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Air quality in the Shenandoah Valley has deteriorated in recent years. The valley exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone (O3) a few days each year, and with stricter fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards coming into effect, the valley risks exceeding those as well. Visibility is poor in the valley region, and the haze obscures the spectacular vistas from the Shenandoah National Park. To solve the growing problem local governments in the valley joined forces to find economically and politically feasible ways to reduce air pollution. In this study we aim to provide the scientific basis for air quality management strategies through modeling the sensitivity of various pollutants to changes in emissions. We distinguish between locally generated versus regionally transported air pollution as well as assess the impacts of proposed local air pollution control measures on ambient air quality in the valley. The first part of this thesis assesses air pollutant emissions in the Shenandoah Valley. Emissions were assigned to one of 14 source categories and allocated by county or city. Biogenic sources were responsible for 56% of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in the valley. VOCs are important because they, together with nitrogen oxides (NOx) react to form O3 in the presence of sunlight. On-road and off-road mobile sources were the largest anthropogenic sources of VOCs as well as 63% of the NOx. PM2.5 emissions were not dominated by any single source, but fuel combustion, dust, and agriculture were important contributors. The second part of this thesis focuses on modeling ambient air pollution concentrations in the Shenandoah Valley based on the emissions generated in the first portion. We developed a set of three alternative emissions scenarios for comparison to the base case. We first zeroed anthropogenic emissions in the valley, allowing us to determine how much pollution was produced by local sources versus transported into the valley from upwind areas. We then developed a scenario that contained nine different pollution reduction strategies being considered by local governments. Finally we modeled a similar scenario in which we predicted the impact of ten proposed greenhouse gas reduction strategies on concentrations of O3 and PM2.5. We found that PM2.5 concentrations fell when emissions in the valley were reduced, but O3 did not. PM2.5 concentrations fell by 26-57% for the Zero Case and by 10-27% for the other two cases, depending on the time of year and location. Conversely for O3 there was either no change in most seasons or a small increase in concentrations in the fall. These results suggest that PM2.5 in the valley can be controlled with local measures but O3 is a more geographically wide problem. / Master of Science

Residential coal stoves emit various pollutants such as CO, NO_x, SO_x, and smoke. The emissions can be reduced by varying the burning conditions in the stove. This investigation studied the effect of various burning conditions on the emissions from a two-stage lump coal combustor burning Wyoming bituminous coal. The parameters that were varied include primary air mass flow rate, secondary air mass flow rate, secondary air temperature, secondary air inlet velocity, and secondary air swirl. Each parameter was varied independently to attempt to isolate its effect on emissions. In addition, radial and axial probe sampling was conducted in the combustor's secondary combustion zone to determine the CO concentrations. A chemical kinetic model of CO oxidation was formulated and compared to the measured CO concentrations. A wide range of emission factors can be achieved for the various pollutants by varying the burning conditions. The CO, NO_x, SO_x, and smoke emission factors range from 7.0 to 159, 0.67 to 3.1, 0.98 to 2.0, and 0.16 to 3.7 g/kg respectively. The emissions tests appear to be reasonably repeatable with emission factors and coal burning rates agreeing within 15% in most cases. The various tests indicate that increasing the primary zone equivalence ratio decreases the CO emission factor. The smoke emissions from the test combustor are quite low compared to those from typical commercial coal stoves. The amount of swirl has a large effect on mixing in the secondary combustion zone, and highly stratified flows are created by certain burning conditions. The CO oxidation model does not correlate well with the experimental results since possible CO formation from hydrocarbons, and stratified flow effects are not considered. / Master of Science

The emissions, efficiency, and combustion chamber conditions of the Rayburn Prince 76, a clean-burning, hand-fired coal heater developed by the British have been studied. It was desired to determine if the downdraft design of the Prince would lead to low emissions when operated on American coals. Temperature and species concentrations were measured in the unit's secondary combustion chamber. Temperatures and gas residence times in the secondary combustion chamber were found to range from 440 to 1040°C and 15 to 40 ms, respectively. Little soot and volatile oxidation probably occurred in the chamber, due to the relatively low temperatures and short residence times. The emissions and efficiency of the heater were determined for operation on two bituminous coals at both high and low firing rates. The CO, NO_x, SO_x, and smoke emission factors were found to range from 38 to 120 g/kg, 1.2 to 5.8 g/kg, 3.3 to 5.4 g/kg, and 2.3 to 16 g/kg, respectively. The smoke emission factors for the Prince were found to be up to six times lower than those found using identical coals in updraft stoves. The overall efficiency of the unit was determined to range from 54 to 60%. The sensible energy losses were found to represent the majority of the total energy losses. / M.S.

