CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND SOURCE FINGERPRINTING OF DEPOSITIONAL OIL FROM THE KUWAIT OIL FIRES

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 (1) ◽  
pp. 407-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles B. Henry ◽  
Edward B. Overton

ABSTRACT Depositional oil and soot derived from the 1991 Kuwait oil field fires produced huge tar mats in the desert. The concentration of oil in the upper 5 cm of the desert surface ranged from 1.16 to 8.92 percent oil by weight as determined by TPH analysis over a 10 km transect in southern Kuwait. The mean concentration of asphaltenes in the tar mat samples was estimated at 62 percent; a greater than 17-fold increase in concentration over unweathered Kuwait crude oil. The remaining oil forming these tar mats is believed to be derived from petroleum that escaped combustion within the well fires. Results from GC/MS analyses characterize the depositional oil as being significantly altered by evaporative weathering. We suspect that evaporation of the depositional oil will continue, further consolidating the weathered oil, sand, and soot into asphalt-like zones which will remain for a very long time as features of the Kuwait desert. Significant quantities of oil residue from the fires also fell into the Arabian Gulf, contributing to what may be the largest man-made oil spill.

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Fristachi ◽  
Glenn Rice

Disinfection with chlorine and chloramine leads to the formation of many disinfection by-products including N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Because NDMA is a probable human carcinogen, public health officials are concerned with its occurrence in drinking water. The goal of this study was to estimate NDMA concentrations from exogenous (i.e., drinking water and food) and endogenous (i.e., formed in the human body) sources, calculate average daily doses for ingestion route exposures and estimate the proportional oral intake (POI) of NDMA attributable to the consumption of drinking water relative to other ingestion sources of NDMA. The POI is predicted to be 0.02% relative to exogenous and endogenous NDMA sources combined. When only exogenous sources are considered, the POI was predicted to be 2.7%. The exclusion of endogenously formed NDMA causes the POI to increase dramatically, reflecting its importance as a potentially major source of exposure and uncertainty in the model. Although concentrations of NDMA in foods are small and human exposure to NDMA from foods is quite low, the contribution from food is predicted to be high relative to that of drinking water. The mean concentration of NDMA in drinking water would need to increase from 2.1 × 10−3 μg/L to 0.10 μg/L, a 47-fold increase, for the POI to reach 1%, relative to all sources of NDMA considered in our model, suggesting that drinking water consumption is most likely a minor source of NDMA exposure.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 01032
Author(s):  
Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec ◽  
Józef Pastuszka ◽  
Barbara Mathews ◽  
Kamila Widziewicz

The link between increased morbidity and mortality and increasing concentrations of particulate matter (PM) resulted in great attention being paid to the presence and physicochemical properties of PM in closed rooms, where people spends most of their time. The least recognized group of such indoor environments are small service facilities. The aim of this study was to identify factors which determine the concentration, chemical composition and sources of PM in the air of different service facilities: restaurant kitchen, printing office and beauty salon. The average PM concentration measured in the kitchen was 5-fold (PM4, particle fraction ≥ 4 μm) and 5.3-fold (TSP, total PM) greater than the average concentration of these PM fractions over the same period. During the same measurement period in the printing office and in the beauty salon, the mean PM concentration was 10- and 4-fold (PM4) and 8- and 3-fold (TSP) respectively greater than the mean concentration of these PM fractions in outdoor air. In both facilities the main source of PM macro-components, especially organic carbon, were chemicals, which are normally used in such places - solvents, varnishes, paints, etc. The influence of some metals inflow from the outdoor air into indoor environment of those facilities was also recognized.


