Formaldehyde Exposure in a Gross Anatomy Laboratory. Personal Exposure Level Is Higher Than Indoor Concentration (5 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background Cadavers for gross anatomy laboratories are usually prepared by using embalming fluid which contains formaldehyde (FA) as a principal component. During the process of dissection, FA vapors are emitted from the cadavers, resulting in the exposure of medical students and their instructors to elevated levels of FA in the laboratory. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has set a ceiling limit for FA at 0.3 ppm. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has set an air quality guideline defining two limit values for environmental exposure to FA: 0.08 ppm as an average for general workplaces and 0.25 ppm for specific workplaces such as an FA factory. Although there are many reports on indoor FA concentrations in gross anatomy laboratories, only a few reports have described personal FA exposure levels. The purpose of the present study was to clarify personal exposure levels as well as indoor FA concentrations in our laboratory in order to investigate the relationship between them. Methods The gross anatomy laboratory was evaluated in the 4th, 10th and 18th sessions of 20 laboratory sessions in total over a period of 10 weeks. Air samples were collected using a diffusive sampling device for organic carbonyl compounds. Area samples were taken in the center and four corners of the laboratory during the entire time of each session (4-6 hours). Personal samples were collected from instructors and students using a sampling device pinned on each person's lapel, and they were 1.1 to 6 hours in duration. Analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography. Results and Discussion Room averages of FA concentrations were 0.45, 0.38 and 0.68 ppm for the 4th, 10th and 18th sessions, respectively, ranging from 0.23 to 1.03 ppm. These levels were comparable to or relatively lower than the levels reported previously, but were still higher than the guideline limit for specific workplaces in Japan and the ACGIH ceiling limit. The indoor FA concentrations varied depending on the contents of laboratory sessions and seemed to increase when body cavity or deep structures were being dissected. In all sessions but the 4th, FA levels at the center of the room were higher than those in the corners. This might be related to the arrangement of air supply diffusers and return grills. However, it cannot be ruled out that FA levels in the corners were lowered by leakage of FA through the doors and windows. Average personal exposure levels were 0.80, 0.45 and 0.51 ppm for instructors and 1.02, 1.08 and 0.89 ppm for students for the 4th, 10th and 18th session, respectively. The exposure levels of students were significantly higher than the mean indoor FA concentrations in the 4th and 10th sessions, and the same tendency was also observed in the 18th session. The personal exposure level of instructors was also significantly higher than the indoor FA level in the 4th session, while they were almost the same in the 10th and 18th sessions. Differences in behavior during the sessions might reflect the differential personal exposure levels between students and instructors. Conclusion The present study revealed that, if a person is close to the cadavers during the gross anatomy laboratory, his/her personal exposure level is possibly 2 to 3-fold higher than the mean indoor FA concentration. This should be considered in the risk assessment of FA in gross anatomy laboratories. Recommendation and Outlook If the risk of FA in gross anatomy laboratories is assessed based on the indoor FA levels, the possibility that personal exposure levels are 2 to 3-fold higher than the mean indoor FA level should be taken into account. Otherwise, the risk should be assessed based on the personal exposure levels. However, it is hard to measure everyone's exposure level. Therefore, further studies are necessary to develop a method of personal exposure assessment from the indoor FA concentration.     

Relationship between the loading rate of inorganic mercury to aquatic ecosystems and dissolved gaseous mercury production and evasion

The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) production and evasion is directly proportional to the loading rate of inorganic mercury [Hg(II)] to aquatic ecosystems. We simulated different rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in 10-m diameter mesocosms in a boreal lake by adding multiple additions of Hg(II) enriched with a stable mercury isotope (²⁰²Hg). We measured DGM concentrations in surface waters and estimated evasion rates using the thin-film gas exchange model and mass transfer coefficients derived from sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) additions. The additions of Hg(II) stimulated DGM production, indicating that newly added Hg(II) was highly reactive. Concentrations of DGM derived from the experimental Hg(II) additions (“spike DGM”) were directly proportional to the rate of Hg(II) loading to the mesocosms. Spike DGM concentrations averaged 0.15, 0.48 and 0.94 ng l⁻¹ in mesocosms loaded at 7.1, 14.2, and 35.5 μg Hg m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively. The evasion rates of spike DGM from these mesocosms averaged 4.2, 17.2, and 22.3 ng m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. The percentage of Hg(II) added to the mesocosms that was lost to the atmosphere was substantial (33–59% over 8 weeks) and was unrelated to the rate of Hg(II) loading. We conclude that changes in atmospheric mercury deposition to aquatic ecosystems will not change the relative proportion of mercury recycled to the atmosphere.     

