scholarly journals Radiation-related hygienic assessment of construction materials in urbanized complexes in the Volgograd region

Spatium ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 46-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Sidelnikova ◽  
Lidia Khorzova ◽  
Pavel Sidyakin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Radiation Properties ◽  
Volgograd Region ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Impact

The concept of safety and assurance of vital human activities in urbanization is one of the most significant backbone concepts of human ecology. The comfort of residential buildings is largely owed to the radiation properties of the construction materials used. Therefore, the radiation-related hygienic support of technological processes and construction procedures is an important issue for the construction industry. Solving problems associated with improving the radiation safety of urbanized complexes depends on implementing legislation in the sphere of limiting human exposure to the impact of naturally occurring radionuclides. The paper presents the results of studies carried out by the authors on the specific activities of naturally occurring radionuclides in the construction materials manufactured and used in the Volgograd region. Through these large-scale studies, it was found out that the construction materials manufactured in the Volgograd region are in compliance with the national legislative and standard requirements; they are referred to as class 1 and can be applied for the construction of residential and public buildings.

scholarly journals Susceptibility of earth-based construction materials to fungal proliferation: laboratory and in situ assessment

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Simons ◽  
Alexandra Bertron ◽  
Christophe Roux ◽  
Aurélie Laborel-Préneron ◽  
Jean-Emmanuel Aubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Microbial Density ◽  
Microbial Proliferation ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Ecological Construction ◽  
The Impact

The impact of building materials on the environment and the health of occupants is nowadays a priority issue. Ecological construction materials such as earthen materials are currently experiencing a regain of interest due to both ecological and economic factors. The microbial proliferation on indoor materials can induce a deterioration of the building air quality and lead to an increase of health risks for the occupants. The issue of indoor air quality raises questions about the use of earthen building materials and their possible susceptibility to fungal development. The microflora of earthen materials and their ability to grow on such support are indeed poorly studied. This study focused on the quantification of both bacterial and fungal microflora along the manufacturing process. The impact of extreme humidity, simulating a hydric accident, on microflora development was analyzed on the surface and inside earthen bricks. The initial microflora of these materials was dramatically reduced during the manufacturing process, especially after heat treatment for drying. Proliferation of remaining microorganisms was only observed under high humidity condition, in particular for earthen materials with vegetal aggregates. Moreover, in situ samplings were performed on naturally dried earthen materials used in buildings. The characterization of the microbial density revealed a higher microbial density than on manufactured specimens, while microbial concentration and detected taxa seemed mainly related to the room use and building history. These results provide a better understanding of microbial proliferation on these materials.

scholarly journals Nitrogen isotopic signatures and fluxes of N2O in response to land-use change on naturally occurring saline–alkaline soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arbindra Timilsina ◽  
Wenxu Dong ◽  
Jiafa Luo ◽  
Stuart Lindsey ◽  
Yuying Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Alkaline Soil ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Artificial Ecosystems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Natural Grassland

AbstractThe conversion of natural grassland to semi-natural or artificial ecosystems is a large-scale land-use change (LUC) commonly occurring to saline–alkaline land. Conversion of natural to artificial ecosystems, with addition of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) fertilizer, influences N availability in the soil that may result in higher N2O emission along with depletion of 15N, while converting from natural to semi-natural the influence may be small. So, this study assesses the impact of LUC on N2O emission and 15N in N2O emitted from naturally occurring saline–alkaline soil when changing from natural grassland (Phragmites australis) to semi-natural [Tamarix chinensis (Tamarix)] and to cropland (Gossypium spp.). The grassland and Tamarix ecosystems were not subject to any management practice, while the cropland received fertilizer and irrigation. Overall, median N2O flux was significantly different among the ecosystems with the highest from the cropland (25.3 N2O-N µg m−2 h−1), intermediate (8.2 N2O-N µg m−2 h−1) from the Tamarix and the lowest (4.0 N2O-N µg m−2 h−1) from the grassland ecosystem. The 15N isotopic signatures in N2O emitted from the soil were also significantly affected by the LUC with more depleted from cropland (− 25.3 ‰) and less depleted from grassland (− 0.18 ‰). Our results suggested that the conversion of native saline–alkaline grassland with low N to Tamarix or cropland is likely to result in increased soil N2O emission and also contributes significantly to the depletion of the 15N in atmospheric N2O, and the contribution of anthropogenic N addition was found more significant than any other processes.

Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash Artificial Geopolymer Aggregates with Natural Aggregate

2015 ◽  
Vol 754-755 ◽  
pp. 290-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alida Abdullah ◽  
Ku Amirrul Rahman Ku Yin ◽  
Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah ◽  
Kamarudin Hussin ◽  
Mien Van Tran
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Fly Ash ◽  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Water Absorption ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
High Water ◽  
Natural Aggregate ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Impact

This study was conducted to compare the mechanical properties of fly ash artificial geopolymer aggregates with natural aggregate (rock) in term of its impact strength, specific gravity and water absorption.The raw materials used were fly ash, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate and natural aggregate. After the artificial geopolymer aggregate has been produced, its water absorption, specific gravity and aggregate impact test has been done. All results obtained were compared to natural aggregate. The result shows that the fly ash geopolymer aggregate are lighter than natural aggregate in term of its specific gravity. The impact value for fly ash artificial geopolymer aggregate slightly high compared to natural aggregate while it has high water absorption value compared to natural aggregate. As conclusion, the fly ash artificial geopolymer aggregate can be used as one of the construction materials in concrete as an alternative for coarse aggregate besides natural aggregate with more lightweight properties.

scholarly journals Application Of Sustainable Design Principles To Increase Energy Efficiency Of Existing Buildings

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mansoury ◽  
H. R. Tabatabaiefar
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Performance Study ◽  
Improve Energy Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This study investigates the effectiveness of different energy retrofitting techniques and examines the impact of employing those methods on energy consumption of existing residential buildings. Based on the research findings, the most effective and practical method of retrofitting has been proposed in order to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings. In order to achieve this goal, an existing residential building has been simulated in FirstRate 5 software so as to determine the existing thermal performance of the building. Afterwards, considering sustainable design principles, different insulation layers, glazing, and construction materials have been employed to conduct a comprehensive thermal performance study. Based on the research outcomes, the best technique for increasing energy efficiency of existing buildings and reducing their environmental impact and footprint has been identified and proposed for practical purposes.

scholarly journals Indoor radon assessment in kindergartens: towards a national action plan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danila Carrijo da Silva Dias ◽  
Nivaldo Carlos Da Silva ◽  
Wanilson Luiz Silva ◽  
Marcos Vinícius Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
High Variability ◽  
Local Perception ◽  
Geometrical Mean ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
National Programs ◽  
The Impact

The study presents the results of indoor radon monitoring of 342 public kindergarten rooms of a Brazilian municipality within a region featuring high natural radioactivity. Facility characterization local perception assessment were also conducted. Rooms were monitored by exposure of ATD detectors for an average 356 days. Monitoring resulted in arithmetic and population weighted means of 83 and 82 Bq m-3 respectively, while a geometrical mean value of 61 Bq m-3 was estimated. Concentrations ranged between < 3 and 697 Bq m-3 while 8.1% of rooms presented values above 200 Bq m-3 (in different units), where similarities in construction materials used in floors were noted. High variability was observed among regions, CEI units within a region and even rooms within a unit. The collected data on room ventilation elucidated challenges to large monitoring programs when evaluating the impact of human habits and window characteristics in results. The high variability of results poses challenges to the establishment of national programs in large and diverse areas such as Brazil. The first indoor radon study in children facilities in the country represents an important step towards it.

scholarly journals Substandard Housing Contributory Factors: Analysing Scenarios in Neighbourhoods of Port Harcourt Municipality,Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibisiki, Tamuno-ose Godwill ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Physical Planning ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Contributory Factors ◽  
Port Harcourt ◽  
Substandard Housing ◽  
The Impact

The study assessed substandard housing contributory factors of neighbourhoods in Port Harcourt municipality, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to identify factors that are contributing to substandard housing in Port Harcourt municipality; assess the impact of contributory factors to substandard housing in the study area; and identify physical planning measures to improve substandard housing in the study area. The study employed quantitative research approach and experimental research design for collection and analyses of data in the study. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used for collection of data. Slovin formula was used to determine the sample size and a total of 399 respondents (households) were interviewed from three grouped neighbourhoods and communities (planned neighbourhoods, indigenous enclaves and waterfront communities). The revealed the contributory factors to substandard housing in the study area are low income, large household size, multiple households in a building, limited habitable rooms per household, building construction materials, rapidly deteriorating physical condition of buildings, and sharing of facilities by households in buildings. The study also revealed the impacts of these factors include urban neighbourhoods and communities are deteriorating into slum and squatter settlements and rapid defacing of the urban fabrics and landscape. The study makes the following recommendations to improve housing standards including regular physical assessment of buildings in the study area to ascertain their fitness for habitation; waterfront environment should be reclaimed and planned by government for residents’ easy accessibility and affordability; development control agencies should ensure residential buildings are developed according to approved plan and specifications; mortgage and financial institutions should grant soft and interest-free loans to low-income earners and the poor; government should prioritise the development of low-cost houses for low-income earners and poor citizens; social amenities and services should be provided to enhance housing and neighbourhood quality; and government and its agencies of urban development and physical planning as a matter of urgency carry out spatial reorganisation through urban renewal programmes and projects at various neighbourhoods and communities.

