background: noise induced hearing loss (nihl) is the highest reported occupational disease among industrial workers but there is scarcity of data on disease burden in malaysia. this study estimated the risks and burden of nihl in manufacturing industries in malaysia. methods: this cross-sectional industrial survey was conducted by interviewing osh practitioners at 26 industries categorized as f...

In Latin America, metallic ores are abundant and diverse. However, few metal-tolerant and metal hyperaccumulator plants have been reported in the region in comparison with other areas of the world. This may be largely explained by the scarcity of scientific studies of the native vegetation growing on natural mineralized or metal-contaminated areas and the unfrequent use of biogeochemical prospe...

The conventional method used for glass melting is air-fuel firing, which is inefficient, energy-intensive and time-consuming. In this study, an innovative in-flight melting technology was developed and applied to glass production for the purposes of energy conservation and environmental protection. Three types of heating sources, radio-frequency (RF) plasma, a 12-phase alternating current (ac) ...

Cottage industries comprise a sub-group of informal sector income generation activities which are conducted in the home environment and organized around families or households. Cottage industry workers may be at risk of exposure to harmful substances associated with their work, and given the lack of separation of cottage industry activities from living spaces, their families and neighbors may s...

The NSERC Strategic Grant project, with industrial co-funding from Rio Tinto Alcan and in kind support from Environment Canada, awarded to Dr. Chris Wood (McMaster University) and Dr. Jim McGeer (Wilfrid Laurier University) has officially started in September. The project is titled “Development of a Tissue Residue Approach for Risk Assessment of Metals in the Canadian Freshwater Environment. Th...

This report, prepared by the Center for Competitive Analysis of the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension (UO/E), provides an overview of some important aspects of the Sheet Metal Work industry (“sheet metal industry”), Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 3444. Its primary intended audiences are UO/E, which may consider educational programming designed to assist business owner...

Thin metal fiIrns (Cu, Au, Ni) on quartz glass were illuminated with nanosecond pulse.; of a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser (A = 532 nm). The transient reflectivity behavlour was probed at the wavelength 633 nm, where these metals exhibit Drude-Iike optical behaviour: the reflectivity decreases with temperature in the solid and in the Iiquid state as well as at the solid-llquid phase transition...

A unified comprehensive model was developed to simulate the transport phenomena occurring during the gas metal arc welding process. An interactive coupling between arc plasma; melting of the electrode; droplet formation, detachment, transfer, and impingement onto the workpiece; and weld pool dynamics all were considered. Based on the unified model, a thorough investigation of the plasma arc cha...

The metal fmishing industry uses over 40 production processes to produce a wide range of metal products. Waste streams generated include wastewater, waste oils, spent solvents, and spent process solutions. Current1,v a wide variety of techniques which minimize waste are available. Cost-effective methods to reduce electroplating wastewater contamination include water conserv&ion and drag-out red...

The purpose of our research project is to develop a “clean interface” between design and fabrication facilities for the production of custom machined parts. The research accomplishments are summarized: 1.Creation of a new format for data exchange, NCML (Numerically Controlled Markup Language), 2. Development of three prototype systems to illustrate how NCML can be effectively used to conduct E-...