Experimental wood smoke exposure in humans.

Experimental studies are used to evaluate effects of human exposure to diesel exhaust and concentrated ambient particles. This article describes a system for studying exposure of humans to wood smoke. Wood smoke was generated using a wood stove placed outside an exposure chamber that can hold at least 10 subjects. A partial flow of the generated wood smoke from the stove was mixed with filtered indoor air. Personal and stationary measurements were performed of PM2.5 and PM1 mass concentrations and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs): 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and aldehydes. In addition, particulate matter (PM) mass, number concentrations, and size distributions of particles (0.007-6.7 microm), as well as nitrous oxides, CO2, and CO, were measured online. Filters were analyzed for trace elements and black smoke. Polycyclic aromatic compounds, toluene, and xylenes were determined in stationary samples. Results of the first experiment showed no differences between personal and stationary measurements for particles or VOCs. Consequently, stationary measurements can be used to predict personal exposure. All PM mass (about 250 microg/m3) was in the PM1 fraction. Subjective symptoms were generally weak, while clear objective signs were found, for example, in biomarkers of inflammation. With careful control of the combustion process, relatively constant mass and number concentrations were obtained over each exposure session. By varying the combustion and dilution of the wood smoke, different exposure scenarios can be achieved and thus, knowledge about which of the properties of particles and gaseous compounds are crucial for the effects.

Fire-LCA study of TV sets with V0 and HB enclosure material.

A novel Life-Cycle Assessment model (Fire-LCA) has been defined for the determination of the environmental impact of measures taken to attain a high level of fire safety. This study, which represents the first application of this LCA model, concentrates on a comparison between a TV with an enclosure manufactured with a flame retardant (FR) plastic (V0-rated high impact polystyrene, HIPS, typical for the US market) and one manufactured with a non-flame retardant (HB-rated HIPS, typical for the European market). A fire model has been defined based on international statistics, which indicate that use of V0 rated enclosure material essentially removes the risk of TV fires while approximately 165 TV fires occur per million TVs in Europe each year where the enclosure material is breached. The application of the model indicates that emissions of some key species (such as dibenzodioxins and PAH) are actually lower for the TV with the FR enclosure than for the TV with the NFR enclosure. This has direct reprercussions for the assessment of the environmental impact of the FR TV relative to that of the NFR TV. Finally, when considering the risk associated with the use of flame retardants, it is also important to consider the risk associated with fires. Based on the in-depth analysis of available fire statistics, conducted as a part of this study, it has been estimated that as many as 160 people may die each year in Europe as a direct result of TV fires and as many as 2000 may be injured in the same period.

Report: waste refinery in the municipality of Borås.

This paper briefly describes waste treatment trends in Sweden and describes an example of state-of-the-art treatment in a local integrated waste treatment system (Borås). The focus is on treatment of household waste, to illustrate what can be done to establish a sustainable waste treatment system with high recovery of materials and energy. The various processes have resulted in a low amount of landfilled household waste, and high proportions of recovered energy and materials. Heat, electricity, vehicle fuel and fertilizers, metals and construction materials are recovered from the local waste in Borås, with less than 4% of domestic waste being sent to landfill.