Levels of copper in the urine of women from nonpolluted farming regions of Japan.

Nearly 1500 spot urine samples were collected in the winter of 1987-1988 from women of seven farming prefectures located throughout Japan. Samples were analyzed for copper by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The copper content of the urine samples (Cu-U) distributed log-normally with a geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) of 36.9 (1.47) micrograms/l after adjustment for the specific gravity of urine of 1.016. The 95% confidence range was 17.1-79.7 micrograms/l. Neither alcohol consumption nor smoking habit affected the Cu-U. A literature survey showed that the observed level appears to be somewhat higher than previously reported values.     

A box beam finite element for the elastic analysis of thin-walled structures

The purpose of this paper is to present a formulation of a curved thin-walled box beam finite element having a variable cross-section with at least one vertical axis of symmetry.

To allow for the effects of warping and distortion, three degrees of freedom have been included in the formulation. These degrees of freedom have been designated as the rate of change of twisting angle, the distortional angle of the cross-section, and the rate of change of distortional angle. The effect of shear lag has also been included.

The element may be used for the elastic analysis of a variety of thin-walled structures and in particular for the preliminary analysis of box bridge decks where a three-dimensional analysis may be unnecessary. The accuracy of the element has been demonstrated by comparison of the results obtained with known results from other methods for some examples.     

Landscape scale vegetation-type conversion and fire hazard in the San Francisco bay area open spaces

Successional pressures resulting from fire suppression and reduced grazing have resulted in vegetation-type conversion in the open spaces surrounding the urbanized areas of the San Francisco bay area. Coverage of various vegetation types were sampled on seven sites using a chronosequence of remote images in order to measure change over time. Results suggest a significant conversion of grassland to shrubland dominated by Baccharis pilularison five of the seven sites sampled. An increase in Pseudotsuga menziesii coverage was also measured on the sites where it was present. Increases fuel and fire hazard were determined through field sampling and use of the FARSITE fire area simulator. A significant increase in biomass resulting from succession of grass-dominated to shrub-dominated communities was evident. In addition, results from the FARSITE simulations indicated significantly higher fire-line intensity, and flame length associated with shrublands over all other vegetation types sampled. These results indicate that the replacement of grass dominated with shrub-dominated landscapes has increased the probability of high intensity fires.     

The spread of fire in corridors

Full- and quarter-scale experimental fires in corridor-room assemblies, using various combinations of floor, wall, and ceiling lining materials, yielded some interesting results. Between the small-and large-scale tests, there were marked differences in the relative effects of floor coverings and ceiling linings. Note: This paper is a contribution from the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada and is published with the approval of the Director of the Division.     

Effect of chlorine content in feeding wastes of incineration on the emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans

This study attempts to clarify the effects of chlorine content in waste on the formation mechanisms of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in full scale incinerators by proposing and using the principal component analysis (PCA) to compare the congener profiles of PCDD/Fs in the stack flue gases of 17 emission sources, including incinerators and vehicles. Four incinerators, among these 17 emission sources, were sampled and analyzed in this study, and the data for the other 13 emission sources were selected from previous studies. These 17 emission sources can be classified into four categories, including medical waste incinerators (MWIs, H1-H5), municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs, M1-M8), vehicle fuel combustion (unleaded gas-fueled vehicles, UGFV; diesel-fueled vehicles, DFV, n = 2) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) facility vent combustors (PVC1 and PVC2, n = 2). PCA was conducted for these emission sources with the fractions of 17 2,3,7,8-congeners in the stack flue gases as variables to clarify the effect of chlorine content in feeding wastes on the emission of PCDD/Fs. From the results of PCA, we extrapolated that the threshold value of the chlorine content was at 0.8-1.1%, and the formation mechanisms of PCDD/Fs are influenced first by whether the chlorine content in the feeding waste is over or below the threshold value then by other factors, which furnaces or APCDs represent. When the chlorine level in the waste is below the threshold value at 0.8-1.1%, the formation of PCDDs dominates, probably because the chlorine is used to chlorinate the non-substituted phenol to produce chlorophenols, which are important precursors for PCDDs. rather than chlorinate the dibenzofuran. While the chlorine level in the waste exceeds this threshold (0.8-1.1%), the rates of formation of PCDFs increase faster than those of PCDDs, probably because the chlorine content in the waste contributes to the deterioration of combustion conditions, and many products of incomplete combustion (PICs) like PAHs, will grow to a substantial level. When PCDD/Fs are formed from PAHs, the formation rates of PCDFs are higher than those of PCDDs.     

