Research on the formulation and revision of standard limits for antimony,boron and vanadium in the "Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB5749-2022)" in China / 中华预防医学杂志

China is rich in antimony, boron, and vanadium mineral resources, which have been detected in environmental water bodies and drinking water. During the revision process of the "Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB5749-2006)", research and evaluation are focused on three indicators: antimony, boron and vanadium. Vanadium is added and the limit value of boron is adjusted. This study reviews and discusses the technical contents related to the revision of the antimony, boron and vanadium, including the environmental presence levels, exposure status, health effects, and the revision of the standard limits of these three indicators. Suggestions are also made for the implementation of this standard.

Influence of rootstocks on growth, yield, fruit quality and leaf mineral element contents of pear cv. 'Santa Maria' in semi-arid conditions

BACKGROUND: Rootstocks play an essential role to determining orchard performance of fruit trees. Pyrus communisand Cydonia oblonga are widely used rootstocks for European pear cultivars. The lack of rootstocks adapted to different soil conditions and different grafted cultivars is widely acknowledged in pear culture. Cydonia rootstocks (clonal) and Pyrus rootstocks (seedling or clonal) have their advantages and disadvantages. In each case, site-specific environmental characteristics, specific cultivar response and production objectives must be considered before choosing the best rootstock. In this study, the influence of three Quince (BA 29, Quince A = MA, Quince C = MC) and a local European pear seedling rootstocks on the scion yield, some fruit quality characteristics and leaf macro (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) and micro element (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and B) content of 'Santa Maria' pear (Pyrus communis L.) were investigated. RESULTS: Trees on seedling rootstock had the highest annual yield, highest cumulative yield (kg tree(-1)), largest trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), lowest yield efficiency and lowest cumulative yield (ton ha(-1)) in the 10th year after planting. The rootstocks had no significant effect on average fruit weight and fruit volume. Significantly higher fruit firmness was obtained on BA 29 and Quince A. The effect of rootstocks on the mineral element accumulation (N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and B) was significant. Leaf analysis showed that rootstocks used had different mineral uptake efficiencies throughout the early season. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the rootstocks strongly affected fruit yield, fruit quality and leaf mineral element uptake of 'Santa Maria' pear cultivar. Pear seedling and BA 29 rootstock found to be more prominent in terms of several characteristics for 'Santa Maria' pear cultivar that is grown in highly calcareous soil in semi-arid climate conditions. We determined the highest N, P (although insignificant), K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Cu mineral element concentrations on the pear seedling and BA 29 rootstocks. According to the results, we recommend the seedling rootstock for normal density plantings (400 trees ha(-1)) and BA 29 rootstock for high-density plantings (800 trees ha(-1)) for 'Santa Maria' pear cultivar in semi-arid conditions.

Avaliação da força de repulsão entre magnetos de neodímeo ferro boro usados em tratamentos intra e extra bucais / Evaluation of repulsion force between Neodymium Iron Boron magnets used for intra and extra oral treatments

Os magnetos de Neodímio Ferro Boro (Nd2Fe14B) apresentam excelentes propriedades magnéticas e compatibilidade biológica, embora sejam frágeis e possuam baixa resistência à corrosão. As forças de atração magnética de magnetos de terras raras têm sido empregadas em sistemas de retenção, principalmente associadas aos implantes osseointegráveis, em próteses bucais e próteses faciais, bem como em aparelhos ortodônticos. Este estudo avalia o comportamento das forças de repulsão magnética, em função do volume e comprimento do eixo magnético, quando submetidos a afastamentos, de modo que esta propriedade física seja empregada em odontologia. Vinte e quatro corpos de prova, com um ou dois pares de magnetos de Nd2Fe14B, com diferentes formas e volumes variados, foram submetidos a ensaio mecânico para mensuração das forças de repulsão magnética, em condições de afastamentos que variaram entre 0,0 e 20,0 mm. Os dados observados mostram que, considerando-se uma mesma área superficial de polo, a força de repulsão magnética varia em função do comprimento do eixo magnético. Os dados relativos ao afastamento foram submetidos a análise de variância (p0,05), tendo-se observado que o aumento da distância entre os magnetos diminui significantemente a força de repulsão magnética na maioria dos corpos de prova. No afastamento 0,0 mm as forças magnéticas de repulsão dos subgrupos mantêm uma sequência crescente a partir do subgrupo de menor volume de magnetos ao subgrupo de maior volume de magnetos, os quais permanecem nessa sequência nos afastamentos iniciais

A força de repulsão magnética gerada por magnetos pequenos varia menos em função do aumento do afastamento. Conclui-se que a variação da força de repulsão magnética, dada a mesma área superficial de polo, apresenta uma relação direta com o volume e com o eixo magnético onde, quanto maior o volume ou o comprimento do eixo magnético, maior a força de repulsão magnética. A relação direta entre volume e força de repulsão magnética não se altera frente aos afastamentos inicais, tendendo a se tornar imensurável com o aumento da distância. A força de repulsão magnética mantém uma relação inversa com a distância entre os pares de magnetos. Este ensaio mecânico indica que a força de repulsão magnética apresenta, assim como a força de atração magnética, uma curva hiperbólica de redução frente ao aumento do afastamento.

