Earthquake mortality in Pakistan

A strong earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, hit northern Pakistan on 8 October 2005, causing massive destruction, including an official death toll of 73,276. Four cross-sectional surveys were performed in late 2005 to assess mortality before the event, on the day, and subsequently. Two surveys were community-based and two were situated in camps for internally displaced persons. Crude mortality rates were low in the 3.5 months preceding the earthquake (less than 0.1 deaths per 10,000 per day) and slightly higher in the six-to-eight weeks after the earthquake (ranging from 0.10–0.43 per 10,000 per day). On 8 October 2005, approximately two per cent of the population in one community survey died and around five per cent in the other three surveys. Children less than five years and adults more than or equal to 50 years tended to have a higher risk of mortality on the day of the disaster. These results corroborate the high mortality caused by the earthquake.     

土地利用类型与水分亏缺的风险程度关系——以北方农牧交错带黄土高原区为例

在北方农牧交错带植被重建中适宜乔、灌、草种生态区划的基础上,以该区域黄土高原区作为研究区,结合该区1989和1999两年的土地利用分类图,通过计算区域缺水指数及对其分级,探讨了缺水指数在时间和空间上的变化规律,分析了耕地、林地、草地等该区主要土地利用类型在时间和空间上与缺水指数的关系。在此基础上,构建水分亏缺风险指数(RiskIndexofWaterDeficit),从研究区整体和各生态分区两个尺度上探讨了不同土地利用类型的RIWD时空分异。得出如下结论:①1989～2000年,研究区缺水指数均在中度以上,其变化幅度有逐年减少的趋势;②对比1989年和1999年两年的缺水指数,区域整体缺水状况有所缓解,但各生态分区内的缓解程度在空间上仍存在差异;③从研究区整体而言,各土地利用类型的水分亏缺风险指数逐渐减少,依次为林地、耕地、草地;④因各生态分区内的地理特征包括水分状况存在变化,故各土地利用类型的水分亏缺风险程度排列顺序与区域整体有所不同。     

Prevalent fecal contamination in drinking water resources and potential health risks in Swat, Pakistan

Fecal bacteria contaminate water resources and result in associated waterborne diseases.This study assessed drinking water quality and evaluated their potential health risks in Swat, Pakistan. Ground and surface drinking water were randomly collected from upstream to downstream in the River Swat watershed and analyzed for fecal contamination using fecal indicator bacteria(Escherichia coli) and physiochemical parameters(potential of hydrogen, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, color, odor and taste). The physiochemical parameters were within their safe limits except in a few locations, whereas, the fecal contaminations in drinking water resources exceeded the drinking water quality standards of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency(Pak-EPA),2008 and World Health Organization(WHO), 2011. Multivariate and univariate analyses revealed that downstream urbanization trend, minimum distance between water sources and pit latrines/sewerage systems, raw sewage deep well injection and amplified urban,pastures and agricultural runoffs having human and animal excreta were the possible sources of contamination. The questionnaire survey revealed that majority of the local people using 10–20 years old drinking water supply schemes at the rate of 73% well supply,13% hand pump supply, 11% spring supply and 3% river/streams supply, which spreads high prevalence of water borne diseases including hepatitis, intestinal infections and diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, jaundice and skin diseases in children followed by older and younger adults.     

浙北地区真菌气溶胶示踪物季节分布特征

于2014年12月—2015年11月收集了浙江北部地区4个采样点的PM2.5样品,利用高效液相色谱-串联质谱仪分析获得真菌气溶胶示踪物阿糖醇和甘露醇的浓度,研究了浙北地区真菌气溶胶的季节性变化特征及其来源.观测结果显示,浙北地区阿糖醇和甘露醇的年均浓度分别为(5.6±0.7)和(5.7±1.3)ng·m-3.真菌气溶胶示踪物夏季浓度最高,可能是由于当地夏季频繁的生物质燃烧和温暖湿润的气候条件促进了真菌孢子的释放;另外,在该地区真菌孢子对气溶胶中有机碳(OC)的贡献并不显著(1%).主成分分析显示,真菌气溶胶示踪物(阿糖醇、甘露醇)和生物质燃烧示踪物(左旋葡聚糖、甘露聚糖、半乳聚糖、nss-K+)在整个采样过程中都包含在同一个因子中,表明浙北地区大气中真菌气溶胶持续受到生物质燃烧排放源的影响.     

Bacteriological quality assessment of drinking water available at the flood affected areas of Peshawar

Monsoon flooding occurred in the main areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Balochistan as well as parts of Gilgit Baltistan of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir in July 2010. Water-borne diseases such as cholera, enteric fever, and dysentery were common among the inhabitants of flood-affected areas which were selected for sample collection. In the present study, 10 sites in District Peshawar were selected and drinking water samples collected. These samples were analyzed for the total plate count (TPC), total coliform bacteria (TCB), total fecal coliform bacteria (TFCB), Escherichia coli (EC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), Vibrio cholerae (VB), Salmonella Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus. The TPC ranged from 8 × 10¹ to 7 × 10⁴ CFU/ml. The TCB ranged from <1.1 to 280 MPN/100 ml. Twenty percent of the samples were contaminated with TFCB, EC, Salmonella, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus, while only one sample contaminated with PA. Forty percent of the samples were contaminated with VB. The surface and well water was greatly contaminated by flooding and major improvements on priority basis are essential.     

