Air quality as a public health problem in Hong Kong: measuring the risks

Hong Kong has an air quality problem with excess levels of such air pollutants as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates and ozone, occurring from time to time throughout the year. This paper outlines the sources of the major pollutants in Hong Kong, both natural and manmade, and examines the health risks to the Hong Kong population from exposure to such pollutants. The principle man-made sources of these pollutants are mainly diesel vehicle emissions, and high sulphur content fuels burnt in industrial furnaces and power plants. There is concern over levels of these pollutants in ambient air because of their relationship with respiratory health problems, which range from local irritation of the respiratory tract to carcinogenesis. Studies in Hong Kong also demonstrate the importance of environmental tobacco smoke in the home as a cause of children's respiratory health problems, in addition to poor air quality. Epidemiological studies are useful tools for identifying risks and for evaluating the effectiveness of preventive measures, including legislation. In particular we need to identify health risks to young children and the preventable fraction likely to be achieved from different interventions. For optimum effectiveness, a multisectoral approach, developed between regulatory agencies, pubic health authorities and research groups, is needed to contribute to the overall respiratory health of the community.published_or_final_versio

Proceedings of the ASAIHL Seminar on the Role of the ASAIHL in Combating Health Hazards of Environmental Pollution: June 17-20, 1992, University of Hong Kong

