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Chemosphere Feb 2023The contamination of the environment by microplastics (MPs) in road dust poses a serious ecological and health concern. MPs have been detected in road dust worldwide and...
The contamination of the environment by microplastics (MPs) in road dust poses a serious ecological and health concern. MPs have been detected in road dust worldwide and their presence has been mainly attributed to plastic litter fragmentation and vehicle tyre abrasion. Although current technologies such as Raman and Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy are capable of detecting MPs in road dust, the analysis of MPs shape and MPs smaller than 20 μm is limited and often labour demanding. More accurate, cost-effective and rapid techniques have now become necessary to analyse MPs in road dust, particularly since the development of large infrastructure projects that incorporate recycled plastic into road assets and roadside furniture. Nile red (NR) staining is a promising technique to identify MPs in environmental samples; however, it has not yet been applied to road dust. This study investigates the use of NR fluorescence microscopy to detect MPs in road dust and provides information about MP amount, shape and size distribution. The staining duration and temperature, solvent selection and NR concentration were optimised considering 33 different road dust materials, including 13 types of plastic. The NR staining procedure developed in this work is capable of successfully differentiating between MPs down to 1 μm and other non-plastic road dust materials. Future applications include assessing the contribution of plastic-modified roads to MP pollution, comparing the level of MP pollution in urban and rural areas and providing a rapid, simple, inexpensive and reliable monitoring approach for further studies to compare MP using a singular optimised methodology.
Topics: Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Microplastics; Plastics; Environmental Pollution; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36610511
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137757 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023To investigate the major existing occupational hazards and to assess the occupational health risks for ferrous metal foundries (FMFs) in Ningbo, China.
INTRODUCTION
To investigate the major existing occupational hazards and to assess the occupational health risks for ferrous metal foundries (FMFs) in Ningbo, China.
METHODS
Unified questionnaires were formulated to investigate the information on the basic situations, occupational hazards, and occupational health management for 193 FMFs in Ningbo. Furthermore, we used the semi-quantitative risk assessment model, which was developed by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), to assess occupational health risks for 59 of 193 the FMFs.
RESULTS
The casting process of FMFs in Ningbo was mainly divided into sand casting and investment casting, and silica-dust and noise were the major occupational hazards in both sand casting and investment casting foundries. Silica-dust mainly occurred in industries with such work as sand handling, modeling, falling sand, and sand cleaning, with the median of the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA) was 0.80, 1.15, 3.52, 0.83 mg/m, respectively. The noise mainly existed in industries with such work as sand handling, core making, falling sand, sand cleaning, cutting and grinding, and smelting with median of PC-TWA was 81.72 dB(A), 82.93 dB(A), 90.75 dB(A), 80.18 dB(A), 90.05 dB(A), 82.70 dB(A), respectively. In addition, the results of the ICMM assessment model indicated that 100 and 98.7% of the jobs exposed to silica-dust and noise in 59 FMFs have an "intolerable risk" level of risks of causing pneumoconiosis and noise deaf, respectively.
DISCUSSION
The hazard risk of silica-dust and noise is serious for FMFs in Ningbo. It is necessary to supervise enterprises to improve operating environmental conditions, accelerate the reduction of silica-dust and noise exposure risks, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the foundry industry.
Topics: Occupational Exposure; Sand; Dust; Risk Assessment; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 36844828
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1049111 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jan 2023This research is concerned with performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the air flow and dust deposition behavior around a...
This research is concerned with performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the air flow and dust deposition behavior around a ground-mounted solar PV panel. The discrete phase model (DPM) is adopted to model the gas-solid flow. The influence of the wind speed, the dust particle size, and the dust material on the dust deposition rate was investigated based on the environment of Cairo, Egypt. The wind speeds range between 1 and 11.5 m/s with an average of 3.7 m/s. It is found that increasing the wind speed decreases the dust deposition rate. For wind speeds higher than 2 m/s, it is found that increasing the dust particle diameter or the dust density increases the dust deposition rate. For wind speeds lower than 2 m/s, it is found that there is a critical particle size before which increasing the dust density causes dust deposition rate to increase and after which increasing the dust density decreases the dust deposition. The maximum percentage of deposition rate equals 10.8% and occurs for the dolomite dust material at a wind speed of 2 m/s and particles diameter of 150 μm.
Topics: Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Particle Size; Wind; Hydrodynamics
PubMed: 36109484
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22993-y -
Nature Communications Dec 2022Saharan dust intrusions strongly impact Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal regions. Today, most operational dust forecasts extend only 2-5 days. Here we show that on...
