Dioxins and related compounds: Status and regulatory aspects

Several countries have put much effort in dioxin research programmes with the aim to assess the risks of dioxin exposure, to identify dioxin sources and to quantify their contribution to environmental emissions and human exposure. In this review, the accent has been put on: sources of dioxins and their contribution to the total dioxin emissions, sources of human exposure and their contribution to exposure and measures to reduce emission and exposure. The information from countries with existing dioxin regulations is reviewed and compared. Uncertainties which hamper comparability of data are indicated. Results of measures and expectations for the near future are presented.     

Human exposure to dioxins and furans: application of the substance flow analysis to health risk assessment

Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) is an important instrument that allows for the undertaking of environmental management for a specific contaminant. 'Control Analysis' is a tool that assesses the effect on a target flow of changes in flows forming part of a control basis set. The purpose of the present study was to perform a modeling of the annual PCDD/F flows in Tarragona Province and to apply the model for human health risk assessment. The validation of the model has been evaluated by comparing estimated fluxes with experimental values. Eleven subsystems, as well as a set of 88 flows of the system in Tarragona Province were considered. The total PCDD/F accumulation in Tarragona Province was between 62.6 and 159.5 g I-TEQ/y. Accumulation in sediments (27.9-74.6 g I-TEQ/y) and soils (35.0-80.8 g I-TEQ/y) are the two principal modes of deposition. Estimated flow in human adipose tissue means a mean intake of PCDD/F (via ingestion and inhalation) of 243 pg I-TEQ/person/day. The food chain pathway accounts for 99% of the total daily intake. As a result of the simulation, a 100% decrease in industrial emissions would cause a 1.7% reduction in the PCDD/F accumulation in humans. In turn, a 100% reduction of PCDD/Fs in the industrial waste waters would cause only an insignificant 0.1% decrease in the accumulation of PCDD/Fs in humans.     

遗传资源经济价值评价研究

初步建立了比较完整的遗传资源经济价值评估的框架、体系、平台 ,初步评估了人体基因、野生大豆、BT转基因棉的经济价值 ,为遗传资源市场化和国际遗传资源惠益分享提供科学依据 ,为进一步研究提供参考。     

二氧化硫对人体血淋巴细胞的遗传毒理效应

本文对某硫酸厂接触二氧化硫（ＳＯ＿２）４０名工人的外周血淋巴细胞染色体畸变（ＣＡ）、姊妹染色单体互换（ＳＣＥ）、及微核（ＭＮ）进行了分析。结果表明，接触ＳＯ＿２的工人其ＣＡ、ＳＣＥ及ＭＮ均显著高于对照组。本文也分析了ＳＯ＿２在体内的代谢产物──亚硫酸氢钠对淋巴细胞的遗传毒理效应。结果指出，亚硫酸氢钠可诱发人血淋巴细胞ＣＡ，ＳＣＥ及ＭＮ，且有明确的剂量效应关系。这些研究证明，ＳＯ＿２确是人血淋巴细胞染色体断裂剂和基因毒性因子；ＳＯ＿２与癌症的关系值得进一步研究。     

人力资本效能的彰显:激励与约束

人力资本是生产要素中最活跃和最特殊的要素，它的激励与约束问题极为精巧、复杂．本文通过对人力资本激励与约束问题的考察，结合我国体制内企业运营的实践，初步探讨了人力资本激励与约束的机制．     

Meckel–Gruber syndrome: Ultrasonographic diagnosis at 13 weeks' gestational age in an at-risk case

A case of early diagnosis at 13 weeks' gestational age of Meckel–Gruber syndrome by ultrasound is reported in a patient with a 25 percent recurrence risk. The usefulness of genetic counselling and aimed echographic examination is discussed.     

有机氯农药在南京市郊蔬菜中的生物富集与质量安全

用气相色谱．电子捕获检测器(GC-ECD)测定南京市郊蔬菜中的有机氯农药残留．结果表明，12种有机氯农药在所有的供试蔬菜中均有检出，DDT和HCH在各蔬菜中的含量较高，分别占有机氯农药总残留量的49．5％～75．0％和13．9％～28．2％．Wα-HCH／Wγ-HCH和WDDE／WDDT的比值在各蔬菜体内均小于或等于1，说明这些蔬菜生长的环境中可能有新的有机氯污染物的输入．各种蔬菜对有机氯农药总量的富集因子为0．41～0．78．富集能力最大的为胡萝卜，蒜苗和菠菜．HCH类农药在各种蔬菜体内的生物富集因子(0．70～1．10)要高于DDT类(0．28～0．80)．胡萝卜对HCH和DDT等有机氯农药的富集能力较强，而莴苣、蒜苗和菠菜对六氯苯、狄氏剂，异狄氏剂和硫丹有较高的生物富集能力．虽然各种蔬菜体内有机氯农药的残留量低于国家最大残留限量，但其检出率仍为100％，仍然对农产品质量安全和人类健康造成潜在的威胁．关键词：有机氯农药；蔬菜；残留量；生物富集；人类健康     