Includes bibliographical references.Sponsored by the ASAIHLpublished_or_final_versionLegal controls of environmental pollution in Asia: how effective are they? Allen, J. Allen, J. 256Hong Kong's water pollution controls: are we serious? Baillie, B.G. Baillie, B.G. 265Environmental law in Hong Kong - a legal practitioner's point of view Skrine, R. Skrine, R. 277Has the use of unleaded petrol provided a lead-free environment in Hong Kong? Au, C.T. Au, C.T. Chou, K.M. Chou, K.M. Wong, K.Y. Wong, K.Y. 282The influence of the health act on present environmental problems Prabawa Utama, S.H. Prabawa Utama, S.H. 288Characteristics of acid rain in mainland China Hong, Y.T. Hong, Y.T. 42Environmental impact assessment and the role of legislation in environmental control - the case of Malaysia Idris, A.B. Idris, A.B. Fuad, A. Fuad, A. 294Social responsbility awareness assessment of selected university respondents in combating environmental pollution Barcelona, A.C. Barcelona, A.C. 301Alternatives to legal controls on environmental pollution Kaine, G. Kaine, G. Reeve, I. Reeve, I. Musgrave, W. Musgrave, W. 306Introduction 315Towards low-waste technology Diaper, J. Diaper, J. 317Changing environmental values and institution building: the role of ASAIHL Hills, P. Hills, P. 325The nature and control of motor vehicle emissions - methanol as an alternative fuel Cheung, C.S. Cheung, C.S. Lui, Y.B. Lui, Y.B. Leung, T.P. Leung, T.P. 335Prevention and treatment of environmental pollution Mena, M.M. Mena, M.M. 332Treatment and disposal of heavy metal wastes using cementitious solidification Peralta, G.L. Peralta, G.L. Ballesteros, F.C. Ballesteros, F.C. Cepeda, M.L. Cepeda, M.L. 340A membrane anaerobic system for wastewater treatment Fakrul-Razi, A. Fakrul-Razi, A. 346Prevention and treatment of air pollution in Hong Kong Lam, J.C. Lam, J.C. 351Environmental education - a strategy for the treatment and prevention of environmental pollution Manalo, J.A. Manalo, J.A. Sergovia, V. Sergovia, V. Hocson, T.R. Hocson, T.R. 357Bacterial reduction during sewage treatment - the Hong Kong experience Hodgkiss, I.J. Hodgkiss, I.J. Chiu, S.H.C. Chiu, S.H.C. 360Treatment and prevention of environmental pollution in the Philippines De Jesus, E.M. De Jesus, E.M. 366Microbiological study of shellfish and water quality in Deep Bay, Hong Kong Kueh, C.S.W. Kueh, C.S.W. 369Environmental deterioration in greater Bangkok, Thailand Paraken, Y. Paraken, Y. 376The 'polluter pays' principle: the distribution of economic impacts Rahim, K.A. Rahim, K.A. 378The role of Philippine ASAIHL institutions in combating the hazards of environmental pollution in Manila Quirino, T.U. Quirino, T.U. 35Education programmes for training of agrichemical users in New Zealand Penman, D.R. Penman, D.R. 31The role of institutions of higher learning in combating health hazards of environmental pollution Rampal, K.G. Rampal, K.G. Ismail, N. Ismail, N. 26The contribution of health care departments in tertiary institutions in Hong Kong to combating the hazards of pollution King, A.R. King, A.R. 19Australian approaches to finger printing sources of environmental lead with isotopes Gulson, B.L. Gulson, B.L. 13D Treatment and prevention of environmental pollutionC Legal controls of environmental pollutionB Monitoring and instrumentation of environmental pollutionA Health hazards of environmental pollutionCountry reportsKeynote address Wang, Gungwu Wang, Gungwu 2Impact of industry on the health of surrounding communities: an analysis of epidemiological and public health challenges Bhopal, R.S. Bhopal, R.S. 65Epidemiology and environmental health: reliable risk measurement in well-populations Lam, T.H. Lam, T.H. Hedley, A.J. Hedley, A.J. Peters, J. Peters, J. 74An investigation into the presence of anaerobic bacteria in coastal waters of Hong Kong Boost, M.V. Boost, M.V. Wong, L.P. Wong, L.P. Wong, P.S. Wong, P.S. Ma, K.C. Ma, K.C. 82Pollutions within the built environment Burnett, J. Burnett, J. Chan, D.W.T. Chan, D.W.T. 87The effects of pesticides use on the health of on farmers in East Java, Indonesia Mukono, J. Mukono, J. 94Noise and human activities in Hong Kong: a review Tan, T.C. Tan, T.C. Wong, L.T.L. Wong, L.T.L. 98Analysis of organophosphorus insecticides in vegetables Tanner, P.A. Tanner, P.A. Leung, K.H. Leung, K.H. 105Health risk and environmental pollution: the hidden factors Peters, J. Peters, J. Lui, J. Lui, J. Wong, C.M. Wong, C.M. Hedley, A.J. Hedley, A.J. Lam, T.H. Lam, T.H. Ong, S.G. Ong, S.G. Tam, A.Y.C. Tam, A.Y.C. 109Risk assessment and management in the prevention of adverse effects on human health and the environment Spickett, J.T. Spickett, J.T. 117Indoor and outdoor pollution in shops and offices in Hong Kong and health effects Bacon-Shone, J. Bacon-Shone, J. Liao, S. Liao, S. 122Climatological assessment of potential heat stress in Hong Kong Kyle, W.J. Kyle, W.J. 126Asbestos dust: a silent enemy Lam, K.Y. Lam, K.Y. 131Integrating environmental health problems into urban planning: problems in the Asian-Pacific region and the challenges for universities Simpson, R.W. Simpson, R.W. 134Organic solvent exposure in some manufacturing industries in Malaysia Tan, G.L.E. Tan, G.L.E. 138Introduction 145Introductino 63Monitoring and instrumentation of environmental pollution Tebbutt, T.H.Y. Tebbutt, T.H.Y. 145The air quality monitoring programme of the Hong Kong environmental protection department Leung, R.T.M. Leung, R.T.M. 152Low technology sampling can show spatial and temporal patterns of airborne metal pollution Lloyd, O.L. Lloyd, O.L. Fay, Gailey Fay, Gailey 159Heavy metal contamination in coastal waters - a case study of the north coast of Central Java, Indonesia Supriharyono Supriharyono 165Determination of phosphorus in natural water at parts per trillion level by laser thermal lens effect Wu, L. Wu, L. Siu, G.G. Siu, G.G. Chiu, D.D.S. Chiu, D.D.S. Stokes, M.J. Stokes, M.J. 171A geographical approach to evaluating the human impact upon water quality Peart, M.R. Peart, M.R. 178Modular auto-enrichment subsystem for use in environmental high pressure liquid chromatography analysis Chen, S.C. Chen, S.C. Chang, J.Y. Chang, J.Y. Wang, R.K. Wang, R.K. 183Exposure to environmental pollutants in the work environment: a case study of a traffic toll booth in Malaysia Yaziz, M.I. Yaziz, M.I. 187A proposed air quality index in Hong Kong Ng, C.N. Ng, C.N. Tanner, P.A. Tanner, P.A. 191Background level of trace elements in soils of mainland China Chen, J.S. Chen, J.S. Tao, S. Tao, S. Deng, B.S. Deng, B.S. Wang, X.J. Wang, X.J. 196Indoor monitoring of nitrogen oxides Cheung, M.T. Cheung, M.T. 200The role of Thai universities in combating health hazards of environmental pollution Wangsuphachart, V.L. Wangsuphachart, V.L. 54Development of a piezoelectric crystal sorption detector for continuous monitoring of organic vapours at the workplace Fung, Y.S. Fung, Y.S. 205Effects of some standard fixatives on fish gill morphology Shepherd, M. Shepherd, M. Ivanstoff, W. Ivanstoff, W. 210Improving the total environmental of Singapore Tan, T.C. Tan, T.C. 46Simulation of urban traffic noise on the environment Pamanikabud, P. Pamanikabud, P. 215Investigation into the haze episodes in the Kelang Valley, Malaysia Samah, A.A. Samah, A.A. 221Photoacoustic determination of organic pollutant gases in Hong Kong air Shi, B. Shi, B. Siu, G.G. Siu, G.G. Chiu, D.D.S. Chiu, D.D.S. 228Application of the proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique for the study of respirable suspended particulated (RSP) in Hong Kong Cai, Z.X. Cai, Z.X. Sze, P.Y.K. Sze, P.Y.K. Stokes, M.J. Stokes, M.J. Young, E.C.M. Young, E.C.M. 234Follow-up stream sediment geochemical reconnaissance surveys in the vicinity of Tai Mo Shan, New Territories, Hong Kong Yim, W.W.S. Yim, W.W.S. Ng, C.Y. Ng, C.Y. Thornton, I. Thornton, I. 240Introduction 249Environmental pollution, higher education, and the rule of law Axline, M. Axline, M. 25

