Hazard Reduction Research Articles

Environmental hazard reduction and anti-aging enhancement of steel slag powder-asphalt mastic based on TiO2@UiO-67 composites

Steel slag asphalt pavements (SAPs) will deteriorate during the production and service process, bringing heavy metal ions leaching contamination and irregular release of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which pose great challenges to maintenance and ecological environment. TiO2@UiO-67 composites were synthesized, their basic physical-chemical properties were investigated, and they were applied to SAPs to prepare an eco-friendly steel slag powder-asphalt mastic (ESAM) with multiple effects of anti-aging, heavy metal ions reduction, and VOCs emission inhibition. The rheological behavior of ESAM was explored, and the anti-aging, heavy metal inhibition, and VOCs reduction mechanism was investigated. The results showed that TiO2@UiO-67 composites with excellent properties such as large surface area, high activity and stability, powerful adsorption ability, controlled structure, and specific functional group/targeted adsorption were prepared. Some terminal hydroxyl groups were reacted with reactive radicals to prevent the growth of asphalt chain segments by reducing the aging of asphalt. The binding energy and adsorption between UiO-67 with heavy metal ions and VOCs were simulated by Materials Studio (MS), and the results showed that the recovery of Cr (VI) was up to 57.7% and the reaction proceeded spontaneously. In addition, the conjugated system, the molecular size and the spatial site resistance synergistically reduced Category 1 carcinogens by up to 85.6%, ultimately reducing the total emission concentration of VOCs by 65.4%. It provides theoretical guidance for the application of TiO2@UiO-67 composites in SAPs, and technical feasibility for anti-aging, and pollutant emission reduction strategies for SAPs.

Impact Assessment of Road Construction on Landslide Susceptibility in Mountainous Region using GIS-Based Statistical Modelling

Abstract Landslide susceptibility is crucial for effective hazard management, planning mitigation, and risk reduction strategies. The present study assessed the impact of road construction on landslide susceptibility for the Mandi district. 1723 landslides data for Mandi district was compiled from the various sources with eleven causative factors. The eleven landslide causative factors were selected from numerous hydrological, geological, and topographical factors. The landslide susceptibility analysis was carried out using three bivariate statistical models, namely, Frequency Ratio (FR), Certainty Factor (CF), and Shannon Entropy (SE). Two sets of Landslide Susceptibility Maps were generated to assess the impact of road construction and divided into five landslide susceptibility classes. The SE model had the highest prediction and validation accuracy of (83-86%). The percentage area in high and very high classes of landslide susceptibility increased by 2.67-4.17% due to road construction activities in the study area.

Agricultural burning in Imperial Valley, California and respiratory symptoms in children: A cross-sectional, repeated measures analysis

Burning of agricultural fields is an understudied source of air pollution in rural communities in the United States. Smoke from agricultural burning contains air toxics that adversely impact respiratory health. Imperial County in southeastern California is a highly productive agricultural valley that heavily employs agricultural burning to clear post-harvest crop remnants. We related individual-level exposure to agricultural burns to parent-reported respiratory symptoms in children.We leveraged the Children's Assessing Imperial Valley Respiratory Health and the Environment (AIRE) cohort of 735 predominantly Hispanic low-income elementary school students in Imperial County. Parents reported children's respiratory health symptoms and family demographic characteristics in questionnaires collected at enrollment and in annual follow-up assessments from 2017 to 2019. Permitted agricultural burns in Imperial County from 2016 to 2019 were spatially linked to children's geocoded residential addresses. We used generalized estimating equations to evaluate prevalence differences (PDs) in respiratory symptoms with increasing exposure to agricultural burning within 3 km in the 12 months prior to each assessment.Nearly half of children (346, 49 %) lived within 3 km of at least one agricultural burn in the year prior to study enrollment. In adjusted models, each additional day of agricultural burning in the prior year was associated with a one percentage point higher prevalence of wheezing (PD 1.1 %; 95 % CI 0.2 %, 2.0 %) and higher bronchitic symptoms (PD 1.0 %; 95 % CI -0.2 %, 2.1 %). Children exposed to four or more days of burning had an absolute increased prevalence of wheezing and bronchitic symptoms of 5.9 % (95 % CI -0.3 %, 12 %) and 5.6 % (95 % CI -1.8 %, 13 %), respectively, compared to no burn exposure. Associations with wheezing were stronger among children with asthma (PD 14 %; 95 % CI -1.4 %, 29 %).To our knowledge, this is the first U.S. study of agricultural burning and children's respiratory health. This work suggests that reducing agricultural burning could improve children's respiratory health.

