Environmental Safety Management Research Articles

Highly sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides in water using a carboxyl-functionalized magnetic covalent organic framework

The development of novel methods for the precise quantification of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), with enhanced accuracy, sensitivity, and efficiency, is crucial for environmental monitoring and human health risk assessment. In this study, Fe3O4@SiO2@COF-COOH magnetic core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized by coating a carboxyl-functionalized covalent organic framework (COF-COOH) onto the surface of amino-modified silica-coated iron(III) oxide particles (Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2). The incorporation of carboxyl groups, covalent organic framework and magnetic properties imparted superior performance to the adsorbent in magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of polar compounds from complex sample matrices. An analytical method based on Fe3O4@SiO2@COF-COOH coupled with GC–MS/MS was developed for the determination of eight organophosphate pesticide residues in river water near farmland. The established method displays good linearity in the range of 0.1–500 ng/mL for four OPPs and 1–2000 ng/mL for the other four, with correlation coefficients between 0.9903–0.9983. The LODs (S/N = 3) and LOQs (S/N = 10) were determined to be in the ranges of 0.53–9.6 ng/L and 1.8–31.9 ng/L, respectively. The adsorption mechanism was characterized by density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, the established method was successfully applied to analyze the distribution of trace OPPs in real river water samples collected from various cities in Henan Province. Its rapid, straightforward, and efficient ability to enrich trace levels of OPPs from complex real-world samples makes it a valuable tool for environmental monitoring, food safety, and human health management.

MC-LR disrupts dopamine synthesis in the substantia nigra of midbrain by enhancing the chaperone-mediated autophagy pathway through direct binding to ERK2

Microcystins are environmental toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is one of the most abundant and harmful isomers. MC-LR poses a serious threat to human health. MC-LR could penetrate the blood-brain barrier of mice and accumulate in the substantia nigra (SN) of the midbrain, leading to a reduction in dopamine levels and Parkinson's disease (PD)-like motor dysfunction in mice. The reduction in dopamine levels is a key factor contributing to movement disorders in humans with PD. Dopamine is synthesized in the dopaminergic neurons of the SN by the actions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase (DDC). In this study, we found that MC-LR could enter dopaminergic neurons in the SN and directly bound to extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), enhancing ERK2 stability. ERK2 further enhanced the transcriptional activity of Heat Shock Protein Family A Member 8 (HSPA8) and promoted the expression of Heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (HSC70), which in turn amplified the chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) pathway and accelerated the degradation of TH and DDC. This affected the dopamine synthesis process, resulting in a significant reduction in dopamine levels. The study is the first to reveal that ERK2 was a direct target of MC-LR, and further enhanced CMA affecting dopamine synthesis, which has important theoretical and practical significance for environmental safety management.

Fluorescence Light‐Up Electrospun Membrane Incorporated with PbBr2 as a Highly Selective Fluorescence Probe for the Detection of Cs+

AbstractThis study introduces a novel fluorescent light‐up electrospun membrane, integrating PbBr2, which serves as an exceptionally selective probe for the detection of cesium ions (Cs+). Leveraging the superior optical properties of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs), the researchers employ electrospinning technology to fabricate a test strip, namely PbBr2@polyacrylonitrile (PbBr2@PAN) nanofiber membranes, capable of swiftly detecting Cs+ in water merely by observing changes in the nanocrystals' luminescence with the naked eye. By the introduction of NH4+‐modified montmorillonite (NH4+‐MMT), PbBr2‐MT@PAN nanofiber membranes is obtained. The selectivity and sensitivity to Cs+ can be further improved because NH4+‐MMT endows PbBr2‐MT@PAN nanofiber membranes with the hydrophilic property and selective adsorption toward Cs+ ions. The membrane's fabrication is simple, scalable, and cost‐effective, with high cesium selectivity and sensitivity down to 44 ppb. This innovation enables efficient, on‐site cesium monitoring critical for environmental safety and nuclear waste management.

Sustainability Indicators in the Integrated Management of Industries with Galvanic Activities

Growing concern for sustainability has driven industries, including the galvanic sector, to adopt more responsible practices due to their significant environmental and occupational impacts. This article discusses the importance of integrating quality, environmental, and occupational safety management (ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001) and highlights the need for specific indicators to measure sustainability in this sector. Using the Delphi technique, experts and workers from the galvanic industry identified and validated relevant performance indicators. The results improve management and performance, promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of the galvanic industry. The research identified 39 key indicators covering resource consumption, waste generation, occupational safety, governance, and quality. These indicators help companies monitor and enhance their socio-environmental performance, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices.

