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Experimental investigation of a smouldering fire in an under-ventilated silo
No full textInternational audienceAn experimental bench was built and run to investigate the behaviour of a smouldering fire in an under‐ventilated silo. This smouldering fire was initiated by placing an electrical resistance at a given depth in the tested grain. The grain was successively corn, wheat, barley, oilseed rape, and sunflower. None of the tests resulted in an open fire but they all showed that the smouldering fire could generate an explosive atmosphere in the top part of the silo. When the venting conditions were kept unchanged within the silo, the tests also showed that the smouldering fire could become dormant resulting in no longer flammable gas concentration being measured in the silo. This phenomenon is associated with the formation of a carbonised rock around the heating resistance
Evaluation of nanosilica emission in polydimethylsiloxane composite during incineration
No full textInternational audienceAt the end of their life cycle, it is expected that many industrial silicone components end up in incineration waste plants. Hence, the issue concerning the risks resulting from the generation of fumes (combustion gas and aerosol) has to be addressed. The aim of our work was to investigate the behavior and fate of nanosilicas from filled polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposites burnt under two different scenarios of incineration. Combustion tests have been performed at lab-scale using a particular tubular furnace and a specific cone calorimeter. The collected fumes (particulate matter and gas phase) have been characterized using various techniques. The results show persistent nanosilica particles, newly produced nanosilica particles in the fumes and in the residues, as well as silicon oxycarbide SixOyCz particles which seem to originate from polysiloxane matrix decomposition
A spatial analysis approach combining multi-media and human models to map the lead exposure of children in a French region
No full textInternational audienceThe last decade has witnessed an increasing interest in assessing health risks caused by contaminants present in several environmental media, i.e. soil, air, and water. To that end, mathematical models describing the fate of compounds in the environment (multi-media models) and in the human body (toxicokinetic models) can be combined to simulate realistic exposure scenarios of human populations. These models can also be integrated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to produce maps of exposure and reveal spatial patterns. The aim of this study was to develop a spatial stochastic multimedia and human exposure model for detecting vulnerable populations and analyzing exposure determinants at a fine resolution and regional scale. This approach was applied to the exposure to lead of children in the Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais in France
Survival of glioma patients in relation to mobile phone use in Denmark, Finland and Sweden
No full textInternational audienceGliomas are the most common cancer of the brain. We investigated whether pre-diagnostic mobile phone use was associated with survival. Glioma cases (n=806) in the INTERPHONE study in Denmark, Finland and Sweden were followed up for survival via registry linkages. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. No reduced survival among glioblastoma patients was observed for various measures of mobile phone use relative to no or non-regular use. All significant associations suggested better survival for mobile phone users. Results were similar for high–grade and low–grade gliomas. In conclusion we found no evidence of reduced survival among glioma patients in relation to previous mobile phone use
An Integrated and Spatialized Approach to Identify Potentially Overexposed Population : A Case Study of Chlorpyrifos Contamination
No full textInternational audienceExposure to pesticides is characterized by the multiplicity of exposure routes (food, water, soil, air) related to their presence in all environmental media. First, for a fine characterization of the environmental exposure, it is necessary to gather within the same analysis system a dataset integrating the population behavior and the local contamination of the environmental media at fine resolutions and on large territories. This integration requires a sufficient toolchain to produce or process these data in a rigorous manner, characterize the entire continuum from the source of contamination, transport, and transfer of contaminants in environmental media, and estimate external and internal exposure doses for the general population. The aim of this work is to establish an integrated methodology for the mapping of exposure indicators at fine spatial and temporal resolutions (1 km² and week) directly comparable with individual biomonitoring measurements from French cohorts. To illustrate the approach, we consider the levels of chlorpyrifos among pregnant women in the Picardy region (France). Results provide insights into the identification of areas of potential overexposure and analysis of environmental determinants, elements useful for public health decision to reduce exposure and thus health and environmental impacts. However, the exposure characterization involves uncertainties regarding modeling assumptions and data measurements. Moreover, the efficiency of exposure modeling can be limited by calculation times. To optimize numerical resolution and reduce uncertainties related to knowledge limits and data representativeness, modeling assumptions and tools need to be reconsidered to improve the methodology and allow future developments
Understanding the instability mechanisms of chalk mines in presence of water (France)
No full textInternational audienceIn January 1910, the 100-year flood of the Loing River caused the tragic collapse of an underground chalk mine at Château-Landon (France), which resulted in the death of 7 people. In this valley, three other underground chalk mines had already collapsed. The hydrogeological analysis of the site and the geomechanical studies carried out on the chalk enabled to elaborate a 3-stage collapse scenario: (1) exceptional rainfall generating intense flooding of the Loing, which plays the role of a hydraulic dam and causes (2) a rise of the chalk aquifer, which invades (3) the lower parts of the mine and weakens the pillars until they collapse. To evaluate this scenario, the Royer mine, the last underground mine still intact in this sector, was thoroughly studied. This study included a complete 3D scan of the mine, modelling of its geomechanical behavior and geomechanical and hydrogeological monitoring that will last several years
Source Apportionment of Carbonaceous Aerosols based on High-Time Resolution Instrumentation
No full textInternational audienceCarbonaceous aerosols account for a significant fraction of fine aerosol mass. The limited knowledge of organic aerosol (OA) types and sources, as well as the origin of black (BC) and brown (BrC) carbon, makes the reduction of this contribution a challenge. The relevance of the need for this information is based on the negative impact on human health caused by exposure to aerosols and the impact on the climate and the environment. Within this framework, the main challenge of COST Action CA16109 COLOSSAL Chemical On-Line cOmpoSition and Source Apportionment of fine aerosoL is to consistently assess the spatial and temporal variability of fine atmospheric aerosols across Europe, their chemical composition, and sources, trying to understand the underlying processes..
Predictive methods for determining the thermal decomposition properties of hazardous substances
No full textInternational audienceDue to the fast development and availability of computers, predictive approaches are increasingly used in the evaluation process of hazardous substances complementary to experiments. Their use was recommended as alternative to experimental testing by the REACH regulation to complete the lack of knowledge on properties for existing substances that must be registered before 2018 (upon quantities). Among the proposed predictive approaches, Quantitative Structure Property Relationships (QSPR) are powerful methods to predict macroscopic properties from the only molecular structure of substances. In that context, the HAZPRED project (2015-2018, founded by the SAF€RA consortium) aims to develop theoretical models (e.g. QSPR) and small-scale tests to predict complex physico-chemical properties (e.g. thermal stability, explosivity) of hazardous substances to complete the lack of knowledge on these hazardous substances quickly or to understand their decomposition behaviour better. In particular, this contribution will present the work done in this project on the physical hazards of organic peroxides and self-reactive substances: gathering of existing experimental data, new experimental campaigns, review of existing models and proposition of new estimation methods
