Estimated effect of ventilation and filtration on chronic health risks in U.S. offices,schools, and retail stores

We assessed the chronic health risks from inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM2.5) in U.S. offices, schools, grocery, and other retail stores and evaluated how chronic health risks were affected by changes in ventilation rates and air filtration efficiency. Representative concentrations of VOCs and PM2.5 were obtained from available data. Using a mass balance model, changes in exposure to VOCs and PM2.5 were predicted if ventilation rate were to increase or decrease by a factor of two, and if higher efficiency air filters were used. Indoor concentrations were compared to health guidelines to estimate percentage exceedances. The estimated chronic health risks associated with VOC and PM2.5 exposures in these buildings were low relative to the risks from exposures in homes. Chronic health risks were driven primarily by exposures to PM2.5 that were evaluated using disease incidence of mortality, chronic bronchitis, and non‐fatal stroke. The leading cancer risk factor was exposure to formaldehyde. Using disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) to account for both cancer and non‐cancer effects, results suggest that increasing ventilation alone is ineffective at reducing chronic health burdens. Other strategies, such as pollutant source control and the use of particle filtration, should also be considered.     

基于响应面法的赤泥烧结砖烧结工艺参数优化

以赤泥、淤泥和高岭土为主要原料制备烧结砖,研究烧结温度、保温时间、坯料粒度3个工艺参数对赤泥烧结砖吸水率的影响。利用响应面法(RSM)建立了3个工艺参数与吸水率之间的数学模型并对统计数据进行了方差分析。结果表明,最佳烧结工艺参数为:烧结温度1180℃、保温时间32 min、颗粒度125μm,样品吸水率为14.9%,与预测值相差4%,测试结果与数学模型拟合度较高,该模型能够较好的预测赤泥烧结砖的吸水率。     

On the stochastic nature of compact debris flight

The stochastic nature of debris flight is investigated through a series of Monte Carlo simulations based on the debris flight equations for compact debris presented by Holmes (2004). Any given debris flight situation presents a number of uncertainties such as the size of the piece of debris and the time-varying turbulent wind flow. Current debris flight models are largely deterministic and do not account for such uncertainty in input parameters. The simulations presented model the flight of a single spherical particle whose diameter is given by a probability distribution function, driven by a turbulent wind with velocity fluctuations appropriate to the atmospheric boundary layer. The model predicts the mean and standard deviation of the particle flight distance and impact kinetic energy. Results show that introducing uncertainty in particle diameter, horizontal turbulence intensity, or vertical turbulence intensity leads to larger mean values for flight distance and impact kinetic energy, compared to the condition where there is no variability in input parameters. Introducing input parameter variability also leads to variability in flight distance and impact kinetic energy that is quantified in this study. While the simulations presented do not realistically characterize the complex flow within an urban canopy, the results provide significant physical insight into the influence of particle size variability and turbulence on the mean and standard deviation of the flight distance and impact kinetic energy.     

Application of fractal flocculation and vertical transport model to aquatic sol-sediment systems

In estuarine and coastal environments, flocculation occurs between particles of different fractal dimensions and of different densities. Questions remain concerning the level of detail required to model particle flocculation and settling in these heterogeneous systems. This paper compares the goodness of fit between two flocculation models, using measured time series particle size distribution data collected from clay, colloidal silica, emulsified crude oil, clay-crude oil, and silica-crude oil systems. The coalesced sphere (CS) flocculation model includes the effects of heterogeneous particle size and density; the modified coalesced fractal sphere (mCFS) model adds effects due to heterogeneous fractal dimension. Goodness of fit was quantified using values of a minimized objective function, the mean of the sum of the square of the relative residuals (MSSRR). For nearly all tested experimental conditions, MSSRR values varied less than 5% between the CS and mCFS flocculation models. Additionally, collision efficiency values for single-particle-type (alpha(HOMOO)) and dual-particle-type (alpha(HETT)) systems were obtained through parameter regression using the CS and mCFS models. Using the mCFS model, estimated fractal dimension (D) values obtained for clay and clay-oil systems were between 2.6 and 3.0, lower than that postulated by the CS model but higher than that estimated experimentally by the particle concentration technique. The Stokes settling velocity of a clay aggregate of a given mass is reduced with decreased fractal dimension. This results in clay-oil flocculation occurring faster than floc sedimentation in the studied hydrodynamic range. Thus, the mCFS model provides insights to the fate of spilled oil in inland and coastal waters.     

