IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 53: Factors Associated with Maintaining the Mental Health of Employees after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Findings from Companies Located in the Evacuation Area

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 53: Factors Associated with Maintaining the Mental Health of Employees after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Findings from Companies Located in the Evacuation Area

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010053

Authors: Masatsugu Orui Yuriko Suzuki Aya Goto Seiji Yasumura

After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima on 11 March 2011, some businesses were permitted to continue operating even though they were located in the evacuation area designated by the Japanese government. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the mental health status, workplace, living environment, and lifestyle of employees in the evacuation and non-evacuation areas. We also investigated factors related to their mental health status. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from the questionnaire responses of 647 employees at three medium-sized manufacturing companies in the evacuation and non-evacuation areas. Through a cross-tabulation analysis, employees who worked at companies in the evacuation areas showed an increase in the duration of overtime work, work burden, and commute time, and had experienced separation from family members due to the radiation disaster and perceived radiation risks. The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, even in a harsh workplace and living environment, being younger, participating regularly in physical activity, having a social network (Lubben Social Network Scale-6 ≤ 12), laughing frequently, and feeling satisfied with one's workplace and domestic life were significantly associated with maintaining a healthy mental health status after the disaster. These findings are applicable for workers' health management measures after disasters.

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Using maximum likelihood to derive various distance-based goodness-of-fit indicators for hydrologic modeling assessment

Abstract

Currently used goodness-of-fit (GOF) indicators (i.e. efficiency criteria) are largely empirical and different GOF indicators emphasize different aspects of model performance; a thorough assessment of model skill may require the use of robust skill matrices. In this study, based on the maximum likelihood method, a statistical measure termed BC-GED error model is proposed, which firstly uses the Box–Cox (BC) transformation method to remove the heteroscedasticity of model residuals, and then employs the generalized error distribution (GED) with zero-mean to fit the distribution of model residuals after BC transformation. Various distance-based GOF indicators can be explicitly expressed by the BC-GED error model for different values of the BC transformation parameter λ and GED kurtosis coefficient β. Our study proves that (1) the shape of error distribution implied in the GOF indicators affects the model performance on high or low flow discharges because large error-power (β) value can cause low probability of large residuals and small β value will lead to high probability of zero value; (2) the mean absolute error could balance consideration of low and high flow value as its assumed error distribution (i.e. Laplace distribution, where β = 1) is the turning point of GED derivative at zero value. The results of a study performed in the Baocun watershed via comparison of the SWAT model-calibration results using six distance-based GOF indicators show that even though the formal BC-GED is theoretically reasonable, the calibrated model parameters do not always correspond to high performance of model-simulation results because of imperfection of the hydrologic model. However, the derived distance-based GOF indicators using the maximum likelihood method offer an easy way of choosing GOF indicators for different study purposes and developing multi-objective calibration strategies.

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Physicochemical characterization of sterilized muds for pharmaceutics/cosmetics applications

Abstract

Clays and muds have been used for centuries as cosmetics or pharmaceutical products for various therapies. The suitability of muds and clays for health- and beauty-related applications depends on their physicochemical properties, mineralogical composition, particle characteristics and toxicity. In this work, the physicochemical characterization of 12 mud specimens from different natural spa resorts in Greece and one from Israel (Dead Sea) is presented. All specimens were sterilized at 121 °C for 20 min, because of their intended use. The Greek mud specimens were collected from various locations in Macedonia, Western Greece and Northeast Aegean. All muds were characterized concerning their mineralogical, chemical components as well as their morphological characteristics using appropriate methods [powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen absorption specific surface area measurements (BET), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy]. The concentrations of F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ anions at equilibrium with the mud specimens were measured by ion chromatography. Total calcium concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and the concentration of total N, C, H and S in the solids was measured using elemental analysis. Moreover, total phenolic concentration (TPC) in distilled water equilibrated with the mud specimens was measured as an index for their antioxidant properties. Several muds were found to present high TPC. Several of the examined mud specimens were found to have the potential use as pharmaceuticals or cosmetics. Based on the physicochemical characteristics of the mud specimens examined, possible improvement in their use and applicability has been suggested.

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The impacts of the axial-to-radial airflow quantity ratio and suction distance on air curtain dust control in a fully mechanized coal face

Abstract

To understand the impacts of the axial-to-radial airflow quantity ratio (denoted as R) and the suction distance (denoted as D_s) on air curtain dust control in a fully mechanized coal face, the 3_down610 coal face in Jiangzhuang coal mine was numerically simulated in this study. A mathematic model was established to describe the airflow migration and dust diffusion in a coal face, and a scaled physical model was constructed. The comparison between simulation results and field measurements validated the model and the parameter settings. Furthermore, the airflow migration and dust diffusion at various R and D_s are analyzed using Ansys CFD. The results show that a reduction of R and D_s is conducive to the formation of an effective axial dust control air curtain; the dust diffusion distance decreases with the decrease of both R and D_s. By analyzing the simulation results, the optimal parameter for air curtain dust control in the 3_down610 coal face and those faces with similar production conditions is determined as R = 1/9 and D_s = 2 m. Under the optimal parameter condition, the high-concentration dust can be confined in front of the mining driver within a space 5.8 m away from the coal face.

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Removal mechanism of di- n -butyl phthalate and oxytetracycline from aqueous solutions by nano-manganese dioxide modified biochar

Abstract

In this work, nano-manganese dioxide (nMnO₂)-modified biochar (BC) was synthesized in order to improve BC's adsorption capacity for di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and oxytetracycline (OTC). The results showed that nMnO₂ on the BC surface exhibited a poor crystallinity and oxidation state (Mn (IV)). Sorption experiments showed that, compared to BC, DBP sorption capacity of nMnO₂-BC (1:20) and OTC sorption capacity of nMnO₂-BC (1:10) were 0.0364 and 0.0867 mmol/g, respectively, which are significantly higher than that of BC (0.0141 and 0.0151 mmol/g). Kinetics and isotherm experiments indicated that physical adsorption and chemical interactions have both exerted their impacts on the adsorption process. Further X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that part of the Mn (IV) in nMnO₂-BC was reduced to Mn (III) and Mn (II) after DBP or OTC adsorption. Therefore, we suggest the nMnO₂ also acted as an oxidizer on modified BC, which may accelerate the degradation of DBP and OTC.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 51: Influence of Land Use and Point Source Pollution on Water Quality in a Developed Region: A Case Study in Shunde, China

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 51: Influence of Land Use and Point Source Pollution on Water Quality in a Developed Region: A Case Study in Shunde, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010051

Authors: Wenjing Bo Xiaoke Wang Qianqian Zhang Yi Xiao Zhiyun Ouyang

To design and implement policy to manage water quality, it is important to investigate land use and possible sources of pollution. In this study, using Pearson regression analysis, redundancy analysis and multiple regression analysis, we assess the influence of land use and point sources on water quality in the river system in Shunde district in 2000 and 2010. The results show that water quality was related positively with water surface but negatively with impervious and urban greening area. Additionally, water quality was related negatively to point source emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N). The total explanatory power of spatial variation of water quality was improved from 43.4% to 60.0% in 2000 and from 31.3% to 57.8% in 2010, respectively, when the influence of point sources was added into redundancy analysis between water quality and land use. Thus, both land use management and point source pollution control should be considered for improving river water quality.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 52: Antibiotic Resistance of Acinetobacter spp. Isolates from the River Danube: Susceptibility Stays High

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 52: Antibiotic Resistance of Acinetobacter spp. Isolates from the River Danube: Susceptibility Stays High

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010052

Authors: Clemens Kittinger Alexander Kirschner Michaela Lipp Rita Baumert Franz Mascher Andreas Farnleitner Gernot Zarfel

Acinetobacter spp. occur naturally in many different habitats, including food, soil, and surface waters. In clinical settings, Acinetobacter poses an increasing health problem, causing infections with limited to no antibiotic therapeutic options left. The presence of human generated multidrug resistant strains is well documented but the extent to how widely they are distributed within the Acinetobacter population is unknown. In this study, Acinetobacter spp. were isolated from water samples at 14 sites of the whole course of the river Danube. Susceptibility testing was carried out for 14 clinically relevant antibiotics from six different antibiotic classes. Isolates showing a carbapenem resistance phenotype were screened with PCR and sequencing for the underlying resistance mechanism of carbapenem resistance. From the Danube river water, 262 Acinetobacter were isolated, the most common species was Acinetobacter baumannii with 135 isolates. Carbapenem and multiresistant isolates were rare but one isolate could be found which was only susceptible to colistin. The genetic background of carbapenem resistance was mostly based on typical Acinetobacter OXA enzymes but also on VIM-2. The population of Acinetobacter (baumannii and non-baumannii) revealed a significant proportion of human-generated antibiotic resistance and multiresistance, but the majority of the isolates stayed susceptible to most of the tested antibiotics.

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China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): melting glaciers—a potential threat to ecosystem and biodiversity

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Does heavy metal exposure affect the condition of Whitethroat ( Sylvia communis ) nestlings?

