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Odor emissions: A public health concern for health risk perception
Abstract
The olfactory nuisance, due to the emissions of active molecules, is mainly associated with unproperly managed waste disposal and animal farming. Volatile compounds e.g., aromatics, organic and inorganic sulfide compounds, as well as nitrogen and halogenated compounds are the major contributor to odor pollution generated by waste management plants; the most important source of atmospheric ammonia is produced by livestock farming.
Although an odorous compound may represent a nuisance rather than a health risk, long-term exposure to a mixture of volatile compounds may represent a risk for different diseases, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, and neurologic damage.
Workers and communities living close to odor-producing facilities result directly exposed to irritant air pollutants through inhalation and for this reason the cumulative health risk assessment is recommended. Health effects are related to the concentration and exposure duration to the odorants, as well as to their irritant potency and/or biotransformation in hazardous metabolites. The health effects of a single chemical are well known, while the interactions between molecules with different functional groups have still to be extensively studied.
Odor emissions are often due to airborne pollutants at levels below the established toxicity thresholds. The relationship between odor and toxicity does not always occurs but depends on the specific kind of pollutant involved. Indeed, some toxic agents does not induce odor nuisance while untoxic agents do. Accordingly, the relationship between toxicity and odor nuisance should be always analyzed in detail evaluating on the characteristics of the airborne mixture and the type of the source involved.
... However, microbial fermentation in the intestinal tract as well as in the excreted manure yields malodorous compounds. And increased emissions of malodor result in air pollution, which can be a public nuisance to surrounding residential settlements [2]. The main molecules responsible for malodor in manure include sulfur-containing compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide); ammonia and amines; indolic and phenolic compounds (such as methyl phenol, indole and 3-methyl indole); as well as some volatile fatty acids (VFAs, such as acetate and valerate) [2]. ...
... And increased emissions of malodor result in air pollution, which can be a public nuisance to surrounding residential settlements [2]. The main molecules responsible for malodor in manure include sulfur-containing compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide); ammonia and amines; indolic and phenolic compounds (such as methyl phenol, indole and 3-methyl indole); as well as some volatile fatty acids (VFAs, such as acetate and valerate) [2]. Most of these odorous molecules are a result of the fermentation of dietary proteins and peptides (or other nitrogenous macromolecules in the ...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus amylovorus, L. plantarum, galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) and their synbiotic formulations on pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), malodor, and microbial ecological profiles through a 24-h in vitro fermentation model. Inclusion of GOS alone and in synbiotic combination with either probiotic resulted in consistently lower pH and higher total gas volumes at 12 and 24 h of incubation. Notably, concentrations of odorous compounds (hydrogen sulfide, H2S and methyl mercaptan, CH3SH) in the total gas produced were significantly lower in these GOS-containing treatments relative to the controls and probiotic-only-treated groups. However, although ammonia showed an initial relative reduction at 12 h, concentrations did not differ among treatments at 24 h. Further, the GOS-containing treatments had remarkably higher total and individual VFAs, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, relative to controls and the probiotic-only treatments. Analysis of microbial composition and diversity showed clustering of GOS-containing treatments away from the controls and probiotic-only treatments at 12 and 24 h of incubation. Our study suggests that GOS supplementation (alone or in combination with L. amylovorus or L. plantarum probiotic strains) has the potential to increase VFA production in the swine gut while lowering emissions of malodorous compounds, except ammonia, in their manure.
... In this context, odorants are mainly emitted through the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter containing sulphur and nitrogen or via sulphate reduction in wastewater [2,3]. A wide variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) can be formed and released from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and sewer networks [4,5]. More specifically, sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) and mercaptans, organic acids like acetic acid, and nitrogen compounds such as ammonia (NH 3 ), are the main air pollutants emitted by WWTPs [6]. ...
... Odorous compounds are typically volatile, corrosive and irritating, even at very low concentrations, and cause odour nuisance due to their low odour thresholds [7]. Therefore, WWTPs should not only target the reduction of pollutants in wastewater and the cost-effective management of the sludge produced during wastewater treatment, but should also minimize the impact of odour pollution on public health and the environment [5]. ...
The potential of activated sludge recycling (ASR) and oxidized nitrogen recycling (ONR) to prevent the emissions of H2S and acetic acid from the primary settler during domestic wastewater treatment was herein evaluated. The pilot plant consisted of an 8 L primary settler with a 10 L gas-tight headspace coupled to a 11 L nitrification-denitrification activated sludge reactor and an 8 L secondary settler, which were monitored for 175 days. A reduction in the headspace concentrations of H2S and acetic acid by 95 % and 42 %, respectively, was recorded when combining ASR and ONR. Process operation with ASR and ONR supported stable conditions with average organic matter removals of 96 ± 2 %, NO2- concentrations of 24.2 ± 0.4 mg N/L and NO3- concentrations of 9.8 ± 0.4 mg N/L in the effluent, and a biological oxidation of S 2-higher than 99 % with average SO42- concentrations of 52 ± 8 mg/L. Interestingly, the sole recirculation of activated sludge to the primary settler without NO 3-recycling caused sludge bulking, contributing to increase the concentration of H2S and acetic acid in the primary settler headspace up to 0.99 ± 0.01 ppmv and 2.87 ± 0.12 ppmv , respectively. Sludge bulking also resulted in an increase in the effluent soluble total nitrogen concentration from 5.6 ± 0.1 mg N/L to 50.8 ± 0.2 mg N/L and of NH 4 + from 1.3 ± 0.2 mg N/L to 50.7 ± 0.8 mg N/L due to the loss of nitrification under these operational conditions. Overall, the experimental results indicated that ASR and ONR represent cost-effective strategies for the control of malodorous emissions in wastewater treatment plants.
... In this context, odorants are mainly emitted through the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter containing sulphur and nitrogen or via sulphate reduction in wastewater [2,3]. A wide variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) can be formed and released from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and sewer networks [4,5]. More specifically, sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) and mercaptans, organic acids like acetic acid, and nitrogen compounds such as ammonia (NH 3 ), are the main air pollutants emitted by WWTPs [6]. ...
... Odorous compounds are typically volatile, corrosive and irritating, even at very low concentrations, and cause odour nuisance due to their low odour thresholds [7]. Therefore, WWTPs should not only target the reduction of pollutants in wastewater and the cost-effective management of the sludge produced during wastewater treatment, but should also minimize the impact of odour pollution on public health and the environment [5]. ...
... In this context, complaints about annoyance due to environmental odors, typically emitted by industrial and agricultural activities, are a common way for people to express dissatisfaction to authorities [3][4][5]. Determining the extent of chemical exposure, particularly odor [6], becomes a crucial concern as we learn more about atmospheric pollution and its effects on citizens' health, the ecosystem, and well-being [7,8]. ...
Dispersion modeling is a useful tool for reproducing the spatial–temporal distribution of pollutants emitted by industrial sites, particularly in the environmental odor field. One widely used tool, accepted by regulatory agencies for environmental impact assessments, is the CALPUFF model, which requires a large number of input variables, including meteorological and orographical variables. The reliability of model results depends on the accuracy of these input variables. The present research aims to discuss a comparative study of odor dispersion modeling by initializing the CALMET meteorological processor with different input data: surface and upper air observational meteorological data, 3D prognostic data, and a blend of prognostic and measured data. Two distinct sources (a point and an area source) and two different simulation domains in Cuba and Italy are considered. The analysis of results is based on odor impact criteria enforced in some Italian regions by computing the 98th percentile of odor peak concentrations on an annual basis. For the area source, simulation results reveal that the ‘OBS’ and ‘HYBRID’ modes are largely comparable, whereas prognostic data tend to underestimate the odor concentrations, likely due to a reduced percentage of wind calms. For point sources, different input meteorological settings provide comparable results, with no significant differences.
... In addition to this, headache, nausea and sleeping disturbances have been found to be typical physical reactions to odour exposure [33]. However, as reported by [34], the toxic effects of odours on public health can be more severe in cases of cancerogenic compounds and strong exposures. ...
The potential of citizen science to address complex issues has been recognized since the 1990s. However, the systematic integration of public opinion in research has been developed only recently, thanks to the spread of questionnaire web-based surveys and artificial intelligence techniques for data elaboration. Starting from this point, we decided to investigate the literature published in Scopus during the decade 2013-2023, regarding citizen science applications for environmental purposes. More specifically, the focus of our study was to evaluate citizen science's benefits and limitations for managing odour emissions in national industrial plants, as well as to discuss the potential integration of a participatory approach in such a field. In fact, according to European Directive 2010/75/EU, the integrated environmental permits released to reduce industrial pollution should also encourage strong public participation. In this systematic review we first applied the principles of PRISMA methodology to select the most significant papers. Then, we discuss the results of 14 publications, through bibliometric statistics and meta-analysis. Only three of them were discovered to have a specific focus on odour emissions. Overall, we pinpointed the main advantages and limitations of citizen science applied to odour pollution management, to open the door for further research.
... In the realm of volatile inorganic compounds (VICs), comprising dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethyl disulphide, dimethyl trisulphide, methyl sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, methyl mercaptan, and ethyl mercaptan as well as within the category of volatile organic compounds, compounds like limonene, α-pinene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene, and toluene are noteworthy (Banskota et al. 2021;Gao et al. 2022). Although aspiration of malodorous substances is usually associated with discomfort, prolonged exposure to volatile organic compounds and volatile inorganic compounds emitted by piggeries may be a factor in the development of diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and neurological damage (Rossi et al. 2021;Piccardo et al. 2022). ...
Intensive livestock production is a source of water, soil, and air contamination. The first aspect that negatively affects the quality of life of residents in the vicinity of piggeries is malodorous aerosols, which are not only responsible for discomfort but can be an etiological factor in the development of various diseases during prolonged exposure. One of the proven and efficient ways to counteract odor emissions is the usage of air biofiltration. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively analyze the bacterial community colonizing the biofilm of a biofilter operating at an industrial piggery in Switzerland. The study material consisted of biofilm and leachate water samples. The microbiological analysis consisted of DNA isolation, amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragment (V3-V4), preparation of a library for high-throughput sequencing, high-throughput NGS sequencing, filtering of the obtained sequencing reads, and evaluation of the species composition in the studied samples. The investigation revealed the presence of the following bacterial genera: Pseudochelatococcus, Methyloversatilis, Flexilinea, Deviosia, Chryseobacterium, Kribbia, Leadbetterella, Corynebacterium, Flavobacterium, Xantobacter, Tessaracoccus, Staphylococcus, Thiobacillus, Enhydrobacter, Proteiniclasticum, and Giesbergeria. Analysis of the microbial composition of biofilters provides the opportunity to improve the biofiltration process.
... The open dumping system also creates an odor that contributes to various health issues, such as respiratory problems, irritation of the nose and eyes, and other related illnesses due to the unpleasant odor [11,12]. In addition, an open dumping system is increasingly often recognized as an environmental concern, creating an unhealthy environment that promotes the proliferation of pests, including flies, and rodents, which serve as vectors for transmitting diseases to humans [13]. ...
Food waste is a growing concern in developing countries. This study aims to implement food waste bioconversion by utilizing black solider fly larvae for two eateries' food waste. The bioconversion process used 0.5 g of black solider fly eggs for 14 days in the six bio ponds. After 14 days, the waste, larvae, and compost are separated using sieves to measure the larvae and compost production. The bioconversion process is evaluated based on bioconversion characteristics and black soldier fly larvae and compost produced. Waste Reduction Index, Fresh Matter Consumption Rate, Dry Matter Consumption Rate, Dry Matter Rate, and Efficiency of Conversion of Digested Feed evaluated the bioconversion characteristics for reduction. According to the experimental results, utilizing BSFL is adequate for food waste management, effectively reducing up to 62.6%. Simultaneously, the fresh larvae and compost are produced within a 14-day bioconversion process. The compost meets standards for the nitrogen, C/N ratio, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and iron content (SNI 19-7030-2004).
... The flavors and odors of water generally pose no health risks; however, they can serve as potential indicators of contamination, whether it is of chemical or biological origin (Piccardo et al. 2022). An unpleasant taste or odor could signify the need for a more thorough analysis (Hawko et al. 2021). ...
Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in Chad's cities, especially N'Djamena, is a persistent and significant challenge. This study aimed to assess current practices in water, sanitation, and hygiene in N'Djamena's third and ninth districts. We surveyed 395 households, conducted water source identification, and analyzed seven water samples at the National Water Laboratory. Temperature, ammonium, total coliforms, and aerobic flora values exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Ammonium and temperature averaged 0.7 mg/L and 30.1–31.93 °C, respectively. Bacterial contamination (>100 MPN/100 mL) exceeded the WHO's 0 MPN/100 mL guidelines, rendering the water unfit for consumption. Survey results indicate that 78.7% use hand pumps, 21.1% have tap water access, and 0.2% rely on rivers for water. Regarding toilets, 92.8% have traditional models, 2.9% have modern facilities, and 4.3% practice open defecation. 95% dispose of untreated wastewater into nature, with only 5% using septic tanks. For solid waste, 72% use illegal dumpsites, 18% rely on public services, and 10% burn waste. Finally, 95.5% of households wash their hands with clean water and soap after using the toilet. It is crucial to treat drinking water and implement proper hygiene and sanitation measures to safeguard the population's health in the studied area.
... Additionally, it has been demonstrated that VOCs serve as crucial precursors for the creation of ozone and secondary organic aerosols (Guo et al., 2017), and the majority of substances derived from benzene present within them are known to be carcinogenic (Hamid et al., 2019). The ammonia and hydrogen sulfide produced can have adverse effects on the human respiratory tract, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and bones (Bao et al., 2020;Piccardo et al., 2022). Excessive inhalation of hydrogen sulfide gas can result in fatal consequence (Hedlund, 2023). ...
Odors have posed challenges to the advancement of aerobic composting. This work aims to identify the primary components responsible for odors and assess the effectiveness and mechanisms of the zero-valent iron/H2O2 system controlling various odorants in aerobic composting. Swine manure and food waste were used as composting materials, with the addition of zero-valent iron and hydrogen peroxide to mitigate odor emissions. Results revealed that odorants included ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and 22 types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with ethyl acetate, heptane, and dimethyl disulfide being predominant. Among the odorants emitted, ammonia accounted for 75.43%, hydrogen sulfide for 0.09%, and identified VOCs for 24.48%. The ZVI/H2O2 system showed a significant reduction in ammonia and VOCs emission, with the reduction of 51% (ammonia) and 41.3% (VOCs) respectively, primarily observed during the thermophilic period. The occurrence of Fenton-like reactions and changes in key microbial populations were the main mechanisms accounting for odor control. The occurrence of Fenton-like reaction was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reactive oxygen detection, showing the oxidation of zero-valent iron by H2O2 to higher valence elemental iron, and the simultaneous production of ·OH. Microbial analysis indicated that an enrichment of specific microorganisms with Bacillus contributed to feammonx and Bacillaceae contributed to organic biodegradation. Redundancy analysis highlighted the role of key microbial species (Bacillaceae, Bacillus, and Ureibacillus) in effectively reducing the level of ammonia and volatile organic compounds. These novelty findings illustrated that the potential of this system is promising for controlling the emission of odorants and aerobic composting reinforcement.
... Unpleasant smells (odorants) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be a public nuisance (Zounemat-Kermani et al., 2019), with logical complaints from nearby residents (Dinçer et al., 2020). Odour nuisance negatively affects the quality of life and can be a source of various negative health issues, despite not being linked to any specific disease (Piccardo et al., 2022;World Health Organization, WHO, 2000). Odour is currently classified as an atmospheric pollutant to be minimised to reduce its impact (Toledo et al., 2019). ...
Although wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a fundamental role in protecting the aquatic environment as they prevent organic matter, nutrients and other pollutants from reaching the natural ecosystems, near residential areas they can generate unpleasant smells and noise. The plant studied in the present work is in a seaside tourist area in the Valencian Community, Spain. The main aim was to detect any possible perceptible H2S concentrations from the WWTP by experimental measurement campaigns (including sensor readings and olfactometry measurements by two experts) plus mathematical modelling. After a thorough data analysis of the essential variables involved, such as wind speed, wind direction and H2S concentrations (the main odorant) and comparing their temporal patterns, it was found that the probability of affecting the residential area was highest from June to August before noon and in the late evening. The hourly H2S concentration, influent flow rate and temperature showed a positive correlation, the strongest (R² = 0.89) being the relationship between the H2S concentration and influent flow rate. These two variables followed a similar daily pattern and indicated that H2S was emitted when influent wastewater was being pumped into the biological reactor. The H2S median concentration at the source of the emission was below 1393.865 μg/m³ (1 ppm), although concentrations 10 times higher were occasionally recorded. The observed H2S peak-to-mean ratio (1 min to 1 h of integration times) ranged from 1.15 to 16.03. This ratio and its attenuation with distance from the source depended on the atmospheric stability. Both H2S concentrations and variability were considerably reduced after submerging the inlet. The AERMOD modelling framework and applying the peak-to-mean ratio were used to map the peak H2S concentration and determine the best conditions to eliminate the unpleasant odour.
... and intensive animal production farms are becoming an increasing vexing problem around the world, as these odorants have adverse effects on production performance, animal welfare, and the surrounding human environment [2,3]. Therefore, sustainable methods for minimizing odor levels or inhibiting odorous compound generation urgently need to be developed. ...
Background
Public complaints concerning odor emissions from intensive livestock and poultry farms continue to grow, as nauseous odorous compounds have adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Itaconic acid is a metabolite from the citric acid cycle of the host and shows volatile odor-reducing effects during animal production operations. However, the specific role of itaconic acid in decreasing intestinal odorous compound production remains unclear. A total of 360 one-day-old chicks were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups: control group (basal diet) and itaconic acid groups (basal diet + 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/kg itaconic acid). The feeding experiment lasted for 42 d.
Results
Dietary itaconic acid supplementation linearly and quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) the cecal concentrations of indole and skatole but did not affect (P > 0.05) those of lactic, acetic, propionic and butyric acids. The cecal microbial shift was significant in response to 6 g/kg itaconic acid supplementation, in that the abundances of Firmicutes, Ruminococcus and Clostridium were increased (P < 0.05), while those of Bacteroidetes, Escherichia-Shigella and Bacteroides were decreased (P < 0.05), indicative of increased microbial richness and diversity. Furthermore, a total of 35 significantly (P < 0.05) modified metabolites were obtained by metabolomic analysis. Itaconic acid decreased (P < 0.05) the levels of nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, glucose-6-phosphate, fumatic acid and malic acid and increased (P < 0.05) 5-methoxytroptomine, dodecanoic acid and stearic acid, which are connected with the glycolytic pathway, citrate acid cycle and tryptophan metabolism. Correlation analysis indicated significant correlations between the altered cecal microbiota and metabolites; Firmicutes, Ruminococcus and Clostridium were shown to be negatively correlated with indole and skatole production, while Bacteroidetes, Escherichia-Shigella and Bacteroides were positively correlated with indole and skatole production.
Conclusions
Itaconic acid decreased cecal indole and skatole levels and altered the microbiome and metabolome in favor of odorous compound reduction. These findings provide new insight into the role of itaconic acid and expand its application potential in broilers.
... This reduces the real estate value and severely affects the quality of life of the surrounding communities (Hawko et al., 2021a, b;Invernizzi et al., 2017;Weitensfelder et al., 2019). Furthermore, exposure to odours can cause anxiety, headaches, nausea, respiratory problems, and attention deficit; long-term exposure to unpleasant odours may even cause diseases like asthma and may lead to neurological damage (Guadalupe-Fernandez et al., 2021;Piccardo et al., 2022). In China, odour nuisance has become an important public issue (and a major hotline complaint), and a number of acute environmental events have also been caused by foul odours. ...
Surveys and assessments of contaminated sites primarily focus on hazardous pollutants in the soil with less attention paid to odorants. This makes the management of contaminated sites difficult. In this study, hazardous and odorous pollutants in the soil were assessed for a large site that was previously used for production of pharmaceuticals to determine the degree and characteristics of soil contamination at pharmaceutical production sites, for undertaking rational remediation measures. The main hazardous pollutants at the study site were triethylamine, n-butyric acid, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DBA), total petroleum hydrocarbons (C10–C40) (TPH), and 1,2-dichloroethane; TEA, BA, and isovaleric acid (IC) were the main odorants. As the type and distribution of hazardous and odorous pollutants differ, it is necessary to separately assess the impact of these pollutants at a contaminated site. Soils in the surface layer pose significant non-carcinogenic (HI = 68.30) and carcinogenic risks (RT = 3.56E⁻⁵), whereas those in the lower layer only pose non-carcinogenic risks (HI > 7.43). Odorants were found at considerable concentrations both in the surface and lower layers, with the maximum concentrations being 29,309.91 and 41.27, respectively. The findings of this study should improve our understanding of soil contamination at former pharmaceutical production sites and should inform the assessment of the risks posed by contaminated sites, with problems associated with odour, and possible remediation strategies.
... In addition to their high operating costs, physical treatments can remove toxins from the environment without eliminating or changing them, resulting in harmful residue accumulation (Saravanan et al., 2021). Human exposure to BTEX compounds over time causes skin and sensory irritation, as well as respiratory problems and irritation of the central nervous system which are some of its side effects Piccardo et al., 2022) Even though BTEX compounds are harmful to public health, they are neglected and untreated in drinking water. As a result, the danger of water-borne infections rises as this water is consumed by the public (Kurniawan et al., 2011). ...
... Toluene, one of the most widely used ingredients in the petroleum industry and organic chemicals, has caused public concern due to its pungent odor and irritant properties [1][2][3][4][5]. Specifically in industrial settings, the leakage and emission of toluene bring air pollution and hazard to human health [6]. ...
Rapid detection of low concentration toluene is highly desirable in environment monitoring, industrial processes, medical diagnosis, etc. In this study, we prepared the Pt-loaded monodispersed nanoparticles through hydrothermal synthesis and assembled a toluene sensor with fast response and low detection limits based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS). Compared with the pure SnO 2 , the 3 wt% Pt-loaded SnO 2 sensor exhibits a 2.75 times higher gas sensitivity to toluene gas at about 330 °C. Meanwhile, the 3 wt% Pt-loaded SnO 2 sensor also has a stable and good response to 100 ppb of toluene. Its theoretical detection limit was calculated as low as 12.6 ppb. Also, the sensor has a short response time of ~10 s at different gas concentrations (even down to 5.4 s at 20 ppm), as well as the excellent dynamic response-recover characteristic, selectivity, and stability. The improved performance of Pt-loaded SnO 2 sensor can be explained by the increase of oxygen vacancies and chemisorbed oxygen. In our MEMS sensors, three gas sensing elements could be packaged in one ceramic shell for parallel testing and made it easier for real application by embedding in a printed circuit board. This provides new ideas and decent prospect for developing miniaturized, low-power-comsumption, and portable application of gas sensing devices.
... 1f). The presence of odors is often monitored in wastewater treatment plants because they directly affect the neighboring population, and thus the people's perception of the safety of the treatment technology [17] . Methods for their detection are commercially available and user friendly (e.g., electronic nose). ...
While Chile faces a mega-drought, wastewater reuse emerges as an alternative solution. In this study we develop a set of indicators for the comprehensive sustainability assessment for the application of advanced wastewater treatment technologies (e.g., MBRs) in a wastewater reuse project in Chile. The methodology is based on the Integrative Concept of Sustainable Development (ICoS) framework. A critical analysis of the set of indicators is presented in terms of the benefits (The Good), the difficulties (The Bad), and the barriers (the Ugly) for their development and potential application. The characterization of the environmental benefits constitutes the useful aspects (e.g., recovery of nutrients, energy, and water). Difficulties include economic aspects (e.g., continuous monitoring of emerging contaminants) and public acceptance. Political and administrative aspects were found to be the main barrier, including water rights in Chile and the absence of a clear regulatory framework for wastewater reuse. To our knowledge, this study is the first to present a detailed methodology for developing indicators for membrane-based water reuse projects in Chile.The steps to develop the indicators are: • Identification of the study zone or case study, characterization of treatment technology. • Identification and formulation of indicators for the specific case study, based on the ICoS framework. • Verification of the relevance of indicators for the case study according to data availability and expert reviews.
... Due to the fact that chloroform has several relevant Hazard Statements (GHS: Global Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals) such as: H331: toxic if inhaled; H351: suspected of causing cancer; H361d: suspected of damaging the unborn child and H372: causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, its episodic concentrations must not be overlooked. Besides, chloroform is classified by IARC as class 2B, possible carcinogen to humans (IARC, 2014), and its possible negative health effects are relevant, mainly depending on their concentration and duration of exposure (Piccardo et al., 2022). Regarding this aspect, it is fundamental to try to determine its origin in order to reduce its emissions to the atmosphere. ...