桂北地区桉树林及其他三种森林类型土壤有机碳含量及密度特征

以桂北地区桉树（Eucalyptus grandis×E.urophylla）林、杉木（Cunninghamia lanceolata）林、马尾松（Pinus massoniana）林和毛竹（Phyllostachys edulis）林的土层0~60 cm土壤为研究对象,对比分析了4种森林类型的土壤有机碳质量分数及密度分布特征。结果表明：（1）在4种森林类型土层中,有机碳质量分数的最大值[（49.49±1.16）g·kg-1]和最小值[（4.50±0.52）g·kg-1]分别出现在毛竹林土层0~15 cm和马尾松林土层45~60 cm。土层0~60 cm有机碳质量分数平均值按大小顺序排列为：毛竹林（28.16g·kg-1）〉杉木林（25.10 g·kg-1）〉桉树林（14.52 g·kg-1）〉马尾松林（9.56 g·kg-1）。桉树林、杉木林、马尾松林和毛竹林土层0~15 cm有机碳质量分数所占的比例分别为28.29%、39.14%、55.44%和43.94%。（2）4种森林类型土层中有机碳密度的最大值[（6.71±1.72）kg·m-2]和最小值[（1.14±0.11）kg·m-2]分别出现在杉木林土层0~15 cm和马尾松林土层40~60 cm。土层0~60 cm的有机碳密度平均值按大小顺序排列为：杉木林（19.60 kg·m-2）〉毛竹林（18.85 kg·m-2）〉桉树林（12.91 kg·m-2）〉马尾松林（8.47kg·m-2）。桉树林、杉木林、马尾松林和毛竹林土层0~15 cm有机碳密度所占的比例分别为25.12%、34.25%、52.07%和32.64%。4种森林类型土壤有机碳质量分数和有机碳密度均随着土层深度的增加呈降低的趋势。     

Prevalence of anaemia among children living in five communities in and near Karachi,Pakistan

The primary objectives of this research were to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and low haematocrit among preschool children living in Karachi. Through a geographically stratified design, 349 children aged 36–60 months were selected, from five communities in and near Karachi. Blood samples were drawn from children and a questionnaire was administered to evaluate various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression procedures were used to compare the prevalence of anaemia and low haematocrit among various strata. The overall prevalence of anaemia and low haematocrit were 55.9 and 48.4%, respectively. Children living in the rural community had the highest prevalence of anaemia (78.7%) and low haematocrit (63.8%). Children aged 36–48 months had also higher prevalence of anaemia and low haematocrit. Children's nutritional status was significantly associated with both anaemia and low haematocrit. We recommend appropriate interventions to reduce the burden of these conditions in Pakistan.     

苏北沿海某滩涂区土壤重金属含量及其污染评价

为揭示沿海滩涂快速发展区土壤重金属的污染风险状况,分别采用潜在生态风险指数法与内梅罗综合污染指数法,对苏北沿海某滩涂区土壤重金属(Pb、Cr、Cd、Hg和As)含量、污染风险及其空间格局进行了评价.结果表明:目前该滩涂区土壤环境质量总体良好,土壤重金属呈轻度潜在生态风险和警戒级综合污染水平,其趋势均为工业园区>居民区>镇郊农田>围垦滩涂;2种评价方法的研究结果均表明,工业发展和城镇化建设是驱动土壤重金属污染风险升高的主因,强烈的人类活动加速了土壤重金属累积,宜采用优化产业布局、加强监测监控和强化源头防治以防控和削减该区土壤重金属危害.      

藏北高寒草原样带土壤有机碳分布及其影响因素

沿藏北高寒草原冈底斯山-申扎-双湖样带（30°25′N至33°6′N）,在37个样点采集土壤和植物样品,分析藏北高寒草原土壤有机碳含量及其影响因素。结果表明：藏北高寒草原土壤0~15、15~30和0~30 cm有机碳含量分别为2.27、2.17和4.44 kg.m-2。土壤有机碳含量沿样带呈随着纬度的增加而减少的趋势。藏北高寒草原土壤质地总体偏粗,不同质地土壤之间有机碳含量大小关系为砂土〈壤质砂土〈粉壤土〈砂质壤土〈壤土。不同深度土壤有机碳含量与土壤颗粒含量相关性存在显著差异,0~15 cm土壤有机碳与粉粒、黏粒含量呈显著性正相关,与砂粒含量呈显著性负相关,而15~30 cm土壤有机碳含量与土壤颗粒组成相关性不显著。0~15 cm土壤有机碳含量与草地盖度、地下生物量和总生物量呈显著或极显著正相关,与优势种高度呈极显著负相关;15~30 cm土壤有机碳含量与优势种高度呈显著负相关。