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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment – Normal Response Models
Published in Song S. Qian, Mark R. DuFour, Ibrahim Alameddine, Bayesian Applications in Environmental and Ecological Studies with R and Stan, 2023
Song S. Qian, Mark R. DuFour, Ibrahim Alameddine
The example used here is from Qian and Lyons [2006], who introduced the use of the mixture model approach for estimating background soil concentrations of two heavy metals (lead and mercury) from a U.S. federal facility in Missouri, USA. In the early 2000s, the facility was regulated for hazardous waste release under the Resource Conservation and Restoration Act (RCRA) and CERCLA. The data set includes soil metal concentrations collected by multiple studies in a total of 30 sampling areas from 1990 to 2003. Data from 24 sampling areas were included in the study for characterizing the background levels of various metals. There are 731 observations of lead (Pb) soil concentrations (with 33 measurements below method detection limits) and 837 observations of mercury (Hg) soil concentrations (with 627 measurements below detection limits). There were at least 4 measurements of both metals from each sampling area. We use the lead soil concentration data in this example, and leave the mercury data for readers as an exercise.
Recent Trends in Bio-Medical Waste, Challenges and Opportunities
Published in K. Gayathri Devi, Kishore Balasubramanian, Le Anh Ngoc, Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques for Medical Science, 2022
Garbage is produced in enormous quantities as a result of human activity. Garbage of this kind may be dangerous, requiring appropriate disposal. Industrial, sewage, and agricultural waste pollute water, land, and air, putting people's health and the environment in danger. Solid waste may be classified into a variety of categories depending on where it originates from. It consists of (a) domestic garbage, (b) industrial garbage, and (c) biomedical, hospital, or infectious waste. Hospital waste is categorised as hazardous waste because it includes harmful chemicals. This waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunisation of humans or animals, as well as during research in these fields. Cleaning and washing water that is directed down the drain are divided into two categories: (a) wasted liquid reagents/chemicals, and (b) wasted liquid reagents/chemicals.
Lifestyle and Diet
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
In addition, mining, agriculture, and deforestation are important energy-intensive activities that impact economies and at the same time directly and indirectly cause soil, air, and land pollution (208–210). Release of industrial waste harms the soil. Food is a big contributor to landfill waste. In addition, industries generate hazardous waste from petroleum refining, mining, and plastic manufacturing. Household hazardous wastes including solvents, plastic items, motor oil, and more, are harmful to human health and the environment. More effective public health policies on hazardous waste management are urgently needed (210). Pollution is observed more in industrialized countries than in developing countries.
Toxicological assessment of electronic cigarette vaping: an emerging threat to force health, readiness and resilience in the U.S. Army
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
Marc A. Williams, Gunda Reddy, Michael J. Quinn, Amy Millikan Bell
An emerging public health concern with regard to vaping and electronic cigarettes is the issue of the health implications of e-cigarette waste, and whether or not such devices should indeed be classified as hazardous waste (Krause and Townsend 2015, Hendlin 2018). A key issue is that new products tend to be introduced in the absence of relevant regulatory guidance and applicable laws. The issue with e-cigs is the challenge of determining an appropriate end-of-life regulatory status. The realization is that there has been a degree of ignorance and poor appreciation of the potentially adverse environmental effects that e-cigs pose (Krause and Townsend 2015, Hendlin 2018). In the case of regular electronic devices purchased for ‘home use’ by homeowners and tenants, there are manufactured components that are classified as regulated hazardous waste when discarded (Townsend 2011).
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics: access, excess, and awareness in Bangladesh
Published in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 2021
In Bangladesh, untreated medical waste often accumulates at landfills, posing a threat to public health. Although official data is unavailable, it is estimated that in seven divisional cities, excluding the capital, Dhaka, over 20 tons of medical waste are produced every day from around 1,380 healthcare establishments, both public and private [49]. A recent study in another city, Khulna, found that the hazardous waste was not treated separately from other waste materials in most healthcare facilities [50], although the Medical Waste (Management and Processing) Rules 2008 states that ‘medical wastes cannot be mixed with other wastes at any stage – while producing inside hospitals, while collecting from hospitals, while transporting, and will be processed separately based on classification.’ Also, over half of the workers who handle hazardous waste did not receive proper training, and most did not use safety equipment or clothing. In fact, most government hospitals do not yet have standard infrastructures for dealing with medical waste [51].
Efficacy of Different Hair and Skin Decontamination Strategies with Identification of Associated Hazards to First Responders
Published in Prehospital Emergency Care, 2020
Joanne Larner, Adam Durrant, Philip Hughes, Devanya Mahalingam, Samantha Rivers, Hazem Matar, Elliot Thomas, Mark Barrett, Andreia Pinhal, Nevine Amer, Charlotte Hall, Toni Jackson, Valeria Catalani, Robert P. Chilcott
From a secondary contamination perspective, our data demonstrate that materials used in the decontamination process constitute a chemical hazard. This applies especially to materials used for dry decontamination, which make the “first contact” with the contaminant. However, if initial disrobe and dry decontamination are performed, then the extent of the hazard from towels and washcloths used in subsequent wet decontamination procedures is substantially reduced. The performance of early dry decontamination does, therefore, reduce the risk of downstream contamination and will reduce the risk of “clean” areas becoming “dirty” during the operational response. However, it would still seem prudent to consider all used towels and washcloths as hazardous materials, even when prior dry decontamination has taken place: all discarded clothing and used decontamination aids should be collected and placed into approved waste containers by response personnel wearing appropriate PPE, prior to disposal according to local rules for hazardous waste.