Saharan dust intrusions strongly impact Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal regions. Today, most operational dust forecasts extend only 2-5 days. Here we show that on timescales of weeks to months, North African dust emission and transport are impacted by sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs), which establish a negative North Atlantic Oscillation-like surface signal. Chemical transport models show a large-scale dipolar dust response to SSWs, with the burden in the Eastern Mediterranean enhanced up to 30% and a corresponding reduction in West Africa. Observations of inhalable particulate (PM) concentrations and aerosol optical depth confirm this dipole. On average, a single SSW causes 680-2460 additional premature deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean and prevents 1180-2040 premature deaths in West Africa from exposure to dust-source fine particulate (PM). Currently, SSWs are predictable 1-2 weeks in advance. Altogether, the stratosphere represents an important source of subseasonal predictability for air quality over West Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Topics: Dust; Particulate Matter; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Aerosols; Africa, Northern; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 36517478
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35403-1 -
International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2020Road dust resuspension, especially the particulate matter fraction below 10 µm (PM), is one of the main air quality management challenges in Europe. Road dust samples...
Road dust resuspension, especially the particulate matter fraction below 10 µm (PM), is one of the main air quality management challenges in Europe. Road dust samples were collected from representative streets (suburban and urban) of the city of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. PM emission factors (mg veh km) ranging from 49 (asphalt) to 330 (cobble stone) were estimated by means of the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency method. Two road dust fractions (< 0.074 mm and from 0.0074 to 1 mm) were characterised for their geochemical, mineralogical and morphological properties. In urban streets, road dusts reveal the contribution from traffic emissions, with higher concentrations of, for example, Cu, Zn and Pb. In the suburban area, agriculture practices likely contributed to As concentrations of 180 mg kg in the finest road dust fraction. Samples are primarily composed of quartz, but also of muscovite, albite, kaolinite, microcline, Fe-enstatite, graphite and amorphous content. Particle morphology clearly shows the link with natural and traffic related materials, with well-formed minerals and irregular aggregates. The hazard quotient suggests a probability to induce non-carcinogenic adverse health effects in children by ingestion of Zr. Arsenic in the suburban street represents a human health risk of 1.58 × 10.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Child; Cities; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Metals, Heavy; Portugal; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 32121254
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051563 -
Indoor Air Jan 2022Exposure to biocontaminants, such as dust mites, animal dander, bacteria, and mold, is associated with a range of health effects. This study identified household...
Exposure to biocontaminants, such as dust mites, animal dander, bacteria, and mold, is associated with a range of health effects. This study identified household characteristics associated with indoor biocontaminant loadings in four Canadian cities. Floor dust was collected in 290 Canadian homes in Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, and Windsor. The dust samples were analyzed for house dust mite allergens (Der f 1 and Der p 1), cat allergen (Fel d 1), cockroach allergen (Bla g 1), beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, and endotoxin. Household information was obtained through questionnaires and home inspections. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify household determinants of biocontaminant loadings and mold odor presence. We observed large regional variations for all biocontaminants, except for cockroach allergen. The ranges of the contaminants measured in loadings and concentrations were similar to that of previous Canadian studies. Household characteristics including presence of carpeting, low floor cleaning frequency, older home age, presence of pets, and indoor relative humidity above 45% were positively associated with the presence of multiple indoor biocontaminants. High floor cleaning frequency and use of dehumidifiers were negatively associated with the presence of multiple indoor biocontaminants. Mold odor was positively associated with older home age, past water damage, and visible mold growth.
Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; Allergens; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Canada; Cockroaches; Dust; Housing
PubMed: 34561903
DOI: 10.1111/ina.12933 -
Environment International Jun 2024Fusion energy investigation has stepped to a new stage adopting deuterium and tritium as fuels from the previous stage concentrating hydrogen plasma physics. Special... (Review)
Review
Fusion energy investigation has stepped to a new stage adopting deuterium and tritium as fuels from the previous stage concentrating hydrogen plasma physics. Special radiation safety issues would be introduced during this stage. In addition to industrial and military uses, tungsten is also regarded as the most promising plasma facing material for fusion reactors. During the operation of fusion reactors, tungsten-based plasma facing materials can be activated via neutron nuclear reaction. Meanwhile, activated tungsten dust can be produced when high-energy plasma interacts with the tungsten-based plasma facing materials, namely plasma wall interaction. Activated tungsten dust would be an emerging environmental pollutant with radiation toxicity containing various radionuclides in addition to the chemical toxicity of tungsten itself. Nonetheless, the historical underestimation of its environmental availability has led to limited research on tungsten compared to other environmental contaminants. This paper presents the first systematic review on the safety issue of emerging activated tungsten dust, encompassing source terms, environmental behaviors, and health effects. The key contents are as follows: 1) to detail the source terms of activated tungsten dust from aspects of tungsten basic properties, generation mechanism, physical morphology and chemical component, radioactivity, as well as potential release pathways, 2) to illustrate the environmental behaviors from aspects of atmospheric dispersion and deposition, transformation and migration in soil, as well as plant absorption and distribution, 3) to identify the toxicity and health effects from aspects of toxicity to plants, distribution in human body, as well as health effects by radiation and chemical toxicity, 4) based on the research progress, research and development issues needed are also pointed out to better knowledge of safety issue of activated tungsten dust, which would be beneficial to the area of fusion energy and ecological impact caused by the routine tungsten related industrial and military applications.
