Postural assessment in pen-and-paper-based observational methods and their associated health effects: a review

Introduction. This review describes standardized ergonomics assessment based on pen-and-paper observational methods for assessing ergonomics risk factors. Objective. The three main objectives are to analyze published pen-and-paper observational methods, to extract and understand the risk levels of each method and to identify their associated health effects. Methodology. The authors searched scientific databases and the Internet for materials from 1970 to 2013 using the following keywords: ergo, posture, method, observational, postural angle, health effects, pain and diseases. Postural assessments of upper arms, lower arms, wrists, neck, back and legs in six pen-and-paper-based observational methods are highlighted, extracted in groups and linked with associated adverse health effects. Results. The literature reviewed showed strengths and limitations of published pen-and-paper-based observational methods in determining the work activities, risk levels and related postural angles to adverse health effects. This provided a better understanding of unsafe work postures and how to improve these postures. Conclusion. Many pen-and-paper-based observational methods have been developed. However, there are still many limitations of these methods. There is, therefore, a need to develop a new pen-and-paper-based observational method for assessing postural problems.     

Dangerous student car drop-off behaviors and child pedestrian–motor vehicle collisions: An observational study

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the association between dangerous student car drop-off behaviors and historical child pedestrian–motor vehicle collisions (PMVCs) near elementary schools in Toronto, Canada.

Methods: Police-reported child PMVCs during school travel times from 2000 to 2011 were mapped within 200 m of 118 elementary schools. Observers measured dangerous student morning car drop-off behaviors and number of children walking to school during one day in 2011. A composite score of school social disadvantage was obtained from the Toronto District School Board. Built environment and traffic features were mapped and included as covariates. A multivariate Poisson regression was used to model the rates of PMVC/number of children walking and dangerous student car drop-off behaviors, adjusting for the built environment and social disadvantage.

Results: There were 45 child PMVCs, with 29 (64%) sustaining minor injuries resulting in emergency department visits. The mean collision rate was 2.9/10,000 children walking/year (SD = 6.7). Dangerous drop-off behaviors were observed in 104 schools (88%). In the multivariate analysis, each additional dangerous drop-off behavior was associated with a 45% increase in collision rates (incident rate ratio [IRR] = 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02, 2.07). Higher speed roads (IRR = 1.27, 95% CI, 1.13, 1.44) and social disadvantage (IRR = 2.99, 95% CI, 1.03, 8.68) were associated with higher collision rates.

Conclusions: Dangerous student car drop-off behaviors were associated with historical nonfatal child PMVC rates during school travel times near schools. Some caution must be taken in interpreting these results due small number of events and limitations in the data collection, because collision data were collected historically over a 12-year period, whereas driving behavior was only observed on a single day in 2011. Targeted multifaceted intervention approaches related to the built environment, enforcement, and education could address dangerous drop-off behaviors near schools to reduce child PMVCs and promote safe walking to school.     

城市PM2.5健康损害评估研究

参考美国Ben MAP软件,提出城市PM_(2.5)健康损害评估的基本框架,并就评估方法和参数使用中的关键问题进行了论述,包括人群健康损害评估指标的确定、空间尺度和时间尺度的选择、健康终点的界定、人群年龄结构的划分、比较的基准的确定,以及"剂量-反应"关系参数和生命价值参数的选择等.本文收集和整理了2014年北京市空气质量监测点PM_(2.5)浓度监测数据及暴露人口、基期死亡率等数据,运用"向标准靠拢(Rollback to Standard)"的方法,估算北京市PM_(2.5)达到空气质量标准情景下的浓度值,以此作为比较的基准,使用美国Ben MAP数据库收录的"剂量-反应"关系参数,分别基于"工资-风险"法模型和人力资本法模型估计生命价值参数,代入本文城市PM_(2.5)健康损害评估的基本框架,计算2014年北京市PM_(2.5)对人群健康的损害.     