A commercial solid matric priming method and an osmotic priming method were used to measure seed priming responses of birdsfoot trefoil, kura clover, and sericea lespedeza. Differences were not observed using standard germination tests, but both priming methods show potential for increased germination rate (P>0.05). Conflicting results for matric and osmotic priming were found in terms of seed storage potential after priming, with matric primed seeds showing higher (P<0.05) germination after accelerated aging and osmotic primed seeds showing significant lower germination(P<0.01). Birdsfoot trefoil benefited from priming, but responses varied by priming treatment, while kura clover showed less response to both priming treatments. In a field study comparing matric primed vs. unprimed seedling emergence, matric priming effects were small and these data suggest that solid matrix priming may be unlikely to improve the field establishment of either species. Aqueous smoke solutions were also tested for effect on seed germination. Differences in final germination percent due to solution type (after exposure to liquid smoke solutions for 10- or 45-min) were not observed. Highest concentration of the 10-min solution treatment reduced (P<0.05) birdsfoot trefoil germination. Greater germination was observed only for 'Perfect Fit' kura clover treated with low or intermediate concentrations of either solution. High concentrations of 10-min smoke water increased time to 50% germination (T50) for all seeds, but some reduction in T50 occurred for kura clovers treated with low (5%) solution concentrations. The 45-min treatments had little effect on germination rates. Applying aqueous smoke solution to seeds at germination did not improve germination responses of these forage legume species. / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

In recent years research has shown that exposing seed to smoke or smoke solutions results in increased germination of some, but not all the species tested. Tests showed that exposing seeds of some commercial crops to smoke increased early plant growth. The stimulatory effects of smoke were shown to benefit the germination of species regardless of whether or not fire played a part of the species ecological cycle. In commercial forest nurseries any method of increasing the recovery rate of seed presents opportunities for realising savings of related production costs. Greater recovery rates of genetically improved seed present opportunities for capturing more related growth in field operations. Improving efficiencies of seed recovery at an early point in the production chain have multiplied effects further on down the chain. Two species of pine, namely Pinus taeda and Pinus elliottii that do not generally present high rates of germination were selected to test if applications of smoke solution could increase germination or emergence rates by more than 5%. As seed of both species are known to respond positively to existing seed pre-treatments the effects of smoke needed to be tested in combination, and apart from the pre-treatments. A secondary aim of the study was to examine the effect of smoke on early plant growth. Attempts to optimizes the concentration of the smoke solution were not undertaken as part of this study, as a rinsing treatment, included in the trials, is known to remove any inhibitory effects of a high concentration of the smoke solution. Tests to determine the variability of the seedlots was carried out for statistical purposes. The interaction between smoke application and pre-treatments were tested, firstly in Petri dishes under controlled environmental conditions, and then in nursery trays under standard commercial nursery conditions for both species. The inclusion of smoke in combination with the target moisture stratification (TMS and rinse pre treatment) had a significantly positive effect on P. taeda in a controlled environment. The same combination did not yield a positive results when tested under nursery conditions. Recommendations are made regarding future tests to see if the beneficial combination found in the controlled environment could be replicated under nursery conditions. Further motivation for conducting the tests exists in that the particular combination set gave significantly better early plant growth under nursery conditions. No other combinations tested yielded positive results. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 143-160).

Cigarette smoke condensates from all cigarettes tested were found to be potent inducers of AHH enzyme in cultured human lymphocytes and, with the exception of Kent Lights and Carlton CSC's, all were found to be toxic under the experiment conditions. Most of the AHH inducing activity was found in basic and neutral fractions of the lAl standard cigarettes. A radiometric assay of BP metabolites in cultured human lymphocytes was developed in which we were able to separate the primary metabolites and the secondary metabolites from the parent compound (BP) by neutral alumnia HPLC. The primary metabolites were further separated by a selective enzyme hydrolysis and/or reverse phase HPLC.

Purpose To estimate the prevalence of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among never-smoking adolescents and identify key factors associated with such exposure. Methods Data were obtained from nationally representative Global Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted in 168 countries during 1999-2008. SHS exposure was ascertained in relation to the location - exposure inside home, outside home, and both inside and outside home, respectively. Independent variables included parental and/or peer smoking, knowledge about smoke harm, attitudes toward smoking ban, age, sex, and World Health Organization region. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results Of 356,414 never-smoking adolescents included in the study, 30.4%, 44.2%, and 23.2% were exposed to SHS inside home, outside home, and both, respectively. Parental smoking, peer smoking, knowledge about smoke harm, and positive attitudes toward smoke ban were significantly associated with increased odds of SHS exposure. Approximately 14% of adolescents had both smoking parents and peers. Compared with never-smoking adolescents who did not have both smoking parents and peers, those who had both smoking parents and peers had 19 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 19.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16.86-21.41), eight (aOR, 7.71; 95% CI, 7.05-8.43), and 23 times (aOR, 23.16; 95% CI, 20.74-25.87) higher odds of exposure to SHS inside, outside, and both inside and outcome home, respectively. Conclusions Approximately one third and two fifths of never-smoking adolescents were exposed to SHS inside or outside home, and smoking parents and/or peers are the key factors. Study findings highlight the need to develop and implement comprehensive smoke-free policies consistent with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.