Retail buildings have potential for both short-term (customer) and long-term (occupational) exposure to indoor pollutants. A multitude of sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common to the retail environment. Volatile organic compounds can be odorous, irritating or carcinogenic. Through a field investigation and modeling study, this dissertation investigates exposure to, and control of, VOCs in retail buildings. Fourteen U.S. retail stores were tested one to four times each over a period of a year, for a total of twenty-four test visits. Over a hundred parameters were investigated to characterize each of the buildings, including ventilation system parameters, and airborne pollutants both indoors and outdoors. Concentrations of VOCs were simultaneously measured using five different methods: Summa canisters, sorbent tubes, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) tubes, a photoionization detector (PID), and a colorimetric real-time formaldehyde monitor (FMM). The resulting dataset was analyzed to evaluate underlying trends in the concentrations and speciation of VOCs, identify influencing factors, and determine contaminants of concern. A parametric framework based on a time-averaged mass balance was then developed to compare strategies to reduce formaldehyde concentrations in retail stores. Mitigation of exposure to formaldehyde through air cleaning (filtration), emission control (humidity control), and targeted dilution (local ventilation) were assessed. Results of the field study suggested that formaldehyde was the most important contaminant of concern in the retail stores investigated, as all 14 stores exceeded the most conservative health guideline for formaldehyde (OEHHA TWA REL = 7.3 ppb) during at least one sampling event. Formaldehyde monitors were strongly correlated with DNPH tube results. The FMM showed promising characteristics, supporting further consideration as real-time indicators to control ventilation and/or environmental parameters. The vast majority of the remaining VOCs were present at low concentrations, but episodic activities such as cooking and cleaning led to relatively high indoor concentrations for ethanol, acetaldehyde, and terpenoids. Results of the modeling effort demonstrated that local ventilation caused the most uniform improvements to indoor formaldehyde concentrations across building characteristics, but humidity control appeared to have a very limited impact. Filtration used under specific conditions could lead to larger decreases in formaldehyde concentrations than all other strategies investigated, and was the least energy-intensive. / text

Background: Pregnancy is the fertilization and development of one or more offspring. It is a period of significant importance, during the time of which, health status of the mother could have profound impact on that of the fetus. Due to the one child policy in Mainland China, ensuring the baby’s health is of the utmost priority. In the past two years the incidence rate of miscarriage has been gradually increasing. It has an impact on mothers both physically and psychologically. Formaldehyde can be released for a long time from compound and furniture products in newly decorated houses and have become a chronic source of pollution. We are interested in whether there is any association between miscarriage and formaldehyde exposure. If the association exists, the evidence could be applied to support further research to identify the sources of formaldehyde and to support formulation of environmental public health policy to reduce formaldehyde exposure. Objectives: (1) To estimate whether the serum formaldehyde concentrations were different between miscarriage women and normal pregnant women at the same stage. (2) To investigate the normal serum formaldehyde concentration in pregnant women; and (3) to identify exposure factors in miscarriage patients. Setting：Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre Method: A case-control study was carried out to estimate the association between serum formaldehyde concentrations and miscarriage. 309 pregnant women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria participated in this study, 191 normal pregnant women at term delivery as the control group and 118 women who were diagnosed with miscarriage as the case group. The main outcome was miscarriage confirmed by ultrasound and physicians. The main exposure variable was serum formaldehyde concentration. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratios for a diagnosis of miscarriage for each independent variable. The odds ratio (OR) would be used to estimate the relative risk of the serum formaldehyde concentration in miscarriage women compared with those women who were not diagnosed miscarriage. We also categorized the values of formaldehyde into quartile, and put them into logistic regression as continuous variable to test the linear dose-response relationship. Then we tested whether there would be a significant linear trend that the increasing of serum formaldehyde concentration level leads to the increased risk of miscarriage. Chi-squared tests were performed to test the association between diagnosis of miscarriage and various independent variables. And Chi-squared tests for linear trend were also used for ordinal independent to study any dose-response relationship. Results：The mean serum formaldehyde concentration was 0.0944 in the case group and 0.0239 in the control group. The difference was statistically significant. All characteristics between case group and control group were quite similar. After adjusting for age, occupation，education level, household income, home decoration situation, the following factors remained having independent impact on the miscarriage. They were formaldehyde and second-hand smoke (crude ORs=7.87 [95%CI: 4.96, 12.49]; 3.20[95%CI: 1.86, 5.52] respectively, adjusted ORs=8.06 [95%CI: 4.96, 13.09]; 3.60[95%CI: 1.58, 8.20] respectively). Exposure to formaldehyde and second-hand smoke were significantly associated with higher risk of miscarriage. The liner dose response association between formaldehyde level and miscarriage was presented with P value for trend less than 0.001. Conclusions：Our study provided some evidence of the association between the serum formaldehyde level and miscarriage. A significant linear trend was found that the increasing of serum formaldehyde concentration level lead to the increase the risk of miscarriage. And we also found that second-hand smoking was contributive to miscarriage. This association did not confound by age, occupation, education level, household income, or home decoration situation. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

