No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

La fraction lipidique pollinique a un effet adjuvant sur la réaction allergique et elle est impliquée dans les processus de germination. L’altération de cette fraction par les polluants atmosphériques est peu documentée dans la littérature bien que des effets délétères soient possibles sur la santé des sujets allergiques. Notre travail a été effectué sur deux pollens parmi les plus allergisants : la fléole des prés (phleum pratense) et le bouleau (betula pendula). La fraction lipidique des pollens intacts a été identifiée et quantifiée par chromatographie en phase gazeuse équipée d’un détecteur à ionisation de flamme ou couplée à la spectrométrie de masse. Les principales familles chimiques identifiées sont les suivantes : alcanes, alcools, alcènes, acides gras saturés et insaturés, aldéhydes et stérols. Une exposition in vitro des pollens à l’ozone a mis en évidence une réactivité des alcènes et une production d’acides gras saturés et d’aldéhydes. Le dioxyde d’azote a montré quant à lui un rôle protecteur vis-à-vis de la réactivité de l’ozone. La biodisponibilité des lipides des pollens intacts semble faible comme l’ont montré les extractions du pollen en milieu aqueux sans agitation. Par ailleurs, nos résultats semblent donner un nouveau rôle à la rupture des pollens dans l’atmosphère. En effet, nous avons observé une extraction facilitée des lipides pour les pollens broyés et notamment d’espèces immunostimulantes telles que les acides linoléique et α-linolénique. Le rôle d’adjuvants à la réaction allergique de ces lipides extraits du pollen cassé ou pollué devra être précisé dans une étude ultérieure. / The pollen lipidic fraction has an adjuvant effect on the allergic reaction and it is involved in germination processes. The alteration of pollen lipids by atmospheric pollutants is poorly documented in the literature although negative health effects are suspected. Our work was carried out on two highly allergenic pollens: timothy grass (phleum pratense) and birch tree (betula pendula). The lipid fraction of intact pollen was identified and quantified by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector or coupled to mass spectrometry. The main chemical families identified are: alkanes, alcohols, alkenes, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, aldehydes and sterols. In vitro exposure of pollen to ozone has exhibited the reactivity of alkenes and the production of saturated fatty acids and aldehydes. Nitrogen dioxide has shown a protective role toward the reactivity of ozone. Furthermore, the bioavailability of lipids from intact pollen appears to be low as shown by pollen extractions with aqueous solvent without agitation. Moreover, our results give a new role to the rupture of pollen in the atmosphere. In fact, we observed a facilitated extraction of lipids for crushed pollen and in particular the release of immunostimulatory species such as linoleic and α-linolenic acids. The adjuvancy effects of the lipids extracted from broken or polluted pollen grains to the allergic reaction should be unraveled in a future work.

No description available.

This thesis makes a study of the environmental impact of waste incineration and particularly of hospital waste incineration. Literature relevant to the topic is discussed. The environmental impact of the incineration process itself and the different methods used in the disposal of wastes was assessed. The nature of waste is reviewed in relation to quantities, composition and classification. Legislation concerning hospital waste disposal is summarised. The study also focuses on methods of waste disposal including the characteristics and nature of incineration, the activities involved in the combustion process of hospital waste and the nature of incinerator stack emissions and the biological material released to the environment. Other methods of disposal are explained. The perceived and inherent risks associated with hospital waste incineration are discussed. The results of the data collected during this research are presented, analyzed and discussed. The thesis also anal yses the link between hospital waste incineration and EIA. 1n addition the importance of the effects of hospital waste incineration on human health are discussed. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is discussed including its methodology. The advantages, disadvantages and its use in the UK and Iran are reviewed. A critique of the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted by Environmental Technology Consultants Ltd. (ETC). for the proposed incinerator at Kirkby is given. The thesis concludes with a consideration of the application of EIA techniques to planning applications for hospital waste incinerator and makes a number of recommendations as to their use and applicability.