Effect of Fire-deposited Charcoal on Soil Organic Carbon Pools and Associated Enzyme Activities in a Recently Harvested Pinus massoniana Plantation Subjected to Broadcast Burning

Charcoal is a carbonaceous particulate matter with a highly aromatic structure produced by incomplete combustion, and it can cause persistent long-term effects on soil ecological functions. In this study, we determined soil organic carbon pools and associated enzyme activities following five years of different charcoal treatments[charcoal removal (B0), charcoal retained in situ (B1), and the addition of charcoal removed from B0(B2)] and the unburnt control (UB) in a recently harvested Pinus massoniana plantation subjected to broadcast burning. The results showed that dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), coarse and fine particulate organic carbon (CPOC and FPOC), and recalcitrant carbon (RC) contents were significantly lower in B1 than those in UB soil (P<0.05). The MBC and FPOC contents of B2 soil were comparable to those of UB soil, which were significantly higher than those of B0 soil (P<0.001). There was no difference in MBC/TC between the B2 and UB soils, whereas MBC/TC was significantly lower in B0 than in UB soil (P<0.05). β-glucosidase and peroxidase activities of B0, B1, and B2 soils were significantly lower than that of UB soil (P<0.01), and polyphenol oxidase activity was significantly lower in B0 and B2 soils than in UB soil (P<0.01). No significant difference in soil TC, DOC, readily oxidized carbon (ROC), CPOC, and RC content as well as associated enzyme activities was observed among the charcoal treatments (P>0.05). Redundancy analysis showed that sucrose and polyphenol oxidase were the key drivers influencing soil organic carbon fractions, accounting for 16.3% and 12.7% of the total variance, respectively. Overall, our findings indicated that fire-deposited charcoal played a positive role in enhancing soil microbial biomass carbon recovery, soil organic carbon accumulation, and stability, highlighting the importance of charcoal in the management of subtropical plantations in the future.

Seismic site characterization using MASW and correlation study between shear wave velocity and SPT[sbnd

A seismic site characterization study is carried out in the south of the foothills of tectonically active Himalayan region. During an earthquake, the dynamic characteristics of the shallow subsurface strata can influence seismic shaking in the region, causing damage to civil infrastructures. The seismic site characterization study with shear wave velocity (Vs) is performed using the Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Wave (MASW) technique, which is particularly challenging to implement in the densely inhabited areas. However, the standard penetration test (SPTN) commonly measured by civil engineers can be utilized to compute Vs of such areas by establishing a correlation between Vs and the SPT-N values.In the study area, MASW data were acquired at twelve different locations, whereas SPT-N tests were available from 26 boreholes. Twelve borehole locations closer to the MASW survey lines were paired to establish relationships between SPT-N and Vs. The developed linear and non-linear correlation functions were found to be statistically similar. Furthermore, the linear correlation function is used for estimating Vs from SPT-N in remaining 14 boreholes. The new correlation functions were further compared with previously reported empirical relationships from other areas. The current relationship can be used for geoengineering purposes at different sites with similar geological conditions.Shear wave velocity derived from the MASW surveys and estimated from the new empirical relationship was utilized for seismic site characterization based on average shear wave velocity up to 30 m depth (Vs30). The Vs30 map of the study site is prepared and classified in accordance with the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP-2020). The calculated Vs30 value of the study site ranges from 285 to 375 m/s. The major portion of the study area lies under Site Class CD, with a minor portion under Site Class D. In the event of an earthquake, some zones can potentially have stronger ground amplification, particularly in Site Class D and may have damaging effects. A series of average shear wave velocity maps for different depths are prepared to help geotechnical engineers in identifying and mitigating geotechnical risks. Furthermore, there are potential geohazard risks as certain depths show low shear velocity.

Go beyond ‘thank‐a‐thons’ to show greater donor appreciation

For nonprofit board members who are hesitant to take part in fundraising, a good and oft‐used alternative is to assign them other forms of donor stewardship duties—most commonly, thanking donors. And if the nonprofit has been busy and lets this task languish on the back burner, organizations sometimes plan “thank‐a‐thons” where staff and boards churn out thank‐you notes to swarms of donors over the course of a week or two. While experts say this is better than nothing—that is, not sending any thank‐you at all—it often comes too late in the cycle to matter much to the donor.

Modelling ASthma TrEatment Responses (MASTER): Effect of individual patient characteristics on the risk of exacerbation in moderate or severe asthma: A time-to-event analysis of randomized clinical trials.

