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For a long period of time, it has been common to use creosote for impregnation of railroad ties. Creosote consists of 85% polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), of which some are carcinogenic and/or mutagenic. In 2016, a soil remediation process was commenced at an old impregnation facility in Sweden and both dermal, urine and blood samples were taken from soil remediation workers to investigate the occupational exposure. The objectives of this study were to develop a method for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including PAHs, oxy-PAHs, alkylated PAHs and dibenzothiophenes and azaarenes from blood, and to quantify PAHs in the collected blood samples from the soil remediation workers. In the method development, two parameters were tested: centrifugation of samples before extraction and use of either basic or deactivated silica in the clean-up step of the blood extracts. The results showed that the best method was without centrifugation and with use of basic silica. Results from the analysis of the soil remediation workers´ blood showed PAHs in average concentrations of 0.05-6.47 ng/mL blood, with fluorene and biphenyl being the most abundant PAHs. The occupational groups (office, machine and sampling) had similar average concentrations of PAHs, with office workers being slightly less exposed. The PAHs blood profile did not reflect the PAHs profiles in contaminated soil from the area; the blood profiles had relatively higher abundances of low molecular weight PAHs, while the soils had higher relative concentrations of middle molecular weight PAHs. Both blood and soils had low relative concentrations of high molecular weight PAHs. Pyrene concentrations in blood and 1-hydroxypyrene metabolite concentrations in urine samples showed no correlation (linearity r2=0.045). Both blood and urine samples from the workers indicated a low exposure of PAHs. The method tested in this study can be used for analysis of a broad range of PACs and seems to be a better approach for studying the exposure of PACs than today’s methods analysing a few urine metabolites. But additional clean-up is suggested to improve the quantification of all blood samples. Further investigations are required to gain an understanding of normal, unexposed PACs levels in blood.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2008. / Includes abstract. Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Febrary 3, 2010). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

This thesis investigated the interaction of complex vegetation with wind flow and sediment transport at a creosote shrubland located in New Mexico and formed part of a larger on-going study to improve wind erosion modeling techniques. Directionally dependent roughness densities, λ, were computed and compared to mean wind speed ratios (WSRs) derived from anemometry data. A significant relationship existed among decreasing WSRs and increasing λ, indicating that shelter to the ground changed depending on the orientation of the wind. WSRs were larger on the west, more sparsely vegetated side, than in the east, demonstrating that distribution and plant size have a significant effect on near surface winds. Comparison of these data to a similar study completed in a mesquite coppice dune field demonstrated weaknesses in the roughness density parameter. These results have application for improving the understanding of interactions between wind flow and vegetation in complex rangeland environments.

Då ett eventuellt förbud av nya kreosotimpregnerade stolpar kan bli en verklighet inom EU år 2018 letar Vattenfall efter andra alternativ. Stål, betong, limträ och komposit anses idag vara de mest konkurrenskraftiga alternativen och kommer att undersökas i denna rapport. Grundläggande tekniska egenskaper, miljöutsläpp och kostnader för de olika stolptyperna kommer att analyseras i rapporten och jämföras mot den kreosotimpregnerade furustolpen. Rapporten beskriver hur de olika stolpalternativen lämpar sig i Vattenfalls elnät i Sverige. P.g.a. sekretesskäl kommer exakta prisuppgifter inte att redovisas. Prisuppgifterna för inköp och återvinning kommer istället att redovisas som en kvot mellan den alternativa stolpen dividerat kreosotstolpen. Inte heller kommer slipers och andra fundament att behandlas i rapporten. Metoden som används bygger på att först presentera relevant teori kring vardera stolptyp. Även impregneringsprocessen, besiktningsmetoder och nedbrytning/återvinning av stolpar redogörs i rapporten. Den miljömässiga analysen bygger på IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutets LCA-analys där kreosotstolpen jämförs med andra stolptyper. Det visar sig dock att kreosotstolpen är den stolptyp som bidrar till minst miljöutsläpp om man ser till hela dess livscykel. Slutsatsen är att kompositstolpen visar sig vara ett av de mest konkurrenskraftiga alternativen då den ses som ett miljövänligt alternativ och dess vikt gör den lätt att hantera. Den är heller inte impregnerad och kan därför monteras överallt utan några rättsliga restriktioner. Denna stolptyp är också väldigt aktuell då den i dagsläget är väl etablerad på marknaden. / Because of a possible ban of creosote impregnated poles can become a real scenario within the EU the year 2018 Vattenfall are searching for other alternatives. Steel, concrete, laminated wood and composite are considered the most competitive alternatives today and are being investigated in this report. Basic technical specifications, impacts on the environment and costs of the different pole types are being analyzed in the report and compared to the creosote impregnated pine pole. This report will describe how well the alternative pole types are suited in Vattenfalls electrical grid in Sweden. Due to confidentiality reasons the exact amount of costs and expenses will not be included in the report. The price of purchase and recycling will instead be presented as a quota between the alternative pole divided by the creosote pole. Neither will sleepers nor other pole foundations be included in this report. The method that is being used is to first present relevant theory about the mentioned pole types. Also the impregnation process, survey and disintegration/recycling of poles will be explained. The environmental analysis are based on IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet's LCA where the creosote pole are compared to its alternatives. They conclude that it is the creosote pole that has the least impact on the environment if you look at the whole life-cycle. The conclusion is that the composite pole are shown to be one of the most competitive alternatives because it is considered to be environmental-friendly and its low weight makes it easy to work with. Also, it's not impregnated and can therefore be used everywhere without any legal restrictions. This pole type is also very relevant as it is already released on the market.

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