Real-time measurement of outdoor tobacco smoke particles

The current lack of empirical data on outdoor tobacco smoke (OTS) levels impedes OTS exposure and risk assessments. We sought to measure peak and time-averaged OTS concentrations in common outdoor settings near smokers and to explore the determinants of time-varying OTS levels, including the effects of source proximity and wind. Using five types of real-time airborne particle monitoring devices, we obtained more than 8000 min worth of continuous monitoring data, during which there were measurable OTS levels. Measurement intervals ranged from 2 sec to 1 min for the different instruments. We monitored OTS levels during 15 on-site visits to 10 outdoor public places where active cigar and cigarette smokers were present, including parks, sidewalk cafés, and restaurant and pub patios. For three of the visits and during 4 additional days of monitoring outdoors and indoors at a private residence, we controlled smoking activity at precise distances from monitored positions. The overall average OTS respirable particle concentration for the surveys of public places during smoking was approximately 30 microg m(-3). OTS exhibited sharp spikes in particle mass concentration during smoking that sometimes exceeded 1000 microg m(-3) at distances within 0.5 m of the source. Some average concentrations over the duration of a cigarette and within 0.5 m exceeded 200 microg m(-3), with some average downwind levels exceeding 500 microg m(-3). OTS levels in a constant upwind direction from an active cigarette source were nearly zero. OTS levels also approached zero at distances greater than approximately 2 m from a single cigarette. During periods of active smoking, peak and average OTS levels near smokers rivaled indoor tobacco smoke concentrations. However, OTS levels dropped almost instantly after smoking activity ceased. Based on our results, it is possible for OTS to present a nuisance or hazard under certain conditions of wind and smoker proximity.     

Levels and risks of particulate-bound PAHs in indoor air influenced by tobacco smoke: a field measurement

Considering tobacco smoke as one of the most health-relevant indoor sources, the aim of this work was to further understand its negative impacts on human health. The specific objectives of this work were to evaluate the levels of particulate-bound PAHs in smoking and non-smoking homes and to assess the risks associated with inhalation exposure to these compounds. The developed work concerned the application of the toxicity equivalency factors approach (including the estimation of the lifetime lung cancer risks, WHO) and the methodology established by USEPA (considering three different age categories) to 18 PAHs detected in inhalable (PM₁₀) and fine (PM_2.5) particles at two homes. The total concentrations of 18 PAHs (Σ_PAHs) was 17.1 and 16.6 ng m^?3 in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 at smoking home and 7.60 and 7.16 ng m^?3 in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 at non-smoking one. Compounds with five and six rings composed the majority of the particulate PAHs content (i.e., 73 and 78 % of Σ_PAHs at the smoking and non-smoking home, respectively). Target carcinogenic risks exceeded USEPA health-based guideline at smoking home for 2 different age categories. Estimated values of lifetime lung cancer risks largely exceeded (68–200 times) the health-based guideline levels at both homes thus demonstrating that long-term exposure to PAHs at the respective levels would eventually cause risk of developing cancer. The high determined values of cancer risks in the absence of smoking were probably caused by contribution of PAHs from outdoor sources.     

催化荧光法测定环境水样中痕量铬(VI)

研究了在HAC－NaAC介质中,痕量铬（VI）催化过氧化氢氧化罗丹明6G的褪色反应及其动力学条件,建立了催化荧光测定痕量铬（VI）的新方法。催化反应在沸水浴中进行15min,为假零级反应。方法的检出限为2．1×10－9g／mL,线性范围为0．2～2．5μg／25mL。将该法用于环境水样中痕量铬（VI）的测定,结果良好。     

Novel method for determining pyrene biodegradation using synchronous fluorimetry

To study the biodegradation rate of pyrene dissolved in liquid medium supplemented with mineral salts, a synchronous fluorimetry (SF) method was established. The limit of detection for pyrene dissolved in mineral salts medium (MSM) was determined as 0.19 ng/ml with a relative standard deviation of less than 1.3% (n = 9). The pyrene degrading rates of four bacterial strains were investigated using this method under the same experimental conditions. The degradation rates of the three active strains ranged from 76% to 87% after a 14-h incubation. The results were confirmed by the gas chromatography with a flame ionized detector (GC/FID) method. This implies that pyrene degradation can be directly monitored by the SF method without the solvent extraction of samples. The advantages of SF are that it is less laborious, faster, and less expensive than the GC/FID determination method with solvent extraction. The SF method provides a new tool for studying the degradation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the natural environment and under experimental conditions.     