Reorganization of corticospinal output during motor learning

Motor learning is accompanied by widespread changes within the motor cortex, but it is unknown whether these changes are ultimately funneled through a stable corticospinal output channel or whether the corticospinal output itself is plastic. We investigated the consistency of the relationship between corticospinal neuron activity and movement through in vivo two-photon calcium imaging in mice learning a lever-press task. Corticospinal neurons exhibited heterogeneous correlations with movement, with the majority of movement-modulated neurons decreasing activity during movement. Individual cells changed their activity across days, which led to changed associations between corticospinal activity and movement. Unlike previous observations in layer 2/3, activity accompanying learned movements did not become more consistent with learning; instead, the activity of dissimilar movements became more decorrelated. These results indicate that the relationship between corticospinal activity and movement is dynamic and that the types of activity and plasticity are different from and possibly complementary to those in layer 2/3

Tools for analyzing parallel I/O

Parallel application I/O performance often does not meet user expectations. Additionally, slight access pattern modifications may lead to significant changes in performance due to complex interactions between hardware and software. These issues call for sophisticated tools to capture, analyze, understand, and tune application I/O. In this paper, we highlight advances in monitoring tools to help address these issues. We also describe best practices, identify issues in measure- ment and analysis, and provide practical approaches to translate parallel I/O analysis into actionable outcomes for users, facility operators, and researchers