Abstract

Anthropogenic pollution results in high concentrations of heavy metals in the environment. Due to their persistence and a high potential for bioaccumulation, metals are a real threat for birds breeding in industrial areas. The aim of the present study has been to explore the contents of heavy metals (arsenic As, cadmium Cd, chromium Cr, copper Cu, iron Fe, nickel Ni, lead Pb and zinc Zn) in the excreta of Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) nestlings living in polluted environment and to investigate the relationship between these contents and the nestlings' condition. Excrement samples contained all the studied elements. The contents of arsenic, cadmium, copper and zinc in the excreta of nestlings from nests located close to a slag dump were several times higher than in the soil near the dump, which suggested accumulation in food consumed by the birds. Condition parameters (body mass and haemoglobin concentration) were not related to heavy metal concentrations in the nestlings' excreta, except of Zn. It is possible that Whitethroats are able to detoxicate heavy metals to a certain extent. Detailed, multi-element analysis of the environment, food and bird tissues or excreta should be performed to explore relations between different chemicals and bird condition.

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Effect of injection pressure on performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of diesel–acetylene-fuelled single cylinder stationary CI engine

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of injection pressure on the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a diesel-acetylene fuelled single cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection (DI) diesel engine with a rated power of 3.5 kW at a rated speed of 1500 rpm was studied. Experiments were performed in dual-fuel mode at four different injection pressures of 180, 190, 200, and 210 bar with a flow rate of 120 LPH of acetylene and results were compared with that of baseline diesel operation. Experimental results showed that highest brake thermal efficiency of 27.57% was achieved at injection pressure of 200 bar for diesel-acetylene dual-fuel mode which was much higher than 23.32% obtained for baseline diesel. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and smoke emissions were also measured and found to be lower, while the NO_x emissions were higher at 200 bar in dual fuel mode as compared to those in other injection pressures in dual fuel mode and also for baseline diesel mode. Peak cylinder pressure, net heat release rate, and rate of pressure rise were also calculated and were higher at 200 bar injection pressure in dual fuel mode.

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Removal of macro-pollutants in oily wastewater obtained from soil remediation plant using electro-oxidation process

Abstract

Electro-oxidation process by niobium boron-doped diamond (Nb/BDD) electrode was used to treat non-biodegradable oily wastewater provided from soil leachate contaminated by hydrocarbons. Firstly, the diffusion current limit and mass transfer coefficient was experimentally measured (7.1 mA cm⁻² and 14.7 μm s⁻¹, respectively), in order to understand minimum applied current density. Later on, the oxidation kinetic model of each pollutant was investigated in different current densities ranged between 3.8 and 61.5 mA cm⁻². It was observed that direct oxidation was the main removal mechanism of organic and inorganic carbon, while the indirect oxidation in higher current density was responsible for nitrogen oxidation. Hydrocarbon in the form of colloidal particles could be removed by electro-flotation. On the other hand, electro-decomposition on the surface of cathode and precipitation by hydroxyl ions were the utmost removal pathway of metals. According to the initial experiments, operating condition was further optimized by central composite design model in different current density, treatment time, and electrolyte addition, based on the best responses on the specific energy consumption (SEC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. Unde r optimum operating condition (current density = 23.1 mA cm⁻², time = 120 min, Ti/Pt as a cathode, and Nb/BDD as the anode), electro-oxidation showed the following removal efficiencies: COD (84.6%), TOC (68.2%), oil and grease (99%), color (87.9%), total alkalinity (92%), N_tot (18%), NH₄⁺ (31%), Ca (66.4%), Fe (71.1%), Mg (41.4%), Mn (78.1%), P_tot (75%), S (67.1%), and Si (19.1%).

Graphical abstract

Environmental significance statement

Soil treatment facilities are rapidly grown throughout the world, especially in North America due to its intense industrialization. High water content soil in humid area like Canada produces significant amount of leachate which is difficult to remove by physical and biological processes. Current treatment facility was modified by applying the electro-chemical oxidation process. The kinetic models of each macro-pollutant included carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and metals were developed to investigate their oxidation mechanism (graphical abstract). The efficiency of treatment was monitored in order to optimize the decisive operating parameters of electro-oxidation process. The result of this article could pave the way of future investigation on efficient treatment of variety of oily wastewater.

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Impacts of fire smoke plumes on regional air quality, 2006–2013

Impacts of fire smoke plumes on regional air quality, 2006–2013

Impacts of fire smoke plumes on regional air quality, 2006–2013, Published online: 29 December 2017; doi:10.1038/s41370-017-0013-x

Impacts of fire smoke plumes on regional air quality, 2006–2013

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Assessment of indoor air quality at an electronic cigarette (Vaping) convention

Assessment of indoor air quality at an electronic cigarette (Vaping) convention

Assessment of indoor air quality at an electronic cigarette (Vaping) convention, Published online: 29 December 2017; doi:10.1038/s41370-017-0005-x

Assessment of indoor air quality at an electronic cigarette (Vaping) convention

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Integrating tools for non-targeted analysis research and chemical safety evaluations at the US EPA

Integrating tools for non-targeted analysis research and chemical safety evaluations at the US EPA

Integrating tools for non-targeted analysis research and chemical safety evaluations at the US EPA, Published online: 29 December 2017; doi:10.1038/s41370-017-0012-y

Integrating tools for non-targeted analysis research and chemical safety evaluations at the US EPA

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Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents

Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents

Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents, Published online: 29 December 2017; doi:10.1038/s41370-017-0010-0

Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents

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Arsenic and/or copper caused inflammatory response via activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway and triggered heat shock protein responses in testis tissues of chicken

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) on the inflammatory response, and the protective roles of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in chicken testes. Seventy-two 1-day-old male Hy-line chickens were treated with 30 mg/kg feed of arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) and/or 300 mg/kg feed of copper sulfate (CuSO₄) for 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The histological changes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, and the expressions of Hsps and inflammatory cytokines were detected. The results showed that slight histology changes were obvious in the testis tissue exposure to treatment groups. The activity and the protein level of iNOS were increased compared to the control group. The mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory factors were increased as a whole. However, anti-inflammatory cytokines were inhibited. The mRNA and protein levels of Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90 were upregulated. These results suggested that sub-chronic exposure to As and/or Cu induced testicular poisoning in chickens. Increased Hsps tried to protect chicken testis tissues from tissues damage caused by inflammation. In conclusion, testicular poisoning induced by As and/or Cu caused inflammatory response and heat shock protein response in chicken testis tissues.

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Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Piper betle aqueous extract and evaluation of its anti-quorum sensing and antibiofilm potential against uropathogens with cytotoxic effects: an in vitro and in vivo approach

Abstract

Urinary tract infections are the utmost common bacterial infections caused by Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Serratia marcescens. These uropathogens resist the action of several antibiotics due to their ability to form biofilms. Most of these bacterial pathogens use the quorum sensing (QS) machinery to co-ordinate their cells and regulate several virulence factors and biofilm formation. On the other hand, the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) and antibiofilm potential of silver nanoparticles have been well reported against certain bacterial pathogens, but to the best of our knowledge, no report is available against the pathogenicity of uropathogens in particular S. marcescens and P. mirabilis. Therefore, the present study is primarily focused on the anti-QS and antibiofilm potential of Piper betle-based synthesized silver nanoparticles (PbAgNPs) against S. marcescens and P. mirabilis. Initially, the silver nanoparticles were synthesized by the aqueous extract of P. betle and characterized by UV-absorbance spectroscopy, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, and DLS. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were assessed for their anti-QS activity and the obtained results revealed that the PbAgNPs inhibited the QS-mediated virulence factors such as prodigiosin, protease, biofilm formation, exopolysaccharides and hydrophobicity productions in uropathogens. The gene expression analysis divulged the downregulation of fimA, fimC, flhD, and bsmB genes in S. marcescens and flhB, flhD, and rsbA genes in P. mirabilis, respectively. The in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans assays revealed the non-toxic and anti-adherence efficiency of PbAgNPs. Furthermore, the non-toxic effect of PbAgNPs was also confirmed through peripheral blood mononuclear cells and normal lung epithelial cells. Therefore, the contemporary study demonstrates the use of PbAgNPs as a possible alternative toward conventional antibiotics in controlling QS and biofilm-related uropathogen infections.

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Predicting Cu and Zn sorption capacity of biochar from feedstock C/N ratio and pyrolysis temperature

Abstract

Biochars have been proposed for remediation of metal-contaminated water due to their low cost, high surface area and high sorption capacity for metals. However, there is a lack of understanding over how feedstock material and pyrolysis conditions contribute to the metal sorption capacity of biochar. We produced biochars from 10 different organic materials by pyrolysing at 450 °C and a further 10 biochars from cedar wood by pyrolysing at 50 °C intervals (250–700 °C). Batch sorption experiments were conducted to derive the maximum Cu and Zn sorption capacity of each biochar. The results revealed an exponential relationship between Cu and Zn sorption capacity and the feedstock C/N ratio and a sigmoidal relationship between the pyrolysis temperature and the maximum Cu and Zn sorption capacity. FTIR analysis revealed that as temperature increased, the abundance of functional groups reduced. We conclude that the high sorption capacity of high temperature biochars is due to an electrostatic attraction between positively charged Cu and Zn ions and delocalised pi-electrons on the greater surface area of these biochars. These findings demonstrate a method for predicting the maximum sorption capacity of a biochar based on the feedstock C/N ratio and the pyrolysis temperature.

