VTOL aircraft in emergency planning and management: a model for a helipad network

The scientific literature regarding HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) planning lacks a method for defining optimal sites for helipads that takes into account risk distribution and hospital location. Such a method could minimise overall rescue time in emergency situations. In this paper a method that supports the decisions taken by disaster planners and managers is developed, focusing on the quantification of necessary air resources for the management of some probable calamities. Given a region characterised by a natural and non-natural disaster risk map, along with a comprehensive transport system (also characterised by a risk map), a set of emergency destinations (hospitals), a set of heliports/helipads dislocated on the territory and a number of available HEMS rotorcraft, the aim of the paper is to assess the adequacy of the VTOL/FATO (Vertical Take-Off and Landing/Final Take-Off and Landing Area) system in order to deal with a set of possible emergencies.     

Possible linkages between lignite aquifers, pathogenic microbes, and renal pelvic cancer in northwestern Louisiana, USA

In May and September, 2002, 14 private residential drinking water wells, one dewatering well at a lignite mine, eight surface water sites, and lignite from an active coal mine were sampled in five Parishes of northwestern Louisiana, USA. Using a geographic information system (GIS), wells were selected that were likely to draw water that had been in contact with lignite; control wells were located in areas devoid of lignite deposits. Well water samples were analyzed for pH, conductivity, organic compounds, and nutrient and anion concentrations. All samples were further tested for presence of fungi (cultures maintained for up to 28 days and colonies counted and identified microscopically) and for metal and trace element concentration by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic emission spectrometry. Surface water samples were tested for dissolved oxygen and presence of pathogenic leptospiral bacteria. The Spearman correlation method was used to assess the association between the endpoints for these field/laboratory analyses and incidence of cancer of the renal pelvis (RPC) based on data obtained from the Louisiana Tumor Registry for the five Parishes included in the study. Significant associations were revealed between the cancer rate and the presence in drinking water of organic compounds, the fungi Zygomycetes, the nutrients PO₄ and NH₃, and 13 chemical elements. Presence of human pathogenic leptospires was detected in four out of eight (50%) of the surface water sites sampled. The present study of a stable rural population examined possible linkages between aquifers containing chemically reactive lignite deposits, hydrologic conditions favorable to the␣leaching and transport of toxic organic compounds from the lignite into the groundwater, possible microbial contamination, and RPC risk.     

两段回转窑焚烧炉处理医疗垃圾的实际应用

医疗垃圾是一种含有大量病菌、细菌及化学药剂的危险废物，它的随意排放和不当处理将造成严重的环境污染．危害人体健康。在此介绍了沈阳市拟建的医疗垃圾焚烧厂采用的两段回转窑焚烧炉处理技术的工艺流程、技术指标和设计要点。     

曝气生物滤池工艺处理医疗废水工程实例

采用曝气生物滤池与二氧化氯结合的工艺处理医疗废水，具有效果好，流程短，操作简便等优点，具有一定的推广价值。     

微波消毒技术在医疗废物集中处理工程中的应用

通过对微波消毒机理的研究,根据其节能、快速、污染小、消毒效果彻底等特点,提出了微波消毒技术适用于医疗废物集中处置工程,并且列举国际应用实例为证。通过对医疗废物微波处理技术标准、微波消毒适用范围、系统组成、安全与防护等方面对我国已颁布的《医疗废物微波消毒集中处理工程技术规范》(试行)(HJ/T229-2006)主要内容作了客观阐述,提出在我国目前《全国危险废物和医疗废物处置设施建设规划》实施的情况下,医疗废物微波消毒处理法将与其它几种非焚烧处置法,共同作为医疗废物焚烧法的合理补充技术在中国应用,将有效地推进中国医疗废物处理进程。     

医疗垃圾管理与处置方法研究

医疗垃圾是一类成分复杂并有特殊危害的废物，按照“从摇蓝到坟墓”的理论，分析探讨医疗垃圾产生、运输和处置各环节的管理方法和处理对策，并介绍焚烧法、高压消毒法等６种处理方法。     

灾区医疗队生存和救治中的问题及对策

针对灾区医疗队生存和救治工作中存在的问题，提出了解决办法，包括吃、住、行及救治等方面。     

丹东市医疗污水现状调查及防治对策

针对医疗污水的水质及危害特点,对丹东市医疗机构产生的医疗污水排放及处理情况进行现状调查,并分析了医疗污水管理上存在的问题．结合丹东市实际情况,提出了丹东市医疗污水防治对策。     

氯对医疗废物处置厂废水处理的影响

分析了医疗废物处置厂废水处理中如何消减氯对后续活性污泥处理工艺负面影响的问题。结合山西省某医疗废物高温蒸汽灭菌厂的废水处理实例,提出了一种利用生活污水中的氨氮来消减余氯对后续活性污泥处理影响的有效方法。     

The Sagamu cement factory,SW Nigeria: Is the dust generated a potential health hazard?

The aim of this study was to assess the heavy metal content of the dust generated by the Sagamu cement factory and its attendant health hazards on the immediate environment, especially on the inhabitants of the area. A total of 25 samples were collected and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Records of medical ailments associated with heavy metal toxicity were also compiled from the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital situated in the town.The results for some of the selected heavy metals showed the following pattern: limestone: Cd (n.d.-1.7 ppm), Pb (42–48 ppm), Cu (3.0–11 ppm), Zn (7.0–53 ppm) and Ni (3.0–8.0 ppm); shale: Cd (0.3–1.1 ppm), Pb (17–22 ppm), Cu (2.0–11 ppm), Zn (17–147 ppm) and Ni (3.0–18 ppm); dusts: Cd (0.5–0.7 ppm), Pb (32–52 ppm), Cu (2–16 ppm), Zn (5–152 ppm) and Ni (2–17 ppm); soils: Cd (0.5–1.1 ppm), Pb (28–49 ppm), Cu (22–35 ppm), Zn (43–69 ppm) and Ni (13.0–17 ppm). High levels of heavy metals were found in the rocks and soils. We propose that the high levels of metals in the dust and soil were acquired from the raw materials used by the cement factory and from active industrial discharge from this same factory. Medical records and the current health situation of the local residents in the study area reveal that there have been increases in the prevalence of diseases linked to heavy metal toxicity in the environment, especially those related to dust generation.