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a highly diverse class of chemical contaminants and between 50 and 300 of them may be found in ambient air. In urbanized areas, VOCs are emitted from industrial activities, as well as from vehicle related and combustion sources. VOCs outdoors can be detected in a broad range of concentrations, usually varying seasonally. The presence of VOCs at relatively high concentrations has been related to poor air quality, discomfort and odorous nuisances. Additionally, they can have negative health effects to the human organism. Hence, in locations where recurrent sporadic situations of high VOCs levels take place, episodic samples’ evaluation is necessary instead of 24 hour or longer sampling period’s evaluations. The use of commercially available metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors for a continuous monitoring of VOCs concentrations in outdoor air is an interesting and innovative technology. Additionally, the use of these sensors for the activation of a VOCs sampler when episodic events of nuisance/odorous annoyance occur was successfully evaluated. The sensor activation is induced by higher VOCs concentrations from a wide number of VOC chemical families. Two sensor stations, developed at our laboratory and provided with sampling pumps, were located in the municipality of Santa Margarida i els Monjos (Catalunya, Spain) in January 2021. The stations started recording data continuously from two different types of VOCs sensors, temperature, relative humidity and pressure in 1.5-minute periods. Automatic VOCs sampling was conducted, using multi-sorbent bed tubes, during the months of June-July when the sensors electronic values exceeded a set point value. Samples were analysed through TD-GC/MS. TVOC concentrations in episode samples ranged between 78-669 and 12-159 μg/m3 in Site 1 and Site 2, respectively. Although TVOC concentrations were not high in all cases, relevant concentrations of chloroform were observed, especially in Site 1, with concentrations ranging from 19-159 μg/m3.
... In Korea, swine populations are expected to grow larger (Korea Statistical Information Service, 2021) adding additional pressures and challenges to swine producers in areas of manure management and odor control. Odors from swine manure management systems are a concern from both a nuisance (Cantuaria et al., 2017;Post et al., 2020) and public health perspective (Donham, 2010;Piccardo et al., 2022). In Korea, swine growers are concerned about odors due in large part to government regulations (Ministry of Environment, 2009), but also to the 47% growth in odor lawsuits (Ministry of Environment, 2019). ...
A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of supplementing swine manure with Bacillus subtilis (BS) to improve digestion of manure solids and lower odor emission. Large bioreactors (400 L) with manure (100 L) were treated with commercially available BS at a rate of 1% manure volume by either directly pouring or surface spraying the manure with inoculum. Manure physicochemical properties, gas emissions, and microbiome were monitored. Manures treated multiple times with BS or surface sprayed had significantly (P < 0.05) lower electrical conductivity, volatile solids, and chemical oxygen demand, by 3-5% compared to non-treated control manures. Volatile sulfur compound emissions (VSCs) were reduced by 20-30% in both experiments, while ammonia and volatile organic compounds were reduced by 40% and 15%, respectively, in surface spray experiment only. The manure indigenous microbiome remained relatively stable following treatment and BS were never detected in the raw or treated manure following multiple treatments. The reduction in manure organic carbon and VSCs emissions were a result of physical mixing during manure treatment and biological material in the microbial inoculum stimulating microbial activity and not growth of BS.
... The determination of the level of chemical exposure becomes a key issue as information on atmospheric pollution and its environmental impact on citizens (Piccardo et al., 2022). In this regard, atmospheric dispersion modelling represents a powerful tool for estimating the spatio-temporal distribution of contaminants emitted by a specific source, thereby localizing the areas of population exposure as well as the ground level concentrations of contaminants (Mangia et al., 2014). ...
In last years, atmospheric dispersion models have reached considerable popularity in environmental research field. In this regard, given the difficulties associated to the estimation of emission rate for some kind of sources, and due to the importance of this parameter for the reliability of the results, Backward dispersion models may represent promising tools. In particular, by knowing a measured downwind concentration in ambient air, they provide a numerical value for the emission rate. This paper discusses a critical validation of the WindTrax Backward model: the investigation does not only deal with the strict reliability of the model but also assesses under which conditions (i.e. stability class, number, and location of the sensors) the model shows the greatest accuracy. For this purpose, WindTrax results have been compared to observed values obtained from available experimental datasets. In addition, a sensitivity study regarding model-specific parameters required by WindTrax to replicate the physics and the random nature of atmospheric dispersion processes is discussed. This is a crucial point, since, for these settings, indications on the numerical values to be adopted are not available. From this study, it turns out that the investigated model specific settings do not lead to a significant output variation. Concerning the validation study, a general tendency of the model to predict the observed values with a good level of accuracy has been observed, especially under neutral atmospheric conditions. In addition, it seems that WindTrax underestimates the emission rate during unstable stratification and overestimates during stable con-ditions. Finally, by the definition of alternative scenarios, in which only a portion of the concentration sensors was considered, WindTrax performance appears better than acceptable even with a small number of concentration sensors, as long as the positioning is in the middle of the plume and not in the strict vicinity of the source.
... Biochemical processes degrading S-substituted VOCs exhibiting significant concentrations in LFG, such as dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), and methanethiol (MT) (Duan et al., 2021), have been investigated extensively over the past decades (e.g., De Bok et al., 2006;Phae and Shoda, 1991;Xia et al., 2014), since these compounds contribute significantly to the odourous impact Piccardo et al., 2022). Different microbial communities, especially methanotrophs and sulfur-oxidising bacteria (Lee et al., 2012(Lee et al., , 2017, remove sulfur-reduced compounds in landfill cover soils (Pecorini et al., 2020). ...
A laboratory experiment lasting 28 days was run to simulate a typical landfill system and to investigate the compositional changes affecting the main components (CH4, CO2, and H2) and nonmethane volatile organic compounds from biogas generated by anaerobic digestion of food waste and passing through a soil column. Gas samples were periodically collected from both the digester headspace and the soil column at increasing distances from the biogas source. CH4 and H2 were efficiently degraded along the soil column. The isotopic values of δ13C measured in CH4 and CO2 from the soil column were relatively enriched in 13C compared to the biogas. Aromatics and alkanes were the most abundant groups in the biogas samples. Among these compounds, alkylated benzenes and long-chain C3+ alkanes were significantly degraded within the soil column, whereas benzene and short-chain alkanes were recalcitrant. Terpene and O-substituted compounds were relatively stable under oxidising conditions. Cyclic, alkene, S-substituted, and halogenated compounds, which exhibited minor amounts in the digester headspace, were virtually absent in the soil column. These results pointed out how many recalcitrant potentially toxic and polluting compounds tend to be relatively enriched along the soil column, claiming action to minimise diffuse landfill gas (LFG) emissions. The proposed experimental approach represents a reliable tool for investigating the attenuation capacities of landfill cover soils for LFG components and developing optimised covers by adopting proper soil treatments and operating conditions to improve their degradation efficiencies.
... The meteorological and topographical causes that also aggravated contaminants in the region and avoid proper dispersion and dissipation are also infuriating urban pollution emissions (Piccardo et al. 2022). The degree of air pollution in Kolkata is caused by a number of variables. ...
Air pollutants are constantly increasing with rapid industrial development and growing population pressure in Kolkata City. The present study is undertaken to understand the temporal and spatial variations of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 , PM 10 , sulfur dioxide (SO 2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) in the City of Kolkata from 2017 to 2020. For analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution of the ambient air quality data, PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , and NO 2 were collected from West Bengal Pollution Control Board and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at eight sample locations. The spatial locations of each selected monitoring station were fed to the Geographic Information System (GIS), and the distance indicates the time difference between two data series observations, allowing for temporal analysis of pollutant fluctuation. The radial basis function (RBF) method was used to estimate the spatial distribution of pollutant levels for each of the sample locations. Mean standardized error (MSE) and a root mean square standardize error (RMSSE) were used in selecting the model fit that estimates the air pollutants distribution. The highest SO 2 concentration is recorded from Cossipore Police Station, B.T. Road. The highest value of PM 2.5 is collected from Moulali and Salt Lake region. There is a significant correlation analysis between NO 2 and minimum temperature (R 2 = 0.759; P < 0.0002), maximum temperature (R 2 = 0.916; P < 0.000), and rainfall (R 2 = 0.459; P < 0.015). The concentration of NO 2 exceeds the limits as per the standard of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in the small pockets east of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The concentration values were maximal in the KMC situated in the north and east of the KMC. The minimum concentration was observed in the southeast part and extended to the small pockets the west of the KMC. The results of this study could provide a scientific basis for rational decisions in the design of industrial urban planning, improving the quality of environmental air, and responding actively to environmental pollution.
... Odour has been listed among atmospheric pollutants (Piccardo et al., 2022), due to the fact that they can be an indicator of unhealthy air quality for the people and a source of private or public nuisance resulting in concerning environmental issue (Full et al., 2020). Among all the industries, petroleum industry is one of the contributors of odour pollution through the emission of different gaseous substances in the form of aromatic compounds, specially BTEX (benzene, C6H6; toluene, C7H8; ethylbenzene, C8H10; and xylene, C8H10), and sulphur (SOX) compounds. ...
The paper presents and discusses the development and application of different odour monitoring models (OMMs) for the classification and quantification of odour emissions with Instrumental Odour Monitoring Systems (IOMSs). Feed-forward neural network and linear discriminant analysis were considered for the classification of different type of odours, while feed-forward neural network and partial least square were investigated for the odour quantification. The prediction accuracy of the models was examined by analyzing different data extracted from the sensors' response curve (at rise, intermediate and peak period). The application has been carried out in a complex petroleum refinery plant. A total of 44 potential odour sources were monitored and grouped into 7 different classes. Results highlight that the feed-forward neural network prevails in terms of high prediction capability having an architecture with three layers (input, hidden and output) of respectively 14-8-7 for odour classification, and of 14-8-1 for odour quantification, at ≥0.982 R 2. Meanwhile, the most useful data were found using the peak period. The research contributes to the understanding of IOMS applications, providing data on refinery plant odour emissions and applicable mathematical models to ensure great data reliability. The study highlights the influence of the pattern recognition algorithms in the Odour Montoring Model (OMM) elaboration and suggests the utility of promoting the implementation of flexible and adaptable IOMS.
The main goal of the present study was to highlight how crucial odor evaluation methods may be for raising the general standard of living in a region. For this, the dispersion of odor concentrations detected by an olfactometric method in an area of Kocaeli, Turkey, where odor problems are frequently experienced, was investigated using the AERMOD atmospheric dispersion modeling system. According to the findings of the olfactometric measurement, the mean odor concentrations in the industrial area was high at 1342 OU m –3 , while in the residential areas the values were lower, at 578 OU m –3 within the selected study area. As a result of the modeling study, the maximum odor concentration was 2081 OU m –3 at the 1 h. The model also showed that the coordinate points where the maximum odor concentration was observed changed with time, and that the concentrations recorded at the 1 h may decrease by as much as 88%–91% at the 24 h. In the study, a survey was also conducted to identify possible effects of odor pollution on people. The survey findings showed a statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05) between the two areas (industrial and residential) for seven variables of a total 28. We suggest that measuring odor concentrations, modeling their distribution, and conducting surveys are effective methods when managing the urban planning process.
Odor pollution is the biggest source of complaints from citizens concerning environmental issues after noise. Often, the need for corrective actions is evaluated through simulations performed with atmospheric dispersion models. To save resources, air pollution control institutions perform a first-level odor impact assessment, for screening purposes. This is often based on Gaussian Dispersion Models (GDM), which can be executed through user-friendly software that doesn’t need high computational power. However, their outputs tend to be excessively conservative regarding the analyzed situation, rather than representative of the real in-site conditions. Hence, regulations and guidelines adopted at an institutional level for authorization/control purposes, are based on Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Models (LPDM). These grant a more accurate modelling of the pollutants’ dispersion but are very demanding regarding both the needed users’ technical skills and high computing power. The present study aims to increase the accuracy of screening odor impact assessment, by identifying the correlation function of the outputs derived from the two simulation models. The case-study is placed in northern Italy, where a single-point source, with various stack heights, was considered. The identified correlation functions could allow institutions to estimate the results that would have been forecasted with the application of the more complex LPDM, applying, however, the much simpler GDM. This grants an accurate tool which can be used to address citizens’ concerns while saving workforce and technical resources.