2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csilla Tóthová ◽  
Oskar Nagy ◽  
Veronika Nagyová ◽  
Gabriel Kováč

This study was aimed at the evaluation of changes in the concentrations of selected blood serum proteins in calves during the first three months of life, including precolostral, colostral, milk, transitional and solid feeding period. Nine clinically healthy calves were used in this study. The first blood sampling was performed before the colostrum intake (day 0) and then at 1, 2, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 90 days of age. Blood serum was analyzed for the concentrations of α1-fetoprotein, prealbumin, transferrin, and lactoferrin. The results showed significant changes in the serum concentrations of all the evaluated proteins in calves during the first three months of life (P< 0.01 andP< 0.001). At birth, the mean concentration of α1-fetoprotein was low and increased more than × 8 at one day after colostrum intake, then a gradual decrease was found up to day 30 of life. Similar tendency was observed in the concentrations of prealbumin and lactoferrin. While the concentrations of prealbumin increased approximately × 3.5 at one day after colostrum intake, the serum lactoferrin values showed approximately 1.5-fold increase. A subsequent gradual decrease from the 2ndday of life was found for both prealbumin and lactoferrin. In the concentrations of transferrin, a significant increase was observed on day 7 (P< 0.05). The highest values were found at the age of 14 and 30 days. These results suggest that concentrations of these proteins in calves are markedly altered during the postnatal period, which should be taken into consideration for their precise interpretation in young animals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-42
Author(s):  
Enaam Abdullah ◽  
Mena Mohammed

Air pollution evaluation of the operational processes in the East Baghdad oil field was carried out. The analysis was carried out by ICP-MS technique. Total Suspended Particles (TSP) air load was higher than Iraqi Standards and world international allowable limits of World Health Organization. The mean concentrations of gases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, in the air were within national and world standards, while the mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide was higher than standard limits. The air of the study area is considered a good quality for CO, CO2 and NO2 with no health effect, while it is hazardous for TSP that have serious risk for people with respiratory disease. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and Co were higher than national and world limits due to operation processes and combustion of crude oil in the site while Ni concentration was within limits.


1983 ◽  
Vol 22 (05) ◽  
pp. 246-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Al-Hilli ◽  
H. M. A. Karim ◽  
M. H. S. Al-Hissoni ◽  
M. N. Jassim ◽  
N. H. Agha

Gelchromatography column scanning has been used to study the fractions of reduced hydrolyzed 99mTc, 99mTc-pertechnetate and 99mTc-chelate in a 99mTc-glucoheptonate (GH) preparation. A stable high labelling yield of 99mTc-GH complex in the radiopharmaceutical has been obtained with a concentration of 40-50 mg of glucoheptonic acid-calcium salt and not less than 0.45 mg of SnCl2 2 H2O at an optimal pH between 6.5 and 7.0. The stability of the complex has been found significantly affected when sodium hydroxide solution was used for the pH adjustment. However, an alternative procedure for final pH adjustment of the preparation has been investigated providing a stable complex for the usual period of time prior to the injection. The organ distribution and the blood clearance data of 99mTc-GH in rabbits were relatively similar to those reported earlier. The mean concentration of the radiopharmaceutical in both kidneys has been studied in normal subjects for one hour with a scintillation camera and the results were satisfactory.


1967 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benno Runnebaum ◽  
Josef Zander

ABSTRACT Progesterone was determined and identified in human peripheral blood during the preovulatory period of the menstrual cycle, by combined isotope derivative and recrystallization analysis. The mean concentration of progesterone in 1.095 ml of plasma obtained 9 days before ovulation was 0.084 μg/100 ml. However, the mean concentration of progesterone in 1.122 ml of plasma obtained 4 days before ovulation was 0.279 μg/100 ml. These data demonstrate a source of progesterone secretion other than the corpus luteum. The higher plasma-progesterone concentration 4 days before ovulation may indicate progesterone secretion of the ripening Graafian follicle of the ovary.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1382
Author(s):  
Olga Martyna Koper-Lenkiewicz ◽  
Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska ◽  
Anna Justyna Milewska ◽  
Justyna Zińczuk ◽  
Joanna Kamińska