The aims of the study were to review the literature on the currently known adverse health effects of formaldehyde vapour exposure, to measure environmental formaldehyde levels before and after engineering controls were implemented, to measure symptoms of formaldehyde exposure when compared to non - exposed controls and to evaluate the effectiveness of engineering controls in reducing the symptoms associated with formaldehyde vapour exposure in anatomy students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal. Pre and post intervention environmental monitoring surveys were conducted over the period July 1993 to September 1995 in the aforementioned Human Anatomy Laboratory using passive diffusion badges which were then analyzed by an approved laboratory in Johannesburg. Ambient air temperature, humidity and ventilation rates were measured simultaneously using appropriate instruments. Self-administered questionnaires, relating to the symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde vapours, were obtained from all anatomy students over a two year period before or after as well as during their exposure to the laboratory environment, as well as from all exposed staff members (including their control group). Nasal epithelial scrapings of staff members and a control group were subjected to cytological examination by the Cytology Department of the Provincial Pathology service, at the pre - intervention phase. The environmental monitoring data of 1993 and 1994 indicated that the ambient levels of formaldehyde vapour exceeded the American (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) and thus posed a potential health risk to students and staff, this was due to inadequate ventilation in the Human Anatomy Laboratory. An intervention in terms of ventilation controls was implemented and proved to be effective in reducing formaldehyde vapour levels and reported symptoms in the cohorts studied, comparing each group to themselves, however, the reported symptom levels did not drop significantly in the group exposed after the intervention compared to the group surveyed at the pre - intervention phase. Whether this reduction is sufficient to prevent long term health effects such as neoplasms and sensitization remains to be established. Hence it is recommended that alternative control methods should be considered. / Theses (M.Med.)-University of Natal, 1996.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1982.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1982.

Thesis (I.M.E.S.)--Baylor University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-118).

The purpose of this study was to utilise lignin as a partial substitute for phenol in PF resins. To achieve this, initially brown rot lignin was produced by a bioconversion technique. During the course of the study, it became clear that the production of brown rot lignin had a limited success. Since brown rot lignin could not be obtained in sufficient quantity and purity by a bioconversion method, other alternative lignin production methods, as well as commercially available lignin, were chosen; namely production of lignin from black liquor and Alcell® (organosolv) lignin. Before performing production of resin formulations, the lignin sources were characterised in terms of reactivity and physical properties of lignins. Both lignins had a similar reactivity, but organosolv lignin was found to be more pure, with a low ash content. Since isolation of lignin from black liquor in laboratory conditions is more complex and requires more time, it was decided to use organosolv lignin for subsequent production of lignin-based reSIns. The lignin was introduced to the resin in two different ways. The first method was the replacing of a certain percentage of phenol with lignin (as supplied) directly into resins. In the second method, lignin was modified prior to resin manufacture by phenolation. Different degrees of phenol substitution (from 5% to 60%) were tried for the production of lignin-based resins. Bond qualities of lignin-phenol-formaldehyde (LPF) , phenolated-ligninformaldehyde, commercial phenol-formaldehyde (PF _com) and laboratory made phenol-formaldehyde (PF _made) resins were assessed by using an Automatic Bonding Evaluation System (ABES), prior to production of particleboards, in order to eliminate some of the poor quality resins. The effect of press temperature and time on bond strength appeared to be highly significant, as the lignin substitution levels increased. Up to 30% phenol substitution was achieved without sacrificing bond strength. The bond strength values of phenolated-lignin-formaldehyde resins were similar to commercial phenol-formaldehyde and laboratory made phenolformaldehyde resins, but better than the LPF resins. It was apparent that resins containing a high level of lignin substitution gave the poorest bond strength values. From these results, some of the resins were eliminated, prior to particleboard production. In order to evaluate the quality of lignin-based resins, particleboards were produced and mechanical and physical tests performed. Effect of press platen temperature (140°C, 160°C, 180°C) and press cycle time (5 min, 8 min, IS min) on the mechanical properties of particleboard, produced by using lignin-based resins, were investigated. It was found that particleboards bonded with up to 30% lignin content resins gave similar mechanical and physical properties to commercial phenolformaldehyde resin, as long as a sufficient heating regime and time were applied.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Joel M. DeRouchey / Jason C. Woodworth / Two experiments using a total of 720 nursery pigs were used to determine the effects of Elarom SES, in-feed antibiotics, zinc, or copper on nursery pig growth performance and fecal consistency. Two experiments using a total of 1,534 nursery pigs were used to determine the effects of formaldehyde inclusion, lysine level, and synthetic amino acid inclusion on nursery pig performance, amino acid utilization, and gut microbial community. One experiment using a total of 300 nursery pigs were used to determine the effects of chlortetracycline (CTC) or a probiotic inclusion on nursery pig growth performance and antimicrobial susceptibility. Experiment 1 determined the effect of Elarom SES, in-feed antibiotics, or zinc on nursery pig performance and fecal consistency. The addition of Elarom SES or ZnO alone reduced ADG, but G:F was poorest when all three additives were fed in combination. Addition of in-feed antibiotics increased ADG and G:F throughout the study. Experiment 2 determined the effects of Elarom SES or copper inclusion on nursery pig performance and fecal consistency. The addition of Elarom SES or increasing copper did not provide consistent benefits in performance. In both experiments, there were no individual or overall treatment effects or treatment × day interactions observed for fecal consistency. Experiment 3 compared the effects of formaldehyde source and lysine level on nursery pig growth performance. Regardless of source or lys level, the inclusion of formaldehyde in nursery pig diets marginally reduced ADG and resulted in poorer G:F. Experiment 4 compared the effects of formaldehyde and synthetic amino acid inclusion level on nursery pig growth performance, amino acid utilization, and gut microbial community. The inclusion of Sal CURB in diets reduced ADG and ending BW while inclusion decreased ADFI. ADFI response was dependent on synthetic amino acid level in the diet. Sal CURB inclusion in diets reduced total and available lysine, but reduced bacterial microflora in treatment feed. Experiment 5 determined the effects of CTC or a probiotic on nursery pig performance and antimicrobial susceptibility. The addition of CTC to diets improved ADG, ADFI, and ending BW. The addition of Poultry Star improved ADFI and d 14 BW, but benefits did not carry throughout the study.