某化工厂甲醛生产安全现状综合评价

采用预先危险分析（PHA）、火灾爆炸危险指数分析等方法对某化工厂甲醛生产过程中的危险性进行了分析与评价,确定了重大危险源,根据分析评价结果,在安全技术与安全管理等方面,提出了甲醛生产过程中应采取的技术措施。     

Measurement of Particulate Bound Mercury,Gaseous Elemental Mercury,and Reactive Gaseous Mercury Concentrations by Using an Ambient Air Mercury Collection System

In this investigation, the concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM) in ambient air were measured at the Hung Kuang (traffic) sampling site during September 27 to October 6, 2014. An ambient air mercury collection system (AAMCS) was utilized to measure simultaneously PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations in ambient air. The results thus obtained demonstrate that the mean concentrations of PBM, GEM, and RGM were 38.57 ± 11.4 (pg/m³), 17.67 ± 5.56 (ng/m³) and 10.78 ± 2.8 (pg/m³), respectively, at this traffic-sampling site. The mean GEM/PBM and GEM/RGM concentration ratios were 458 and 1639, respectively. The results obtained herein demonstrate that AAMCS can be utilized to collect three phases of mercury simultaneously. The mean PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations herein were compared with others found in Asia, America, Europe and Antarctica. The mean PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations were found to be lowest in Asia and Antarctica. The mean PBM concentration in Europe was approximately eight times that in this investigation. The mean GEM and RGM concentrations in this study were 1.21 and 170 times those found in the United States.     

纸载P-TiO_2光催化降解甲醛的影响因素研究

本文以牛皮纸作载体,用浸渍法制备了具有光催化作用的纳米P-TiO2光催化剂,对室内一定浓度的甲醛气体进行了降解实验研究。通过实验探讨了甲醛的初始浓度、催化剂的用量、湿度条件、溶胶pH值和金属离子的掺杂5个影响甲醛降解率的因素,结果采用美国interscan公司生产的4160型甲醛分析仪进行表征。实验结果表明,当甲醛的初始浓度约为1.53mg/m3,P-TiO2用量为11.94g,湿度约为52%,溶胶pH=5.01,掺杂6.00mL 0.20 mol/L Cu2＋离子时,甲醛的降解效果最好,最高可达93.50%,甲醛浓度降至0.0994mg/m3,达到了GB/T 18883—2002标准中规定的0.10 mg/m3。     

气体二氧化氯的光降解规律研究

为研究气体二氧化氯的光降解规律,利用自行设计的光降解装置,考察不同波长光源、温度和气体二氧化氯初始质量浓度对其降解速率的影响,同时以暗室降解作为参比试验。结果表明:分别在365 nm紫外光、日光、254 nm紫外光以及400～700 nm荧光照射下,相同初始质量浓度的气体二氧化氯的降解速率逐渐下降;当温度在15～25℃范围变化时,相同初始质量浓度的气体二氧化氯的日光降解速率基本相同;不同质量浓度的气体二氧化氯在日光照射下,降解速率随气体质量浓度的增加而增大。因此,对气体二氧化氯的光降解起主要作用的波长是在365 nm附近的紫外光;温度对其降解速率基本没有影响;在日光照射下,气体二氧化氯的降解速率与质量浓度的一次方成正比,属于一级反应,其半衰期与初始质量浓度无关,仅与反应速率常数k有关,半衰期约为63 min。     

