Prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving and riding in northern Ghana

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the roadside prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving among drivers and riders in northern Ghana. The study also verifies motorists' perceptions of their own alcohol use and knowledge of the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Ghana.

Method: With the assistance of police, systematic random sampling was used to collect data at roadblocks using a cross-sectional study design. Breathalyzers were used to screen whether motorists had detectable alcohol in their breath and follow-up breath tests were conducted to measure the actual breath alcohol levels among positive participants.

Results: In all, 9.7% of the 789 participants had detectable alcohol, among whom 6% exceeded the legal BAC limit of 0.08%. The prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving/riding was highest among cyclists (10% of all cyclists breath-tested) followed by truck drivers (9%) and motorcyclists (7% of all motorcyclists breath-tested). The occurrence of a positive BAC among cyclists was about 8 times higher (odds ratio [OR] = 7.73; P < .001) and it was 2 times higher among motorcyclists (OR = 2.30; P = .039) compared to private car drivers. The likelihood for detecting a positive BAC among male motorists/riders was higher than that among females (OR = 1.67; P = .354). The odds for detecting a positive BAC among weekend motorists/riders was significantly higher than on weekdays (OR = 2.62; P = .001).

Conclusion: Alcohol-impaired driving/riding in Ghana is high by international standards. In order to attenuate the harmful effects of alcohol misuse such as alcohol-impaired driving/riding, there is the need to educate road users about how much alcohol they can consume and stay below the legal limit. The police should also initiate random breath testing to instill the deterrence of detection, certainty of apprehension and punishment, and severity and celerity of punishment among drink-driving motorists and riders.     

黄河耗氧性有机物污染特征及泥沙对其参数测定的影响

对黄河干流1980,1992～1999年耗氧性有机物污染监测数据进行了分析,并通过对高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)与泥沙含量监测数据间的相关分析和模拟实验研究,探讨了泥沙对CODMn测定的影响.结果表明:(1)由于泥沙中腐殖质的成分之一富里酸能溶解于酸,在水样加酸处理过程中将进入水相,且富里酸能被化学氧化剂所氧化,但在自然条件下很难发生生物氧化和消耗水体的溶解氧,因此,由于泥沙的影响,CODMn夸大了耗氧性有机物的污染;(2)黄河干流河水的生化需氧量(BOD5)从上游至下游存在增加的趋势;(3)1992年干流河水的BOD5显著大于1980年的BOD5,在1992～1999年间,河水BOD5的年均值存在上升的趋势,枯水期均值存在上升的趋势,而丰水期均值的增长趋势不明显,由此表明,耗氧性有机污染物的点源排放在增加,而面源排放的增长趋势不明显,甚至存在降低的趋势;(4)黄河干流的耗氧性有机污染物主要来自点源排放,BOD5的点源与面源负荷的多年均值之比为2 81.     

水解-混凝法处理糖蜜酒精废水试验

采用投加优势菌群的水解 -混凝法对糖蜜酒精废水进行试验 ,研究投加优势菌的水解阶段的处理效果 ,同时 ,以 10 %碱式AlCl3为混凝剂 ,对水解段的出水进行混凝处理 ,并对处理条件进行研究。结果表明 ,采用投加优势菌群的水解 -混凝法工艺处理该废水 ,可以取得 5 8%的CODCr去除率 ,且可去除一定的色度     

Persistence of methyl <Emphasis Type="Italic">tertiary</Emphasis> butyl ether (MTBE) against metabolism by Danish vegetation

