published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

One of the important factors in developing an emission control strategy for a coal fired steam generator is the characterization of the insitu variability of the coal being used in the furnace. Development of a model to correctly capture the insitu variability of the coal is thus fundamental to the analyses of emission control strategies. A simulation model of a portion of the Upper Freeport coal seam in Western Pennsylvania was developed using the recently developed technique called conditional simulation. This model was constructed so that it has the same mean, variance, and distribution of values as the real deposit, and most importantly, has the same spatial correlations as the real deposit. Validation of the model confirmed that the statistical characteristics of the model closely matched the characteristics of the real deposit. A second validation of the model showed that when the model is "mined" according to an actual daily mining sequence, the resulting daily variability corresponded extremely well to what was observed during the actual mining. This second verification served not only to validate the model but also served as a practical demonstration that the model can be successfully used to predict day by day variation in the quality of run of mine coal. One potential use of conditional simulation to "test" how well a mine plan works in actual mining was illustrated by an example where four mine plans were tested on their ability to correctly estimate coal production and sulfur content on a yearly basis. In each case, the simulated deposit was mined out according to the mine plan. The resulting comparison of "actual" production and estimated production clearly shows the adequacy or inadequacy of each one.

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No description available.

No description available.

ĮVADAS: Užsienio šalyse atliktos mokslinės studijos parodė, kad miesto parkai bei kita rekreacinė aplinka yra susijusi su įvairaus amžiaus gyventojų fiziniu aktyvumu. Palanki sveikatai ir saugi miesto aplinka gali būti pritaikyta gyventojų sveikatinimui, fiziniam aktyvumui ir rekreacijai. DARBO TIKSLAS: Įvertinti sergamumo ir fizinio aktyvumo paplitimą tarp Kauno miesto gyventojų, pagrindžiant miesto rekreacinių vietų svarbą gyventojų sveikatos stiprinimui. UŽDAVINIAI: 1. Įvertinti Kauno miesto gyventojų fizinio aktyvumo lygį bei su gyvensenos veiksniais susijusių lėtinių ligų paplitimą. 2. Įvertinti oro užterštumą ir triukšmo sklaidą Kauno miesto rekreacinėse vietose. 3. ��vertinti Kauno miesto rekreacinių vietų aplinkos kokybės tinkamumą gyventojų fiziniam aktyvumui skatinti. TYRIMO METODIKA: Kauno miesto gyventojų sergamumui kraujotakos sistemos, onkologinėmis ligomis bei II tipo cukriniu diabetu įvertinti naudojama oficialių statistinių duomenų analizė. Fizinio aktyvumo paplitimui įvertinti tarp įvairaus amžiaus miesto gyventojų naudojama vykdytų tyrimų ir programų duomenų analizė. Azoto dioksido sklaida miesto parkuose vertinama panaudojant taršos modeliavimo programą AIRVIRO, triukšmo sklaida parkų teritorijoje įvertinama pagal miesto triukšmo žemėlapį. REZULTATAI: Duomenų analizė parodė, kad per paskutiniuosius penkerius metus Kauno miesto gyventojų sergamumas kraujotakos sistemos ligomis išaugo 36 proc., sergamumas onkologinėmis ligomis – nuo 12,3 proc. tarp moterų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / BACKGROUND: A number of studies have showed that parks provided places for people to experience nature, engage physical activity and relax. Recreation and open spaces are one of the most important urban forms related to residents’ physical activity. Safe and health related environment of the parks may help increase physical activity among residents of all ages. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer accidents and diabetes type II among residents of Kaunas city and to substantiate the importance of public parks to promote physical activity there. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the level of physical activity and prevalence of noncommunicable diseases among residents of Kaunas city. 2. To assess air pollution and noise in the environment of city public parks. 3. To assess the environmental quality in city recreational places that can be used to promote physical activity and improve public health. METHODS: Statistical data and literature review was undertaken to assess the level of physical activity and prevalence of noncommunicable diseases among residents of Kaunas city. The dispersion of nitrogen dioxide in the area of public parks was measured using AIRVIRO model. The dispersion of noise was identified using Kaunas MapNoise. RESULTS: The data analyze shows that prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among Kaunas city residents has increased by 36 % since 2001 to 2005. The prevalence of cancer during the same period has increased by 12,3 % among... [to full text]