The effects of LMWOAs on biodegradation of multi-component PAHs in aqueous solution using dual-wavelength fluorimetry

Biodegradation of dissolved fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Ph) and pyrene (Py), three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), singly or as a mixture of the three, by two bacterial strains, MEBIC 5140 (Mycobacterium flavescens) and MEBIC 5141 (Mycobacterium scrofulaceum), as well as the effects of low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), e.g. malic acid, citric acid and butyric acid on biodegradation of the three PAHs in mineral salts medium aqueous solution were investigated using a newly established dual-wavelength fluorimetric method. The results showed that biodegradation processes can be monitored simultaneously, quickly and simply by dual-wavelength fluorimetry. Both co-metabolism and inhibitory effects were found during the biodegradation of the three PAHs by MEBIC 5140 and MEBIC 5141. Positive effects of butyric acid and negative effects of citric acid on biodegradation of the three PAHs in a mixture were observed.     

湿式旋流脱硫除尘一体化装置在燃煤锅炉烟气净化上的应用

某中药厂4 t/h燃煤锅炉烟气采用湿式旋流脱硫除尘一体化装置取得了良好的效果,经实际运行测定除尘率达95%,脱硫率达77%,排出的烟气均能达到排放标准.该净化装置具有旋风水膜除尘器和湿式旋流板洗涤器的双重功能,通过介绍该一体化装置的机理、设计参数和技术经济分析,为燃煤锅炉烟气的脱硫除尘提供参考.     

A method for determining pyrene in mucus using synchronous fluorimetry with multiple standard additions

A new method was proposed to determine pyrene in mucus, which combined the synchronous fluorimetry with the multiple standard addition method (SFMSA). The method was used to determine pyrene in mucus directly without pretreatment. The method detection limit (MDL) for pyrene in mucus was measured as 0.47 ng/ml with a relative standard deviation of 12.7% (n = 7). The standard addition graph was linear in the range 0.05-50.00 ng/ml (r(2) = 0.9989). SFMSA was validated using a GC/MS method as a reference method, and nice agreement was found. The pyrene in mucus can be directly monitored by SFMSA without solvent extraction of samples. This indicates that SFMSA is more timesaving, less laborious and cheaper than the GC/MS method with solvent extraction. SFMSA has lower MDL and higher average recovery than the GC/MS method.     

Concentration fluctuations in a smoke plume

Previous research results are reviewed and used to derive a new set of analytical formulas for predicting concentration fluctuations in smoke plumes. The meandering plume approach and the internal plume approach are compared. Some simple models are tested with field and laboratory data sets, showing that several aspects of the data (e.g. the concentration fluctuations on the plume axis) are reasonably wellsimulated. However, there is much room for improvement, since the models have some fundamental disagreements and much more testing with data should take place. In particular, a good knowledge of the Lagrangian time scale is essential for predicting concentration fluctuations.     

酸再生烟气净化旋流器的分离性能

盐酸再生系统吸收塔出口的烟气中含有大量酸性雾滴和粉尘,严重影响尾气排放。为了减少排放,提出利用微型旋流器将酸雾和粉尘进行分离,通过研究旋流器的压降、分离效率以及含液浓度等关键因素,确定符合实际工况的最佳工艺参数。研究结果表明,旋流器分离效率随压降增大先快速增加再逐渐减小,压降和分离效率随进口含液浓度的增大而略微增加。氯化氢和氧化铁高效工作区分别为18~33 m3·h-1和18~35 m3·h-1,最高分离效率达到92%和89%,烟气净化效果显著。     

Application of an SO2-denuder for continuous measurement of sulfur in submicrometric aerosols

A method is described for the continuous measurement of total sulfur in submicrometric aerosols suspended in air containing sulfur dioxide. The aerocolloid is passed through a tube coated internally with lead dioxide. The gaseous sulfur dioxide diffuses to the surface of the tube and reacts irreversibly to form lead sulfate. The aerosol is not significantly removed in the tube. The total sulfur in the aerosol is determined by a hydrogen-air flame photometric detector. A sulfur balance has been demonstrated for the sulfur dioxide-ozone-olefin reaction system, which produces aerosols containing sulfur.     