Building construction requires important amounts of freshwater, thus depleting the already stressed natural water resources. This issue could be addressed by using recycled water in construction and in building systems. However, integrating grey-water recycling systems is limited by complexity, costs, vulnerability to environmental fluctuations, and coordination of policymakers, developers, and construction practitioners. Here, we review recycled water systems in buildings with focus on case studies of successful implementations, policies, recycled water treatment in buildings, and health aspects. Compared to conventional tap water, the incorporation of recycled water enhances the consistency and workability of reclaimed water concrete by 12-14%, and it increases concrete viscosity by 11% and yield stress by 25%. We discuss the intricacies of building water recycling systems, with emphasizing on conserving water, mitigating environmental impact, and enhancing economic efficiency. Challenges include water quality assurance, dual piping infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Government interventions, including incentives, mandates, and subsidy policies, emerge as drivers for widespread adoption. Technological advancements, such as membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes, are examined for strengths and limitations.
Hydrogen sulfide gas is a challenge in the oil and gas industry due to its toxicity and corrosive nature. In addition to the toxicity of H 2 S, it is very corrosive both in gas and when dissolved. It is oxidized when oxidized in the combustion process, and the form of SO 2 causes acid rain. Adsorption using MIL-101(Cr) @NIPs/MIPs@H 2 S adsorbents offers a promising solution with high efficiency, low cost, and low energy consumption. This study optimized the operating parameters for efficient and cost-effective adsorption of H 2 S gas. Thirty experiments were conducted to analyze the impact of the operating parameters of the adsorbent (0.1 to 1 g), temperature (25 to 80°C), concentration (10 to 1000 ppm), and flow rate (40 to 100 mL/min) on the process. The evaluation was carried out to determine cause-and-effect relationships between the variables above. The molar adsorption capacity of gases in a 400 mm high, 10 mm internal diameter fixed bed was determined using the central composite design method and the Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation. FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and BET techniques were then used to determine the physical properties. The statistical analysis of variance results indicated that the adsorbents adhere to the quadratic model, with temperature and adsorbent dose being the primary process variables. The optimum adsorption efficiency and capacity for MIL-101(Cr)@MIPs@H 2 S (11 mg/g = 94.3%) is higher than that of MIL-101(Cr)@NIPs@H 2 S (5.97 mg/g = 9.9%) and due to a better match between the template and binding sites in the template layer, which facilitates efficient template uptake and removal. The equilibrium adsorption of all Nano-adsorbents followed the pseudo-Scott order and Langmuir isotherm models. MIL-101(Cr) @MIPs@H 2 S proved to be a reliable and stable adsorbent for hydrogen sulfide. Its specific adsorption selectivity for H 2 S resulted in a significantly higher adsorption capacity than other gases in mixed CO 2 and CH 4 .
Resumen Las emisiones de olores ofensivos de las unidades pecuarias pueden generar molestias y afectaciones en la salud de las personas que residen en el área de influencia de estas instalaciones. Con el propósito de reducir dicha problemática es necesario que en las granjas se implementen buenas prácticas y tecnologías que permitan reducir o eliminar los olores ofensivos. En el presente análisis bibliométrico para identificar las tendencias de investigación en el campo del control de olores ofensivos en unidades pecuarias. La búsqueda bibliográfica se llevó a cabo en la base de datos Scopus y el análisis de co-ocurrencia se realizó con el software VOSviewer (versión 1.6.18). Como resultado de la estrategia de búsqueda se obtuvieron 518 documentos publicados entre los años 2012 y 2022. El análisis de palabras clave reveló que las principales actividades pecuarias investigadas son la porcícola, avícola y bovina. Adicionalmente, las tecnologías para el control, mitigación y/o reducción de los olores ofensivos en actividades pecuarias con mayor número de investigaciones corresponden a digestión anaerobia, biofiltración, biopercolación, adsorción con biocarbón y procesos de oxidación avanzada. Cabe resaltar que las investigaciones aplicadas en este sector productivo indican que estas tecnologías son efectivas para la reducción de las emisiones de olores y de sustancias odorantes como NH 3 y H 2 S. Palabras clave: olores ofensivos, unidades pecuarias, biofiltración, biopercolación, digestión anaerobia. Abstract Offensive odors emissions from livestock farms can cause nuisance and health effects to the persons who live in influence of the facilities. With the purpose to reduce this conflict is necessary that farms implement good practices and technologies which allow them to reduce or eliminate offensive odors. In the present work, a bibliometric analysis was done to identify the trends around offensive odors control in livestock farms. Scopus database was used to do the bibliometric search and VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) software was used to do a co-occurrence analysis. As a result of the search strategy, 518 documents published between the years 2012 and 2022 were found. The keyword analysis reveals that the main livestock activities are swine, poultry and cattle raising. Further, the most researched technologies to control, mitigate and reduce unpleasant odors are anaerobic digestion, biofiltration, biotrickling, biochar adsorption and advanced oxidation processes. It is worth noting that research applied in this productive sector indicates that these technologies are effective in reducing odor emissions and odorant substances such as NH 3 and H 2 S.
Waste disposal is one of the main environmental problems facing society today. Environmental impacts of solid waste landfilling include loss of land area, contamination of soil, leaching of hazardous substances to groundwater, as well as emissions of methane to the atmosphere. The world generates over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) each year, with at least 33% of that not managed in an environmentally safe manner. In many developed countries, municipal solid wastes (MSW) are dumped in sanitary landfills, while in many developing countries, they are dumped in an inappropriate way which poses a serious threat to the environment. The deficiency of land and the requirement for reuse of the landfill sites demand their rehabilitation. In recent years, phytoremediation has been used as an efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective technology in the remediation and rehabilitation of contaminated sites, including municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills.
Background: Public complaints concerning odor emissions from intensive livestock and poultry farms continue to grow, as nauseous odorous compounds have adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Itaconic acid is a metabolite from the citric acid cycle of the host and shows volatile odor-reducing effects during animal production operations. However, the specific role of itaconic acid in decreasing intestinal odorous compound production remains unclear. A total of 360 one-day-old chicks were randomly divided into 6 treatments: control group (basal diet) and itaconic acid groups (basal diet + 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/kg itaconic acid, respectively). The feeding experiment lasted for 42 d.
Results: Dietary itaconic acid supplementation linearly and quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) the cecal concentrations of indole and skatole but did not affect (P> 0.05) those of lactic, acetic, propionic and butyric acids. The cecal microbial shift was significant in response to 6 g/kg itaconic acid supplementation, in that the abundances of Firmicutes, Ruminococcus and Clostridiumwas increased (P < 0.05), while that of Bacteroidetes, Escherichia-Shigella and Bacteroides were decreased (P < 0.05), indicative of increased microbial richness and diversity. Furthermore, a total of 35 significantly (P < 0.05) modified metabolites were obtained by metabolomic analysis. Itaconic acid decreased (P < 0.05) the levels of nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, glucose-6-phosphate, fumatic acid and malic acid and increased (P< 0.05) 5-methoxytroptomine, dodecanoic acid and stearic acid, which are connected with the glycolytic pathway, citrate acid cycle and tryptophan metabolism. Correlation analysis indicated significant correlations between the altered cecal microbiota and metabolites; Firmicutes, Ruminococcus and Clostridiumwere shown to be negatively correlated with indole and skatole production, while Bacteroidetes, Escherichia-Shigellaand Bacteroides were positively correlated with indole and skatole production.
Conclusions: Itaconic acid decreased cecal indole and skatole levels and altered the microbiome and metabolome in favor of odorous compound reduction. These findings provide new insight into the role of itaconic acid and expand its application potential in broilers.
Odorous contamination would occur in the polluted soils' remediation of the abandoned industry factory. To suppress odorous substances’ emissions, a novel foam was prepared with plant protein, xanthan gum, and alkyl glycosides. Since xanthan gum and alkyl glycosides have the characteristics of prolonged foam half-life and enhanced foaming ability, the optimal ratio of xanthan gum to alkyl glycosides is crucial during foam formulation determination. When xanthan gum concentration increased from 0.00% to 0.30%, the viscosity of the foaming solution increased from 12 to 223 mPa∙s, while the surface tension declined by 12.3%. As a result, the foam half-life increased from 0.3 to 56 h, and the foaming volume decreased by 25.5%. On contrary, with the addition of alkyl glycosides, the surface tension decreased significantly, and the foaming volume increased by 36.5% under the xanthan gum concentration of 0.30%. Therefore, the optimal content of xanthan was 0.30% in the presence of 100 mM alkyl glycoside. Then, this novel foam could prevent 67% of p-xylene from escaping within 24 h. In actual sites, novel foams showed a barrier rate of over 75% on different odorous substances most of the time.
Gas emitted from landfills contains a large quantity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), some of which are carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic, thereby posing a serious threat to the health of landfill workers and nearby residents. However, the global hazards of VOCs and SVOCs in landfill gas to human health remain unclear. To quantify the global risk distributions of these pollutants, we collected the composition and concentration data of VOCs and SVOCs from 72 landfills in 20 countries from the core database of Web of Science and assessed their human health risks as well as analyzed their influencing factors. Organic compounds in landfill gas were found to primarily result from the biodegradation of natural organic waste or the emissions and volatilization of chemical products, with the concentration range of 1 × 10-1-1 × 106 μg/m3. The respiratory system, in particular, lung was the major target organ of VOCs and SVOCs, with additional adverse health impacts ranging from headache and allergies to lung cancer. Aromatic and halogenated compounds were the primary sources of health risk, while ethyl acetate and acetone from the biodegradation of natural organic waste also exceeded the acceptable levels for human health. Overall, VOCs and SVOCs affected residents within 1,000 m of landfills. Air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind direction, and wind speed were the major factors that influenced the health risks of VOCs and SVOCs. Currently, landfill risk assessments of VOCs and SVOCs are primarily based on respiratory inhalation, with health risks due to other exposure routes remaining poorly elucidated. In addition, potential health risks due to the transport and transformation of landfill gas emitted into the atmosphere should be further studied.
Aldehydes and ketones in urban air continue to receive regulatory and scientific attention for their environmental prevalence and potential health hazard. However, current knowledge of the health risks and losses caused by these pollutants in food waste (FW) treatment processes is still limited, especially under long-term exposure. Here, we presented the first comprehensive assessment of chronic exposure to 21 aldehydes and ketones in urban FW-air environments (e.g., storage site, mechanical dewatering, and composting) by coupling substantial measured data (383 samples) with Monte Carlo-based probabilistic health risk and impact assessment models. The results showed that acetaldehyde, acetone, 2-butanone and cyclohexanone were consistently the predominant pollutants, although the significant differences in pollution profiles across treatment sites and seasons (Adonis test, P < 0.001). According to the risk assessment results, the estimated cancer risk (CR; mean range: 1.6 × 10-5-1.12 × 10-4) and non-cancer risk (NCR; mean range: 2.98-22.7) triggered by aldehydes and ketones were both unacceptable in most cases (CR: 37.8%-99.3%; NCR: 54.2%-99.8%), and even reached the limit of concern to CR (1 × 10-4) in some exposure scenarios (6.18%-16.9%). Application of DALYs (disability adjusted life years) as a metric for predicting the damage suggested that exposure of workers to aldehydes and ketones over 20 years of working in FW-air environments could result in 0.02-0.14 DALYs per person. Acetaldehyde was the most harmful constituent of all targeted pollutants, which contributed to the vast majority of health risks (>88%) and losses (>90%). This study highlights aldehydes and ketones in FW treatments may be the critical pollutants to pose inhalation risks.
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of dietary fermented feed addition on growth performance, immune organ indices, serum biochemical parameters, cecal odorous compound production, and the bacterial community in broilers. A total of 480 broiler chicks (1-day-old) were randomly assigned to 6 groups, including a basal diet (control group), a basal diet supplemented with 10, 15, 20, and 25% dried fermented feed, and 10% wet fermented feed. Each group contained 8 replicates of 10 chicks each. The results showed that fermentation increased (P < 0.05) the total acid level and the number of Lactobacillus, Yeast, and Bacillus. The 15% dried fermented feed group had an increased (P < 0.05) body weight (BW) than the control, while the 25% dried fermented feed group had the lowest (P < 0.05) BW on 42 d. Compared to the control group, the feed intake (FI) was increased (P < 0.05) in the 10, 15% dried and 10% wet fermented feed groups from 22 to 42 d and from 1 to 42 d. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in feed conversion ratio (FCR) among all groups. Supplementation with fermented feed increased (P < 0.05) the bursa of Fabricius index but not (P > 0.05) the thymus and spleen indices. Compared with the control, the broilers fed fermented feed had increased (P < 0.05) serum total protein, albumin, globulin, IgA, IgG, IgM, lysozyme, complement 3, and complement 4 levels. The cecal concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and lactic acid were increased and the pH values were decreased in the fermented feed groups (P < 0.05). Among the groups, the 15% dried fermented feed group showed the lowest concentrations of skatole and indole in the cecum (P < 0.05). The composition of the cecal microbiota was characterized, in which an increased abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and unclassified Clostridiales and a decreased abundance of Rikenellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Bacteroidaceae were found in the fermented feed groups. Taken together, dietary fermented feed supplementation can improve growth performance, immune organ development, and capacity and decrease cecal odorous compound production, which may be related to the regulation of microbial composition.
