The aim of our study was to assess the temporal association between the number of consultations in the primary health care unit due to respiratory diseases in children and the level of particular ...matter of 10 micrometres in diameter (PM10) pollution in the Zasavje region.
A time-trend ecological study was carried out for the period between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2011. The daily number of first consultations for respiratory diseases among children in the Zasavje region was observed as the outcome. Poisson regression analysis was used to investigate the association between the observed outcome and the daily PM
concentrations, adjusted to other covariates.
The results showed that the daily number of first consultations were highly significantly associated with the daily concentrations of PM
in the Zagorje (p<0.001) and Trbovlje (p<0.001) municipalities. In the Hrastnik municipality, a significant association was not observed in all models.
It can be concluded that evidence of association between the daily PM10 concentration and the daily number of first consultations for respiratory diseases among children exists, indicating that there is still a need for public health activities in the sense of reduction of harmful environmental factors in the region. Additionally, on the basis of these results, it can be assumed that with some improvements linkage of existing health and environmental data in Slovenia in general could be feasible in identifying a grounded need for future public health action.
Namen: Namen študije je bil oceniti časovno povezanost med številom obiskov v primarnem zdravstvenem varstvu zaradi bolezni dihal pri otrocih in prašnimi delci premera 10 mikrometrov (PM10) v Zasavju.
Ekološka študija časovnega trenda je bila izvedena za obdobje od 1. januarja 2006 do 31. decembra 2011. Opazovani izid je bil dnevno število prvih obiskov zaradi bolezni dihal pri otrocih v Zasavju. Za oceno povezanosti med opazovanim izidom in dnevnimi koncentracijami PM10, standardizirano na preostale pojasnjevalne dejavnike, je bila uporabljena Poissonova regresijska analiza.
Rezultati so pokazali močno statistično povezanost med dnevnim številom prvih obiskov in dnevnimi koncentracijami PM
v občinah Zagorje (p < 0,001) in Trbovlje (p < 0,001). V občini Hrastnik nismo opazili značilne povezanosti pri vseh modelih.
Sklenemo lahko, da v Zasavju obstaja povezanost med boleznimi dihal pri otrocih in koncentracijo PM
, kar kaže na to, da je v tej slovenski regiji še vedno prisotna potreba po javnozdravstvenih ukrepih v smislu zmanjševanja škodljivih okoljskih dejavnikov. Dodatno lahko na podlagi rezultatov študije sklepamo, da bi bilo lahko v prihodnje v Sloveniji povezovanje okoljskih in zdravstvenih podatkov z nekaterimi izboljšavami uporabno pri ocenjevanju utemeljenih potreb za javnozdravstveno ukrepanje.
The aim of the study was to assess the association between atmospheric air pollution and respiratory diseases in children on the level of small spatial units in the Zasavje. The health and ...environmental data were obtained for the period between January 1 and December 31, 2011. Studied small spatial units were designed on the basis of estimated level of atmospheric air pollution and digital maps and boundaries of local communities and settlements. The impact of atmospheric air pollution on respiratory diseases was analysed by using the Bayesian models. Considering the identified deficiencies, the presented methodolgy can often be used to identify areas with a higher health risks.
In the Trbovlje region (Slovenia), an upper Oligocene coal seam up to 30 m thick developed in a topogenous mire and evolved within a transgressive setting. The lower ash-rich part of the seam (unit ...I) accumulated in a forest swamp strongly influenced by fluvial activity. Palynomorph spectra are dominated by Taxodiaceae–Cupressaceae pollen. Ash yields decrease in the middle (unit II) and upper part of the seam (unit III), indicating decreasing fluvial activity. An increase in CaO contents reflects increasing amounts of inflowing water from an alkaline lake, which progressively controlled peat hydrology in units II and III. High sulfur contents in the nonmarine coal are a result of the carbonate-rich water. Abundant pollen and spores from Myricaceae and Polypodiaceae indicate that unit II represents a bush moor. During deposition of unit III, this environment was replaced by a reed moor. Sapropelic coal (unit IV) and sapropelic shale (unit V) accumulated in a relatively large lake, which was established by another water table rise.
The interpreted environmental changes are confirmed by biomarker data. Pristane/phytane ratios reflect variations of the redox conditions within the mire and reach a minimum in the sapropelic unit IV. The abundances of gymnosperm- and angiosperm-derived terpenoid hydrocarbons testify the predominance of gymnosperms over angiosperms during early peat stages (unit I), and increasing proportions of angiosperms during deposition of units II and III. Highest contents of diterpenoids coincide with maxima in the preservation of plant tissue (TPI) within unit I (wet forest swamp), suggesting that TPI is partly controlled by the input of resin-rich, decay-resistant conifers. Sections of the seam characterized by advanced gelification show low steroids/hopanoids ratios. The results imply that gelification of plant tissue is related to increased microbial activity. Evidence is provided that the hopanes could be used as a measure for the activity of aerobic bacteria, whereas for the hop-17(21)-ene a microbial origin from anaerobic (iron-reducing) bacteria is assumed. A general influence of the floral assemblage and of varying contributions of algal biomass on carbon isotopic composition of the organic matter (
δ
13C=−24.0 to −28.1‰) is proposed. Carbon cycling during biogeochemical decomposition of plant tissue by bacteria is assumed to affect the
δ
13C values of the coal.
