Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Filippini, Carlotta Leoncini, Lucina Luchetti, Renata Emiliani, Emanuela Fabbrizi, Alessandro Gargini
Summary: The study focuses on the application of phytoscreening technique in detecting chlorinated ethene contaminants, validating its effectiveness in detecting vinyl chloride. Factors influencing the uptake of contaminants by plants are discussed, and two different conceptual models are proposed to explain the uptake of contaminants by trees at different sites.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Filippini, Carlotta Leoncini, Lucina Luchetti, Renata Emiliani, Emanuela Fabbrizi, Alessandro Gargini
Summary: Chlorinated ethene contaminants, particularly vinyl chloride (VC), pose a significant risk due to their mobility, persistence, and carcinogenicity. Traditional methods of assessing soil vapor intrusion risk may not effectively detect lower chlorinated VC, but phytoscreening has shown promise as a cost-effective alternative for indirectly detecting shallow underground contamination by higher chlorinated ethenes. This study demonstrated the efficacy of phytoscreening in detecting VC in trees near contaminated sites, challenging existing assumptions about its detectability and highlighting the potential for more effective screening compared to traditional soil gas methods.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Igor N. Zelko, Breandon S. Taylor, Trinath P. Das, Walter H. Watson, Israel D. Sithu, Banrida Wahlang, Marina Malovichko, Matthew C. Cave, Sanjay Srivastava
Summary: Chronic low dose exposure to vinyl chloride may lead to impaired glucose tolerance and a slight increase in lung inflammation, but does not affect surrogate markers of cardiovascular injury and atherosclerosis.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bin Wang, Liping Heng, Qian Sui, Zheng Peng, Xuezhi Xiao, Minghui Zheng, Jianxin Hu, Heidelore Fiedler, Damia Barcelo, Gang Yu
Summary: This paper analyzes the combustion of vinyl chloride (VC) in the train derailment accident in Ohio, USA in 2023. It discusses the appropriateness of VC combustion in the emergency response, the concept of controlled combustion, the potential environmental risks of VC and combustion by-products, and the follow-up work. The accident has caused environmental and health risks, necessitating a comprehensive environmental risk assessment, remediation of affected areas, and proper treatment of hazardous waste. The accident also highlights the need to bridge the gap between chemical safety management and environmental risk management.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Valentina Millano-Gonzalez, Oladis Troconis de Rinco, Andres A. Torres-Acosta, Miguel A. Sanchez Gomez, Pedro Castro-Borges, Jose T. Perez-Quiroz, Tezozomoc Perez-Lopez, Rosa Vera, Manuela Salta, Miguel Pedron
Summary: This research evaluated the corrosion situation of reinforced concrete specimens in different environments. The results showed that corrosion was more severe in tropical environments.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hayri Sezer, Jerry Hunter Mason, Ismail B. Celik, Tao Yang
Summary: A three-dimensional computational model is developed to predict the performance degradation of planar SOFC anodes exposed to fuel contaminants commonly present in coal syngas. The calibrated model is used to perform simulations and analyze electrochemical characteristics, showing that degradation rates and impedance behavior of planar cells are different in various regions along the fuel flow direction. Localized impedance analysis may be necessary to elucidate different degradation mechanisms in such cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhao, Chaowen Jiang, Xiaocheng Song
Summary: Field measurements were conducted to investigate the in-vehicle carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Dalian, China. Two semi-empirical pollutant models were established to predict the pollutant exposure levels inside vehicles. The study found that in-vehicle CO2 concentration exceeded the limit in most cases, while the PM2.5 concentration showed less variation. These findings provide useful guidance for optimized ventilation control in vehicles.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ze-Zhong Lin, Yan Wang, Xiao-Bo Yang, Shang-Rong Yan, Yu Chen, Hai-Chao Li, Gang Wang
Summary: In order to achieve wider applications of soft PVC, a series of three-arm star copolymers with a hard PLA-rich core and a soft PCL-rich shell (S3-PLA-PCL) were prepared as plasticizers. The monomer ratio, average polymerization degree, and type of LA were optimized to achieve the best mechanical performance of soft PVCs. The S3-PLA-PCL plasticized PVC exhibited higher modulus, strength, and toughness compared to other traditional plasticizers, highlighting the importance of the star topology and hard core in strengthening soft PVCs. Additionally, the S3-PLA-PCL plasticized PVC showed good migration resistance and transparency, making it a high-performance, green polymeric plasticizer for PVC plastics.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kevin M. Towle, Stacey M. Benson, Natalie S. Egnot, Gary M. Marsh
Summary: The analysis found no association between county-level ambient vinyl chloride (VC) and liver cancer incidence or mortality rates in Texas. This suggests that low-level non-occupational exposure to ambient VC is not a significant risk factor for liver cancer in Texas.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jonildo dos Santos Silva, Priamo Albuquerque Melo, Jose Carlos Pinto
Summary: In this paper, a mathematical model is developed to describe the trajectories and final particle size distributions of poly(vinyl chloride) suspension polymerization reactors on an industrial scale. The model includes mass balances, statistical moment balances, equilibrium relationships, and population balance equations. The results show that classical breakage and coalescence kernels can accurately fit actual industrial data, when combined with proper parameter estimation procedures. It is also found that the use of a top condenser can influence the control of particle size distributions.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yuanzhan Wang, Shang Guo, Bochen Yan, Zhen Liu, Yuchi Wang, Chunkun Yuan
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dry-wet ratio and chloride ion transport in reinforced concrete structures in tidal zone. A new index, dry-exposure ratio, is proposed to quantify the dry-wet cycle environment. The most unfavorable dry-exposure ratio is determined and the mechanism of convection and its influence on chloride ions transport are discussed.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Jianyuan Sun, Jinbao Xie, Yong Zhou, Yun Zhou