There is limited understanding of how clinical and demographic characteristics are associated with exacerbation risk in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma, and how these factors correlate with symptom control and treatment response. Here we assess the relationship between baseline characteristics and exacerbation risk during regular dosing with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) monotherapy or in combination with long-acting beta2-agonists (ICS/LABA) in clinical trial patients with varying levels of symptom control, as assessed by the asthma control questionnaire (ACQ-5). A time-to-event model was developed using pooled patient data (N = 16 282) from nine clinical studies [Correction added on 26 July 2023, after first online publication: The N value in the preceding sentence has been corrected in this version.]. A parametric hazard function was used to describe the time-to-first exacerbation. Covariate analysis included the assessment of the effect of seasonal variation, clinical and demographic baseline characteristics on baseline hazard. Predictive performance was evaluated by standard graphical and statistical methods. An exponential hazard model best described the time-to-first exacerbation in moderate-to-severe asthma patients. Body mass index, smoking status, sex, ACQ-5, % predicted forced expiratory volume over 1 s (FEV1 p) and season were identified as statistically significant covariates affecting baseline hazard irrespective of ICS or ICS/LABA use. Fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/SAL) combination therapy resulted in a significant reduction in the baseline hazard (30.8%) relative to FP monotherapy. Interindividual differences at baseline and seasonal variation affect the exacerbation risk independently from drug treatment. Moreover, it appears that even when a comparable level of symptom control is achieved in a group of patients, each individual may have a different exacerbation risk, depending on their baseline characteristics and time of the year. These findings highlight the importance of personalized interventions in moderate-to-severe asthma patients.

Investigation on the spatial distribution of landslides in Sichuan Province, southwest China

In this study, a total of 34,893 landslides collected from the Sichuan Province of China are used to reveal their spatial distribution. Correlations between the spatial distribution of landslides and five main factors [i.e. topography, rainfall, lithology, peak ground acceleration (PGA), and human activity] are analyzed based on the Geographical Information System (GIS) platform. Topographic factors exert a significant influence on landslide occurrence, and other factors also sensitive to landslides include lithology (Classes 3 and 4), PGA (≤0.15 g), rainfall (90–140 mm), and road density (≤0.6 km/km2). The geographical detector model is used to detect the relative importance of individual influencing factors and the factor interaction effects on the landslide distribution. The results show that the interacting factors between rainfall and PGA, lithology, river density, and road density are more closely related to the spatial distribution of landslides than every single factor. The results of this study can provide a foundation and insights for hazard reduction schemes in the future.

Designing a conceptual framework for strategic selection of Bushfire mitigation approaches

Fires are an important aspect of environmental ecology; however, they are also one of the most widespread destructive forces impacting natural ecosystems as well as property, human health, water and other resources. Urban sprawl is driving the construction of new homes and facilities into fire-vulnerable areas. This growth, combined with a warmer climate, is likely to make the consequences of wildfires more severe. To reduce wildfires and associated risks, a variety of hazard reduction practices are implemented, such as prescribed burning (PB) and mechanical fuel load reduction (MFLR). PB can reduce forest fuel load; however, it has adverse effects on air quality and human health, and should not be applied close to residential areas due to risks of fire escape. On the other hand, MFLR releases less greenhouse gasses and does not impose risks to residential areas. However, it is more expensive to implement. We suggest that environmental, economic and social costs of various mitigation tools should be taken into account when choosing the most appropriate fire mitigation approach and propose a conceptual framework, which can do it. We show that applying GIS methods and life cycle assessment we can produce a more reasonable comparison that can, for example, include the benefits that can be generated by using collected biomass for bioenergy or in timber industries. This framework can assist decision makers to find the optimal combinations of hazard reduction practices for various specific conditions and locations.

