Air pollution has increased over time due to human population growth, industrialisation and other economic activities which have led to global and localised deterioration in air quality. The uMhlathuze Municipality, located on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is one such local area that has a rapidly developing Industrial Development Zone, currently comprising many large and small scale industries. These large-scale operations are amongst South Africa’s largest process industries and operate continuous combustion processes which release significant quantities of air pollutants into the atmosphere. These pollutants include reduced sulphur gases, mercaptans, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide (SO2), sulphur trioxide, carbon dioxide, particulate fluoride and ammonia. In light of the promulgation of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) of 2004 and the need to assess ambient air quality, the contribution of air dispersion modelling to ambient air quality management in the uMhlathuze Municipality was assessed using SO2 as an indicator pollutant. The Gaussian puff urban air dispersion model called Calpuff was used to model five scenarios including a control run with actual emissions data; a worst-case run using permitted emissions data; and three emissions reduction scenarios using 25%, 50% and 75% reductions of the permitted data.. The results of these modelling scenarios were compared with results of other modelling studies recently conducted in the uMhlathuze Municipality, as well as with the South African Ambient Air Quality Standards (SAAAQS) for SO2. The results revealed that the permitted emissions scenario led to exceedances of the SAAAQS 1-hour and 24-hour average concentrations over most of the uMhlathuze Municipal area. The use of the permitted emissions values produced higher SO2 concentrations over the study area than the control run that comprised current emissions values. The control scenario produced similar results to the scenario in which there was a 50% reduction in permitted emissions data and suggests that the industries are operating at half of their permitted levels of SO2 emissions. The reduction of the permitted emission by 75% shows a significant decrease in the area exceeding the SAAAQS 1-hour standard, and compliance with the SAAAQS 24-hour and annual average standards. The results of this study for the control scenario based on actual emissions were higher than previous studies conducted in uMhlathuze due to a larger quantity of SO2 emissions used in the modelling exercises, different meteorological data sets and different air dispersion models used. However, there is a close correspondence between the Airshed (2006) results and this study when similar quantities of SO2 emissions were modelled in the permitted emissions scenario. In view of the exceedances experienced in the control run and permitted emissions scenarios, it is likely that under the AQA, some reduction in emissions will be required. In line with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism National Framework classification system, the City of uMhlathuze is likely to fall under a Class 4 area, in which ambient concentrations of SO2 can pose a threat to the health and well-being of people. Immediate air quality management action plans that have specific timeframes for compliance with the ambient standards are required. The National Framework notes that the air quality impact of an industry will be assessed before an Atmospheric Emission License is granted and implies that each industry is required to undertake an air quality specialist study to determine its individual impact on ambient air quality. The air quality specialist study should include air dispersion modelling to assess the ambient SO2 concentrations; a health risk assessment based on the results of the dispersion modelling; and mitigation measures that are required to ensure compliance with ambient standards through the use of the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO). / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

Landfill gas (LFG) contributes significantly to air pollution. Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the major constituents of LFG, and are significant greenhouse gases that play a vital role in causing global warming. Certain air pollutants from landfill sites are carcinogenic (e.g. benzene), while others are odorous (e.g. methyl mercaptan). Due to these potential negative impacts, there is need to forecast the yield and production rate of biogas generated. Limited work has been done on the modelling of LFG emissions for landfill sites in Durban. This study focuses on the estimation of air pollutant emissions from three landfill sites, namely Bisasar Road, Shongweni and Buffelsdraai using the LANDGEM model and comparing the results against the findings of Hofstetter Gas Yield Model which has been utilized before by Durban Solid Waste (DSW) for Bisasar Road landfill. The greenhouse gases of global concern, namely CH4, CO2 and halocarbons were investigated in this study. The LANDGEM model predicted CO2 emissions to be higher than CH4 and other greenhouse gases. The warm, moist climatic conditions suitable for CH4 oxidation may be responsible for the increased generation rates of CO2. The main components of LFG which cause landfill odour problems are sulphur-containing compounds. Methyl mercaptan is the component causing persistent bad odours in the landfills, contrary to popular belief that hydrogen sulphide is the major contributor to odour pollution. Hydrogen sulphide has been predicted by LANDGEM to be the sulphur-containing gas that is produced in greatest quantities. Benzene and vinyl chloride are the most hazardous compounds emitted from landfills, since they are carcinogenic. The emission rates of benzene were found to be higher than those of vinyl chloride in the active landfill sites of Bisasar Road and Shongweni. The LANDGEM model estimated total LFG emissions of 8.371 x 107 m3y-1 at Bisasar Road landfill, compared with a lower emission rate of 3.285 x 