饮用水中苯甲醚和8种苯系物的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱联用测定法

目的建立同时测定生活饮用水中苯甲醚和8种苯系物(苯、甲苯、乙苯、对二甲苯、间二甲苯、邻二甲苯、异丙苯、苯乙烯)的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱联用方法。方法采用吹扫捕集的方法对水中的苯甲醚和苯系物进行富集,解吸后进入气相色谱-质谱联用仪,经色谱柱分离后,质谱检测器检测测定。结果方法的线性范围分别为0.73~47.0μg/L(异丙苯)和0.78~50.0μg/L(其余8种化合物),检出限为0.16~0.23μg/L,回收率为84.0%~120%,RSD为0.6%~5.0%。结论该方法灵敏度高、重现性好、操作简单、无需有机溶剂,适用于饮用水中苯甲醚和8种苯系物的同时测定。     

吹扫捕集/气相色谱—质谱联用法同时测定饮水中10种挥发性卤代烃

目的建立吹扫捕集/气相色谱—质谱法同时测定饮水中二溴乙烷等10种卤代烃方法。方法水样经吹扫捕集、脱附后进样,毛细柱分离,质谱检测器内标法测定。结果用吹扫捕集/气相色谱—质谱法测定饮水中10种卤代烃,质量浓度在0.01~0.6μg/L范围内,相关系数均大于0.999,检测限为0.008~0.02μg/L,平均回收率在95.3%~105.2%之间,RSD为1.5%~4.6%。结论水中10种挥发性卤代烃的吹扫捕集气相色谱/质谱检测法快速、灵敏、准确,操作简单,低毒,可用于水中二溴乙烷等10种挥发性卤代烃的测定。     

吹扫捕集气相色谱-质谱联用法同时测定饮用水中16种硫醇类致嗅物

目的建立饮用水中16种硫醇类致嗅物的吹扫捕集气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)测定方法。方法吸取25mL水样,加入氟苯和溴苯内标物,45℃吹扫捕集15min,经HP-VOC色谱柱(60m×0.32mm,1.8μm)分离后,进行气相色谱-质谱法测定。结果建立的方法在0.4~5.0μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)均0.997,方法检出限为0.1~0.3μg/L,加标质量浓度0.8、2.0、3.2μg/L,平均回收率为76.2%~109.8%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.51%~13.33%。结论该方法操作简便、快速,重现性好,适用于水中16种硫醇类致嗅物的同时测定。     

吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法测定饮用水中27种挥发性有机物

目的采用吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法建立同时测定27种生活饮用水中挥发性有机物的方法,为制定相应的国家标准提供实验参考。方法利用吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法联用技术,全扫描方式(SCAN)进行质谱定性,选择离子(SIM)内标法定量,测定生活饮用水中27种挥发性有机物。通过色谱条件优化,并对吹扫、解吸和烘焙等样品前处理条件的考察,建立了饮用水中27种挥发性有机物的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法测定方法。结果各待测组分的线性范围在0~40μg/L之间,相关系数r0.996,相对标准偏差(RSD)在2.85%~13.5%之间,样品平均加标回收率为91.5%~117.3%,检出限为0.04μg/L~0.50μg/L,定量限为0.14μg/L~1.7μg/L。结论该方法简单快捷,灵敏度高,回收率好,各分析组分之间无干扰,且用于实际水样的检测结果令人满意,适用于27种生活饮用水中挥发性有机物的同时检测。     

饮用水中30种硫醚类致嗅物的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱联用同时测定法

目的建立饮用水中30种硫醚类致嗅物的吹扫捕集-气相色谱(GC)-质谱(MS)测定方法。方法向25 ml水样中加入氟苯和溴苯内标物,室温吹扫捕集11 min,经HP-VOC色谱柱(60 m×0.32 mm,1.8μm)分离后,进行气相色谱-质谱法测定。结果在0.09~9.0μg/L的浓度范围内,所得30种硫醚化合物的回归方程均呈较好的线性关系,r0.997 5。该方法的检出限为0.01~0.03μg/L,定量下限0.03~0.09μg/L,平均回收率为70.0%~125%,RSD为1.85%~9.90%。结论该方法操作简便、快速,重现性好,适用于水中30种硫醚类致嗅物的同时测定。     

饮用水中9种卤代烃的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱联用测定法

目的建立了同时测定生活饮用水中二溴乙烷、二溴乙烯、三氯甲烷、四氯化碳、三氯乙烯、四氯乙烯、一溴二氯甲烷、二溴一氯甲烷、三溴甲烷等9种卤代烃的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱联用方法。方法采用吹扫捕集的方法对水中的卤代烃进行富集,解吸后进入气相色谱-质谱联用仪,经色谱柱分离后,以质谱检测器测定。结果方法的线性范围分别为0.01~0.93μg/L(1,2-二溴乙烯)和0.01~0.80μg/L(其它8种卤代烃),检出限为0.002~0.004μg/L,回收率为84.4%~106%,RSD为1.0%~8.9%。结论该方法灵敏度高、重现性好、操作简单、无需有机溶剂,适用于水中二溴乙烷、二溴乙烯等9种卤代烃的测定。     

