Using natural aluminosilicate (vermiculite) sorbent for purifying waste water from antibiotics

The problem of wastewater treatment from residual antibiotics is of particular relevance, since these drugs are used in many agricultural sectors. Antibiotics get into water, animal and human bodies, where they can accumulate negatively affecting health. The aim of this article is to study the possibility of using natural aluminosilicate vermiculite sorbent from the Koksharovskoye field (Primorsky Region) for purifying fish processing and fish farming enterprises’ waste water from antibiotics (chloramphenicol, tetracycline, cefazolin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime and and ciprofloxacin) under static and dynamic conditions. The study was carried out on a model wastewater system with injected antibiotics. The purification ability of the model system using the method of spectrophotometric antibiotics detection is analyzed. Under static conditions, the total content of antibiotics varied from 0.25 mg to 1.00 mg per 1 g of sorbent. Under dynamic conditions, the antibiotic content was 0.025 mg per 1 g of sorbent. High values of absorption for all studied antibiotics, except for chloramphenicol, were achieved both in static and dynamic modes. For chloramphenicol, when examined under static conditions, the maximum absorption rate was 45% with the minimum total concentration of antibiotics. With an increase in the load on the sorbent, the degree of absorption decreased to 3%. Thus, vermiculite modified with 7% hydrochloric acid is a promising sorbent for cleaning water bodies from residual antibiotics.

Psychological training of fire service employees

The problem of premature professional burnout among employees, including firefighters is of scientific and practical significance. The article describes the nature and types of professional stress, as well as activities of the Training Center of the Federal Fire Service in Chelyabinsk Region. It aims to identify guidelines in the normative labor functions of rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and firefighters for training programs to prepare fire service employees for stressful activities. To achieve this goal, labor functions of rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and firefighters were analyzed; training programs developed by the Training Center of the Federal Fire Service in Chelyabinsk region were assessed. The methods of comparative analysis and conversation with experts were used to identify pedagogical aspects of labor functions of fire service employees associated with their willingness to work under stress. The article established a relationship between the training programs and the development of readiness to perform labor functions under stress. The condition required for the training program to be efficient was determined. It involves attracting the psychological service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations to hold methodical meetings and seminars. The positive result of this training is an adequate response to stress factors. The research results may be used by teachers of training centers and universities and methodologists.

The integrated environmental monitoring system as a key factor of environmental safety of chemical weapons storage and destruction facilities

In the destruction of chemical weapons initiated in the Russian Federation in 1996, environmental safety issues played a key role in the creation of facilities for storing and destroying chemical weapons. The process of destroying chemical weapons is at the stage of eliminating consequences of activities and involving former destruction facilities in the economic turnover. The issue of development of safety systems is relevant. The purpose of the article is to study problems in the system of environmental safety insurance at chemical weapons destruction facilities and to identify possible ways of further development. The main methods used are analysis of information, induction, analogies, and generalization. The following conclusions were drawn: the environmental safety system fits into the system of safety insurance; the key subsystem is highly accurate and prompt environmental monitoring. Responding to the principles of the construction of head systems, complex monitoring systems were created at chemical weapons destruction facilities. The improvement of this subsystem can improve the environmental safety at these facilities; further development of the integrated environmental monitoring system requires the methods of data analysis and processing tools. Since the result of the monitoring system is information, its processing and interpretation is the most complex and time-consuming process. The use of modern information processing tools can reduce the time for an analysis, improve the quality, and create an information base for decision support systems in the environmental safety system. The research made it possible to outline further ways to improve the environmental safety systems at chemical weapons destruction facilities, which will further ensure the environmental safety and sustainability of chemical weapons destruction facilities and other potentially dangerous facilities that affect the environment.

Short circuit fire risk assessment in investigating and examining fires caused by emergency modes in overhead transmission lines