Минимизация опасности металлизированных шахтных стоков

Increase in ore production volumes and the use of large-sized equipment contribute to the loss of ores during mining, which gives rise to the phenomenon of natural leaching. On the example of deposits of the Sadon ore cluster, the hazard of metallized mine effluents for living matter and humans is shown. Of the relatively young methods of mine water purification, the most promising is the combination of electrochemical softening of mine effluents with electrodialysis desalination and concentration. The improvement of environmental protection technologies is developing on the basis of the managed disposal of mining and processing waste as a generator of natural leaching. The results are presented related to the experimental study of the parameters of metals extraction from the mine effluents by electrodialysis desalination with simultaneous concentration. The mechanism is formulated related to the development of oxidative processes of sulfide minerals in the presence of carbon dioxide of the mine atmosphere with the occurrence of electrochemical bonds between the crystals and mineral grains. The process of electromembrane treatment of metal-containing wastes is detailed. It is shown that during the electrochemical decomposition of salt systems, associated commercial products are formed. The dynamics of pollution of the Ardon river washing the Sadon deposit is given. The chemical processes of leaching of lost ores are described. An installation for electrochemical wastewater treatment is recommended, and a quantitative assessment of its efficiency is given. It is noted that the processes of electrochemical wastewater treatment are adequate, described by linear graphs and subject to correction. It is shown that the drains of mines are hazardous for living matter. It is indicated that the improvement of environmental protection technologies will be developed in the direction of waste disposal of mining and processing. The general principle of mine water hazard reduction is a combination of electrochemical softening with electrodialysis desalination and concentration.

A Remotely Controlled Integrated Weapon Platform Developed on the Basis of Long-Term Experience and Competence

For two decades, AREX Sp. z o.o. (Gdynia, Poland), belonging to WB Group (Warsaw, Poland), has been dealing with special-purpose production, in particular mechatronics, and its solutions are used in electromechanical accessories for 155 mm KRAB gun-howitzers and 120 mm RAK self-propelled wheeled gun-mortars. The operations of WB Group on international markets has given a boost to its further development. The solutions of the remotely controlled weapon platform presented in this paper can be adapted to weapons with ammunition fed from the left or right side, owing to the self-diagnostics and verification system as well as the modular design. The intention of the designers was to create functional and intuitive equipment that allows the operator to focus on firing operations. The remotely controlled weapon platform is also equipped with covering capacity, such as smoke grenades, and is also electrically operated, can be operated manually in emergencies, is intended for installation on various combat vehicles and is remotely controlled by the operator remaining inside the vehicle compartment, which ensures full armoured protection against enemy direct fire. Remote control is based on two operating components a fire control unit and a control grip. Additionally the system is capable of remote weapon loading, weapon cocking, and firing. Tracking and remote controlling capabilities of the integrated weapon platform ensure high probability of hitting stationary and moving targets during the first round, and the platform can be operated manually as required.

“We’re kind of on the back burner”: Psychological distress and coping among medical social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Medical social workers are essential members of healthcare teams, especially during a pandemic. Their scope of practice includes conducting psychological assessments, coordinating social services, connecting patients to resources that address social determinants of health, discharge planning, and patient advocacy. Social workers’ experiences of psychological distress were unique even before the COVID-19 pandemic; their work demands a high amount of emotional investment as they frequently witness others’ pain and suffering and navigate various daily challenges and crises. This study explores psychological distress experienced by medical social workers and the coping strategies used by these professionals during the pandemic prior to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Faced with conflicting information from state and federal agencies, social workers dealt with resource shortages, took on additional roles and responsibilities, and contended with regular value conflicts and ethical dilemmas. Our findings indicate that medical social workers are not sufficiently protected or prioritized in their workplaces and that infrastructure to support social workers’ emotional wellbeing is lacking. Distinct themes that emerged from the data under the umbrella of psychological distress include feeling unprotected, overburdened, and undervalued. We discuss a need for targeted policy and sustainability-oriented solutions to improve coping and resilience, mitigate psychological distress, and prevent burnout among medical social workers.

Long term anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody kinetics and correlate of protection against Omicron BA.1/BA.2 infection

Binding antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 have shown to be correlates of protection against infection with pre-Omicron lineages. This has been challenged by the emergence of immune-evasive variants, notably the Omicron sublineages, in an evolving immune landscape with high levels of cumulative incidence and vaccination coverage. This in turn limits the use of widely available commercial high-throughput methods to quantify binding antibodies as a tool to monitor protection at the population-level. Here we show that anti-Spike RBD antibody levels, as quantified by the immunoassay used in this study, are an indirect correlate of protection against Omicron BA.1/BA.2 for individuals previously infected by SARS-CoV-2. Leveraging repeated serological measurements between April 2020 and December 2021 on 1083 participants of a population-based cohort in Geneva, Switzerland, and using antibody kinetic modeling, we found up to a three-fold reduction in the hazard of having a documented positive SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron BA.1/BA.2 wave for anti-S antibody levels above 800 IU/mL (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.22-0.41). However, we did not detect a reduction in hazard among uninfected participants. These results provide reassuring insights into the continued interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 binding antibody measurements as an independent marker of protection at both the individual and population levels.

