Study of PM10 and PM2.5 levels in three European cities: Analysis of intra and inter urban variations

In the present paper, 1-year PM10 and PM 2.5 data from roadside and urban background monitoring stations in Athens (Greece), Madrid (Spain) and London (UK) are analysed in relation to other air pollutants (NO,NO2,NOx,CO,O3 and SO2)and several meteorological parameters (wind velocity, temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, solar radiation and atmospheric pressure), in order to investigate the sources and factors affecting particulate pollution in large European cities. Principal component and regression analyses are therefore used to quantify the contribution of both combustion and non-combustion sources to the PM10 and PM 2.5 levels observed. The analysis reveals that the EU legislated PM 10 and PM2.5 limit values are frequently breached, forming a potential public health hazard in the areas studied. The seasonal variability patterns of particulates varies among cities and sites, with Athens and Madrid presenting higher PM10 concentrations during the warm period and suggesting the larger relative contribution of secondary and natural particles during hot and dry days. It is estimated that the contribution of non-combustion sources varies substantially among cities, sites and seasons and ranges between 38-67% and 40-62% in London, 26-50% and 20-62% in Athens, and 31-58% and 33-68% in Madrid, for both PM10 and PM 2.5. Higher contributions from non-combustion sources are found at urban background sites in all three cities, whereas in the traffic sites the seasonal differences are smaller. In addition, the non-combustion fraction of both particle metrics is higher during the warm season at all sites. On the whole, the analysis provides evidence of the substantial impact of non-combustion sources on local air quality in all three cities. While vehicular exhaust emissions carry a large part of the risk posed on human health by particle exposure, it is most likely that mitigation measures designed for their reduction will have a major effect only at traffic sites and additional measures will be necessary for the control of background levels. However, efforts in mitigation strategies should always focus on optimal health effects.

La influencia en el aislamiento ac��sticoa ruido a��reo de los aireadores en las ventanas compactas

