Comprehensive Evaluation of Long-Term Radiation Safety in the Vicinity of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China

To evaluate the impact of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP) in normal operation on the surrounding environment and population, the radioactivity levels of drinking water and the ambient environment, as well as the residents’ cancer incidence, were continuously monitored for a period of 9 years (2012-2020). All of the gross α and β radioactivity concentrations in drinking water were less than the WHO recommended values (0.5 Bq/L for gross α and 1 Bq/L for gross β). The results of ambient environment accumulated dose monitored by thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) indicated that the ambient environment radioactive level around Qinshan NPP is consistently at natural background radiation levels. The age-dependent annual effective doses due to the ingestion of tap water or exposure to the outdoor ambient environment are lower than the reference dose of 0.1 mSv/y. The corresponding excess risks are at relatively low levels. Thus, the consumption of drinking water and outdoor activities are not expected to give rise to any detectable adverse effects on the health of the public around the Qinshan NPP. For all cancers combined, the age-standardized incidence rate by the Chinese 2000 standard population of the inhabitants living around Qinshan NPP is consistent with that of Zhejiang Province as a whole. No excess incidence of leukaemia was observed around the Qinshan NPP. The incidence of thyroid cancer is high and increasing, but it is also in line with the increasing trends in Zhejiang Province and all of China. Based on current radiation risk estimates, radiation exposure is not a plausible explanation for any excess cancers observed in the vicinity of the Qinshan NPP.

Sustainable power generation for at least one month from ambient humidity using unique nanofluidic diode

The continuous energy-harvesting of humidity naturally present in air is attractive for the development of clean energy source for self-sustained systems. Controlling the transport of ionized mobile charge in intelligent nanoporous membrane systems is a promising strategy to convert ambient moisture energy to electricity. However, existing designs still suffer from low output power density. Moreover, these devices can only produce short-term (mostly a few seconds or a few hours, rarely for a few days) voltage and current output in the ambient environment. Effort devoted to pursuing membrane materials with new sustained energy conversion mechanism is urgently needed. Here, we design an ionic diode–type hybrid membrane with carbon nanotube/anodized aluminum asymmetric structure capable of continuously harvesting moisture energy in the ambient environment. Under electric fields, a hybrid membrane exhibits ionic current rectification properties, enabling high energy conversion efficiency in the long run due to steady-state one-way ion transport. Using a synergy between the ion rectification of nanofluidic diode and the built-in electric field induced ionization and charge transfer, one single unit produces a sustained maximum open-circuit-voltage, short-circuit-current, short-circuit-current density, output power density of 1.1V, 7.7µA, 11.3µAcm−2 and 1.3µWcm−2/277µWcm−3, respectively (93% RH, 25℃). Besides, the strong hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces formed at the interface of asymmetric structure make the hybrid membrane robust in humid environment. In particular, the strategy of adjusting the moisture-based energy-harvesting performance based on the rectification effect of the nanofluidic diode is reported for the first time. Compared with the relevant existing devices, those elaborated by the present work show the longest service life and can generate continuous voltage and current for at least one month, demonstrating the feasibility of long-term power generation in any location with moisture conditions.

Passive Environmental Control: The Use of Insulated Archival Boxes to Control Fluctuations in Relative Humidity and Temperature

<p>Four archival boxes made from different materials, were tested to see how effective they were at stabilizing fluctuations in temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) and if this method of passive environmental control could meet the environmental requirements of the Archives New Zealand Storage Standard (ANZSS), instead of using heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)systems. The boxes were placed in an un-insulated attic space in Auckland, New Zealand, during the winter for twelve weeks from June 7, to August 29, 2009. Twenty-four hour samples of T and RH of each box were taken by a Hobo LCD data-logger placed inside the boxes. Another Hobo LCD data-logger was placed in the ambient environment to determine the difference. The main results were; RH fluctuations inside all the boxes met part of Requirement 28, of the ANZSS, during the twelve weeks of the study, by not fluctuating more than 10% over a twenty-four hour period, even though the ambient RH fluctuated by as much 22%. However, although the T inside the boxes mostly fluctuated less than in the ambient environment it did not consistently reach the 4 degree centigrade or below fluctuation level of requirement, 29 of the ANZSS. The conclusion reached from the study is all the archival boxes used in study are effective in controlling fluctuations in RH and T; however, institutions needing to meet the ANZSS will require other methods to control environmental conditions.</p>

Passive Environmental Control: The Use of Insulated Archival Boxes to Control Fluctuations in Relative Humidity and Temperature

<p>Four archival boxes made from different materials, were tested to see how effective they were at stabilizing fluctuations in temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) and if this method of passive environmental control could meet the environmental requirements of the Archives New Zealand Storage Standard (ANZSS), instead of using heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)systems. The boxes were placed in an un-insulated attic space in Auckland, New Zealand, during the winter for twelve weeks from June 7, to August 29, 2009. Twenty-four hour samples of T and RH of each box were taken by a Hobo LCD data-logger placed inside the boxes. Another Hobo LCD data-logger was placed in the ambient environment to determine the difference. The main results were; RH fluctuations inside all the boxes met part of Requirement 28, of the ANZSS, during the twelve weeks of the study, by not fluctuating more than 10% over a twenty-four hour period, even though the ambient RH fluctuated by as much 22%. However, although the T inside the boxes mostly fluctuated less than in the ambient environment it did not consistently reach the 4 degree centigrade or below fluctuation level of requirement, 29 of the ANZSS. The conclusion reached from the study is all the archival boxes used in study are effective in controlling fluctuations in RH and T; however, institutions needing to meet the ANZSS will require other methods to control environmental conditions.</p>

Measurement error of self-paced exercise performance in athletic women is not affected by ovulatory status or ambient environment

Measurement error(s) of exercise tests for women are severely lacking in the literature. The purpose of this investigation was to 1) determine whether ovulatory status or ambient environment were moderating variables when completing a 30-min self-paced work trial, and 2) provide test-retest norms specific to athletic women. A retrospective analysis of three heat stress studies was completed using 33 female participants (31±9 y, 54±10 mL min-1 kg-1) that yielded 130 separate trials. Participants were classified as ovulatory (n=19), anovulatory and/or luteal phase-deficient (n=4) and oral contraceptive pill users (n=10). Participants completed trials ~2 weeks apart in their (quasi-) early follicular and mid-luteal phases in two of moderate (1.3±0.1 kPa, 20.5±0.5 °C, 18 trials), warm-dry (2.2±0.2 kPa, 34.1±0.2 °C, 46 trials) or warm-humid (3.4±0.1 kPa, 30.2±1.1 °C, 66 trials) environments. We quantified reliability using limits of agreement, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation (CV). Test-retest reliability was high, clinically-valid (ICC=0.90, r=0.83, both p<0.01) and acceptable with a mean CV of 4.7%, SEM of 3.8 kJ (2.1 W) and reliable bias of -2.1 kJ (-1.2 W). The various ovulatory status and contrasting ambient conditions had no appreciable effect on reliability. These results indicate that athletic women can perform 30-min self-paced work trials ~2 weeks apart with an acceptable and low variability irrespective of their hormonal status or heat-stressful environments.