This study aimed to describe the households’ choices of drinking water sources, and evaluate the risk of human exposure to heavy metals via different drinking water sources in Chenzhou City of Hunan Province, Southern China. A cross-sectional face-to-face survey of 192 householders in MaTian and ZhuDui village was conducted. The concentrations of heavy metals in their drinking water sources were analyzed. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment was performed according to the method recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In total, 52.60% of the households used hand-pressed well water, and 34.89% used barreled water for drinking. In total, 6.67% of the water samples exceeded the Chinese drinking water standards. The total health risk of five metals is 5.20 × 10⁻⁹~3.62 × 10⁻⁵. The total health risk of five metals was at acceptable levels for drinking water sources. However, the total risk of using hand-pressed well water’s highest value is 6961 times higher than the risk of using tap water. Household income level was significantly associated with drinking water choices. Arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) are priority controlled pollutants in this region. Using safe drinking water (tap water, barreled water and so on) can remarkably reduce the risk of ingesting heavy metals.

To understand the heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils along the East River basin and assess the pollution related health effect to local residents, interviews and archived data were obtained to identify the study sites affected by polluted tailing. Soil samples were collected and tested for heavy metal content and the Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI). The degree of pollution of agricultural soils in the area was assessed using GIS-based Spatial distribution map of heavy metals and the trend of soil heavy metal risk. Two villages (Matian and Zhudui) near the East River were included in this study for health effect assessment. A total of 193 residents aged 15 or above from each village were tested for the present status of chronic diseases. Convenient sampling method was used to collect blood samples from 78 residents for heavy metal concentration. The contents of Pb, Cd, As, Zn, and Cu in the agricultural soils were all over the standards with a moderate to severe CPI. Among these metals, Cd was the highest followed by Pb, and Cu was the lowest. The contents of Pb, Cd, As, and Zn tend to be higher in soils closer to the river. The prevalence of chronic diseases was over 30%, which is significantly higher than the report from the national central region (23.15%). The average blood lead level (BLL) among children under 14 years is 7.42 μg/dL. Although the adults in Matian village had a significantly higher BLL (χ² = 8.70, p = 0.03) as compared to Zhudui village, there was no significant difference for the prevalence of chronic diseases between the two villages (χ² = 3.23, p = 0.09). The mean BLL of children and the proportion of children with BLL ≥ 10 µg/dL in this study are equivalent to the national average. The higher BLL concentration and prevalence of chronic diseases in adults might be due to their long-term exposure to heavy metal contamination environment and higher background level of heavy metals. Findings from this study will form the baseline information for local government to the development of effective approaches to control the heavy metal contamination and reduce the pollution related adverse health effect on local residents.

Background: Approximately 35 new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV) cases and at least 1000 serious infections are transmitted annually to health care workers. In China, HIV prevalence is increasing and nursing personnel are encountering these individuals more than in the past. Contaminated needle-stick injuries represent a significant occupational burden for nurses. Evidence suggests that nurses in China may not fully understand HIV/AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS) and HIV-related occupational safety. At this time, universal protection precautions are not strictly implemented in Chinese hospitals. Lack of training may place nurses at risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of integrated interventions on nurses’ knowledge improvement about reducing the risk of occupationally acquired HIV infection. Methods: We audited integrated interventions using 300 questionnaires collected from nurses at the Affiliated Hospital of Xiangnan University, a public polyclinic in Hunan Province. The intervention studied was multifaceted and included appropriate and targeted training content for hospital, department and individual levels. After three months of occupational safety integrated interventions, 234 participants who completed the program were assessed. Results: Of the subjects studied, 94.3% (283/300) were injured one or more times by medical sharp instruments or splashed by body fluids in the last year and 95.3% considered their risk of occupational exposure high or very high. After the intervention, awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge improved significantly (χ² = 86.34, p = 0.00), and correct answers increased from 67.9% to 82.34%. Correct answers regarding risk perception were significantly different between pre-test (54.4%) and post-test (66.6%) (χ² = 73.2, p = 0.00). When coming into contact with patient body fluids and blood only 24.0% of subjects used gloves regularly. The pre-test knowledge scores on universal precautions were relatively high. Correct answers about universal precautions improved significantly from pre-test (83.71%) to post-test (89.58%; χ² = 25.00, p = 0.00). After the intervention, nurses’ attitude scores improved significantly from pre-test (3.80 ± 0.79) to post-test (4.06 ± 0.75; t = 3.74, p = 0.00). Conclusions: Integrated educational interventions enhance nurses’ knowledge of risk reduction for occupationally acquired HIV infections and improve the observance of universal precautionary procedures. This enhancement allows nurses to assume a teaching role for prevention and management of HIV/AIDS.

This research employs the density functional theory method to study the coordination and capture of the “five toxic” heavy metal ions (Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, and arsenic) by quinoline—derivative molecular probes. The study has determined the microscopic molecular configurations, structural parameters, and natural charge distributions of the coordinating atoms in the optimal structures of the complexes formed by the probes and each heavy metal ion. Additionally, the coordination bond orders of all the complexes have been calculated and analyzed. Furthermore, by calculating the infrared vibration frequencies of the optimal structures, the stability of the structures has been verified. Moreover, the binding energies, frontier molecular orbital energy levels, and energy gap values of the complexes formed by the probes and each heavy metal ion through capture have been further obtained, and the changes in the ultraviolet—visible absorption spectra and molecular fluorescence spectra of the probes have been analyzed. The study also investigated the probe’s ability to capture and detect the “five toxic” heavy metal ions.