Psychological Approaches to OSH Research—An Evaluation of 20 Years of Psychological Research on Industrial Safety and Health in Germany

During the past 20 years of research in occupational safety and health (OSH), major contributions have been made by psychology in general, foremost German work and organizational psychology. This is the result of an empirical study with 216 scientific projects that were analyzed by content, and 32 interviews on OSH with experts on science, as well as in professional occupations and federations. Its sound methodological and theoretical approach has helped work and organizational psychology to embody itself as a driving force of OSH. The research focuses on the development of tools for job analysis, striving for the valid diagnosis of occupational hazards and mental load. Consequently, work and organizational psychology provides a solid foundation for deriving human and personality ameliorating organizational measures. Among the predominant means of intervention are training in coping with stress, behavioral training and modeling, health circles, and the arrangement of environments sensitive to occupational load. Major deficits in the field of research show up within evaluation and transfer as well as within quality control of the developed diagnostic and devices regarding intervention. Future scientific effort by means of application-orientated methods is vital to detect and overcome effectively a mounting mental load in the occupational world.     

Challenges to measuring,monitoring, and addressing the cumulative impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ecuador

Portovelo-Zaruma, Ecuador is an artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) region with approximately 6000 gold miners working with mercury and cyanide. Although artisanal gold mining (AGM) has taken place in Portovelo-Zaruma for centuries, highly mechanized small-scale gold mining (SGM) processing plants capable of increased throughput began being built in the 1990s. While there are benefits associated with ASGM, there are also negative impacts experienced by the miners and the surrounding communities. To take advantage of ASGM as a poverty-alleviating mechanism while reducing unwanted externalities, the cumulative impacts must be understood. Numerous challenges to measuring, monitoring, and addressing ASGM impacts result from the complexity of the impacts themselves, the nature of the gold mining as an informal industry, and the shortfalls in the current regulatory framework. These are discussed in the context of ongoing, unresolved issues including efforts to address trans-boundary water pollution, management of mining waste, and conflicts regarding priorities, ambiguities, and enforcement of existing regulations and policies. Internationally, interventions to address both AGM and SGM impacts have typically focused almost exclusively on technological changes through the elimination of mercury use. Our analysis suggests that to better address ASGM and their cumulative impacts in Ecuador, it will be beneficial to revisit the legal definitions of AGM and SGM. Additionally, promotion of information-based strategies including educational outreach programs and cross-scale and cross-level mitigation methods may also be beneficial. The success of these strategies to reduce ASGM-related cumulative impacts will depend on sufficient funding and the commitment of stakeholders.     

The emergence of the transition movement in Canada: success and impact through the eyes of initiative leaders

ABSTRACT

Originating in the UK in 2006, the Transition movement is oriented to local grassroots citizen-led efforts that prepare for and support a societal energy transition to a low-carbon future in response to climate change, peak oil, ecological degradation, and economic instability. Overlapping significantly with relocalization, degrowth/slow growth, local food, and related movements, and based on permaculture principles and a distributed network model, it embraces the opportunity to turn crisis into an opportunity to build more resilient, convivial, and vibrant local communities, declaring that “if it’s not fun, it’s not sustainable”. The Transition approach has spread rapidly around the world, including initiatives in over 100 communities and cities in Canada. This paper reports on the methods and results of a Canadian community-based research study aimed at understanding how and where the movement has taken root across the country, what Transition practice looks like, challenges and opportunities encountered, and lessons learned that could be applied within the movement and by others interested in the role of citizen-led initiatives for sustainability transition. Utilising a practice theory lens, drawing on an extensive web-scan of the movement’s online presence, a survey and interviews with initiative (co)founders, an e-survey of Transition members/participants, regional “structured story-dialogue” workshops, and key informant interviews, and informed by input from a Movement Advisory Group, we describe the research process and explore what success and impact mean to those most active in the movement.     