Assessment of geoecological risks as an element of environmental safety management at metallurgical enterprises

Assessment of geoecological risks as an element of environmental safety management at metallurgical enterprises

Economic Methods of Managing the Environmental Safety of Cities Abroad: Tax Aspect

The purpose of the study is to analyze and generalize the economic methods used abroad for managing the environmental safety of a city and to assess the possibility of their use in the practice of Russian cities. The relevance of the work is conditioned by the fact that a significant part of large Russian cities and megalopolises are faced with serious problems in the environmental sphere. Abroad, many years of experience have been accumulated in solving similar issues through the use of methods for managing the environmental safety of the city, which is an argument in favor of its study. The article analyzes the practice of OECD countries in applying economic measures to reduce environmental pollution, ensure environmental balance and comfortable living conditions for the city population. Particular attention is paid to the powers of local governments in the environmental sphere and the degree of their financial autonomy; the benefits of environmental taxation in EU countries, including the transition to a low-carbon economy; organization of ecological cooperation on the principles of the circular economy and within the framework of the model of industrial symbiosis for the processing or use of industrial and household waste. In the course of the work, general scientific and special methods were used, including content analysis of literary sources, comparison, grouping, analogy, systemic and structural analysis, logical generalization. The results of the study consist in assessing the possibilities and determining the conditions for introducing the best foreign practices in environmental safety management in Russian cities; they can be useful to specialists dealing with both the problems of forming management decisions to stabilize the environmental situation in the city, greening the tax system at the local level, and ensuring the rational use of resources in a mobilization economy through cooperative relations in the processing of industrial and household waste through recycling.

Vegetable production under the influence of food insecurity, environmental factors, and international integration processes

The significance of vegetable production is driven by the need of the population for vitamin products, processing enterprises for raw materials, especially in wartime, in the face of food and environmental hazards, and the need to increase export opportunities, considering international integration processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of war on the economic availability and environmental safety of food, to identify and assess the components and vectors of food and environmental safety management, and to evaluate and promote exports in the context of international economic integration. The study employed the methods of analysis and synthesis, generalisation and specification, mathematical and graphical methods. Sources of information: data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The study analysed the current state of vegetable production, identified the key problems under the influence of food hazards, environmental factors, and integration processes. The study examined the impact of the war on the economic availability and environmental safety of food, estimated the volume of deficit in vegetable production, identified the principal economic and environmental problems and areas for improving the efficiency of the industry in the future. The volume of the deficit in vegetable production was found and the size of the lost sowing areas was determined; the reasons for the unsatisfactory state of vegetable production were identified. It was established that in recent years the country has experienced a temporary famine, which is unacceptable in the European space. It was found that, to minimise the agri-food crisis and environmental threats, it is necessary to focus on the implementation of the proposed measures to support production efficiency, the implementation of which will allow solving the issues of independence and food security of territorial communities, especially in times of war, and improve the functionality of governing bodies, economic entities, investors, scientists, and producers based on sustainable development. The practicality of the study findings is confirmed by the effectiveness of the developed proposals that can be used in the implementation of measures to increase vegetable production and exports

A comparative survey between cascade correlation neural network (CCNN) and feedforward neural network (FFNN) machine learning models for forecasting suspended sediment concentration

Suspended sediment concentration prediction is critical for the design of reservoirs, dams, rivers ecosystems, various operations of aquatic resource structure, environmental safety, and water management. In this study, two different machine models, namely the cascade correlation neural network (CCNN) and feedforward neural network (FFNN) were applied to predict daily-suspended sediment concentration (SSC) at Simga and Jondhara stations in Sheonath basin, India. Daily-suspended sediment concentration and discharge data from 2010 to 2015 were collected and used to develop the model to predict suspended sediment concentration. The developed models were evaluated using statistical indices like Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NES), root mean square error (RMSE), Willmott’s index of agreement (WI), and Legates–McCabe’s index (LM), supplemented by a scatter plot, density plots, histograms and Taylor diagram for graphical representation. The developed model was evaluated and compared with CCNN and FFNN. Nine input combinations were explored using different lag-times for discharge (Qt-n) and suspended sediment concentration (St-n) as input variables, with the current suspended sediment concentration as the desired output, to develop CCNN and FFNN models. The CCNN4 model with 4 lagged inputs (St-1, St-2, St-3, St-4) outperformed the other developed models with the lowest RMSE = 95.02 mg/l and the highest NES = 0.0.662, WI = 0.890 and LM = 0.668 for the Jondhara Station while the same CCNN4 model secure as the best with the lowest RMSE = 53.71 mg/l and the highest NES = 0.785, WI = 0.936 and LM = 0.788 for the Simga Station. The result shows the CCNN model was better than the FFNN model for predicting daily-suspended sediment at both stations in the Sheonath basin, India. Overall, CCNN showed better forecasting potential for suspended sediment concentration compared to FFNN at both stations, demonstrating their applicability for hydrological forecasting with complex relationships.

