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James BD, Reddy CM, Hahn ME, Nelson RK, de Vos A, Aluwihare LI, Wade TL, Knap AH, Bera G. Fire and Oil Led to Complex Mixtures of PAHs on Burnt and Unburnt Plastic during the M/V X-Press Pearl Disaster. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2023; 3:319-335. [PMID: 37743953 PMCID: PMC10515710 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In May 2021, the M/V X-Press Pearl container ship burned for 2 weeks, leading to the largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles). The disaster was exacerbated by the leakage of other cargo and the ship's underway fuel. This disaster affords the unique opportunity to study a time-stamped, geolocated release of plastic under real-world conditions. Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest to the ship comprised nurdles exposed to heat and combustion, burnt plastic pieces (pyroplastic), and oil-plastic agglomerates (petroplastic). An unresolved question is whether the 1600+ tons of spilled and recovered plastic should be considered hazardous waste. Due to the known formation and toxicity of combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we measured 20 parent and 21 alkylated PAHs associated with several types of spilled plastic. The maximum PAH content of the sampled pyroplastic had the greatest amount of PAHs recorded for marine plastic debris (199,000 ng/g). In contrast, the sampled unburnt white nurdles had two orders of magnitude less PAH content. The PAH composition varied between the types of spilled plastic and presented features typical of and conflicting with petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Nevertheless, specific markers and compositional changes for burning plastics were identified, revealing that the fire was the main source of PAHs. Eight months after the spill, the PAH contents of sampled stray nurdles and pyroplastic were reduced by more than 50%. Due to their PAH content exceeding levels allowable for plastic consumer goods, classifying burnt plastic as hazardous waste may be warranted. Following a largely successful cleanup, we recommend that the Sri Lankans re-evaluate the identification, handling, and disposal of the plastic debris collected from beaches and the potential exposure of responders and the public to PAHs from handling it. The maritime disaster underscores pyroplastic as a type of plastic pollution that has yet to be fully explored, despite the pervasiveness of intentional and unintentional burning of plastic globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D. James
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Biology
Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M. Reddy
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology
Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Robert K. Nelson
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Asha de Vos
- Oceanswell, 9 Park Gardens, Colombo 00500, Sri Lanka
- The
Oceans Institute, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling
Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Lihini I. Aluwihare
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Terry L. Wade
- Geochemical
and Environmental Research Group, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, United States
- Department
of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Anthony H. Knap
- Geochemical
and Environmental Research Group, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, United States
- Department
of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Gopal Bera
- Geochemical
and Environmental Research Group, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, United States
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DeMarini DM, Linak WP. Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of combustion emissions are impacted more by combustor technology than by fuel composition: A brief review. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2022; 63:135-150. [PMID: 35253926 PMCID: PMC9311424 DOI: 10.1002/em.22475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Studies during the past 50 years have characterized the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of extractable organic material (EOM) of particulate matter (PM) in ambient air and from combustion emissions. We have summarized conclusions from these studies and present data supporting those conclusions for 50 combustion emissions, including carcinogenic potencies on mouse skin (papillomas/mouse/mg EOM), mutagenic potencies (revertants/μg EOM) in the Salmonella (Ames) mutagenicity assay, and mutagenicity emission factors (revertants/kg fuel or revertants/MJthermal ) in Salmonella. Mutagenic potencies of EOM from PM in ambient air and combustion emissions span 1-2 orders of magnitude, respectively. In contrast, the revertants/m3 span >5 orders of magnitude due to variable PM concentrations in ambient air. Carcinogenic potencies of EOM from combustion emissions on mouse skin and EOM-associated human lung cancer risk from those emissions both span ~3 orders of magnitude and are highly associated. The ubiquitous presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitroarenes, and aromatic amines results in mutagenic and carcinogenic potencies of PM that span only 1-3 orders of magnitude; most PM induces primarily G to T mutations. Mutagenicity emission factors of combustion emissions span 3-5 orders of magnitude and correlate with PAH emission factors (r > 0.9). Mutagenicity emission factors were largely a function of how material was burned (highly efficient modern combustors versus open burning) rather than what materials were burned. Combustion systems that minimize kinetic and mass-transfer limitations and promote complete oxidation also minimize the mutagenicity of their emissions. This fundamental engineering principle can inform environmental and public health assessments of combustion emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. DeMarini
