环境地球化学与人体健康的关系

本文探讨了环境地球化学与人体健康的关系,试图以医学与环境地球化学相结合和元素地球化学分布与生态学特征相结合的方式进一步阐述这一问题,揭示其内在联系和规律。最后从营养角度讨论了强身健体、延年益寿的方法。     

An occupational chemical priority list for future life cycle assessments

A chemical priority list is presented to screen and identify relevant chemicals, for which more detailed and industrial-sector specific quantitative exposure, risk and life-cycle assessments should be completed. A list of 38 solvents were ranked according to the framework of the LCA toxicity model, USEtox, and according to the framework proposed by the UNEP/SETAC working group on Indoor Exposure Assessment in LCA. An additional method, based on a risk assessment (RA) framework, was used to examine the robustness of the priority rank. Under both schemes dichloromethane, ethanol, formaldehyde, hexane and toluene all rank in the top ten positions. These chemicals are currently relevant with regard to health effects on a population level. Some of these chemicals are known as hazardous, while others, such as ethanol, have a low toxicity but were prioritized because of their extensive use and high exposure levels. This study attempts to combine the knowledge and methods of the LCA and occupational hygiene communities in assessing health impacts. It provides a consistent and transparent method for rapid comparative assessments of different chemicals and identifies the chemicals and workplaces that will require more thorough investigations.     

Host intra-clutch variation,cuckoo egg matching and egg rejection by great reed warblers

Prevailing theory predicts that lower levels of intra-clutch variation in host eggs facilitate the detection of brood parasitism. We assessed egg matching using both human vision and UV-VIS spectrophotometry and then followed the nest fate of great reed warblers naturally parasitised by European cuckoos. Rejection was predicted by the following three variables: matching between cuckoo and host eggs on the main chromatic variable defined by principal components analysis of the egg spectra (which has a strong loading in the UV); the number of host eggs in the nest; and human estimates of intra-clutch variation. The first variable is not correlated to human estimates of matching, which do not predict rejection. In line with another recent study, rejection rates were predicted by higher levels of intra-clutch variation in the host eggs, suggesting that higher rather than lower levels of intra-clutch variation can facilitate the discrimination of cuckoo eggs by hosts. We suggest that the importance of intra-clutch variation is context dependent, with intra-clutch variation being important when there is good matching between the host and the cuckoo eggs. Our results also suggest that both spectrometric and human visual assessments of egg matching and intra-clutch variation are prudent: the former provide the best method of estimating reflectance variation, whereas the latter include some assessment of patterns of maculation.     

Biomarkers of oxidative status associated with metal pollution in the blood of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Spain

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of specific environmental contaminants on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in terrestrial, free-living birds. To investigate this, several biomarkers and the levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic were determined in blood of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings from two different colonies located in the west of Spain that were exposed to different environmental conditions and human activities. Different biomarker and contaminant patterns were observed between the two colonies, suggesting different levels of environmental contamination. In comparison to nestlings from a natural reference area, the levels of the three hazardous elements Pb, As, and Hg were significantly higher in the colony nearby a landfill. Analysis of antioxidant biomarkers revealed significantly higher levels of glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity in birds from the colony close to the landfill site than were found in those from the “control” area. In contrast, the levels of malondialdehyde did not significantly differ between the two sampling sites. In addition, a positive correlation between glutathione and both Hg and As has been observed. Taken together, exposure to the three hazardous elements is reflected by enhanced activity of glutathione S-transferases, and elevated levels of glutathione and malondialdehyde. White storks can therefore be considered as a suitable model species for environmental monitoring programs.     

某冶炼厂拆迁场地土壤重金属污染健康风险评价

按照环保部最新颁布实施的污染场地风险评估技术导则(HJ 25.3—2014),选取Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、As 6种重金属元素为主要污染物,结合Pearson相关分析及克里金差值法,对某冶炼厂拆迁场地土壤进行健康风险评价。结果表明:拆迁场地土壤中重金属污染集中于生产区及堆放场,污染程度为生产区≈堆放场生活区,6种重金属平均值低于《展览会用地土壤环境质量评价标准》B级(HJ 350—2007),Pb、Zn、Cd平均值高于广西省和中国土壤元素背景值;相关分析表明Cu分别与Pb、Zn、Cr、As,Pb-Cr、Pb-As及Zn-Cd存在极显著正相关关系;健康风险评价结果表明生活区土壤中6种重金属对人体健康不会产生不良或危害效应;生产区和堆放场土壤中Cr存在致癌风险,As存在致癌风险和非致癌危害。成人血铅模型(ALM)计算得出生活区、生产区及堆放场中成人血铅浓度值分别为4.98μg·d L-1、5.04μg·d L-1、5.03μg·d L-1,低于成人血铅浓度风险评价的基准值5.8μg·d L-1,且Pb的平均值低于国内外居住用地土壤铅环境基准值。     

