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PAH målinger ved Alcoa Lista
Get PDFOn behalf of Aluminiumindustriens Miljøsekretariat (AMS) and Alcoa Lista, NILU – Norwegian institute for air research has conducted a sampling campaign in the surroundings of the Alcoa Lista aluminium smelter in order to update the knowledge on PAH-concentrations around the smelter today. Samples were taken in the period January – December 2020 and analysed for particle bound PAHs. As a consequence of reduced emissions compared to earlier measurements, the ambient concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) were reduced. BaP had an annual average concentration below the target value at both sampling sites. At Huseby, the lower assessment threshold was exceeded. PAH-levels in the area were similar to those observed in Norwegian cities.NILU – Norsk institutt for luftforskning har, på oppdrag fra Aluminiumindustriens Miljøsekretariat (AMS) og Alcoa Lista, tatt PAH-prøver i omgivelsene til Alcoa Lista aluminiums-smelteverk for å oppdatere kunnskapen om PAH-konsentrasjoner rundt smelteverket i dag. Prøvene ble tatt i perioden januar – desember 2020 og analysert for partikkelbundne PAHer. Som en konsekvens av reduserte utslipp sammenlignet med tidligere målinger, er konsentrasjonen av benzo(a)pyren (BaP) redusert. Årsmiddelet av BaP-konsentrasjonen i 2020 var under målsettingsverdien på begge prøvetakingsstedene. På Huseby ble den nedre vurderingsterskelen overskredet. PAH-konsentrasjonen i området på samme nivå som i norske byer.publishedVersio
Overvåking av langtransportert forurenset luft og nedbør. Atmosfæriske tilførsler 2019.
Get PDFThis report presents results from the monitoring of atmospheric composition and deposition of air pollution in 2019, and focuses on main components in air and precipitation, particulate and gaseous phase of inorganic constituents, particulate carbonaceous matter, ground level ozone and particulate matter. In 2019, it was an unusual wide-spread episode during April causing high concentrations of most pollutants at several sites.Denne rapporten omhandler resultater fra overvåkningsprogrammet for langtransportert forurenset luft og nedbør og atmosfæriske tilførsler i 2019. Rapporten presenterer målinger av uorganiske hovedkomponentene i luft og nedbør, partikulært karbonholdig materiale, partikkelmasse og bakkenært ozon. I 2019 ble det observert en uvanlig omfattende episode med høye konsentrasjoner av luftforurensing på flere stasjoner.publishedVersio
RubberRoad – Brukte dekk i asfaltproduksjon
Get PDFRubberRoad proposes to use rubber from used tires in the production of asphalt for road and bicycle ways. This recycling approach has not gained much attention in Norway despite its apparent advantages, such as noise reduction, increased durability, safer shock impact, and reduced climate and environmental impacts. The Life Cycle Analysis carried out during this project feasibility study has demonstrated a series of environmental benefits in the use of rubber in asphalt production. It has also helped identify relevant knowledge gaps related to the use phase of the rubberized asphalt and its impact to noise, air and micro-plastic pollution. Better understanding of these effects would probably result in even larger environmental benefits of rubberized asphalt with respect to standard asphalt production. However, while the tire recycling industry is generally positive to the disposal of used tires in asphalt production, additional incentives need to be put in place for the Norwegian asphalt producers to consider actively contributing to this development.RubberRoad foreslår å bruke gummi fra brukte bildekk i asfaltproduksjon til bil- og sykkelveier. Denne resirkuleringsmetoden er ikke særlig kjent i Norge, til tross for påviste fordeler som blant annet støyreduksjon, økt holdbarhet, støtdemping ved ulykker samt redusert klima- og miljøpåvirkning. Livssyklusanalysen, som ble utført i løpet av dette prosjektets gjennomførbarhetsstudie, har vist en rekke miljøfordeler ved bruk av gummi i asfaltproduksjon. Den har også bidratt til å identifisere kunnskapshull relatert spesielt til bruken av gummiasfalten og dens innvirkning på støy, luft og mikro-plastforurensning. Bedre forståelse av disse effektene vil trolig føre til enda større miljøfordeler av gummiasfalt i forhold til standard asfaltproduksjon. Imidlertid, mens dekkgjenvinningsindustrien generelt er positiv til bruk av brukte dekk i asfaltproduksjon, må det legges til rette for ytterligere incitamenter for at norske asfaltprodusenter skal vurdere å bidra aktivt til denne utviklingen.publishedVersio