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Agricultural Innovation and the Role of Institutions: Lessons from the Game of Drones

Abstract

In 2015, observers argued that the fourth agricultural revolution had been initiated. This article focuses on one part of this high-tech revolution: the origin, development, applications, and user value of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Institutional changes connected to the UAS innovation are analyzed, based on a Swedish case study. The methods included autoethnography. The theoretical frame was composed by four perspectives: innovation, institutions, sustainability, and ethics. UAS can help farmers cut costs and produce higher quantity with better quality, and also has environmental benefits. However, this promising innovation was exposed to institutional forces and suddenly became subordinated the Act of Camera Surveillance. This study illuminates how legislative institutions can inhibit responsible innovation. The study shows that different ethical perspectives can collide with each other.

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Balkan endemic nephropathy and aristolochic acid I: an investigation into the role of soil and soil organic matter contamination, as a potential natural exposure pathway

Abstract

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are carcinogenic and nephrotoxic plant alkaloids present in Aristolochia species, used in traditional medicine. Recent biomolecular and environmental studies have incriminated these toxins as an etiological agent in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), a severe kidney disease occurring in the Balkan Peninsula. The questions on how the susceptible populations are exposed to these toxins have not yet been clearly answered. Exposure to AAs through the food chain, and environmental pollution (soil/dust), could provide an explanation for the presence of BEN in the countries where no folkloric use of the plant has been documented (Bulgaria, Croatia). Additional exposure pathways are likely to occur, and we have shown previously that AAs can contaminate crop plants through absorption from soil, under controlled laboratory environment. Here, we attempt to provide additional support to this potential exposure pathway, by revealing the presence of AAI in soil and soil organic matter samples collected from BEN and non-BEN areas. The samples were processed in order to be analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and ion trap mass spectrometry. Our results showed the presence of AAI in small concentrations, both in BEN and non-BEN soils, especially where Aristolochia plants and seeds were present.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 50: Estimating the Excess Mortality Risk during Two Red Alert Periods in Beijing, China

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 50: Estimating the Excess Mortality Risk during Two Red Alert Periods in Beijing, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010050

Authors: Weilin Zeng Lingling Lang Yue Li Lingchuan Guo Hualiang Lin Yonghui Zhang Tao Liu Jianpeng Xiao Xing Li Yanjun Xu Xiaojun Xu Lauren Arnold Erik Nelson Zhengmin Qian Wenjun Ma

The magnitude of excess mortality risk due to exposures to heavy air pollution during the red alert periods in Beijing remains unknown. A health impact assessment tool combined with the PM2.5-mortality relationship was applied to estimate the number of excess deaths due to high air pollution exposure during two red alert periods in Beijing, China in December 2015. Daily PM2.5 concentration increased from 80.2 µg/m3 to 159.8 µg/m3 during the first red alert period and from 61.9 µg/m3 to 226 µg/m3 during the second period in 2015 when compared to daily PM2.5 concentrations during the same calendar date of 2013 and 2014. It was estimated that 26 to 42 excessive deaths (including 14 to 34 cardiovascular deaths, and four to 16 respiratory deaths) occurred during the first period, and 40 to 65 excessive deaths (22 to 53 cardiovascular deaths, and six to 13 respiratory deaths) occurred during the second period. The results show that heavy smog may have substantially increased the mortality risk in Beijing, suggesting more stringent air pollution controlling measures should be implemented to protect the public health.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 48: The Vulnerability of People to Damaging Hydrogeological Events in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 48: The Vulnerability of People to Damaging Hydrogeological Events in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010048

Authors: Olga Petrucci Paola Salvati Luigi Aceto Cinzia Bianchi Angela Pasqua Mauro Rossi Fausto Guzzetti

Background: Damaging Hydrogeological Events (DHEs) are severe weather periods during which floods, landslides, lightning, windstorms, hail or storm surges can harm people. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency/intensity of DHEs and, consequently, the potential harm to people. Method: We investigated the impacts of DHEs on people in Calabria (Italy) over 37 years (1980–2016). Data on 7288 people physically affected by DHEs were gathered from the systematic analysis of regional newspapers and collected in the database named PEOPLE. The damage was codified in three severity levels as follows: fatalities (people who were killed), injured (people who suffered physical harm) and involved (people who were present at the place where an accident occurred but survived and were not harmed). During the study period, we recorded 68 fatalities, 566 injured and 6654 people involved in the events. Results: Males were more frequently killed, injured and involved than females, and females who suffered fatalities were older than males who suffered fatalities, perhaps indicating that younger females tended to be more cautious than same-aged males, while older females showed an intrinsic greater vulnerability. Involved people were younger than injured people and fatalities, suggesting that younger people show greater promptness in reacting to dangerous situations. Floods caused the majority of the fatalities, injured and involved people, followed by landslides. Lightning was the most dangerous phenomenon, and it affected a relatively low number of people, killing 11.63% of them and causing injuries to 37.2%. Fatalities and injuries mainly occurred outdoors, largely along roads. In contrast, people indoors, essentially in public or private buildings, were more frequently involved without suffering harm. Being "dragged by water/mud" and "surrounded by water/mud", respectively, represented the two extremes of dynamic dangerousness. The dragging effect of rapid-flowing water totally or partially obstructed the attempts of people to save their lives. In contrast, people surrounded by steady water/mud encountered difficulties but ultimately could survive. Conclusions: The study outcomes can be used in informational campaigns to increase risk awareness among both administrators and citizens and to improve community resilience, particularly in promoting self-protective behaviors and avoiding the underestimation of hazardous situations.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 49: Impact of Interprofessional Relationships from Nurses’ Perspective on the Decision-Making Capacity of Patients in a Clinical Setting

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 49: Impact of Interprofessional Relationships from Nurses' Perspective on the Decision-Making Capacity of Patients in a Clinical Setting

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010049

Authors: Jesús Molina-Mula Julia Gallo-Estrada Catalina Perelló-Campaner

Interprofessional relationships may impact the decision making of patients in a clinical setting. The objective of this study was to analyse the decision-making capabilities of patients from nurses' perspectives of interprofessional relationships using Foucauldian ethics. This qualitative study was based on poststructuralist Foucault references with in-depth interviews of nurses working in internal medicine and specialties in a general hospital. The patients constantly appeared in the definition of teamwork, but also as a passive element used by every professional to communicate with others. Nurses continue modelling a type of patient passivity, or what Foucault called passive subjectivity in relation to oneself, because the patient is guided and directed to take charge of a truth provided by professionals. Nurses must break the rigid design of sections or professional skills, and adopt a model of teamwork that meets the needs of the patient and increases their decision-making power. The quality of care will increase to the extent that professionals establish a relationship of equality with the patient, allowing the patient to make real decisions about their care. An egalitarian model of teamwork is beneficial to the patient, abandoning the idea of a team where the patient and family are constantly excluded from decisions about their care.

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Sodium fluoride disturbs DNA methylation of NNAT and declines oocyte quality by impairing glucose transport in porcine oocytes

Sodium fluoride (NaF) is used as a medicine to prevent tooth decay; however, excessive NaF could cause a pathological damage to the health. Recent studies showed that NaF impaired mouse oocyte maturation, included of abnormal spindle configuration, actin cap formation, cortical granule-free domain formation, and the following development after fertilization. However, few studies used large animals as models to study the toxicology of NaF on oocytes maturation. We proposed a hypothesis that NaF would affect the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes and DNA methylation pattern of imprinted genes in oocytes. Our results showed that NaF affected cumulus expansion, polar body emission, spindle morphology, cortical granule distribution, early apoptosis, and the following development after parthenogenetic activation during porcine oocyte maturation. Moreover, NaF increased the DNA methylation of NNAT and decreased its expression, which disturbed the glucose transport in oocytes. These results suggest that NaF impairs the porcine oocytes maturation epigenetically, which provides a new toxicological mechanism of NaF on the oocyte maturation. Environ. Mol. Mutagen, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Genotoxicity associated with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

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Markov based transition probability geostatistics in groundwater applications: assumptions and limitations

Abstract

Markov based transition probability geostatistics (MTPG) for categorical variables, as implemented by the methodological framework introduced by Carle and Fogg (Math Geol 29(7):891–918, 1997) and extended thereafter, have been extensively applied for the three-dimensional (3D) statistical representation of hydrofacies in real-world aquifers, and the conditional simulation of 3D lithologies for groundwater flow and transport simulations. While conceptually simple and easy to implement, conditional simulation using the MTPG approach is not limitation free. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study that raises such concerns in the light of theoretical arguments and numerical findings. That said, the purpose of this study is twofold: (1) present a brief and coherent overview of the basic theory, fundamental assumptions, and limitations of the MTPG methodological framework, and (2) assess its capabilities on the basis of a simple two-dimensional test-case, using large ensembles of stochastic realizations. Contrary to real-world 3D aquifers, where the actual geology is unknown, and the quality of the simulations can be assessed solely on the basis of semi-quantitative arguments using properly selected sets of stochastic realizations, test-cases allow for direct quantitative assessments based on the application of statistical measures to large ensembles of synthetic realizations. Our analysis and obtained results show that stochastic modeling of actual geologies using the MTPG approach of Carle and Fogg (1997), is characterized by simplifying assumptions and theoretical limitations, with the simulated random fields exhibiting statistical structures that strongly depend on the problem under consideration and the modeling assumptions made, leading to increased epistemic uncertainties in the obtained results.

