Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinnashri Devi, Himadri Mandal, Subhasish Das, Nayanmoni Gogoi, Pronobesh Chattopadhyay, Satya Sundar Bhattacharya
Summary: This research investigates the dynamics of 13 PAH compounds in vermicomposting systems using budget equations. The study finds that vermicomposting has a significantly higher PAH removal efficiency compared to composting with microbial augmentation. Additionally, the 4-6 ring compounds decrease more significantly than the 3-ring PAHs, and Eudrilus eugeniae is as competitive in PAH accumulation as Eisenia fetida.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manthar Ali Mallah, Li Changxing, Mukhtiar Ali Mallah, Muhammad Naveed, Yang Liu, Sobia Noreen, He Xi, Wei Wang, Feifei Feng, Qiao Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between urinary PAHs and cardiovascular diseases. The results showed a positive correlation between urinary PAHs and the prevalence of coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, and stroke.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Li, Ning Li, Xiangling Zhang, Ke Liu, Zhenyi Jia, Genmei Wang
Summary: PAHs, particularly in lake sediments, pose a significant threat to human health and ecological security due to their persistence and high toxicity. The improved PMF-PC model showed high accuracy in numerical simulation and spatial distribution consistency of PAHs compared to existing receptor models. The contributions of different sources to PAHs in Taihu Lake sediments were determined, with fossil fuel sources being more concentrated near the shore.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan D. Smolen, Christopher A. Sparacio, Abigail M. Oakes, Michael T. Hren
Summary: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants with mutagenic/carcinogenic properties. This study examines the spatial variations in PAH distributions and isotopic compositions among soils and sediments in Connecticut, USA. The results show that PAHs have relatively consistent distributions, primarily produced by pyrogenesis, with different sources for marine and fluvial samples.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Manthar Ali Mallah, Zhu Ying, Mukhtiar Ali, Junwei Guo, Feifei Feng, Wei Wang, Pingping Shang, Qiao Zhang
Summary: This study aims to examine the association between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and liver function parameters among the US population. Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2016 were used, and a total of 2515 participants were included. Logistic regression analysis showed that increased 9-hydroxyfluorene was associated with elevated GGT levels. In conclusion, 9-hydroxyfluorene is associated with elevated GGT levels, and its effect is modified by other PAHs.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jun Ma, Yingang Lu, Ying Teng, Changyin Tan, Wenjie Ren, Xueying Cao
Summary: The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in tobacco and soils and assess the potential risks of these PAHs to farmers. The concentrations of PAHs in the soil-tobacco system and the dominant sources of PAHs were determined. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to farmers were also estimated.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chaobin Ren, Qianqian Zhang, Huiwei Wang, Yan Wang
Summary: PAH contamination in the groundwater of the Hutuo River Basin in Hebei Province, China, is mainly attributed to biomass combustion, with wood, coal, and gasoline sources contributing the most, followed by oil and diesel sources, and natural gas combustion. The concentration of PAHs in groundwater is influenced by land use, with varying pollution sources contributing differently in different areas. Results of this study provide valuable insights for the prevention and control of PAH contamination in groundwater in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiang Wang, Shuai Guo, Qi Huang, Yaxian Zhu, Yong Zhang
Summary: In order to accurately determine the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the composition characteristics of 36 total polycyclic hydrocarbons (T-PAHs) in biomass-residue samples were analyzed. A novel biomass pyrogenic index (BPI) was defined based on the differences between A-PAH fingerprints from biomass-combustion and petroleum sources of PAHs. The main PAH sources changed since 2005, highlighting the significance of A-PAHs in accurately identifying PAH sources. Applying compositional differences in black carbon (BC) from different sources for PAH-source identification merits further study.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohua Ma, Hao Yang, Shuaidong Li, Changchun Huang, Tao Huang, Hongbin Wan
Summary: The correlation between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and economic parameters in Dianchi Lake, Yunnan province, China, was analyzed, showing significant impact of total population, GDP, energy consumption, etc. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to predict the trend in PAH concentrations in the sediments over the next 10 years. Results indicate the importance of economic and climate factors in increasing pollution levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohua Ma, Hao Yang, Changchun Huang, Tao Huang, Shuaidong Li
Summary: This study analyzed the sedimentary records, sources, and ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Dianchi Lake. The main sources of PAHs were found to be coal and biomass combustion, and the toxicity of high molecular weight PAHs in the sediment has increased with industrialization and urbanization.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wenyu Sun, Alaa Hamadi, Fabian E. Cano Ardila, Said Abid, Nabiha Chaumeix, Andrea Comandini
Summary: This study investigates the pyrolysis of three xylene isomers through experimental and kinetic modeling approaches, revealing both similarities and specific features in the reaction rates and product distributions. Different xylenes isomers exhibit varying reactivities and lead to different product pools during pyrolysis, indicating distinct reaction pathways and mechanisms for each isomer. The formation of certain products, such as styrene and anthracene, is found to be unique to specific xylene isomers and is attributed to their individual reaction schemes.