Prediction of Delayed Surface Subsidence Based on the Improved Knothe-n Model

The delayed surface subsidence caused by coal seam mining is a problem that cannot be ignored, while accurate prediction of the surface subsidence provides a guarantee of the safety and stability of the relevant areas. However, the traditional Knothe model has limitations in considering delayed surface subsidence. Because of this, the Knothe-n time function model is segmented and improved by using the data of the subsidence area obtained from a FLAC3D-based numerical model, and the maximum delayed surface subsidence in different periods is calculated. The analytical results are compared with the numerical results to validate the effectiveness of the improved segmented time function model in predicting delayed surface subsidence. The improved model is applied to predict the surface subsidence in the Yutianbao subsidence area. The root-mean-square error between the predicted and measured values for the maximum subsidence monitoring point is 1.12, and the root-mean-square error between the average predicted and measured values for the surface monitoring points is 0.37, which verifies the accuracy of the improved model. The prediction model provides a scientific basis for environmental protection and safety management after coal seam mining.

Development of saxitoxin biosynthesis gene sxtB-targeted qPCR assay for the quantification of toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium catenella (group I) and A. pacificum (group IV) occurring in the Korean coast

Toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium can produce saxitoxins (STXs) and cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), and thus they are monitored for environmental safety management. Microscopic discrimination of dinoflagellates is difficult to distinguish between toxic and non-toxic species due to their similar morphology. Meanwhile, an alternative quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay is sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective for harmful species monitoring. Herein, we developed a novel qPCR assay to detect the STXs biosynthesis gene sxtB of Alexandrium catenella and A. pacificum, the leading cause of PSP outbreaks in Asian coasts and worldwide. The newly designed sxtB TaqMan probes target the species without any positive signal in other relative dinoflagellates. Deming regression analysis revealed that the sxtB copy number of A. catenella and A. pacificum was 3.6 and 4.1 copies per cell, respectively. During the blooming periods (April 13th–14th, 2020), only A. catenella cells were detected through the qPCR assay, ranging from 5.0 × 10 to 2.5 × 104 eq cells L−1. In addition, sxtB qPCR quantified more accurately compared to large subunit (LSU) rRNA targeting qPCR assay that overestimate cell density. Besides, the sensitivity of sxtB was higher compared to the microscope when the species were rarely present (5.0 × 102 cells L−1). These suggest that the sxtB qPCR assay can be applied to toxic Alexandrium monitoring in the Korean coast, even in the early stage of bloomings.

Environmental constituent of the petrochemical complex sustainable development

This article studies the ongoing processes of environmental safety formation in the context of sustainable development of companies. It is hypothesized that during changes most companies in the petrochemical industry of the Republic of Tatarstan underestimate the need for a comprehensive modernization of the environmental component of sustainable development. In conditions of disturbances and uncertainty in the external environment it leads to increased entropy and loss of effectiveness of discrete measures to improve the environmental safety of enterprises. The study carried out an analysis with a depth of study of more than five years, which is characterized by the emergence of economic and social risks of a global nature and reveals the degree of their influence on the environmental safety of a complex strategically important for the republic. In conclusion, it is concluded that increasing systematicity in environmental safety management under conditions of uncertainty leads to an increase in the rate of sustainable development and the effect of production activities.

Environmental safety management of the territory by means of regional hydro monitoring system

The article outlines the results of developing a sound environmental safety management system by means of using the hydrosphere monitoring in these territories. Scientifically substantiated approaches contain methodology of a control system that allows effective decisions to reduce technogenic pollution of the regional habitat. A set of methods consist of integrated system analysis and synthesis to be used as the main analytical tools in a territorial control structure, which allows taking into account the fundamental properties and processes of changing natural and technical systems. Arguments are also given to determine the high efficiency of hydrosphere control with the joint synchronous operation of the control and control blocks. The regional system, built according to the proposed scheme, allows you quick developing and implementing organizational and technical measures to normalize the chemical and biological composition of drainage waters. The implementation of the proposed theoretical and experimental solutions will ensure a significant increase of environmental safety level of humans’ life.