Triggering conditions and propagation of the December 2019 Palma Campania landslide: Implications for residual hazard estimation at recurrent landslide sites

Flow-like landslides triggered by rainfall are a major concern in the peri-Vesuvian region of southern Italy. On December 19th, 2019, a landslide occurred along the Crocelle slope (Sarno Mountains), which had previously experienced a similar event in February 1986. This study was conducted to assess the characteristics of this event in terms of triggering and propagation conditions and, with reference to the 1986 landslide, to evaluate the evolution of residual landslide hazards at recurring landslide sites. Data collection included field surveys, visual analysis of a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetric model, geotechnical laboratory testing, rainfall and slope stability analysis, and propagation modeling. Results suggest that the landslide i) originated below a trail, ii) involved an initial volume of 450 m3, which did not significantly grow due to the limited entrainment of slope sediments, iii) was initiated after 13 h of rainfall (return period ∼4 years), and iv) propagated along a channel with an estimated velocity of up to 10 m/s. Comparison of the 2019 event with the 1986 event revealed a significant difference in terms of landslide magnitude (i.e., volume), potentially due to the occurrence of multiple events, which may have led to the temporal depletion of available materials along a slope repeatedly affected by landslides, and possibly to the different behavior of primary layered deposits (involved in the 1986 event) compared to reworked deposits (involved in the 2019 event). This suggests a reduction in the residual landslide hazard associated with a decrease in the expected magnitude and frequency of prospective events.

An observational study of ear-tagged calf mortality (1 to 100 days) on Irish dairy farms and associations between biosecurity practices and calf mortality on farms participating in a Johne's disease control program

Postnatal mortality among replacement stock has a detrimental effect on the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of dairy production. Calf mortality rates vary between countries and show differences in temporal trends; most, however, are characterized by high levels of between-farm variability. Explaining this variation can be difficult because herd-level information on management practices relevant to calf health is often not available. The Irish Johne's Control Programme (IJCP) contains a substantial on-farm monitoring program called the Veterinary Risk Assessment and Management Plan (VRAMP). Although this risk assessment is largely focused on factors relevant to the transmission of paratuberculosis, many of its principles are good practice biocontainment policies that are also advocated for the protection of calf health. The objectives of this study were (1) to quantify mortality in ear-tagged Irish dairy calves between 2016 and 2020 using both survival and risk approaches, (2) to determine risk factors for 100-d cumulative mortality hazard in ear-tagged Irish dairy calves between 2016 and 2020, (3) to determine whether 100-d cumulative mortality hazard was higher in ear-tagged calves within herds registered in the IJCP versus those that were not registered in the IJCP and whether there were differences between these cohorts over time, and (4) within IJCP herds, to determine whether VRAMP score or changes in VRAMP score were associated with 100-d cumulative mortality hazard. Excluding perinatal mortality, the overall 100-d cumulative mortality hazard was 4.1%. Calf mortality was consistently underestimated using risk approaches that did not account for calf censoring. Cox proportional hazards models showed that cumulative mortality hazard was greater in male calves; particularly, calves born to Jersey breed dams and those with a beef breed sire. Mortality hazard increased with increasing herd size, was highest in calves born in herds that contract-reared heifers, and lowest in those born in mixed dairy-beef enterprises. Mortality hazard decreased over time with the mortality hazard in 2020 being 0.83 times that of 2016. Mortality hazard was higher in IJCP-registered herds than nonregistered herds (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.12), likely reflecting differences in herds that enrolled in the national program. However, we detected a significant interaction between IJCP status (enrolled vs. not enrolled) and year (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-1.00), indicating that the decrease in mortality hazard between 2016 and 2020 was greater in IJCP herds versus non-IJCP herds. Finally, increasing VRAMP scores (indicating higher risk for paratuberculosis transmission) were positively associated with increased calf mortality hazard. Postnatal calf mortality rates in Irish dairy herds declined between 2016 and 2020. Our study suggests that implementation of recommended biocontainment practices to control paratuberculosis in IJCP herds was associated with a reduction in calf mortality hazard.

