健康风险暴露评价研究进展

综述了国内外健康风险暴露评价的最新研究进展,重点讨论了对人体进行直接监测的生物监测技术和对环境中污染因子进行间接监测并利用数学模型进行暴露剂量计算的间接方法。生物监测方法通过测定人体生理介质(如血液、尿液)中的污染物质及其代谢产物含量确定人体对环境污染物的暴露情况,监测结果反映了风险因子通过所有暴露途径进入人体的总暴露剂量。为了利用生物监测结果评价人体暴露安全性,近几年建立了生物监测等效值的概念,推导确定化学物质的生物监测等效值发展迅速。环境监测和数学模型间接方法通过对不同暴露媒介中风险因子的浓度监测和特定暴露途径的量化研究,同时利用精确的暴露计算模型(如空气分散模型、地下水扩散模型)计算人体对污染物的暴露剂量。生物监测和环境监测技术及数学模型的发展使健康风险评价和管理的暴露参数更加精确,降低了风险评价的不确定性。还介绍了利用数学模拟和剂量重建等方法插补历史空白暴露数据的方法。     

而今迈步从头越——《安全生产法》征求意见稿学习体会和修改建议

首先分析了我国《安全生产法》的发展沿革,且认真学习了目前发布的《安全生产法》征求意见稿,归纳了征求意见稿还应实现四个重点突破:必须体现以人为本的执政理念;职业危害防治应列为《安全生产法》的重要条款之一;安全生产执法监察应与公共安全及行政管理分离;应对工伤保险预防机制作出明确要求。此外,建议通过《安全生产法》的进一步修订实现我国安全生产的制度化建设:建议逐步建立安全生产分级监察管理体制;推进风险管理制度,对企业实行风险分级与分级监管;逐步提出建立安全生产监察员专业化制度;建立与国际接轨的生产安全事故统计报告系统;强化城市建设土地使用规划的风险管理和安全许可;生产安全事故应急管理应强化应急准备工作;建立独立生产安全事故调查机构和公开公正调查程序;应在《安全生产法》中明确"安全生产委员会"的组织形式和功能;生产安全事故责任追究应与激励政策相结合。     

某市区重点行业职业病危害因素现状调查研究

对某市区重点行业15家企业职业病危害因素进行检测与评价,对普查结果进行综合分析。结果表明:15家企业工作场所化学有害因素职业卫生现状情况良好,但噪声危害程度较大;在6个重点行业中,电子制造行业有害因素合格率最低,为84%,其次是纺织行业,有害因素合格率为85%,其他化学原料及化学制品、化工、木制家具、石材加工四个行业合格率均较高;市直以上企业职业卫生现状情况优于区属企业,300-2000人之间较大规模的企业职业卫生现状情况优于300人以下的企业。同时,对企业提出了职业危害现状的改进措施与建议。     

Development of a probabilistic blood lead prediction model

A partially probabilistic blood lead prediction model has been developed, based on the US Environmental Protection Agency integrated exposure-uptake-biokinetic blood lead model (IEUBK model). This study translated the IEUBK model into a spreadsheet format. The uptake submodel incorporates uncertainty distributions for exposure and bioavailability parameters. The biokinetic submodel is duplicated with a table incorporating partitioning and decay of lead levels in the body. As a case study, the probabilistic model is applied to a lead exposure scenario involving a former smelter site in Sandy, Utah. The probabilistic model produces less biased estimates of means and standard deviations than the deterministic model. Parameter uncertainty is propagated in the model by the use of Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, sensitivity analysis is possible, and driving variables can be determined.     

Lead exposure in Saudi Arabia from the use of traditional cosmetics and medical remedies

Twenty Henna samples were collected and analysed for lead by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry after a microwave acid digestion procedure. The mean lead concentration was 5.50 g g^–1, with a range from 1.29 g g^–1 to 16.48 g g^–1. The data did not show a high concentration of lead in these samples. However, if we take into account the popular use of henna, the cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to low lead especially in children cannot be ruled out.     

