Evaluation of potential toxic effects of occupational inhalation exposure to licorice root dust

Licorice, a plant indigenous to southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern China, exhibits several pharmacological properties, including estrogenic, anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and anti-tussive activities. Prolonged use of licorice is known to produce headaches, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, edema, lethargy, dyspnea, sodium retention and loss of potassium in humans. However, to date, the potential adverse health effects due to occupational inhalation exposure of licorice root dust remains unknown. This study was, therefore, undertaken to address this issue. In this cross-sectional study, individuals (30 workers) occupationally exposed to licorice root dust at a licorice producing plant in Shiraz, Iran were recruited. Similarly, 30 healthy male unexposed employees at a telecommunications industry, with identical demographic and socioeconomic status, without any past or current exposure to licorice dust or habitual ingestion of this compound, served as the referent group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. Further, individuals underwent electrocardiography, clinical examination and blood chemistry tests. To assess the extent to which subjects were exposed to licorice root dust, atmospheric concentrations of this compound were also measured in the plant. There were no differences in age, weight, height and duration of exposure to licorice dust or length of employment between exposed and referent groups. Atmospheric measurement of licorice dust showed that concentration exceeded the permissible limit of 5 mg m^?3. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of exposed subjects were significantly higher than those of the referent group. Similarly, blood analysis revealed that serum concentrations of potassium and platelet counts were significantly lower in exposed subjects than in referent individuals. Questionnaire data demonstrated that symptoms such as headaches, lethargy, and vertigo were more common in exposed subjects. No abnormal changes were noted in the electrocardiographs of exposed or referent subjects. Our findings provide evidence that inhalation exposure to high concentrations of licorice dust is associated with an increased prevalence of headache, lethargy, and vertigo, as well as hypertension and hypokalemia. None of these changes resulted in increased morbidity and mortality in exposed workers.     

全球沙尘气溶胶源汇分布及其变化特征的模拟分析

根据全球沙尘气溶胶气候模式GEM-AQ/EC模拟的1995~2004年的沙尘起沙量和干湿沉降量,分析了沙尘气溶胶源汇的全球时空变化特征.全球沙尘起沙量集中在各个主要沙漠地区,北非对全球沙尘气溶胶贡献最大为66.6%.沙尘气溶胶沉降的高值区分布在沙漠源区及其紧临的下风地区.最大净沙尘气溶胶接收主要分布在沙漠周围地区并形成净接收量大于10t/(km2×a)的位于0°N~60°N之间的北非、欧亚大陆、西太平洋、北印度洋、北美和大西洋的带状分布.在北非、阿拉伯半岛、中亚、东亚和澳大利亚5个主要沙漠地区中,起沙量和沉降量都存在明显的季节变化,除中亚其他4个区域干湿沉降量和起沙的季节变化基本一致;东亚地区沙尘气溶胶起沙量和总沉降量的季节变化最为明显,而北非沙漠起沙量和总沉降量的季节变化最小,其他3个区域的季节变化幅度基本相同.中亚起沙峰值和阿拉伯半岛起沙次峰值出现在夏季,其他区域的峰值均出现在春季.10年间全球陆地年平均起沙量为(1500±94)Mt,保持略微上升趋势.以北非沙漠起沙量年际变化率最低(6.3%), 而以东亚(28.3%)和澳大利亚(45.0%)起沙量年际变化最为明显;全球陆地的沙尘气溶胶沉降量以约9.9Mt/a的速率递减,全球海洋的沙尘气溶胶沉降递增.     

利用偏振-米散射激光雷达研究广州一次浮尘天气过程

利用偏振-米散射激光雷达、颗粒物监测仪数据,结合风廓线等气象资料分析讨论了2012年3月25日广州浮尘天气气溶胶污染事件,通过气团后向轨迹分析了沙尘气溶胶的来源及路径.结果表明本次污染过程与我国西北地区大部沙尘暴产生的浮尘远距离输送有关;浮尘期间相对湿度迅速下降,测点PM10中PM2.5所占的比例在28%~31%之间,与广州地区以细粒子污染为特征不同,本次气溶胶污染事件主要是由粗粒子引起;影响近地面的沙尘层主要分布高度在1000~2000m区域;沙尘过境期间探测到气溶胶最大退偏比为0.34.     

模拟酸雨对街道灰尘重金属淋溶的累积释放特征与释放模型

以泉州市交通繁忙区街道灰尘为研究对象,采用模拟酸雨动态淋溶实验和改进的BCR四步提取法研究街道灰尘中重金属元素在不同酸度(pH=3.5、4.5、5.6)模拟酸雨淋溶下的溶出规律及形态变化.结果表明,街道灰尘中重金属元素的累积释放量均随模拟酸雨pH的降低而增加,当pH值为3.5和4.5时,Cu、Pb、Mn、Ni、V、As和Co的释放过程为快速释放阶段,Cr、Zn和Fe的释放过程分为快速释放和相对平稳释放两个阶段;当pH值为5.6时,除Co、V为快速释放过程外,其余重金属都处于相对慢速的释放过程.动力学方程拟合结果表明,双常数速率方程能更好地描述上述重金属元素的累积释放特征.尘样经模拟酸雨淋溶后,弱酸可溶态中Co、Cu、Mn、Zn、Ni百分含量有所增加,Cr、Fe、Pb百分含量变化不明显;可还原态中Cr、Pb、Cu、Ni百分含量有所增加,Mn、Zn、Co百分含量有所下降;可氧化态中上述各元素的百分含量均有所降低;残渣态中除Ni、Mn百分含量有所下降外,其它元素百分含量变化均不显著.     