Odor emission seriously affects human and animal health, and the ecological environment. Nevertheless, a systematic summary regarding the control technology for odor emissions in livestock breeding is currently lacking. This paper summarizes odor control technology, highlighting its applicability, advantages, and limitations, which can be used to evaluate and identify the most appropriate methods in livestock production management. Odor control technologies are divided into four categories: dietary manipulation (low-crude protein diet and enzyme additives in feed), in-housing management (separation of urine from feces, adsorbents used as litter additive, and indoor environment/manure surface spraying agent), manure management (semi-permeable membrane-covered, reactor composting, slurry cover, and slurry acidification), and end-of-pipe measures for air treatment (wet scrubbing of the exhaust air from animal houses and biofiltration of the exhaust air from animal houses or composting). Findings of this paper provide a theoretical basis for the application of odor control technology in livestock farms.
The olfactory system can detect and recognize tens of thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low concentrations in complex environments. Bioelectronic nose (B‐EN), which mimics olfactory systems, is becoming an emerging sensing technology for identifying VOCs with sensitivity and specificity. B‐ENs integrate electronic sensors with bioreceptors and pattern recognition technologies to enable medical diagnosis, public security, environmental monitoring, and food safety. However, there is currently no commercially available B‐EN on the market. Apart from the high selectivity and sensitivity necessary for volatile organic compound analysis, commercial B‐ENs must overcome issues impacting sensor operation and other problems associated with odor localization. The emergence of nanotechnology has provided a novel research concept for addressing these problems. In this work, the structure and operational mechanisms of biomimetic olfactory systems are discussed, with an emphasis on the development and immobilization of materials. Various biosensor applications and current developments are reviewed. Challenges and opportunities for fulfilling the potential of artificial olfactory biohybrid systems in fundamental and practical research are investigated in greater depth.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from municipal solid waste incineration power plant (MSWIPP) plays a significant role in the formation of O3 and PM2.5 and odor pollution. Field test was performed on four MSWIPPs in an area of the North China Plain. Nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and 102 VOCs were identified and quantified. Ozone formation potential (OFP), secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP), and odor activity of the detected VOCs were evaluated. Results showed that the average concentration of NMHCs and VOCs were 1648.6 ± 1290.4 μg/m³ and 635.3 ± 588.8 μg/m³, respectively. Aromatics (62.1%), O–VOCs (16.0%), and halo hydrocarbons (10.0%) were the main VOCs groups in the MSWIPP exhaust gas. VOCs emission factor of MSWIPP was 2.43 × 10³ ± 2.27 × 10³ ng/g-waste. The OFP and SOAFP of MSWIPP were 960.18 ± 2158.17 μg/m³ and 1.57 ± 3.38 μg/m³, respectively. Acrolein as the dominant VOC species was the major odor contributor with a percentage of odor contribution of 65.9%. Benzene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene as the dominant VOC species were the main contributors of O3 formation potentials, in which 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene was also the main contributors of SOA formation potential.
When it comes to air pollution complaints, odours are often the most significant contributor. Sources of odour emissions range from natural to anthropogenic. Mitigation of odour can be challenging, multifaceted, site-specific, and is often confounded by its complexity—defined by existing (or non-existing) environmental laws, public ordinances, and socio-economic considerations. The objective of this paper is to review and summarise odour legislation in selected European countries (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium), North America (the USA and Canada), and South America (Chile and Colombia), as well as Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and Asia (Japan, China). Many countries have incorporated odour controls into their legislation. However, odour-related assessment criteria tend to be highly variable between countries, individual states, provinces, and even counties and towns. Legislation ranges from (1) no specific mention in environmental legislation that regulates pollutants which are known to have an odour impact to (2) extensive details about odour source testing, odour dispersion modelling, ambient odour monitoring, (3) setback distances, (4) process operations, and (5) odour control technologies and procedures. Agricultural operations are one specific source of odour emissions in rural and suburban areas and a model example of such complexities. Management of agricultural odour emissions is important because of the dense consolidation of animal feeding operations and the advance of housing development into rural areas. Overall, there is a need for continued survey, review, development, and adjustment of odour legislation that considers sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic realities, all of which are amenable to a just, site-specific, and sector-specific application.
Combined environmental exposures to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX) pose clear risks to public health. Research into these risks is under-studied even as BTEX levels in the atmosphere are predicted to rise. This review focuses on the available literature using single- and combined-BTEX component inhaled solvent exposures in animal models, necessarily also drawing on findings from models of inhalant abuse and occupational exposures. Health effects of these exposures are discussed for multiple organ systems, but with particular attention on neurobehavioral outcomes such as locomotor activity, impulsivity, learning, and psychopharmacological responses. It is clear that animal models have significant differences in the concentrations, durations and patterns of exposure. Experimental evidence of the deleterious health and neurobehavioral consequences of exposures to the individual components of BTEX were found, but these effects were typically assessed using concentrations and exposure patterns not characteristic of environmental exposure. Future studies with animal models designed appropriately to explore combined BTEX will be necessary and advantageous to discovering health outcomes and more subtle neurobehavioral impacts of long-term environmental exposures.
Europe is strongly committed to the recycling of plastics, especially packaging. In the development of closed loop recycling processes, recyclates must have appropriate properties, including lack of odour. The main objective of this study was to develop a technique to qualitatively and semi-quantitatively analyse the volatile contaminants in these complex plastic waste matrices before and after washing procedures. Three sampling methods were explored, SPME and purge and trap methods (activated carbon with solvent desorption and Tenax-TA with thermal desorption). All analyses were then carried out using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. SPME was not repeatable due to the heterogeneity of the waste samples and the static character of the method. Solvent desorption with CS2 (RSD 14,5 %) and thermal desorption (RSD 13,4 %), were capable of measuring the removal efficiency of pollutants in a semi-quantitative way. A broad spectrum of chemically different, but mostly apolar volatiles can be detected. In addition, it became clear that also the analysis of the less volatile components is essential, as these are strongly adhered to the hydrophobic polymer matrix. A post-consumer film waste stream was analysed, before and after washing and pelletizing. A general decrease of 97 % and 44 %, was measured with respectively thermal and solvent desorption for the screened components. However, after reprocessing potentially odour-causing compounds are again released or formed, showing the complexity of odour removal processes in plastic recycling.
Odors have received increasing attention among atmospheric pollutants. Indeed, odor emissions are a common source of complaints, affecting the quality of life of humans and animals. The odor is a property of a mixture of different volatile chemical species (sulfur, nitrogen, and volatile organic compounds) capable of stimulating the olfaction sense sufficiently to trigger a sensation of odor. The impact of odors on the surrounding areas depends on different factors, such as the amount of odors emitted from the site, the distance from the site, weather conditions, topography, other than odors sensitivity and tolerance of the neighborhood. Due to the complexity of the odor issue, the aim of this review was to give an overview of: (i) techniques (sensorial and analytical) that can be used to determine a quantitative and qualitative characterization; (ii) air dispersion models applied for the evaluation of the spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric pollutants in terms of concentration in air and/or deposition in the studied domain; (iii) major sources of odor nuisance (waste and livestock); (iv) mitigation actions against odor impact. Among sensorial techniques dynamic olfactometry, field inspection, and recording from residents were considered; whereas, for analytical methodologies: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, identification of specific compounds, and electronic nose. Both kinds of techniques evaluate the odor concentration. Instead, to account for the effective impact of odors on the population, air dispersion models are used. They can provide estimates of odor levels in both current and future emission scenarios. Moreover, they can be useful to estimate the efficiency of mitigation strategies. Most of the odor control strategies involve measures oriented to prevent, control dispersion, minimize the nuisance or remove the odorants from emissions, such as adequate process design, buffer zones, odor covers, and treatment technologies.
Unwanted odour emissions are considered air pollutants that may cause detrimental impacts to the environment as well as an indicator of unhealthy air to the affected individuals resulting in annoyance and health related issues. These pollutants are challenging to handle due to their invisibility to the naked eye and can only be felt by the human olfactory stimuli. A strategy to address this issue is by introducing an intelligent processing system to odour monitoring instrument such as artificial neural network to achieve a robust result. In this paper, a review on the application of artificial neural network for the management of environmental odours is presented. The principal factors in developing an optimum artificial neural network were identified as elements, structure and learning algorithms. The management of environmental odour has been distinguished into four aspects such as measurement, characterization, control and treatment and continuous monitoring. For each aspect, the performance of the neural network is critically evaluated emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses. This work aims to address the scarcity of information by addressing the gaps from existing studies in terms of the selection of the most suitable configuration, the benefits and consequences. Adopting this technique could provide a new avenue in the management of environmental odours through the use of a powerful mathematical computing tool for a more efficient and reliable outcome.
Background:
To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of renal damage caused by long-term exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) in nine patients.
Methods:
All the patients underwent ultrasound-guided renal biopsy. All specimens were examined by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Samples form one patient were further analyzed using transmission electron microscopy.
Results:
Similar pathological changes were observed in all patients, but the degrees of lesions were different. All cases had moderate to severe nodular mesangial hyperplasia; among these, type "Kimme1stie1-Wi1son" (K-W nodule for short) was observed in four cases, type "K - W nodule" refer to nodular hyperplasia of mesangial membrane like letter K or W. four cases had proliferative extracapillary glomerulonephritis (GN), while there were no concomitant changes in one patient. Besides, six cases had diffuse basement membrane thickening, focal segmental sclerosis or bulbar sclerosis; two cases had diffuse glomerular sclerosis, and one case had focal segmental capillary hyperplasia. Moreover, all patients had renal tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis with less to moderate chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as renal arteriosclerosis. IHC showed that the depositions of IgA, IgM, C3d, C4d, C1q and Fib were not specific; while IgG, type III collagen, Fibronectin, Amyloid A, Igκ, Igλ, HBsAg and HBcAg were all negative.
Conclusion:
Diffuse nodular mesangial hyperplasia/sclerosing glomerular nephropathy is characterized by nodular mesangial hyperplasia with type "K-W nodules" formation, which we speculate is a special pathological manifestation of renal damage caused by carbon disulfide (CS2).
The paper describes an attempt at health risk assessment and odour concentration determination in the most important units of a wastewater treatment plant. The cancer risk (CR) and hazard index (HI) parameters in selected measurement locations were calculated based on the results of chromatographic analyses (GCxGC-TOF-MS) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guidelines. No exceedance of the CR and HI acceptable levels was observed for identified and quantitatively determined compounds from the VOCs group. The acceptable level was exceeded for the summary HI parameter. Following a classification of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), it was noticed that the highest hazard was connected to the presence of formaldehyde belonging to group 1—the compounds regarded as carcinogenic. Based on the olfactometric analyses, it was estimated that the highest odour concentration, 37.2 ou/m3, occurred at the solid waste composting piles. It was also revealed that an increase in odour concentration corresponded to a higher health risk for employees of the wastewater treatment plant, due to exposure to volatile odorous compounds. Accordingly, this method of odour measurement can be a fast indicator describing health risk level.