基于人类可持续发展指数的中国1990—2010年人类-环境系统可持续性评价

中国经济的快速发展对人类-环境系统造成了巨大压力。如何全面地评估中国人类-环境系统可持续性已成为当前可持续性科学的一个研究热点。论文基于"人类可持续发展指数"在国家、区域和省三个尺度上系统评价了中国人类-环境系统1990—2010年的可持续性。研究结果表明,2010年中国人类-环境系统可持续性为中上水平,总体呈现东高西低的空间格局。1990—2010年中国人类-环境系统可持续性表现为增长趋势,中西部可持续性增长快于东部。经济和社会可持续性指标呈增加趋势,环境可持续性指标为下降趋势。可见,中国人类-环境系统可持续性的空间格局与动态变化均不协调,需进一步促进中西部社会经济发展及加强生态文明建设以实现社会、经济与环境可持续性的全面提高。     

Safety study of an LNG regasification plant using an FMECA and HAZOP integrated methodology

A safety analysis was performed to determine possible accidental events in the storage system used in the liquefied natural gas regasification plant using the integrated application of failure modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) and hazard and operability analysis (HAZOP) methodologies. The goal of the FMECA technique is the estimation of component failure modes and their major effects, whereas HAZOP is a structured and systematic technique that provides an identification of the hazards and the operability problems using logical sequences of cause-deviation-consequence of process parameters. The proposed FMECA and HAZOP integrated analysis (FHIA) has been designed as a tool for the development of specific criteria for reliability and risk data organisation and to gain more recommendations than those typically provided by the application of a single methodology. This approach has been applied to the risk analysis of the LNG storage systems under construction in Porto Empedocle, Italy. The results showed that FHIA is a useful technique to better and more consistently identify the potential sources of human errors, causal factors in faults, multiple or common cause failures and correlation of cause-consequence of hazards during the various steps of the process.     

Human error analysis in furnace start-up operation using HEART under intuitionistic fuzzy environment

To address human error in system reliability, Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) is an essential issue. Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique (HEART) as a rather straightforward technique for HRA has successfully been used in many areas to predict human error probability (HEP). However, knowledge acquisition of experts during assessed proportion of affect (APOA) calculation is subjected to vagueness and ambiguity. To overcome this challenge, in this paper Intuitionistic Fuzzy (IF) set due to their advantage to represent more fuzzy information than a classical fuzzy set adopted through APOA calculation. To demonstrate this hybrid approach short for, IF-HEART, the furnace start-up operation is handled, since analysis shows that most of explosions and losses occur during furnace start-ups operation. Further, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to approve the proposed integrated approach. In addition to its academic contribution, the results of the paper enable to improve the overall safety level of a furnace by taking into account potential human error.     

中国儿童铅暴露健康风险评估

通过检索中国生物医学文献数据库和中国全文期刊数据库,以及相关文献追溯等途径检索收集,并按照拟定的标准筛选国内1994-2012年公开发表的有关儿童血铅水平的论文;根据调查对象居住地点,将论文分为以城市儿童为研究对象和以农村儿童为研究对象两类.在此基础上,按照WHO推荐的评价方法,评估儿童铅暴露引起的轻度精神发育迟滞(以精神发育迟滞MMR发病率表征)及其疾病负担(以伤残调整寿命年DALYs表征),以此评价中国儿童铅暴露的健康风险.结果表明,中国城市儿童的血铅均值为7.02 μg·dL-1,MMR的发病率为17.9‰,农村儿童相应值分别为7.88 μg·dL-1和19.8‰.城市和农村儿童因铅暴露导致的DALYs损失分别为每千人39.4例和43.2例.结果提示,我国儿童铅暴露所致MMR发病率高于西太平洋区的平均水平,应采取积极的措施降低儿童铅暴露水平.     

A risk-based modelling approach to enhance shipping accident investigation

This paper developed a risk-based modelling approach to enhance the execution process of shipping accident investigation (SAI). Specifically, the paper addressed a fuzzy extended fault tree analysis (FFTA) that combines the effects of organizational faults and shipboard technical system failures under a unique risk assessment scheme. The case study illustrates that a novel idea behind the proposed methodology allows relevant accident investigators to clarify the probability of technical failures, operational misapplications, and legislative shortages leading to the shipping accident. The current SAI reports can be extended with an integrated risk assessment section to formulate integrated strategies along with risk control measures onboard ships. Since the consequences of shipping accidents are still a global concern, the paper addresses integration of a FFTA into SAI reports to ensure a consistent database and subsequent decision aid to accident analysis and prevention efforts in the maritime transportation industry.