scholarly journals Inhalation Exposure to Gaseous and Particulate Bound Mercury Present in the Ambient Air over the Polluted Area of Southern Poland

Author(s):  
Halina Pyta ◽  
Kamila Widziewicz-Rzońca ◽  
Krzysztof Słaby

This study concerns the concentrations of gaseous and particle-bound mercury present in ambient air of two Polish sites, differing in terms of emission structure, and the estimation of inhalation risks related to those Hg species. The measurements of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and PM2.5-bound mercury (PBM) were performed at an urban station in Zabrze and a rural station in Złoty Potok, in 2014–2015. Both sites are located in Silesia, considered one of the European air pollution hot-spots. TGM was measured on-line (Tekran 2537). PM2.5 samples were taken with the use of low volume samplers. Hg contents in PM were determined by the CVAAS method following thermal decomposition. The median concentrations of TGM and PBM in Zabrze were 2.48 ng m−3 and 37.87 pg m−3, respectively; meanwhile in Zloty Potok, these were 1.69 ng m−3 and 27.82 pg m−3, respectively. Clearly, seasonal variability of TGM and PBM concentrations were observed, reflecting the importance of Hg and PM emissions from coal combustion for power and heating purposes. Health risk assessment was performed using a deterministic approach by the most conservative exposure scenario. The obtained HQ ratios and the cumulative HI indexes were below the limit value (<1). This means an unlikely health hazard due mercury inhalation.

Author(s):  
V. N. Rakitskii ◽  
N. E. Fedorova ◽  
I. V. Bereznyak ◽  
N. G. Zavolokina ◽  
L. P. Muhina

The article presents results of studies exemplified by diquat on analysis concerning influence of lower limit value of quantitative assessment in washing sample for safety coefficient in exposure and in absorbed dose, if acting substance is absent in workplace ambient air samples and in dermal washings of workers. To control diquat in dermal washings, there is a method based on ion-pair liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (working wavelength 310 nm). To concentrate sample, cartridges for solid-phase extraction, containing ion exchange sorbent (Oasis MCX 6cc/500 mg), are used. Lower limit of assessment in washing sample — 0,15 micrograms. Experimentally set washing completeness is within range of 80–92%, standard deviation of repetition is 7,0% at most. The method created was tested in nature studies determining dermal exposure in workers subjected to 5 various preparations based on diquat dibromide when used for surface spraying from tractor and from aircraft. For lower limit of detection in washing sample (0,15 micrograms/washing), calculated risk value of exposure varied within 0,26–0,36; risk of absorbed dose was low — 0,23 (the allowable one ≤1). Findings are that present measuring methods which provide lower limit of detection 1 and 5 micrograms in washing sample could result in unallowable risk establishment even with absence of the substance in all samples of workplace air and dermal washings. The calculation formula suggested enables to give theoretic basis for requirements to lower limit of detecting active substances in dermal washing samples for evaluating risk of pesticides use in agriculture.


Author(s):  
A. S. Radilov ◽  
S. A. Solntseva ◽  
I. E. Shkaeva ◽  
S. A. Dulov ◽  
E. V. Vivulanets ◽  
...  

Toxicity and hazard assessment of dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) was performed in acute, subacute, and chronic experiments, and its principal toxicometry parameters were determined.It was found that on single exposure DOTP exhibits low toxicity and hazard. No resorptive and irritant effects on skin and mucous membrane of eyes were detected in animal experiments. The single inhalation exposure threshold limit value was set at 300 mg/m3, based on the results of monitoring of the functional state of the central nervous system and myocardium and hematological parameters.Thirty-day subacute experiments (oral administration, inhalation exposure, and skin applications) revealed no accumulation of the compound.Four-month chronic exposure to DOTP aerosols (concentration 96,8 mg/m3) caused disorder of the functional state of the central nervous system and myocardium, changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters, gas and acid-base status of the blood, and morphological changes in the lungs and heart. Embryotoxic, genotoxic and gonadotoxic effects were not detected.The chronic inhalation exposure threshold limit value for DOTP (Limch) was set at 18,6 mg/m3, and the concentration of 3,4 mg/m3 was found to be ineffective.The maximum allowable concentration of DOTP in the air of the working area was set at 3,0 mg/m3, hazard class 3.


