scholarly journals Improved enrichment factor calculations through principal component analysis: Examples from soils near breccia pipe uranium mines, Arizona, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 248 ◽  
pp. 90-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carleton R. Bern ◽  
Katie Walton-Day ◽  
David L. Naftz
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1087-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Bai ◽  
Zijian He ◽  
Wanyue Chen ◽  
Yujie Wang

This study aims to investigate whether sources of metal elements in fine particulate matter and their distribution in high-rise buildings vary with floor levels. Inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to determine the contents of 11 common heavy metals in PM2.5 samples collected from different floors of a high-rise residential building in Northeast China during the heating season. The sources of metal elements in PM2.5 samples on different floors were analysed by the enrichment factor method and the principal component analysis method. The concentration of metal elements is higher in lower floors (<7th floor) and lower in higher floors (>7th floor). The enrichment factor method shows that the enrichment factors of As, Cd, Cu and Pb may be seriously affected by human sources, while the enrichment factors of the other seven metals are less than 10, indicating that their sources may be natural sources. The principal component analysis shows that the main sources of indoor metal elements in high-rise residential buildings are divided into four main components, including coal combustion (31.44%), automobile emissions and transportation (21.60%), soil dust, particulate matter discharged from agricultural production and atmospheric dust (13.43%), metallurgical, chemical and ore mining (12.61%).


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Ivaneide Oliveira Santos ◽  
Enjolras De Albuquerque Medeiros Lima ◽  
Edmilson Santos de Lima ◽  
José Geilson Alves Demetrio

A bacia hidrográfica do rio Tatuoca faz parte do grupo de pequenos rios litorâneos do Estado de Pernambuco e na sua área de drenagem encontra-se o Complexo Industrial Portuário de Suape - CIPS. O estudo das concentrações de elementos-traço em solos é um importante instrumento na gestão ambiental do meio físico de bacias hidrográficas, uma vez que pode contribuir para diferenciar as concentrações de base geogênica e as contribuições antrópicas em sua área de drenagem. Dentro desse contexto, o estudo teve como objetivo identificar os agentes causadores da variação das concentrações médias do Mo ao longo de um perfil pedológico localizado na bacia do Rio Tatuoca. O perfil de solo foi coletado através de sondagem rotativa testemunhada, denominado CTP2, com 17 metros de profundidade. Este foi seccionado a cada 50 centímetros compondo um total de 34 amostras, que foram inicialmente preparadas no Laboratório de Preparação de Amostras do Departamento de Geologia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco e posteriormente enviadas para análises químicas no Laboratório da Geosol (MG). Tais análises foram efetuadas por Espectrometria de Emissão Atômica (ICP-AES) para 29 elementos. Os resultados foram tratados estatisticamente através de análise multivariada (Análise de Componentes Principais) e por Fator de Enriquecimento. A base de dados foi gerada a partir das concentrações dos 16 elementos com as concentrações mais relevantes resultantes das análises das 34 amostras coletadas. A interpretação dos resultados estatísticos permitiu identificar alterações nas concentrações ao longo do perfil de solo estudado. Os resultados obtidos a partir da equação de Gresens para o Fator de Enriquecimento para Mo foi de 1,3 na seção mais superficial do solo, classificado como pouco enriquecido segundo alguns autores. Entretanto, os resultados dos valores absolutos obtidos através do ICP/AES para a seção mais superficial do perfil estudado, apresentaram concentração de 5,5 ppm, indicando um aumento pontual, levando em consideração a prevalência dos valores intermediários do perfil situados em torno de 0,5 ppm e do valor da camada mais basal de 3,4 ppm. Diante disto, pode-se afirmar que o valor absoluto de 5,5 ppm referente à seção superficial do perfil não o caracteriza como um perfil anômalo, uma vez que o fator de enriquecimento apresentou-se de forma moderada. Desta forma, a diferença que há entre os valores das amostras de superfície e das amostras que foram coletadas no intervalo que abrange a seção intermediária até a seção mais basal do perfil, indica uma alteração referente a eventos ambientais localizados, os quais podem ter inferido nestas concentrações de Mo apenas na seção superficial (até 1,5m de profundidade). Os eventos ambientais marcantes ocorridos na área em questão estão relacionados primeiramente ao intenso cultivo da cana-de-açúcar, comumente associado ao uso de defensivos agrícolas por um grande período de tempo; Em segundo plano, outro grande evento marcante na área foi o processo de terraplanagem do solo, decorrente do Projeto de implementação da Refinaria Abreu e Lima e outros empreendimentos industriais circunvizinhos, culminaram na supressão vegetal. Desta forma, o aumento pontual das concentrações do Mo em uma profundidade de 0 a 0,5 está fortemente relacionado a atividades antrópicas de supressão vegetal e o uso por um longo período de tempo de defensivos agrícolas, o que, para alguns autores se classifica como anomalia significativa. Sendo assim, em solos com característica geogênica ácida, afetados por áreas industriais onde haja atividade que inferem maior intensidade no uso de compostos químicos associadas a intensa supressão vegetal merecem ser monitoradas, tendo em vista a possibilidade de um enriquecimento de moderado a alto de Mo, e possivelmente de outros elementos-traço.   The Tatuoca river basin belongs to the group of small coastal rivers of the State of Pernambuco and its drainage area is completely within the Suape Port Industrial Complex Suape - CIPS. The study of concentrations of trace elements in soils is an important tool in environmental management of the watershed, as it can contribute to differentiate between baseline geogenic concentrations from anthropogenic contributions in their catchment area. Within this context, the study aimed to characterize the trace elements geochemical variation in soils, in order to visualize possible anthropogenic contributions as well as support geochemical studies of active stream sediments in the Tatuoca river basin. soil profile was collected by percussion drilling, and named CTP4, with 17 meters deep. Both was cut every 50 cm for a total of 34 samples, which was initially prepared in Sample Preparation Laboratory, Department of Geology, Federal University of Pernambuco and later sent for chemical analysis at the Laboratory Geosol. These samples were analyzed by atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for 29 elements. The results were statistically analyzed by multivariate analysis (Principal Component Analysis) and Enrichment Factor. The database was generated from the concentrations of 16 trace elements resulting from analysis of 34 samples. The interpretation of statistical results allowed us to identify geochemical change in the soil profile studied. Lead presented an enrichment factor of 1.5, classified as slightly enriched according to some authors. However, in the most superficial layer of the profile studied, the absolute concentration of 5.5 ppm showed, indicating an increase timely, considering the prevalence of intermediate values of the profile around 0.5 ppm and the value of the basal layer 3.4 ppm.     Keywords: Pedologic soil, enrichment factor, Tatuoca basin, principal component analysis  