- Air Methods and Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurement and ModelingU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - William P. Linak
- Air Methods and Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurement and ModelingU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
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Kim YH, Warren SH, Kooter I, Williams WC, George IJ, Vance SA, Hays MD, Higuchi MA, Gavett SH, DeMarini DM, Jaspers I, Gilmour MI. Chemistry, lung toxicity and mutagenicity of burn pit smoke-related particulate matter. Part Fibre Toxicol 2021; 18:45. [PMID: 34915899 PMCID: PMC8675519 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-021-00435-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Open burning of anthropogenic sources can release hazardous emissions and has been associated with increased prevalence of cardiopulmonary health outcomes. Exposure to smoke emitted from burn pits in military bases has been linked with respiratory illness among military and civilian personnel returning from war zones. Although the composition of the materials being burned is well studied, the resulting chemistry and potential toxicity of the emissions are not. METHODS Smoke emission condensates from either flaming or smoldering combustion of five different types of burn pit-related waste: cardboard; plywood; plastic; mixture; and mixture/diesel, were obtained from a laboratory-scale furnace coupled to a multistage cryotrap system. The primary emissions and smoke condensates were analyzed for a standardized suite of chemical species, and the condensates were studied for pulmonary toxicity in female CD-1 mice and mutagenic activity in Salmonella (Ames) mutagenicity assay using the frameshift strain TA98 and the base-substitution strain TA100 with and without metabolic activation (S9 from rat liver). RESULTS Most of the particles in the smoke emitted from flaming and smoldering combustion were less than 2.5 µm in diameter. Burning of plastic containing wastes (plastic, mixture, or mixture/diesel) emitted larger amounts of particulate matter (PM) compared to other types of waste. On an equal mass basis, the smoke PM from flaming combustion of plastic containing wastes caused more inflammation and lung injury and was more mutagenic than other samples, and the biological responses were associated with elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that adverse health effects of burn pit smoke exposure vary depending on waste type and combustion temperature; however, burning plastic at high temperature was the most significant contributor to the toxicity outcomes. These findings will provide a better understanding of the complex chemical and combustion temperature factors that determine toxicity of burn pit smoke and its potential health risks at military bases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ho Kim
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Sarah H Warren
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Ingeborg Kooter
- Department of Circular Economy and the Environment, The Netherlands Organisation of Applied Sciences, TNO, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wanda C Williams
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Ingrid J George
- Air Methods and Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Samuel A Vance
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Michael D Hays
- Air Methods and Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Mark A Higuchi
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Stephen H Gavett
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - David M DeMarini
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
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Wu D, Li Q, Shang X, Liang Y, Ding X, Sun H, Li S, Wang S, Chen Y, Chen J. Commodity plastic burning as a source of inhaled toxic aerosols. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125820. [PMID: 33887570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Commodity plastic is ubiquitous in daily life and commonly disposed of via unregulated burning, particularly in developing regions. We report here the much higher emission factors (13.1 ± 7.5 g/kg) and toxicities of inhalable aerosols emitted from the unregulated burning of plastic waste based on field measurements and cellular experiments, including oxidative stress and cytotoxic tests in A549 cells. Plastic foam burning emitted aerosols possesses the highest EFs (34.8 ± 4.5 g/kg) and toxicities, which are 4.2- to 13.4-fold and 1.1- to 2.7-fold higher than those emitted from the burning of other waste types. These quantified toxicities are mainly attributed to aerosols containing carbonaceous matter, especially persistent organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins, which originate from incomplete combustion processes. The aerosol emission amounts were estimated from the obtained experimental results. Approximately 70.2 million tons (29%) of plastic waste was burned without regulation worldwide in 2016, leading to 0.92 ± 0.53 million tons of toxic aerosols being released into the air, a majority of which occurred in developing regions. The results indicate improved combustion technology and control strategies are urgently needed in developing regions for discarded plastic -waste to mitigate toxic exposure risks and achieve sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qing Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Xiaona Shang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yingguang Liang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiang Ding