The aim of the study was the evaluation whether in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (n = 55): age, sex, TNM classification results, WHO grade, tumor location (proximal colon, distal colon, rectum), tumor size, platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), mean platelet component (MCP), levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA 19-9), as well as soluble lectin adhesion molecules (L-, E-, and P-selectins) may influence circulating inflammatory biomarkers: IL-6, CRP, and sCD40L. We found that CRP concentration evaluation in routine clinical practice may have an advantage as a prognostic biomarker in CRC patients, as this protein the most comprehensively reflects clinicopathological features of the tumor. Univariate linear regression analysis revealed that in CRC patients: (1) with an increase in PLT by 10 × 103/μL, the mean concentration of CRP increases by 3.4%; (2) with an increase in CA 19-9 of 1 U/mL, the mean concentration of CRP increases by 0.7%; (3) with the WHO 2 grade, the mean CRP concentration increases 3.631 times relative to the WHO 1 grade group; (4) with the WHO 3 grade, the mean CRP concentration increases by 4.916 times relative to the WHO 1 grade group; (5) with metastases (T1-4N+M+) the mean CRP concentration increases 4.183 times compared to non-metastatic patients (T1-4N0M0); (6) with a tumor located in the proximal colon, the mean concentration of CRP increases 2.175 times compared to a tumor located in the distal colon; (7) in patients with tumor size > 3 cm, the CRP concentration is about 2 times higher than in patients with tumor size ≤ 3 cm. In the multivariate linear regression model, the variables that influence the mean CRP value in CRC patients included: WHO grade and tumor localization. R2 for the created model equals 0.50, which indicates that this model explains 50% of the variance in the dependent variable. In CRC subjects: (1) with the WHO 2 grade, the mean CRP concentration rises 3.924 times relative to the WHO 1 grade; (2) with the WHO 3 grade, the mean CRP concentration increases 4.721 times in relation to the WHO 1 grade; (3) with a tumor located in the rectum, the mean CRP concentration rises 2.139 times compared to a tumor located in the distal colon; (4) with a tumor located in the proximal colon, the mean concentration of CRP increases 1.998 times compared to the tumor located in the distal colon; if other model parameters are fixed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 600-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Chawdhary ◽  
N Liow ◽  
J Democratis ◽  
O Whiteside

AbstractBackground:Necrotising (malignant) otitis externa is a severe infection causing temporal bone osteomyelitis. Although rare, our experience (reported herein) shows local doubling of cases in 2013. Hospital Episodes Statistics data for England over 14 years also indicate increased incidence nationally. Specific learning points in management are also discussed.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted of patients admitted in 2013 to Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK (catchment population, 450 000). In addition, the UK Government Hospital Episodes Statistics data were interrogated.Results:There were five cases of necrotising (malignant) otitis externa in 2013, representing a local doubling on previous years. The mean age of patients was 82 years. All cultures grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa; no isolates were antibiotic resistant. All patients responded to systemic anti-pseudomonals on clinical, biochemical and radiological parameters. Hospital Episodes Statistics data showed a six-fold increase in the number of cases from 1999 (n = 67) to 2013 (n = 421).Conclusion:Our experience suggests increasing necrotising (malignant) otitis externa incidence, and retrospective analysis of Hospital Episodes Statistics data supports this observation. Necrotising (malignant) otitis externa poses challenges in management, as exemplified in our cases, requiring a high index of suspicion and early aggressive treatment to achieve cure.


2013 ◽  
Vol 730 ◽  
pp. 593-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Djenidi ◽  
S. F. Tardu ◽  
R. A. Antonia

AbstractA long-time direct numerical simulation (DNS) based on the lattice Boltzmann method is carried out for grid turbulence with the view to compare spatially averaged statistical properties in planes perpendicular to the mean flow with their temporal counterparts. The results show that the two averages become equal a short distance downstream of the grid. This equality indicates that the flow has become homogeneous in a plane perpendicular to the mean flow. This is an important result, since it confirms that hot-wire measurements are appropriate for testing theoretical results based on spatially averaged statistics. It is equally important in the context of DNS of grid turbulence, since it justifies the use of spatial averaging along a lateral direction and over several realizations for determining various statistical properties. Finally, the very good agreement between temporal and spatial averages validates the comparison between temporal (experiments) and spatial (DNS) statistical properties. The results are also interesting because, since the flow is stationary in time and spatially homogeneous along lateral directions, the equality between the two types of averaging provides strong support for the ergodic hypothesis in grid turbulence in planes perpendicular to the mean flow.


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