Monte Carlo simulation and delayed geochemical hazard revealed the contamination and risk of arsenic in natural water sources.

Due to its ubiquity and carcinogenicity, the geochemical behavior and health risks of arsenic (As) have been a research focus worldwide. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the contamination and ecological and health risks of As in the Zijiang River (ZR)-a natural water source. The concentration ranges of As were separately 1.36-6.23 µg/L, 11.42-74.53 mg/kg, and 1.26-130.68 µg/L in surface waters (dissolved), sediments, and pore waters. The concentrations of As in the midstream pore waters and sediments were relatively high, which was related to mining, dam interception, and sediment resuspension. The Monte Carlo simulation results showed that the occurrence probability of As contamination and static risk in sediments was low, however, in the midstream, the secondary risk caused by the release of As should be given more consideration. In the sediments, the transformation paths and the dynamic risk of As were explored based on the delayed geochemical hazard model, showing that there was a probability of a potential burst of 26.47% - 55.88% in the sediments of the ZR. Although at the detected surface waters, the total risk of the noncarcinogenicity and carcinogenicity of As were low, overall adults have lower health risks than children, and As exposure in children should be of concern. This study complements the further understanding of the geochemical behavior of arsenic, which can be extended to other toxic metal(loid)s.

The Symptoms and Factors Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for Burns Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study From Guangdong Province in China.

The symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among medical staff have become a significant issue. Environments related to burns are highly stressful for nurses and can lead to PTSD, thus affecting their mental health. It is vital to consider that the quality of burns care, and the outcomes of such treatments, may be threatened if nurses experience PTSD. We evaluated PTSD symptoms in burns nurses and explored the correlations between demographic characteristics, work-related characteristics, professional identity, turnover intention, and PTSD symptoms. This was a cross-sectional study involving 273 nurses working in the burns unit from Guangdong, China, between July and August 2019. Nurses were recruited from 30 hospitals and completed three validated psychological questionnaires: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Professional Identity Scale (PIS) for nurses, and Turnover Intention Questionnaire (TIQ). We also collated information relating to sociodemographic and work-related characteristics. The cutoff point for the PCL-C was defined as 38 points; 17.22% (n = 47) of participants scored higher than or equal to 38. The PCL-C score was negatively correlated with professional identity level (P < .01) and positively correlated with turnover intention (P < .01). The workplace, mean monthly income, experience of workplace violence, and professional identity level were important factors and all associated with the severity of PTSD. PTSD symptoms were common in burns nurses. Attention should be paid to the mental well-being of these staff. Screening processes need to be initiated to identify individuals suffering from PTSD and take appropriate early interventional action.