Viena svarbiausių daugelio didesnių miestų ekologinių problemų - vis didėjanti oro tarša azoto dioksidu. Pagal taršą azoto oksidais, galima spręsti apie bendrą miesto oro užterštumą, todėl labai svarbu kontroliuoti šio teršalo koncentraciją ore. 2005 - 2007 metais Mažeikių mieste buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio pagrindinis tikslas - ištirti azoto dioksido koncentraciją Mažeikių mieste skirtingais sezonais bei aptarti meteorologinių sąlygų įtaką azoto dioksido koncentracijos sklaidai. Azoto dioksido koncentracijai nustatyti buvo naudotas pasyvaus kaupimo metodas. Atlikus tyrimus paaiškėjo, kad didžiausia koncentracija buvo nustatyta 2005 metų vasaros sezono metu (14,2 μg/m3). Tam įtakos turėjo mažas kritulių kiekis, aukšta temperatūra, bei vyravusi vėjo kryptis, nešusi teršalus nuo AB „Mažeikių naftos“. Panašūs rezultatai gauti ir 2006 metų žiemos sezono metu (14,0 μg/m3). Žiemos metu dažnai stebimos didesnės teršalų koncentracijos, kurios išsiskiria iš nuosavų namų šildymo sistemų. Mažiausia koncentracija buvo nustatyta 2007 metų rudens sezono metu (7,2 μg/m3) . Panaši koncentracija nustatyta ir 2007 metų vasarą (7,9 μg/m3). Tai lėmė palankios teršalų sklaidai meteorologinės sąlygos: didesnis kritulių kiekis, didesnė santykinė drėgmė. Nagrinėjant meteorologinių sąlygų įtaką azoto dioksido koncentracijos pasiskirstymui, statistiškai reikšmingi ryšiai gauti tarp vidutinio vėjo greičio ir azoto dioksido koncentracijos rudens sezono metu (r = -0,8729; p = 0,0533), kritulių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The most important problem of biggest towns is air pollution of nitric dioxide. By pollution of nitric dioxide we can decide about general towns polltution. In the Mažeikiai town was explore distribution of nitric dioxide concentration. Nitric dioxide concentrations were gauge in the different seasons. We used a passive sampling method and triethanolamine as an absorbent. After analysis we get such rezults: the maximum concentration was fixed in the summer (14,2 μg/m3). It could impact low rainfall, high temperature and dominant wind which pollution drived from AB „Mažeikių nafta“. A similar results were assessed in the winter (2006 year) (14,0 μg/m3). Minimum value was fixed in the autumn (2007 year) (7,2 μg/m3). Similar concentration was fixed in the summer too (7,9 μg/m3). It impacted atmospheric conditions: high humidity. Reliable results were get between wind rate and nitric dioxide concentrations in the autumn season (r = -0,8729; p = 0,0533), precipitation and nitric dioxide concentrations in the spring (r = -0,9983; p = 0,0374) also precipitation and nitric dioxide concentrations in all seasons r = -0,7897; p = 0,0066). But in the neither season was not exceed the quotas of concentration (40 μg/m3).

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

The radical shift in approach to the Air Quality Management (AQM) strategy that has been introduced recently, through the promulgation of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA), makes provision for a number of innovative measures in the control of air pollution in South Africa. These include the appointment of Air Quality Officers, the development of Air Quality Management Plans, the designation of priority areas, the provision for stricter enforcement conditions, and the broad implementation of monitoring. A significant change is in the form of delegating the greatest responsibility for implementation of measures to the local government tier, comprised of metropolitan areas, district and local municipalities. Local authorities are recognised as a sphere of government, however, they are impeded, inter alia, by matters of limited financial resources, lack of skills capacity, and the slow transformation of organisational culture and structure (Cloete, 2002). The implementation ofthe AQA by local government is framed by an understanding ofthe responsibilities of local government, as well as the principal components of AQM and their implementation. The selected areas for study are Uthungulu, Uthukela, and Ugu district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, representing administrative and geographical variation. Existing and potential air quality issues, and their plans to address these issues, were identified and assessed in the municipalities using the Integrated Development Plans. The capacity of municipalities to implement the AQA was assessed using interviews, focusing on the interpretation of the AQA, technical capabilities, and implementation of AQM. Awareness of municipal responsibilities under the AQA was limited, although advances in AQM implementation had been made by municipalities. Responsibilities reflecting technical measures or activities that were currently undertaken by the municipality, such as monitoring and enforcement, were well recognised. However, the related policy and management tools, of Air Quality Officer (AQO) appointment and Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) development, were less emphasised by municipal respondents. Limited progress in implementation of the AQA was observed, with only AQO appointment and ambient monitoring being significantly applied. The greatest challenge facing municipalities is the securing of financial resources for personnel and equipment. Progress in technical fundamentals is noted, most notably in emission inventories and monitoring capabilities, although communication on air quality issues remains poor, with limited mechanisms in place for inter-governmental or public communication. There is a prevalence of the use of AQMPs as planning tools, as well as general concepts of town planning and zoning. However, in general, planning departments are not involved. A significant proportion of municipalities have a means of assessing progress, whether explicitly or not. A framework for implementing the AQA is produced to guide local government efforts, and provides a summation of the outcomes of the research. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.