Summary: A three-dimensional meso-scopic concrete model based on ANSYS Parametric Design Language programs was proposed to simulate the chloride diffusion behavior in concrete. The model was validated using experimental data, and the results demonstrate that it is robust, reliable, and accurate. A parameter study was conducted to investigate the effect of three-dimensional meso-structural parameters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ning Wang, Zhiguo Qu, Guobin Zhang, Zetian Tang, Yun Wang
Summary: Ultrahigh power density is crucial for the commercialization of next-generation PEMFCs, particularly in large-size PEMFCs for automobile applications. This study uses a three-dimensional two-phase model to investigate the performance of an automobile fuel cell with various distribution zones. The results show that the dot matrix distribution zone can effectively promote cross flow between adjacent channels, mitigating oxygen starvation and water flooding and improving PEMFC performance at high current density. The counter-flow configuration also leads to higher cell performance and more uniform current density due to internal humidification.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huxiong Li, Weiya Ye, Jun Liu, Weikai Tan, Saied Pirasteh, Sarah Narges Fatholahi, Jonathan Li
Summary: This study introduces a novel workflow for automated Digital Terrain Model (DTM) extraction from Airborne LiDAR point clouds based on a convolutional neural network and transfer learning. The results demonstrate that the proposed workflow establishes a superior DTM extraction accuracy with a root mean square error of only 7.3 cm for the interpolated DTM at 1 m resolution.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianxiang Deng, Shouhai Li, Xiaohua Yang, Lina Xu, Haiyang Ding, Mei Li
Summary: In this study, three types of internally-plasticized PVC materials were prepared by grafting castor oil onto the PVC chain with different isocyanates as intermediate bridges. The plasticizing ability and thermal stability of the materials were discussed. It was found that using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the intermediate bridge had the best plasticizing effect, while using HDI trimer (THDI) optimized the thermal stability of the material.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Heather J. Avens, Joshua R. Maskrey, Allison L. Insley, Kenneth M. Unice, Rachel C. D. Reid, Jennifer Sahmel
ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. M. Unice, M. P. Weeber, M. M. Abramson, R. C. D. Reid, J. A. G. van Gils, A. A. Markus, A. D. Vethaak, J. M. Panko
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2019)
Article
Food Science & Technology
S. M. Benson, K. M. Unice, M. E. Glynn
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amanda M. Burns, Christy A. Barlow, Amber M. Banducci, Kenneth M. Unice, Jennifer Sahmel
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Stacey M. Benson, Joshua R. Maskrey, Melanie D. Nembhard, Kenneth M. Unice, Mark A. Shirley, Julie M. Panko
ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenneth M. Unice, Michael Kovochich, Andrew D. Monnot
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lauren E. Gloekler, Christy A. Barlow, Brooke Tvermoes, Mark J. La Guardia, Jennifer Sahmel
Summary: This study aimed to determine levels of flame retardants (FRs) in infant products and characterize hand-to-mouth transfer efficiency. Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was detected in all infant products. The presence of fabric covering on products influenced the hand-to-mouth transfer efficiency. Further research is needed to explore factors influencing individual variability of dermal loading and transfer efficiency in FR concentrations in PUF, and the role of fabric coverings on dermal transfer.
HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Review
Toxicology
Alice A. Han, Amanda N. Buerger, Hannah Allen, Melissa Vincent, Stephanie A. Thornton, Kenneth M. Unice, Andrew Maier, Antonio Quinones-Rivera
Summary: Although ingestion of ethanol during pregnancy has detrimental effects on the fetus, the potential developmental effects of maternal ethanol intake during lactation are less well characterized. However, the investigation suggests that the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers by breastfeeding women is unlikely to cause neurodevelopmental issues in infants.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Sahmel, S. Arnold, G. Ramachandran
Summary: The study quantitatively evaluated the transfer of lead between different compartments, finding that some pathways were more important than others, and that transfer increased non-linearly with repeated contact but appeared to stabilize within 10 contacts. The data are likely to be useful for refining models of repeated contacts for dermal exposure and risk assessment.
JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-PART A-CURRENT ISSUES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. Sahmel, G. Ramachandran
Summary: Skin hydration and barrier properties have an impact on the retention of substances on the skin. However, the measurement of skin hydration is not common in exposure assessments. This study provides comparative measurements of skin hydration at different locations. The measurements at the forearm and index finger tip were found to be significantly different, suggesting the need for separate measurement and recording. Both locations are important for determining skin hydration and health.
ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jennifer Sahmel, Gurumurthy Ramachandran
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of skin hydration and condition on quantitative chemical transfer and found that skin hydration level did not significantly affect dermal loading, except for a moderately positive association observed at higher hydration levels.
ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer Sahmel, Susan F. F. Arnold, Gurumurthy Ramachandran
Summary: This study evaluated the accuracy of dermal exposure judgments made by occupational health practitioners. The results showed that practitioners had limited experience and confidence in performing dermal exposure assessments, and tended to overestimate the potential for dermal exposure. Additional training and education, as well as improvements in dermal models, are necessary to enhance the accuracy of dermal exposure assessments.
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Skyler A. Price, Mark A. Maddaloni, Brent L. Finley, Stephanie A. Thornton, Ken M. Unice
Summary: The U.S. FDA proposed lead action levels for baby and child food based on a daily dietary Pb reference value of 2.2 μg/day. Biokinetic models were compared to understand potential exposures to Pb in baby food. Soil and dust were found to be the primary contributors to infant blood lead levels, while food and water had a minor contribution.