BACKGROUND: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is the second most highly produced industrial chemical in the US and a frequent groundwater pollutant. At the same time, MTBE is quite persistent to biotic and abiotic decomposition. The goal of this study was to find plant species that could degrade MTBE and might be used in phytoremediation. METHODS: Excised roots and leaves (0.3 g) from more than 24 Danish plant species out of 15 families were kept in glass vessels with 25 ml spiked aqueous solution for 2 to 4 days. MTBE concentrations were 1 to 5 mg/L. Samples were taken directly from the solution with a needle and injected to a purge and trap unit. MTBE and the main metabolite, TBA, were measured by GC/FID. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Solutions with roots of poplar (Populus robusta) and a willow hybrid (Salix viminalis x schwerinii) produced TBA in trace amounts, probably stemming from bacteria. Significant MTBE reduction (> 10%) was not observed in any of the tests. Leaves from none of the species (trees, grasses and herbs) reduced the concentration of MTBE in the solution and no TBA, nor any other known metabolite of MTBE, was detected. CONCLUSION: It was not possible to find plants capable of efficiently degrading MTBE. This gives rise to the conclusion that plants probably cannot degrade MTBE at all, or only very slowly. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: For phytoremediation projects, this has, as consequence, that the volatilization by plants (except with genetically engineered plants) is the only relevant removal process for MTBE. For risk assessment of MTBE, degradation by the plant empire is not a relevant sink process.     

Understanding the context of alcohol impaired driving for fatal crash–involved drivers: A descriptive case analysis

Objective: The objective of this study was to understand the social context and circumstances surrounding alcohol-impaired driving prior to fatal crash involvement for drivers with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC ≥ 0.05 g/100 ml or 0.00 g/100 ml for restricted license holders).

Methods: Coroners' case reports investigating fatal crashes in South Australia over a 3-year period (2008–2010) were examined. The personal and crash characteristics of drivers with an illegal BAC were compared with those who had a legal BAC. For each driver with an illegal BAC, information was recorded including characteristics of last trip, location and social context of alcohol consumption, quantity and type of alcohol consumed, BAC level, presence of drugs, perceived alcohol intoxication, and alcohol dependence. Official traffic offense records were also obtained.

Results: Of the 284 fatal crashes included in the study, 34% (n = 95) involved a driver or rider with an illegal BAC. Prior to the crash, alcohol was most frequently consumed by drivers in rural areas, within private homes, and was part of normal social activities. Drivers recorded a high level of alcohol impairment, with a mean BAC of 0.173 g/100 ml and a level of alcohol dependence that was above the Australian national average (7.4 vs. 3.9%). In addition, 23% of drivers were known to be experiencing psychological stress at the time of the crash. The results also confirm that drink driving recidivism continues to be a significant problem, with 44% of drivers recording at least one prior alcohol driving offense.

Conclusions: Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of fatal crashes. The popularity of drinking at home, particularly in rural areas, has implications for police enforcement strategies and suggests that drink driving interventions that focus on community values and looking after friends might be beneficial. Importantly, the study highlights the need for a broader holistic approach to reduce the high levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence underlying drink driving behavior.     

Blood alcohol concentration in fatally injured drivers and the efficacy of alcohol policies of the new law on road traffic safety: A retrospective 10-year study in autonomous province of Vojvodina,Republic of Serbia

Objective: The aim of this study was primarily to evaluate inebriated fatally injured drivers (FIDs) according to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a 10-year period (2004–2013) in Autonomous Province (AP) of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia, to analyze the efficacy of alcohol polices in the new law on road traffic safety through changes in the number of inebriated FIDs before and after implementation of the law, as well as to identify factors that influence the occurrence of FIDs with BACs above the legal limit.

Methods: All data for this retrospective study were obtained from the Centre of Forensic Medicine, Toxicology and Molecular Genetics of Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. Autopsy records for each case included age, gender, BAC, type of vehicle, and date of accident (year, month, and recalculated day of the week). BAC was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Statistical analysis was carried out by chi-square tests and Student's t test, with P < .05 as a statistical significance, and multiple binary logistic regression.

