烧结行业卫生防护距离标准的研究

目的研制烧结行业的卫生防护距离标准。方法通过现场调研和监测,采用地面浓度反推法估计特征污染物的无组织排放源源强,将其带入大气扩散模型计算卫生防护距离。结果烧结行业特征污染物为总悬浮颗粒物,当所在地区近5a平均风速为<2、2～4和>4m/s时,卫生防护距离建议值分别为1000、900、800m。结论通过对1989年标准的分析和比较,烧结行业卫生防护距离的修订值是合理可行的。     

氮肥制造业卫生防护距离标准研究

目的研制氮肥制造业卫生防护距离标准。方法通过资料查阅、生产企业实地调研、大气污染物无组织排放水平现场测定,对不同生产规模氮肥制造企业的卫生防护距离进行评估,同时结合人群流行病学调查结果进行综合分析,提出氮肥制造业卫生防护距离标准建议值。结果合成氨生产规模<30万t/a时,根据不同风速,卫生防护距离标准建议值为500～900 m;合成氨生产规模≥30万t/a时,根据不同风速,卫生防护距离标准建议值为600～1 200 m。结论提出氮肥制造业卫生防护距离标准建议值,有效保护周边居民身体健康。     

铝冶炼业卫生防护距离标准研制

目的 研制铝冶炼业有害气体的卫生防护距离标准.方法 选择1个铝冶炼企业进行现场调查及检测,并调查周边居民健康效应,根据<制定地方大气污染物排放标准的技术方法>(GB/T13201-91)中推荐的估算方法,对不同生产规模铝冶炼企业的卫生防护距离进行评估,提出铝冶炼企业卫生防护距离标准的建议值.结果 铝冶炼企业无组织排放的主要特征污染物为氟化物,生产规模为5,10,15,20,30万吨/年时,氟化物无组织排放量(Qc)分别为2.49,4.97,6.59,8.20,11.82 kg/h;企业周边居民过去1年中患上呼吸道感染者占75%,其中气管炎、肺炎占17%,新发鼻炎占14%,咽炎占20%;铝冶炼企业卫生防护距离估算为1 453～3 638 m时,企业周边空气中氟化物、二氧化硫含量均小于国家标准浓度限值(0.02 mg/m3.h),提出铝冶炼企业卫生防护距离标准建议值为900～1 200 m.结论 设置铝冶炼业卫生防护距离,提出卫生防护距离标准建议值,有效保护周边居民的身体健康.     

铜冶炼业卫生防护距离标准的修订

目的提出铜冶炼业卫生防护距离标准建议值。方法通过资料查询、生产企业调研、无组织排放水平现场测定、人群流行病学调查等,提出铜冶炼业卫生防护距离标准建议值。结果生产规模分别为〈10万t／a、10万～30万t／a和〉30万t／a的铜冶炼企业的卫生防护距离应分别为500m、600m和700m。     

非金属矿物制品制造业卫生防护距离研制

[目的]了解非金属矿物制品业无组织排放水平,制定非金属矿物制品业卫生防护距离标准。[方法]通过收集行业资料选择代表全国先进生产工艺水平的非金属矿物制品企业作为被测企业,选择工艺相似、原料相同、选址相近的可比性企业作为类比企业。现场监测无组织排放量（Qc）,根据被测企业的特点分别选用地面浓度反推法计算水泥和石灰制品业的卫生防护距离,选用通量法计算石棉制造业的卫生防护距离,选用物料衡算法计算石墨炭素制品业的卫生防护距离,类比分析不同规模同类企业的卫生防护距离,结合被测企业周边人群健康状况流行病学调查统计学秩和检验结果,预测合理的卫生防护距离标准值。[结果]非金属矿物制品制造业卫生防护距离标准建议值按当地近五年平均风速分别为：水泥制造业300m、200m和200m;石灰制造业生产规模≤20×104t/a者分别为400m、300m和300m,生产规模〉20×104t/a者分别为500m、400m和300m;石棉制品制造业分别为400m、300m和200m;石墨炭素制品制造业超高功率石墨电极〈3×104t/a者分别为800m、700m和600m;超高功率石墨电极≥3×104t/a者分别为1200m、1200m和900m。人群健康状况流行病学调查回收有效问卷347份,秩和检验结果显示,人群出现的症状或体症例数总体分布在不同距离间的差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。[结论]设置卫生防护距离标准值应当综合考虑风速与规模的影响,分档给出标准建议值。以行业分类制定卫生防护距离标准具有可行性。     