Environmental safety monitoring management of territories using modern technologies

Modern scientific and technological development is connected with the development and integration of modern monitoring technologies and computer integrated manufacturing systems (CIM) into management processes. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is an approach to management in various areas of production and activity, where computers and automated systems play a central role in all aspects of safety monitoring, including environmental safety of territories. Considered modern technologies and CIM provide an opportunity to integrate the management of all stages of environmental monitoring into one process, ensuring their rational functioning in one system. Importance and prospects of integration of modern monitoring technologies into automated systems of environmental safety management through the use of computer integrated manufacturing systems (CIM) contribute to creation of sustainability of development of territories in accordance with modern requirements of environmental safety. Transition to management of monitoring of environmental safety of territories with the help of modern observation means and computer integrated manufacturing systems (CIM) reduces the terms of realization of monitoring stages, automation of control that provides positive economic effect. A promising direction in the field of informatization of processes of observation of environmental safety and monitoring of its changes is the creation of new opportunities of modern observation technologies and computer integrated manufacturing systems (CIM) allowing to increase the functionality and their automation, including with the change and expansion of tools, observation, their spatial configuration in the real mode of modeling changes in the environmental situation.

MONITORING DAN EVALUASI PENERAPAN SMK3L PADA PROYEK NESTLE BATIK AND SPARK GREENFIELD, BATANG INDUSTRIAL PARK

The construction industry is the largest contributor to the number of work accidents, it was increase almost every year. Based on accident data in 2021, there are 234,270 cases and claims issued by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan reached Rp. 1.79 thrillion. Project of industrial development The Nestle batik and spark greenfield factory located in Batang, Central Java has a high potential of work accidents. The research was conducted to evaluate the compliance of safety implementation with the safety, occupational health and environmental management system (SMK3L). This research excuted by using qualitative descriptive method and the research instruments referring to regulations issued by the National Construction Services Development Institute (LPJKN) in 2016 concerning monitoring and evaluating the implementation of construction SMK3 in the form of a Safety Performance Evaluation (SPE) Form, while primary data to be taken directly in the project by finding documentary evidence and/or real actions carried out by all workers at the project site. In accordance with the SPE, there are 5 criteria reviewed, namely Occupational safety and health commitment and policy, Occupational safety and health planning at the project level, Occupational safety and health implementation and operations, Occupational safety and health performance inspection and evaluation and Occupational safety and health review. Results of research and analysis achieved the level of compliance in implementing SMK3L in the Nestle Batik and Spark Greenfield Project reaches 92% or satisfactory criteria. Risk of work accidents can be prevented properly without affecting construction delay. It is suggested to the contractor to maintain the implementation of a good occupational health and environmental safety management system that has been implemented and improve some of which still implroperly implemented so that zero fatality and zero accident can be achieved.

The purpose of administrative ensuring the balance of interests in the field of environmental regulation

The article examines the purpose of administrative maintenance of the balance of interests in the field of environmental regulation. Systemic, structural-functional methods and the method of comparison were used for the research. The topicality of the topic is due to the need to increase the effectiveness of the legal regulation of environmental protection, environmental safety, and nature management. In the context of current environmental legislation, the purpose and tasks of legal regulation are considered. It is noted that the subject-objective basis of administrative-legal regulation, which is expressed with the help of the concept of the idea of law. The latter acts as a legal idea of administrative and legal regulation in the field of ecology and forms the subject- objective basis of content and research. It is noted that the specification of the concept is manifested in the understanding of the balance of interests as a planned result of the coordination of the public interest of protecting the natural environment with basic public interests (economic well-being of citizens, security, and others), even with private interests. Protection of the public interest should have the ultimate goal of protecting the rights and freedoms of a specific person and citizen of the state. The purpose and planned result of the reconciliation of interests is to ensure basic public interests, ensure the subjective environmental rights and legitimate interests of citizens, and protect them from the misconduct of powerful subjects of administrative law in the field of legal regulation of environmental protection. The administrative-legal maintenance of the balance of interests in the field of environmental regulation is defined as a system of organizational, material and procedural administrative-legal means, with the help of which, in the process of realizing the public interest of environmental protection, basic public interests are ensured, the rights and legitimate interests of individuals and legal entities are ensured and protected.