Emergency modes (short circuits) in electric power system and equipment are the main technical cause of fires. However, it is not always possible to prove the involvement of a particular operating mode in a fire. The fire hazard can be due to three components: a fuel load, an oxidizer and an ignition source. Since overhead transmission lines are used in an open space, they are oxidized. The presence of a fuel load is confirmed by a fire. The source of ignition should be identified. The aim of the study is to develop an algorithm for assessing the fire hazard for short circuits in overhead transmission lines with 1000 V. The study was conducted using scientific analysis, physical experiment and simulation. The ignition source is due to the appearance of an energy source with parameters sufficient to ignite a fuel load. The probability of ignition in overhead line wires depends on the probability of occurrence of the short circuit itself ( Qi (v1) ) , the probability of failure of protection devices ( Qi (v2) ), and the probability that the electric current value in the event of a fault is in the range of fire hazard values (Qi(z)). The values of the first two components are determined on the basis of statistical data, taking into account the theory of reliability. The third component is based on the experiment results. The experimental studies made it possible to establish the ranges of fire hazard values for uninsulated aluminum wires of various cross-sections, thereby providing the possibility of calculating ( Qi (z). Using the data obtained and information about the nature of changes in short-circuit currents and performance characteristics of protection devices, depending on the line length, an algorithm for assessing the fire hazard for a short circuit was developed. The results make it possible to assess the fire hazard for short circuits in various sections of the electrical network, made by overhead transmission lines, and to establish the involvement of sparks generated by short circuits in a fire

Assessment of professional burnout of media workers

The results of an assessment of professional burnout of media workers are presented. Recommendations on reduction of the burnout syndrome impact are provided. The assessment was conducted using the professional burnout diagnostics method by K. Maslach and S. Jackson adapted by N.E. Vodopyanova. The burnout syndrome is considered to be a three-dimensional component consisting of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal achievement reduction. The study involved Irkutsk regional newspapers, radio broadcasting, television and Internet media. A total of 155 people participated were surveyed: 113 females and 42 males. Most of them suffer from the professional burnout syndrome. To verify the results obtained, age and work experience were taken into account. According to the results obtained, the degree of depersonalization increases with aging. The longer the participant works, the stronger the depersonalization component. The personal achievement reduction also depends on these components. The younger the editorial staff member and the shorter his/her work experience, the stronger the negative self-esteem, underestimation of own professional achievements and success. Conversely, the more mature the journalist is, the more positively he evaluates his professional competence and creativity. At the same time, emotional exhaustion manifests itself in all respondents, regardless of their age: in two studies, the average and high degrees were revealed. It is this component that makes a contribution to the professional burnout of journalists. To reduce the impact of the syndrome, a set of preventive measures has been developed. They can prevent economic and resource losses, and increase labor productivity. The methods of preventing professional burnout are aimed at preventing emotional exhaustion, and in extreme cases - at relieving negative symptoms and combating negative consequences. They can improve productivity of media workers and reduce psychosocial risks.

Monitoring and assessment of fire consequences in the Republic of Buryatia

The article aims to study statistical data on the consequences of fires in the Republic of Buryatia from 2009 to 2020 using the methods of social and mathematical statistics. The study is relevant due to the current situation with fires and integral fire risk indicators in the municipalities. Man-made fires have been a source of increased danger to health and lives of the population, causing great material damage. Fires are a direct threat to the demographic situation in the region since they cause premature mortality. For households, fires undermine social status, destroy social units, cause moral harm aggravating stress, which provokes illnesses. From the technical point of view, man-made fires create risks for dilapidated houses and facilities that do not meet the fire safety requirements. The Republic of Buryatia is a region with a weak degree of industrial development and a vast territory with a low distribution of settlements, i.e. considerable remoteness from the regional centers. The impact of fires (which make up 99% of all types of emergency situation) on the social well-being of the population is studied. Based on the methodology and calculations of fire risks by the number of fires, injured and killed, material damage and destroyed buildings, it was established that the level of protection of residents of Buryatia from fire risks is insufficient. The indicators should encourage the government to develop and implement effective safety measures.

Risk assessment for the industrial facility impact on the atmosphere

Environmental pollution creates problems for health of people living in residential areas near pollution sources. Studies aimed at developing methods for investigating the impact of industrial facilities on the air is of interest. The purpose of this work is to analyze the methodology for assessing the risk of exposure of a technosphere object to the atmosphere. It was assumed that the enterprise in emergency mode emits pollutants through the source of emissions at the maximum single concentration of the substance exceeding the maximum permissible concentration. To calculate the impact on a human, various scenarios of an emergency situation are taken into account. These are constructing failure trees and using well-known health risk assessment techniques. The calculation took into account the wind rose for a specific enterprise location and wind speed projections obeying the normal distribution law. These assumptions allowed us to develop a method for calculating the risk of exceeding the concentration of a pollutant at a given point (x, y) during the year. Isolines of surface concentrations were built. Three toxic substances were taken for analysis. The method for calculating the dispersion of emissions of harmful (polluting) substances in the atmospheric airwas used; maps of the dispersion of isolines of pollutants in residential areas were constructed. When solving the inverse problem, emergency emission intensities at which excess of permissible concentrations occurred were determined. In the range of multiplicities exceeding the maximum single maximum permissible concentration from 1 to 5, the dependence was well approximated by a straight line. This technique can be used to determine the risk of diseases caused by carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances and minimize the risk of exposure to harmful substances.