Soil pollution at a major West African E-waste recycling site: Contamination pathways and implications for potential mitigation strategies
Get PDFOrganic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlorinated paraffins (CPs)) and heavy metals and metalloids (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn) were analysed in surface soil samples from the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing and dumping site in Accra (Ghana). In order to identify which of the pollutants are likely to be linked specifically to handling of e-waste, samples were also collected from the Kingtom general waste site in Freetown (Sierra Leone). The results were compared using principal component analyses (PCA). PBDE congeners found in technical octa-BDE mixtures, highly chlorinated PCBs and several heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Ag and Hg) showed elevated concentrations in the soils that are likely due to contamination by e-waste. PCAs associated those compounds with pyrogenic PAHs, suggesting that burning of e-waste, a common practice to isolate valuable metals, may cause this contamination. Moreover, other contamination pathways, especially incorporation of waste fragments into the soil, also appeared to play an important role in determining concentrations of some of the pollutants in the soil. Concentrations of several of these compounds were extremely high (especially PBDEs, heavy metals and SCCPs) and in some cases exceeded action guideline levels for soil. This indicates that exposure to these contaminants via the soil alone is potentially harmful to the recyclers and their families living on waste sites. Many organic contaminants and other exposure pathways such as inhalation are not yet included in such guidelines but may also be significant, given that deposition from the air following waste burning was identified as a major pollutant source.publishedVersio
Improving Quality in Nanoparticle-Induced Cytotoxicity Testing by a Tiered Inter-Laboratory Comparison Study
Get PDFThe quality and relevance of nanosafety studies constitute major challenges to ensure their key role as a supporting tool in sustainable innovation, and subsequent competitive economic advantage. However, the number of apparently contradictory and inconclusive research results has increased in the past few years, indicating the need to introduce harmonized protocols and good practices in the nanosafety research community. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate if best-practice training and inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) of performance of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay for the cytotoxicity assessment of nanomaterials among 15 European laboratories can improve quality in nanosafety testing. We used two well-described model nanoparticles, 40-nm carboxylated polystyrene (PS-COOH) and 50-nm amino-modified polystyrene (PS-NH2). We followed a tiered approach using well-developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and sharing the same cells, serum and nanoparticles. We started with determination of the cell growth rate (tier 1), followed by a method transfer phase, in which all laboratories performed the first ILC on the MTS assay (tier 2). Based on the outcome of tier 2 and a survey of laboratory practices, specific training was organized, and the MTS assay SOP was refined. This led to largely improved intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility in tier 3. In addition, we confirmed that PS-COOH and PS-NH2 are suitable negative and positive control nanoparticles, respectively, to evaluate impact of nanomaterials on cell viability using the MTS assay. Overall, we have demonstrated that the tiered process followed here, with the use of SOPs and representative control nanomaterials, is necessary and makes it possible to achieve good inter-laboratory reproducibility, and therefore high-quality nanotoxicological data.publishedVersio
The influence of residential wood combustion on the concentrations of PM2.5 in four Nordic cities