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shuya Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yingjun Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jianmin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Dubocq F, Bjurlid F, Ydstål D, Titaley IA, Reiner E, Wang T, Almirall XO, Kärrman A. Organic contaminants formed during fire extinguishing using different firefighting methods assessed by nontarget analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:114834. [PMID: 32454383 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
During a fire event, potentially hazardous chemicals are formed from the combustion of burning materials and are released to the surrounding environment, both via gas and soot particles. The aim of this investigation was to study if firefighting techniques influence the emission of chemicals in gas phase and soot particles. Five full-scale fire tests were extinguished using four different firefighting techniques. A nontarget chemical analysis approach showed that important contaminants in gas and soot separating the different tests were brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and linear hydrocarbons. Reproducibility was evaluated by a field replicate test and it was determined that the temperature curve during the event had a bigger impact on the released chemicals than the firefighting technique used. However, despite fire intensity being a confounding factor, multivariate statistics concluded that water mist with additive resulted in less BFR emissions compared to foam extinguishing. The analysis also showed that the conventional spray nozzle method released more PAHs compared with the water mist method. The comprehensive chemical analysis of gas and soot released during fire events was able to show that different firefighting techniques influenced the release of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Dubocq
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Filip Bjurlid
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Danielle Ydstål
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ivan A Titaley
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Eric Reiner
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, ON, Canada (ret.)
| | - Thanh Wang
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Xavier Ortiz Almirall
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, ON, Canada; Queen's University, School of Environmental Sciences, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden
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Seltenrich N. Flavors of Fire: Assessing the Relative Toxicity of Smoke from Different Types of Wildfires. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:044003. [PMID: 29656633 PMCID: PMC6071823 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
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Kim YH, Warren SH, Krantz QT, King C, Jaskot R, Preston WT, George BJ, Hays MD, Landis MS, Higuchi M, DeMarini DM, Gilmour MI. Mutagenicity and Lung Toxicity of Smoldering vs. Flaming Emissions from Various Biomass Fuels: Implications for Health Effects from Wildland Fires. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:017011. [PMID: 29373863 PMCID: PMC6039157 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing size and frequency of wildland fires are leading to greater potential for cardiopulmonary disease and cancer in exposed populations; however, little is known about how the types of fuel and combustion phases affect these adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the mutagenicity and lung toxicity of particulate matter (PM) from flaming vs. smoldering phases of five biomass fuels, and compared results by equal mass or emission factors (EFs) derived from amount of fuel consumed. METHODS A quartz-tube furnace coupled to a multistage cryotrap was employed to collect smoke condensate from flaming and smoldering combustion of red oak, peat, pine needles, pine, and eucalyptus. Samples were analyzed chemically and assessed for acute lung toxicity in mice and mutagenicity in Salmonella. RESULTS The average combustion efficiency was 73 and 98% for the smoldering and flaming phases, respectively. On an equal mass basis, PM from eucalyptus and peat burned under flaming conditions induced significant lung toxicity potencies (neutrophil/mass of PM) compared to smoldering PM, whereas high levels of mutagenicity potencies were observed for flaming pine and peat PM compared to smoldering PM. When effects were adjusted for EF, the smoldering eucalyptus PM had the highest lung toxicity EF (neutrophil/mass of fuel burned), whereas smoldering pine and pine needles had the highest mutagenicity EF. These latter values were approximately 5, 10, and 30 times greater than those reported for open burning of agricultural plastic, woodburning cookstoves, and some municipal waste combustors, respectively. CONCLUSIONS PM from different fuels and combustion phases have appreciable differences in lung toxic and mutagenic potency, and on a mass basis, flaming samples are more active, whereas smoldering samples have greater effect when EFs are taken into account. Knowledge of the differential toxicity of biomass emissions will contribute to more accurate hazard assessment of biomass smoke exposures. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2200.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ho Kim
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- National Research Council , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sarah H Warren
