This research study investigates the extent of heavy metal pollution and pollution trends in agricultural soil in mining areas during different time periods. A total of 125 soil samples were collected from two mining areas in China, the Chengchao iron mine and Tonglushan ancient copper mine. The samples were analyzed for various potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), pollution index (Pi), potential ecological risk index (Eri), and hazard index (HI) were calculated to evaluate the pollution status of PTEs in the farmland around the two mining areas. The sources of PTEs were inferred by pollution distribution, and the pollution conditions of the two mining areas were compared. The results showed that the pollution of ancient copper mines was relatively severe. The main pollution elements were Cu, Cd, and As, and their average Pi values were 3.76, 4.12, and 1.84, respectively. These PTEs mainly came from mining and transportation. There are no particularly polluted elements in the Chengchao iron mine and the average Pi of all PTEs were classified as light pollution and had a wide range of sources. The findings suggest that the ancient copper mine, due to outdated mining techniques and insufficient mine restoration efforts, resulted in the spread and accumulation of PTEs in the soil over an extended period, making the farmland soil around the ancient copper mine more polluted compared to the Chengchao iron mine. In the two mining areas, there is no risk of cancer for adults and children. However, the RI values of Cr in adults and children are higher than 10−4, which indicates that the carcinogenic risk of Cr in these soils is very high. The non-carcinogenic effects of PTEs on the human body in the soil of ancient copper mine are also higher than that of the Chengchao iron mine.
Objective: To explore the clinical value of high-frequency ultrasound in the detection of chronic knee injuries in miners. Methods: A total of 53 Chinese coal miners from the China, as well as 33 nonminers without history of knee conditions were prospectively examined using high-frequency ultrasound. Blood flow was observed using color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS). In the event of slow blood flow, parameters for color Doppler were set to maximal gain and minimal noise. Results: Chronic knee joint injuries were detectable as lesions in bursa around the joint and infrapatellar soft tissues. Various proportions of miners had nodular, finger-like or focal protrusions extending from the bursa synovium into the synovial cavity. Such protrusions were observed in the suprapatellar bursa (15, 28.3%), prepatellar bursa (17, 32.1%), and deep infrapatellar bursa (4, 7.5%). Infrapatellar soft tissues were significantly thicker in miners ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm) than of controls ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm; [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Miners showed substantial thickening of the synovia, as well as nodular, finger-like and focal protrusions in the synovia of suprapatellar bursa and/or prepatellar bursa (infrapatellar bursa). Synovium in miners showed more blood flow signals, especially in the supra- and prepatellar bursae, than synovium in controls. Echoes from the interior of infrapatellar soft tissues were enhanced and uneven in 47 of 53 miners, showing hyperecho patterns of scattered dots, short lines or flakes. Conclusion: Ultrasound can complement X-ray imaging and magnetic resonance imaging for detecting and characterizing chronic knee joint injuries in miners.
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