Governments are increasingly introducing odour impact criteria (OIC) to determine separation distances between odour sources and residential areas. Previous studies have shown the wide range of OIC available for this purpose, depending on the desired level of protection against odour annoyance. However, it is unclear whether OIC with similar levels of protection can ensure analogous separation distances, which would reasonably be expected. This study presents a comparative analysis of separation distances calculated at two sites for different OIC, but all related to an equivalent level of protection. Here, the equivalent level of protection was defined for urban residential areas (land use), swine odour (hedonic tone) and new facilities (facility type). In this manner, the regulatory criteria currently enforced in Germany, Ireland, and Queensland (Australia) were selected as references for the investigation. The results clearly show that, even for an equivalent level of protection, disparate separation distances can be obtained. Differences in separation distances were found to be greater in prevailing wind directions compared to distances in additional wind directions. Overall, the results demonstrate a risk of poor conclusions in odour assessments. This means that care must be taken when adopting OIC for decision making, principally in those countries that have not yet established specific regulations to manage environmental odours. Concomitantly, the results stress the need for better harmonisation of the concept of the odour impact criterion and components thereof. By using perturbation analysis, it has also been found that the stack exit temperature influences the separation distances in a distinct way, reliant on the criteria used to determine the distances. This finding is of significance for input data collection in future odour modelling studies. Furthermore, approaches used to derive OIC, equivalence between dispersion modelling and field inspections (European standard EN 16841-1), as well as implications of the findings for regulatory practice are summarised and discussed.
Ammonia and odour are the most relevant pollutants emitted from livestock buildingsused for monogastric animal production. Whereas odour can cause annoyance in the closevicinity of the source, emission of ammonia is a precursor for the formation of particulatematter and acidification on a regional scale. Because of clean air regulation in Europe, totalammonia emissions reduced by 23% between 1990 and 2015 whilst, over the same period,anthropogenic warming became more and more evident. By a simulation of the indoorclimate of a confined livestock building with a mechanical ventilation for 1800 fatteningpigs, the modification of the odour and ammonia emission was calculated for the periodbetween 1981 and 2017. For ammonia emission, a relative increase of 0.16% per year wasdetermined. But following the clean air endeavour between 1990 and 2015 emissions overthat period were reduced by 23%. The global warming signal counteracting this reductionin the range of 4% during over this period, which means that the overall reduction for theammonia emission was only 19%. For Austria with a global warming increase of 1% from1990 to 2015, this gives an increase in emissions of 5% instead. Odour emissions alsoincreased by about 0.16% per year. The relative increase of the separation distances for thefour cardinal directions was about 0.06% per year, the related increase for the separation
Background: Toxic volatile organic compounds (VOC), like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), are atmospheric pollutants representing a threat to human health. They are released into the environment from mobile sources in urban settings, but newly polluted areas are gaining importance in countries where accelerated industrialization is taking place in suburban or rural settings. Methods: The review includes studies done in Mexico and Latin-America and countries considered to have emerging economies and are compared with similar studies in developed countries. Data about environmental VOC levels and exposure of children have been included. Also, information about health effects was reviewed. Articles were searched in PubMed and Scopus, and information was also obtained from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the EPAs Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS-EPA) and state reports on air quality of Mexican cities. Results: VOC or BTEX levels reported in industrial and suburban areas were found to be higher due to the burning of fossil fuels and waste emission; whereas, in big cities, VOC emissions were mainly due to mobile sources. Even though TEX levels were under reference values, benzene was found at levels several times over this value in cities and even higher in industrial zones. Elevated VOC emissions were also reported in cities with industrial development in their peripheral rural areas. Public health relevance: Industrial activities have changed the way of life of small towns, which previously had no concern about environmental pollution and chemicals. No air monitoring is done in these places where toxic chemicals are released into rivers and the atmosphere. This work demonstrates the need for environmental monitors to protect human life in suburban and rural areas where industrial growth occurs without planning and ecological or health protection, compromising the health of new generations beginning in fetal development.
Transfer station, incineration plant, and landfill sitemade up the major parts of municipal solid waste disposalsystem of S city in Eastern China. Characteristics of volatilecompounds (VCs) and odor pollution of each facility wereinvestigated from a systematic perspective. Also major indexrelated to odor pollution, i.e., species and concentration ofVCs, olfactory odor concentration, and theoretic odor concen-tration, was quantified. Oxygenated compounds and hydro-carbons were the most abundant VCs in the three facilities.Different chemical species were quantified, and the followingav erag e concen trat ions were obtained: transfer station, 54VCs, 2472.47 μg/m3; incineration plant, 75 VCs,33,129.25 μg/m3; and landfill site, 71 VCs, 1694.33 μg/m3.Furthermore, the average olfactory odor concentrations were20,388.80; 50,677.50; and 4951.17, respectively. The highestodor nuisance was detected in the waste tipping port of theincineration plant. A positive correlation between the olfacto-ry and chemical odor concentrations was found withR2= 0.918 (n = 15, P < 0.01). The result shows odor pollutionrisk transfer from landfill to incineration plant when adoptingthermal tech nol ogy to deal with the non-source-separate dwaste. Strong attention thus needs to be paid on the enclosedsystems in incineration plant to avoid any accidental odoremission
Chlorobenzenes (CBs) are a group of organic pollutants that pose a high environmental risk due to their toxicity, persistence and possible transfer in the food chain. Available data in literature show that CBs are detected in different environmental compartments such as soil, water, air and sediment. The widespread presence of CBs in the environment is related to their former extensive use in agriculture and industry. Some CBs are ranked in the list of priority pollutants by the Stockholm Convention, and their reduction or elimination from the environment is therefore of high importance. Environmental risk assessment of CBs requires knowledge on the role and importance of the main environmental fate processes, especially in soil. Furthermore, development of remediation strategies for reduction or elimination of CBs from the environment is related to the enhancement of fate processes that increase their dissipation in various environmental compartments. The main objectives of the current review were to present up-to-date data on fate processes of CBs in the soil environment and to explore possible remediation strategies for soils contaminated with CBs. Dechlorination of highly-chlorinated benzenes is the main degradation pathway under anaerobic conditions, leading to the formation of lower-chlorinated benzenes. Biodegradation of lower-chlorinated benzenes is well documented, especially by strains of adapted or specialized microorganisms. Development of techniques that combine dechlorination of highly-chlorinated benzenes with biodegradation or biomineralization of lower-chlorinated benzenes can result in useful tools for remediation of soils contaminated with CBs. In addition, immobilization of CBs in soil by use of different amendments is a useful method for reducing the environmental risk of CBs.
Exposure to environmental odour can result in annoyance, health effects and depreciation of property values. Therefore, many jurisdictions classify odour as an atmospheric pollutant and regulate emissions and/or impacts from odour generating activities at a national, state or municipal level. In this work, a critical review of odour regulations in selected jurisdictions of 28 countries is presented. Individual approaches were identified as: comparing ambient air odour concentration and individual chemicals statistics against impact criteria (maximum impact standard); using fixed and variable separation distances (separation distance standard); maximum emission rate for mixtures of odorants and individual chemical species (maximum emission standard); number of complaints received or annoyance level determined via community surveys (maximum annoyance standard); and requiring use of best available technologies (BAT) to minimize odour emissions (technology standard). The comparison of model-predicted odour concentration statistics against odour impact criteria (OIC) is identified as one of the most common tools used by regulators to evaluate the risk of odour impacts in planning stage assessments and is also used to inform assessment of odour impacts of existing facilities. Special emphasis is given to summarizing OIC (concentration percentile and threshold) and the manner in which they are applied. The way short term odour peak to model time-step mean (peak-to-mean) effects is also captured. Furthermore, the fundamentals of odorant properties, dimensions of nuisance odour, odour sampling and analysis methods and dispersion modelling guidance are provided. Common elements of mature and effective odour regulation frameworks are identified and an integrated multi-tool strategy is recommended.
This article discusses the special features of odor-evoked memory and the current state-of-the-art in odor-evoked memory research to show how these unique experiences may be able to influence and benefit psychological and physiological health. A review of the literature leads to the conclusion that odors that evoke positive autobiographical memories have the potential to increase positive emotions, decrease negative mood states, disrupt cravings, and reduce physiological indices of stress, including systemic markers of inflammation. Olfactory perception factors and individual difference characteristics that would need to be considered in therapeutic applications of odor-evoked-memory are also discussed. This article illustrates how through the experimentally validated mechanisms of odor-associative learning and the privileged neuroanatomical relationship that exists between olfaction and the neural substrates of emotion, odors can be harnessed to induce emotional and physiological responses that can improve human health and wellbeing.
Livestock production systems currently occupy around 28% of the land surface of the European
Union (equivalent to 65% of the agricultural land). In conjunction with other human activities,
livestock production systems affect water, air and soil quality, global climate and biodiversity, altering
the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon. Here, we quantify the contribution of
European livestock production to these major impacts. For each environmental effect, the
contribution of livestock is expressed as shares of the emitted compounds and land used, as compared
to the whole agricultural sector. The results show that the livestock sector contributes significantly to
agricultural environmental impacts. This contribution is 78% for terrestrial biodiversity loss, 80% for
soil acidification and air pollution (ammonia and nitrogen oxides emissions), 81% for global warming,
and 73% for water pollution (bothNand P). The agriculture sector itself is one of the major
contributors to these environmental impacts, ranging between 12% for global warming and 59% for
Nwater quality impact. Significant progress in mitigating these environmental impacts in Europe will
only be possible through a combination of technological measures reducing livestock emissions,
improved food choices and reduced food waste of European citizens.
A comprehensive evaluation of the adverse health effects of human exposures to BTX from service station emissions was carried out using BTX exposure data from the scientific literature. The data was grouped into different scenarios based on activity, location and occupation and plotted as Cumulative Probability Distributions (CPD) plots. Health risk was evaluated for each scenario using the Hazard Quotient (HQ) at 50% (CEXP50) and 95% (CEXP95) exposure levels. HQ50 and HQ95 > 1 were obtained with benzene in the scenario for service station attendants and mechanics repairing petrol dispensing pumps indicating a possible health risk. The risk was minimized for service stations using vapour recovery systems which greatly reduced the benzene exposure levels. HQ50 and HQ95 < 1 were obtained for all other scenarios with benzene suggesting minimal risk for most of the exposed population. However, HQ50 and HQ95 < 1 was also found with toluene and xylene for all scenarios, suggesting minimal health risk. The lifetime excess Cancer Risk (CR) and Overall Risk Probability for cancer on exposure to benzene was calculated for all Scenarios and this was higher amongst service station attendants than any other scenario.
Odors from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have attracted extensive attention and stringent environmental standards are more widely adopted to reduce odor emissions. Biological odor treatment methods have broader applications than the physical and chemical counterparts as they are environment-friendly, cost-effective and generate low secondary wastes. The aqueous activated sludge (AS) processes are among the most promising approaches for the prevention or end-of-pipe removal of odor emissions and have the potential to simultaneously treat odor and wastewater. However, AS deodorization biotechnologies in WWTPs still need to be further systematically summarized and categorized while in-depth discussions on the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of AS deodorization process are still lacking. Recently, considerable studies have been reported to elucidate the microbial metabolisms in odor control and wastewater treatment. This paper reviews the fundamentals, characteristics, advances and field experiences of three AS biotechnologies for odor treatment in WWTPs, i.e., AS recycling, microaeration in AS digester and AS diffusion. The underlying deodorization mechanisms of typical odors have been revealed through the summary of recent advances on multi-element conversions, metabolic interactions of bacteria, microscopic characterization and identification of functional microorganisms. Future research aspects to advance the emerging deodorization AS process, such as deodorization mechanisms, simultaneous odor and water treatment, synergistic treatment with other air emissions, are discussed.
Odour emissions from oil refineries are one of the important air pollution issues, which can limit the establishment or expansion of new or existing plants due to the complaints of nearby residents. Odour emissions accompanied by complaints can affect property values and, more importantly, the health of people living in adjacent areas. Developing suitable setback distances by considering appropriate odour impact criteria is one of the most effective approaches to avoid odour nuisance. However, a lack of knowledge surrounding the odour emissions and odour properties of oil refineries has made developing source-specific odour impact criteria and setback distance difficult.
This study investigates odour dispersion from a conventional oil refinery plant in the surrounding environment using field measurements at 62 spots up to 7 km downwind of the plant, with measurements being taken in the spring and summer. Various odour properties of the oil refinery air emissions, including odour concentration (OC), odour intensity (OI), odour hedonic tone (HT), and odour character have been measured by adapting the relevant standards and using commonly applied methods from previous odour studies. Results show that odour can travel up to 7 km from the refinery under certain weather conditions. In general, a more stable atmosphere results in transporting odour from the plant to further distances in colder seasons, and lower wind speeds lead to higher OC in nearby areas. The study also categorizes the emitted odour into 5 limited characters, which can be used to identify compounds responsible for odour problems. The study finds an exponential relationship between OI and OC, and a linear relationship between OI and HT in which odour character does not play an important role. By providing an overview of oil refinery odour properties and radii of dispersion in the surrounding environment, the results of this study could provide jurisdictions with a scientific basis for setting odour impact criteria and setback distances from oil refineries.
