37 research outputs found
Determinants of perceived air pollution annoyance and association between annoyance scores and air pollution (PM2.5, NO2) concentrations in the European EXPOLIS study
No full textApart from its traditionally considered objective impacts on health, air pollution can also have perceived effects, such as annoyance. The psychological effects of air pollution may often be more important to well-being than the biophysical effects. Health effects of perceived annoyance from air pollution are so far unknown. More knowledge of air pollution annoyance levels, determinants and also associations with different air pollution components is needed. In the European air pollution exposure study, EXPOLIS, the air pollution annoyance as perceived at home, workplace and in traffic were surveyed among other study objectives. Overall 1736 randomly drawn 25-55-yr-old subjects participated in six cities (Athens, Basel, Milan, Oxford, Prague and Helsinki). Levels and predictors of individual perceived annoyances from air pollution were assessed. Instead of the usual air pollution concentrations at fixed monitoring sites, this paper compares the measured micro environment concentrations and personal exposures of PM2.5 and NO2 to the perceived annoyance levels. A considerable proportion of the adults surveyed was annoyed by air pollution. Female gender, self-reported respiratory symptoms, downtown living and self-reported sensitivity to air pollution were directly associated with high air pollution annoyance score while in traffic, but smoking status, age or education level were not significantly associated. Population level annoyance averages correlated with the city average exposure levels of PM2.5 and NO2. A high correlation was observed between the personal 48-h PM1.5 exposure and perceived annoyance at home as well as between the mean annoyance at work and both the average work indoor PM2.5 and the personal work time PM2.5 exposure. With the other significant determinants (gender, city code, home location) and home outdoor levels the model explained 14% (PM2.5) and 19% (NO2) of the variation in perceived air pollution annoyance in traffic. Compared to Helsinki, in Basel and Prague the adult participants were more annoyed by air pollution while in traffic even after taking the current home outdoor PM2.5 and NO2 levels into account. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Monitoring jakości węgla brunatnego w gospodarce krajowej
No full textTyt. z nagłówka.Bibliogr. s. [248].Dostępny również w formie drukowanej.STRESZCZENIE: W artykule przedstawiono historię i aktualny stan monitoringu parametrów jakości węgla brunatnego w gospodarce krajowej, z uwzględnieniem sytuacji w górnictwie oraz energetyce. Omówiono istniejące uwarunkowania pomiarowe oraz dostosowane do nich metody i urządzenia pomiarowe. Przedstawiono wnioski ogólne obejmujące perspektywy na lata następne. SŁOWA KLUCZOWE: urządzenia do ciągłych pomiarów zawartości popiołu, metody radiometryczne, węgiel brunatny. ABSTRACT: History and the current state of the lignite quality parameters monitoring in the home economy, with the regard to the situation in mining and energetic industry have been presented. The existing measuring conditions and adapted to them methods and measuring equipments have been discussed. The general conclusions taking over perspectives on next years have been presented. KEYWORDS: on-line measurement of ash content, radiometric methods, lignite
Kodeksowe pozwolenie zintegrowane a sektorowe pozwolenie wodnoprawne - doświadczenia niemieckie
No full textThe author takes the issue of individual administrative acts aimed at rational use of the environment. He is focused on the German experiences. The rationale for this choice is, on one hand, a considerable number of such instruments, provided especially in the water law. On the other hand it is an significant and extensive literature devoted to such instruments. Special role in the development of doctrine played the work on the code of environmental law, which was the central point of an integrated permit. Although there has been no adoption of the Code, but accumulated experiences influence the theory and practice of application of this law. Proof of this is also a history of Water Resources Act, passed in 2009. The need for the adoption of this Act was the result of the consequences of competence changes made to the constitution. These changes were made in order to allow the adoption of the Code. In the new law types of water permits known from previous regulations were repeated, but also there were added selected solutions for environmental integrated protection. That was modeled on the draft Code. It was also added one kind of permission functioning in legislation of federal states
Oikea ratkaisu? : luokanopettajien ja erityisopettajien asenteet kehitysvammaisten yksilöintegraatiota kohtaan
No full textTämä tutkimus käsittelee kehitysvammaisten integraatiota. Lähtökohtana oli sekä luokanopettajien että erityisopettajien näkökulma asiaan. Opettajien suhtautumista tarkasteltiin asenteista käsin. Asenne jaettiin kolmeen komponenttiin: affektiiviseen, kognitiiviseen ja toiminnalliseen.Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin opettajien asenteita yksilöintegraatiota kohtaan. Tutkimuksen pääongelma oli: Miten opettajat suhtautuvat psyykkisesti kehitysvammaisen yksilöintegraatioon? Pääongelmaa tarkennettiin alaongelmin, jotka ovat seuraavat: 1) Onko luokanopettajien ja erityisopettajien asenteissa yksilöintegraatiota kohtaan eroja? 2) Mitkä ovat opettajien mielestä onnistuneen integraation edellytykset? 3) Mitkä ovat opettajien mielestä integraatiota puoltavia tekijöitä? 4) Mitkä tekijät opettajien mielestä vaikeuttavat integraation toteuttamista?Tutkimusnäyte koostui 77 opettajasta: 44 luokanopettajasta ja 33 erityisopettajasta. Suurin osa luokanopettajista oli Tampereelta sekä Janakkalan kunnan Turengin ala-asteelta. Erityisopettajat olivat Hämeenlinnasta, sen lähikunnista sekä Tampereelta. Tutkimusmenetelmänä käytettiin kyselylomakkeita. Ne muodostuivat asenneväittämistä, joihin vastattiin Likertin viisiportaisella asteikolla. Lisäksi lomakkeessa oli yhdeksän avointa kysymystä. Tulosten analyysissä käytettiin keski- ja hajontalukuja, frekvenssi- sekä normaalijakaumia, kahden riippumattoman otoksen t-testiä sekä kuvailua ja luonnehdintaa.Tutkimustulosten mukaan opettajat suhtautuivat myönteisesti integraatioajatukseen. Periaatteellisella tasolla integraation hyväksyi suurin osa opettajista, mutta käytännön tasolla sitä kannatti vain pieni osa opettajista. Yksilöintegraatioon suhtauduttiin varauksellisesti. Sen onnistumisen edellytyksenä pidettiin luokkakokojen pienentämistä, taloudellisten resurssien parantamista, erityisoppimateriaalien ja -välineiden saatavuuden parantamista sekä opettajien koulutuksen lisäämistä kehitysvammaisen opetusta ajatellen. Tarkasteltavien opettajaryhmien suhtautuminen integraatioon oli samansuuntaista. Erityisopettajien ja luokanopettajien asenteiden välillä ei ollut huomattavaa eroa. 25-34-vuotiaat opettajat suhtautuivat muita positiivisemmin yksilöintegraatioon.Asiasanat: kehitysvammaiset - lapset, erityisopetus, integroitu opetus - asentee
