Fossil Fuel Combustion Products Research Articles

The sea-surface microlayer of puget sound: Part II. Concentrations of contaminants and relation to toxicity

Many aquatic contaminants, because of low water solubility (hydrophobicity) or association with floatable particles, concentrate at the sea surface. Thirty-six samples of the sea-surface microlayer (SMIC), the upper 50 μm, were collected from sites in Puget Sound, Washington State. Sites included three urban bays, central Puget Sound, and a rural reference site. Exposure of floating fish eggs to approximately half of these samples resulted in sublethal and lethal toxic effects (Hardy et al., 1987c). Chemical analyses revealed high concentrations of contaminants in many of the samples. Major temporal and spatial differences in sea-surface chemistry occurred, but maximum (for all) and mean (for 1985) concentrations were aromatic hydrocarbons, 8030 (mean 132) μg liter −1: saturate hydrocarbons, 2060 μg liter −1: pesticides, 43·8 (mean 0·46) ng liter −1; PCBs, 3890 (mean 631) ng liter −1; and total metals, 4750 (mean 626) μg liter −1. Stepwise multivariate regression indicated that the percentage of fish eggs developing to normal live larvae decreased with increasing concentrations of a complex mixture of contaminants. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the major types of contaminants did not differ greatly in their statistical contribution to the toxicity, i.e. no single chemical was responsible for the observed toxicity. The chemical composition of the SMIC samples suggested that contamination originated from a variety of sources including atmospheric deposition, terrestrial runoff of fossil fuel combustion products, and sewage disposal.

Health benefits of a chinese hydrogen economy

A recent literature review reveals that unnecessary illnesses and deaths have occurred in China due to fossil fuel combustion. This public health phenomenon parallels that found in California's Los Angeles air basin. Ambient air of Beijing and Los Angeles is analyzed and compared. A data base model and program for Beijing's prevention and elimination of air pollution problems is proposed. As China prepares to increase coal mining and coal utilization, it is timely and appropriate to take immediate necessary steps before air pollution problems become intolerable. Harmful fossil fuel combustion products that could be eliminated completely by converting to a hydrogen economy include carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur compounds (SOx), total suspended particulates (TSP), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), photochemical oxidants (Ox) and lead. Implementation of a hydrogen economy would eliminate all these pollutants and prevent all diseases caused or aggravated by these toxins.

An Examination of the Fate of Nigerian Crude Oil in Surface Sediments of the Humber Estuary by Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract The hydrocarbon composition of surface sediments at two lithologically different sites in the Humber Estuary (U.K.) has been examined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The sediments were sampled 5, 7 and 12 months after the accidental spillage of 6000 tonnes of a Nigerian light crude oil into the estuary from the tanker “Sivand”. The occurrence of distinctive marker compounds in the Nigerian oil facilitated the identification of residues of the “Sivand” cargo in the sediments up to 12 months after the spill. Interpretation of chromatograms revealed several other sources of hydrocarbons contributing to the sediments including those from algae, higher plants and fossil fuel combustion products. Field observations and laboratory studies indicated that the latter compounds were less readily biodegraded in sediments than the oil-derived hydrocarbons. Possible reasons are discussed.

Metallic elements in fossil fuel combustion products: amounts and form of emissions and evaluation of carcinogenicity and mutagenicity.

Metallic elements contained in coal, oil and gasoline are mobilized by combustion processes and may be emitted into the atmosphere, mainly as components of submicron particles. The information about the amounts, composition and form of metal compounds is reviewed for some fuels and combustion processes. Since metal compounds are always contained in urban air pollutants, they have to be considered whenever an evaluation of biological impact of air pollutants is made. The value of currently used bioassays for the evaluation of the role of trace metal compounds, either as major biologically active components or as modifiers of biological effects of organic compounds is assessed. The whole animal bioassays for carcinogenicity do not seem to be an appropriate approach. They are costly, time-consuming and not easily amenable to the testing of complex mixtures. Some problems related to the application and interpretation of short-term bioassays are considered, and the usefulness of such bioassays for the evaluation of trace metal components contained in complex air pollution mixtures is examined.