VASA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 333-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirchberger ◽  
Finger ◽  
Müller-Bühl

Background: The Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire (ICQ) is a short questionnaire for the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). The objective of this study was to translate the ICQ into German and to investigate the psychometric properties of the German ICQ version in patients with IC. Patients and methods: The original English version was translated using a forward-backward method. The resulting German version was reviewed by the author of the original version and an experienced clinician. Finally, it was tested for clarity with 5 German patients with IC. A sample of 81 patients were administered the German ICQ. The sample consisted of 58.0 % male patients with a median age of 71 years and a median IC duration of 36 months. Test of feasibility included completeness of questionnaires, completion time, and ratings of clarity, length and relevance. Reliability was assessed through a retest in 13 patients at 14 days, and analysis of Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency. Construct validity was investigated using principal component analysis. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the ICQ scores with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) as well as clinical measures. Results: The ICQ was completely filled in by 73 subjects (90.1 %) with an average completion time of 6.3 minutes. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reached 0.75. Intra-class correlation for test-retest reliability was r = 0.88. Principal component analysis resulted in a 3 factor solution. The first factor explained 51.5 of the total variation and all items had loadings of at least 0.65 on it. The ICQ was significantly associated with the SF-36 and treadmill-walking distances whereas no association was found for resting ABPI. Conclusions: The German version of the ICQ demonstrated good feasibility, satisfactory reliability and good validity. Responsiveness should be investigated in further validation studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 676-681
Author(s):  
V.V. Sapozhnikova ◽  
◽  
A.L. Bondarenko ◽  

Aim: to determine the association between clinical laboratory parameters, the production of cytokines (IL-17A, -23, -33, -35), and specific IgM and IgG in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans. Patients and Methods: complete blood count, the concentrations of IL-17A, -23, -33, -35, and the levels of specific IgM and IgG were measured during acute infection and convalescence (n=30). The control group included age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n=30). Statistical analysis was performed using the StatSoft Statistica v 10.0 software (parametric and non-parametric methods and multifactorial analysis, i.e., principal component analysis). Results: most (80%) patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans are the people of working age. In most patients, the combination of the specific antibodies against Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii (76.7%) and severe intoxication and inflammatory process (100%) were detected. Moderate and severe disease associated with meningism was diagnosed in 90% and 10%, respectively. The mean duration of hectic period was 8.3±1.27 days. Abnormal ECG was reported in 40% of patients, i.e., conduction abnormalities in 20%, sinus bradycardia in 16.7%,and sinus tachycardia in 3.3%. The clinical laboratory signs of hepatitis without jaundice were identified in 26.7%. During treatment, the significant reduction in band and segmented neutrophil counts as well as the significant increase in platelet count were revealed compared to these parameters at admission. Abnormal cytokine levels (i.e., the increase in IL-17A, -23, -33 and the deficiency of IL-35) were detected. Conclusions: multifactorial analysis has demonstrated that the severity of immunological abnormalities in patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans is associated with fever, cardiac and liver disorders, the high levels of IL-23 and IL-33, and the lack of IL-35 and specific IgM and IgG. KEYWORDS: tick-borne borreliosis, Lyme disease without erythema migrans, clinical laboratory signs, cytokines, specific antibodies, multifactorial analysis, principal component analysis. FOR CITATION: Sapozhnikova V.V., Bondarenko A.L. Multifactorial analysis of clinical laboratory signs, the levels of IL-17A, IL-23, IL-33, IL-35, and specific antibodies in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(11):676–681. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2020-4-11-676-681.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 715-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephany C. de Rezende ◽  
Jo鉶 A. Pinto ◽  
Isabel P. Fernandes ◽  
Fernanda V. Leimann and Maria-Filomena Barreiro

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