气相色谱-质谱法测定水中28种挥发性有机物

目的建立同时检测水中28种挥发性有机物的吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱方法,并研究水样保存时间对测定结果的影响。方法经吹扫捕集对水中28种挥发性有机物进行富集,气相色谱分离后,采用选择离子模式质谱检测。结果 28种挥发性有机物,在1.00μg/L~100μg/L范围内线性关系良好,方法检出限范围0.0429μg/L~0.333μg/L,加标回收率范围95.2%~114%,方法精密度范围1.38%~6.39%。结论本方法操作简便、快速、选择性好,准确度高,可用于水中28种挥发性有机物的同时测定。     

吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法测定生活饮用水中微量氰化物

目的建立吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法测定生活饮用水中氰化物的方法。方法选择吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法测定生活饮用水中的微量氰化物,确定气相和吹扫捕集的理想条件,并测定生活饮用水中氰化物的含量、精密度及加标回收率,作方法学论证。结果氰化物的含量在2.5μg/L~50μg/L线性关系良好,线性方程为y=21 780x+33 610,相关系数r=0.999 1。氰化物的最低检出浓度为0.2μg/L。样品添加浓度为5.0μg/L、15.0μg/L、30.0μg/L时,方法的回收率为91.5%~99.5%。选择15.0μg/L的氰化物标准溶液,连续测定6次,相对标准偏差RSD为4.32%。结论以吹扫捕集-气相色谱-质谱法检测生活饮用水中微量氰化物的含量,该方法操作简便,定量准确可靠。     

吹扫捕集/气相色谱-质谱法测定水源水中8种氯代烃

目的:探讨吹扫捕集/气相色谱-质谱法测定水源水中8种氯代烃的分析方法。方法:水源水中的被测物经吹扫捕集富集,解吸后用气相色谱-质谱法测定。通过目标组分的质谱图和保留时间与标准物质对照定性,选择特征离子定量。结果:样品加标回收率为91%～118%,相对标准偏差为1.19%～4.69%,检出限为0.026μg/L～0.163μg/L。结论:实验结果表明,该方法操作简便、灵敏度高、结果准确,可以满足水源水中8种氯代烃的测定。     

吹扫捕集-气相色谱/质谱法测定松花江流域10个主要城市出厂水中24种挥发性有机物

目的建立吹扫捕集-气相色谱/质谱联用测定水中24种挥发性有机物的分析方法 ,调查松花江流域10个主要城市出厂水中24种挥发性有机物的污染情况。方法样品经吹扫捕集仪富集浓缩,气相色谱/质谱联用仪进行检测。结果分离效果满足实验要求,其检测限在0.18~0.45μg/L之间。其加标回收率在95%~108%之间,相对标准偏差均小于10%。结论该方法准确度高,检出限低,精密度好,适用于水中挥发物的检验。出厂水中检出氯仿等4种挥发有机物,含量低于国家卫生学标准。     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.     

Psychopathological features of a patient population of targets of workplace bullying

BACKGROUND: A strong association between workplace bullying and subsequent anxiety and depression, indicated by empirical research, suggests that bullying is an aetiological factor for mental health problems. AIMS: To evaluate levels of stress and anxiety-depression disorder developed by targets of workplace bullying together with outcome at 12 months and to characterize this population in terms of psychopathology and sociodemographic features. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (36 women and 12 men) meeting Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror criteria for bullying were included in a prospective study. Evaluations were performed at first consultation and at 12 months using a standard clinical interview, a visual analogue scale of stress, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale, the Beech scale of stress in the workplace and a projective test (Picture-Frustration Study). RESULTS: At first consultation, 81% of patients showed high levels of perceived stress at work and 83 and 52% presented with anxiety or depression, respectively. At 12 months, only 19% of working patients expressed a feeling of stress at work. There was a significant change in symptoms of anxiety while there was no change in symptoms of depression. Stress at work and depression influenced significatively capacity to go back to work. At 12-month assessments, workers showed a significantly better score on the HAD scale than non-workers. Over half the targets presented a neuroticism-related predominant personality trait. CONCLUSION: Workplace bullying can have severe mental health repercussions, triggering serious and persistent underlying disorders.     

