of federal wilderness areas has generated much controversy in the United States. The decade of the 1980s has been a difficult one for public land managers as there has been growing opposition to their traditional “conserve but use philosophy.” Public lands are to be managed for the public benefit. Unfortunately there has been little survey research to find out what the attitudes of the public are towards the management of federally designated wilderness. We report the results of a national survey of 2670 residents of wilderness counties. We found that the presence of wilderness is an important reason why 53% of the people moved to or live in the area; 81% felt that wilderness areas are important to their counties; and 65% were against mineral or energy development in wilderness areas. On some issues there was less agreement as 43% of the respondents wanted more access to wilderness, and 39% were in favor of additional wilderness with 26% undecided. There were no large differences between counties and regions despite the differences in economic and social characteristics and the historical contexts within which they evolved.     

Opinions on railway trespassing of people living close to a railway line

A survey was designed to investigate opinions on railway trespassing of people living close to a railway line. The results showed that 89.2% of the respondents (n = 502) recalled that they had seen trespassing in their neighbourhood and, based on their observations, adults are the largest group trespassing. Overall, 68.9% of the respondents had personal experience of trespassing although 83.5% considered trespassing to be fairly or highly dangerous and 81.0% assumed it to be illegal. The respondents supported countermeasures such as building an underpass or fencing off the tracks, and only a few of them indicated that nothing could be done to resolve the problem. In addition, education in schools on the dangers of trespassing was suggested. These results allow practitioners and researchers to see the problem from a local perspective and thus develop a better understanding. This in turn helps design effective countermeasures.     

全国第二次土地调查前后中国耕地面积变化的空间格局

长期以来中国耕地数量受到国内外的高度关注,但是中国的耕地面积到底是多少,一直是个谜,特别是在耕地面积出现几十年持续下降的背景下,全国第二次土地调查结果居然比调查前多出了2亿多亩。论文利用全国第二次土地调查前后的耕地面积数据,从耕地总面积和不同类型的耕地面积两个维度,在不同空间尺度上,对耕地面积数据进行对比分析。研究表明：1）从区域尺度来看,“二调”多出的2亿多亩耕地主要分布在东北、华北与西北地区,其中东北地区几近一半,华南是唯一减少的区域;从省级尺度来看,26个省份耕地面积增加,以东北三省和新疆、内蒙古居多,京沪苏粤陕出现减少,尤以苏粤为甚;从市级和县级尺度来看,耕地增减空间集聚明显,耕地增加的地市和县市均以东北最为集中,耕地减少的地市以珠三角和长三角最为集中,耕地减少的县级单元以粤苏云三省最为集中。2）耕地的三种类型都出现增加,但旱地最多（53%）、水田最少（10%）;水田和水浇地均“北增南减”;旱地的增减主要分布在北方,且增减的空间分布都非常集中,东北增加较多,黄淮海平原减少较多。耕地分布重心的持续北移,加剧了水土资源的不协调性,从而影响耕地的质量,未来中国政府在高度关注耕地数量变化的同时,更应强化耕地质量的提高与保护。     

任意点置镜测量既有曲线方法的研究

整正既有曲线是既有线提速改造和工务设计大修中的主要工作之一。传统的整正既有曲线的现场测量工作是将测量仪器置镜在曲线的钢轨上进行。这种方法既不安全 ,又容易引发交通事故 ,且工作效率极低。为改进传统的整正既有曲线的现场测量工作 ,满足火车提速和铁路建设的需要 ,提出采用置镜任意点的测量方法 ,对减少交通事故的发生和提高工作效率均具有十分重要的现实意义     

Natural gamma radiation map (MARNA) and indoor radon levels in Spain

During the last decade, the Department of Applied and Medical Physics has been involved in the development of a radiation protection programme. In the framework of this programme, measurements of indoor radon, principally, have been carried out nationwide. Geometric mean radon concentrations of 45 Bq m(-3) in the whole country and 130 Bq m(-3) in the high natural radiation area have been estimated. On the other hand, the so-called MARNA Project is developed into the framework of an agreement subscribed between the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and the National Uranium (ENUSA), the first phase of which has been the elaboration of the Natural Gamma Radiation Map of Spain on the scale of 1:1,000,000 using radiometric data generated in the 30 years of the lifetime of the ancient National Uranium Exploration and Investigation Plan mainly through airborne, carborne, and by foot surveys, within the MARNA Project itself. The lowest averaged dose rate from external gamma radiation (19.3 nGyh(-1)) was found in carbonate bedrock and the highest (87.7 nGyh(-1)) was found in granite and clay bedrock. This paper summarizes the main results obtained from the measurements performed in both projects, with special interest in those concerning the correlation between the data reported in order to conclude about the potential benefit of the MARNA maps in the definition of affected areas in the country.     

基于全球调查数据的中国公众气候变化认知与政策研究

基于全球公众气候变化认知调查数据,分析我国公众对气候变化的了解程度、对气候变化影响的认知、担忧程度、以及个人应对气候变化的信心和意愿。结果表明:我国公众自我报告对气候变化的了解程度较高,约70%都声称不同程度地了解气候变化,但对导致气候变化的原因认知不一致;对气候变化的担忧程度较高,将气候变化看作是"非常严重"的问题或"非常担心"的占比近40%;应对气候变化的信心还需提高,但80%左右都声称愿意为气候变化支付更高成本。     

固城湖水环境现状调查与评价

对固城湖水环境现状进行了调查与评价。结果表明．除湖心区断面枯水期总磷达Ⅳ类标准外,其余断面平、丰、枯水期水质均达Ⅲ类水标准。固城湖水体呈中营养化状态．且综合营养状态指数已接近富营养状态。指出,面源污染,内源污染。养殖污染。流域内的航运污染是造成固城湖水体富营养化的主要原素。提出,应严格控制各类污染源,建立流域内的污水处理厂．保护森林植被．推广使用无磷洗涤剂、生态化肥、生态农药;定期疏浚湖底淤泥,改良现有水生植被结构;加大对固城湖环境、功能和开发利用的研究及湖泊富营养化的研究．对水体中的磷、氮的化学行为及平衡进行分析,预测发展趋势。制定营养物质种类,防止其湖水向藻型湖泊发展。     

Whole-body vibration knowledge survey of U.S. occupational safety and health professionals

Problem

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is an occupational issue of concern due to adverse health effects or simple discomfort and annoyance. Unlike in Europe, WBV is an emerging topic in the U.S. safety and health (S&H) professional community. We hypothesized that at least one-half of the U.S. occupational S&H professionals knew little or nothing about WBV.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study (survey) of WBV knowledge among members of the American Society of Safety Engineers. A Likert scale (1-none to 5-expert) was used to determine WBV topic knowledge levels (KL_1-5).

Results

Analysis of 2,764 responses revealed that 69.5% of the participants self-reported a less than basic WBV understanding. The WBV KL_1-5 mean for all participants was 1.94 ± 1.00, corresponding to an awareness of WBV without a depth of understanding.

Summary

Many at-risk U.S. workers may not be supported by occupational S&H professionals with adequate WBV knowledge.

Impact on Industry

A significant number of U.S. workers may be exposed to unhealthy levels of whole-body vibration. However, the U.S. occupational safety and health community is generally unprepared to anticipate, monitor, and control the whole-body vibration hazard.