107 m3y-1 predicted by the Hofstetter model. The LANDGEM model revealed LFG to peak during the closure of the landfill, and to decline thereafter for a long period of time. The Hofstetter model showed that LFG could reach its maximum within three years of waste deposition. LANDGEM model is a widely used methodology for estimating LFG emissions. It is used in United States as regulatory model to quantify the potential LFG emissions produced from the landfill. This model can be used by landfill owners and operators to evaluate the performance of the landfill and to determine whether the landfill is still subject to regulatory requirements, especially in the countries where emission guidelines have been established. Therefore, in the developing country like South Africa, it is essential to quantify and evaluate the LFG emissions released from landfills despite the fact that no legal LFG emission guidelines are put in place yet. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The Constitution of South Africa I, (the Constitution) envisages in the Bill of Rights that: Everyone has the right -(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and (b) to have the environment protected. for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; II. promote conservation; and III. secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promolingjuslifiable economic and social development.3 There are other statutes that support the Constitution. for example, the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).4 This Act states in its preamble that : " Whereas many inhabitants of South Africa live in an environment that is not harmful to their health and well being everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well being; and everyone has the right to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and futu re generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation ... Both the Constitution and NEMA are not only concerned with the environment but also with the health and well·being of South Africans. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined health, as ' more than the absence of disease and infirmity, it is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.' Environmental health in broad term is concerned with factors in the environment associated with health, well-being and disease, including physical, chemical and biological conditions. / Thesis (LL.M)-University of Durban-Westville, 2001.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of aerosols over Durban in relation to the vertical stability structure and horizontal transport of air masses. The importance of aerosols in the region is well recognised and recently there have been many international experiments which have focused on aerosol distribution over the subcontinent. Durban is situated at the approximate centre of a giant plume that is known to transport aerosols and trace gases off the east coast of southern Africa and is therefore strategically located for an investigation of the vertical distribution of aerosols. The vertical distribution of aerosols over Durban was measured using a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system on selected cloud free days in 1997. Backward trajectory modelling was used at selected pressure (standard) levels to determine the origin and transport pathways of aerosols. Six case studies are presented in an attempt to gain insight into the relationship between the vertical distribution of aerosols and absolutely stable layers. The results of the study revealed that the occurrence of absolutely stable layers governs the vertical distribution of aerosols in the troposphere. An absolutely stable layer at ~5km (~500hPa) appears to be the most effective in capping and trapping aerosols in the atmosphere. Below 5km, the atmosphere was charcterised by marked stratification and relatively higher concentration of aerosols. Above 5km, the concentrations were much lower, but generally increased slightly with height. Low aerosol concentrations are observed during post-frontal situations and relatively higher concentrations during anticyclonic conditions. The background to the problem and the objectives of this investigation are elaborated in Chapter 1. A description of the data sets and derived meteorological variables, along with the methodologies applied in this thesis, are given in Chapter 2. A theoretical review of aerosols, including their sources, effects and distribution over the globe and southern Africa, is discussed in Chapter 3. Atmospheric circulation and weather patterns and their relationship to the transport and dispersion of aerosols are described in Chapter 4. The results of the study and an analysis of the major findings are presented in Chapter 5. Finally, Chapter 6 summarises the major findings of this dissertation. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

Interacting microbial associations capable of utilizing thiosulphate as an energy source were enriched/isolated from activated sludge, landfill site [mal covering soil and soil from an acid mine water drainage site. The isolates were designated Lf-I, Ws-2 and Am-3, respectively. Although hydrogen sulphide was the target molecule for gas biofiltration, thiosulphate, which is a key oxidized intermediate, was used in this study due to the difficulty of working with a toxic gas. Together with thiosulphate oxidation, the microbial associations were assessed for their abilities to oxidize dissolved sulphide to elemental sulphur. Physiological analyses (temperature, pH and substrate concentration optimization) were made with closed and open cultures while morphological characterization and species compositional changes were monitored by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To investigate further functional and structural responses to physiological changes, denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) separation of PCR-amplified 16S DNA gene fragments and Biolog GN microtitre plates were used. The associations were found to be active metabolically between 0 and 35°C, 15 and 50°C, and 