餐饮业油烟气中醛类化合物的荧光法测定

提出了餐饮业油烟气中醛类化合物的荧光测定方法。通过试验选择丙醇作为油烟气中醛类化合物的吸收剂。研究了Ｈａｎｔｚｓｃｈ反应在测定油烟气中醛类化合物时的反应条件。样品与荧光试剂等体积混合,在ｐＨ６．０的体系中,５７℃下反应１５ｍｉｎ。     

Sulphur dioxide and smoke levels in West London

Average daily levels of the two pollutants, smoke and sulphur dioxide, have been examined as a function of the level of the previous sample period, temperature, wind speed and wind direction. Proposed models give good agreement with the data     

Environmental tobacco smoke particles in multizone indoor environments

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major source of human exposure to airborne particles. To better understand the factors that affect exposure, and to investigate the potential effectiveness of technical control measures, a series of experiments was conducted in a two-room test facility. Particle concentrations, size distributions, and airflow rates were measured during and after combustion of a cigarette. Experiments were varied to obtain information about the effects on exposure of smoker segregation, ventilation modification, and air filtration. The experimental data were used to test the performance of an analytical model of the two-zone environment and a numerical multizone aerosol dynamics model. A respiratory tract particle deposition model was also applied to the results to estimate the mass of ETS particles that would be deposited in the lungs of a nonsmoker exposed in either the smoking or nonsmoking room. Comparisons between the experimental data and model predictions showed good agreement. For time-averaged particle mass concentration, the average bias between model and experiments was less than 10%. The average absolute error was typically 35%, probably because of variability in particle emission rates from cigarettes. For the conditions tested, the use of a portable air filtration unit yielded 65–90% reductions in predicted lung deposition relative to the baseline scenario. The use of exhaust ventilation in the smoking room reduced predicted lung deposition in the nonsmoking room by more than 80%, as did segregating the smoker from nonsmokers with a closed door.     

Mid-nineteenth century smoke concentrations near London

Measurements of atmospheric electricity began at Kew Observatory, London (51°28′N, 0°19′W) in 1843, with recording apparatus installed by Lord Kelvin in 1861. The measured electric potential gradient (PG) at Kew has always been influenced by smoke pollution, causing a December PG maximum and July minimum. Theory links PG variations with aerosol concentrations, and the 20th century smoke measurements made at Kew permit smoke concentrations to be retrieved from 19th century PG data. Absolute calibration of the 1862–1864 PG is achieved by considering changes in the global electric circuit, for which the geomagnetic aa-index is used as a proxy. The mean annual PG in 1863 is estimated as 363±29 V m⁻¹, and the mean smoke concentration found is 0.17±0.05 mg m⁻³. Diurnal variations in smoke pollution differ between the seasons, and change in their character after the advent of motor traffic.     

Two daily smoke maxima in eighteenth century London air

Varied electrostatics experiments followed Benjamin Franklin's pioneering atmospheric investigations. In Knightsbridge, Central London, John Read (1726–1814) installed a sensing rod in the upper part of his house and, using a pith ball electrometer and Franklin chimes, monitored atmospheric electricity from 1789 to 1791. Atmospheric electricity is sensitive to weather and smoke pollution. In calm weather conditions, Read observed two daily electrification maxima in moderate weather, around 9 am and 7 pm. This is likely to represent a double diurnal cycle in urban smoke. Before the motor car and steam railways, one source of the double maximum smoke pattern was the daily routine of fire lighting for domestic heating.     