应用扩散管测量霾污染期间大气氮硫化合物浓度的方法

活性氮和硫化合物在大气颗粒物形成过程中扮演重要角色,但对它们气相/颗粒相的同步观测结果比较缺乏.本研究尝试基于扩散管的DELTA系统测量氮和硫化合物短时累积浓度,以期捕捉它们在霾污染期间的演变规律.结果表明,DELTA系统收集气态污染物的扩散管中以及颗粒物滤膜上NH_4~+和NO-3空白干扰较小,适用于研究NH_3、HNO_3、NH_4~+和NO-3的日均浓度,可以作为城市环境空气质量监测参数的有效补充;但采样系统中SO_2-4背景含量较高,仅适合监测48 h以上时间尺度的SO_2浓度和周~月尺度SO_2-4浓度,用于大气硫沉降观测.北京2016年5月9日~6月7日观测期间,大气NH_3、HNO_3、NH_4~+和NO-3浓度具有明显的逐日演变规律,呈现出随着风向转变而发生周期性波动的典型特征;这些含氮污染物与PM_(2.5)、CO、SO_2和NO_2浓度的变化规律一致,其来源可能与化石燃料燃烧源有关.污染天NH_3、HNO_3、NH_4~+和NO-3浓度约为清洁天的2倍,但还原性氮和氧化性氮的相态分布在清洁天和污染天无明显差异;整个观测期间,HNO_3/NO-3约为1.2,NH_3/NH_4~+为4.5,春夏之交较高的温度有利于活性氮在气粒平衡过程中偏向于气态形式存在.     

采用CaO强化氧化法处理高浓度甲醛废水的反应条件研究

高浓度甲醛废水在高温高pH的条件下,通过投加CaO强化氧化剂,实现了高浓度甲醛废水的甲醛快速降解转化.反应条件和投加药量如下:20 000 mg/L浓度的甲醛废水投加固体NaOH量、CaO量分别为2 kg/m 3高浓度甲醛废水和0.6 kg/m 3高浓度甲醛废水,当反应温度为80℃时,控制废水反应的pH值在9.5~10.0左右,当反应时间为30 min后,通过观察反应后废水的颜色和闻废水是否有甲醛的气味判定是否为反应的终点.当反应后的废水无甲醛气味,颜色为红棕色,即可判断为反应的终点,此时甲醛浓度降低到20 mg/L以下,甲醛的去除率为99.9%以上.     

基于OMI数据的兰州地区对流层甲醛时空变化研究

基于OMHCHO遥感数据产品,对兰州地区2006—2016年对流层甲醛柱浓度的时空分布进行了分析,并对与其排放相关的因素进行了探讨,结果表明:2006—2016年对流层甲醛柱浓度整体呈上升趋势,其中2006—2011年甲醛柱浓度增加迅速,最大增长率为21.0%,2012—2016年甲醛柱浓度平缓波动上升,11年中年均增长率为5.4%;空间上甲醛柱浓度整体呈现由兰州市区西部及与其相邻的永登县部分区域向周边区域递增的趋势,2006—2011年表现为浓度级的增加和区域的扩大,2012—2015年浓度级及其区域基本不变,2016年在东南部出现高值甲醛柱浓度区;每年的最高值出现在6—8月份,11年中最大的柱浓度值出现在2011年的7月份,最低值基本出现在2—4月份,11年中最低的柱浓度值出现在2006年的2月份;四季对流层甲醛柱浓度水平为:夏季冬季秋季春季;影响因素中气温和风向对大气中甲醛的生成和分布有着促进作用,兰州地区生产总值及各产业增加值,尤其是工业产值和机动车保有量的增加,与甲醛柱浓度升高密切相关,这些人为因素是对流层中甲醛柱浓度变化的主要原因.     

三峡库区典型农田系统大气汞浓度及不同自然界面释汞通量

以三峡库区周边典型农田系统为研究对象,对不同土壤利用类型下的界面汞释放通量及影响因素进行系统研究,并同时对区域内大气汞(TGM)浓度进行监测.结果表明,研究区TGM浓度范围为2.67~75.5 ng·m~(-3),春冬两季显著高于夏秋季,其均值为(6.26±8.11)ng·m~(-3),明显高于全球TGM浓度背景值.不同地表类型下土壤释汞通量表现为旱地稻田林地;季节变化表现为夏季最高,冬季最低;日变化中最大的释放量出现在正午.不同地表中释汞通量的主要影响因素均为气温、湿度、光照、紫外线强度、土温等,其中气温和紫外强度是影响不同地表土/气界面汞交换的主要因子;在环境因子与农业活动的外界影响下,土壤本底汞含量对不同界面的土壤释汞通量的作用不明显.