COMBUSTION AND FLAME
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhenyu Huang, Yi Liu, Heng Dai, Dongwei Gui, Bill X. Hu, Jin Zhang
Summary: Human activities lead to PAH pollution and significant impact on oasis ecological environments, especially in urban centers. Soil PAH concentrations vary in different oasis regions, with health risks mainly from ingestion and dermal exposure pathways. In soils with low PAH concentrations, the bacterial community is diverse and enriched, showing a complex ecological network structure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Panpan Wang, Yunzhe Cao, Huilong Luo, Ting Li, Bin Yang, Huiying Li, Tian Liang, Jingjing Yu, Lina Wang, Fujun Ma, Qingbao Gu, Aizhong Ding, Fasheng Li
Summary: This study examines the direct-fired thermal desorption technology commonly used to treat contaminated soil, with a focus on a site contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The analysis considers the entire thermal desorption process and evaluates the concentration levels and occurrence characteristics of heavy metals in dust generated during the process. The study also explores possible secondary pollution and environmental impacts. The findings reveal that the dust samples generated during the ex situ direct-fired thermal desorption process have higher amounts of heavy metal accumulation and altered speciation compared to the thermal desorption soil. The study further analyzes the enrichment characteristics and origins of the heavy metals using various microscopic research methods. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the proper disposal and risk management of dust collected after direct-fired thermal desorption treatment of contaminated soil.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jun Wu, Huaizheng Li, Jin Zhang, Yang Gu, Xinyu Zhou, Dong Zhang, Yan Ma, Shijing Wang, Xingyu Nian, Wei Jin, Ruifei Li, Zuxin Xu
Summary: Understanding the environmental behavior of PAHs in CSOs is crucial for managing PAH pollution in urban areas. This study analyzed the sources and effects of 16 PAHs in CSOs, finding that tetracyclic PAHs had the highest proportion and exhibited a first flush effect. Vehicular emissions were identified as the main source of particulate PAHs in CSOs, impacting river sediment PAH levels and specific microbial populations.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Svetlana Stanisic, Mirjana Perisic, Gordana Jovanovic, Tijana Milicevic, Snjezana Herceg Romanic, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Andrej Sostaric, Vladimir Udovicic, Andreja Stojic
Summary: This study investigated the relationships between indoor and outdoor air quality in an urban area of Belgrade through a three-month measurement campaign at a university building. The highest contributions to air quality were attributed to sources identified as coal combustion and related pyrogenic processes. Machine learning XGBoost method was used to predict PAH levels in the indoor and outdoor environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yongbiao Hua, Deepak Kukkar, Richard J. C. Brown, Ki-Hyun Kim
Summary: This article reviews the recent advances in hybrid MOF-MIP technology, discusses the performance of MIPs towards various targets, and explores the challenges and future prospects in MOF-MIP-based sensing applications.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Olga Rakhmetova, Alireza Taghipour, Geoffrey Will, Richard J. Brown, Thomas J. Rainey
Summary: Isobaric phase equilibrium data were measured for three binary systems at atmospheric pressure. The data were verified for thermodynamic consistency using the Herington and Van Ness tests. Three models (Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC) were used to correlate the experimental data, and binary interaction parameters (BIPs) were obtained through a maximum likelihood objective function. Using appropriate BIPs, the models produced consistent outputs with each other and with the experimental data.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING DATA
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Richard J. C. Brown
Summary: This article provides a short history of the development and adoption of SI prefixes since 1964, with a special focus on the recent extension to the range of SI prefixes following the 27th General Conference on Weights and Measures in 2022. A brief glimpse into the future is also presented.
