Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Health in the Countries of the European Union

In the current era of globalization, a clean environment remains a crucial factor for the health of the population. Thus, improving air quality is a major focus of environmental policies, as it affects all aspects of nature, including humans. For these reasons, it is appropriate to take into account the health risks posed by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere. With regard to global GHG emissions, there are concerns about the loss of protection of the ozone layer and it is very likely that climate change can be expected, which multiplies the environmental threat and has potentially serious global consequences. In this regard, it is important to pay increased attention to emissions that enter the atmosphere, which include countless toxic substances. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between selected GHG emissions and the health of the European Union (EU) population represented by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). This aim was achieved using several analytical procedures (descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and panel regression analysis), which included five environmental variables (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) in CO2 equivalent, nitrous oxide (N2O) in CO2 equivalent, hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) in CO2 equivalent, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in CO2 equivalent) and one health variable (DALYs). An emphasis was placed on the use of quantitative methods. The results showed that CO2 emissions have a dominant position among selected GHG emissions. The revealed positive link between CO2 and DALYs indicated that a decrease in CO2 may be associated with a decrease in DALYs, but it is also true that this cannot be done without reducing emissions of other combustion products. In terms of CO2, the least positive scores were observed in Luxembourg and Estonia. Germany had the lowest score of DALYs, representing the most positive health outcome in the EU. In terms of total GHG emissions, Ireland and Luxembourg were considered to be less positive countries compared to the other analyzed countries. Countries should focus on reducing GHG emissions in general, but from a health point of view, reducing CO2 emissions seems to be the most beneficial.

Human amniotic membrane for failed macular hole. A case of initial unsuccessful outcome that resolved after amniotic membrane exchange

Introduction We described a case of initial unsuccessful outcome of failed macular hole treated with amniotic membrane, that resolved after amniotic membrane exchange and silicone oil injection. Case Description a woman affected by a high myopic macular hole that had failed to close after multiple surgeries, had been treated using an amniotic membrane graft and 20% sulfur hexafluoride but, after the gas reabsorption, the macular hole was still open, and the amniotic membrane. A second surgery with a second amniotic membrane patch and silicone oil was carried out. Two weeks after the procedure the macular hole closed, and the final visual acuity improved from 20/400 to 20/100. Conclusions In this case, a second surgery, using a new amniotic membrane graft and a longer-lasting endotamponade, closed the hole and improved the visual acuity.

Dependence of the energy efficiency of the acousto-optic modulator of terahertz radiation on the dimensions of the ultrasound transducer

The paper presents results of experimental investigation of an acousto-optic modulator of terahertz radiation based on liquefied sulfur hexafluoride. It was found that the intensity of diffracted radiation at a fixed ultrasound power depends on the dimensions of the ultrasound transducer. The optimal size of the ultrasound transducer in the direction orthogonal to the plane of the acousto-optic interaction was determined, at which the maximum energy efficiency of the acousto-optic modulator was achieved.

UAS Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (UCATS) – a versatile instrument for trace gas measurements on airborne platforms

UCATS (the UAS Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species) was designed and built for observations of important atmospheric trace gases from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). Initially it measured major chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and the stratospheric transport tracers nitrous oxide (N2O) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), using gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Compact commercial absorption spectrometers for ozone (O3) and water vapor (H2O) were added to enhance its capabilities on platforms with relatively small payloads. UCATS has since been reconfigured to measure methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and molecular hydrogen (H2) instead of CFCs and has undergone numerous upgrades to its subsystems. It has served as part of large payloads on stratospheric UAS missions to probe the tropical tropopause region and transport of air into the stratosphere; in piloted aircraft studies of greenhouse gases, transport, and chemistry in the troposphere; and in 2021 is scheduled to return to the study of stratospheric ozone and halogen compounds, one of its original goals. Each deployment brought different challenges, which were largely met or resolved. The design, capabilities, modifications, and some results from UCATS are shown and described here, including changes for future missions.

First-Principle Study of Rh-Doped Nitrogen Vacancy Boron Nitride Monolayer for Scavenging and Detecting SF6 Decomposition Products

The scavenging and detection of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) decomposition products (SO2, H2S, SO2F2, SOF2) critically matters to the stable and safe operation of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) equipment. In this paper, the Rh-doped nitrogen vacancy boron nitride monolayer (Rh-VNBN) is proposed as a gas scavenger and sensor for the above products. The computational processes are applied to investigate the configurations, adsorption and sensing processes, and electronic properties in the gas/Rh-VNBN systems based on the first-principle calculations. The binding energy (Eb) of the Rh-VNBN reaches −8.437 eV, while the adsorption energy (Ead) and band gap (BG) indicate that Rh-VNBN exhibits outstanding adsorption and sensing capabilities. The density of state (DOS) analysis further explains the mechanisms of adsorption and sensing, demonstrating the potential use of Rh-VNBN in sensors and scavengers of SF6 decomposition products. This study is meaningful as it explores new gas scavengers and sensors of SF6 decomposition products to allow the operational status assessment of GIS equipment.

347 Enteric Methane: Current Measurement and Assessment Techniques

Enteric methane (ECH4) emissions from ruminants can be measured directly or indirectly using various techniques and recent reviews have discussed advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. The GLOBAL NETWORK project (GN; an international consortium of animal scientists) examined techniques for measuring ECH4, including respiration chambers, the sulfur hexafluoride tracer (SF6) technique, and techniques based on short-term measurements of gas concentrations in samples of exhaled air. The latter category includes automated head chambers (i.e., the GreenFeed system; GF), use of carbon dioxide as a marker, and (handheld) laser methane detection. The conclusion from this analysis was that “there is no ‘one size fits all’ method for measuring ECH4 emission by individual animals” and appropriate and frequent calibrations and recovery tests are necessary with all methods. The team also concluded that the need for screening large numbers of animals (for example, for genomic studies), does not justify the use of measurement methods that are inaccurate. Timing of sampling/data collection is critical for the spot-sampling techniques, such as GF. It is a well-established fact that ECH4 emission is closely related to animal’s dry matter intake (DMI) and feeding patterns. Therefore, data collection using GF has to be sufficiently long and frequent, during both day and night hours, to fully represent the diurnal patter of ECH4 emission. The in vitro gas production and analysis technique can be used to screen feed additives or other ECH4 mitigation treatments, but data must be always confirmed/supported by animal (preferably long-term) studies. ECH4 emission can be also predicted based on dietary or animal variables. Large databases developed by the GN project have confirmed that DMI is driving ECH4, but other factors, such as dietary neutral detergent fiber, milk yield and composition (dairy cows), or dietary forage inclusion and animal’s body weight (beef cattle) can improve prediction accuracy.