Lead in drinking water in soft water areas—health hazards

Studies have been made of the uptake of lead into drinking water and the association of that with the blood lead of persons resident in houses supplied with such water. Significant regressions were found between water lead and blood lead concentrations. Very high lead concentrations were found in houses with lead plumbing. There were in addition increased lead concentrations found in houses using copper piping joined with lead soldered joints. These studies have suggested that some health hazards might be expected to be associated with the increased environmental uptake of lead in these situations.     

Environmental odors and health hazards

Using the recently developed and validated 'chemical diversity approach', the potential of chemicals, to be detected by the human olfactory system and to cause adverse health effects, was investigated. The analyses found no significant association between odor perceptibility and potential for inducing health effects.     

达卡:迅速城市化和环境灾害

达卡拥有1160万人口,而且正在迅速增长.该城市建筑在冲积阶地上,暴露在河流洪水、直接降雨、沿海洪水和地震之下.面对如此多的自然灾害隐患,人们不禁质疑,在这样的地理位置,一个城市如何能繁荣起来?此外,孟加拉全国国内生产总值的60%产生于该城市,达卡一个城市的风险影响到了全国.     

SOS: Drinking water

We have analyzed the modern, extremely critical situation with the quality of drinking water. We have substantiated the urgency of existing approaches to the assessment of drinking water quality and the necessity of introducing a new concept of drinking water standards. We have set out fundamentally new approaches to the assessment of its quality. We have presented the new State Standard of Ukraine for drinking water, whose legalization will make it possible to provide the population with drinking water—biologically and physiologically safe for human organism.     

Development of local knowledge of environmental contamination in Sydney, Nova Scotia: environmental health practice from an environmental justice perspective

In Sydney, Nova Scotia, from 1901 through 1988 a coke and steel factory operated with no pollution controls, depositing over a million tons of particulate matter and releasing several thousands of tons of coal tar into the estuary. Previously we documented the presence of lead, arsenic and PAHs, in soil above Canadian guidelines, and in house dust in the communities surrounding the site [Lambert, TW, Lane, S. Lead, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil and house dust in the communities surrounding the Sydney, Nova Scotia, tar ponds. Environ Health Perspect 2004; 112:35-41.]. In this paper we further the research by documenting and developing community knowledge with a study of resident's observations and experiences of the industrial contamination. We conducted two surveys, a quantitative door-to-door survey and qualitative dust interview, designed to complement each other and bring together the observations and experiences in the different communities to develop the local knowledge. The combined methodology uses techniques from both social and physical science, and was developed with the cooperation of community members. The research supports the proposition that local knowledge adds contextual meaning that complements the physical measurement of environmental contaminants, in order to understand the complex environment in which people live, and the multiple exposure pathways through which they can be affected. Residents in all three communities provided vivid observations and detailed experiences of the industrial pollution in their community and homes. The local knowledge is consistent with our physical data and review of the historical scientific research in Sydney, and supports the inference that the community was adversely impacted by the coke and steel facility. From a justice perspective, the three communities should be equally considered for remediation as part of the 'tar pond remediation policy' rather than the current policy of including only a few streets and houses.     

The priority list of environmental chemical hazards in Poland

For each environmental poison the index of harmfulness was calculated on the basis of quantitative evaluation of the following properties: emission of the substance to the environment (Fi), toxicity (F2), the population exposed (F3), exposure (F4), persistence of the substance in the environment (F5), secondary substances and mixtures (F6), bioaccumulation and biomagnification (F7), and influence on the non-living components of the environment (F8). Increasing numerical values were applied for increasing range or activity of toxins. The numerical values were integrated according to the formula [formula: see text). It was decided that the first three factors possess prior significance for evaluation of harmful environmental effects, the remainder were considered as auxiliary. Substances having the highest indices of harmfulness were selected as priority environmental poisons: sulphur dioxide, dust, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, fluorine, lead, cadmium, nitrogenous fertilizers, pesticides, and carbon monoxide.     

Drinking water quality in the Ethiopian section of the East African Rift Valley I--data and health aspects

Drinking water samples were collected throughout the Ethiopian part of the Rift Valley, separated into water drawn from deep wells (deeper than 60 m), shallow wells (<60 m deep), hot springs (T>36 degrees C), springs (T<32 degrees C) and rivers. A total of 138 samples were analysed for 70 parameters (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, F, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, I, In, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, NO(2), NO(3), Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, SO(4), Sr, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr, temperature, pH, conductivity and alkalinity) with ion chromatography (anions), spectrometry (ICP-OES and ICP-MS, cations) and parameter-specific (e.g. titration) techniques. In terms of European water directives and WHO guidelines, 86% of all wells yield water that fails to pass the quality standards set for drinking water. The most problematic element is fluoride (F), for which 33% of all samples returned values above 1.5 mg/l and up to 11.6 mg/l. The incidence of dental and skeletal fluorosis is well documented in the Rift Valley. Another problematic element may be uranium (U)-47% of all wells yield water with concentrations above the newly suggested WHO maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 2 microg/l. Fortunately, only 7% of the collected samples are above the 10 microg/l EU-MAC for As in drinking water.     