黑箱加速大气暴露试验热强化效应和相关性研究

利用温湿度测量仪监测黑箱内的温湿度变化,分析黑箱自然加速试验装置的热强化效应。以3种不同配方的丙烯酸涂料为试验对象,在江津地区高温高湿环境下开展了黑箱加速大气暴露试验和朝南45°角大气暴露试验,从模拟性和加速性2个方面研究了2种试验方法的相关性。分析结果表明,黑箱加速大气暴露试验方法与朝南45°角大气暴露试验方法之间的相关性相当高。     

Modelling sulphate-enhanced cadmium uptake by Zea mays from nutrient solution under conditions of constant free Cd2+ ion activity

A controlled hydroponic experiment was undertaken to investigate Cd uptake in relation to the activity of Cd species in solution other than the free ion (Cd²⁺) by maintaining a constant Cd²⁺ activity under variable SO₄₂⁻ and Cl⁻ concentrations exposed to maize (Zea mays var. Cameron) plants. The objectives of these experiments were: (1) to distinguish and quantify the different uptake rates of free and inorganic-complexed Cd from nutrient solution, and (2) to model the uptake of Cd by maize with a Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) in a system which facilitates the close examination of root characteristics. Results of the current experiments suggest that, in addition to the free ion, CdSO₄⁰ complexes are important factors in determining Cd uptake in nutrient solution by maize plants. Higher nominal SO₄²⁻ concentrations in solution generally resulted in a greater Cd accumulation by maize plants than predicted by the Cd²⁺ activity. A better integration of the complete dataset for the 3 harvest times (6, 9 and 11 days after treatment) was achieved by including consideration of both the duration of Cd exposure and especially the root surface area to express Cd uptake. Similarly, the fit of the BLM was also improved when taking into account exposure time and expressing uptake in terms of root morphological parameters.     

When signal meets noise: immunity of the frog ear to interference

Sound stimulates the tympanic membrane (TM) of anuran amphibians through multiple, poorly understood pathways. It is conceivable that interactions between the internal and external inputs to the TM contribute to the nonlinear effects that noise is known to produce at higher levels of the auditory pathway. To explore this issue, we conducted measurements of TM vibration in response to tones in the presence of noise in the frog Eupsophus calcaratus. Laser vibrometry revealed that the power spectra (n = 16) of the TM velocity in response to pure tones at a constant level of 80 dB sound-pressure level (SPL) had a maximum centered at an average frequency of 2,344 Hz (range 1,700–2,990 Hz) and a maximum velocity of 61.1 dB re 1 μm/s (range 42.9–66.6 dB re 1 μm/s). These TM-vibration velocity response profiles in the presence of increasing levels of 4-kHz band-pass noise were unaltered up to noise levels of 90 dB SPL. For the relatively low spectral densities of the noise used, the TM remains in its linear range. Such vibration patterns facilitate the detection of tonal signals in noise at the tympanic membrane and may underlie the remarkable vocal responsiveness maintained by males of E. calcaratus under noise interference.     

Governance in vulnerability assessment: the role of globalising decision-making networks in determining local vulnerability and adaptive capacity

Community-based vulnerability assessment has often assumed that the local is the relevant level of adaptation to climate change. This paper suggests that not only do a number of levels from the international to the regional influence which adaptations can take place locally, but the governance network that is made up by actors on different levels may to a large extent be formed in responses to globalising factors, such as internationalisation of economies and the changing role of the state. The paper presents a study of adaptation in reindeer (Rangifier tarandus) herding, forestry and fishing communities in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with a focus on assessing stakeholders’ own perceptions of environmental, socio-political and economic factors that affect them. In general, the paper illustrates the integration of non-subsistence economies into large and complex interactions where local adaptation is a result of the sum of stresses impacting individual entrepreneurs, and the potential they have to adapt their practices given governance (and their access to support) on different scales.

Corporate occupational exposure limits: An example of a strategy

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) developed by authorities play a key role in the implementation of programs to protect workers against hazardous chemicals. Unfortunately, many hazardous substances do not have OELs or the OEL could be outdated. To assure the health of the workers, it is therefore useful for companies to develop corporate OELs. An inhouse strategy will be presented hereafter. Expertise in toxicology, industrial hygiene, and occupational health should be available within the company and clear selection criteria for substances are needed. A corporate OEL is only developed for hazardous substances (e.g., carcinogenic or reprotoxic) with a high potential for worker exposure when an appropriate national OEL or threshold limit value is not available. The methodology to calculate corporate OELs is based on the existing methods for national or community OELs and also on the guidance from the European Union's (EU) regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). For carcinogenic substances with a nonthreshold mode of action, there is always a residual chance that a cancer develops even when the exposure of workers is low. To establish an OEL for these substances, the “German traffic light model” is recommended. It is pragmatic, defines an unacceptable, tolerable, and acceptable risk level when workers are exposed to these substances, and determines risk management for exposure reduction. Overall, the professional practice to develop OELs is a good example of corporate leadership to proactively protect the health of workers.