Aberrant Cortical Activity In Multiple GCaMP6-Expressing Transgenic Mouse Lines

Transgenic mouse lines are invaluable tools for neuroscience but as with any technique, care must be taken to ensure that the tool itself does not unduly affect the system under study. Here we report aberrant electrical activity, similar to interictal spikes, and accompanying fluorescence events in some genotypes of transgenic mice expressing GCaMP6 genetically-encoded calcium sensors. These epileptiform events have been observed particularly, but not exclusively, in mice with Emx1-Cre and Ai93 transgenes, across multiple laboratories. The events occur at >0.1 Hz, are very large in amplitude (>1.0 mV local field potentials, >10% df/f widefield imaging signals), and typically cover large regions of cortex. Many properties of neuronal responses and behavior seem normal despite these events, though rare subjects exhibit overt generalized seizures. The underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon remain unclear, but we speculate about possible causes on the basis of diverse observations. We encourage researchers to be aware of these activity patterns while interpreting neuronal recordings from affected mouse lines and when considering which lines to study

Fatigue Intervention by Nurses Evaluation - The FINE Trial. A randomised controlled trial of nurse led self-help treatment for patients in primary care with chronic fatigue syndrome: study protocol. [ISRCTN74156610]

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME (CFS/ME), is a condition characterised primarily by severe, disabling fatigue, of unknown origin, which has a poor prognosis and serious personal and economic consequences. Evidence for the effectiveness of any treatment for CFS/ME in primary care, where most patients are seen, is sparse. Recently, a brief, pragmatic treatment for CFS/ME, based on a physiological dysregulation model of the condition, was shown to be successful in improving fatigue and physical functioning in patients in secondary care. The treatment involves providing patients with a readily understandable explanation of their symptoms, from which flows the rationale for a graded rehabilitative plan, developed collaboratively with the therapist. The present trial will test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pragmatic rehabilitation when delivered by specially trained general nurses in primary care. We selected a client-centred counselling intervention, called supportive listening, as a comparison treatment. Counselling has been shown to be as effective as cognitive behaviour therapy for treating fatigue in primary care, is more readily available, and controls for supportive therapist contact time. Our control condition is treatment as usual by the general practitioner (GP). Methods and design: This study protocol describes the design of an ongoing, single-blind, pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a brief (18 week) self-help treatment, pragmatic rehabilitation, delivered by specially trained nurse-therapists in patients' homes, compared with nurse-therapist delivered supportive listening and treatment as usual by the GP. An economic evaluation, taking a societal viewpoint, is being carried out alongside the clinical trial. Three adult general nurses were trained over a six month period to deliver the two interventions. Patients aged over 18 and fulfilling the Oxford criteria for CFS are assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and again one year later. Primary outcomes are self-reported physical functioning and fatigue at one year, and will be analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. A qualitative study will examine the interventions' mechanisms of change, and also GPs' drivers and barriers towards referral

Epidemic space

The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of 'spatiality' in understanding the materialization of risk society and cultivation of risk sensibilities. More specifically it provides a cultural analysis of pathogen virulence (as a social phenomenon) by means of tracing and mapping the spatial flows that operate in the uncharted zones between the microphysics of infection and the macrophysics of epidemics. It will be argued that epidemic space consists of three types of forces: the vector, the index and the vortex. It will draw on Latour's Actor Network Theory to argue that epidemic space is geared towards instability when the vortex (of expanding associations and concerns) displaces the index (of finding a single cause)

A comparative framework: how broadly applicable is a 'rigorous' critical junctures framework?

The paper tests Hogan and Doyle's (2007, 2008) framework for examining critical junctures. This framework sought to incorporate the concept of ideational change in understanding critical junctures. Until its development, frameworks utilized in identifying critical junctures were subjective, seeking only to identify crisis, and subsequent policy changes, arguing that one invariably led to the other, as both occurred around the same time. Hogan and Doyle (2007, 2008) hypothesized ideational change as an intermediating variable in their framework, determining if, and when, a crisis leads to radical policy change. Here we test this framework on cases similar to, but different from, those employed in developing the exemplar. This will enable us determine whether the framework's relegation of ideational change to a condition of crisis holds, or, if ideational change has more importance than is ascribed to it by this framework. This will also enable us determined if the framework itself is robust, and fit for the purposes it was designed to perform — identifying the nature of policy change