The effect of various cations and pH on the adsorption of U(VI) on Amberlite IR-118H resin

The effects of various metal cations and pH on the adsorption of uranium(VI) on strongly acidic cation exchanger Amberlite IR-118H (AIR-118H) were studied. The metal cations suppress U(VI) adsorption differently depending on their ionic radii. Adsorption of U(VI) on AIR-118H peaks at pH 3.4, which was attributed to the occurrence of different forms of U(VI) at different pH values. The adsorption data were then processed using the Frumkin–Fowler–Guggenheim equation, and the standard free energy of adsorption was calculated.     

铀作业人员的微循环改变

对铀作业者１９９例及无毒物接触史的正常人１０１例行甲襞微循环检测。结果，铀作业人员甲襞微循环有改变，其加权积分值大于对照组。主要表现在管袢数减少（Ｐ＜０．０１）、管径增粗（Ｐ＜０．０１）、毛细血管运动增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）、乳丛增多（Ｐ＜０．０１）。通过对铀致微循环改变的机理试以分析，提出这种微循环改变是铀中毒的病理表现，亦是铀中毒的重要发病环节；提示铀中毒治疗中应注重改善微循环。     

失能调整生命年在煤矿职业性疾病负担分析中的应用

为估计煤矿外伤性截瘫疾病负担,采用横断面抽样调查,共抽样调查全国５ 个统配矿务局的２６ 个煤矿。以煤矿外伤性截瘫的患病和死亡资料为基础,用失能调整生命年（ＤＡＬＹ） 估计煤矿外伤性截瘫疾病负担。结果表明：煤矿外伤性截瘫疾病负担为每千人口３２２５ＤＡＬＹ。各矿务局比较：铜川矿务局外伤性截瘫疾病负担最重,每千人口５４４７ ＤＡＬＹ,高于５ 个矿务局的平均水平每千人口３２２５ＤＡＬＹ。其次为阳泉、峰峰矿务局、三路安矿务局和晋城矿务局,分别为每千人口２７ ．８５ 、２６ ．６０ 、１５１０ 和１１ ．７１ＤＡＬＹ。结果提示：ＤＡＬＹ 可用于煤矿职业性疾病负担分析。各统配矿务局外伤性截瘫的ＤＡＬＹ 差异较大     

70岁以上离休干部卫生保健的相关性调查

目的了解70岁以上离休干部生活质量及其影响因素,为制订相应的卫生保健措施提供科学依据。方法采用问卷调查和体格检查相结合的方法,对济南部队3所干休所109名70岁以上离休干部进行调查。数据用STATA7.0软件包分析。结果本次调查表明,本组70岁以上离休干部生活质量良、中、差分别占21.10%、60.55%、18.35%。在调查的19种因素中,主要影响因素顺次为:生活习惯、健康状况、体检状况、日常生活功能、年龄、独居或与家人同住、生活满意度、社会交往、心理健康、婚姻、家庭和睦情况。结论70岁以上离休干部的生活质量较差,应针对其影响因素制定相应的医疗保健措施,提高离休老年人的生活质量和健康水平。     

Improvement of a method for the sequential determination of Pb, Ra, and uranium isotopes by LSC and alpha-particle spectrometry

In a previous paper the authors proposed a sequential method for the determination of isotopes of uranium, thorium, radium, and lead from environmental samples using alpha-particle spectrometry and LSC techniques. Although the radiochemical yields were suitable when the assays were performed on synthetic samples, application to real environmental samples caused a major decrease in the radiochemical yield, especially for uranium in inorganic samples (soils). A modification of the procedure is described that overcomes this drawback.     

Evaluation of three electrodeposition procedures for uranium,plutonium and americium

While both mass spectrometry and alpha-particle spectrometry have been widely used for measuring alpha activities, the former is preferred since many laboratories are not equipped with ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS systems. In this study, three electrodeposition techniques using ammonium chloride, ammonium oxalate and ammonium sulphate as electrolyte solutions were applied and evaluated for the preparation of uranium, plutonium and americium sources for alpha-particle spectrometry. Changes in pH and temperature throughout the electrodeposition process were measured every 15 min, together with percentage deposition every 30 min. The percentage deposition in each method was checked at 300, 400 and 500 mA, and the optimised time and current were determined.     

What are the health costs of uranium mining? A case study of miners in Grants,New Mexico

Background:

Uranium mining is associated with lung cancer and other health problems among miners. Health impacts are related with miner exposure to radon gas progeny.

Objectives:

This study estimates the health costs of excess lung cancer mortality among uranium miners in the largest uranium-producing district in the USA, centered in Grants, New Mexico.

Methods:

Lung cancer mortality rates on miners were used to estimate excess mortality and years of life lost (YLL) among the miner population in Grants from 1955 to 2005. A cost analysis was performed to estimate direct (medical) and indirect (premature mortality) health costs.

Results:

Total health costs ranged from $2.2 million to $7.7 million per excess death. This amounts to between $22.4 million and $165.8 million in annual health costs over the 1955–1990 mining period. Annual exposure-related lung cancer mortality was estimated at 2185.4 miners per 100 000, with a range of 1419.8–2974.3 per 100 000.

Conclusions:

Given renewed interest in uranium worldwide, results suggest a re-evaluation of radon exposure standards and inclusion of miner long-term health into mining planning decisions.     

Ex vivo decrease in uranium diffusion through intact and excoriated pig ear skin by a calixarene nanoemulsion

Cutaneous contamination by radionuclides is a major concern in the nuclear industry. In case of skin exposure to uranium, no efficient emergency treatment is available to remove the actinide from the skin. For this purpose, we developed a nanoemulsion containing calixarene molecules displaying good chelating properties towards uranium. In this paper, we describe the ability of this formulation to trap uranium and limit its transfer from the cutaneous contaminated site into the blood. Uranium percutaneous diffusion kinetics was assessed with Franz cells over 24 h through intact and excoriated pig ear skin biopsies, after or without application of the nanoemulsion. Uranium distribution in the skin layers was analysed by SIMS microscopy. The results showed that prompt application of the calixarene nanoemulsion allows a 94% and 98% reduction of the amount of uranium diffused respectively through intact and excoriated skin. The formulation is still efficient in case of delayed application up to 30 minutes since the 24 h-uranium transfer through excoriated skin is reduced by 71%. Besides, no accumulation of uranium or uranium-calixarene chelate was observed in the different skin layers. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the efficiency of the calixarene nanoemulsion, which can be regarded as a promising treatment for uranium cutaneous contamination.     

某天然铀矿附近环境放射性水平与评价

对陕西省境内某天然铀矿附近的４个单位环境天然γ辐射空气吸收剂量率水平、生活饮用水和周围河水、土壤、生长中的蔬菜等环境样品的天然放射性核素含量,以及当地居悄的住宅和工作区室内和室外空气中氡浓度进行了调查采样和分析测定。结果表明该调查区天然辐射本底比陕西省和全国相应的平均水平偏高,但绝大多数和区域仍属于正常天然辐射本底地区。只有毗邻山体的局部地区以及岩洞工作室内辐射水平较高,应采取适当的防护措施。