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Biomonitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls in Bavaria/Germany—long-term observations and standardization

Abstract

In the 1980s, it was demonstrated that semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulate in plant leaves. Plants are at the base of the food chain, and therefore a starting point for transfer of PCBs to animals and related human exposure. For two decades, the Environment Agency of the German federal state of Bavaria (LfU) has been operating long-term monitoring stations to measure the impact of organic air pollutants. Standardized ryegrass, curly kale, and spruce needles are used as bioindicators for the atmospheric entries of PCBs into vegetation. From the end of 1990s to 2009, there was a marked decline in the concentrations of indicator PCBs (i-PCBs) and a minor decline in PCB-TEQ levels. After 2009, the concentrations leveled off. In rural areas, the median concentrations of Σ6 i-PCB in ryegrass and curly kale were about 3 and 4 μg/kg dm in 2000, and have been about 0.5 and 1 μg/kg dm since 2009, respectively. Concentrations in spruce needles fell from 0.9 to 0.4 μg/kg dm. Median PCB-TEQ concentrations in the bioindicator plants ranged from 0.05 to 0.23 ng/kg dm between 2002 and 2009 and from 0.15 to 0.05 ng/kg dm after 2009. Indicator PCB and PCB-TEQ concentrations were several times higher at the urban station in Munich than at the rural areas, reflecting the emissions from in-use PCB stocks in the building sector. The likely reason of the slower decrease of PCB-TEQ compared to i-PCBs is the formation of PCB-126 by dechlorination of industrial PCBs in open applications.

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Efficient removal of Hg 2+ in aqueous solution with fishbone charcoal as adsorbent

Abstract

The Hg²⁺ removal performance of fishbone charcoal prepared from discarded fishbone has been investigated in this work. The XRD, FTIR, and BET results demonstrated that the main composition of fishbone charcoal was hydroxyapatite and the specific surface area was 117 m²/g. The adsorption experiments indicated that fishbone charcoal had an extremely high adsorption capacity for Hg²⁺ (243.77 mg/g). The excellent Hg²⁺ adsorption capacity might be ascribed to the ion exchange of Hg²⁺ to the Ca²⁺ in the structure of fishbone charcoal, complexation of Hg²⁺ with ≡Ca(OH)²⁺ on the surface of fishbone charcoal, as well as electrostatic interaction between electronegative fishbone charcoal surface and cation Hg²⁺. This work transformed kitchen garbage (i.e., fishbone) into an effective mercury adsorbent with considerable capacity, giving a perspective sight for the utilization of solid waste.

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Persistent organochlorine pesticides in aquatic environments and fishes in Taiwan and their risk assessment

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are ubiquitous contaminants with high bioaccumulation and persistence in the environment; they can have adverse effects in humans and animals. This study examined residual concentrations in water, sediments, and fishes as well as the association between the health risks of OCPs and fish consumption in the Taiwanese population. Various water and sediment samples from Taiwanese aquaculture and fish samples from different sources were collected and analyzed through gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to determine the concentrations of 20 OCPs, namely, aldrin; cis-chlordane; trans-chlordane; dieldrin; endrin; alpha-endosulfan; beta-endosulfan; heptachlor; hexachlorobenzene; alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane; beta-hexachlorocyclohexane; lindane; mirex; pentachlorobenzene; o,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT); p,p′-DDT; and DDT metabolites (o,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [DDD]; p,p'-DDD; o,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE]; and p,p'-DDE). None of the analyzed samples was positive for OCP contamination, suggesting no new input pollution from the land through washing into Taiwanese aquaculture environments. However, OCP residues were detected in fishes caught along the coast, namely, skipjack tuna and bigeye barracuda, and in imported fishes, such as codfish and salmon. DDT was the predominant pesticide. The contamination pattern of persistent organic pollutants was as follows: dieldrin > cis-chlordane > hexachlorobenzene, with average concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 2.74 ng/g. The risk was assessed in terms of the estimated daily intake (EDI) for potential adverse indices; the EDI of OCP residues was lower than 1% of the acceptable daily intake established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization. The assessed risk was negligible and considered to be at a safe level, suggesting no association between fish consumption and risks to human health in Taiwan. However, a continuous monitoring program for OCP residues in fishes is necessary to further assess the possible effects on human health.

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Correction to: The mineralization of oxalic acid and bio-treated coking wastewater by catalytic ozonation using nickel oxide

Abstract

In Table 1, "SO^2-4" and "NO^-3" should be corrected to " \( \mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4^{2-} \) " and " \( \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3^{-} \) ", respectively. The original article was corrected.

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Fouling mitigation and cleanability of TiO 2 photocatalyst-modified PVDF membranes during ultrafiltration of model oily wastewater with different salt contents

Abstract

In the present study, TiO₂-coated ultrafiltration membranes were prepared and used for oily water filtration (droplet size < 2 μm). The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different salt contents on fouling and filtration properties of neat and TiO₂-coated membranes during oil-in-water emulsion filtration. The effect of the TiO₂ coating on the flux, surface free energy, and retention values was measured and compared with the neat membrane values. The cleanability of the fouled TiO₂-coated membranes by UV irradiation was also investigated by measuring flux recovery and contact angles, and the chemical changes during cleaning were characterized by ATR-IR. It was found that increasing the salt content of the model wastewaters, oil-in-water emulsions, increased the zeta potential and the size of the droplets. The presence of the TiO₂ coating decreases the membrane fouling during oily emulsion filtration compared to the neat membrane, due to the hydrophilicity of the coating regardless of the salt content of the emulsions. The neat and coated membrane oil retention was similar, 96 ± 2%. The coated membrane can be effectively cleaned with UV irradiation without additional chemicals and a significant flux recovery can be achieved. Monitoring of the cleaning process by following the membrane surface wettability and ATR-IR measurements showed that the recovery of flux does not mean the total elimination of the oil layer from the membrane surface.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 47: Spatiotemporal Risk of Bacillary Dysentery and Sensitivity to Meteorological Factors in Hunan Province, China

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 47: Spatiotemporal Risk of Bacillary Dysentery and Sensitivity to Meteorological Factors in Hunan Province, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010047

Authors: Chengdong Xu Gexin Xiao Jinfeng Wang Xiangxue Zhang Jinjun Liang

Bacillary dysentery remains a public health concern in the world. Hunan Province is one of the provinces having the highest risk of bacillary dysentery in China, however, the spatial-temporal distribution, variation of bacillary dysentery and sensitivity to meteorological factors in there are unclear. In this paper, a Bayesian space-time hierarchical model (BSTHM) was used to detect space-time variation, and effects of meteorological factors between 2010 and 2015. The risk of bacillary dysentery showed apparent spatial-temporal heterogeneity. The highest risk occurred in the summer season. Economically undeveloped mountainous areas in the west and south of the province had the highest incidence rates. Twenty three (18.9%) and 20 (16.4%) counties were identified as hot and cold spots, respectively. Among the hotspots, 11 counties (47.8%) exhibited a rapidly decreasing trend, suggesting they may become low-risk areas in the future. Of the cold spot counties, six (30%) showed a slowly decreasing trend, and may have a higher risk in the future. Among meteorological factors, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed all played a significant role in the spatial-temporal distribution of bacillary dysentery risk. These findings can contribute to the implementation of an early warning system for controlling and preventing bacillary dysentery.

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Dose reconstruction in workers exposed to two major pyrethroid pesticides and determination of biological reference values using a toxicokinetic model

Dose reconstruction in workers exposed to two major pyrethroid pesticides and determination of biological reference values using a toxicokinetic model

Dose reconstruction in workers exposed to two major pyrethroid pesticides and determination of biological reference values using a toxicokinetic model, Published online: 28 December 2017; doi:10.1038/s41370-017-0004-y

Dose reconstruction in workers exposed to two major pyrethroid pesticides and determination of biological reference values using a toxicokinetic model

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Pesticide dichorvos induces early solid Ehrlich tumoral development associated with a non-protective pro-inflammatory response

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to dichlorvos (DDVP), a common pesticide used for food crops, has been related to the development of infections and malignancies. Macrophages are used as bioindicators of immunotoxicity; thus, evaluation of their activity in solid Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice (TBM) may be useful to evaluate the influence of pesticides on human health. To investigate the effects of low DDVP doses, Swiss mice were divided into the following groups: the DDVP group, composed of mice fed diets containing 10 mg/kg of DDVP; the TBM group, consisting of mice subcutaneously inoculated with 10⁷ tumor cells/100 μl and fed a basal diet; the DDVP-TBM group, consisting of mice previously fed DDVP-containing diets for 28 days and then subcutaneously inoculated with tumor cells; and the control (CTRL) group, composed of mice fed a basal diet. After 7 and 21 days of tumor inoculation, the mice were euthanized; and after necroscopic examination, the neoplastic mass, organs, and intraperitoneal fluid were collected. Adherent peritoneal cells were cultivated to determine the production of H₂O₂ and TNF. Altogether, our results indicate that even at low doses, the intake of DDVP caused weight loss and increased tumor mass, which were associated with H₂O₂ production and high levels of TNF, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. These data are important as the exposure to pesticides, even at low doses, could potentially hinder the immune response against tumors and, consequently, create favorable conditions for their development.