Electrochemically Pretreated Sensor Based on Screen-Printed Carbon Modified with Pb Nanoparticles for Determination of Testosterone
No full textTestosterone (TST), despite its good properties, may be harmful to the human organism and the environment. Therefore, monitoring biological fluids and environmental samples is important. An electrochemically pretreated screen-printed carbon sensor modified with Pb nanoparticles (pSPCE/PbNPs) was successfully prepared and used for the determination of TST. The surface morphology and electrochemical properties of unmodified and modified sensors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Selective determinations of TST at the pSPCE/PbNPs were carried out by differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV, E(Pb dep.and TST acc.) of −1.1 V, t (Pb dep.and TST acc.) of 120 s, ΔE(A) of 50 mV, ν of 175 mV s(−1), and t(m) of 5 ms) in a solution containing 0.075 mol L(−1) acetate buffer of pH = 4.6 ± 0.1, and 7.5 × 10(−5) mol L(−1) Pb(NO(3))(2). The analytical signal obtained at the potential around −1.42 V (vs. silver pseudo-reference electrode) is related to the reduction process of TST adsorbed onto the electrode surface. The use of pSPCE/PbNPs allows obtaining a very low limit of TST detection (2.2 × 10(−12) mol L(−1)) and wide linear ranges of the calibration graph (1.0 × 10(−11)–1.0 × 10(−10), 1.0 × 10(−10)–2.0 × 10(−9), and 2.0 × 10(−9)–2.0 × 10(−8) mol L(−1)). The pSPCE/PbNPs were successfully applied for the determination of TST in reference material of human urine and wastewater purified in a sewage treatment plant without preliminary preparation
Wheelchair Securement and Occupant Restraint: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Use and Effect on Motor Vehicle Related Injuries
No full textObjective: The goal of this project was to describe the characteristics related to motor vehicle transportation among wheelchair users, who remain in their wheelchair while in the vehicle. Particular focus was placed on identifying how these individuals utilize occupant restraint and wheelchair securement devices. Also, the study examined the epidemiology of motor vehicle related injuries, and reports on the relationship between these injuries and the identified use of occupant restraint and wheelchair securement systems.Methods: A 12-page survey was completed, via mail, by 336 wheelchair users, who self-reported that they remain seated in their wheelchair at least some point in their transportation use. These individuals were recruited through various nationwide disability related service and advocacy organizations, as well as through disability related internet message boards. Descriptive, chi-square and t-test analysis was completed using SPSS statistical software. Results: The results of this study show that traveling as a private vehicle passenger is the most common manner in which motor vehicle transportation is used by wheelchair occupants, with 70.2% of the sample population reporting to using this mode within the past month and 50.0% reporting this mode as their primary means of transportation. Limited significant difference existed in regard to subject's gender, age, disability or wheelchair type and the reported use of either an occupant restraint device or a wheelchair securement system. There were also limited significant findings seen in regard to the use of either an occupant restraint device or wheelchair securement system and the occurrence/severity of a motor vehicle crash, or non-crash related injury. Finally, in regard to motor vehicle related adverse events that resulted in an injury, descriptive statistics showed that there were limited events (crash: n = 15, non-crash: n = 71), with even less resulting in an injury requiring the need to seek medical attention (crash: n = 10, non-crash: n = 9).Conclusion: This study is one of the first efforts to describe the real-world transportation characteristics of wheelchair-seated passengers, as well as an examination of the relationship between the use of either occupant restraints or wheelchair securement devices and the occurrence of motor vehicle related injuries. These data demonstrate that private vehicles are the most widely used form of motor vehicle transportation, suggesting that research focused in this area may be beneficial. Also, limited significant findings were seen in regard to the relationships between the use of either an occupant restraint or wheelchair securement, independent of each other, and the occurrence of motor vehicle related injuries. These results may be interpreted in two ways 1) that these safety systems are not being used effectively, or 2) that use of an occupant restraint and wheelchair securement independent of one another may not reduce injury risk in a motor vehicle crash or non-crash incident. The analysis of the use of a 3-point occupant restraint, together with a forward facing wheelchair securement system, as recommended by the SAE J2249, may produce different results. It should also be noted that based on descriptive statistics alone, it is evident that for those individuals who were injured severely enough in a non-crash incident to require medical attention, there was limited reported usage of wheelchair securement and occupant restraints. These findings may suggest that the use of such devices may decrease the number of severe non-crash related injuries. Based on the limitations of this study and trends seen within the descriptive statistics, more research in this area is required to develop more inferential findings between the use of these devices and the occurrence of injuries related to motor vehicle transportation