Get PDFResidential wood combustion (RWC) is an important contributor to air quality in numerous regions worldwide. This study is the first extensive evaluation of the influence of RWC on ambient air quality in several Nordic cities. We have analysed the emissions and concentrations of PM2.5 in cities within four Nordic countries: in the metropolitan areas of Copenhagen, Oslo, and Helsinki and in the city of Umeå. We have evaluated the emissions for the relevant urban source categories and modelled atmospheric dispersion on regional and urban scales. The emission inventories for RWC were based on local surveys, the amount of wood combusted, combustion technologies and other relevant factors. The accuracy of the predicted concentrations was evaluated based on urban concentration measurements. The predicted annual average concentrations ranged spatially from 4 to 7 µg m−3 (2011), from 6 to 10 µg m−3 (2013), from 4 to more than 13 µg m−3 (2013) and from 9 to more than 13 µg m−3 (2014), in Umeå, Helsinki, Oslo and Copenhagen, respectively. The higher concentrations in Copenhagen were mainly caused by the relatively high regionally and continentally transported background contributions. The annual average fractions of PM2.5 concentrations attributed to RWC within the considered urban regions ranged spatially from 0 % to 15 %, from 0 % to 20 %, from 8 % to 22 % and from 0 % to 60 % in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Umeå and Oslo, respectively. In particular, the contributions of RWC in central Oslo were larger than 40 % as annual averages. In Oslo, wood combustion was used mainly for the heating of larger blocks of flats. In contrast, in Helsinki, RWC was solely used in smaller detached houses. In Copenhagen and Helsinki, the highest fractions occurred outside the city centre in the suburban areas. In Umeå, the highest fractions occurred both in the city centre and its surroundings.publishedVersio
Fifteen years of airborne particulates in vitro toxicology in Milano: Lessons and perspectives learned
Get PDFAir pollution is one of the world’s leading environmental causes of death. The epidemiological relationship between outdoor air pollution and the onset of health diseases associated with death is now well established. Relevant toxicological proofs are now dissecting the molecular processes that cause inflammation, reactive species generation, and DNA damage. In addition, new data are pointing out the role of airborne particulates in the modulation of genes and microRNAs potentially involved in the onset of human diseases. In the present review we collect the relevant findings on airborne particulates of one of the biggest hot spots of air pollution in Europe (i.e., the Po Valley), in the largest urban area of this region, Milan. The different aerodynamic fractions are discussed separately with a specific focus on fine and ultrafine particles that are now the main focus of several studies. Results are compared with more recent international findings. Possible future perspectives of research are proposed to create a new discussion among scientists working on the toxicological effects of airborne particles.publishedVersio
A Synthesis Inversion to Constrain Global Emissions of Two Very Short Lived Chlorocarbons: Dichloromethane, and Perchloroethylene
Get PDFDichloromethane (CH2Cl2) and perchloroethylene (C2Cl4) are chlorinated very short lived substances (Cl‐VSLS) with anthropogenic sources. Recent studies highlight the increasing influence of such compounds, particularly CH2Cl2, on the stratospheric chlorine budget and therefore on ozone depletion. Here, a multiyear global‐scale synthesis inversion was performed to optimize CH2Cl2 (2006–2017) and C2Cl4 (2007–2017) emissions. The approach combines long‐term surface observations from global monitoring networks, output from a three‐dimensional chemical transport model (TOMCAT), and novel bottom‐up information on prior industry emissions. Our posterior results show an increase in global CH2Cl2 emissions from 637 ± 36 Gg yr−1 in 2006 to 1,171 ± 45 Gg yr−1 in 2017, with Asian emissions accounting for 68% and 89% of these totals, respectively. In absolute terms, Asian CH2Cl2 emissions increased annually by 51 Gg yr−1 over the study period, while European and North American emissions declined, indicating a continental‐scale shift in emission distribution since the mid‐2000s. For C2Cl4, we estimate a decrease in global emissions from 141 ± 14 Gg yr−1 in 2007 to 106 ± 12 Gg yr−1 in 2017. The time‐varying posterior emissions offer significant improvements over the prior. Utilizing the posterior emissions leads to modeled tropospheric CH2Cl2 and C2Cl4 abundances and trends in good agreement to those observed (including independent observations to the inversion). A shorter C2Cl4 lifetime, from including an uncertain Cl sink, leads to larger global C2Cl4 emissions by a factor of ~1.5, which in some places improves model‐measurement agreement. The sensitivity of our findings to assumptions in the inversion procedure, including CH2Cl2 oceanic emissions, is discussed.publishedVersio