#br# 胶合木梁柱螺栓节点变异性分析

胶合木梁柱螺栓节点通常会受到木材材性和制造公差的影响，而表现出显著的变异性。为揭示节点变异性的关键影响因素并建立节点初始刚度和抗弯承载力预测模型，开展了节点变异性分析。采用已有试验结果验证确定性有限元模型的精度。考虑木材材性和螺孔间隙的随机分布规律，采用有限元方法计算胶合木梁柱螺栓连接节点初始刚度和抗弯承载力。根据统计方差分析结果确定节点初始刚度和抗弯承载力的关键影响因素。通过多项式回归拟合方法建立节点初始刚度和抗弯承载力的响应面方程。方差分析结果表明，销轴承压区顺纹和横纹方向弹性模量对于节点初始刚度的方差具有显著的影响，而螺孔间隙对于节点初始刚度也具有一定的影响；木材横纹抗拉强度和顺纹抗剪强度对于节点抗弯承载力的方差具有显著的影响，而螺孔间隙也会在一定程度上影响节点的抗弯承载力。针对随机生成的样本的计算结果表明，响应面方程能够准确预测节点的初始刚度和抗弯承载力。     

Nature of ammonium ion adsorption by sepiolite: analysis of equilibrium data with several isotherms

Adsorption isotherms for an ammonium ion-sepiolite system have been established for initial ammonium ion solution concentrations in the range of 8.32-388.06 mmol NH(4)(+)/L (150-7000 ppm). The change of the "g sepiolite/mL solution" ratios from 1/10 to 1/70 caused an increase in the adsorption from 1.82 to 3.70 mmol NH(4)(+)/g for the average particle size of 2.8mm. The equilibrium data were fitted to "general-purpose isotherms" and "first-order adsorption model", and the adjustable parameters of the isotherms were estimated by nonlinear least-squares analysis. Langmuir and Freundlich models were found insufficient to explain the adsorption equilibrium, while Langmuir-Freundlich and Tooth isotherms explained the data well. Goodness of fit increased with the increased sepiolite quantity in the treated suspension.     

Cadmium removal from aqueous solutions by chitin: kinetic and equilibrium studies

A fundamental investigation on the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions by chitin was conducted in batch conditions. Kinetic data and equilibrium removal isotherms were measured. The influence of different experimental parameters such as time contact, initial concentration of cadmium, chitin mass, particles size, agitation speed, temperature and the nature of cadmium salt, on the kinetics of cadmium removal was studied. The main parameters that play an important part in removal phenomenon were initial cadmium concentration, particle size and chitin mass. Other parameters such as agitation speed, temperature and the nature of cadmium salt, showed a restricted effect on the removal kinetics. The process follows a pseudo second-order kinetics. The cadmium uptake of chitin was quantitatively evaluated using sorption isotherms. In order to describe the isotherm mathematically, the experimental data of the removal equilibrium were correlated by either the Langmuir or Freundlich equations. Results indicated that the Langmuir model gave a better fit to the experimental data than the Freundlich equation. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with a X-ray energy dispersed analysis for cadmium-equilibrated chitin, demonstrated that cadmium-containing nodules existed on the surface chitin.     

The Fort Collins commuter study: Variability in personal exposure to air pollutants by microenvironment

This study investigated the role of microenvironment on personal exposures to black carbon (BC), fine particulate mass (PM_2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and particle number concentration (PNC) among adult residents of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Forty‐four participants carried a backpack containing personal monitoring instruments for eight nonconsecutive 24‐hour periods. Exposures were apportioned into five microenvironments: Home, Work, Transit, Eateries, and Other. Personal exposures exhibited wide heterogeneity that was dominated by within‐person variability (both day‐to‐day and between microenvironment variability). Linear mixed‐effects models were used to compare mean personal exposures in each microenvironment, while accounting for possible within‐person correlation. Mean personal exposures during Transit and at Eateries tended to be higher than exposures at Home, where participants spent the majority of their time. Compared to Home, mean exposures to BC in Transit were, on average, 129% [95% confidence interval: 101% 162%] higher and exposures to PNC were 180% [101% 289%] higher in Eateries.     

