Improving the Fluorescence Detectability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Evaluation of Workplace Environments of Cement Industries Processing Organic Residues

The burning of organic residues and wastes in furnaces of cement industries has been an attractive and lucrative approach to eliminate stocks of these pollutants. There is a potential risk for producing PAH in the workplace of industries burning organic wastes, so that highly sensitive analytical methods are needed for monitoring the air quality of these environments. An official method for determination of PAH is based on liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection at fixed excitation and emission wavelengths. We demonstrate that a suitable choice of these wavelengths, which are changed during the chromatographic run, significantly improves the detectability of PAH in atmosphere and particulate matter collected in cement industries.

Environmental Objectives, Cost Efficiency, and Multivariate Stochastic Control

This paper is concerned with the cost efficiency in achieving the Swedish national air quality objectives under uncertainty. To realize an ecologically sustainable society, the parliament has approved a set of interim and long-term pollution reduction targets. However, there are considerable quantification uncertainties on the effectiveness of the proposed pollution reduction measures. In this paper, we develop a multivariate stochastic control framework to deal with the cost efficiency problem with multiple pollutants. Based on the cost and technological data collected by several national authorities, we explore the implications of alternative probabilistic constraints. It is found that a composite probabilistic constraint induces considerably lower abatement cost than separable probabilistic restrictions. The trend is reinforced by the presence of positive correlations between reductions in the multiple pollutants.

Using environmental interventions to create sustainable solutions to problems to health and wellbeing

Recent research by Deakin University, in collaboration with Parks Victoria and its Strategic Partners, indicates that contact with nature may promote human health and wellbeing. International research indicates that simply viewing a natural scene or watching wildlife reduces stress and tension, improves concentration, remedies mental fatigue, boosts immunity, and enhances psychological health. This is aside from any physical health benefits flowing from reduced stress, increased exercise and improved air quality when contact with nature involves activities in natural environments. The literature suggests that interacting with nature through gardening or having a companion animal is also beneficial for health, and where these activities involve contact with other humans, might extend benefits beyond the individual to the community, through enhanced social capital. This paper sets out the potential scope of work flowing from the initial research, in terms of target groups, research foci, intervention strategies, and likely benefits, and reports on progress in establishing a program of Australian,based empirical research. It proposes the establishment of alliances between researchers and practitioners in a range of disciplines (including environmental health) to ensure that the links between contact with nature and human health and wellbeing are explored and expressed in ways that are both beneficial and sustainable.

Degradation of VOCs by phototcatalytic oxidation reactor using TiO2 pellets

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are air pollutants that come from burning fossil fuels and industrial emissions. They have potentially adverse health effects being carcinogenic and highly persistent in the environment. The use of photocatalytic oxidation to remove VOCs has the potential to be applied in indoor air quality improvement and industrial emission control. A fixed bed photocatalytic reactor was designed and built. UV black light lamps were installed in the reactor to provide a source of UV radiation. A non-film titania media as pellets were placed on the three fixed beds within the reactor. Toluene and acetone were used as indicators of VOCs during the experiment. With a flow rate of 12.75l/min, the oxidation efficiencies were obtained at four different concentrations of acetone laden gas streams ranging from 40ppm to 250ppm. It was found that the lower the acetone concentration of the untreated inlet gas, the higher the oxidation efficiency. The oxidation efficiency was in the range of 40–70% for various concentrations of untreated gases. Two concentrations of toluene laden gas stream were also tested using the same reactor. The oxidation efficiencies were found as 50% for 120ppm toluene gas and 45% for 300ppm toluene gas. It was found that the times required for toluene to reach oxidization equilibrium have been halved than for acetone gas stream. Other parameters such as flow rate and UV intensity were also altered to see their effects on the oxidation efficiency. A full spectrum scan was carried out using a Bio-rad Infrared spectrometer. It was found that the main components of the treated gas stream from the outlet of the reactor were CO2 and water along with small amount of untreated acetone. The suspected intermediates of aliphatic hydrocarbons and CO were found in very minimal amounts or undetectable. The research experiments supported that the TiO2 pellets can work effectively in a fixed bed photocatalytic reactor and achieve significant oxidation efficiencies for degradation of toluene and acetone as indicators of VOCs.

Carbon dioxide levels and ventilation strategies in 'green' office buildings

Energy efficient office buildings are intended to provide a comfortable and healthy environment for their occupants as well as reducing the energy consumption of the building. They are often designed as "showcase" buildings illustrating the potential for savings through some innovative design technology. But do such buildings actually deliver the desired energy savings and satisfactory comfort conditions for occupants? Measurements of a "green" University campus building in Victoria, Australia, designed with an innovative fabric energy storage system, demonstrate that the ventilation system is not providing acceptable indoor air quality conditions. The design strategies used to reduce energy consumption have had negative consequences on the air quality of the building. Insufficient fresh air is being drawn into the building leading to an excessive build up of carbon dioxide. It is recommended that monitoring systems need to use a wider range of measurements than temperature alone to guarantee good quality indoor air and working conditions and that commissioning of buildings should include adequate monitoring of the operational performance of the building. Designers need to be made aware of the potential consequences of their decisions when attempting innovative energy-efficient designs.