Editorial Material
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Richard J. C. Brown, Martin J. T. Milton
Summary: The SI prefixes are crucial for effectively communicating scientific information, as explained by Richard Brown and Martin Milton in their update.
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanne E. Littlefair, James J. Allerton, Andrew S. Brown, David M. Butterfield, Chris Robins, Chloe K. Economou, Nina R. Garrett, Elizabeth L. Clare
Article
Environmental Sciences
David P. O'Loughlin, Molly J. Haugen, Jason Day, Andrew S. Brown, Emma C. Braysher, Nick Molden, Anne E. Willis, Marion MacFarlane, Adam M. Boies
Summary: The purpose of this study was to identify a characteristic elemental tyre fingerprint for source apportionment calculations. Zinc is currently used as a tracer for tyre wear, but there are issues with this approach. The study analyzed 25 elements in tyre rubber tread and provided data on new tyres currently in use in Europe, which is relevant for assessing tyre wear particles in urban areas.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Priyanka Arora, Puneet Verma, Faisal Lodi, Mohammad Jafari, Ali Zare, Svetlana Stevanovic, Timothy A. Bodisco, Richard J. Brown, Zoran Ristovski
Summary: This study investigates the particulate emission and soot characterization of particles from a six-cylinder common-rail direct injection (CRDI), turbocharged diesel engine. The effects of different engine loads and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) fuel blends on particulate emissions and soot structure were examined. The results show that the particle number and mass concentrations are higher for DOP fuel blends compared to neat diesel. The soot structure of DOP fuel blends is more compact and exhibits shorter and curved fringes compared to diesel. The oxidation reactivity of soot particles is reduced in DOP fuel blends.
Article
Thermodynamics
Olga Rakhmetova, Alireza Taghipour, Geoffrey Will, Richard J. Brown, Thomas J. Rainey
Summary: Process modeling and feasibility studies for biofuel production require accurate phase equilibria data. Vapor-liquid equilibrium data for binary mixtures and a ternary system of biofuel compounds were obtained and validated thermodynamically. Different activity coefficient models were used to correlate and predict the vapor-liquid equilibrium data, with the PSRK model showing better accuracy in predicting composition of the vapor phase. The PSRK model was also found to accurately predict the vapor-liquid equilibrium even without experimental data.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING DATA
(2023)
Letter
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Richard J. C. Brown
Summary: This article briefly comments on a recent ACS Central Science article that assessed the performance of various laboratories in elemental analysis and suggests the need for a broader conclusion, acknowledging the advantages of metrology and the international quality infrastructure.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Physics, Applied
Richard J. C. Brown, Nicholas A. Martin
Summary: Inexpensive air quality monitors can expand pollution monitoring accessibility. The physics of measurement science can provide insights into device performance requirements, and standardization can facilitate the process.
NATURE REVIEWS PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
C. M. Rathnayaka, J. Ganapathi, S. Kickbusch, L. Dawes, R. Brown
Summary: Laboratory learning is an integral part of engineering education, but evidence suggests that students face cognitive overload during modern laboratory classes, leading to reduced learning outcomes. This article investigates how pre-lab online resources can effectively manage cognitive load of engineering students in thermodynamics education.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Faisal Lodi, Ali Zare, Priyanka Arora, Svetlana Stevanovic, Zoran Ristovski, Richard J. Brown, Timothy Bodisco
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the engine performance parameters under different temperature-based operating conditions. Novel blends of DOP and diesel were prepared and compared with ultra-low sulphur diesel. The results showed improvements in indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) and reduced blowby using the blended fuels, but also higher brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and deteriorated engine parameters such as MEP and SFC.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Richard J. C. Brown
Summary: The International System of Units (SI) is a remarkable achievement in the fields of science, technology, and politics. Despite the loss of coherence, some non-SI units were allowed for continued usage due to their long history. However, as the SI becomes more pervasive, the number of non-SI units has greatly decreased.
Editorial Material
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Richard J. C. Brown