Ammonia and odour emissions from one lagoon (Lagoon 1: pig slurry) and three tanks (Tank 2: cow slurry; Tank 3: digestate from pig slurry and energy crops; Tank 4: digestate from pig and cow slurries plus energy crop) used for slurry storage were sampled for two years (2015-2017) in livestock farms that differed for animal breeding and manure management (anaerobic digestion). On average, the ammonia emission rate (AER) was higher for Tank 3 (AER of 30.68 ± 28.1 g N-NH3 m-2 d-1) than for Lagoon 1 and Tank 2 and 4, i.e. 9.29 ± 14.89 gN-NH3 m-2 d-1, 9.38 ± 13.75 g N-NH3 m-2 d-1, 15.74 ± 21.91 g N-NH3 m-2 d-1, respectively. PLS regression analysis (R2 = 0.544; R2Adj. = 0.484) indicated that temperature was the main predictor of ammonia emitted, followed by concentration in the slurry of total ammonia and the relative percentage of volatile solids (VS). On the other hand, PLS analysis (R2 = 0.529, R2adj. = 0.417) indicated that odour emissions from animal slurry storages depended similarly upon total solids and VS (both referred to fresh weight) slurry contents, TAN/TKN ratio and degrees of biological stability (measured by anaerobic biogas potential - ABP), resulting in the Specific Odours Emission Rates (SOER) of 12,124 ± 7,914 and 35,207 ± 41,706 OUE m-2 h-1, 65,430 ± 45,360 and 43,971 ± 53,350 OUE m-2 h-1, for Lagoon 1 and Tanks 2, 3 and 4. These results suggest covering the tanks to limit both ammonia and odour emissions.
The odor pollution and health risk caused by intensive livestock buildings are a public concern. In this study, the concentration, odor pollution, and health risk from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from different locations on a swine farm (swine nursery house, fattening swine house, manure storage, plant boundary and upwind locations) in different seasons (spring, summer, and fall) were evaluated quantitatively. The average VOC concentrations were 125.5, 1504.7, and 1698.5 μg/m3 in spring, summer, and winter, respectively. The total odor activity value (OAVSUM) of manure storage was the highest, with methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide (DMS), and H2S as the major contributors. Cumulative noncarcinogenic emissions exceeded the threshold in summer at all locations, except at the plant boundary and upwind locations. Furthermore, the cumulative carcinogenic risk threshold was also exceeded at the fattening swine house and manure storage area during the summer. Therefore, to protect farm staff working near the animal housing facilities, special attention should be paid to minimize the odorous nuisance and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks.
The process of anaerobic digestion in food waste treatment plants generates a large amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Long-term exposure to this exhaust gas can pose a threat to the health of workers and people living nearby. In this study, VOCs emitted from different working units in a food waste anaerobic digestion plant were monitored for a year. Variations in VOCs emitted from each unit were analyzed and a health risk assessment was conducted for each working unit. The results show that the concentration of VOCs in different units varied greatly. The highest cumulative concentration of VOCs appeared in the hydrothermal hydrolysis unit (3.49×104 g/m3), followed by the sorting/crushing room (8.97×103 g/m3), anaerobic digestion unit (6.21×102 g/m3), and biogas production unit (2.01×102 g/m3). Oxygenated compounds and terpenes were the major components of the emitted VOCs, accounting for more than 98% of total VOC emissions. The carcinogenic risk in the plant exceeded the safety threshold (ILCR<1 × 10-6), while the non-carcinogenic risk was within the acceptable range (HI<1). The carcinogenic risk from the hydrothermal hydrolysis unit was the highest, reaching 4.4×10-5, and was labeled as “probable risk.” The carcinogenic risk at the plant boundary was 1.2×10-5, indicating exhaust gases can cause a health threat to neighbors. Therefore, management VOCs in anaerobic digestion plants should receive more attention, and employees should minimize the time they spend in the hydrothermal hydrolysis unit.
Gaseous emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW)disposal plants pose serious odor pollution and health risks. In this study, the emission of volatile organic compounds and carbon disulfide was compared in the main processing units of three disposal methods, i.e., landfilling, eco-mechanical biological treatment (EMBT)and anaerobic fermentation in a MSW disposal plant. Among the detected volatile compounds (VCs), the top ten odor compounds were methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, carbon disulfide, styrene, m-xylene, 4-ethyltoluene, ethylbenzene, 2-hexyl ketone and n-hexane in the MSW disposal plant. Sulfur compounds were the main source of odor at the majority of sampling sites, and aromatic compounds were the dominant odor substrates at the tipping unit and sorting system of EMBT, while 2-hexanone was the major odor substrate at the tipping unit (AT)and sorting system (AS)of anaerobic fermentation and the landfill working surface. At AS and AT, the lifetime cancer risk values for 1,2-dichloroethane and trichloroethylene exceeded the carcinogenic risk value (>1.0E-04), and the hazard index values of naphthalene, trichloroethylene and acrolein all exceeded the acceptable level (>1). Therefore, special attention should be paid to VC emissions from MSW disposal facilities, and protection measures should be adopted for on-site workers to minimize health risks.
The liquid fraction (LF) of digestate has usually been proposed as a substitute for mineral fertilizers because of the presence of high N content, above all in easily available form (ammonia). The LF was reported to contain about 66% of dry matter from the digestate. This study reports the characterization of the organic carbon (OC) contained in the LF of digestates obtained from full scale plants by screw-press solid/liquid separation, to find out about their organic amendment properties. Results indicate that LF contains stable OC because of the concentration during anaerobic digestion of recalcitrant molecules, and that its biological stability, measured by oxygen uptake rate, was similar to that of compost, i.e. 40 ± 15 mg O 2 g DM ⁻¹ 20 h ⁻¹ and 41.1 ± 5.1 mg O 2 g DM ⁻¹ 20 h ⁻¹ . ¹³ C NMR indicated that LFs were similar each other and were constituted of recalcitrant Alkyl-C (34.82 ± 5.28% OC) derived from plant and fecal material, Aromatic-C (11.10 ± 2.2% OC) derived from lignin-like structures and O/N-alkyl (44.91 ± 4.87% OC) derived from cellulose/hemicelluloses and protein material. A simple simulation of the real C dosed by using LF as N-fertilizers indicated that amendment properties cannot be ignored. All these results seem to indicate good amendment properties for LFs, contrary to the common opinion.
Hazardous and odorous gas emissions from composting and methanization plants are an issue of public concern. Odor and chemical monitoring are thus critical steps in providing suitable strategies for air pollution control at waste treatment units. In this study, 141 gas samples were extensively analyzed to characterize the odor and chemical emissions released upon the aerobic treatment of 10 raw substrates and five digestates. For this purpose, agricultural wastes, biowastes, green wastes, sewage sludge, and municipal solid waste (MSW) were composted in 300 L pilots under forced aeration. Gas exhausts were evaluated through dynamic olfactometry and analytical methods (i.e., GC/MS) to determine their odor concentration (OC in OUE m−3) and chemical composition. A total of 60 chemical compounds belonging to 9 chemical families were identified and quantified. Terpenes, oxygenated compounds, and ammonia exhibited the largest cumulative mass emission. Odor emission rates (OUE h−1) were computed based on OC measurements and related to the initial amount of organic matter composted and the process time to provide odor emission factors (OEFs in OUE g−1OM0). The composting process of solid wastes accounted for OEFs ranging from 65 to 3089 OUE g−1OM0, whereas digestates composting showed a lower odor emission potential with OEF fluctuating from 8.6 to 30.5 OUE g−1OM0. Moreover, chemical concentrations of single compounds were weighted with their corresponding odor detection thresholds (ODTs) to yield odor activities values (OAVs) and odor contribution (POi, %). Volatile sulfur compounds were the main odorants (POi = 54–99%) regardless of the operational composting conditions or substrate treated. Notably, methanethiol was the leading odorant for 73% of the composting experiments.
Odor nuisance is the main incentive for Not In My Back Yard campaigns around municipal solid waste (MSW) waste disposal facilities, and the odor identification is of significance for the understanding of the odor properties from MSW with different disposal methods. In this study, odor emissions from different stages at two large-scale working MSW disposal facilities, i.e., landfill (LF) and compost plant (CP), were distinguished with the same MSW feedstock in one city. It was found that CP suffered the heavier odor pollution and the characteristics of odorants changed significantly, especially the pile-turning workshop. Sulfides and aromatics were the main concentration contributors for LF, while that for CP were NH3 and oxygenated compounds. Significant correlations between odor concentration and halogenated compounds, sulfides (r2 = 0.945, 0.898, p<0.05, n = 12) were merely observed in CP. The priority odor pollutants of LF were H2S, benzene and NH3, while that of CP was NH3, ethyl acetate and benzene with a descending order. With regarding to their contributions for occupational exposure, the carcinogenic risk was negligible for these facilities, but H2S of LF might bring non-carcinogenic risk to on-site workers.
Municipal solid waste degradation during composting generates volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can pose health risks the staff at the composting site and people living nearby. This problem
restricts the widespread application of composting techniques. The characteristics of VOCs emitted from different units at a composting plant and the health risks posed were investigated in this study. A total of 44 VOCs (including alkanes, alkenes, aromatic compounds, halogenated compounds, oxygenated compounds, and sulfur-containing compounds) were identified and quantified. The highest VOC concentration (15484.1 ± 785.3 µg/m3) was found in primary fermentation, followed by the tipping unit (10302.1 ± 1334.8 µg/m3), composting product (4693.6 ± 1024.3 µg/m3), secondary fermentation (929.9 ± 105.2 µg/m3), and plant boundary (370.4 ± 75.8 µg/m3). The mean VOC concentration was 6356.0 µg/m3. The main compounds emitted during primary fermentation were oxygenated and those emitted from the tipping unit were alkenes. Health risk assessments indicate that VOCs did not pose unacceptable non-carcinogenic risks i.e., the HR values were <1 and carcinogenic risks (CR) values were <1E-04. These results indicate that VOC emissions do not pose health risks to the staff at the composting site or to people living nearby. However, the cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks posed by the VOC mixture were high, especially for the primary fermentation unit emissions. Therefore, protecting the staff working near the primary fermentation unit should be a priority. Measures should be taken to minimize cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks because people are exposed to a mixture of VOCs mixture rather than to a single type of VOC.
Chronic occupational exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) has debilitating motor and sensory effects in humans, which can increase the risk of falls. Although no mention of vestibulotoxic effects is contained in the literature, epidemiological and experimental data suggest that CS2 could cause low-frequency hearing loss when associated with noise exposure. Low-frequency noise might also perturb the peripheral balance receptor through an as-yet unclear mechanism. Here, we studied how exposure to a low-frequency noise combined with 250-ppm CS2 affected balance in rats. Vestibular function was tested based on post-rotary nystagmus recorded by a video-oculography system. These measurements were completed by behavioral tests and analysis of the cerebellum to measure expression levels for gene expression associated with neurotoxicity. Assays were performed prior to and following a 4-week exposure, and again after a 4-week recovery period. Functional measurements were completed by histological analyses of the peripheral organs.Nystagmus was unaltered by exposure to noise alone, while CS2 alone caused a moderate 19% decrease of the saccade number. In contrast, coexposure to 250-ppm CS2 and low-frequency noise decreased both saccade number and duration by 33% and 34%, respectively. After four weeks, recovery was only partial but measures were not significantly different from pre-exposure values. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis of cerebellar tissue revealed a slight but significant modification in expression levels for two genes linked to neurotoxicity in CS2-exposed animals. However, neither histopathological changes to the peripheral receptor nor behavioral differences were observed. Based on all these results, we propose that the effects of CS2 were due to reversible neurochemical disturbance of the efferent pathways managing post-rotatory nystagmus. Because the nervous structures involving the vestibular function appear particularly sensitive to CS2, post-rotary nystagmus could be used as an early, non-invasive measurement to diagnose CS2 intoxication as part of an occupational conservation program.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are a source of odorous and toxic compounds. In this work, we present an integrated assessment of the odor concentration and human health risks of volatile compounds to evaluate the environmental quality at a MSW landfill. Air samples were collected seasonally from six areas of the landfill with different functions. The total concentrations of the compounds ranged from 204.0 to 7426.7 μg m-3, and the concentrations in temporarily and permanently capped areas were 50.3 and 83.4% lower than those in the tipping area, respectively. The odor concentration was greatest at the leachate collection tank (1732-6254 ouEm-3) and tipping area (1573-4113 ouEm-3) and was mainly caused by hydrogen sulfide (57.9 and 49.1%, respectively). Moreover, the odor concentration was positively correlated with the temperature (r = 0.500, p < 0.05, n = 24). Although the non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic (R) risks of most compounds were largely below the acceptable levels (HI = 1, R = 1.0E-6), HI values of hydrogen sulfide (2.3), trichloropropane (2.0), and naphthalene (1.2) as well as R values of naphthalene (1.3E-4) and trimethylbenzene (1.2E-4) in the waste areas exceeded acceptable levels. Moreover, the cumulative HI (2.5-5.7) and R (1.0E-04 to 3.4E-04) in the waste areas should receive special attention since they were above acceptable levels during all of the seasons. Aromatic and halogenated compounds dominated the cumulative R, accounting for 79 and 21% of the total, on average, while for the cumulative HI, sulfur compounds contributed the most (67%).