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Q Todd Krantz
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charly King
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard Jaskot
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Barbara J George
- Immediate Office, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael D Hays
- Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew S Landis
- Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mark Higuchi
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - David M DeMarini
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Hosseini S, Shrivastava M, Qi L, Weise DR, Cocker DR, Miller JW, Jung HS. Effect of low-density polyethylene on smoke emissions from burning of simulated debris piles. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2014; 64:690-703. [PMID: 25039203 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2014.882282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic is used to keep piled debris from silvicultural activities--activities associated with development and care of forests--dry to enable efficient disposal by burning. The effects of inclusion of LDPE in this manner on smoke emissions are not well known. In a combustion laboratory experiment, 2-kg mixtures of LDPE and manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) wood containing 0, 0.25, and 2.5% LDPE by mass were burned. Gaseous and particulate emissions were sampled in real time during the entire flaming, mixed combustion phase--when the flaming and smoldering phases are present at the same time--and during a portion of the smoldering phase. Analysis of variance was used to test significance of modified combustion efficiency (MCE)--the ratio of concentrations of fire-integrated excess CO2 to CO2 plus CO--and LDPE content on measured individual compounds. MCE ranged between 0.983 and 0.993, indicating that combustion was primarily flaming; MCE was seldom significant as a covariate. Of the 195 compounds identified in the smoke emissions, only the emission factor (EF) of 3M-octane showed an increase with increasing LDPE content. Inclusion of LDPE had an effect on EFs of pyrene and fluoranthene, but no statistical evidence of a linear trend was found. Particulate emission factors showed a marginally significant linear relationship with MCE (0.05 < P-value < 0.10). Based on the results of the current and previous studies and literature reviews, the inclusion of small mass proportions of LDPE in piled silvicultural debris does not appear to change the emissions produced when low-moisture-content wood is burned. In general, combustion of wet piles results in lower MCEs and consequently higher levels of emissions. IMPLICATIONS Current air quality regulations permit the use of burning to dispose of silvicultural piles; however, inclusion of low-density polyethyelene (LDPE) plastic in silvicultural piles can result in a designation of the pile as waste. Waste burning is not permitted in many areas, and there is also concern that inclusion of LDPE leads to toxic air emissions.
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He X, Grinshpun SA, Reponen T, Yermakov M, McKay R, Haruta H, Kimura K. Laboratory evaluation of the particle size effect on the performance of an elastomeric half-mask respirator against ultrafine combustion particles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 57:884-97. [PMID: 23609115 DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/met014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study quantified the particle size effect on the performance of elastomeric half-mask respirators, which are widely used by firefighters and first responders exposed to combustion aerosols. METHODS One type of elastomeric half-mask respirator equipped with two P-100 filters was donned on a breathing manikin while challenged with three combustion aerosols (originated by burning wood, paper, and plastic). Testing was conducted with respirators that were fully sealed, partially sealed (nose area only), or unsealed to the face of a breathing manikin to simulate different faceseal leakages. Three cyclic flows with mean inspiratory flow (MIF) rates of 30, 85, and 135 L/min were tested for each combination of sealing condition and combustion material. Additional testing was performed with plastic combustion particles at other cyclic and constant flows. Particle penetration was determined by measuring particle number concentrations inside and outside the respirator with size ranges from 20 to 200 nm. RESULTS Breathing flow rate, particle size, and combustion material all had significant effects on the performance of the respirator. For the partially sealed and unsealed respirators, the penetration through the faceseal leakage reached maximum at particle sizes >100 nm when challenged with plastic aerosol, whereas no clear peaks were observed for wood and paper aerosols. The particles aerosolized by burning plastic penetrated more readily into the unsealed half-mask than those aerosolized by the combustion of wood and paper. The difference may be attributed to the fact that plastic combustion particles differ from wood and paper particles by physical characteristics such as charge, shape, and density. For the partially sealed respirator, the highest penetration values were obtained at MIF = 85 L/min. The unsealed respirator had approximately 10-fold greater penetration than the one partially sealed around the bridge of the nose, which indicates that the nose area was the primary leak site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian He
- Center for Health-Related Aerosol Studies, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
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