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Phthalate esters in surface water of Songhua River watershed associated with land use types, Northeast China

Abstract

The ubiquitous presence of phthalate esters (PAEs) in the environment and their potential role as endocrine disruptors of marine organisms has attracted much attention. The presence of PAEs in different water sources collected from the Songhua River mainstream and its tributaries has been determined in this study. The total concentration of the seven PAEs (∑PAEs) detected was found to range from 1.153 to 7.867 μg L⁻¹_, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) present as the predominate PAE congener. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and DEHP were present in all of the water samples analyzed. The concentration of ∑PAEs in the Songhua River mainstream was shown to decrease initially, with a subsequent increase being detected due to inflow from branch tributaries contaminated with higher concentrations of PAEs. Analysis of land type usage, in this agriculture-dominated river watershed, also revealed an increase in ∑PAE concentration in waters flowing through forested area. The concentration of ∑PAEs in river waters also had a significant positive correlation with both agricultural and urban areas (p < 0.05); however, anthropogenic activities were not the only determining factor determining the ∑PAE concentration in this river watershed. Ecological risk assessment revealed that the levels of DMP and DEP in all waters were generally low, representing a relatively low ecological risk to marine organisms; however, DBP was present at medium or high risk levels, whilst DEHP also displayed high risk levels.

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Silicon alleviates cadmium toxicity in wheat seedlings ( Triticum aestivum L.) by reducing cadmium ion uptake and enhancing antioxidative capacity

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic element that poses a great threat to human health, while silicon (Si) is a beneficial element and has been shown to have a mitigation effect on plants under Cd toxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of Si in alleviating Cd toxicity are still poorly understood in wheat. Therefore, growth status, photosynthesis parameters, root morphology, antioxidant system, and Cd²⁺ uptake and flux under Cd toxicity were studied through hydroponic experiment, aiming to explore the mitigation of Si on Cd toxicity in wheat seedlings. The results showed that Si supply improved plant biomass as well as photosynthetic but had little effects on root morphology of seedlings under Cd stress. Si addition decreased Cd contents both in shoots and roots. In situ measurements of Cd²⁺ flux showed that Si significantly inhibited the net Cd²⁺ influx in roots of wheat. Si also mitigated the oxidative stress in wheat leaves by decreasing malondialdialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) contents as well as by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) activity. Overall, the results revealed that Si could alleviate Cd toxicity in wheat seedlings by improving plant growth and antioxidant capacity and by decreasing Cd uptake and lipid peroxidation.

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Activated carbons from avocado seed: optimisation and application for removal of several emerging organic compounds

Abstract

In this study, avocado seed was successfully used as raw material for producing activated carbons by conventional pyrolysis. In order to determine the best condition to produce the activated carbons, a 2² full-factorial design of experiment (DOE) with three central points was employed by varying the temperature and time of pyrolysis. The two evaluated factors (temperature and time of pyrolysis) strongly influenced the S_BET, pore volumes, hydrophobicity–hydrophilicity ratio (HI) and functional groups values; both factors had a negative effect over S_BET, pore volumes and functional groups which means that increasing the values of factors leads to decrease of these responses; on the other hand, with regards to HI, both factors caused a positive effect which means that increasing their values, the HI has an enhancement over its values. The produced activated carbon exhibited high specific surface areas in the range of 1122–1584 m² g⁻¹. Surface characterisation revealed that avocado seed activated carbons (ASACs) have hydrophilic surfaces and have predominantly acidic groups on their surfaces. The prepared ASACs were employed in the adsorption of 25 emerging organic compounds such as 10 pharmaceuticals and 15 phenolic compounds which presented high uptake values for all emerging pollutants. It was observed that the activated carbon prepared at higher temperature of pyrolysis (700 °C), which generated less total functional groups and presented higher HI, was the activated carbon with higher sorption capacity for uptaking emerging organic contaminants. Based on results of this work, it is possible to conclude that avocado seed can be employed as a raw material to produce high surface area and very efficient activated carbons in relation to treatment of polluted waters with emerging organic pollutants.

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Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide over Cu/TiO 2 photocatalysts

Abstract

The photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ with H₂O was investigated using Cu/TiO₂ photocatalysts in aqueous solution. For this purpose, Cu/TiO₂ photocatalysts (with 0.2, 0.9, 2, 4, and 6 wt.% of Cu) have been synthesized via sol-gel method. The photocatalysts were extensively characterized by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), N₂ physisorption (BET), XRD, UV-vis DRS, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, TEM-EDX, and photoelectrochemical measurements. The as-prepared photocatalysts contain anatase as a major crystalline phase with a crystallite size around 13 nm. By increasing the amount of Cu, specific surface area and band gap energy decreased in addition to the formation of large agglomeration of CuO. Results revealed that the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ decreased in the presence of Cu/TiO₂ in comparison to pure TiO₂, which might be associated to the formation of CuO phase acting as a recombination center of generated electron-hole pair. Decreasing of photoactivity can also be connected with a very low position of conduction band of photocatalysts with high Cu content, which makes H₂ production necessary for CO₂ reduction more difficult.

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Formation of a lead-insoluble phase, pyromorphite, by hydroxyapatite during lead migration through the water-unsaturated soils of different lead mobilities

Abstract

This study combined the original unsaturated-column-percolation test with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to understand how lead is transformed into lead-insoluble phase and immobilized by hydroxyapatite during lead migration in the water-unsaturated soil of different lead mobilities. The amounts of lead migrated from the soils without hydroxyapatite ranged from 4 to 46%, depending on the lead mobilities of soils. On the other hand, those of soils with hydroxyapatite were greatly suppressed by > 95% as compared with those without hydroxyapatite. The XRD analysis showed that the amounts of lead transformed into pyromorphite were compatible with those of lead migrated from the soil irrespective of the different lead mobilities. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first experimental evidence that lead migration can induce lead to transform into pyromorphite in the water-unsaturated soil. In addition, this study quantitatively demonstrates that the amount of lead migrated is almost equal to that of lead formed into pyromorphite. Thus, it was found that even if soluble lead remains after the application of immobilization material, it would be immobilized by the material during the lead migration as long as adequate material is applied to the soil.

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Effectiveness of narrow grass hedges in reducing atrazine runoff under different slope gradient conditions

Abstract

Atrazine is frequently detected in surface runoff and poses a potential threat to the environment. Grass hedges may minimize runoff loss of atrazine from crop fields. Therefore, the effectiveness of two grass hedges (Melilotus albus and Pennisetum alopecuroides) in controlling atrazine runoff was investigated using simulated rainfall on lands at different slope gradients (15 and 20%) in northern China. Results showed that a storm (40 mm in 1 h), occurring 4 h after atrazine application, caused a loss of 3% of the applied amount. Atrazine loss under 20% slope was significantly greater than that under 15% slope in control plots. Atrazine exports associated with the water fraction accounted for the majority of total loss. Pennisetum hedges were more efficient in controlling atrazine loss with runoff compared to Melilotus hedges. No significant difference in the capacity of grass hedges to reduce atrazine exports was observed between 15 and 20% slopes. These findings suggest grass hedges are effective in minimizing atrazine runoff in northern China, and Pennisetum hedges should be preferentially used on sloping croplands in similar climatic regions.

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Heavy metal enrichment in roadside soils in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

The effects of human activities on heavy metal pollution in soil have been less investigated on the Tibetan Plateau. The present study was designed to assess the effects of highway traffic on Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd enrichments in the 0–60-cm soil profile in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Soils were sampled at four transects (with an altitude range of 2643–2911 m) across the G212 highway and five transects (3163–3563 m) across the G213 highway. Background concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd to the 60-cm soil depth (measured at each transect 400 m away from highways) varied greatly among transects and between highways. However, this spatial variation in the heavy metal concentrations was not related to the altitude of the investigated areas. On each the left and right sides of G212 or G213, Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations to the 60-cm depth, at 5, 10, 20, and 50 m away from the highway, were all generally greater than the respective metal background concentrations. Cd concentrations to the 20 cm on G212 or 60-cm soil depth on G213 increased prominently within a distance of 20 m away from the highways, compared to background values in different depths. From the curb to 400 m away from highways, concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd were generally higher in the upper than in the lower soil layers. This may suggest that other factors such as atmospheric deposition were also contributable to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil. The contamination factor (C_f ) calculation showed that roadside soils to the 60-cm depth, within a distance of 50 m from the curbs of both G212 and G213, were moderately (1 ≤ C_f  < 3) contaminated with Cu, Zn, and Pb. The contamination from Cd mainly occurred (1 ≤ C_f  < 8) in the top 20 cm soil with a closer distance from the highways. Our results indicated that traffic effects in enriching heavy metals reached 60-cm depth in roadside soils on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. For assessment of heavy metal pollutions in soil in mountainous areas, it is necessary to in situ identify the background values.