The atmospheric flux (wet and dry) of trace metals (Ni, Co. Cu, Pb, Cd, Al and Na) to the Irish Sea and the North-West of England is presented. The fluxes were calculated from determined trace metal concentrations of aerosols (Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Na, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) and rainwaters (Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Cd, Al and Na), which were collected using specially designed sampling equipment. The particulate material was analysed using inductively coupled plasma - mass spectroscopy (ICPMS) and also atomic absorption spectroscopy techniques after a complete aciddigestion (HFIHNO3). The dissolved rainwater metal concentrations were determined using the electroanalytical technique adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (ACSV). This technique also enabled dissolved metal Organic complexation to be determined in the rainwater. The results indicated that the trace metal aerosol and rainwater concentrations detected for the Irish Sea and urban areas vary considerably during an annual period. This can be attributed to (i) air mass source and (ii) rainwater washout. Geometric mean aerosol concentrations (ng m 3) were calculated for the Irish Sea aerosol (Al, 210; Fe, 159; Mn, 6.2; Cd, 0.26; Co, 0.17; Cr, 2.0; Cu, 5.3; Na 1140; Ni, 4.2; Pb, 19; V, 4.1; Zn, 32) and North-West England aerosol (Al, 365; Fe, 589; Mn, 21; Cd, 0.80; Co, 0.68; Cr, 13; Cu, 17; Na 2208; Ni, 16; Pb, 45; V, 7.7; Zn, 153) along with total (dissolved + particulate) volume weighted mean concentrations (j.ig l') for the Irish Sea rainwater (Al, 32; Cd, 0.05; Co, 0.05; Cu, 1.8; Na 1998; Ni, 1.1; Pb, 0.73) and North-West England rainwater (Al, 72; Cd, 0.14; Co, 0.15; Cu, 2.9; Na 1274; Ni, 1.7; Pb, 1.82). Air mass analysis studies illustrated the affect on the aerosol trace metal concentrations. For Fe, Mn, Cd, Cu. Pb, V and Zn the Irish Sea aerosol concentrations decreased in the order E> S > N > W. Calculated total inputs to the Irish Sea for Cu (131 t yr:'), Pb (82 t yr') and Cd (3.2 t yr.') were of similar magnitude to total riverine inputs and considerably greater than those of direct discharges (sewage and drainage) for Cu and Pb. The fate of aerosol associated trace metals in the Irish Sea was investigated by laboratory simulation aerosol seawater/rainwater solubility studies. These studies indicated fast dissolution kinetics for crust-rich and urban-rich aerosol trace metals, with equilibrium times of - 5 minutes for Ni, Co, Cu, Pb and Cd. Similar solubility studies performed on collected Irish Sea aerosols in seawater and artificial rainwater indicated solubilities increased in the order Co (32 %) c Pb (37 %) < Ni (38 %) < Cd (46 %) < Cu (58 %) for seawater. These were correspondingly higher in artificial rainwater, Co (37 %) <Ni (41 %) < Pb (44 %) < Cd (52 %) < Cu (63 %). These solubilities were found to be both lower than field determined rainwater solubilities, Pb (63 %) <Ni (69 %) c Co (70 %) < Cd (79 %) < Cu (82 %). This difference being attributed to condensation and evaporation cloud cycles which can reduce the pH of cloudwater to - 2. Within the dissolved fraction, organic complexation was detected for Cu (32 %), Cd (32 %), Pb (34 %), Ni (35 %) and Co (38 %) indicating that the atmosphere is a source of potential metal complexing material. Calculation of net inputs to the Irish Sea highlights the importance of wet deposition. The wet to dry ratio for the selected metals in the Irish Sea increased in the order Co (1.7) !~ Ni (1.7) < Cu (2) !~ Cd (2) <Pb (2.1). Net atmospheric inputs to the North - East Irish Sea are of the same magnitude for Ni (7 t yr.'), Cu (17 yr.j, Pb (10 t yr.') and Cd (0.36 t yr:') when compared to riverine inputs.

Les composés organiques odorants forment une classe de composés qui joue un rôle dans la chimie atmosphérique et a des impacts sur le climat et la santé. Parmi ces composés, les composés soufrés ont des seuils olfactifs très bas et une odeur typique souvent caractérisée comme celle du « chou pourri ». Ils engendrent de nombreuses nuisances olfactives qui incommodent les populations notamment à proximité des sources d’émission. Compte tenu de la nature réactive des composés soufrés et de leurs faibles niveaux de concentration dans l’atmosphère, l’objectif principal de cette thèse est de développer, de qualifier et mettre en œuvre des méthodes de mesures pour la détermination des concentrations en composés soufrés à des échelles spatiales et temporelles fines. La méthodologie proposée se décompose en trois phases majeures : (i) le prélèvement et la concentration des composés d’intérêts sur des adsorbants, (ii) l’analyse par un système couplant thermodésorption et chromatographie en phase gazeuse, (iii) la détection et la quantification de chaque composé par des détecteurs spécifiques. Les principaux travaux réalisés ont permis la sélection d'un support adsorbant, la définition de conditions optimales d'échantillonnage et d’analyse adaptées à la plupart des situations potentielles de nuisance olfactive. / Odorous organic compounds play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and have impacts on climate and health. Among these compounds, the sulfur compounds have low olfactory thresholds and pungent smells like "rotten eggs, rotten cabbage or vegetables". They cause olfactory annoyances to the people living nearby emission sources. The growing demand from local populations in terms of quality of life and well-being increases the number of olfactory assessment studies in industrial field. Due to the reactive nature of sulfur compounds and their low concentration levels in the atmosphere, the main objective of this thesis is to develop, qualify and implement measurement methods for the determination of spatial and temporal sulfur compounds concentrations. The methodology is divided into three major steps: (i) the sampling and concentration of interest compounds on sorbent, (ii) the analysis by a system combined thermodesorption and gas chromatography, (iii) the detection and the quantification of each compound by specific detectors. The main works carried out allowed the selection of sorbent, the determination of optimal sampling conditions and analysis adapted to most potential situations of olfactory nuisance.

No description available.