En la actualidad, el crecimiento de la poblaci��n urbana, el incremento de la demanda energ��tica junto al desarrollo tecnol��gico impulsado en los ��ltimos veinte a��os han originado un estudio y replanteamiento de los sistemas constructivos empleados. Como consecuencia se han establecido nuevos marcos normativos, marcando nuevos objetivos de confort y de demanda energ��tica. En Espa��a, el C��digo T��cnico de la Edificaci��n (aprobado en el Real Decreto 314/2006 de 17 de Marzo) es el marco normativo que establece las exigencias que se deben cumplir al proyectar construir, usar, mantener y conservar los edificios, incluidas sus instalaciones, con el fin de asegurar la calidad, seguridad y salud del usuario, respetando en todo momento su entorno. Para asegurar el cumplimiento de las exigencias del C��digo T��cnico de la Edificaci��n (CTE), se han elaborado diferentes Documentos B��sicos (DB). Entre ellos est��n los documentos b��sicos DB HR-Protecci��n frente al ruido y el DB HS-Salubridad. En el DB HS 3 Calidad del aire interior, se establecen las condiciones que deben de adoptarse para que los recintos de los edificios se puedan ventilar adecuadamente, eliminando los contaminantes que se produzcan de forma habitual durante un uso normal de los edificios, de forma que se aporte un caudal suficiente de aire exterior y se garantice la extracci��n y expulsi��n del aire viciado por los contaminantes. En el apartado 3.1, Condiciones generales de los sistemas de ventilaci��n, se indica que las viviendas deben disponer de un sistema general de ventilaci��n donde el aire debe circular desde los locales secos a los h��medos. Para ello los comedores, los dormitorios y las salas de estar deben de disponer de aberturas de admisi��n, pudi��ndose resolver esta cuesti��n t��cnica con diversas soluciones. El DB HR Protecci��n frente al ruido del CTE, establece unos valores del aislamiento ac��stico a ruido a��reo, entre un recinto protegido y el exterior, en funci��n del uso del edificio y del nivel sonoro continuo equivalente d��a, Ld de la zona donde se ubique el edificio. El hacer compatibles el cumplimiento de las exigencias de los dos Documentos B��sicos anteriormente citados, origina algunas dificultades en los proyectos de edificaci��n actuales. Los proyectistas tienen que recurrir en la mayor��a de los casos a nuevos sistemas constructivos o duplicaciones de soluciones existentes, evitando la manipulaci��n de los elementos de regulaci��n de entrada de aire en las viviendas. El objetivo fundamental de la Tesis presentada es el estudio de los efectos que producen la colocaci��n de sistemas de aireaci��n permanente en el aislamiento ac��stico a ruido a��reo de las ventanas compactas. Se comprueba la influencia de cada uno de los componentes de la ventana compacta: perfiles, unidades de vidrio, sistema de apertura, caj��n de persiana, persiana, aireadores, etc. en el aislamiento a ruido a��reo del sistema completo. Los ensayos ac��sticos se han realizado mediante dos m��todos: conforme a la norma UNE-EN ISO 10140-2:2011 Medici��n en laboratorio del aislamiento ac��stico al ruido a��reo de los elementos de construcci��n y mediante intensimetr��a ac��stica acorde a la norma UNE-EN ISO 15186-1:2004 Medici��n del aislamiento ac��stico en los edificios y de los elementos de construcci��n utilizando intensidad sonora. Los resultados obtenidos podr��n ser de gran utilidad para todos los profesionales que intervienen en el proceso edificatorio: arquitectos, ingenieros, instaladores, promotores, fabricantes de productos, etc., tanto en la obra nueva como en la rehabilitaci��n. En un futuro, podr��an incorporarse a los Cat��logos y Documentos de Aplicaci��n del CTE, as�� como a los nuevos programas inform��ticos de dise��o y aislamiento ac��stico. Con el conocimiento adquirido y su aplicaci��n, se contribuir�� a la mejora de la calidad de una edificaci��n m��s sostenible y eficiente. Se incrementar�� la productividad y la competitividad de los fabricantes de materiales y sistemas constructivos, aumentando el grado de satisfacci��n del usuario final con el consiguiente aumento de la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. Tambi��n se ampliar�� el conocimiento t��cnico de este tipo de sistemas y la compatibilidad entre las distintas exigencias marcadas por la normativa. ABSTRACT At present, the urban population growth, the increase of energy demand and the technological development in the last twenty years have led to a rethinking of the used building systems. As a result, new regulatory frameworks have been established, setting new goals of comfort and energy demand. In Spain, the Building Code, C��digo T��cnico de la Edificaci��n (CTE) (RD 314/2006 of March 17th) is the regulatory framework that establishes the requirements to be met by projecting, building, using, maintaining and preserving buildings, including its facilities in order to ensure the quality, safety and health of the user, always respecting the environment. To ensure compliance with the requirements of the CTE, different technical requirements Documentos b��sicos (DB) have been developed. Among them, are the DB-HR-Protection against noise and DB-HS-Health. In the DB-HS- part3, Indoor Air Quality, are set the conditions needed to be taken into consideration so that the building enclosures can be adequately ventilated, eliminating pollutants that occur regularly during normal use of the buildings, so that a sufficient airflow of outdoor is supplied and a removal and extraction of stale air pollutants is guaranteed. In section 3.1, General Terms of ventilation systems, is indicated that dwellings must have a general ventilation system where air can circulate from dry to wet enclosures. For this, dining rooms, bedrooms and living rooms should have air intake, being able to resolve this technical issue with various solutions. The DB-HR Protection against noise, provides sound insulation values of airborne sound transmission between a protected room and the outside, depending on the use of the building and the equivalent continuous sound level day, Ld, in the area where the building is located. Satisfying the requirements of the two requirements mentioned above causes some difficulties in current building project. Designers have to rely in most cases, to new construction elements or duplicate existing solutions, avoiding the manipulation of the air intakes elements. The main objective of this Thesis is the study of the effects of permanent intakes systems in the acoustic insulation against airborne noise transmission in compact windows. The influence of each of the components of the compact window is determined: frames, glass units, opening systems, shutter box, trickle vents, etc. in the airborne sound insulation of the entire system. The acoustic survey were performed using two methods: UNE-EN ISO 10140-2: 2011 Laboratory measurements of sound insulation of building elements and UNE-EN ISO 15186-1:2004 Measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements using sound intensity. The obtained results may be useful for all professionals involved in the building process: architects, engineers, installers, developers, manufacturers, etc. in the new construction developments and in rehabilitation. In the future, it could be added to building catalogues and applications of the Spanish Building Code, as well as to the new design and sound insulation software. With the acquired knowledge and its application, there will be a contribution to improve the quality of a more sustainable and efficient construction. Productivity and competitiveness of manufacturers of building materials and components will improve, increasing the degree of satisfaction of the final user with a consequent increase in the quality of life of citizens. Technical knowledge of such systems and compatibility between the various requirements set by the legislation will also expand.