Modeling coagulation kinetics incorporating fractal theories: comparison with observed data

There are currently four possible approaches in modeling coagulation kinetics: the traditional Euclidean rectilinear; the Euclidean curvilinear; the fractal rectilinear; and the fractal curvilinear. The fractal model includes the Euclidean case as a subset. The primary purpose of this research is to investigate which of the rectilinear models among these best predicts the evolution of experimental observed particle size distribution (PSD). Using a fractal rectilinear model previously developed by the authors, model predictions were compared with a series of observed PSD data obtained from estuarine sediment particles in a 2m settling column, where the average velocity gradient (G) was 20 or 40s(-1). Nonlinear parameter estimation was performed to estimate two free parameters for the fractal model (the fractal dimension, DF, and the collision efficiency factor, a), and one free parameter (the collision efficiency factor, alpha) for the Euclidean model. Compared with the observed PSD, the simulation showed that the fractal rectilinear model was best, and that this model fit better for the larger size particles. The estimated DF was between 2.6 and 3.0. The research demonstrated that the alpha's have multiple values for the same observed data, depending on the coagulation model used. This finding is significant because a is currently used as a single value based on the conventional Euclidean rectilinear model.     

采用颗粒调谐质量阻尼器的钢框架结构振动台试验研究

通过附加和不附加颗粒调谐质量阻尼器的5层钢框架振动台试验,研究其在实际地震波以及上海人工波激励下的减震效果。通过调整不同悬挂长度（频率比）、质量比、颗粒到阻尼器壁净距等参数,分析阻尼器参数对其减震效果的影响。试验结果表明：不同地震作用下该类阻尼器均能达到较好的减震效果,其中上海人工波的减震效果最好;对于多层钢框架结构,阻尼器能够有效控制第1振型的振动,但是对于高阶振型的控制作用无法保证;当阻尼器频率与主体结构基频相同时,能够达到最优减震效果,而当二者频率不同时,依然有一定的减震效果,说明其具有一定的鲁棒性;在合适的质量比（0.66%）下,阻尼器能够达到最佳减震效果;当颗粒到容器内壁净距为1.6D~3.6D时,可使阻尼器响应最小,且减震效果较好。     

Contrast and transferability of parameters of lumped water balance models in the Segura River Basin (Spain)

Knowing the water resources in a river basin is a key aspect to appropriate water planning, and they can be estimated by lumped water balance models. The possibility to transfer the calibrated parameters of a contrasted model to non‐gauged ones improves this knowledge with no need for direct measurements. This work studies the transferability of the parameters of the lumped models in five catchments in the southeast of Spain, testing the influence of the snow and the effect of serial autocorrelation in the goodness of fit. The results are also compared with those of the distributed model of reference in Spain (SIMPA). As principal results, the abcd model is the selected one, the snow effect is negligible, the transferability of parameters for this case is not totally possible, and serial autocorrelation must be included for this kind of modelling.     

A three-dimensional approach to multistream migration modelling: local-level flows in Hereford and Worcester

Using data for the English county of Hereford and Worcester, the author presents a method for the analysis of migration at the local level "which does not disaggregate migrant flows by distance criteria alone, but incorporates measures relating to the nature of the origins and of the destinations." The author suggests that "in comparison with a standard single-stream regression model this method improves the fit substantially, and the variability in the resulting parameter estimates for each of the eight streams supports the need for identification of distinct migrant streams. In particular, flows over short distances between wards with high population densities are estimated more effectively."     

Personal exposures to particles and microbes in relation to microenvironmental concentrations

The aim of this study was to compare the personal exposures of particles and microbes with the exposure being assessed by stationary samplers in the main microenvironments, i.e. home and the workplace. A random sample of 81 elementary school teachers in eastern Finland were selected to perform the two wintertime 24-h measurement periods. Particle mass concentration, black smoke (BS) concentration and concentrations of viable and total microorganisms on the sampled filters were determined using personal exposure sampling and microenvironmental measurements in homes and workplaces. In this paper, the correlations between different pollutants in each environment and correlations between personal exposures and home and work concentrations are presented. The results show that personal BS exposures correlated with both home and work BS concentrations. Furthermore, the concentrations of viable fungi and bacteria were related between personal and home concentrations. The time weighted microenvironmental model underestimated the personal exposures of particle mass, viable fungi, total fungi and total bacteria concentrations but the model might satisfactorily assess personal exposure to concentrations of BS and viable bacteria. The mass concentration of total fungi and bacteria was <1% of the total particle mass concentration. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Stationary samples are only surrogate measures of personal exposures. Personal exposure measurements conducted on individuals' breathing zone are needed to assess the exposure to particles and microbes. The time weighted microenvironmental model is a useful method to assess personal exposure to combustion related particles and viable bacteria concentrations but the model underestimates personal exposures of particle mass, viable fungi, total fungi and total bacteria concentrations.     