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Dynamics and sources of pharmaceutically active compounds in a coastal Mediterranean river during heavy rains

Abstract

Concentrations of pharmaceutically active compounds (PACs) in freshwater systems depend on numerous factors such as land use and hydrometeorological conditions. In the Mediterranean, heavy rain events are of particular importance as they highly influence the concentration of micropollutants found in freshwater and are a source of recurrent first foul flushes due to combined sewer overflows (CSOs). In this study, we seek to assess the dynamics of pharmaceuticals during storm events in coastal Mediterranean rivers at a fine scale and to determine their contribution to multicontamination phenomena owing to CSOs. Our results showed that, while dissolved PACs followed the same trend as other contaminants, i.e., they increased significantly during CSOs, PACs in the total fraction did not peak yet maintained their already high concentrations for slightly longer due to their release via CSOs. Pharmaceutical concentrations for both the dissolved and the total fraction were dramatically diluted during the peak river flow. A fine-scale follow-up of PACs dynamics in the total fraction, including the differentiation of sewer overflows from both the right and left river banks, as well as the analyses of a large amount of PACs molecules, allowed us to clearly identify their major sources. While domestic inputs were dominated by nicotine and caffeine, the use of gadolinium (an MRI contrast agent) as a marker, attributed the main source of medical drugs such as tramadol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac to the major public hospital of the region. Thus, identifying major sources of PACs and implementing adapted water treatments directly at those sources would be the most cost-efficient alternative to cope with pharmaceutical drugs in coastal Mediterranean aquatic environments. Moreover, PACs behavior differed depending on the molecules considered and the source of these molecules, but we could not establish a direct link between their behavior and their chemical or physical properties. Our study highlights the importance of monitoring at strategic locations and with a high frequency sampling in order to better understand fate, sources, and behavior of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments.

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Aluminum bioavailability and toxicity to aquatic organisms: Introduction to the special section

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Issue Information - Cover

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In Memoriam: Peter Michael Chapman (1951–2017)

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ET&C Exceptional Reviewers of 2017

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Editorial Board and Table of Contents

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 44: Trauma and Pain in Family-Orientated Societies

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 44: Trauma and Pain in Family-Orientated Societies

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010044

Authors: Jan Kizilhan

People from family-oriented societies in particular, in addition to having a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffer from chronic pain and physical complaints. Such people have a different understanding of physical illness and pain and, compared to patients from western societies, have different ideas on healing, even when confronted with the therapist. Hitherto, these factors have not been sufficiently taken into account in modern, multi-module therapy approaches. Trauma can be perceived via pain and physical complaints, whereby the pain is not restricted to one part of the body but is seen as covering the body as a whole. Therefore, in the treatment and above all in the patient-therapist relationship, it is necessary to understand what importance is attached to the perceived pain in relation to the trauma. The afflicted body expresses the trauma in the shape of its further-reaching consequences such as the patient's social, collective, economic and cultural sensitivity. Therefore, for the effective treatment of trauma and chronic pain, it is necessary to use a multi-modal, interdisciplinary, and culture-sensitive approach when treating patients from traditional cultural backgrounds.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 45: Contamination of Tea and Tea Infusion with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 45: Contamination of Tea and Tea Infusion with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010045

Authors: Alicja Zachara Dorota Gałkowska Lesław Juszczak

The aim of this work was to validate the method of determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e., benzo(a)pyrene and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene in different types of tea, as well as to assess the transfer of these contaminants from tea to tea infusion. The research materials were popular types of black, green, red and white tea. Quantitative and qualitative determination of PAHs was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD). The samples were prepared by QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) technique followed by cleaning-up by dispersion solid-phase extraction (d-SPE). Values of limit of detection and limit of quantification obtained in the validation of the method were lower than the respective maximum values given in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 836/2011. The level of contamination of popular teas commercially available on the Polish market with PAHs is similar to that of teas available in other countries, with a very large variation in the concentration of each of the compounds. The highest benzo(a)pyrene and Σ4PAHs contents (209 ± 42 μg/kg and 756 ± 151 μg/kg, respectively) were found for black tea leaves. The transfer of Σ4PAHs from black tea to tea infusions was 0.48%, while it was 1.55–1.72% for red, white and green teas.

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intitle:"environmental disasters" - νέα αποτελέσματα

Seismic analysis for predicting potential drilling hazards of deep-wells that may cause environmental disasters

OL Kuznetsov, IA Chirkin, AA Radwan, EG Rizanov…

Summary Drilling hazards such as kicks, wellbore instability and loss of mud circulation may
occur when the well penetrates a fractured formation. In extreme cases, a well blowout may
occur resulting in massive environmental disasters. Detection of formation fracturesnature,

 

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 46: Surveillance of Environmental and Procedural Measures of Infection Control in the Operating Theatre Setting

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 46: Surveillance of Environmental and Procedural Measures of Infection Control in the Operating Theatre Setting

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010046

Authors: Laura Dallolio Alessandra Raggi Tiziana Sanna Magda Mazzetti Alessandra Orsi Angela Zanni Patrizia Farruggia Erica Leoni

The microbiological contamination of operating theatres and the lack of adherence to best practices by surgical staff represent some of the factors affecting Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). The aim of the present study was to assess the microbiological quality of operating settings and the staff compliance to the SSI evidence-based control measures. Ten operating rooms were examined for microbiological contamination of air and surfaces, after cleaning procedures, in "at rest" conditions. Furthermore, 10 surgical operations were monitored to assess staff compliance to the recommended practices. None of the air samples exceeded microbiological reference standards and only six of the 200 surface samples (3.0%) were slightly above recommended levels. Potentially pathogenic bacteria and moulds were never detected. Staff compliance to best practices varied depending on the type of behaviour investigated and the role of the operator. The major not compliant behaviours were: pre-operative skin antisepsis, crowding of the operating room and hand hygiene of the anaesthetist. The good environmental microbiological quality observed is indicative of the efficacy of the cleaning-sanitization procedures adopted. The major critical point was staff compliance to recommended practices. Awareness campaigns are therefore necessary, aimed at improving the organisation of work so as to facilitate compliance to operative protocols.

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Employing response surface methodology (RSM) to improve methane production from cotton stalk

Abstract

China is the largest cotton producer with the cotton output accounting for 25% of the total world's cotton production. A large quantity of cotton stalk (CS) waste is generated which is burned and causes environmental and ecological problems. This study investigated the anaerobic digestibility of CS by focusing on improving the methane yield by applying central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM). The purpose of this study was to determine the best level of factors to optimize the desired output of methane production from CS. Thus, it was necessary to describe the relationship of many individual variables with one or more response values for the effective utilization of CS. The influences of feed to inoculum (F/I) ratio and organic loading (OL) on methane production were investigated. Results showed that the experimental methane yield (EMY) and volatile solid (VS) removal were calculated to be 70.22 mL/gVS and 14.33% at F/I ratio of 0.79 and organic loading of 25.61 gVS/L, respectively. Characteristics of final effluent showed that the anaerobic system was stable. This research laid a foundation for future application of CS to alleviate the problems of waste pollution and energy output.

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Barium concentrations and speciation in surface waters collected from an active barium mining area in Guizhou Province, southwestern China

Abstract

Barium (Ba) is a toxic element and can cause serious health effects. Humans have experienced increased exposure to Ba due to its intensive usage in industrial areas and daily life. Anthropogenic activities of Ba mining and the manufacture of Ba containing products introduce the element into surrounding areas, posing environmental concerns. Concentrations of total Ba (TBa) and dissolved Ba (DBa) in water samples collected from active Ba mines in Tianzhu, east Guizhou Province, southwestern China were measured to show the regional dispersion of Ba contamination. Aqueous Ba species in water were calculated using the PHREEQC program. The results showed that TBa and DBa concentrations ranged from 6.7 to 483.1 μg/L and from 7.5 to 222.7 μg/L, respectively. TBa concentrations presented a high average value of 126.6 μg/L and greatly exceeded the reported common value of 10 μg/L Ba in surface water set by the Ministry of Environment Protection of China. PHREEQC results indicated that Ba species in water were present as Ba²⁺, BaSO₄, BaHCO₃, BaCO₃, and BaOH⁺. The distribution of Ba species in water is controlled by pH and total organic carbon (TOC), and the lower pH (pH < 7) the higher the dissolved fractions. The log K _d values (K _d , dissolved-particulate distribution coefficients) varied from 2.41 to 6.32. Significant correlations were observed among Ba²⁺ and K⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.425, 0.531, 0.853, 0.612, and 0.329, respectively (p < 0.01). Elevated Ba concentrations in water indicated that the Ba contamination and its distribution pattern in local aquatic ecosystems are derived from Ba mining sites in the Tianzhu area.