复合型抑尘剂的制备研究

配制的复合型抑尘剂是甲基丙烯酸甲酯-丙烯酸丁酯共聚物乳液。采用正交法构造四因素三水平设计正交实验,用预乳化法合成抑尘剂。对数据直观分析,得出在乳化剂质量分数为2%,引发剂质量分数为1.1%,交联剂质量分数为2%,搅拌强度为100 r/min的实验条件下,抑尘剂性能较好。抑尘剂应用性能测试表明:抑尘剂具有较好的吸水保水性,配制的复合型抑尘剂具有较好的经济效益和社会效益,应用前景广阔。     

住宅室内降尘中邻苯二甲酸酯污染特征及暴露评价

利用CH2Cl2和超声对天津市13户家庭住宅冬季和夏季26个室内降尘样品中6种邻苯二甲酸酯(DMP、DEP、DBP、BBP、DEHP、DOP)进行提取分离,并采用气相色谱-质谱定量分析,研究了邻苯二甲酸酯污染变化特征和暴露风险.结果表明,冬夏两季,室内降尘样品均以DEHP 浓度最大,DBP第二,且DBP 和DEHP之和占ΣPAEs 的比例达到80.0%以上;冬季,各采样点6种邻苯二甲酸酯总含量(∑PAEs)浓度在1.498~32.587μg/g之间,平均浓度为(6.772±8.154)μg/g;夏季,∑PAEs浓度在1.981~40.041μg/g之间,平均浓度为(13.406±12.911) μg/g;PAEs浓度季节变化差异显著,夏季降尘样品中PAEs浓度高于冬季.暴露评价显示儿童和成人的夏季邻苯二甲酸酯总暴露量均大于冬季;经口暴露水平大于皮肤;平均儿童的暴露水平是成人的10倍左右;成人和儿童对4种物质(DBP、DEHP、DEP、BBP)的总暴露量最大值均出现在夏季;天津室内降尘暴露量与我国6城市室内降尘总暴露水平相当(除DEHP外),与德国和美国的暴露水平相比,天津儿童和成人的暴露量偏小.但是,室内环境中PAEs污染对人体健康的影响仍要引起重视,尤其是对低龄儿童的健康危害.     

改性木质素磺酸盐煤炭抑尘剂的制备与研究

以木质素磺酸盐为主要原料,在50℃的反应条件下,与丙烯酸、氯化钙、四硼酸钠、甲基硅酸钠等发生化学反应,制备了一种铁路煤炭运输抑尘剂,并分别对抑尘剂的部分性能进行评价。结果表明:该产品所能承受的平均压力为7.105 N,2 min的水蚀率为2.1%,初始侵蚀风速为130 km/h,完全能够满足铁路煤炭运输的需求,避免煤炭在运输过程中的扬尘污染和损失;且制作过程简单便捷、无刺激性、无毒副作用。     

烧结机头电除尘灰的处理与利用

针对烧结机头除尘灰的组成和特点进行分析,探讨了目前国内钢铁企业对烧结机头除尘灰处理的现状和存在的问题,对烧结机头除尘灰固体废弃物的处理与利用技术的发展提出了一些建议和展望。     

Chemistry of atmospheric dust and critical load assessment in Delhi region (India)

This is the first study in the Delhi region that assesses the critical load capacity of soil systems with respect to the atmospheric deposition and air quality, from July to October in 2012. Trend analysis of NO₂ and SO₂ in Delhi, using the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, showed interesting patterns matching with the trends in vehicular load in the city. This was followed by the calculation of the critical load of atmospheric acidity for sulphur and nitrogen in order to check the vulnerability of the soil systems in Delhi. Here, the steady state mass balance approach was majorly applied and the study conducted in the Agra region was taken as reference. The calculated values of critical loads of sulphur (225–275?eq/ha/yr) and nitrogen (298–303?eq/ha/yr), for the soil system in Delhi, were calculated with respect to three plant species, namely Anjan grass, Hibiscus and Black siris. The present loads of sulphur (PL(S)?=?26.40?eq/ha/yr) and nitrogen (PL(N)?=?36.51?eq/ha/yr) were found to be much lower than their respective critical loads. From the results, it can be concluded that the present loads of atmospheric acidic deposition in Delhi region do not pose any danger of acidification of soil system because it is countered by buffering capacity of soil generated dust. However, considering the pace at which the city is growing, it is likely that in coming decades, the present load will increase and thus the values evaluated in this study are likely to serve as an important reference for future assessment of the pollution scenario in the city.     

巷道蝶叶塑性区顶板冒落特征与层次支护研究

针对巷道蝶叶塑性区顶板破坏深度大、变形剧烈、冒顶事故频发等问题,综合现场调研、理论分析、数值模拟等方法,考虑巷道顶板不同服务阶段的变形破坏特点,研究分析了巷道顶板破坏失稳机理和不同层位顶板的控制要点,提出了以冒顶控制为主的顶板层次控制技术,阐明了辅助支护材料、普通长度锚杆、接长锚杆、长锚索对不同层位顶板的层次控制原理。据此,在保德矿81306工作面回采巷道蝶叶塑性区顶板进行了层次支护设计,并进行了顶板下沉量和接长锚杆支护力监测,结果表明:以冒顶控制为主的巷道顶板层次支护体系较好的维护了顶板整体稳定,保证了巷道安全与正常服务。