Neodymium Iron Boron (Nd2Fe14B) magnets exhibit excellent magnetic properties and demonstrate biological compatibility, despite of their fragility and low resistance to corrosion. The magnetic attraction forces of rare earth magnets have been used in retention systems mainly associated with osseointegrated implants, in oral and facial prostheses, as well as orthodontic appliances. This study evaluates the repulsion forces of magnets, varying volume and length of magnetic axis when subjected to vertical distance, in order to assess the usefulness of such physical property in clinical situations. Twenty-four specimens, with one or two pairs of Nd2Fe14B magnets, presenting different shapes and various volumes, were subjected to mechanical testing so as to measure magnetic repulsion forces, under conditions of vertical pole face separation ranging from 0.0 to 20.0 mm. Repulsive magnetic force varies depending on the length of the magnetic axis, when considering the same surface area of a pole. Analysis of Variance - (p0.05) indicated that by increasing the distance between the pairs of magnets, magnetic repulsion force significantly reduces in most of the specimens. Starting at a 0.0 mm distance, the magnetic repulsion forces keep an enhancing sequence from lower to higher magnetic volume, holding these characteristics during initials distances. Repulsion magnetic forces generated by small magnets varies less as the distance increases.

The results indicate the repulsion magnetic force variation, fixing the same pole surface area, presenting a direct relationship between volume and magnetic axis, since the increase of the volume or of the magnetic axis length leads to a higher magnetic repulsive force. The relationship between volume and magnetic repulsion force does not vary at initial distance. Nevertheless, when such distance increases, the force between the magnets significantly decreases. The magnetic repulsion force holds an inverse relationship with respect to the distance between magnets pairs. This mechanical test indicates that the magnetic repulsion force, as well the magnetic attraction force, present a hyperbolic curve of force reduction due to the increasing vertical distance.

Estimation of trace elements in sound and carious enamel of primary and permanent teeth by atomic absorption spectrophotometry: an in vitro study.

The influence of trace elements on the prevalence of caries is a complex subject. However, the demonstration of an inverse relationship between caries prevalence and fluoride (F) intake indicates the potential effect of trace elements on caries. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This in vitro study sought to estimate and compare the trace element concentrations in sound and carious enamel of primary and permanent teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty sound and carious primary and permanent teeth, extracted from children and adolescents of Davangere city, were collected. The teeth were divided into four groups (of ten each) and enamel samples were prepared by mechanical grinding. The trace elements were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed the presence of 18 trace elements (F, Sr, K, Al, Si, Ni, B, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Cr, Zn, Mg, Se, Pb, Mo, and V) in the enamel of sound and carious primary and permanent teeth. The mean, standard deviation, and range (at 95% confidence level) were calculated for each element. The concentrations of F, Sr, and K were significantly ( P <0.05) higher in sound enamel of permanent teeth than in sound enamel of primary teeth. The concentrations of F, Sr, K, Al, and Fe were significantly ( P <0.05) higher in sound enamel of permanent teeth than in carious enamel of permanent teeth. The concentrations of F, K, and Si were significantly ( P <0.05) higher in sound enamel of primary teeth than in carious enamel of primary teeth.

Utilization of both benthic macroinvertebrates and physicochemical parameters for evaluating water quality of the stream Cekerek (Tokat, Turkey).

This study examines the applicability of five European biotic indices and the Gammarus:Asellus ratio (G:A), compared with the measurement of physicochemical parameters, in order to determine the water quality at ten sites along the Tokat part of Cekerek stream, in Anatolia, Turkey, during the period February 2002 to January 2003. The biological and chemical results are in good agreement with respect to the water quality. In particular, the G:A ratio was calculated to be high at the first three stations and this result was correlated with the ETBI and the Chandler scores. Consequently, the water quality of Cekerek stream was classified as class I for biological and physicochemical data, except for phosphate, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate and nitrite at the last seven stations. The high concentrations of these chemicals probably result from agricultural runoff and urban sewage. In total, 55 taxa of benthic macroinvertebrates were identified from the Cekerek stream during this study period.

Alternate relationship between sediments and ground water by using boron as indicator in Kerbala - Negaf Area - Middle of Iraq

Boron concentrations in ground water change locality in Kerbla - Nejaf area [20/localities] because the difference of sedimentary facies sequence of the clay lenses in horizontal and vertical direction and by the effect of time periods between rainy time, so this lead to the difference in Boron concentration in ground water with time [January - June, 1996]. The average of Boron rates in ground water in selected localities with time is 3 mlg/L and this average is more than the overage of Boron sediment filteration of the same localities [2.6 mlg/L]. The indication f Boron distribution with time changes especially in time of watering effect as human activities as well as the number of rainy days. The results show that Boron during water shortage and not watering less than Boron in water increasing period and watering. Two experiments were done to represented the natural conditions of the area by using saline wells water to represent watering case, and the distal water to represent rain case. The result showed that increasing of Boron in sediments filtration increases with salinity of sedrments fasaes as well the colour of this facies which showed sedimentary environment and the propability of Boron accumulation in grey claylenses