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Co-treatment of flotation waste, neutralization sludge, and arsenic-containing gypsum sludge from copper smelting: solidification/stabilization of arsenic and heavy metals with minimal cement clinker

Abstract

Flotation waste of copper slag (FWCS), neutralization sludge (NS), and arsenic-containing gypsum sludge (GS), both of which are difficult to dispose of, are major solid wastes produced by the copper smelting. This study focused on the co-treatment of FWCS, NS, and GS for solidification/stabilization of arsenic and heavy metals with minimal cement clinker. Firstly, the preparation parameters of binder composed of FWCS, NS, and cement clinker were optimized to be FWCS dosage of 40%, NS dosage of 10%, cement clinker dosage of 50%, mill time of 1.5 h, and water-to-binder ratio of 0.25. On these conditions, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the binder reached 43.24 MPa after hydration of 28 days. Then, the binder was used to solidify/stabilize the As-containing GS. When the mass ratio of binder-to-GS was 5:5, the UCS of matrix can reach 11.06 MPa after hydration of 28 days, meeting the required UCS level of MU10 brick in China. Moreover, arsenic and other heavy metals in FWCS, NS, and GS were effectively solidified or stabilized. The heavy metal concentrations in leachate were much lower than those in the limits of China standard leaching test (CSLT). Therefore, the matrices were potential to be used as bricks in some constructions. XRD analysis shows that the main hydration products of the matrix were portlandite and calcium silicate hydrate. These hydration products may play a significant role in the stabilization/solidification of arsenic and heavy metals.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 43: Disparities in Non-Fatal Health Outcomes in Pediatric General Trauma Studies

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 43: Disparities in Non-Fatal Health Outcomes in Pediatric General Trauma Studies

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010043

Authors: Shanthi Ameratunga Jacqueline Ramke Nicki Jackson Sandar Tin Tin Belinda Gabbe

When prevention efforts fail, injured children require high-quality health services to support their recovery. Disparities in non-fatal injury outcomes, an indicator of health-care quality, have received minimal attention. We evaluated the extent to which general trauma follow-up studies published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature provide evidence of socially patterned inequities in health, functional or disability outcomes ≥4 weeks after childhood injuries. Using a systematic search, we identified 27 eligible cohort studies from 13 high-income countries. We examined the extent to which the reported health outcomes varied across the PROGRESS criteria: place of residence, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender/sex, religion, socio-economic status, and social capital. The available evidence on differential outcomes is limited as many studies were compromised by selection or retention biases that reduced the participation of children from demographic groups at increased risk of adverse outcomes, or the analyses mainly focused on variations in outcomes by sex. Given the limited research evidence, we recommend greater attention to systematic collection and reporting of non-fatal injury outcomes disaggregated by socio-demographic indicators in order to identify disparities where these exist and inform equity-focused interventions promoting the recovery of injured children.

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Changes in primary and secondary metabolites of Mentha aquatica L. exposed to different concentrations of manganese

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in order to determine the effects of different concentrations of manganese (Mn) on the levels and correlations of multiple primary and secondary metabolites in Mentha aquatica. With this aim, four levels of Mn concentrations were used as follows: basic Hoagland's solution (control), 40, 80, and 160 μM of Mn supplied as MnSO₄.H₂O. The results indicated that the biomass and the contents of photosynthetic pigments and soluble carbohydrates were higher in the plants that were treated with the moderate concentrations of Mn (40 and 80 μM) than the control and 160 μM-treated plants. On the other hand, the contents of flavonoids, anthocyanins, malonaldehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX)) were progressively increased with the enhancement of Mn concentration in the nutrient solution. In addition, there were clear differences in the content and chemical composition of essential oils among the control and treatment groups. In this study, 1,8-cineole, menthofuran, and β-caryophyllene were the most abundant constituents of essential oils in both the control and Mn-treated plants. The correlation analysis between pairs of the primary and secondary metabolites showed that there were positive and negative correlations among the variables when the Mn concentration was increased in the nutrient solution. These findings clearly display a positive effect of Mn up to 80 μM in the nutrient solution on the growth of M. aquatica.

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Biochar-enhanced composts reduce the potential leaching of nutrients and heavy metals and suppress plant-parasitic nematodes in excessively fertilized cucumber soils

Abstract

Excessive fertilization is a common agricultural practice that has largely reduced soil nutrient retention capacity and led to nutrient leaching in China. To reduce nutrient leaching, in this study, we evaluated the application of biochar, compost, and biochar-compost on soil properties, leaching water quality, and cucumber plant growth in soils with different nutrient levels. In general, the concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals in leaching water were higher under high-nutrient conditions than under low-nutrient conditions. Both biochar and compost efficiently enhanced soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), water holding capacity (WHC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), and phosphorus (MBP), reduced the potential leaching of nutrients and heavy metals, and improved plant growth. The efficiency of biochar and compost in soil CEC, WHC, MBC, MBN, and MBP and plant growth was enhanced when applied jointly. In addition, biochar and biochar-enhanced compost efficiently suppressed plant-parasitic nematode infestation in a soil with high levels of both N and P. Our results suggest that biochar-enhanced compost can reduce the potential environmental risks in excessively fertilized vegetable soils.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 39: Estimating the Causal Impact of Proximity to Gold and Copper Mines on Respiratory Diseases in Chilean Children: An Application of Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 39: Estimating the Causal Impact of Proximity to Gold and Copper Mines on Respiratory Diseases in Chilean Children: An Application of Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010039

Authors: Ronald Herrera Ursula Berger Ondine von Ehrenstein Iván Díaz Stella Huber Daniel Moraga Muñoz Katja Radon

In a town located in a desert area of Northern Chile, gold and copper open-pit mining is carried out involving explosive processes. These processes are associated with increased dust exposure, which might affect children's respiratory health. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the causal attributable risk of living close to the mines on asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis risk burden in children. Data on the prevalence of respiratory diseases and potential confounders were available from a cross-sectional survey carried out in 2009 among 288 (response: 69 % ) children living in the community. The proximity of the children's home addresses to the local gold and copper mine was calculated using geographical positioning systems. We applied targeted maximum likelihood estimation to obtain the causal attributable risk (CAR) for asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and both outcomes combined. Children living more than the first quartile away from the mines were used as the unexposed group. Based on the estimated CAR, a hypothetical intervention in which all children lived at least one quartile away from the copper mine would decrease the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis by 4.7 percentage points (CAR: − 4.7 ; 95 % confidence interval ( 95 % CI): − 8.4 ; − 0.11 ); and 4.2 percentage points (CAR: − 4.2 ; 95 % CI: − 7.9 ; − 0.05 ) for both outcomes combined. Overall, our results suggest that a hypothetical intervention intended to increase the distance between the place of residence of the highest exposed children would reduce the prevalence of respiratory disease in the community by around four percentage points. This approach could help local policymakers in the development of efficient public health strategies.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 42: Biomarkers for Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis and Lung Ventilation Function in Chinese Occupational Refractory Ceramic Fibers-Exposed Workers

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 42: Biomarkers for Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis and Lung Ventilation Function in Chinese Occupational Refractory Ceramic Fibers-Exposed Workers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010042

Authors: Xiaojun Zhu Yishuo Gu Wenjun Ma Panjun Gao Mengxuan Liu Pei Xiao Hongfei Wang Juan Chen Tao Li

Refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs) can cause adverse health effects on workers' respiratory system, yet no proper biomarkers have been used to detect early pulmonary injury of RCFs-exposed workers. This study assessed the levels of two biomarkers that are related to respiratory injury in RCFs-exposed workers, and explored their relations with lung function. The exposure levels of total dust and respirable fibers were measured simultaneously in RCFs factories. The levels of TGF-β1 and ceruloplasmin (CP) increased with the RCFs exposure level (p &lt; 0.05), and significantly increased in workers with high exposure level (1.21 ± 0.49 ng/mL, 115.25 ± 32.44 U/L) when compared with the control group (0.99 ± 0.29 ng/mL, 97.90 ± 35.01 U/L) (p &lt; 0.05). The levels of FVC and FEV1 were significantly decreased in RCFs exposure group (p &lt; 0.05). Negative relations were found between the concentrations of CP and FVC (B = −0.423, p = 0.025), or FEV1 (B = −0.494, p = 0.014). The concentration of TGF-β1 (B = 0.103, p = 0.001) and CP (B = 8.027, p = 0.007) were associated with respirable fiber exposure level. Occupational exposure to RCFs can impair lung ventilation function and may have the potential to cause pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. TGF-β1 and CP might be used as sensitive and noninvasive biomarkers to detect lung injury in occupational RCFs-exposed workers. Respirable fiber concentration can better reflect occupational RCFs exposure and related respiratory injuries.