宜兴市土地利用类型与水生态健康相关性研究

利用宜兴市2012年-2014年土地利用数据、水生态健康等相关数据,引用土地利用动态度和土地利用综合程度指数,对土地利用变化和水生态健康现状进行分析,运用相关性分析法测算土地利用类型比例与水生态健康主要指标的相关性.结果表明:耕地、建设用地比例与水生态健康综合指标负相关,湿地、草地、园地、林地用地比例与水生态健康综合指标正相关;建设用地比例与底栖动物负相关;湿地用地比例与营养、底栖动物指标正相关较强.     

Genotoxicity of ferric oxide nanoparticles in Raphanus sativus: Deciphering the role of signaling factors, oxidative stress and cell death

We have studied the genotoxic and apoptotic potential of ferric oxide nanoparticles(Fe_2O_3-NPs) in Raphanus sativus(radish).Fe_2O_3-NPs retarded the root length and seed germination in radish.Ultrathin sections of treated roots showed subcellular localization of Fe_2O_3-NPs,along with the appearance of damaged mitochondria and excessive vacuolization.Flow cytometric analysis of Fe_2O_3-NPs(1.0 mg/m L) treated groups exhibited 219.5%,161%,120.4% and 161.4% increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),mitochondrial membrane potential(ΔΨm),nitric oxide(NO) and Ca2+influx in radish protoplasts.A concentration dependent increase in the antioxidative enzymes glutathione(GSH),catalase(CAT),superoxide dismutase(SOD) and lipid peroxidation(LPO) has been recorded.Comet assay showed a concentration dependent increase in deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) strand breaks in Fe_2O_3-NPs treated groups.Cell cycle analysis revealed 88.4% of cells in sub-G1 apoptotic phase,suggesting cell death in Fe_2O_3-NPs(2.0 mg/m L) treated group.Taking together,the genotoxicity induced by Fe_2O_3-NPs highlights the importance of environmental risk associated with improper disposal of nanoparticles(NPs) and radish can serve as a good indicator for measuring the phytotoxicity of NPs grown in NP-polluted environment.     

浑太河流域鱼类生物完整性指数构建与应用

为了解决在不同区域和不同河流类型间等大尺度范围内F-IBI(鱼类生物完整性指数)评价方法体系的建立问题,以浑河-太子河(下称浑太河)流域为研究区域,构建符合区域性特征的生物完整性评价体系并进行应用研究. 于2014年5月对浑太河流域32个采样点的鱼类进行采样调查,根据鱼类群落特征的空间差异和浑太河流域水生态分区,将采样点分为中上游和下游区域两种类型. 通过综合栖息地和水质的标准化方法确定参照点和受损点,依据候选指标分布范围检验、敏感性分析和相关性检验,筛选出浑太河流域中上游F-IBI核心指标包括总物种数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、鲤形目鱼类物种数百分比、雅罗鱼亚科个体数百分比、鳅科鱼类物种数百分比、鲈形目鱼类物种数百分比、杂食性鱼类物种数百分比、肉食性鱼类物种数百分比、敏感性鱼类个体数百分比等9个指标;下游筛选出F-IBI核心指标包括总物种数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、鮈亚科鱼类物种数百分比、鲈形目鱼类物种数百分比、虾虎鱼科鱼类物种数百分比、中上层鱼类物种数百分比、东北特有鱼类物种数百分比、无脊椎动物食性鱼类物种数百分比、耐受性鱼类个体数百分比等9个指标. 分别提出了浑太河流域中上游和下游的参数标准化公式和健康评价标准,依此将浑太河流域健康状态划分为极好、好、一般、差和极差5个健康等级. 评价结果表明,浑太河流域健康状况整体偏差,在32个采样点中,健康状况处于差和极差的采样点占采样点总数的37.5%,一般的采样点占21.88%,仅有6.25%的采样点处于极好状态. Pearson相关性分析结果显示,F-IBI分值与电导率、ρ(BOD₅)、ρ(COD_Cr)、ρ(NH₃-N)和ρ(TN)均呈显著负相关,而与栖息地综合指数呈显著正相关,表明F-IBI可有效评估浑太河流域的健康状况.      