Objective and subjective measurements of office meeting rooms

This research is a preliminary investigation of the objective measurements ofthelmal comfort and C02 levels as well as subjective user evaluation surveys in six meeting rooms. The ongoing objective measurements were taken via thelmal comfort carts while the surveys evaluated parameters of temperature, lighting, air quality, meeting effectiveness etc. The outcomes are of particular interest since some of the objective measurements clearly to not support those of the users. In fact, the investigation has triggered off further interest in refining questionnaires to develop more precise indicators of 'discomfort'.
Furthelmore, meeting rooms present a challenge when it comes to conditioning spaces (HV AC design) which are sporadic in use and often with high occupancy for short periods. This paper investigates meeting rooms in four different buildings and their conditioning control concepts are discussed in relation to measured results.

A time for real building performance measurement

The Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL) was conceived upon the principle of investigating building environmental performance in situ. MABEL provides the first means of integrated, on-site measurement of the key aspects of internal built environments; energy, lighting, air quality, ventilation, acoustics and comfort using state-ofthe- art technology and instrumentation. The intention of this paper is to explain the how and what need to be measured in our buildings if we are to search of a genuine performance answer as well as the information to provide a solution. Several results of real building measurement are provided here, suggesting that a national program on 'as performing' is required if we are to proceed in a sustainable manner.

Energy production and use

The analysis and researches of many scholars and field specialists have gone into these 30 papers. They discuss many of the environmental problems and challenges to human life and existence presented by local and other exploitations and ongoing developments in Southeast Asian countries and marine areas. The authors use tabulated data and unpublished research in the eight sections on: underlying societal drivers and responses to environmental change; climate change and air quality; land transformation and its consequences; hydrology and hydrological cycles; changes in coastal and marine environments; vulnerabilities and adaptations to global environmental changes; and a final paper on a common need for action. This important volume includes reference, data, bibliographies and index.

Adequação bioclimática para os espaços urbanos abertos do centro de Fortaleza, CE

This research presents a study investigating the correlation between the environmental-physycal charcateristics of cities and the formation of its micro-climates. The study was conducted in the central area of Fortaleza characterized as a stable and consolidated area, where the city originated and currently faces serious problems in its urban dynamics. The points of measurements were determined by the elaboration and analysis of topography maps, height of buildings, land use, type of surface coating and vegetation, following the methodology of Katzschner (1997). A zoning map was then determined, according to common morphological characteristics of the 12 measurement points, which were based on a set of Romero s (2001) bioclimatic criteria. Air measurements, temperature, humidity, intensity and direction of winds were made in transect form in two different circuits in the study area, with six points of data collection in each area, in three different times: 6:00 am, 1:00pm and 7:00pm, during two periods of the year: August 2008 and March 2009. The results verified the influence of different environmental-physical types in the behavior of the climatic variables that were collected. A verticalização tão condenada em algumas situações se bem equilibrada e controlada pode reduzir as temperaturas do ar através do sombreamento dos espaços urbanos e possibilidade de maior permeabilidade a ventilação natural. The highest average air temperature and lower humidity were recorded at the point I at all times. This situation may have been in result of the high density, poor vegetation and extended paving of the ground. According to the results, it s clear the positive influence vegetation has on easing air temperature. Another indicator observed that areas with a greater variation in building heights tend to present decreased average air temperature. High rise structure, planned in accordance to urban air quality parameters, can reduce air temperatures by the shading of urban spaces and the possibility of greater penetration of natural ventilation

Qualidade do ar interior e conforto térmico : um estudo em espaços de estacionamento em Natal/RN

The recent tendency to utilize parking lots for other purposes has demonstrated that more time has been spent by visitors, mainly in great cities. Therefore, this paper investigates the thermal comfort and the air quality indoors in areas specifically used as parking lots by analyzing the direct relation between such environments and vehicular pollution. The thermal comfort and the quality of air indoors in parking lots with different architectonic typology (ground-floor and underground) are also studied, aiming to contribute to the proposition of suitable new areas designated to human usage. Field research was done, in two distinct periods within different weather conditions (January and July) in, two naturally cooled, parking lots located in Natal - RN. The internal environment agents were measured by using tools for air temperature, humidity, speed and direction; interviews with employees and visitors and chemical analysis through appropriate tools to analyze specific material, carbon monoxide and ozone. The results showed that chemical agents densely concentrate mostly in the closed parking space, aggravated by weather conditions, which dissatisfied the visitors. Still, it was shown that architectonic typology, alongside topographical aspects compromise internal environmental conditions, which increases the retention of pollution, leading to dissatisfactory thermal comfort levels and becoming less suitable for usage by visitors considering air and thermal comfort aspects. Consequently, they are not suitable for human stay due to the poor quality of the indoor air