基于MAIB事故报告的人为失误灰色关联分析

人为失误作为海上交通事故的主要原因,受到多种因素的影响。为了识别这些影响因素,避免或减少因人为失误导致的海上交通事故,基于96件英国海事调查委员会(MAIB)事故报告,应用熵加权灰色关联分析,分别按船旗国、船舶类型、事故类型计算人为失误与影响因素之间的关联度。结果表明,能力/技能/知识、团队协作、程序和现行规程、设备、交流(内部和外部)和管理/检验/检查是影响人为失误的主要因素。     

Bicycle helmet effectiveness is not overstated

Objective: The objective of this study was to discuss the challenges in estimating bicycle helmet effectiveness from case–control studies of injured cyclists and to estimate helmet effectiveness from cases and available exposure data.

Methods: Data were extracted from studies of cyclists in Seattle; Victoria and New South Wales, Australia; and The Netherlands. Estimates of helmet use were used as exposure to compute relative risks for Seattle and Victorian data. Cycling distance data are routinely collected in The Netherlands; however, these data cannot be disaggregated by helmet use, which makes it unsuitable for estimating helmet effectiveness. Alternative controls were identified from larger cohorts for the Seattle and New South Wales cases.

Results: Estimates of helmet effectiveness were similar from odds ratios (ORs) using hospital controls or from relative risks (RRs) using helmet use estimates (Seattle: OR = 0.339, RR = 0.444; Victoria: OR = 0.500, RR = 0.353). Additionally, the odds ratios using hospital controls were similar when controls were taken from a larger cohort for head injury of any severity (Seattle: OR = 0.250, alt OR = 0.257; NSW: OR = 0.446, alt OR = 0.411) and for serious head injury (Seattle: OR = 0.135, alt OR = 0.139; NSW: OR = 0.335, alt OR = 0.308). Although relevant exposure data were unavailable for The Netherlands, the odds ratio for helmet effectiveness of those using racing, mountain, or hybrid bikes was similar to other estimates (OR = 0.371).

Conclusions: Despite potential weaknesses with case–control study designs, the best available evidence suggests that helmet use is an effective measure of reducing cycling head injury.     

Road accident fatality risks for “vulnerable” versus “protected” road users in northern Ghana

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a serious epidemic that claims more than a million lives across the globe each year. The burden of RTIs is particularly pronounced in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. The unfavorable disparity of the burden of road trauma in the world is largely attributable to unsafe vehicles, lack of appropriate road infrastructure, and the predominance of vulnerable road users (VRUs) in developing countries. However, little research exists in northern Ghana to highlight the scale and risk of death among road users.

Objective: The objective of this research was to establish the relative risk of death among road users in northern Ghana.

Methods: Crash data from police reports between 2007 and 2011 were analyzed for the Upper Regions of Ghana. Conditional probabilities and multivariable logistic regression techniques were used to report proportions and adjusted odds ratios (AORs), respectively.

Results: Generally, crashes in northern Ghana were extremely severe; that is, 35% of all injury related collisions were fatal. The proportion of fatal casualties ranged between 21% among victims of sideswipe collisions and 41% among pedestrians and victims of rear-end collisions. Though males were 6 times more likely to die than females overall, females were more likely to die as pedestrians (90% of all female casualty deaths) and males were more likely to die as riders/drivers (78% of all male casualty deaths). Pedestrians were 3 times more likely to die (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4 to 4.1) compared with drivers/riders. Compared with drivers, the odds of death among cyclists was about 4 times higher (AOR = 3.6; 95% CI, 2.3 to 5.6) and about 2 times higher among motorcyclists (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.2). Compared with casualties aged between 30 and 59 years, children under 10 years and those aged 60 years and above were independently 2 times more likely to die in traffic collisions.

Conclusion: Provision of requisite road infrastructure is vital for the safety of VRUs in northern Ghana. Cycle paths and lanes (for cyclists) as well as sidewalks (for pedestrians) in particular will separate VRUs from motorists and improve their safety. Enforcement of traffic laws particularly regarding helmet use, speeding, and alcohol use will be beneficial. Introduction of the demerit points system in the enforcement of traffic regulations may have significant deterrent effects on road users who have the penchant for violating traffic regulations. Road safety education is also required to create responsible road users.