美国环境与健康管理体制借鉴

美国为应对环境污染带来的公共健康灾难,建立了环保局与卫生部既分工又协作的体制,两个部门都关注环境污染对人类健康的危害。在职能上,环保局侧重于管制和"污染者",卫生部侧重于服务和"潜在受害者"。联邦层面,环保局与卫生部在管制方面和研究(信息共享)方面紧密合作。地方层面,环保局的主要职能是监督各州执行联邦标准,卫生部的主要职能是提供健康和医疗服务,并在具体工作中密切配合。借鉴美国的经验教训,明确建立"公众健康优先"的环境管理价值取向,针对环境与健康风险管理的特点推进生态环境统一监管机构改革,以法治思维和法治方法推进环境与健康治理体系建设;加强科学研究,加快建设环境与健康风险控制信息系统。     

河北省PM2.5污染变化特征及暴露人群健康效应评估研究

PM2.5污染是影响中国城市居民健康和形成雾霾天气的重要原因之一,也是河北省健康发展的一个制约因素.采用环境污染流行病研究为基础的暴露-反应关系估算了2014年和2015年全省因PM2.5污染的居民早逝和罹患相关疾病住院的人数,并利用国家和河北省卫生统计数据,估算出人均人力资源价值和人均住院成本,计算出总经济损失.结果表明,河北省各市的PM2.5年均浓度呈下降趋势,因此,继续坚持有效的大气污染控制和应急健康防护措施,仍然是今后环保工作的重中之重.     

力学载荷条件下 EB-PVD 热障涂层损伤行为研究

目的研究力学载荷条件下EB-PVD热障涂层的损伤行为。方法采用电子束物理气相沉积工艺(EB-PVD)制备热障涂层(TBCs),利用SEM和体式显微镜对力学性能试验后带涂层试样的断口特征、裂纹形貌和金相组织进行观察,分析热障涂层在拉伸、持久和旋转弯曲疲劳等典型力学载荷条件下的损伤行为。结果在室温拉伸条件下,陶瓷层内先出现垂直于应力轴、沿柱状晶簇扩展的平行环状周向微裂纹,随着拉伸塑变量的增加,局部区域裂纹贯穿粘结层并进入合金基体;900℃高温拉伸条件下裂纹也产生于陶瓷层,但裂纹均钝化于粘结层与陶瓷层的界面,并穿透粘结层。在持久条件下,试样在弹性变形阶段涂层即发生开裂,随后沿着陶瓷层柱状晶簇间扩展,但未扩展至粘结层;在高温高周疲劳条件下,裂纹首先出现在粘结层,随后向基体逐渐扩展,扩展深度较浅,而基体疲劳裂纹在粘结层裂纹末端萌生并倾斜滑移扩展。结论提高粘结层韧性、减少粘结层中裂纹萌生和向基体扩展,是热障涂层材料和工艺优化的有效途径。     

Growth inhibition and oxidative damage of Microcystis aeruginosa induced by crude extract of Sagittaria trifolia tubers

Aquatic macrophytes are considered to be promising in controlling harmful cyanobacterial blooms. In this research, an aqueous extract of Sagittaria trifolia tubers was prepared to study its inhibitory effect on Microcystis aeruginosa in the laboratory. Several physiological indices of M. aeruginosa, in response to the environmental stress, were analyzed. Results showed that S. trifolia tuber aqueous extract significantly inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa in a concentration-dependent way. The highest inhibition rate reached 90% after 6 day treatment. The Chlorophyll-a concentration of M. aeruginosa cells decreased from 343.1 to314.2 μg/L in the treatment group. The activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase and the content of reduced glutathione in M. aeruginosa cells initially increased as a response to the oxidative stress posed by S. trifolia tuber aqueous extract, but then decreased as time prolonged. The lipid peroxidation damage of the cyanobacterial cell membranes was reflected by the malondialdehyde level, which was notably higher in the treatment group compared with the controls. It was concluded that the oxidative damage of M. aeruginosa induced by S.trifolia tuber aqueous extract might be one of the mechanisms for the inhibitory effects.