Effects of personal particulate matter on peak expiratory flow rate of asthmatic children

Many researches have shown that the particulate matter (PM) of air pollution could affect the pulmonary functions, especially for susceptible groups such as asthmatic children, where PM might decrease the lung function to different extents. To assess the effects of PM on health, most studies use data from ambient air monitoring sites to represent personal exposure levels. However, the data gathered from these fixed sites might introduce certain statistical uncertainties. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effects of various size ranges of PM on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of asthmatic children, and to compare the model performance of using different PM measurements (personal exposures versus fixed-site monitoring) in evaluation. Thirty asthmatic children, aged 6 to 12 years, who live near the fixed monitoring site in Sin-Chung City, Taipei County, Taiwan, were recruited for the study. Personal exposures to PM(1), PM(2.5), and PM(10) were measured continuously using a portable particle monitor (GRIMM Mode 1.108, Germany). In addition, an activity diary and questionnaires were used to investigate possible confounding factors in their home environments. The peak expiratory flow rate of each participant was monitored daily in the morning and in the evening for two weeks. Results showed several trends, although not necessarily statistically significant, between personal PM exposures and PEFR measurements in asthmatic children. In general, notable findings tend to implicate that not only fine particles (PM(2.5)) but also coarse particles (PM(2.5-10)) are likely to contribute to the exacerbation of asthmatic conditions. Stronger lagged effect and cumulative effect of PM on the decrements in morning PEFR were also found in the study. Finally, results of linear mixed-effect model analysis suggested that personal PM data was more suitable for the assessment of change in children's PEFR than ambient monitoring data.     

The importance of specification uncertainty and intolerance to measurement error in a study of the impact of dentine lead on childrens’ IQs

Needleman et al. concluded that, on average, an increase in the dentine lead of children from <6 ppm to >24 ppm was associated with a 4‐point IQ decrement. Recently, a spate of papers has conjectured that the reports of Needleman et al. and others could be spurious because of measurement error and omitted variable bias. In this Bayesian analysis of the reconstituted Needleman et al. data set, we replace such conjectures by empirical tests. Even though we structure the tests to provide very favourable opportunities for the conjectures to acquire support, the possibility is seen to be remote that omitted variable bias significantly alters the estimated influence of lead exposures upon childrens’ psychometric intelligence. Similarly, the Bayesian analysis demonstrates that other included covariates are likely to affect the estimated influence of lead exposures only if they are quite poorly measured.     

Health effects of laser printer emissions: a controlled exposure study

Ultrafine particles emitted from laser printers are suspected to elicit adverse health effects. We performed 75‐minute exposures to emissions of laser printing devices (LPDs) in a standardized, randomized, cross‐over manner in 23 healthy subjects, 14 mild, stable asthmatics, and 15 persons reporting symptoms associated with LPD emissions. Low‐level exposures (LLE) ranged at the particle background (3000 cm^?3) and high‐level exposures (HLE) at 100 000 cm^?3. Examinations before and after exposures included spirometry, body plethysmography, transfer factors for CO and NO (TLCO, TLNO), bronchial and alveolar NO, cytokines in serum and nasal secretions (IL‐1β, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐8, GM‐CSF, IFNγ, TNFα), serum ECP, and IgE. Across all participants, no statistically significant changes occurred for lung mechanics and NO. There was a decrease in volume‐related TLNO that was more pronounced in HLE, but the difference to LLE was not significant. ECP and IgE increased in the same way after exposures. Nasal IL‐6 showed a higher increase after LLE. There was no coherent pattern regarding the responses in the participant subgroups or single sets of variables. In conclusion, the experimental acute responses to short but very high‐level LPD exposures were small and did not indicate clinically relevant effects compared to low particle number concentrations.     