Detection of biomass burning smoke in satellite images using texture analysis

Classification results using texture analysis is presented for forest fire smoke from satellite remote sensing data. Texture analysis is carried out for normalized difference images calculated from visible and thermal infrared images of the Indonesian forest fire in 1997. Smoke regions are identified by assuming threshold values for the resulting texture feature as well as for radiances in the original and difference images. It is found that when the thresholds are chosen appropriately for GMS visible and infrared spin scan radiometer, 94% pixels exhibit agreement between the classification results using the texture analysis and the supervised Euclidean classification. Agreement is found for 96% pixels in mutual verification using the VISSR image and a concurrent NOAA advanced very high resolution radiometer image. A correlation coefficient of 0.91 is obtained between the results from the two sensors in the variation of the number of smoke pixels accumulated for 12 days in September 1997. Additionally, it is confirmed that as the threshold value of the texture feature is increased, the variation range of the aerosol optical thickness is also increased. As a whole, this study indicates that texture analysis provides quite reasonable results in the smoke detection when appropriately combined with the spectral information.     

湿法净化黑烟中添加剂对炭黑沉降性能的影响

湿法净化黑烟中炭黑颗粒物的关键在于降低吸收液的表面张力并以高性能絮凝剂使其从溶液中絮凝、沉降以利于分离。选用十六烷基三甲基溴化胺(CTAB)为主要表面活性剂,使之与十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)和月桂醇聚氧乙烯(9)醚(AEO-9)进行复配实验,研究了复配液的表面张力,再向最低表面张力的复配表面活性剂溶液中投加絮凝剂聚合氯化铝(PAC)和聚丙烯酰胺(PAM),探讨絮凝剂的添加对黑烟颗粒沉降和絮凝的影响.实验结果表明:同时添加表面活性剂CTAB,SDBS和PAC,并使之浓度分别为0.5 mmol/L,0.4 mmol/L和200 mg/L时,炭黑颗粒的沉降效果最好,沉降率高达94%,且絮凝体较大,沉降时间仅为2 min。     

烟草烟雾对室内空气颗粒物浓度的影响

采用电称冲击低压系统(ELPI)将无烟室和吸烟室内的空气颗粒物(0.03～10.00 μm)分成12级,对其粒子数和质量浓度进行测定.结果表明,吸烟室PM0.03～10.00的日平均粒子数和质量浓度分别是无烟室的1.50、1.13倍.烟草烟雾对室内颗粒物粒子数的影响集中在0.03～1.00 μm粒径段;对室内颗粒物质量浓度的影响表现为双模态结构,峰值分别在0.20～0.70、5.00～8.20 μm粒径段.烟草烟雾颗粒物的粒子数和质量浓度随烟雾消散时间的增加而减少,粒径越小,减小的越明显;烟草烟雾颗粒物在室内消散缓慢,会在长时间内造成影响,应引起足够关注.     

焦炉装煤烟尘治理方案的探讨

焦炉装煤烟尘含有害物质，污染环境，危害人体健康。袋式除尘器的使用，消除了烟尘的污染，但因投资大、运行费用高、操作复杂，难以得到快速、广泛的推广。根据实验结果和已有应用情况，本文推荐了三相流化床除尘装置和颗粒层除尘器，它们可用于焦炉装煤烟尘治理，其投资和运行费用会大大降低。     

Detection of forest-fire smoke plumes by satellite imagery

In support of the Canadian research programmes for Long-Range Transport of Air Pollutants (LRTAP), the present study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of using satellite imagery to detect large-scale pollution episodes. Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) satellite imagery records were scrutinized in conjunction with meteorological and air quality data. The LRTAP from large forest fires more than 5000 km away was identified. Further evidence was obtained from analysis of digital data from NOAA satellites by employing a ‘false colour’ technique. Computer enhanced images suggested that a smoke plume was well-defined and separated from clouds when smoke crossed over a lake and ocean.It is suggested that many large forest fires with resulting intense smoke were due to atmospheric lightning. In particular, the area influenced by the widespread smoke, from large fires in northwestern Canada on 27–28 August 1981, exceeded the area covered by dust and smoke clouds in the low-level atmosphere from the Mount St Helens volcanic eruption on 18 May 1980.