Total sugars in atmospheric aerosols: an alternative tracer for biomass burning

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chemical weathering rate, denudation rate, and atmospheric and soil CO2 consumption of Parana flood basalts in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estimation of lower flammability limits of C-H compounds in air at atmospheric pressure, evaluation of temperature dependence and diluent effect

Estimation of the lower flammability limits of C-H compounds at 25 degrees C and 1 atm; at moderate temperatures and in presence of diluent was the objective of this study. A set of 120 degrees C H compounds was divided into a correlation set and a prediction set of 60 compounds each. The absolute average relative error for the total set was 7.89%; for the correlation set, it was 6.09%; and for the prediction set it was 9.68%. However, it was shown that by considering different sources of experimental data the values were reduced to 6.5% for the prediction set and to 6.29% for the total set. The method showed consistency with Le Chatelier's law for binary mixtures of C H compounds. When tested for a temperature range from 5 degrees C to 100 degrees C , the absolute average relative errors were 2.41% for methane; 4.78% for propane; 0.29% for iso-butane and 3.86% for propylene. When nitrogen was added, the absolute average relative errors were 2.48% for methane; 5.13% for propane; 0.11% for iso-butane and 0.15% for propylene. When carbon dioxide was added, the absolute relative errors were 1.80% for methane; 5.38% for propane; 0.86% for iso-butane and 1.06% for propylene. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transfer of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet through a long flexible plastic tube

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Inactivation of candida albicans by cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mutagenicity profile of atmospheric particulate matter in a small urban center subjected to airborne emission from vehicle traffic and sugar cane burning

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is genotoxic and recently was classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. PM chemical composition varies depending on source and atmospheric conditions. The Salmonella/microsome assay is the most used mutagenicity test and can identify the major chemical classes responsible for observed mutagenicity. The objective of this work was to characterize the mutagenicity of PM samples from a countryside city, Limeira, Brazil, which is influenced by heavy traffic and sugar cane biomass burning. Six samples of total PM were collected. Air mass backward trajectories were calculated. Organic extracts were assayed using the Salmonella/microsome microsuspension mutagenicity assay using TA98, YG1041, and TA1538, with and without metabolic activation (S9). YG1041 was the most sensitive strain and mutagenicity reached 9,700 revertants per m(3) without metabolic activation. Potency for TA1538 was higher than TA98, indicating that this strain should be considered in air mutagenicity studies. The increased response to YG1041 relative to TA98, and the decreased response with S9, suggests that nitroaromatics are the major contributors. Limeira is among the most mutagenic cities in the world. High mutagenicity in Limeira seems to occur when the air mass from the area of sugarcane production is mixed with air from the region impacted by anthropogenic activities such as traffic. An increase in the formation of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may result from longer contact time between the aromatic compounds and the atmosphere with high NOx and ozone concentration, although more studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Numerical analysis of a modified evacuated tubes solar collector

The need for renewable energy sources, facing the consequences of Climate Change, results in growing investment for solar collectors’ use. Research in this field has accompanied this expansion and evacuated tube solar collector stands as an important study focus. Thus, several works have been published for representing the stratification of the fluid inside the tubes and the reservoir, as well as analytical modeling for the heat flow problem. Based on recent publications, this paper proposes the study of solar water heating with evacuated tubes, their operation characteristics and operating parameters. To develop this work, a computational tool will be used - in this case, the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. In possession of the implemented model, a numerical simulation will be performed to evaluate the behavior of the fluid within this solar collector and possible improvements to be applied in the model.

Study of combustion of different biomass and its atmospheric emissions

One of the energy alternatives that provide utility, flexibility, cleanliness and economy is biomass, such as forest waste (wood) and agricultural (sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, coffee pods, etc.). However, with its increasing supply and use grows also the concern of industries to invest in monitoring and control of emissions into the atmosphere, because during biomass burning are emitted as exhaust gases, fine particles known as particulates, which greatly contribute to the triggering of serious health problems to humans, in addition to the environmental damage. With that, this work aimed to conduct a monitoring of particulate and gaseous pollutants emissions to the atmosphere from the burning of various types of biomass used by industries. The equipment used for sampling were the optical monitor DataRAM 4 and the Unigas3000 + gas sampler. The results showed that biomass coffee pods presented the greatest concentration of particulates (485119 μg m-3) with particle diameters between 0.0602 μm and 0.3502 μm, i.e. the most ultrafine particles, harmful to human health and the environment. The largest emissions of CO and NOx were observed, respectively, for the coffee pods (3500 ppm) and for the rice husk (48 ppm). As for the superior calorific value (PCS), the best of fuel, with higher PCS, was the Eucalyptus grandis.

Effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on the biological control of coffee leaf rust under controlled conditions

The effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on biological control of coffee leaf rust, caused by Hemileia vastatrix, was evaluated by leaf disc assay, under controlled conditions. The biocontrol agents Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Lecanicillium longisporum were applied 24h before, 24h after, and simultaneously with the H. vastatrix on leaf discs (diameter of 1.5cm). The CO2 concentrations tested were: 380, 430, 700 and 1300ppm for B. subtilis and B. pumilus; and 380, 430, 670 and 1200ppm for L. longisporum. The antagonists were not affected by CO2 concentrations. B. subtilis was the most effective in controlling the disease when applied before and simultaneously with pathogen.

An Intercomparison of Regional Atmospheric Circulation and the Melt Season Loss of Arctic Snow Cover and Sea Ice Extent Across the Land-Ocean Boundary

This study is designed to compare the monthly continental snow cover and sea ice extent loss in the Arctic with regional atmospheric conditions including: mean sea level pressure, 925 hPa air temperature, and mean wind direction among others during the melt season (March-August) over the 29-year study period 1979-2007. Little research has gone into studying the concurrent variations in the annual loss of continental snow cover and sea ice extent across the land-ocean boundary, since these data are largely stored in incompatible formats. However, the analysis of these data, averaged spatially over three autonomous study regions located in Siberia, North America, and Western Russia, reveals a distinct difference in the response of snow and sea ice to the atmospheric forcing. On average, sea ice extent is lost earlier in the year, in May, than snow cover, in June, although Arctic sea ice is located farther north than continental snow in all three study regions. Once the loss of snow and ice extent begins, snow cover is completely removed sooner than sea ice extent, even though ice loss begins earlier in the melt season. Further, the analysis of the atmospheric conditions surrounding loss of snow and ice cover over the independent study regions indicates that conditions of cool temperatures with strong northeasterly winds in the later melt season months are effective at removing sea ice cover, likely through ice divergence, as are warmer temperatures via southerly winds directly forcing melt. The results of this study set the framework for further analysis of the direct influence of snow cover loss on later melt season sea ice extents and the predictability of snow and sea ice extent responses to modeled future climate conditions

EFFECT OF THERMAL TREATMENT ON THE CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD FROM Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden UNDER DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS

Thermal treatment (thermal rectification) is a process in which technological properties of wood are modified using thermal energy, the result of Which is often value-added wood. Thermally treated wood takes on similar color shades to tropical woods and offers considerable resistance to destructive microorganisms and climate action, in addition to having high dimensional stability and low hygroscopicity. Wood samples of Eucalyptus grandis were subjected to various thermal treatments, as performed in presence (140 degrees C; 160 degrees C; 180 degrees C) or in absence of oxygen (160 degrees C; 180 degrees C; 200 degrees C) inside a thermal treatment chamber, and then studied as to their chemical characteristics. Increasing the maximum treatment temperatures led to a reduction in the holocellulose content of samples as a result of the degradation and volatilization of hemicelluloses, also leading to an increase in the relative lignin content. Except for glucose, all monosaccharide levels were found to decrease in samples after the thermal treatment at a maximum temperature of 200 degrees C. The thermal treatment above 160 degrees C led to increased levels of total extractives in the wood samples, probably ascribed to the emergence of low molecular weight substances as a result of thermal degradation. Overall, it was not possible to clearly determine the effect of presence or absence of oxygen in the air during thermal treatment on the chemical characteristics of the relevant wood samples.