INVITATION PAPER: THE INCIDENCE OF GENETIC DISEASE AND THE IMPACT ON MAN OF AN ALTERED MUTATION RATE

1977 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin K. Trimble ◽  
Martha E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mutation Rate ◽  
Record Linkage ◽  
Genetic Disease ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Individual Health ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Social ◽  
Genetic Risks ◽  
The Impact

In order to adequately assess the genetic risks to man of an altered mutation rate, it is necessary to know the naturally occurring frequency of mutation-maintained genetic ill-health and the burden that such defects impose. The relevant data that are available are largely inadequate to "determine the incidence of genetic disease that is maintained by mutation, and measures of various aspects of the social and personal burdens due to hereditary ill-health are almost wholly lacking. It is suggested that the creation of individual and family histories, using large scale automatic record linkage and existing files of vital and ill-health records, may be a useful approach to these kinds of problems. Using such linked individual health histories, new data are presented that relate to measures of the burden due to childhood dominant and recessive diseases and congenital malformations.

scholarly journals Analysis of Factors Affecting the Environmental Impact of Concrete Structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Daniel Wałach
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Concrete Structures ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Concrete Objects ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

Concrete is the one of the most important construction materials not only in terms of its global consumption but also environmental impact. However, there are many possibilities to reduce the environmental impact of concrete structures. This paper presents a set of factors determining the environmental impact of subsequent stages in the life cycles of concrete objects. In the research, the method of deduction and mathematical logic was applied to identify the parameters. Using the DEMATEL method, the significance of the identified factors was determined. An influential relation map allowed to specify a set of important parameters (causes) that affect the impact of the structure on the environment. The most important causes include: Concrete class, structural loads, static of the structure, materials used, and their suppliers as well as the volume of structural elements. The results of the analysis both confirmed the previous findings, as well as shows a set of indicators not previously highlighted. The cause-and-effect relationships between the parameters, and its significance was also determined. The results enable to indicate further directions of reducing the environmental impact of the concrete structure.

ASSESSMENT OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIONUCLIDES IN MALAYSIA’S BUILDING MATERIALS

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shittu Abdullahi ◽  
Aznan Fazli Ismail ◽  
Supian Samat
Keyword(s):  
Hpge Detector ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
High Purity Germanium ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Measured Activity ◽  
Materials Used

Abstract The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides from common building materials used by Malaysian people for construction purposes were studied using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The measured activity concentrations of the aforementioned radionuclides range from 10 ± 1 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 155 ± 61 Bq kg−1 (feldspar), 12 ± 3 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 274 ± 8 Bq kg−1 (kaolin) and 62 ± 19 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 1114 ± 20 Bq kg−1 (pottery stone) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides reported herein were found to be in accordance with other previous studies. In general, the activity concentration of the natural radionuclides revealed that all the determined values were below the recommended limit.

scholarly journals Negative Impacts (SBS) in residential buildings case studies from Kosovo

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Muhamet Ahmeti ◽  
Mimoza Sylejmani
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Construction Products ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Sick Building ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

This paper presents the negative impacts on residential buildings in Kosovo, - as well as the main factors of the occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) in residential buildings in the case of Kosovo. It also examines the impact of different materials on this phenomenon and how many constructions in Kosovo are protected from this phenomenon. For the assessment of the impact of materials on health and the environment, it is necessary to consider all the phases. Starting from the phase of construction, selection of materials, application from the beginning of the use of the building, including all the materials processing from the beginning until their application, the use of natural resources for the production of various construction products, the necessary energy for the production and processing of the materials used, and the amount of release and imitation of CO2 (carbon dioxide). This paper also discusses the question of what sick building syndrome SBS is, how materials are affected by this phenomenon, what are the main materials affecting the residential buildings in SBS phenomenon in Kosovo, what buildings are affected by this phenomenon and how does this phenomenon affect human health. Furthermore, this paper provides a deep analysis on factors influencing the phenomenon of SBS in different municipalities and several companies. It also discusses the influence of Asbestos and its impact on SBS, through a survey conducted in different municipalities and institutions and other companies. Through this discussion the paper attempts to provide information on the current knowledge about asbestos, as well as the manner of its assembling and dismantling, storage and all other information related to this material which has a great impact on the appearance on phenomena of SBS. A special emphasis has been put on the impact of materials on our health, recent research on the materials used and impact on the appearance of SBS case, including the diseases that occur as a consequence of the occurrence of diseased buildings.

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