Fossil wood collected from the seam is identified as derived from gymnosperms, based on the molecular composition of terpenoid hydrocarbons. This chemotaxonomical classification is corroborated by the mean carbon isotopic compositions of the fossil wood (
δ
13C=−24.0‰) and by the
δ
13C value (−21.8‰) of the extracted cellulose from one macrofossil. The low cellulose content of the sample (2.7%) together with the slightly higher isotopic difference of 1.6 ‰ between cellulose and fossil wood, compared to that found in modern trees, can most probably be explained by the possible reversal in
13C discrimination for cellulose when compared with wood in highly degraded samples.
Extended description:
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Posledice neurja v Zasavju, izjava Mojca Jazbinšek Volk, steklarna Hrastnik. Uničena streha na lokaciji nove steklarne, proizvodnja, poškodovane strehe, poslopja, strehe, pokrite s PVC folijo, izjava Miran Jerič, župan Občine Hrastnik, izjava Marko Sovinc, Zavarovalnica Triglav - pisarna kar na ulici, izjava Karol Pajtlar, krajan Podšentjurja pri Litiji.
A clip presenting the consequences of a massive storm in Zasavje. Mojca Jazbinšek Volk, a representative of the Hrastnik glass company talking about the damage and destruction of their new production hall. Continuing with footage of damaged buildings in Hrastnik, roofs covered with PVC film, a statement by Miran Jeric, Mayor of Hrastnik, a statement by Mark Sovinc from the Insurance Company and Karol Pajtlar, a citizen of Podšentjur pri Litiji.
Information:
Consequences of a massive storm in Zasavje.
Original language summary:
Posledice po neurju v Zasavju.
Keith (1996) used the term "hot spots" for areas where wildlife is the most threatened by toxic substances. These include areas near industrial and electricity generating centres. Koroska, an ...industrial area in the northern part of Slovenia with a centuries-old tradition of mining and manufacturing of lead and zinc, represents an extreme example of a "hot spot" environment. In the year 1997 ERICo Velenje started a research project entitled The accumulation of heavy metals in tissues of wildlife - with emphasis on roe deer - in the polluted areas of Slovenia. The main aim of the study was to monitor levels of heavy metals in game tissues and to make a risk assessment for wildlife as well as for human health. In the present work, a comparison between the Koroska region and two other contaminated areas in Slovenia is made. One of them is the Salek valley where the major Slovene power plant of Sostanj is located, and the second one is Zasavje where again a large power plant as well as a cement factory are operated. Comparison is also made with the Triglav National Park (TNP), which represents the area without any local pollution sources (Figure 1). A comparison with similar research performed in 1986 (Osrajnik 1990) is also made. The lead smelter at Zerjav stopped primary manufacture of lead ore in 1990. It is expected that a reduction in levels of heavy metals would follow in all constituent segments of the environment.
Članek namenja pozornost odzivu prebivalstva na okoljske probleme v Šaleški dolini in Zasavju. Osnova raziskave je bil vprašalnik, s katerim smo anketirali 1395 prebivalcev obeh regij. Glavni cilj ...prispevka je ugotoviti intenziteto obremenjenosti okolja, kot jo vidijo anketirani in primerjava odzivov na okolje in okoljske probleme med prebivalci obeh regij. Prebivalci Šaleške doline so do onesnaževanja zelo kritični in so s svojim okoljem večinoma zadovoljni (62,4 %). V Zasavju so prebivalci s svojim okoljem manj zadovoljni (39,5 %), tudi zaradi tega, ker je njihovo okolje glede na slovenske razmere še vedno nadpovprečno obremenjeno.
Extended description:
Tok reke Save, Zasavje, Zagorje, Trbovlje, Hrastnik, zunanjost rudnika, rudarji prihajajo iz rova, jašek, vozički, zunanjost šole, zunanjost rudnika, kolo vitla, dimniki, ...žerjav, gradbišča novih tovarn, praznovanje v hrastniškem premogovniku, panorama Hrastnik.
Information:
The 20th anniversary of the first workers committee and workers' self-management in Zasavje; miners, a coal mine; construction sites for factories.
Original language summary:
20 letnica ustanovitve prvega delavskega sveta in delavskega samoupravljanja v Zasavju; rudarji, premogovnik, gradbišča tovarn.
The statistical analysis of geochemical data collected at Zasavje coal basin offered the possibility to use distribution characteristics of geochemical factors and clusters for subdivision and ...genetic interpretation of coal seams. In accordanceto sampling scheme for variance analysis the interval samples of coal and bearing rocks brought data on ultimate, proximate and atomic emission spectrometric analysis, and silicate analysis of coal ash. Variability of all measured variableswas studied on regional, vertical, sampling and analytical level. After factor analysis of 23 selected variables terrigenous (K, Cu, V, Cr, ash, Zn, Be, Co, AI2O3, SiO2), carbonate (Mn, CO2, Fе203, Ni), sulphide-sulphate (sulphide and sulphate sulphur, Fе203), nitrogen-hydrogen (0, N, H) and typomorphic factor (Sr,Ca, organic sulphur, C, Ba) have been determined. Five synthetic variables (factors)explain 79% of the total variance. Yet on the basis of the first three factor values the samples can be arranged by use of cluster analysis into sample groups (clusters), which represent various geochemical segments of coal seams.By using above presented methodological guidelines which are based on crosssections of individual coal-bearing basins structural units, the future multidisciplinary research can lead to genetic model of Slovenian coal basins. Presented article is a contribution to look after best possible geochemical methodology which purpose is to reach this aim.