Trace-metal concentrations in normal human liver: methods to cope with marked variability

Concentrations of trace elements in human tissues characteristically vary widely, and the distributions of most concentrations are skewed to the right. Examination of some of the factors which contribute to the marked variability and skewness of the concentrations revealed that: (1) distributions of concentrations are satisfactorily normal (Gaussian) after logarithmic transformation, (2) ash weight is the best frame of reference in which to report results, (3) the distributions of metal concentrations are not further normalized by adjustments which assume that tissue lipid or collagen contains a fixed fraction of the metal found in the parenchyma, and (4) the choice of sample site within the liver is of minimal significance.     

Microanalysis of anionic surfactants in waste water by infrared spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy was applied to identify and determine microamounts of anionic surfactants contained in sewage or river waters. The surfactants tested were linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), branched alkylbenzene sulfonate (ABS), alpha olefine sulfonate (AOS), fatty alcohol sulfate (AS) and fatty alcohol ethoxy sulfate (AES).Anionic surfactants in waters were extracted by chloroform as methylene blue complexes and sulfate type surfactants, i.e. AS and AES were then removed by subsequent hydrolysis. Residual sulfonate type surfactants were first released from methylene blue complexes by ion exchange technique and then changed to sulfonyl chloride derivatives for infrared spectroscopy. Key bands for the identification of sulfonate type surfactants are 640, 618 and 524 cm⁻¹ for LAS, ABS and AOS, respectively. Sulfate type surfactants was calculated from the difference of methylene blue active substance contents before and after hydrolysis.     

On the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beam with web opening

An objective of this study is to establish the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beam with web opening. Eighteen beams were tested with the variables of the steel ratio and strength of longitudinal bars, concrete strength, and shear span‐to‐depth ratio. It was observed that the opening is strengthened by longitudinal bars but the load‐carrying capacity of deep beams with openings can be largely improved by the increase in concrete strength. Modifying the softened truss model derived by Mau and Hsu and utilizing the results of this experiment carried out with the variables of concrete strength, cross‐section size, shear‐span‐to‐depth ratio, and the strength and steel ratio of longitudinal bars, this study proposes an improved model to predict the shear strength. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lead contamination in tap water of households with children in Lower Saxony, Germany

Lead has numerous acute and chronic adverse effects on human beings. This is especially true for infants and children. The main path of lead ingestion in children can be different according to housing and living situation. The intake of lead through drinking water is commonly due to metal corrosion. The users plumbing can be an important factor. In recent years, many lead pipes in Germany have been replaced by pipes made of an alternative material. The aim of this study is to assess the present state of drinking water contamination and the resulting exposure of infants to lead. For this purpose mothers of new-born babies were offered a free examination of their drinking water. After a written declaration of consent had been obtained and after the infant in question had reached an age of 3 months, a stagnation sample of cold tap-water after overnight stagnation together with a random daytime sample was obtained from the family. The collected samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry for their lead concentration. In total, 1485 samples from households were collected. Of the 1434 stagnation samples, 3.1% had lead concentrations greater than 0.01 mg/l (recommended limit of the WHO) and 0.6% had concentrations above the limit of the German drinking water regulation (0.04 mg/l). The values for the 1474 random daytime samples were 2.1% above 0.01 mg/l and 0.2% greater than 0.04 mg/l, respectively. By region, the areas Bovenden, Friedland, Duderstadt, Northeim and Rosdorf were particularly affected. The highest measured concentrations of lead in the stagnation samples were 0.11 mg/l and 0.15 mg/l in the random daytime samples, respectively.