Metallic Elements in Fossil Fuel Combustion Products: Amounts and Form of Emissions and Evaluation of Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity

Metallic elements contained in coal, oil and gasoline are mobilized by combustion processes and may be emitted into the atmosphere, mainly as components of submicron particles. The information about the amounts, composition and form of metal compounds is reviewed for some fuels and combustion processes. Since metal compounds are always contained in urban air pollutants, they have to be considered whenever an evaluation of biological impact of air pollutants is made. The value of currently used bioassays for the evaluation of the role of trace metal compounds, either as major biologically active components or as modifiers of biological effects of organic compounds is assessed. The whole animal bioassays for carcinogenicity do not seem to be an appropriate approach. They are costly, time-consuming and not easily amenable to the testing of complex mixtures. Some problems related to the application and interpretation of short-term bioassays are considered, and the usefulness of such bioassays for the evaluation of trace metal components contained in complex air pollution mixtures is examined.

Evaluation of Tenax-GC and XAD-2 as polymer adsorbents for sampling fossil fuel combustion products containing nitrogen oxides

Tenax-GC and Amberlite XAD-2 are porous polymer adsorbents used to sample organic vapors in effluents from fossil fuel combustion technologies. Experiments determining the efficacy of the two adsorbents are summarized. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicates that Tenax-GC would be more suitable than XAD-2 for the sampling of stack effluents from fossil fuel combustion.

Organic constituents in atmospheric fallout in the Tokyo area

The non-volatile organic constituents of eight atmospheric fallout (wet plus dry fallout) samples from the Tokyo area were determined. Considerable amounts of total organic carbon were found, ranging from 3.1 to 25 mgCm −2 day −1. n-Alkanes were found in the ranges of carbon chain length from C 12 to C 40 in total amounts between 4.4 and 55 μg m −2 day −1, in addition to an even larger amount of unresolved complex mixed hydrocarbons. Fatty acids were detected between carbon chain lengths of C 8 and C 34, including unsaturated and branched acids. The total content of fatty acids ranged from 26 to 190 μg m −2 day −1. Furthermore, o-, m- and p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and p-coumaric acids were identified and the presence of syringic, ferulic and protocatechuic acids and bisphenol A were indicated. The amounts of phenolic acids and bisphenol A were each less than 4.7 /gmg m −2day −1. These organic constituents may influence the composition of organic matter in urban aquatic environments. The major sources of hydrocarbons are considered to be higher plants, and combustion products of fossil fuels. The fatty acids and phenolic acids may be derived from higher plants as well as domestic and industrial sources. Pollens may be a source of plant organic matter. However, loss of more volatile compounds might have occurred during evaporation before analysis.

Chemistry of PCBs and PBBs

Chemistry of PCBs and PBBs

Chemistry of PCBs and PBBs

A recent book by Hutzinger et al. (1) reviews the chemistry of chlorinated biphenyls through the end of 1973. This wide-ranging review also includes discussions of metabolism and determination of chlorinated biphenyls. The present report reviews areas of chlorobiphenyl and bromobiphenyl chemistry held to be pertinent to the Subcommittee's concern for possible health effects of these types of compounds. No attempt at complete coverage of these subject areas is claimed. Findings reported since 1973 are particularly stressed. Nonmetabolic alteration of the halogenated biphenyls is considered in terms of agents most available to induce chemical change in the environment. Expected differences between chlorinated biphenyls and brominated biphenyls in their environmental chemistry are commented on. It is possible that certain of the chlorinated biphenyl compounds will be shown to have relatively greater potential hazard for health. Therefore, occurrence and fate in the environment and metabolism and toxic effects in animals are related to chemical structure of the biphenyls. For the general public, food is presumed to be the major source of chlorinated biphenyl compounds. The important concepts related to analytical methodology for PCB (and PBB) residues, particularly in foods, are reviewed. Alternative means of quantitation of these residues and problems in the quantitation techniques are discussed. The pertinent aspects of chlorinated dibenzofurans, as known contaminants in commercial PCBs

Health effects of fossil fuel combustion products: report of a workshop.

Judgemental positions are presented on research priorities in regard to the health effects from stationary sources of fossil fuel combustion products. Hopefully, they can provide guidance for efforts to ensure that national energy needs are met with minimum environmental and economic burdens on the public. The major areas include epidemiological studies, controlled biological studies, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, trace elements, monitoring and analysis.

Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Combustion Products: Report of a Workshop

Judgemental positions are presented on research priorities in regard to the health effects from stationary sources of fossil fuel combustion products. Hopefully, they can provide guidance for efforts to ensure that national energy needs are met with minimum environmental and economic burdens on the public. The major areas include epidemiological studies, controlled biological studies, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, trace elements, monitoring and analysis.