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are widely present all over the world due to the high population demand for food and products of animal origin. However, they have generated several environmental concerns, including odour nuisance, which affects people health and quality of life. Odours from livestock are a very complex mixtures of molecules and their analytical investigation is highly demanding. Many works have been published regarding the study of odours from CAFOs, using different techniques and technologies to face the issue. Thus, the aim of this review paper is to summarize all the ways to study odours from CAFOs, starting from the sampling methods and then treating in general the principles of Dynamic Olfactometry, Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry and Electronic Noses. Finally, a deep literature summary of Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry and Electronic Noses applied to odours coming from poultry, dairy and swine feeding operations is reported. This work aims to make some order in this field and it wants to help future researchers to deal with this environmental problem, constituting a state-of-the-art in this field.
In the context of environmental malodour, surveys are valuable as they allow for the relatively detailed analysis of multiple factors pertaining to odour perception and subsequent reaction. However, the causes for an individual to experience odour impact while a neighbour will not are still not understood. The goal of this current survey design was to consolidate varying research paths for surveys within the environmental odour research space. This survey investigated the area of effect for wastewater treatment plants by using stratified random sampling techniques that radiated from the industrial areas. Additionally, this survey provided a "non-alerted" response to environmental malodour that represents a step forward for ecological validity. We found a small number of items relating to odour annoyance and home ownership that can be used in order to predict odour impact for individual community members. However, we also did not find any relationship with odour impact and perceived control. This survey design and analysis reconciles the varied approaches towards community surveys administered in prior literature, as well as providing information to improve future community engagement policies.
The surface of nucleosomes is studded with a multiplicity of modifications. At least eight different classes have been characterized to date and many different sites have been identified for each class. Operationally, modifications function either by disrupting chromatin contacts or by affecting the recruitment of nonhistone proteins to chromatin. Their presence on histones can dictate the higher-order chromatin structure in which DNA is packaged and can orchestrate the ordered recruitment of enzyme complexes to manipulate DNA. In this way, histone modifications have the potential to influence many fundamental biological processes, some of which may be epigenetically inherited.
Degradation of mechanically sorted organic fraction (MSOF) of municipal solid waste in composting facilities is among the major contributors of volatile compounds (VCs) generation and emission, causes nuisance problems and health risks on site as well as in the vicinages. The aim of current study was to determine the seasonal (summer and winter) variation and human health risk assessment of VCs in the ambient air of different processing units in MSOF at composting plant in China. Average concentration of VCs was 58.50 and 138.03mg/m(3) in summer and winter respectively. Oxygenated compounds were found to be the highest concentration (46.78-91.89mg/m(3)) with ethyl alcohol as the major specie (43.90-85.31mg/m(3)) in the two seasons respectively. Nevertheless, individual non-carcinogenic (Hazard relation i.e HR<1) and carcinogenic risk (CR<1.0E-04) of the quantified VCs were within acceptable limit except naphthalene at biofilter unit. In addition, cumulative non-carcinogenic risk exceeded from the threshold limit both in summers and winters in all units except at biofilter unit during winter. Furthermore cumulative carcinogenic risk also exceeded at same unit during the summer season. Therefore special attention should be made to minimize cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk as people are well exposed to mixture of compounds, not to individual.
Odors emitted from municipal wastewater treatment plants belong to a group of pollutants, which is the main cause of people complaining about atmospheric air quality. The limitation of emissions of unpleasant odors generated by wastewater treatment plants by using appropriate deodorization methods is omitted on numerous occasions. This can have a negative influence on public trust and the quality of atmospheric air. The article presents basic information on the characteristics of odors from wastewater treatment lines and wastewater processing and management lines in a model biological wastewater treatment plant conducting the biogas recovery process and also information is provided on deodorization methods, such as odor masking, biofiltration, thermal disposal and diffusion through activated sludge dedicated to neutralization of odors in biological treatment plants. The main focus is on the field olfactometry technique, which is one of the tools used in environmental protection. Its application facilitates performance of tests concerning the assessment of olfactory properties of odorants in polluted air.
Changes in volatile organic compound contents in compost samples during pig manure composting were studied using a headspace, solid-phase micro-extraction method (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS). Parameters affecting the SPME procedure were optimized as follows: the coating was carbon molecular sieve/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) fiber, the temperature was 60 °C and the time was 30 min. Under these conditions, 87 compounds were identified from 17 composting samples. Most of the volatile components could only be detected before day 22. However, benzenes, alkanes and alkenes increased and eventually stabilized after day 22. Phenol and acid substances, which are important factors for compost quality, were almost undetectable on day 39 in natural compost (NC) samples and on day 13 in maggot-treated compost (MC) samples. Our results indicate that the approach can be effectively used to determine the composting times by analysis of volatile substances in compost samples. An appropriate composting time not only ensures the quality of compost and reduces the loss of composting material but also reduces the generation of hazardous substances. The appropriate composting times for MC and NC were approximately 22 days and 40 days, respectively, during the summer in Zhejiang.
Benzene is a volatile aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and is known as one of the predominant air pollutants in the environment. Chronic exposure to benzene is known to cause aplastic anemia and increased risk of acute myelogenous leukemia in humans. Although the mechanisms by which benzene causes toxicity remain to be fully elucidated, it is widely accepted that its metabolism is crucial to its toxicity, with involvement of one or more reactive metabolites. Novel approaches aimed at evaluating different mechanisms by which benzene can impact on human health by altering gene regulation have been developed. Among these novel approaches, epigenetics appears to be promising. The present review article summarizes the most important findings, reported from the literature, on epigenetic modifications correlated to benzene exposure. A computerized search in PubMed was performed in November 2014, using search terms, including 'benzene', 'epigenetic', 'histone modifications', 'DNA methylation' and 'microRNA'. Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated the potential epigenetic effects of benzene exposure. Several of the epigenomic changes observed in response to environmental exposures may be mechanistically associated with susceptibility to diseases. However, further elucidation of the mechanisms by which benzene alters gene expression may improve prediction of the toxic potential of novel compounds introduced into the environment, and allow for more targeted and appropriate disease prevention strategies.
Chloroform is added to landfill for suppressing methane generation, which however may transport through landfill liners and lead to contamination of groundwater. To decelerate chloroform transport, the enhanced sorption ability of clay liners following organobentonite addition was tested. In this study, we used batch sorption to evaluate sorption capacity of chloroform to organobentonite, followed by column tests and model simulations for assessing durability of different liners. Results show that adding 10% CTMAB-bentonite (organobentonite synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) increased the duration of a bentonite liner by 88.5%. CTMAB-bentonite consistently showed the highest sorption capacity (Qm) among six typical organobentonites under various environmental conditions. The removal rate of chloroform by CTMAB-bentonite was 3.6-23 times higher than that by natural soils. According to the results derived by model simulation, a 70-cm 10% CTMAB-bentonite liner exhibited much better durability than a 100-cm compact clay liner (CCL) and natural bentonite liner evidenced by the delayed and lower peak of eluent concentration. A minimum thickness of 65.8 cm of the 10% CTMAB-bentonite liner could completely sorb the chloroform in a 100-m-high landfill. The 10% CTMAB-bentonite liner exhibiting much better durability has the promise for reducing environmental risk of chloroform in landfill.
Aims
To determine if exposure to dimethylisopropanolamine (DMIPA) and dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) in a label printing plant was associated with visual disturbances and/or ocular changes.
Methods
Questionnaires, eye examinations (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity at 2.5% and 1.25% contrast, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and pachymetry), and industrial hygiene monitoring for DMIPA and DMAE were performed over a two week period.
Results
Eighty nine per cent of line workers reported having experienced blurry vision while at work in the past 12 months, compared to 12.5% of prime workers. A total of 108 full shift personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples for the amines were collected. The mean time weighted average (TWA) concentration of DMIPA was significantly higher in the line division than in the prime division, as was the mean TWA concentration for total amines. The mean TWA concentration of DMAE was higher in the prime division than the line division. Higher levels of total amines were associated with increased risk of reporting blurry vision, halo vision, and blue-grey vision. The risk of corneal opacity rose with increasing exposure to total amines. The prevalence of corneal opacity also increased with increasing concentration of total amines. Median corneal thickness increased with increasing grades of corneal opacity. There was a statistically significant relation between total amine concentration and increased risk of reduced bilateral visual acuity and 2.5% contrast sensitivity.
Conclusions
Exposure to tertiary amines was associated with blurry, halo, and blue-grey vision, corneal opacity, and decrements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity at 2.5% contrast.
Objective
Benzene, as a volatile organic compound, is known as one of the main air pollutants in the environment. The aim of this review is to summarize all available evidences on non-cancerous health effects of benzene providing an overview of possible association of exposure to benzene with human chronic diseases, specially, in those regions of the world where benzene concentration is being poorly monitored.
Methodology
A bibliographic search of scientific databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scirus was conducted with key words of “benzene toxic health effects”, “environmental volatile organic compounds”, “diabetes mellitus and environmental pollutants”, “breast cancer and environmental pollution”, “prevalence of lung cancer”, and “diabetes prevalence”. More than 300 peer reviewed papers were examined. Experimental and epidemiologic studies reporting health effects of benzene and volatile organic compounds were included in the study.
Results
Epidemiologic and experimental studies suggest that benzene exposure can lead to numerous non-cancerous health effects associated with functional aberration of vital systems in the body like reproductive, immune, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and respiratory.
Conclusion
Chronic diseases have become a health burden of global dimension with special emphasis in regions with poor monitoring over contents of benzene in petrochemicals. Benzene is a well known carcinogen of blood and its components, but the concern of benzene exposure is more than carcinogenicity of blood components and should be evaluated in both epidemiologic and experimental studies. Aspect of interactions and mechanism of toxicity in relation to human general health problems especially endocrine disturbances with particular reference to diabetes, breast and lung cancers should be followed up.
In 2008, a lightning strike caused a leak of tert-butyl mercaptan from its storage tank at the Gulf South Natural Gas Pumping Station in Prichard, Alabama. On July 27, 2012, the Alabama Department of Public Health requested Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologic assistance investigating possible health effects resulting from airborne exposure to mercaptan from a contaminated groundwater spring, identified in January 2012.
To assess the self-reported health effects in the community, to determine the scope of the reported medical services received, and to develop recommendations for prevention and response to future incidents.
In September 2012, we performed a representative random sampling design survey of households, comparing reported exposures and health effects among residents living in 2 circular zones located within 1 and 2 miles from the contaminated source.
Eight Mile community, Prichard, Alabama.
We selected 204 adult residents of each household (≥18 years) to speak for all household members.
Self-reported mercaptan odor exposure, physical and mental health outcomes, and medical-seeking practices, comparing residents in the 1- and 2-mile zones.
In the past 6 months, 97.9% of respondents in the 1-mile zone and 77.6% in the 2-mile zone reported mercaptan odors. Odor severity was greater in the 1-mile zone, in which significantly more subjects reported exposures aggravating their physical and mental health including shortness of breath, eye irritations, and agitated behavior. Overall, 36.5% sought medical care for odor-related symptoms.
Long-term odorous mercaptan exposures were reportedly associated with physical and psychological health complaints. Communication messages should include strategies to minimize exposures and advise those with cardiorespiratory conditions to have medications readily available. Health care practitioners should be provided information on mercaptan health effects and approaches to prevent exacerbating existing chronic diseases.