沥青烟气和悬浮颗粒对人体健康危害的研究

沥青烟气和悬浮颗粒可能对人体健康的危害已经讨论了许多年。德国对于沥青烟气和悬浮颗粒的限值只是一种技术性指导数据，反映了技术上的可行性．而主要不是依据毒理学方面的研究得出的。经沥青论坛全体成员的共同努力。对于沥青的归类以及限值方面的争论已经有了合理的结论。文章介绍了论坛已经完成和正在进行的工作。     

Priorities in environmental health

The purpose of the inventory is to present a comprehensive range of environments analysed in terms of their hazard to three levels of health, namely fitness, health itself and illness (both physical and mental). Part I outlines the conceptual design of the inventory and examines the first categories of health impediments titled Man as Primary Pathogen. Part II (to be published in the next issue) deals with the two remaining categories of environmental health hazards.     

Drinking water and biofilm disinfection by Fenton-like reaction

A Fenton-like disinfection process was conducted with Fenton's reagent (H₂O₂) at pH 3 or 5 on autochthonous drinking water biofilms grown on corroded or non-corroded pipe material. The biofilm disinfection by Fenton-like oxidation was limited by the low content of iron and copper in the biomass grown on non-corroded plumbing. It was slightly improved by spiking the distribution system with some additional iron source (soluble iron II or ferrihydrite particles appeared as interesting candidates). However successful in situ disinfection of biofilms was only achieved in fully corroded cast iron pipes using H₂O₂ and adjusting the pH to 5. These new results provide additional support for the use of Fenton's processes for cleaning drinking water distribution systems contaminated with biological agents or organics.     

A rating scale for housing-based health hazards

Objectives

This study investigated the validity and responsiveness of a rating scale designed to assess the housing-based hazards and their relationships to burden of disease symptoms in the building occupants.

Study design

A population-based cross-sectional survey.

Methods

Random-digit dialing with computer-assisted phone interviews was conducted to obtain information from 642 households in the City of Saginaw, Michigan about 71 housing-based hazards, symptoms of 43 diseases often associated with environmental exposures and demographic characteristics. The housing-based hazard index (HHI) was calculated from scores of hazards across the following eight dimensions: structural scale (18 items); moisture/mold scale (8 items), electrical scale (7 items), ventilation and combustion appliances scale (6 items); pest scale (6 items); pets scale (4 items), fire scale (6 items) and lifestyle-associated factors scale (12 items). Each item was assigned a relative score based on the likelihood that the housing occupants would be exposed to the hazard, the potential for serious health impacts, and the reported strength of its association with childhood lead poisoning and respiratory diseases. The psychometric properties of HHI and individual domains (scales) were assessed along with the associations between these indicators and the inventory of disease symptoms.

Results

The reliability of HHI was demonstrated by assessments of its dimensionality and internal consistency. Analysis of the predictive validity and responsiveness indicates that HHI and scores for most of the individual scales can discriminate between households in relation to the burden of reported disease symptoms.

Conclusions

The HHI represents a valid, reasonably reliable, and parsimonious measure of hazards that are congruent with the burden of symptoms generally associated with housing-related diseases.     

Assessment of occupational health hazards in scrap-tire shredding facilities

Occupational hygiene conditions in scrap-tire shredding facilities were assessed to identify potential health risk factors for workers and provide a basis for developing future control measures. Specifically, noise, volatile organics and particulate levels were measured at two plants. Particulate/dust levels were measured via filter collection, and were analyzed gravimetrically. Sound pressure levels were measured and their spectral properties analyzed. Moreover, the major chemical species in the samples were identified using GC/MS. Finally, the mutagenic activity associated with the airborne particulates was assessed using a typical Ames test applied to Salmonella strains TA98 and TA100, with or without bio-activation. The noise levels were steady and high throughout the facilities, ranging from 85 to approximately 100 dBA. The octave band spectrum analysis reveals pattern similarity among the different areas. Levels of volatile organics were not significant, but a few mutagens/carcinogens, such as styrene, benzothiazole, phthalate ester and naphthalene were identified. Total particulate levels ranged from 0.43 to 6.54 mg/m(3), while respirable particulates were in the range 0.23-1.25 mg/m(3). Ames testing revealed indirect mutagenicity on strain TA98, indicating possible effects of frame-shift type mutagens. Chemical analysis of airborne particulates confirmed the presence of amines, aniline, quinoline, amides and benzothiazole, which are potentially convertible to frame-shift type mutagenic nitrosoamines. Noise appears to be an occupational hazard for workers at scrap-tire shredding facilities, but the risk associated with the mutagenic/carcinogenic property of particulates requires further confirmation.     

