Search results for "Particulates"

Effects of fish farming waste to sedimentary and particulate organic matter in a southern Mediterranean area (Gulf of Castellammare, Sicily): a multi…

2004

Abstract Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was used to investigate the dispersion area of waste material coming from fish farming activities in the western Mediterranean. Tests were conducted to see if uneaten feed and faecal material isotopic signals, originating from fish farms, could be detected in particulate organic matter (POM) and sedimentary organic matter (SOM). The detectable dispersion distance (from under cages as far as 1000 m) of cage-derived organic material was also examined. To do this, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) composition in POM and SOM collected around the cages, in some control areas and in the waste material, was measured. Mean POM δ13C was −22.9±0.2‰…

Volcanogenic particulates and gases from Etna volcano (Italy)

2014

Exposure of heat-not-burn tobacco effect on the quality of air and expiratory plume

2021

Abstract The increasing interest to avoid the consumption of regular tobacco has lead in the development of several types of devices to decrease the effects of this practice on active and bystanders. In this work, the impact of the use of new heat-not-burn (HnB) devices has been evaluated and compared with that of regular cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigs). Portable monitoring devices were employed for CO, CO2, particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to evaluate the quality of indoor air and expiratory plume of both, active and passive, users during these practices. It can be noticed that the levels of VOCs in active HnB smokers expiratory air are five times…

Determination of 210Pb concentration in the air at ground-level by gamma-ray spectrometry

1999

Abstract 210 Pb activity concentrations in the air of Palermo were determined by γ-ray spectrometric analysis of 323 particulate samples collected in the period September 1995–December 1996. For each sample, the air filtered through a cellulose filter paper was 8600 m 3 on average. The values of the daily activity concentration of 210 Pb were ranging from 136 to 3390 μBq/m 3 .

Rare earth elements distribution in seawater and suspended particulate of the Central Mediterranean Sea

2004

Rare earth element (REE) content in suspended and dissolved phases from the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea) has been measured. Vertical profiles of several dissolved REEs along the water column reflect the 3-D oceanographic features of the studied area and identifies the different water masses present there. Shale-normalized REE distribution patterns and derived parameters calculated for the suspended particulate show different atmospheric dust-surface inputs and their interactions with seawater. Finally, combined information from [La/Yb]N, ratios, REE/La ratios and Eu anomalies measured in the suspended particulate suggest an important contribution of volcanic materials from t…

Source and Nature of Inhaled Atmospheric Dust from Trace Element Analyses of Human Bronchial Fluids

2011

International audience; Rapid volcanic eruptions quickly ejecting large amounts of dust provoke the accumulation of heavy metals in people living in surrounding areas. Analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage samples (BAL) collected from people exposed to the paroxysmal 2001 Etna eruption revealed a strong enrichment of many toxic heavy metals. Comparing the BAL to the dust composition of southeastern Sicily, we found that only V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and U enrichment could be related to the volcanic event, whereas Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb contents come from the dissolution of particles of anthropogenic origin. Furthermore, the nature of these inhaled anthropogenic particles was revealed by anomalous La and…

Influence of Temperature on Characteristics of Particulate Matter and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals during Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis

2021

The formation process of Particulate Matter (PM) during sludge pyrolysis at different temperatures (300–700 °C) and the ecological risks of heavy metals were studied. The results showed that the particulate matter is mainly condensed on the quartz film in a carbon-based organic matter when the pyrolysis temperature was between 200–500 °C in a volatilization process. Inorganic particles was found in the particulate matter when the temperature was raised to 500–700 °C in a decomposition stage. Heavy metals were enriched in particulate matter with increase in pyrolysis temperature. When the temperature reached 700 °C, the concentration of Pb and Cd in the particulate matter significantly incre…

Ambient Air Pollution and Atherosclerosis: Insights Into Dose, Time, and Mechanisms.

2021

Ambient air pollution due to particulate matter ≤2.5 μ is the leading environmental risk factor contributing to global mortality, with a preponderant majority of these deaths attributable to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) causes such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Epidemiological studies in humans have provided refined estimates of exposure risk, with evidence suggesting that risk association with particulate matter ≤2.5 levels and ASCVD continues at levels well below air quality guidelines in North America and Europe. Mechanistic studies in animals and humans have provided a framework of understanding of the duration and pathways by which air pollution exposure may pr…

Cardiovascular effects of air pollution

2017

Air pollution is composed of particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone. PM is classified according to size into coarse particles (PM 10), fine particles (PM 2.5) and ultrafine particles. We aim to provide an original review of the scientific evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies examining the cardiovascular effects of outdoor air pollution. Pooled epidemiological studies reported that a 10 μg/m 3 increase in long-term exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with an 11% increase in cardiovascular mortality. Increased cardiovascular mortality was also related to long-term and short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide. Exposure to air pollution…

Sources, determination, monitoring, and transport of carbonaceous aerosols in Mainz, Germany

1998

Abstract Total atmospheric particulate matter, total carbon (TC), and black carbon (BC) were measured over two periods, spring and summer 1994, at a sampling location in Mainz, Germany. An optical (aethalometer) and a thermal method were used to determine BC since previous studies have shown that the optical method is dependent on the source of aerosols. The thermal method chosen for calibration enables the determination of molar hydrogen to carbon ratios for total particulate carbon and BC if quartz fiber filters were pre-treated at 850°C for 4 h. A specific attenuation cross-section of ≈7 m 2  g -1 for BC on the aethalometer filter was calculated which lies between values determined for c…