Avaliação dos impactos ambientais gerados por uma industria cerâmica típica da Região do Seridó/RN

The present work deals with an evaluation of the environmental impacts arised from a typical ceramics industry located in the Seridó region of Rio Grande do Norte State. That region contains the largest State s producing basin of red ceramics. The district of Parelhas stands out as the largest producing nucleus. The studied company is located in the rural zone of Parelhas, it was selected as study object because it possesses a great part of the representative characteristics of the Region s ceramics park as a whole. Impacts produced at the implantation and operation phases of the Company had been evaluated, being this last phase subdivided in stages of the productive process. Among found adverse impacts, they are distinguished: losses in air quality, undesirable noises, microclimatic alterations, impoverishment of the ground, elimination of the vegetal covering, agricultural exodus, crisis in cattle agriculture and, superficial and underground water contamination, beyond risks ocupational diseases and industrial accidents. The Leopold s interactive matrix, that summarizes results of the work, was presented in form of 15 (fifteen) tables that display impacts classified in qualitative and quantitative way. Totally, 175 (one hundred and seventy-five) significant impacts produced by this Company had been identified, being 114 (one hundred and fourteen) negative, 38 (thirty-eight) positive and 23 (twenty-three) among mixed, indefinite and inert ones. In the work, before the evaluation of impacts properly said, it was constructed a diagnostic table of the ambient situation at a previous moment to implantation of the Company, elaborated on basis of inferences and historical researches. It was proposed still, mitigative steps for adverse impacts identified, as also elaborated a program to accompaniment and observing that the fulfilment of indicated mitigative steps guarantees. The final part of the work contemplates conclusions and suggestions that aim to influence positively the presented sight in terms of environmental management

Ecological efficiency in thermoelectric power plants

This work evaluates the environmental impact resulting from the natural gas and diesel combustion in thermoelectric power plants that utilize the combined cycle technology (CC), as regarding to Brazilian conditions according to Thermopower Priority Plan JPP). In the regions where there are not natural gas the option has been the utilization of diesel and consequentily there are more emission of pollutants. The ecological efficiency concept, which evaluates by and large the environmental impact, caused by CO2, SO2, NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions. The combustion gases of the thermoelectric power plants working with natural gas (less pollutant) and diesel (more pollutant) cause problems to the environment, for their components harm the human being life, animals and directly the plants. The resulting pollution from natural gas and diesel combustion is analyzed, considering separately the CO2, SO2, NO2 and particulate matter gas emission and comparing them with the in use international standards regarding the air quality. It can be concluded that it is possible to calculate thermoelectric power plant quantitative and qualitative environment factor, and on the ecological standpoint, for plant with total power of 41441 kW, being 27 170 kW for the gas turbine and 14271 kW for the steam turbine. The natural gas used as fuel is better than the diesel, presenting ecological efficiency of 0.944 versus 0.914 for the latter, considering a thermal efficiency of 54% for the combined cycle. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ecological efficiency in CHP: Biodiesel case

This paper evaluates and quantifies the environmental impact resulting from the combination of biodiesel fuel (pure or blended with diesel), and diesel combustion in thermoelectric power plants that utilize combined cycle technology (CC). In regions without natural gas, the option was to utilize diesel fuel; the consequence would be a greater emission of pollutants. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel which has been considerably interesting in Brazil power matrix in recent years. The concept of ecological efficiency, largely evaluates the environmental impact caused by CO(2), SO(2), NO(x) and particle matter (PM) emissions. The pollution resulting from biodiesel and diesel combustion is analyzed, separately considering CO(2), SO(2), NO(x) and particulate matter gas emissions, and comparing them international standards currently used regarding air quality. It can be concluded that it is possible to calculate the qualitative environmental factor, and the ecological effect, from a thermoelectric power plant utilizing central heat power (CHP) of combined cycle. The ecological efficiency for pure biodiesel fuel (B100) is 98.16%; for biodiesel blended with conventional diesel fuel, B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel) is 93.19%. Finally, ecological efficiency for conventional diesel is 92.18%, as long as a thermal efficiency of 55% for thermoelectric power plants occurs. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Numeric simulation of pollutant dispersion by a control-volume based on finite element method

The dispersion of pollutants in the environment is an issue of great interest as it directly affects air quality, mainly in large cities. Experimental and numerical tools have been used to predict the behavior of pollutant species dispersion in the atmosphere. A software has been developed based on the control-volume based on the finite element method in order to obtain two-dimensional simulations of Navier-Stokes equations and heat or mass transportation in regions with obstacles, varying position of the pollutant source. Numeric results of some applications were obtained and, whenever possible, compared with literature results showing satisfactory accordance. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.