2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Wittwer ◽  
Robert Eichler ◽  
Dominik Herrmann ◽  
Andreas Türler

Abstract A new setup named Fast On-line Reaction Apparatus (FORA) is presented which allows for the efficient investigation and optimization of metal carbonyl complex (MCC) formation reactions under various reaction conditions. The setup contains a 252Cf-source producing short-lived Mo, Tc, Ru and Rh isotopes at a rate of a few atoms per second by its 3% spontaneous fission decay branch. Those atoms are transformed within FORA in-situ into volatile metal carbonyl complexes (MCCs) by using CO-containing carrier gases. Here, the design, operation and performance of FORA is discussed, revealing it as a suitable setup for performing single-atom chemistry studies. The influence of various gas-additives, such as CO2, CH4, H2, Ar, O2, H2O and ambient air, on the formation and transport of MCCs was investigated. O2, H2O and air were found to harm the formation and transport of MCCs in FORA, with H2O being the most severe. An exception is Tc, for which about 130 ppmv of H2O caused an increased production and transport of volatile compounds. The other gas-additives were not influencing the formation and transport efficiency of MCCs. Using an older setup called Miss Piggy based on a similar working principle as FORA, it was additionally investigated if gas-additives are mostly affecting the formation or only the transport stability of MCCs. It was found that mostly formation is impacted, as MCCs appear to be much less sensitive to reacting with gas-additives in comparison to the bare Mo, Tc, Ru and Rh atoms.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernst Stadlober ◽  
Zuzana Hübnerová ◽  
Jaroslav Michálek ◽  
Miroslav Kolář

Brno and Graz, the second largest cities of their countries, observe in each winter season PM10 concentrations of daily means which regularly exceed the limit value of 50 ?g/m3. This is mainly caused by unfavorable dissemination conditions of the ambient air. Hence, partial regulation measureshave to be taken in Brno and Graz where specific decisions for certain regulations may be based on the average PM10 concentration of the next day provided that reliable forecasts of these values are available. For several sites in the two cities we establish forecasts of daily PM10 concentrations based onmultiple linear regression and generalized linear models utilizing both measured covariates of the present day and meteorological forecasts of the next day. The comparisons, based on different quality measures demonstrate the usefulness of both model approaches as they yield results of similar quality.Our prediction models may support future decisions concerning possible traffic restrictions or other regulations.


Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ho ◽  
Zheng ◽  
Cheong ◽  
En ◽  
Pek ◽  
...  

Ambient air pollution is a risk factor for both acute and chronic diseases and poses serious health threats to the world population. We aim to study the relationship between air pollution and all-cause mortality in the context of a city-state exposed to the Southeast Asian haze problem. The primary exposure was ambient air pollution, as measured by the Pollutants Standards Index (PSI). The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality from 2010–2015. A time-stratified case-crossover design was performed. A conditional Poisson regression model, including environmental variables such as PSI, temperature, wind speed, and rainfall, was fitted to the daily count of deaths to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of mortality per unit increase in PSI, accounting for overdispersion and autocorrelation. To account for intermediate exposure effects (maximum lag of 10 days), a distributed lag non-linear model was used. There were 105,504 deaths during the study period. Increment in PSI was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. The adjusted IRR of mortality per the 10-unit increase in PSI was 1.01 (95%CI = 1.00–1.01). The lag effect was stronger when PSI was in the unhealthy range compared to the good and moderate ranges. At lag = 7 days, PSI appeared to have an adverse effect on mortality, although the effect was not significant. These findings provide evidence on the general health hazard of exposure to air pollution and can potentially guide public health policies in the region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 06001
Author(s):  
Anna Telyatnikova ◽  
Sviatoslav Fedorov ◽  
Iurii Stolbikhin ◽  
Elena Korneeva

Wastewater transport in sewer networks contributes to the formation and emission of fetid and toxic sewage gases into the environment, one of which is hydrogen sulfide. The emission of gases can have a significant impact on the environment and health of maintenance workers and city residents. The object of the research is the study of the process of hydrogen sulfide emission in the energy dissipation chamber (EDC). The method of two-stage mathematical modeling in the program of finite element analysis ANSYS CFX is applied for the research. Two models have been created, the first one simulates the internal space of the EDC structure itself, and the second one simulates the EDC manhole and the volume of the surrounding air next to it. Mathematical dependences of hydrogen sulfide concentration change at three sections inside the structure are obtained for incoming wastewater flow velocities V = 1 m/s, 1.5 m/s and 2 m/s. The critical flow velocities at which the maximum single threshold limit value will exceed 1 m/s and the threshold limit value of the working area will exceed 1.52 m/s are determined. The methodology for solving the problem of assessing the impact of the EDC object on the environment is formed. The results of the study can be applied in the design of structures for a preliminary assessment and prediction of the impact of a wastewater facility, as well as the selection of the most favorable hydraulic regime.