皮革、毛皮及其制品业卫生防护距离标准的研究

目的研究皮革、毛皮及其制品业的卫生防护距离标准,为其距离国家标准修订提供参考。方法选择具有代表性的皮革、毛皮及其制品企业进行调查,确定其特征污染物,调查企业周边居民的健康状况,根据调查结果,按照《制定地方大气污染物排放标准的技术方法》(GB/T 13201—91)中推荐的估算方法,对不同规模的皮革、毛皮及其制品企业的卫生防护距离进行估算,提出皮革、毛皮及其制品企业卫生防护距离标准的建议值。结果皮革、毛皮及其制品企业无组织排放的主要特征污染物为硫化氢,生产规模在0.2、0.4、0.6、0.8和1.0亿平方英尺/年时,硫化氢无组织排放量(Qc)分别为0.041、0.082、0.122、0.163和0.204 kg/h;企业周边居民健康调查中发现距离企业500 m范围内人群受到一定的影响,闻到臭味、头晕头痛和恶心、食欲不振的发生率有一定升高;结合现场实测,提出皮革、毛皮及其制品企业卫生防护距离标准建议值为200～600 m。结论通过实地监测、环境流行病学调查综合分析,初步提出了较为合适的卫生防护距离标准。     

锅炉生产企业卫生防护距离标准的研究

目的研究锅炉生产企业卫生防护距离,使企业生产过程中产生的污染物不影响居住区人群健康。方法采用地面浓度反推法,计算出二甲苯的无组织排放量,从而计算卫生防护距离。结果确定年生产规模3 000~7 000 MW的锅炉生产企业,所在地区近5年平均风速为2、2~4、4 m/s时,卫生防护距离标准建议值分别为300、200、200 m。结论通过现场调查分析认为,无组织排放的二甲苯是影响锅炉生产企业卫生防护距离的主要因素,可据此计算出可行的锅炉生产企业卫生防护距离。     

冶金企业大气环境防护距离和卫生防护距离对比研究

对比分析冶金企业卫生防护距离与大气防护距离的差异,为制定合理的卫生标准防护距离提供参考依据。对炼铁、炼钢、烧结和焦化企业的特征污染物进行无组织排放源源强的监测,分别采用地面浓度反推法和点源大气扩散模型计算卫生防护距离和大气环境防护距离。结果显示,悬浮颗粒物是冶金企业无组织排放源的主要特征污染物,炼铁、炼钢、烧结和焦化企业卫生防护距离最大值分别为1 200、1 100、1 100、1 000m;大气环境防护距离最大值分别为950、850、750、900m。提示,冶金行业卫生防护距离的修订值是合理可行的。     

某铅冶炼厂卫生防护距离的估算

目的估算铅冶炼厂所需卫生防护距离。方法通过测定铅冶炼厂铅的无组织排放量计算所需卫生防护距离,并使用人群流行病学调查结果进行修正。结果生产规模为10万吨/年的铅冶炼厂铅的平均无组织排放水平为0.087kg/h,其卫生防护距离理论计算值为796m。人群流行病学调查结果显示周围800m范围内人群受到特异性健康损害,头昏、头痛的发生率和睡眠障碍发生率明显升高,儿童血铅超标率达45.04%。结论生产规模为10万吨/年的铅冶炼厂的卫生防护距离应为900m。     

汽车车身制造厂卫生防护距离的研讨

目的研讨汽车车身制造厂卫生防护距离标准,进一步为汽车制造厂卫生防护距离国家标准的修订提供参考。方法对具有代表性的车身制造企业进行实地调查,确定其特征污染物,调查企业周边居民的健康状况,根据现场特征污染物的实测结果,结合大气扩散模式,采用地面浓度反推法计算其卫生防护距离。结果汽车车身的生产过程中排放的大气污染物主要有苯、甲苯、二甲苯、锰及其无机化合物和粉尘颗粒物,其中存在无组织排放的有苯系物和粉尘颗粒物,特征污染物为苯系物,用实测结果来推算其无组织排放量为1.77988kg/h。结论建议汽车车身制造厂的卫生防护距离标准为300m。     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.     

Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends

This paper provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials (NMs), particularly in the UK. Currently, relatively few companies in the UK are identifiable as NM manufacturers, the main emphasis being the bulk markets in metals and metal oxides, and some niche markets such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. NM manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibres. Some assumptions have been made about the types of NM that are likely to be imported into the UK, which currently include fullerenes, modified fullerenes and other carbon-based NMs including nanotubes. Many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of NMs but may only be producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. However, some have the potential to scale up to produce large quantities. The nanotechnology industry in the UK has strong R&D backup from universities and related institutions. This review has covered R&D trends at such institutions, and appropriate information has been added to a searchable database. While several companies are including NMs in their products, only a few (e.g. manufacturers of paints, coatings, cosmetics, catalysts, polymer composites) are using nanoparticles (NPs) in any significant quantities. However, this situation is likely to change rapidly. There is a need to collect more information about exposure to NPs in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market grows, and as manufacturers switch from the micro- to the nanoscale, the potential for exposure will increase. More research is required to quantify any risks to workers and consumers.     

Investigating clusters in the workplace and beyond

Clusters of disease are common and occur in the workplace and in the general community. They often arouse considerable concern among the population. Investigations have sometimes lead to exciting new knowledge, but in general the investigation of clusters is difficult and often unrewarding, especially for community clusters. In the workplace, investigations are more likely to find associations and even new causes, but still many clusters remain enigmatic. Despite this, there are many reasons for investigating clusters, including allaying community concern and identifying uncontrolled exposures. A structure for investigating clusters in the workplace is suggested.     

Assessing occupational and environmental exposure

Exposure assessment is a poorly understood component of the science of epidemiology. The relationship between exposure to chemicals and ill-health outcomes is often calculated using crude exposure measures such as ever/never exposed or duration. When investigating subtle effects, exposures need to be characterized much more fully in terms of intensity, frequency, duration and route. While occupational exposures tend to be much greater than those experienced from the wider environment there is a need to remember that, for many chemicals, exposure can occur occupationally, environmentally and through consumer use of products containing the material of interest. Inhalation exposure has generally been the traditional focus for most epidemiological investigations but there is now growing awareness of the importance of the dermal and ingested routes of contact and internalization. Quantification of the exposure also needs to be related to a biological mechanism of action and exposure metrics need to be selected accordingly. Occupational exposures can generally be measured using simple well-validated techniques. Environmental exposures require much more sensitive instruments and are more difficult to assess. Exposure modelling, particularly for the environmental fate of chemicals has undergone many recent developments and Monte Carlo techniques can be used to characterize model uncertainty and variability. This approach to exposure assessment can now be used in the setting of the wider environment and will enable a far better understanding of the relationship between exposure and disease.     

Mercury toxicity due to the smelting of placer gold recovered by mercury amalgam

A 19-year-old man developed tremor in both hands and fatigue after starting work at a placer gold mine where he was exposed to mercury-gold amalgam. Examination revealed an intention tremor, dysdiadochokinesis and mild rigidity. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration reached a peak of 715 nmol/l (143 ug/l) shortly before the clinical examination, after which he was removed from working in the gold room [Mercury No. Adverse Effect Level: 250 nmol/l (50 ug/l)]. On review 7 weeks later his tremor had almost resolved and the dysdiadochokinesis and rigidity had gone. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration had fallen to 160 nmol/l (32 ug/l). The principal exposure to mercury was considered to be the smelting of retorted gold with previously unrecognized residual mercury in it. The peak air concentration of mercury vapour during gold smelting was 0.533 mg/m3 (Mercury Vapour ACGIH TLV: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA). Several engineering and procedural controls were instituted. This episode occurred at another mine site, unrelated to Mount Isa Mines Limited.     

How Adults with Acquired Brain Damage Perceive Computer Training as a Rehabilitation Tool: A Focus-group Study

The aim of this study was to explore and describe how adult outpatients with acquired brain damage and referred to occupational therapy perceive computer training with the RehaCom programs, in order to evaluate the method of treatment as a tool in the rehabilitation of persons with cognitive disorders. By using focus-group discussions as a qualitative method of research when analysing the result, five themes with corresponding categories emerged, describing a development of understanding and learning about capacities. Themes describing how the participants could apply strategies to overcome shortcomings in daily occupations and the therapeutic role of the occupational therapist were identified as well. The result shows that a computer training program such as RehaCom can be used as an educational tool, for example, to guide a person who is trying to adopt compensatory strategies to avoid overload by taking pauses. It was found that anything the participants learned was also applicable to occupational performance in daily life.