15 and 45°C, with optimum temperatures of 25, 40 and 35°C for Lf-l, Ws-2 and Am-3, respectively. The optimum pH range for microbial association Lf-l was between 3 and 4. The maximum specific growth rates of associations Lf-l , Ws-2 and Am-3 were 0.08, 0.06 and 0.03 h~l , respectively. Components of all three Gram negative rod-dominated associations were motile and displayed anaerobiosis. During open culture cultivation the species complement of Lf-l , as determined by morphological analysis, changed. The same association oxidized sulphide (40 ppm) to sulphur although Ws-2 and Am-3 did not have this capacity. Biolog GN plates detected pH-effected species compositional changes in Lf-l and these were confirmed by DGGE. The same technique showed that enrichment had occurred in the Biolog GN wells. Species composition changes also resulted in response to different pH values (2 to 9), temperatures (5 to 40°C) and dilution rates (0.003 to 0.09 h-1 ), but activity changes were not always accompanied by population profile changes. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

Consistently high levels of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, particle matter and nitric oxides have been observed in the Durban South (DS) industrial basin. The adverse health outcomes associated with ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure have underlying molecular mechanisms. Oxidative stress is a known outcome of AAP exposure and contributes to the exacerbation of adverse AAP related outcomes such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma. Pregnant women are at increased risk of developing oxidative stress due to increased energy expenditure. Oxidative stress during pregnancy is linked to adverse birth outcomes such as intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight. The mitochondria are the most abundant source of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), making these organelles extremely susceptible to oxidative damage. Alterations in mitochondrial function by air pollutants can contribute to oxidative stress. Uncoupling protein2 (UCP2) is an anion carrier located on the inner mitochondrial membrane that regulates mitochondrial ROS production by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) through mild uncoupling. Genetic variation in genes that play a role in oxidative stress response is likely to influence susceptibility to oxidative stress related health outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate air pollution associated oxidative stress response in women from the DS industrial basin and determine the functional relevance of a common -866G/A promoter polymorphism in the UCP2 gene. Fifty pregnant women from DS and 50 from north Durban (DN; control) were recruited. The thiobarbituric acid assay (TBARS) and comet assay were performed to measure oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by JC-1 Mitoscreen and ATP luminometry. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to measure mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Antioxidant response was determined by qPCR to measure mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and UCP2 mRNA expression. Western blots were performed to quantify UCP2 and Nrf2 protein expression. The samples were genotyped using PCR - restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results from the TBARS assay showed women from DS displayed elevated levels of MDA, a marker for oxidative stress (0.07±0.06μM; p = 0.56). ATP (1.89 fold) and Δψm (45.3±17.2%; p = 0.8) were also elevated in women from DS, favouring free radical production. DNA fragmentation, as indicated by comet tail length was also higher in DS when compared to the control group (0.57±0.16μm; p = 0.037). Analysis of mtDNA viability showed a 0.49 fold change in mtDNA amplification in women from the industrialized DS. All antioxidant genes, i.e. Nrf2 (0.73 fold), UCP2 (1.58 fold), SOD2 (1.23 fold), were up regulated in women from DS. Analysis of protein expression showed a significant increase in UCP2 expression (0.08±0.03RBI; p = 0.049) and a significant decline in Nrf2 levels (1.68±0.84RBI; p = 0.03). The homozygous G genotype was significantly more frequent in DS (37.5%) than in DN (18.6%; p = 0.047; OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.353 to 4.885). This genotype exhibited higher MDA levels, comet tail length, Δψm, SOD2, Nrf2, and UCP2 expression than the AA/GA in genotype in women from DS (p > 0.05). This study found that pregnant women from a more industrialized area exhibit higher markers for oxidative stress and conditions that favour mitochondrial free radical production. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Due to the rapid economic growth and industrial development in China, the constantly soaring upGDP has made many people believe that the golden age of China has come. But along with the boomingdevelopment, the neglect and violation of the natural environment has brought intensive discussion and criticism.Moreover, during past decades, frequent natural disasters and extreme weathers resulting from human activitieshave made local dwellers suffer from economical loss, as well as physical harm. Thus more attention fromwithin the country has been drawn to the environmental issues; media reports, national debates and researcheshave been going on for years. Among which, the problem of air pollution has caught a large public concern,especially when the PM 2.5 in Chinese metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an etc. exceeded900 micrograms per cubic meter. In previous analysis of PM 2.5 pollutants in developing countries, it has beenfound that most of those aerosol particles are from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass, and in China’s case,coal burning has been blamed largely, due to the fact that the use of coal takes up about 70% of total energyconsumption. Based on data analysis and chemical ratio examination, this thesis is to find out the connectionbetween PM 2.5 and Coal burning in China’s capital city Beijing.

No description available.