The rise and fall in incidence of malignant mesothelioma from a British Naval Dockyard, 1979-1999

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Britain is predicted to rise over the next 15-25 years because of past failure to protect the workforce against inhalation of asbestos. In British Naval dockyards, alternative insulation materials and respiratory protection were introduced from the mid-1960s. Aims This study was carried out to investigate the effects of these control measures on mesothelioma deaths in dockyard workers. METHODS: Cases of mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum between 1979 and 1999 in workers from the Devonport Naval Dockyard, south-west England, were sought from coroners' and medico-legal records. RESULTS: Three hundred and one cases were identified, 7% peritoneal. The peak incidence occurred in 1991 with 25 cases per annum (quadratic model fit R(2) = 74.2%, P < 0.001) and we predict that by 2003 the incidence will fall to fewer than five cases per annum. The mean time between first exposure and presentation was 48.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 47.3-49.8], but this was significantly shorter in the more heavily exposed trades, when compared with the less heavily exposed (42 years, 95% CI = 39.0-45.0, versus 49.5 years, 95% CI = 48.2-50.9). Those with higher exposure were also at significantly greater risk of peritoneal disease (P < 0.023, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: The reduction in incidence of mesothelioma is greater than can be accounted for by reduction in numbers of dockyard workers over the last 50 years. Changes in insulation materials and improved industrial hygiene measures introduced into the Devonport Dockyard from the mid-1960s have resulted in an earlier decline in the incidence of malignant mesothelioma than that predicted for the British workforce as a whole.     

Organophosphate toxicity and occupational exposure

The ubiquitous organophosphates present a continuing health hazard in agriculture, public health eradication programmes and as chemical warfare agents. Despite significant progress in understanding the potential mechanisms of toxicity far beyond the commonly accepted mechanism of cholinesterase inhibition in intentional exposures, the precise health effects following occupational exposures are yet to be completely defined. A much greater understanding exists of the clinical features of organophosphate poisoning. These are characterized by a triphasic response involving an initial acute cholinergic phase, an intermediate syndrome (both associated with high mortality) and a disabling but non-lethal delayed polyneuropathy. The delayed polyneuropathy may occur in the absence of the cholinergic or intermediate phases. However, progress is still required in order to improve the quantification and assessment of occupational exposures and the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Finally, evidence-based guidelines for appropriate or optimal therapeutic interventions following poisoning are required urgently and collaborative work with colleagues in developing countries, where the occurrence of organophosphate exposures is more frequent, may provide the answers.     

Miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners

This report documents a case series of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in miners at a deep underground metalliferous mine in tropical arid Australia. During the summer months of February and March 1999, all cases of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners seen at the mine's medical centre were clinically examined and administered a questionnaire. Twenty-five patients were seen, an incidence of 56.4 cases per million man-hours. Miliaria rubra was most often located between the ankle and knee (88% of cases). Twenty-four percent had concurrent folliculitis and 20% had concurrent tinea. Thirty-two percent had a personal history of asthma. Walking through ground-water and splashing of the legs was common. Three to 4 weeks of sedentary duties in air conditioning was generally required to achieve resolution of miliaria rubra. The incidence of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs is 38% of the incidence of heat exhaustion at the same mine. The length of disablement is greater, however. Atopics may be at increased risk of miliaria rubra. Control measures are discussed.     

Planning research

The starting point for any research project should be a question.Once this has been defined and the relevant scientific literaturereviewed, a protocol should be drawn up. This will be used notonly as a guide to the conduct of the study and in the preparationof the final report, but also in seeking any financial supportand approvals that are required for the investigation. A protocolis normally arranged in sections covering the background tothe study, the question(s) that it will address, the methodsthat will be used for the collection and analysis of data, thestatistical power of the investigation (where relevant), anyethical considerations, and the financial input that will beneeded. A pilot study is often helpful where aspects of thestudy method are untried or of uncertainvalidity.     

Stress in the Norwegian police service

BACKGROUND: High levels of stress have been attributed to the conditions of police work, but there is little empirical evidence for this. AIMS: To develop a new instrument to measure job stress in the police; to assess the most severe and frequent police stressors; to compare levels of stress according to the demographic and organizational factors; and to study stress in relation to personality traits, work locus of control and coping strategies. METHODS: A comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of 3272 Norwegian police at all hierarchical levels, including the Norwegian Police Stress Survey (NPSS), the Job Stress Survey, the Basic Character Inventory, the Work Locus of Control Scale, and the Coping Strategies Scale. RESULTS: Work injuries were appraised as the most stressful but least frequent stressor and job pressure was reported the least severe but most frequent stressor. Females experienced job stressors less frequently, but appraised them as more severe than men did. Older police officers reported more job pressure severity and fewer work injuries. The police in districts where peer support was planned but not implemented, and who worked in districts with more than 50,000 inhabitants, perceived the lack of support more severely than others. The correlations between stress and personality traits, work locus of control, and coping were moderate. CONCLUSIONS: The NPSS captures police-specific stressors that are not adequately measured by global stress instruments. The study of stress in police work should preferably involve a nationwide use of police-specific stress instruments.