Natural siliceous dust and human health： Pathways, toxicity, and impact

Fine atmospheric dust includes mineral particles and aggregates, fibrous minerals and fibrous organic material. Generation, dislodgement and transport （deflation） of natural dust with the finer （〈4 microns） components suspended as silt-size aggregates, is widespread in and adjacent to the world＇s drylands, as well as deriving from volcanic vents. Silica is a highly fibrogenic agent in lung tissue. Long-term inhaling of siliceous dusts can lead to a number of fibrotic lung diseases, including natural （non-occupational） pneumoconioses （notably silicosis, but including asbestosis and others）. Different polymorphs of silica show different levels of toxicity in interaction with lung tissue. Particles with highly active surfaces may release radicals, causing cell damage. Some types of inhaled particulates are degraded by macrophages, but many are highly resistant and persist in the lungs, some stimulating fibroblastic cells to deposit collagen. Silicosis is an inflammation of the lung commonly caused by silicate mineral particles, leading to fibrosis. Three types are recognized： nodular pulmonary fibrosis （simple or chronic silicosis）, acute silicosis, and accelerated silicosis. Generally, finer particulates have greater oxidative capacity than the coarser fractions. They contain more reactive oxygen species, their greater bioreactivity making them more toxic to pulmonary tissue. Nevertheless, inhalation of large dust particles （〉 10μm） may constitute a health risk if the mineralogy is toxic, regardless of where the grains lodge in the respiratory system. Dust may absorb harmful gases, disease-generating bacteria and carcinogenic hydrocarbon compounds. Silica-related respiratory disease may also an exacerbate cardiac problem, and epidemiology suggests a link with tuberculosis. Quantification of dust loading and exposure requires study of spatial and temporal patterns, supported by meteorological analysis, airflow modeling and satellite-borne imagery. Some acute, short-term health impacts have been assessed using atmospheric and health records both before and after a dust storm or by comparison of populations within and outside such events. Analysis of the size, shape, mineralogy and geochemistry of ambient dust particulates provides information on natural dust sources, dust concentrations, and potential particulate toxicity, as well as providing a datum for assessment of human exposure levels.     

Speciation of sulfate components in size-fractionated aerosol particles using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure （XANES）

Sulfates are a main constituent of aerosols, which sulfate aerosols, it is necessary to determine what can cause various environmental problems sulfate ions are contained in these aerosols In the evaluation of the influence of In this study, sulfur K-edge XANES was used to determine sulfate species present in size-fractionated aerosol particles based on the post-edge structure after the main absorption peak in the XANES region. Aerosol samples were collected as part of the Japan-China joint project, ＂Asian Dust Experiment on Climate Impact＂ using a low-volume Andersen-type air sampler. XANES was measured at Beamline BL-9A at Photon Factory, Japan. A comparison of the XANES spectra of reference sulfate materials and aerosol samples collected in Tsukuba in Japan clearly showed that （NH4）2SO4 was the main sulfur species in particles with a smaller diameter and gypsum was the main sulfur species in particles with a larger diameter. A simulation of the XANES spectra by reference materials allows us to obtain the quantitative mixing ratios of the different sulfate species present in the aerosol samples. The presence of minor sulfur species other than （NH4）2SO4 and gypsum at the surface of mineral aerosols is suggested in our simulations and by a surface-sensitive conversion electron/He-ion yield XANES. In the absence of a contribution from a large dust event, the mole concentration of gypsum in the mineral aerosol fraction determined by XANES is similar to that of Ca which is determined independently using ion chromatography. This shows that the Ca and sulfate in the mineral aerosols are present only as gypsum. Considering that calcite is the main Ca mineral in the original material arising from an arid and semi-arid area in China, it is strongly suggested that gypsum is formed in aerosol during its long-range transportation by a reaction between calcite and sulfate ions.     