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Collaborative Governance for Climate Change Adaptation: Mapping citizen–municipality interactions

Abstract

Increasing climate change impacts are a major threat to sustainable urban development, and challenge current governance structures, including actors' responsibilities for dealing with climate variability and extremes. The need for distributed risk governance and citizen engagement is increasingly recognise; however, few empirical studies systematically assess interactions between citizens and municipalities in climate risk management and adaptation. Here, we develop an explorative framework, applied to three Swedish municipalities, to map existing 'adaptation interactions' and analyse how responsibilities for climate adaptation manifest and are (re)negotiated. The results show that adaptation planners rarely consider collaborations with citizens, despite positive adaptation outcomes from related local processes. Structures and mechanisms for systematic monitoring and learning are also lacking. We argue that fostering collaborations with citizens – to support long-term adaptation and reduce the adaptation burden of those most at risk – requires consideration of four strategic issues: proactive engagement; equity and 'responsibilisation'; nature-based approaches; and systematic adaptation mainstreaming. Finally, we discuss how our analytical framework can contribute to further theorising municipalities' engagement with citizens on climate risk. © 2017 The Authors. Environmental Policy and Governance published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 41: Selection of a Very Active Microbial Community for the Coupled Treatment of Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide and Photoresist in Aqueous Solutions

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 41: Selection of a Very Active Microbial Community for the Coupled Treatment of Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide and Photoresist in Aqueous Solutions

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010041

Authors: Giulio Moretti Federica Matteucci Matteo Saraullo Francesco Vegliò Maddalena del Gallo

Aerobic treatment of wastewater containing Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and photoresist was investigated using a lab scale reactor inoculated with activated sludge coming from urban wastewater treatment that never received TMAH before. The consumption of TMAH was monitored by liquid ion chromatography. Biodiversity indices were calculated from Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) bands distribution and used to estimate changes in community composition related to adaptation to the new feeding compound. The first week of adaptation was crucial, and it was analyzed in detail: many organisms died, and the microbial community suffered a great shock. TMAH levels remained constant through the first four days, and then suddenly dropped to undetectable, and at the same time NH4+ increased. When the community showed complete adaptation, predominant groups of bacteria were obtained by the Illumina sequencing of 16s rDNA amplicons, to provide insights on ecology of the adapted community, focusing on the main actors of TMAH abatement. Richness of species (Rr) peaks suggest that the development of TMAH-consuming bacteria leads to persistent consortia that maintain toxicity resistance over time. This showed adaptation and changes of the population to the different feeding conditions, and it opens new perspectives in the in situ treatment of these important residues of industrial processes without relying on external processing plants.

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Influence of multiwall carbon nanotubes on the toxicity of 17β-estradiol in the early life stages of zebrafish

Abstract

Due to increasing use and release, both multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and 17β-estradiol (E2) may co-exist and interact with each other in aquatic environments. However, little is known about their combined effects on non-target organisms, especially in the presence of other environmental factors. In this study, the interplay between MWCNTs and E2 in the early life stages of zebrafish was investigated, focusing on the alterations in estrogenic responses with and without other environmental factors. There were no significant differences in the hatchability, mortality, or physical development of zebrafish in any treatments. Compared with E2 exposure, the E2-induced estrogenic responses (vtg1, vtg3, and esr1 genes) in zebrafish were markedly reduced to baseline by the presence of MWCNTs in most cases, indicating a strong protective effect. Furthermore, this inhibitive effect was not significantly changed by the preloading of natural organic matter (NOM) on MWCNTs. Nevertheless, the addition of ammonia nitrogen in the mixtures of MWCNTs and E2 alleviated the protective effect of MWCNTs, resuscitating the E2-induced estrogenic responses in zebrafish. These findings highlight the influence of carbon nanomaterials on the bioavailability of co-contaminants in organisms. The widespread environmental factors in natural environments should also be taken into consideration when the combined toxicity of nanomaterials and contaminants is discussed.

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Correction to: Adsorption antagonism and synergy of arsenate(V) and cadmium(II) onto Fe-modified rice straw biochars

Abstract

Unfortunately, in the original publication of the article, Prof. Yong Sik Ok's affiliation was incorrectly published. The author's affiliation is as follows.

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Correction to: Heavy metal-induced oxidative stress on seed germination and seedling development: a critical review

Abstract

Unfortunately, in the original publication of the article, Prof. Yong Sik Ok's affiliation was incorrectly published. The author's affiliation is as follows.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 40: Risk Factors for Internet Gaming Disorder: Psychological Factors and Internet Gaming Characteristics

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 40: Risk Factors for Internet Gaming Disorder: Psychological Factors and Internet Gaming Characteristics

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010040

Authors: Mi Rho Hyeseon Lee Taek-Ho Lee Hyun Cho Dong Jung Dai-Jin Kim In Choi

Background: Understanding the risk factors associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is important to predict and diagnose the condition. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors that predict IGD based on psychological factors and Internet gaming characteristics; Methods: Online surveys were conducted between 26 November and 26 December 2014. There were 3568 Korean Internet game users among a total of 5003 respondents. We identified 481 IGD gamers and 3087 normal Internet gamers, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify significant risk factors for IGD; Results: The following eight risk factors were found to be significantly associated with IGD: functional and dysfunctional impulsivity (odds ratio: 1.138), belief self-control (1.034), anxiety (1.086), pursuit of desired appetitive goals (1.105), money spent on gaming (1.005), weekday game time (1.081), offline community meeting attendance (2.060), and game community membership (1.393; p &lt; 0.05 for all eight risk factors); Conclusions: These risk factors allow for the prediction and diagnosis of IGD. In the future, these risk factors could also be used to inform clinical services for IGD diagnosis and treatment.

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Reinforcing the Holistic Perspective of Sustainability: Analysis of the Importance of Sustainability Drivers in Organizations

Abstract

Although several sustainability drivers have been recognized for different organizations, there has been limited research on analyzing which are considered to be the most important. A survey was sent to more than 1,502 organizations, of which 108 completed all the questions. The survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, rankings in order of importance, comparison between types of organizations, and analyses of the interlinkages between drivers. This paper provides depth to the sustainability drivers' discussion by: (1) expanding it to the three types of organizations; (2) providing the importance of each driver; (3) offering a ranking of the drivers; (4) analyzing the relations between drivers to categorize them; and (5) assessing the relations between the drivers' categories. This research highlights the importance of recognizing the drivers that have the highest importance and influence for each type of organization, in order to foster them and make organizations more sustainable. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

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Upscaling the pollutant emission from mixed recycled aggregates under compaction for civil applications

Abstract

In general terms, plant managers of sites producing construction wastes assess materials according to concise, legally recommended leaching tests that do not consider the compaction stage of the materials when they are applied on-site. Thus, the tests do not account for the real on-site physical conditions of the recycled aggregates used in civil works (e.g., roads or embankments). This leads to errors in estimating the pollutant potential of these materials. For that reason, in the present research, an experimental procedure is designed as a leaching test for construction materials under compaction. The aim of this laboratory test (designed specifically for the granular materials used in civil engineering infrastructures) is to evaluate the release of pollutant elements when the recycled aggregate is tested at its commercial grain-size distribution and when the material is compacted under on-site conditions. Two recycled aggregates with different gypsum contents (0.95 and 2.57%) were used in this study. In addition to the designed leaching laboratory test, the conventional compliance leaching test and the Dutch percolation test were performed. The results of the new leaching method were compared with the conventional leaching test results. After analysis, the chromium and sulphate levels obtained from the newly designed test were lower than those obtained from the conventional leaching test, and these were considered more seriously pollutant elements. This result confirms that when the leaching behaviour is evaluated for construction aggregates without density alteration, crushing the aggregate and using only the finest fraction, as is done in the conventional test (which is an unrealistic situation for aggregates that are applied under on-site conditions), the leaching behaviour is not accurately assessed.

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Antifouling booster biocide extraction from marine sediments: a fast and simple method based on vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase extraction

Abstract

This paper reports the development of an analytical method employing vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) for the extraction of diuron, Irgarol 1051, TCMTB (2-thiocyanomethylthiobenzothiazole), DCOIT (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-(2H)-isothiazolin-3-one), and dichlofluanid from sediment samples. Separation and determination were performed by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Important MSPD parameters, such as sample mass, mass of C18, and type and volume of extraction solvent, were investigated by response surface methodology. Quantitative recoveries were obtained with 2.0 g of sediment sample, 0.25 g of C18 as the solid support, and 10 mL of methanol as the extraction solvent. The MSPD method was suitable for the extraction and determination of antifouling biocides in sediment samples, with recoveries between 61 and 103% and a relative standard deviation lower than 19%. Limits of quantification between 0.5 and 5 ng g⁻¹ were obtained. Vortex-assisted MPSD was shown to be fast and easy to use, with the advantages of low cost and reduced solvent consumption compared to the commonly employed techniques for the extraction of booster biocides from sediment samples. Finally, the developed method was applied to real samples. Results revealed that the developed extraction method is effective and simple, thus allowing the determination of biocides in sediment samples.

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Dynamic linkages between road transport energy consumption, economic growth, and environmental quality: evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

The focus of the present research work is to investigate the dynamic relationship between economic growth, road transport energy consumption, and environmental quality. To this end, we rely on time series data for the period 1971 to 2014 in the context of Pakistan. To use sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission from transport sector as a new proxy for measuring environmental quality, the present work employs time series technique ARDL which allows energy consumption from the transport sector, urbanization, and road infrastructure to be knotted by symmetric relationships with SO₂ emissions and economic growth. From the statistical results, we confirm that road infrastructure boosts economic growth. Simultaneously, road infrastructure and urbanization hampers environmental quality and causes to accelerate emission of SO₂ in the atmosphere. Furthermore, economic growth has a diminishing negative impact on total SO₂ emission. Moreover, we did not find any proof of the expected role of transport energy consumption in SO₂ emission. The acquired results directed that care should be taken in the expansion of road infrastructure and green city policies and planning are required in the country.

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