Interactional perspective on environmental communication in construction projects

Drawing on theories of social interaction, a critical discourse analysis approach is used to examine the resources and constraints on environmental-communication practices in four construction projects in Sweden. The assumption is that talk and action work together to construct, maintain and change organizational structure, social practices, and contractual arrangements. The empirical data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations where photo documentation was extensively used. The study showed mismatches between information and action, both within the project and between the project and its stakeholders. The mismatches were not caused by a lack of information, but rather by inconsistencies between the communication cultures, the status of the communicator, and the tools used to mediate the information, e.g. the media, discourses and genres used. These discrepancies resulted in a lack of engagement in environmental work in the projects. If environmental and other performances in construction projects are to be improved, more effort needs to be exerted on understanding the dynamics of the social context, human interaction, and the mediating tools used to communicate. This paper suggests an approach that can enhance such an understanding.

S'appuyant sur les théories de l'interaction sociale, les auteurs procède à une analyse du discours critique pour examiner les ressources et les contraintes liées aux pratiques en matière d'environnement et de communication dans le cadre de quatre projets de construction en Suède. On suppose que la parole et l'action fonctionnent ensemble pour construire, entretenir et modifier la structure organisationnelle, les pratiques sociales et les dispositions contractuelles. Les données empiriques ont été recueillies au cours d'interviews approfondies et d'observations sur le terrain où la documentation photographique a été largement utilisée. L'étude a montrer des décalages entre l'information et l'action, à la fois dans le cadre de projets et entre projets et parties intéressées. Ces décalages ne sont pas dus à un manque d'information mais plutôt à des incohérences entre cultures de la communication, état du communicateur et les outils utilisés pour médiatiser les informations comme, par exemple, les média, les discours et les genres. Ces différences se sont traduites par un manque d'engagement dans les travaux environnementaux des projets. Si les performances environnementales et d'autres dans le cadre de projets de construction doivent être améliorées, il faut faire davantage d'efforts pour mieux comprendre la dynamique du contexte social, les interactions humaines et les outils de médiatisation utilisés pour communiquer. Cet article suggère une approche qui pourrait améliorer une telle compréhension.

Mots clés: communication, projets de construction, engagement, information sur l'environnement, médiateur, contexte social, efficacité du lieu de travail     

Drinking water denitrification by a membrane bio-reactor

Drinking water denitrification performance of a bench scale membrane bio-reactor (MBR) was investigated as function of hydraulic and biological parameters. The reactor was a stirred tank and operated both in batch and continuous mode. The mixed denitrifying culture used in the batch mode tests was derived from the mixed liquor of a wastewater treatment plant in Erzincan province in Turkey. But the culture used in the continuous mode tests was that obtained from the batch mode tests at the end of the denitrification process. The nitrate contaminated water treated was separated from the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) containing active mixed denitrifying culture and other organic substances by a membrane of 0.2 microm average pore diameter. The results indicated that the use of a membrane module eliminated the need for additional post treatment processes for the removal of MLSS from the product water. Concentration of nitrite and that of MLSS in the membrane effluent was below the detectable limits. Optimum carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio was found to be 2.2 in batch mode tests. Depending on the process conditions, it was possible to obtain denitrification capacities based on the reactor effluent and membrane effluent up to 0.18kgm(-3)day(-1) and 2.44 kg m(-2) day2(-1) NO(3-)-N, respectively. The variation of the removal capacity with reactor dilution rate and membrane permeate flux was the same for two different degrees of [MLSS]0/[NO3-N]0 (mass) ratios of 25.15 and 49.33. The present MBR was able to produce a drinking water with NO(3-)-N concentration of less than 4 ppm from a water with NO3-N contamination level of 367 ppm equivalent to a NO(3-)-N load of 0.310 kgm(-3) day(-1). The results showed that MBR system used was able to offer NO(3-)-N removals of up to 98.5%. It was found that the membrane limiting permeate flux increased with increasing MLSS concentration.     

Priorities in environmental health Part 2

Continuing the format of the inventory, as introduced and outlined in Part 1 (of Priorities in Environmental Health) Part 2 lists the two remaining categories of environmental health hazards. The first category Involves man's indirect rote as the transmitter of the impediment. The second category concerns hazards which occur when man is neither the aetiological agent or the transmitter.     

Lead in drinking water and health

This paper reviews recent findings and actions in the United Kingdom concerning lead in tap water and its biological effects, discusses some problems which arise with action to reduce exposure and outlines the limitations in the scientific evidence, with particular emphasis on the evidence concerning neuropsychological effects.     

大同水资源危机透视与前景展望

介绍了大同市水资源概况 ,从大同市水管理体制和格局、供水价格、治污乏力等方面 ,对造成水资源危机的因素作了分析 ,并提出了合理开发和保护水资源、节约用水的几点建议。