Hazards in Products of Plant Origin Reported in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) from 1998 to 2020

The elimination or reduction of hazards in plants is an important part of the “From field to fork” strategy adopted in the European Green Deal, where a sustainable model is pursued in the food system. In the European Union (EU), the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is in place to provide information on risks in the food chain. The largest number of notifications in this system concerns plants, followed by products of animal origin and other products. The goal of the study was to examine RASFF notifications for products of plant origin with respect to hazard, year, product, notifying country, origin country, notification type, notification basis, distribution status and actions taken in 1998–2020. Data were extracted from the RASFF notifications’ pre-2021 public information database. A cluster analysis using joining and the two-way joining method was applied. The notifications mainly concerned aflatoxins in pistachios from Iran, ochratoxin A in raisins from Turkey, pesticide residues in peppers from Turkey, okra, curry, rice from India, tea from China and India, and pathogenic micro-organisms in sesame from India, and also basil, mint and betel from Thailand, Vietnam and Lao Republic. To ensure the safety of food of plant origin, it is necessary to adhere to good agricultural and manufacturing practices, involve producers in the control of farmers, ensure proper transport conditions (especially from Asian countries), ensure that legislative bodies set and update hazard limits, and ensure their subsequent control by the authorities of EU countries. Due to the broad period and scope of the studies that have been carried out and the significance of the European Union in the food chain, the research results can improve global sustainability efforts.

Three-dimensional experimental investigation on hazard reduction of landslide-generated impulse waves in the Baihetan Reservoir, China

Three-dimensional experimental investigation on hazard reduction of landslide-generated impulse waves in the Baihetan Reservoir, China

Measuring the fine particulate exposure levels of building occupants using localized sensors

Rising levels of Environmental Air Pollution (EAP) caused by wildfires and traffic emissions impact Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by penetrating buildings through air conditioning intakes and door and window openings. Exposure to fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) causes building occupant discomfort and significant health issues. Hence, it is vital to continuously monitor the PM2.5 exposure level and the general IAQ of buildings. This study uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to investigate the temporal and spatial correlations between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations in a university building in Sydney, Australia, over five months. Sensor measurements are used to determine the Indoor to Outdoor (I/O) ratio and Exceedance Index (E-index). The study timeline included impacts associated with Hazard Reduction Burning (HRB) and localized peak traffic flow. The findings reveal that the closest indoor area to the building entrance exceeded double the World Health Organization (WHO) PM2.5 recommended threshold for more than 80% of the study period. Results also confirm a negative correlation between the distance from ground level and indoor PM2.5 exposure. An hourly analysis shows that the PM2.5 concentrations in Winter increase overnight. During HRB in Winter, the I/O ratios increased by up to 200% on average during regular HVAC operating hours. Localized outdoor readings were also compared with the nearest regional air quality monitoring station (RAQMS). Those results indicate that the average PM2.5 for the local outdoor sensor was approximately 2.5 times higher than the nearest RAQMS, confirming that regional stations may not be reliable references for localized PM2.5 concentrations.

EESD special issue: AI and data‐driven methods in earthquake engineering – (Part 1)

EESD special issue: AI and data‐driven methods in earthquake engineering – (Part 1)

RAIN: Simplifying Decontamination Response for Hospital First Receivers

Introduction:Considerations for patient and staff safety are critical during an encounter with an individual who is potentially contaminated by hazardous materials in the hospital setting. Decontamination training for all team members may be ideal, however, there are significant barriers precluding implementation including time-spent, associated costs, and staffing limitations. Studies demonstrate that immediate recognition of potential contaminants and removal of clothing mitigates risks with a best-estimated 85% hazard reduction. Initial risk-reducing best practices like focused training and resources, allow for more adequate decontamination response and improve team training gaps with potential first receivers throughout the hospital setting.Method:A two-step process was implemented to address a training disparity including a deployment of high-impact resources and the installment of these resources at high-risk locations. First, a slide deck with focused education to both clinical and non-clinical staff was developed from the established decontamination team training program. The focus of this training was to introduce the concept of RAIN (Recognition, Avoidance, Isolation, and Notification). This education highlights how to safely remove potentially contaminated clothing and contain the materials. RAIN kits were created with the items necessary to safely accomplish this while prioritizing patient privacy and safety to patient and staff. The kits included instructions, privacy kits, thermal blankets, and trauma shears. Next, the RAIN kits were deployed at pre-identified locations where potentially contaminated patients may present.Results:Qualitative improvement in staff satisfaction was noted after the implementation of the abridged, high-impact RAIN kits. The pre-deployed kits at critical high-likelihood locations throughout the hospital created a more accessible model with improved ease of use and effectiveness, reducing current gaps in training. Limitations should be considered when implementing a high-acuity, low-frequency program to clinical and non-clinical staff with support from leadership.Conclusion:Focused education and pre-deployed kits empower staff to respond in hospital settings for potentially contaminated patients.