The impact of atmospheric particulate matter on cancer incidence and mortality in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil

This study aimed to verify the impact of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) on cancer incidence and mortality in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Statistical techniques were used to investigate the relationship between PM10 on cancer incidence and mortality in selected districts. For some types of cancer (skin, lung, thyroid, larynx, and bladder) and some periods, the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.60 to 0.80 for incidence. Lung cancer mortality showed more correlations during the overall period. Spatial analysis showed that districts distant from the city center showed higher than expected relative risk, depending on the type of cancer According to the study, urban PM10 can contribute to increased incidence of some cancers and may also contribute to increased cancer mortality. The results highlight the need to adopt measures to reduce atmospheric PM10 levels and the importance of their continuous monitoring.

Atmospheric pollution: influence on hospital admissions in paediatric rheumatic diseases

Objective: To investigate the lag structure effects from exposure to atmospheric pollution in acute outbursts in hospital admissions of paediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs). Methods: Morbidity data were obtained from the Brazilian Hospital Information System in seven consecutive years, including admissions due to seven PRDs (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic sclerosis and ankylosing spondylitis). Cases with secondary diagnosis of respiratory diseases were excluded. Daily concentrations of inhaled particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2) nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O-3) and carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated. Generalized linear Poisson regression models controlling for short-term trend, seasonality, holidays, temperature and humidity were used. Lag structures and magnitude of air pollutants' effects were adopted to estimate restricted polynomial distributed lag models. Results: The total number of admissions due to acute outbursts PRD was 1,821. The SO2 interquartile range (7.79 mu g/m(3)) was associated with an increase of 1.98% (confidence interval 0.25-3.69) in the number of hospital admissions due to outcome studied after 14 days of exposure. This effect was maintained until day 17. Of note, the other pollutants, with the exception of O-3, showed an increase in the number of hospital admissions from the second week. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate a delayed association between SO2 and PRD outburst, suggesting that oxidative stress reaction could trigger the inflammation of these diseases. Lupus (2012) 21, 526-533.

Characterization of atmospheric aerosols in the city of So Paulo, Brazil: comparisons between polluted and unpolluted periods

The objective of this study was to determine the size and composition of atmospheric aerosols in the downtown area of the city of So Paulo, Brazil, for a polluted and an unpolluted period. Aerosols were sampled with a portable air sampler (PAS), Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI), and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. At the study site, air quality is poor, especially during the winter, high concentrations of pollutants being emitted primarily by the light- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet. We analyzed mass, black carbon (BC), Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sn, Zr, and Pb. During the polluted period, diurnal PM(10) was higher than nocturnal PM(10), whereas the inverse was true during the unpolluted period. The FPM was rich in BC, S, and Pb, whereas CPM was rich in Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe. Mass balance was performed by category: ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride, crustal material, BC, and other. The PAS-determined FPM was mainly BC. The MOUDI-determined FPM crustal material explained more mass than did ammonium sulfate and BC during the polluted period, whereas ammonium sulfate had the largest mass during the unpolluted period. Crustal material was the major CPM component, followed by ammonium sulfate and BC. During the unpolluted period, FPM concentrations were lower, whereas those of ammonium sulfate were relatively higher, especially at night, and particle number was inversely proportional to particle size. Aerosol growth was more intense during the polluted period.

Atmospheric conditions, lunar phases, and childbirth: a multivariate analysis

Our objective was to assess extrinsic influences upon childbirth. In a cohort of 1,826 days containing 17,417 childbirths among them 13,252 spontaneous labor admissions, we studied the influence of environment upon the high incidence of labor (defined by 75th percentile or higher), analyzed by logistic regression. The predictors of high labor admission included increases in outdoor temperature (odds ratio: 1.742, P = 0.045, 95%CI: 1.011 to 3.001), and decreases in atmospheric pressure (odds ratio: 1.269, P = 0.029, 95%CI: 1.055 to 1.483). In contrast, increases in tidal range were associated with a lower probability of high admission (odds ratio: 0.762, P = 0.030, 95%CI: 0.515 to 0.999). Lunar phase was not a predictor of high labor admission (P = 0.339). Using multivariate analysis, increases in temperature and decreases in atmospheric pressure predicted high labor admission, and increases of tidal range, as a measurement of the lunar gravitational force, predicted a lower probability of high admission.