An overview of methods for biodegradability testing of biopolymers and packaging materials

This paper gives an overview of the methods used at the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) for the biodegradability testing of solid polymers and packaging materials. Biodegradability of each polymer included in the packaging material should be separately tested. Aquatic aerobic and anaerobic tests and, in specific cases, enzymatic tests are used for screening purposes. The application of aquatic aerobic tests—an automated Sturm test (OECD 301B; ASTM D5209) and a VTT headspace test as well as an anaerobic test (ASTM D5210)—is discussed. Three composting tests and their applications are summarized. These tests are regarded as important because they can be used to simulate the biodegradability under real-life conditions. Several tests are needed to determine the fate of the polymer under real conditions and to study its biodegradability in different environments. The time needed for complete biodegradation of polymers in nature is impossible to predict with laboratory tests and should be studiedin vivo.According to the lecture given in Sweden at the Royal Institute of Technology, at a workshop on polymers from renewable resources and their degradation, November 10–11, 1994.     

环烷酸废水离心萃取装置的防垢,除垢研究

通过分析垢的组成和形成原因，提出预防沥青状物质、硫酸（氢）钠结晶、氢氧化铁沉淀进入萃取机，预防氢氧化铁沉淀进入反萃机的防垢措施，实验验证了ＦＡ、ＦＢ溶剂分别为萃取机转鼓积垢和反萃机转鼓积垢的优良洗脱剂．     

液氨泄漏事故处置的探讨

针对可能发生的高毒化学品泄漏事故的原因和危害,以及可能影响城市安全的危险,遵循“疏散救人、划定区域、有序处置、确保安全”的战术原则,提出了液氨化学品泄漏事故的安全防护以及应急救援程序。     

武昌区环境空气质量变化趋势及治理对策

分析2001年-2008年武汉市武昌紫阳、东湖梨园两个空气质量自动监测点空气质量状况,并运用spearman秩相关系数法判断监测点环境空气质量年变化趋势,2001年-2008年武昌区两个测点的环境空气质量总体趋向好转,优良率上升显著,但东湖梨园测点近三年空气质量优良率逐年下降,武昌紫阳测点空气质量优良率虽呈显著上升趋势,但在近三年上升趋缓。影响环境空气优良率高低的主要污染物是可吸入颗粒物,而造成可吸入颗粒物日均值超标的主要原因是建筑工地、拆迁工地的施工扬尘及运输扬尘。建议采取着重治理扬尘污染、加快产业布局调整、注重季节特点、建立空气质量预警机制及其他综合治理措施改善武昌区环境空气质量状况。     

空气中氯苯类、异戊烯醇和贲亭酸甲酯定量监测方法初探

为了顺应沿江开发战略,沿江地区设立了多个化学工业园。随着因区企业的陆续建成投产,在不利气象条件下化工园排放的有机污染物异味扰民时有发生。严重影响化工园周边地区群众的生活。某化学工业园废气特异指标氯苯类、贲亭酸甲酯和异戊烯醇是异味的主要来源,其相应的监测分析方法氯苯类国内有标准方法,贲亭酸甲酯和异戊烯醇国内未见报道。为了掌握第一手监测数据资料,笔者对某化学工业因特异指标氯苯类、贲亭酸甲酯和异戊烯醇的监测分析方法进行了探索,获得了一种简便可行的定量监测分析方法。此方法使用活性炭吸附,二硫化碳解析和GC—FID（气相色谱-氢火焰光度法）分析一并完成3个化舍物的分析,简单快捷、成本低廉,可供参考。     

水质毒性检测方法的对比研究

随着环境污染加剧,需要在水环境污染物监测方面有一种快速、灵敏、低廉的监测方法,以确保水资源的环境安全。本文选取国内比较常用的五种方法——发光细菌毒性实验法、斑马鱼毒性实验法、大型蚤类毒性实验法、藻类急性毒性实验法、蚕豆根尖微核法,以重铬酸钾（K2Cr2O7）配制成待测溶液测定水质毒性,通过实验比较了各种方法的灵敏性、准确性、可靠性。分析比较了这几种方法的优缺点和研究概况,并对存在的问题给出了建议,为加速国内水质检测应用提供了思路。     

阿克苏地区含氟地下水治理方法的分析

针对阿克苏地区存在的氟污染饮用水问题,综述了近年来国内外饮用水除氟方法,如石灰沉淀法、混凝沉降法、吸附法、离子交换法、电凝聚法、电渗析法、反渗透法等。介绍了天然沸石的结构特征;分析了沸石处理地下水的作用机理及再生问题;并对今后沸石法处理地下水的研究提出一些建议。