Results: Of the 354 inebriated FIDs (60% of all FIDs), the majority had BACs between of 0.031 and 0.3 mg/ml (28%), followed by those with BAC > 2.01 mg/ml (23%). The average BAC of those driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) for the whole period was 1.235 ± 1.00 mg/ml and the average number of DUIA/year was 35. Among the total number of FIDs there were significantly more males (93.7%; P < .001) than females (6.3%), though the distribution of intoxicated men and women was not different (P > .05). There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of sober and inebriated FIDs according to age (P < .001) with the predominance of inebriated FIDs between 21 and 30 years. Although gender and age were found to be significant predictors of BAC above legal limit in FIDs, the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve showed that the model had poor discrimination (ROC = 0.673). Of all observed FIDs, 65 cases per year were attributed to the first 5-year period (2004–2009) and 49 to the second 5-year (2010–2013) period, which indicates that there was no statistically significant decrease in the number of FIDs after implementation of the new law.

Conclusion: The highest number of intoxicated FIDs during the period in AP Vojvodina were mildly and completely inebriated. In the 4-year post-policy period (2010–2013), the number of FIDs and average BAC levels of inebriated FIDs did not significantly change. The abolition of a permissible BAC should be considered.     

PAC/AC吸附对超滤膜去除再生水中有机物影响

研究了粉状活性炭(PAC)和活性焦(AC)吸附对超滤膜(UF)去除再生水中有机物的效能及其对膜污染的影响。结果表明,PAC和AC吸附预处理可有效改善超滤膜出水水质,投量为40 mg/L时,PAC和AC单独吸附对DOC去除率分别为40.2%和32.6%,超滤出水DOC去除率则由直接膜滤时的21.4%提高至47.2%。UF对大于10 kDa的大分子有机物有较好的截留能力,PAC较AC对中小分子有机物的吸附效果更好。三维荧光(3D-EEM)分析显示,原水中溶解性微生物代谢产物和腐殖质类有机物所占比重较大;直接UF对溶解性微生物代谢产物的去除能力较好,投加PAC和AC促进了紫外腐殖酸和类腐殖酸类有机物去除,紫外腐殖酸EEM峰值分别下降51.7%和48.8%,类腐殖酸EEM峰值下降63.0%和59.9%。投加PAC和AC并经0.45 μm膜预过滤可提高超滤膜通量,其在过滤周期内的下降率由直接膜滤时的27.6%分别降至23.5%和24.4%。AC较PAC更为经济,AC-UF可替代PAC-UF作为经济可行的再生水深度净化工艺。     

MIEX树脂在饮用水预处理中的应用研究

本文采用一种新型的MIEX磁性离子交换树脂对某水厂原水进行预处理,考察了MIEX树脂用量与后续混凝工艺对原水的浊度、有机物、无机阴离子的去除效果。结果表明,MIEX技术可有效地去除原水中的有机物,对UV254和CODMn的去除率分别稳定在90%和59%。MIEX树脂对无机阴离子也有很好的去除效果,对SO24-的去除率一般为80%以上,NO3-为50%以上。但MIEX树脂对低浊水的去浊效果一般,同时MIEX预处理可以有效强化混凝沉淀对有机物的去除。     

环境因素对聚乙烯醇降解菌系降解效果的影响研究

针对在前期研究中已筛选到的一种聚乙烯醇(PVA)降解混合菌系,考察了种龄、菌悬液接种量、培养基装液量、培养温度、初始pH、渗透压及光照等外部环境因素对其PVA降解能力的影响.结果表明,种龄对混合菌系降解PVA的能力影响较小,实际运用中保持种龄为24～48 h较佳;菌悬液接种量过多时,会影响其正常生长,最佳的接种量为4～...     

醇胺类物质促进飞灰中氯代芳烃加氢脱氯的研究

分别以三乙醇胺(TEA)和一乙醇胺(MEA)作为氢源,六氯苯(HCB)作为模型化合物,研究了在密闭体系下飞灰中氯代芳烃的加氢脱氯作用.考察了TEA或MEA添加量、热处理温度和时间对脱氯效率的影响,证实有明显的脱氯反应发生.当MEA或TEA添加量为8%时,经过250℃,2 h热处理,脱氯效率分别可达94.7%和78.6%...