Darbe analizuojami teisės aktai, atlikti KD koncentracijos tyrimai Radviliškio mieste. Miesto oro tyrimų vietos buvo pasirinktos atsižvelgiant į transporto eismo intensyvumą judriausiose miesto gatvėse. Išanalizavus gautus duomenis buvo nustatyta, kad dažniausi kietųjų dalelių koncentracijos leistinos normos viršijimai buvo nustatyti intensyviausiuose gatvėse. Išnagrinėta aplinkos oro kokybė Lietuvoje ir Radviliškio mieste. Gegužės mėnesį viršijimų nustatyta labai daug, taigi kietųjų dalelių koncentracijai įtakos turi meteorologinės sąlygos. Siekiant pagerinti Radviliškio miesto oro taršos situaciją siūloma apriboti automobilių eismą didžiausios taršos zonose (pvz. įvesti vienos krypties eismą), o automobilius be veikiančių katalitinių filtrų pripažinti techniškai netvarkingais. Individualių gyvenamųjų namų apšildymui naudoti ekologiškai švaresnį kurą, skatinti gyventojus efektyviau apšiltinti savo būstą naudojant naujas technologijas, laistyti ir plauti gatves esant sausiems orams. / The paper analyzes the legislation, to carry out studies of concentration KD Radviliškio city. Urban air monitoring site was selected on the basis of traffic intensity of the busiest streets of the city.After analyzing the data, it was found that the most common particle concentration levels below threshold levels were set on the streets of the most intense and on the streets. Examined the ambient air quality in Lithuania and Radviliškio city.In May, the exceedances found a great deal, so that particle concentration is affected by meteorological conditions. In order to improve Radviliškio urban air pollution situation is proposed to restrict car traffic areas of pollution (eg introduction of one-way traffic) and cars without catalytic active filters considered technically incorrectly. Individual residential heating use environmentally cleaner fuels, encouraging residents to better insulate your home by using new technology, irrigation and wash the streets in dry weather.

<p>In this manuscript I seek to demonstrate the importance of gene-environment interactions in cardiovascular disease. This manuscript contains five studies each of which contributes to our understanding of the joint impact of genetic variation and environmental exposures to cardiovascular disease: a candidate gene study for gene-smoking interactions associated with early-onset coronary artery disease, an epidemiology study of the association between traffic-related air pollution and cardiovascular disease, a Genome-Wide Interaction Study for gene-by-traffic related air pollution interactions associated with peripheral arterial disease, a Genome-Wide Interaction Study for gene-by-traffic related air pollution interactions on coronary atherosclerosis burden, and a method for analyzing associations between high-dimensional genomics datasets.</p><p> Smoking is a strong risk factors for coronary artery disease, and may play a causative role in the incidence of coronary artery disease. Smoking had been implicated as a reason for heterogeneity observed in associations between genetic variants on chromosome three and coronary artery disease. I used a family-based early-onset coronary artery disease cohort (GENECARD) to study gene-smoking interactions. I also used data from the three independent cohorts to perform a meta-analysis of gene-smoking interactions focusing on the KALRN gene and Rho-GTPase pathway. I found significant evidence for gene-smoking interactions associations involving variants in KALRN and other Rho-GTPase pathway genes on chromosome 3. </p><p> Though the estimated increase in incident cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular events due to air pollution exposure is modest at 3-5%, the ubiquitous nature of air pollution exposures means it has a substantial population-level impact on cardiovascular disease. Historically genome-wide interaction studies with air pollution have not yielded genome-wide significant interactions, however by implementing statistical tools novel to this field I have discovered significant interactions between genetic variants and traffic-related air pollution that are associated with cardiovascular diseases. </p><p> I studied interactions associated with peripheral arterial disease and the number of diseased coronary vessels (an indicator for coronary artery disease burden) using race-stratified cohort study designs. With peripheral arterial disease I observed that variants in both BMP8A and BMP2 showed evidence for interactions in both European-American and African-American cohorts. In BMP8A I uncovered the first genome-wide significant interaction with air pollution associated with cardiovascular disease. BMP2 gene expression is upregulated after exposure to black carbon, a major component of diesel exhaust, and coding variants within this gene showed evidence for interaction. With the number of diseased coronary vessels I observed that variants in PIGR showed significant evidence for involvement in gene-traffic related air pollution interactions. I observed that coding variation within PIGR was associated with coronary artery disease burden in a gene-by-traffic related air pollution interaction model. As PIGR is involved in the immune response it represents a strong candidate gene discovered via an unbiased genome-wide scan.</p><p> The use of high dimensional data to study chronic disease is becoming commonplace. In order to properly analyze high-dimensional data without suffering from high false-discovery rate penalties, the data is often summarized in a way that takes advantage of the correlation structure. Two common approaches for this are principal components analysis and canonical correlation analysis. However neither of these approaches are appropriate when one preferentially desires to preserve structure within the data. To address this shortcoming I developed constrained canonical correlation analysis (cCCA). With cCCA one can evaluate the correlation between two high dimensional datasets while preferentially preserving structure in one of the datasets. This has uses when studying multi-variate outcomes such as cardiovascular disease using multi-variate predictors such as air pollution. Additionally cCCA can be used to create endophenotype factors that specifically explain the variation within a high-dimensional set of predictors (such as gene expression or metabolomics data) with respect to potential endophenotypes for cardiovascular disease, such as cholesterol measures.</p> / Dissertation