Do Odors at a Waste Management Facility Indicate a Risk to Health?

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen G. Zemba
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health

Odor control is a frequent issue at facilities that process municipal solid waste. Even waste-to-energy facilities, which are typically operated under “negative pressure,” may be less than 100% effective at preventing the occasional release of odorous emissions. When odors travel off-property to nearby residents and businesses, the tangible exposure often elicits concerns about the specific chemicals responsible for the odor and the potential for the emissions to affect public health. However, because the gaseous compounds that may lead to objectionable off-site odors are generally different than those that might result in adverse health effects, conditions of odor and risk are not as closely linked as is sometimes assumed. While odors can be assessed through personal observations, the assessment of risk requires detailed knowledge of the composition of the emitted gases. The gas produced from the aerobic decay of municipal solid waste contains a different mix of chemicals that are not as well characterized than gas produced from the anaerobic decay of waste in a landfill (which has been analyzed by the U.S. EPA and others). Air samples were recently collected from the tipping floor of a waste-to-energy facility, analyzed for chemical composition, and evaluated for their potential to lead to off-site health risks. The composition of the gas was found to be similar to published data from other MSW handling facilities, and includes both basic hydrocarbons and some EPA-designated Hazardous Air Pollutants. Thirty-two different volatile organic compounds were detected. Ethanol was found to be the most prevalent compound, almost two orders of magnitude greater in concentration than other chemicals. Additional compounds identified in the gas samples include (in order of abundance) methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, sec-butanol, isopentane, acetaldehyde, butane, isopropyl alcohol, limonene, and 1-propanol. A case-specific atmospheric dispersion of the gases was modeled to predict off-site concentrations much smaller than levels known to cause adverse health effects. Based on odor characteristics of the gas, generically extrapolating the study to other settings suggests that short-term odorous conditions due to MSW management facilities (waste-to-energy facilities, transfer stations, etc.) do not typically correspond to significant long-term health risks.

scholarly journals Hygienic assessment of health risks of the population living in the areas of intensive oil extraction

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (26) ◽  
pp. 97-104
Author(s):  
Rafail Anvarovich Suleimanov ◽  
Akhat Barievich Bakirov ◽  
Galina Ganinovna Gimranova ◽  
Timur Kamilevich Valeev
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Oil Extraction ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Oil Workers

The purpose of the study was to establish hygienic procedures for reducing health risks of the population living and working near oil extraction sites. Based on the results obtained, we evaluated the quality of environmental settings in the oil extraction areas, studied working conditions of oil workers, and assessed public human health and occupational risks of the oil extraction industry. Oil extraction enterprises have been shown to be major sources of environmental and workplace pollution and to create a negative background causing adverse health effects.

Potential Adverse Health Outcomes of Digital Textbook Use: Teachers’ Perspectives

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
GyeongAe Seomun ◽  
Youngjin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Digital Textbook ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Stimulation Of

Background and Purpose:The digital textbook (DT) is an appealing new educational medium. The positive effects of DT use include stimulation of interest in learning and stimulation of motivation to learn. Few studies have examined the awareness of classroom-based educational experts about the adverse health outcomes of DT use. The objective of this study was to understand the perspectives of elementary schoolteachers regarding the effects of DT use on students’ health.Methods:The recommended method of focus group discussions was used to clarify teachers’ individual and shared views about this topic. The study design included three discussions with three different groups of teachers.Results:The results indicated that the critical health issues identified by the schoolteachers were potential risks to physical health, risks to psychological health, and environmental health risks in the classroom.Implications for Practice:Awareness and evaluation of adverse health effects for DT users is an important first step for effective DT implementation in our schools. This study provided fundamental data and results that can be used to understand the effects of DT use on student health and to suggest guidelines to predict and prevent adverse health effects in the users of this technology.

scholarly journals Health Risks Associated With Benzene Exposure in Children: A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1878927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. D’Andrea ◽  
G. Kesava Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Pulmonary Functions ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Pediatric Populations