A methodology to estimate uncertainty for emission projections through sensitivity analysis

Air pollution abatement policies must be based on quantitative information on current and future emissions of pollutants. As emission projections uncertainties are inevitable and traditional statistical treatments of uncertainty are highly time/resources consuming, a simplified methodology for nonstatistical uncertainty estimation based on sensitivity analysis is presented in this work. The methodology was applied to the ���with measures��� scenario for Spain, concretely over the 12 highest emitting sectors regarding greenhouse gas and air pollutants emissions. Examples of methodology application for two important sectors (power plants, and agriculture and livestock) are shown and explained in depth. Uncertainty bands were obtained up to 2020 by modifying the driving factors of the 12 selected sectors and the methodology was tested against a recomputed emission trend in a low economic-growth perspective and official figures for 2010, showing a very good performance. Implications: A solid understanding and quantification of uncertainties related to atmospheric emission inventories and projections provide useful information for policy negotiations. However, as many of those uncertainties are irreducible, there is an interest on how they could be managed in order to derive robust policy conclusions. Taking this into account, a method developed to use sensitivity analysis as a source of information to derive nonstatistical uncertainty bands for emission projections is presented and applied to Spain. This method simplifies uncertainty assessment and allows other countries to take advantage of their sensitivity analyses.

Pressure-mediated oligonucleotide transfection of rat and human cardiovascular tissues

The application of gene therapy to human disease is currently restricted by the relatively low efficiency and potential hazards of methods of oligonucleotide or gene delivery. Antisense or transcription factor decoy oligonucleotides have been shown to be effective at altering gene expression in cell culture expreriments, but their in vivo application is limited by the efficiency of cellular delivery, the intracellular stability of the compounds, and their duration of activity. We report herein the development of a highly efficient method for naked oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) transfection into cardiovascular tissues by using controlled, nondistending pressure without the use of viral vectors, lipid formulations, or exposure to other adjunctive, potentially hazardous substances. In this study, we have documented the ability of ex vivo, pressure-mediated transfection to achieve nuclear localization of fluorescent (FITC)-labeled ODN in approximately 90% and 50% of cells in intact human saphenous vein and rat myocardium, respectively. We have further documented that pressure-mediated delivery of antisense ODN can functionally inhibit target gene expression in both of these tissues in a sequence-specific manner at the mRNA and protein levels. This oligonucleotide transfection system may represent a safe means of achieving the intraoperative genetic engineering of failure-resistant human bypass grafts and may provide an avenue for the genetic manipultation of cardiac allograft rejection, allograft vasculopathy, or other transplant diseases.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Barents and White Seas

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental contaminants which can be derived from anthropogenic sources, such as combustion and discharges from extraction and transport, and natural processes, including leakage and erosion of fossil carbon. Natural PAH sources contribute, along with biological activities and terrestrial run-off, to the organic carbon content in sediments.The Barents Sea region is far from many anthropogenic sources of PAH, but production and trans-shipment of hydrocarbons is increasing. We present data for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in bottom sediments from 510 stations in the Barents and White Seas, and along the northern coast of Norway.

Carbon adsorption isotherms for toxic organics /

Mode of access: Internet.

Methodology for assessing health risks associated with indirect exposure to combustor emissions : interim final.

Mode of access: Internet.

Exposure factors handbook.

Mode of access: Internet.

Emergency spills research strategy 1980-1984 /

Mode of access: Internet.

Guides to pollution prevention : the mechanical equipment repair industry.

Mode of access: Internet.

Compilation and evaluation of leaching test methods /

Mode of access: Internet.

Chemical emergency preparedness and prevention technical assistance bulletin : New York, New York : El Paso County, Colorado : Alexandria, Virginia : State of Maine.

"March 1990."

Chemical emergency preparedness and prevention technical assistance bulletin : state of Ohio : Hamilton County, Ohio : Wallingford, Connecticut : Oauchita Parish, Louisiana.

Mode of access: Internet.

Environmental emergencies : what to do.

Mode of access: Internet.

Guidance for controlling friable asbestos-containing materials in buildings /

"EPA560/5-83-002"--Cover.