Methylmercury and human biomarkers： Questioning the evidence

Methylmercury （MeHg） is a powerful neurotoxicant in humans. In terms of biomarkers of MeHg exposure, hair and blood have long been used in epidemiological studies as the biomarkers of choice. In fact, total hair mercury （Hg） content as well as organic blood Hg concentrations reflects exposure to organic Hg from food consumption. Extensive studies, establishing a constant and linear relation between MeHg intake versus Hg levels in hair and blood, were conducted by governmental officials to establish guidelines on safe levels of MeHg exposure, which were translated into threshold daily fish consumption rates （usually expressed as μg MeHg per kg bodyweight）. Nowadays, in most epidemiologic studies blood or hair mercury （Hg） level is commonly used as a valid proxy to estimate human exposure to methylmercury （MeHg） through fish consumption without relating this signal to actual fish consumption patterns among populations. Human variability in mercury toxicokinetics was identified and measurement error has been pointed out to be a substantial contributor to observed variability, particularly where dietary information is retrospective and self-reported. However, experimental evidence indicates that significant variability among individuals may exist in the biokinetics of mercury. Also recent findings from previous population-based studies through COMERN initiative also revealed that MeHg metabolic processes might greatly vary across populations. In fact, it is unlikely that the magnitude of the difference measured between observed and expected levels of mercury, given the reported intake, can be entirely explained by laboratory measurement errors or reporting bias.     

地理教学中探究性问题情境的创设

新一轮的课程改革对地理学习过程提出了新的要求。顺应课改要求,本文就地理教学中如何创设探究性问题情境作了初步的探讨,认为创设探究性问题情境应符合“新颖性、开放性、启发性”等要求,根据不同的教材内容、不同的学生情况,应有不同的教学方式,以求取得最佳成效。     

我国煤炭资源开发利用中某些问题的探讨

针对我国煤炭资源开发利用中存在的诸如煤炭资源的低效率应用、无序开采、生态环境恶化等问题，指出了我国煤炭资源管理法规中存在的问题，提出了加强煤炭资源开发管理、构建煤炭循环经济体系、加大安全投入、加强煤炭矿区环境的治理和保护、健全有偿使用资源法规制度等对策。     

基于LSB的遥感图像安全传输模型

互联网在方便人们交流、共享信息的同时,也带来了极大的安全问题.信息隐藏是解决信息安全的一种有效手段,研究采用LSB法实现重要目标遥感图像信息的隐藏,实验证明该方法可以有效地解决网上图像传输出现的安全问题.     

利用LBS技术解决ITS的信息通信问题

ITS技术是实现运输业的繁荣与可持续发展的先进技术,信息通信技术则是ITS的核心技术,其功能是使ITS能够有效地在系统中传输和处理信息,最终形成决策.如何解决ITS的信息通信问题,一直是ITS的研究热点,也一直是ITS中优先运用新技术的子系统.本文介绍了LBS（定位信息服务）的起源及相关技术,分析并讨论了利用LBS解决ITS的信息通信问题,提出了基于LBS的ITS系统模型,指出LBS对ITS的推动与发展作用.     

加强煤炭资源开发管理 促进煤炭工业健康发展——在全国煤炭工作会议上的发言

《国务院关于促进煤炭工业健康发展的若干意见》意义重大,影响深远。国家发展改革委召开的这次会议非常必要,十分及时。刚才,张晓强副主任作的报告非常重要,涉及我部工作的,我们一定抓好落实。下面,我简要汇报一下国土资源部在煤炭资源管理方面所做的工作,以及下一步贯彻落实国务院精神的有关措施。一、煤炭资源管理的基本情况改革开放以来,煤炭工业为国民经济和社会发展作出了重大贡献。在今后相当长的时期内,煤炭仍将是我国的主体能源,煤炭工业的健康发展直接关系到我国的能源安全。目前,由于市场需求的拉动,煤炭价格持续走高,煤炭资源的…     

土地利用更新调查需要注意的几个问题

以土地利用更新调查生产中的体会．从工作前期准备、技术路线、正射影像图制作、权属界线调查几种特殊情况和表示方法的处理，提出了土地利用更新调查需要注意的几个问题和建议。     

地图科研成果荣获国家自然科学奖

不久前颁布的2004年度国家自然科学奖中．由国家测绘局推荐的项目《数字地表模型的多维动态构模研究》荣获二等奖。该项目由国家基础地理信息中心陈军、香港理工大学教授李志林、以及朱庆、蒋捷、王东华等人合作完成。他们针对多维动态数字地表模型构建这一国际学术前沿问题．以地理空间实体及相互间关系的抽象与表达为主线．研究了地表空间铺盖、地物空间关系理论、数字地形精度、多维动态空间数据建模、多尺度表达等基本问题。