Evaluation of Occupational Health Safety Management System in Hospitals in Banda Aceh City

The most dominant hospital activity actors at risk of occupational safety accidents (SMK3) are hospital employees such as nurses, cleaning services, patients and visitors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application and factors affecting the implementation of occupational health and environmental safety management systems at dr. Zainal Abidin Regional General Hospital, Meuraxa Hospital and Banda Aceh Mother and Child Hospital. The data collection technique uses a mix method that combines quantitative and qualitative data with sequential explanatory strategies. The legal basis is Permenkes No. 66 of 2016, and the data was analyzed using the Likert scale method points 1-5 through SPSS version 26. The results of research at RSUDZA, RSIA, and RSUDM Banda Aceh show that the application of SMK3 is good to very good. However, there are several inhibiting factors that need to be considered by the hospital in order to improve the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Management System (SMK3) at RSUDZA, RSIA, and RSUDM Banda Aceh, some improvements can be recommended. First, RSUDZA needs to ensure the stability of K3 field officers and improve the marking of K3 signs. In addition, the unification of the drug room with pharmacy employees must be separated to be more effective. RSIA needs to obtain budget for ceiling repairs so as to block various small dirt falling from roof gaps, avoid splashing rainwater falling through the roof insulators or regulators of heat and cold coming from the roof, roof frame covers to make the space neater and cleaner, sound dampers, both generated by rainwater and other sounds and rearrange the right material placement. RSUDM needs to overcome solid waste piles, improve the marking of K3 rooms, and improve the arrangement of parking areas. In addition, it is important to hire additional security personnel in the ER. All these improvements are expected to improve occupational safety and health conditions in hospitals.

The fate of antibiotic resistance genes during anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge with ultrasonic pretreatment.

This study investigated the effect of ultrasonic (US) pretreatment at three different contact times (30, 45, and 60 min) with a power of 240 W and frequency of 40 kHz on the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and enteric pathogens during anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge. By using real time-qPCR, three MGEs (int1, int2, and tnpA) and seven ARGs (sul1, sul2, tetW, tetA, tetO, ermF, and aac(6')-lb) were quantified that have serious human health impacts and represent the most widely used antibiotics (tetracycline, sulfonamide, macrolide, and aminoglycoside). Results indicated that US pretreatment under different contact times improved the removal of ARGs and MGEs. Compared to 30 and 45 min of US pretreatment, 60 min of US pretreatment resulted in a higher reduction of ARGs with total ARG reduction of 41.70 ± 1.13%. Furthermore, the relative abundance of ARGs and MGEs after US pretreatment was reduced more effectively in anaerobic reactors than in a control AD without US pretreatment. The total ARGs and MGEs removal efficiency of control AD was 44.07 ± 0.72% and 63.69 ± 1.43%, and if US pretreatment at different times were applied, the total ARGs and MGEs removal efficiency of the whole pretreatment AD process improved to 59.71 ± 2.76-68.54 ± 1.58% and 69.82 ± 2.15-76.84 ± 0.22%. The highest removal of total ARGs (68.54 ± 1.58%) and MGEs (76.84 ± 0.22%) was achieved after AD with US pretreatment at 45 min. However, US pretreatment and AD with US pretreatment were not effective in inactivation of enteric pathogens (total coliforms and E. coli), suggesting that posttreatment is needed prior to land application of sludge to reduce the level of enteric pathogens. There was no detection of the studied ARGs and MGEs in the enteric pathogens after US pretreatment in subsequent AD. According to this study, long contact times of US pretreatment can mitigate ARGs and MGEs in AD processes, offering valuable insight into improving environmental safety and sustainable waste management. Additionally, the study highlights the need to investigate posttreatment techniques for reducing enteric pathogens in AD effluent, a crucial consideration for agricultural use and environmental protection.

Gas–particle partitioning and dry deposition of atmospheric parent, alkylated, nitrated and hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over the Bohai sea and northern Yellow sea in autumn