Currently, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the adverse health effects of benzene exposure in children or clinical findings of those children who have been exposed. However, emerging studies show that benzene exposure can cause deleterious health effects in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate and summarize published studies on the adverse health effects of benzene exposure in children. More than 77 articles were examined and only the articles that dealt with adverse health effects on pediatric populations were included in the study. The evaluation of those studies provided current understanding of the health effects of benzene exposure in children. Findings from the currently available studies reveal that benzene exposure is associated with abnormalities in hematologic, hepatic, respiratory, and pulmonary functions in children. Published studies clearly support the need for further assessment of the potential adverse effects of benzene exposure in children, and clinical and laboratory findings of these children.

MARKET FOR RECYCLED NEWSPAPERS IN UNITED STATES COLLAPSES, ADDING TO SOLID WASTE WOES

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. A34-A34
Author(s):  
R. J. M.
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
To Come ◽  
Animal Bedding ◽  
Trade Group

The bottom has fallen out of the market for recycled newspapers, exacerbating the nation's already critical garbage problems. The market's collapse stems from a sudden deluge of old newspapers, the result of new recycling programs by several Eastern states. In response, Korean and other foreign and domestic paper companies have greatly lowered the price they are willing to pay for old papers. The result: Municipalities that just two or three months ago were receiving as much as $25 a ton for their newspapers from brokers now are having to pay these brokers $5 to $25 a ton just to haul the old papers away. . . Worse is yet to come, according to the American Paper Institute, the industry's trade group. It predicts that so much old paper will soon flood the market that some of it may have to be dumped in landfills. . . To be sure, nobody predicts the end of recycling because, especially on the East Coast, landfills are full, and many new incinerator projects are stalled by citizen's groups worried about possible adverse health effects. . . Michael Koplik, president of Percy H. Koplik & Sons, Inc., which buys old newspaper for paper companies, says the current depression in the market could last a year or longer. But he also calls the downturn an opportunity, in that he expects paper companies to commit to building more plants that use recycled paper. Joseph Salomondo, editor of Recycling Times, also foresees new uses for recycled newsprint—in particular, as housing insulation and as animal bedding. . .

Municipal solid waste-to-energy processing for a circular economy in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 111080
Author(s):  
M.T. Munir ◽  
Ahmad Mohaddespour ◽  
A.T. Nasr ◽  
Susan Carter
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Energy Processing

scholarly journals Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial examining the effect of blood and plasma donation on serum perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels in firefighters

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e044833
Author(s):  
Gabriel Silver ◽  
Yordanka Krastev ◽  
Miriam K Forbes ◽  
Brenton Hamdorf ◽  
Barry Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Plasma Donation ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionPerfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of compounds that have been used in hundreds of industrial applications and consumer products including aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for many years. Multiple national and international health and environmental agencies have accepted that PFAS exposures are associated with numerous adverse health effects. Australian firefighters have been shown to have elevated levels of PFAS in their blood, specifically perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), due to the historical use of AFFF. While PFAS concentrations decline over time once the source of exposure has been removed, their potential adverse health effects are such that it would be prudent to develop an intervention to lower levels at a faster rate than occurs via natural elimination rates.Methods and analysisThis is a randomised controlled trial of current and former Australian firefighters in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade/Fire Rescue Victoria, and contractors, with previous occupational exposure to PFAS and baseline elevated PFOS levels. The study is investigating whether whole blood donation every 12 weeks or plasma donation every 6 weeks will significantly reduce PFAS levels, compared with a control group. We have used covariate-adaptive randomisation to balance participants’ sex and blood PFAS levels between the three groups and would consider a 25% reduction in serum PFOS and PFHxS levels to be potentially clinically significant after 12 months of whole blood or plasma donation. A secondary analysis of health biomarkers is being made of changes between screening and week 52 in all three groups.Ethics and disseminationThis trial has been approved by Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (reference number: 3855), final protocol V.2 dated 12 June 2019. Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences.Trial registration numberAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619000204145).

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