Neste trabalho é apresentado o estudo da degradação eletroquímica de fenol, formaldeído e misturas de fenol-formaldeído sobre ânodos dimensionalmente estáveis (ADE). Foi utilizado um ADE comercial (composição nominal Ti/Ti0,7Ru0,3O2), em uma célula eletroquímica de compartimento único sob agitação constante. As concentrações utilizadas nas misturas de fenol-formaldeído foram similares às concentrações encontradas no efluente fornecido pela indústria de resinas fenólicas Schenectady Crios, localizada na cidade de Rio Claro, SP. No final do trabalho também foi feita a degradação eletroquímica do efluente industrial com os melhores parâmetros. O recobrimento do ADE foi caracterizado por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e análises de Energia Dispersiva de Raios X (EDX). A caracterização eletroquímica foi feita por voltametria cíclica na ausência e na presença das substâncias orgânicas sob estudo. Durantes as eletrólises, a degradação das substâncias inicialmente presentes em solução foi verificadas por análises de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE) e Carbono Orgânico Total (COT). Os subprodutos formados (ácido fórmico, benzoquinona, hidroquinona, catecol e resorcinol) também foram identificados e quantificados por CLAE. Cálculos de estimativa do consumo energético também foram realizados para cada eletrólise.Foram variados os seguintes parâmetros: as densidades de corrente aplicadas, o controle da temperatura das soluções durante as eletrólises, o pH e as concentrações iniciais de fenol e formaldeído contidas nas soluções.O decaimento das concentrações das substâncias orgânicas apresenta uma cinética de pseudo primeira ordem. Observou se que quanto maior a densidade de corrente aplicada, maior é a taxa de remoção de COT, porém o consumo energético também é maior. Não se obteve a mineralização total do poluente, porém foi possível atingir uma remoção de aproximadamente 90% de COT para as soluções contendo apenas formaldeído, aplicando uma densidade de corrente de 40 mA cm-2 durante 2 horas de eletrólise. Foi possível a identificação e a quantificação dos subprodutos presentes nas soluções e no efluente industrial. As degradações eletroquímicas realizadas sem o controle da temperatura das soluções obtiveram um consumo energético menor e maior remoção de COT. / In this work presents the study of electrochemical degradation of phenol, formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde mixtures at dimensionally stable anodes (DSA®). Commercial DSA® electrodes (nominal composition: Ti/Ti0,7Ru0,3O2), ) were employed in a single compartment electrochemical cell under constant agitation. The concentrations used for the mixtures of phenol-formaldehyde were similar to concentrations found in effluent provided by the phenolic resin producer Crios Schenectady, located in Rio Claro, São Paulo state. In the final stage of the present study, the electrochemical degradation of real industrial effluent was performed employing the best parameters observed for the simulated effluents. The oxide coating of the electrode was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X Ray analyses (EDX). The electrochemical characterization of the DSA® was performed using cyclic voltammetry in the absence and presence of organic substances. The degradation of the substances inicially present in solution were monitored by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyses. The products formed (formic acid, benzoquinone, hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol) were also identified and quantified by HPLC. Estimates of the energy consumption were also performed for each electrolysis.The current densities applied, the concentrations of organic substance of the solution were varied during the electrochemical oxidation.The concentration decay of organic substances displayed pseudo first order kinetics of. It was observed that the higher the applied current density, the higher the TOC removal rate , but the energy consumption is higher. Total mineralization was not attained, but removals of approximately 90% of TOC were shown to be possible. It was possible the identification and quantification of products into the solutions and industrial effluents. The electrochemical degradation carried out without controlling the temperature of the solutions obtained a lower energy consumption and higher removal of TOC.