Assessment of the level of pollution of water bodies of the Denezhkin kamen reserve by the Shemur field

Waste produced during the extraction of minerals can cause various environmental problems. One of which is polluting underground and surface waters. The purpose of the article is to assess the level of pollution of water bodies of the Denezhkin Kamen reserve by the Shemur ore field. To assess the level of pollution, individual and complex pollution indices, statistical parameters and the ʺQuartileʺ method for calculating emissions are used. An analysis of the geological structure of the territory and physical and geographical conditions of the area was carried out; the level of pollution was assessed; the main causes of pollution were determined; the main pollutants were identified. The waters flowing through the reserve are not polluted they are polluted near the reserve borders. Pollutants are carried downstream over long distances and get into the intakes of local settlements. In the Bannaya River basin, the pollution area is about 80 km; in the Olkhovka River basin, the pollution area is about 60 km. There is a dependence in the change in the concentration of pollutants on seasonality and weather conditions. The main pollutants are those that are contained in large quantities in the overburden rocks of the deposit. Additional studies are required using a sampling program, which was not available during the current studies.

Applications of ash аnd slag waste in agriculture

Environmental pollution creates problems for health of people living in residential areas near pollution sources. Studies aimed at developing methods for investigating the impact of industrial facilities on the air is of interest. The purpose of this work is to analyze the methodology for assessing the risk of exposure of a technosphere object to the atmosphere. It was assumed that the enterprise in emergency mode emits pollutants through the source of emissions at the maximum single concentration of the substance exceeding the maximum permissible concentration. To calculate the impact on a human, various scenarios of an emergency situation are taken into account. These are constructing failure trees and using well-known health risk assessment techniques. The calculation took into account the wind rose for a specific enterprise location and wind speed projections obeying the normal distribution law. These assumptions allowed us to develop a method for calculating the risk of exceeding the concentration of a pollutant at a given point (x, y) during the year. Isolines of surface concentrations were built. Three toxic substances were taken for analysis. The method for calculating the dispersion of emissions of harmful (polluting) substances in the atmospheric airwas used; maps of the dispersion of isolines of pollutants in residential areas were constructed. When solving the inverse problem, emergency emission intensities at which excess of permissible concentrations occurred were determined. In the range of multiplicities exceeding the maximum single maximum permissible concentration from 1 to 5, the dependence was well approximated by a straight line. This technique can be used to determine the risk of diseases caused by carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances and minimize the risk of exposure to harmful substances. Ash and slag wastes are the source of negative impact on the environment. This area is studied by a number of researchers. The article aims to systematize the data on possible applications, accumulated practical experience of using ash and slag waste in agriculture both in Russia and abroad. The analysis showed that waste from the fuel and energy industry can be widely used in various areas of agriculture. It can be used as ameliorants, zeolite-based mineral fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides for treating horticultural crops, microfertilizers, as well as for soil remediation and land reclamation. The use of ash and slag waste in agriculture and other sectors of the national economy can reduce the ecological load on the environment. The number of overfilled ash dumps can be reduced, and there will be no need to build new ones.

Methodological approaches to the construction of a risk structure model for investment construction projects in the field of occupational safety and health

Investment construction projects are implemented under constant changes, which forces managers to assess the uncertainty and risks they generate, to manage changes in their own activities and activities of construction organizations. The article describes the main methodological approaches to the development of a model of risks of investment construction projects in the field of labor safety and protection. The approach is based on the method of quantitative assessment depending on the level of processes being evaluated and data characterizing these processes. The proposed concept will make it possible to develop an algorithm and a computational and analytical model for the subsequent automation of the process of quantitative assessment of risks and the dynamics of their change on the basis of the information-digital system. For example, the Corporate Occupational Safety Management System, developed and used by NIPIGAZ JSC to manage occupational safety processes, ensure industrial and fire safety, environmental protection, will make it possible to put into practice the methods of predictive and operational risk analysis, increasing the efficiency of the investment construction project.