2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyamak Pourabedian ◽  
Abdullah Barkhordari ◽  
Ehsanallah Habibi ◽  
Masoud Rismanchiyan ◽  
Mohsen Zare

Effect of 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate Exposure on Peak Flowmetry in Automobile Paint Shop Workers in IranThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational exposure to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) on peak flowmetry in automobile body paint shop workers in Iran. We studied a population of 43 car painters exposed to HDI at their workplaces. Peak expiratory flow was tested for one working week, from the start to the end of each shift. Air was sampled and HDI analysed in parallel, according to the OSHA 42 method.Daily and weekly HDI exposure averages were (0.42±0.1) mg m-3 and (0.13±0.05) mg m-3, respectively.On painting days, 72 % of workers showed more than a 10 % variation in peak expiratory flow. Inhalation exposure exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) ten times over. This strongly suggests that HDI affected the peak flowmetry in the studied workers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 4013-4022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Romero-Trigueros ◽  
Marta Doval Miñarro ◽  
Esther González Duperón ◽  
Enrique González Ferradás

Abstract. Calibration of in situ analysers of air pollutants is usually done with dry standards. In this paper, the influence of sample temperature and environmental humidity on benzene measurements by gas chromatography coupled with a photoionisation detector (GC-PID) is studied. Two reference gas mixtures (40 and 5 µg m−3 nominal concentration benzene in air) were subjected to two temperature cycles (20/5/20 °C and 20/35/20 °C) and measured with two identical GC-PIDs. The change in sample temperature did not produce any significant change in readings. Regarding ambient humidity, the chromatographs were calibrated for benzene with dry gases and subjected to measure reference standards with humidity (20 and 80 % at 20 °C). When measuring a concentration of 0.5 µg m−3 benzene in air, the levels of humidity tested did not produce any significant interference in measurements taken with any of the analysers. However, when measuring a concentration of 40 µg m−3, biases in measurements of 18 and 21 % for each respective analyser were obtained when the relative humidity of the sample was 80 % at 20 °C. Further tests were carried out to study the nature of this interference. Results show that humidity interference depends on both the amount fractions of water vapour and benzene. If benzene concentrations in an area are close to its annual limit value (5 µg m−3), biases of 2.2 % can be expected when the absolute humidity is 8.6 g cm−3 – corresponding to a relative humidity of 50 % at 20 °C. This can be accounted for in the uncertainty budget of measurements with no need for corrections. If benzene concentrations are above the annual limit value, biases become higher. Thus, in these cases, actions should be taken to reduce the humidity interference, as an underestimation of benzene concentrations may cause a mismanagement of air quality in these situations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (2) ◽  
pp. H282-H305
Author(s):  
Amina Kunovac ◽  
Quincy A. Hathaway ◽  
Mark V. Pinti ◽  
Andrew D. Taylor ◽  
John M. Hollander

Ambient air, occupational settings, and the use and distribution of consumer products all serve as conduits for toxicant exposure through inhalation. While the pulmonary system remains a primary target following inhalation exposure, cardiovascular implications are exceptionally culpable for increased morbidity and mortality. The epidemiological evidence for cardiovascular dysfunction resulting from acute or chronic inhalation exposure to particulate matter has been well documented, but the mechanisms driving the resulting disturbances remain elusive. In the current review, we aim to summarize the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are directly linked to cardiovascular health following exposure to a variety of inhaled toxicants. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the biochemical changes in the cardiovascular system following particle inhalation exposure and to highlight potential biomarkers that exist across multiple exposure paradigms. We attempt to integrate these molecular signatures in an effort to provide direction for future investigations. This review also characterizes how molecular responses are modified in at-risk populations, specifically the impact of environmental exposure during critical windows of development. Maternal exposure to particulate matter during gestation can lead to fetal epigenetic reprogramming, resulting in long-term deficits to the cardiovascular system. In both direct and indirect (gestational) exposures, connecting the biochemical mechanisms with functional deficits outlines pathways that can be targeted for future therapeutic intervention. Ultimately, future investigations integrating “omics”-based approaches will better elucidate the mechanisms that are altered by xenobiotic inhalation exposure, identify biomarkers, and guide in clinical decision making.


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