基于颗粒破碎特性的堆石材料级配演化模型

颗粒破碎会改变土体级配,进而影响其应力应变等力学行为。针对现有技术手段难以实时确定加载过程中颗粒破碎与级配变化的现状,依据天然岩石颗粒的破碎特性,建立了一个基于颗粒强度的级配演化模型。模型中应力参数采用增量加载法,可预测加载过程中的级配演化。由单粒强度试验确定颗粒破碎特性和模型参数,试验结果表明颗粒强度服从Weibull分布。筛分颗粒破碎后的碎片发现,粒径累计分布可用正态曲线拟合,且不同粒组的粒径累计分布相似。最后,模型计算结果与三轴试验数据的对比分析表明,模型可以较好地预测试样在加载过程中的级配变化。     

考虑颗粒破碎影响的粗粒土的剪切强度理论

由于粗粒土的粒径相差很大,通过剪切试验测量粗粒土的剪切强度很麻烦,且剪切试验费时费力、试验数据离散性大;另外,已有剪切强度经验公式中的参数没有明确的物理含义,工程应用中难以确定。本文根据颗粒破碎的分形模型,揭示单颗粒破碎强度的尺寸效应,假设剪切强度是颗粒接触面上的摩擦力,导出用正应力幂函数表示的粗粒土剪切强度公式,幂函数的指数是颗粒破碎分维的函数,并采用垃圾炉渣的颗粒破碎分维和剪切强度试验结果进行验证。     

Effect of ventilation design on removal of particles in woodturning workstations

Wood processing tasks such as circular sawing and turning that is associated with woodturning operators produce particularly high exposure levels. A computational model including a humanoid and lathe within a test chamber was simulated with monodisperse particles under five different ventilation designs with the aim of reducing the particle suspension within the breathing zone. A commercial CFD code was used to solve the governing equations of motion with a k–ε RNG turbulence model. A discrete Lagrangian model was used to track the particles individually. Measurements to evaluate the efficiency of each ventilation design included total particle clearance and the percentage of particles crossing through the breathing plane. It was concluded that the percentage of particles that cross the breathing plane is of greater significance than the other measurements as it provides a better determination of exposure levels. Ventilation that emanated from the roof and had an angled outlet provided greatest total particle clearance and a low number of particles in the breathing plane. It was also found that the obstruction from the local roof ventilations caused separation of the air that flowed along the ceiling to produce a complex flow region. This study provides a basis for further investigation into the effects of particle size and density on the particle flow patterns and potential inhalation conditions for a given ventilation design.     

Applying indoor and outdoor modeling techniques to estimate individual exposure to PM2.5 from personal GPS profiles and diaries: A pilot study

Impacts of individual behavior on personal exposure to particulate matter (PM) and the associated individual health effects are still not well understood. As outdoor PM concentrations exhibit highly temporal and spatial variations, personal PM exposure depends strongly on individual trajectories and activities. Furthermore, indoor environments deserve special attention due to the large fraction of the day people spend indoors. The indoor PM concentration in turn depends on infiltrated outdoor PM and indoor particle sources, partially caused by the activities of people indoor.We present an approach to estimate PM2.5 exposure levels for individuals based upon existing data sources and models. For this pilot study, six persons kept 24-hour diaries and GPS tracks for at least one working day and one weekend day, providing their daily activity profiles and the associated geographical locations. The survey took place in the city of Münster, Germany in the winter period between October 2006 and January 2007. Environmental PM2.5 exposure was estimated by using two different models for outdoor and indoor concentrations, respectively. For the outdoor distribution, a dispersion model was used and extended by actual ambient fixed site measurements. Indoor concentrations were modeled using a simple mass balance model with the estimated outdoor concentration fraction infiltrated and indoor activities estimated from the diaries. A limited number of three 24-hour indoor measurements series for PM were performed to test the model performance.The resulting average daily exposure of the 14 collected profiles ranged from 21 to 198 µg m^− 3 and showed a high variability over the day as affected by personal behavior. Due to the large contribution of indoor particle sources, the mean 24-hour exposure was in most cases higher than the daily means of the respective outdoor fixed site monitors.This feasibility study is a first step towards a more comprehensive modeling approach for personal exposure, and therefore restricted to limited data resources. In future, this model framework not only could be of use for epidemiological research, but also of public interest. Any individual operating a GPS capable device may become able to obtain an estimate of its personal exposure along its trajectory in time and space. This could provide individuals a new insight into the influence of personal habits on their exposure to air pollution and may result in the adaptation of personal behavior to minimize risks.