To elucidate the gas–particle partitioning characteristics and dry deposition contributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment, 23 integrated air samples were collected during a research cruise in the northern Yellow Sea (NYS) and Bohai Sea (BS) in mid-autumn 2020. The atmospheric concentrations of 23 parent PAHs (PPAHs), 18 alkylated PAHs (APAHs), five nitrated PAHs (NPAHs), and seven hydroxyl PAHs (OPAHs) in gaseous and particulate phases were measured simultaneously. The total concentrations of 53 PAHs varied from 8.77 to 348 ng/m3. The 2-ring and 3-ring PPAHs and APAHs had lower particle-bound fractions than those of the NPAHs and OPAHs. For the gas–particle partitioning of the PAHs, the gas–particle partitioning coefficients (Kp) estimated using an octanol–air partition coefficient (KOA)–based model and KOA/soot–air partition coefficient (KSA) dual model (KOA–KSA dual model) were lower than the Kp measured in the field. Underestimation of the Kp commonly occurred with these models, but the KOA–KSA dual model was more suitable than the KOA–based model for gas–particle partitioning of the 53 atmospheric PAHs in the BS and NYS. The estimated atmospheric dry deposition fluxes of the 53 PAHs ranged from 631 to 14,345 ng/m2/day. The BS receives a PAHs load of up to 117 tons/year. The study provides background information on the occurrence and environmental fate of PAHs and could be vitally important for environmental safety management for the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Factors affecting home environmental safety management for fall prevention for older adults in northern Thailand

BackgroundFalls among older adults affect physical and mental health, disability, death, and quality of life. Home environmental safety management helps to reduce the risk of falls among older adults. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine factors affecting home environmental safety management for fall prevention for older adults in northern Thailand.MethodsThe study sample included 328 relatives who looked after older adults in their families in Phitsanulok Province, northern Thailand. They were randomly selected by a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 7 parts: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) knowledge about home environmental safety management, (3) perceived susceptibility of falls, (4) perceived severity of falls among older adults, (5) perceived self-efficacy of home environmental safety management, (6) perceived outcome of home environmental safety management, and (7) home environmental safety management. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analysis were employed for data analysis.ResultsThe majority of participants (60.4%) had high scores for home environmental safety management for fall prevention for older adults (scores of 14–20). Factors that significantly affected home environmental safety management included perceived severity of falls among older adults (β = 0.323), perceived self-efficacy of home environmental safety management (β = 0.311), the elderly family member having fallen in the past year (β = 0.217), being a grandchild of an older adult (β = -0.143), perceived outcome of home environmental safety management (β = 0.142), and being widowed, divorced or separated (β = -0.096). These 6 factors explained 35.1% of home environmental safety management for fall prevention for older adults.ConclusionRelatives who look after older adults should be educated about the perceived severity of falls among older adults, perceived self-efficacy, and perceived outcome of home environmental safety management. The focus should be on grandchildren of older adults and those who are widowed, divorced or separated to understand how home environmental safety management is important to prevent falls and their consequences among older adults.

Analysis of methods of managing the environmental safety of the navigation passage of ships of maritime transport

The requirements of the MARPOL international convention on ensuring the environmental performance of marine diesel engines in relation to the emission of sulfur oxides, as well as marine fuels during navigation passages of sea transport vessels in special ecological areas, are given. The use of scrubber cleaning of exhaust gases and the use of fuel mixtures, which include biodiesel fuel, are considered as methods that meet these requirements. The research was carried out on ships of the Bulker Carrier class with deadweight of 63,246 tons during the navigation transition between the ports of Northern Europe. One of the vessels used scrubber cleaning of exhaust gases as a method of environmental safety management. The other is the use of fuel mixtures, which include biodiesel fuel. Both vessels are equipped with a 5S60ME-C8.2 MAN-Diesel&Turbo marine diesel engine as the main engine, and three 6EY18ALW Yanmar diesel engines as auxiliary engines. The ratio of sulfur oxides to carbon oxides – SO2/CO2 – was chosen as an indicator for evaluating the effectiveness of environmental safety management methods. This value was monitored and regulated by an automatic monitoring system. It was found that both methods meet the requirements of the MARPOL convention, namely, they will support the SO2/CO2 ratio in the range of 2.29–4.17 (when in special environmental control zones) and in the range of 6.46–20.83 (when in outside the zone of special environmental control). The use of environmental safety management methods increases energy costs for ensuring this process. When using exhaust gas scrubbing, additional power losses reach 237–278 kW. In the case of using a fuel mixture that includes biodiesel fuel, power losses amount to 18–20 kW. It has been experimentally confirmed that the use of a fuel mixture that includes biodiesel fuel is characterized by a lower level of environmental sustainability. At the same time, compared to the use of scrubber cleaning of exhaust gases, this method requires less energy consumption and is also characterized by simpler additional equipment. In this regard (and also taking into account that all the requirements of Annex VI MARPOL are provided), it is recommended as the main one to ensure the environmental safety of navigation passages of sea transport vessels.