Topics: Tungsten; Dust; Humans
PubMed: 38810497
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108774 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Jun 2022A comprehensive study of attic dust in an urban area is presented. Its entire life cycle, from determining historical emission sources to recognising the processes that...
A comprehensive study of attic dust in an urban area is presented. Its entire life cycle, from determining historical emission sources to recognising the processes that take place in attic dust and its potential to impact human health is discussed. Its chemical composition and morphological characteristics of individual solid particles reflect past anthropogenic activities. High levels of Be-Cd-Cu-Sb-Sn-Pb-Te-Zn and occurrence of Cu-Zn shavings are typical for an industrial zone characterised by a foundry and a battery factory. High levels of Co-Fe-Mo-Ni-W-Ba-Cr-Mg-Mn-Nb-Ti and occurrence of various solid Fe-oxides, particularly spherical particles, were identified in another industrial zone, which was dominated by the automotive and metal-processing industries. Emissions from coal combustion affected the distribution of S-Se-Hg-Tl-As-Ag-U. The predominant mineral in attic dust is gypsum, which was presumably formed in situ by the reaction of carbonate dust particles and atmospheric SO gas. The high oral bioaccessibility of As-Cd-Cu-Pb-Zn in the gastric phase and high bioaccessibility of As-Cu-Cd-Ni in the gastrointestinal phase were identified. Determined characteristics of attic dust and identified possibilities of prolonged human exposure to it indicate that attic dust should be treated as an excellent proxy for historical air contamination as well as a potentially hazardous material for human health.
Topics: Cadmium; Cities; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Lead; Metals, Heavy; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 35344891
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128745 -
Environmental Science & Technology Nov 2020Over the past few years, human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has garnered increased attention. Research has focused on PFAS exposure via...
Over the past few years, human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has garnered increased attention. Research has focused on PFAS exposure via drinking water and diet, and fewer studies have focused on exposure in the indoor environment. To support more research on the latter exposure pathway, we conducted a study to evaluate PFAS in indoor dust. Dust samples from 184 homes in North Carolina and 49 fire stations across the United States and Canada were collected and analyzed for a suite of PFAS using liquid and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and di-polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters (diPAPs) were the most prevalent PFAS in both fire station and house dust samples, with medians of approximately 100 ng/g dust or greater. Notably, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorononanoic acid, and 6:2 diPAP were significantly higher in dust from fire stations than from homes, and 8:2 FTOH was significantly higher in homes than in fire stations. Additionally, when comparing our results to earlier published values, we see that perfluoroalkyl acid levels in residential dust appear to decrease over time, particularly for PFOA and PFOS. These results highlight a need to better understand what factors contribute to PFAS levels in dust and to understand how much dust contributes to overall human PFAS exposure.
Topics: Alkanesulfonic Acids; Canada; Caprylates; Dust; Environmental Exposure; Fluorocarbons; Humans; North America; North Carolina
PubMed: 33143410
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04869 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2022In this paper, a nano-composite dust suppressant has been proposed to make up for the deficiency in wettability and moisturizing performance of a nanofluid dust...
In this paper, a nano-composite dust suppressant has been proposed to make up for the deficiency in wettability and moisturizing performance of a nanofluid dust suppressant. The nanometer material , super absorbent polymer, carboxyl methyl starch sodium, and polyacrylamide were selected as effective components of it. The surface tension of the solution, evaporation resistance, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) were chosen as evaluation index to compare the suppression performance, these dust suppressants include the water, nanofluid dust suppressant and nano-composite dust suppressant, and the surface morphology of each tested material was observed by micro image analysis system. It was found that the surface tension and water loss rates of the nano-composite dust suppressants, respectively, decreased by 31.96% and 7.1%, and the maximum UCS increased by 31.82% compared with data of nanofluid dust suppressants. Since the nano-composite dust suppressant has good dispersion, permeability and bond performance, the suppressant film has fewer micro-cracks from the photos of microscopic image; it can improve the compactness and integrity of dust consolidation to prevent the evaporation of water and dust re-entrainment.
Topics: Dust; Nanocomposites; Polymers; Starch; Water
PubMed: 35627825
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106288