This thesis investigates the exposure of humans to organic combustion products. Combustion of natural and anthropogenic materials can lead to highly complex mixtures of gas-phase and particle-bound chemical compounds, whose composition and health effects have been studied extensively. Nevertheless, the analysis of other potentially toxic products remains a challenge due to lack of analytical standards and methodologies. The research that encompasses this thesis is a progression from the analysis of known combustion products to the identification of previously unknown products. Targeted analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), were utilized to evaluate firefighter exposure to wood smoke chemicals during training exercises. The results suggest that a subset of the firefighters were at higher risk of exposure which could be related to specific operational roles and the use of personal protective gear. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCGC-TOF) was used for the identification of novel wood smoke markers and the results indicate that firefighters are equally exposed to gas-phase and particle phase compounds.. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry is a non-targeted technique that is complementary to GCGC. Together, these tools enabled the identification of a suite of halogenated PAHs (haloPAHs) in samples obtained from the Plastimet Inc. fire, one the largest industrial fires in North America. HaloPAHs are similar in structure to toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), a notorious class iv of toxic chemicals, and they were detected at much higher concentrations. In addition, highly substituted and high molecular weight haloPAHs were detected for the first time in an environmental sample. Finally, negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (NI-APCI) was explored as an alternative ionization technique for the analysis of mixed bromo/chloro dioxins (PXDDs) in the ash sample. PXDDs, with 1550 possible congeners, are potentially more toxic than their chlorinated counterparts (PCDDs). NI-APCI derived structure diagnostic fragments enabled the differentiation of co-eluting PXDD isomers in the ash sample which has not been possible using traditional ionization techniques (EI/CI) associated with GC-MS. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

At present, the main cooking fuels inChinaare natural gas, coal gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coal, biogas, wood and straw. This paper reviews the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and the current application status of these different cooking fuels. Moreover, a questionnaire survey is presented, dealing with different cooking fuels in Chinese households and the occupants’ perceived health, ventilation behaviors and general knowledge in potential health hazards. About 56% of the respondents of the questionnaire survey stated that symptoms like itching eyes, dry or irritated throat, irritated nose, running or blocked nose and headache were worse when they were cooking in their kitchens. This suggests that cooking fuel combustion has a significant influence on human health. The most evident health effect was that wood and straw as cooking fuel caused eye irritation. The present common house planning in Chinese countryside, where the kitchens are separated from the rest of the house via a courtyard, is very likely to reduce the stove contaminant exposure of all occupants.   In general, the main cooking fuels of the cities tend to be better than the cooking fuels of the countryside. Natural gas appears to be the cleanest cooking fuel among all urban cooking fuels except electricity. For the rural residents, biogas or LPG is a better choice than wood, straw and coal as cooking fuel.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A utilizaÃÃo de resÃduos como materiais alternativos tem se mostrado uma soluÃÃo satisfatÃria de acordo com vÃrias pesquisas realizadas. Os produtos da combustÃo do carvÃo mineral (PCCs) sÃo resÃduos que causam impacto ambiental, mas apresentam grande potencial de utilizaÃÃo no setor da construÃÃo civil na produÃÃo de argamassas e concretos. Apresentam elevado teor de sÃlica (SiO2), podendo ser utilizados como pozolanas. Esta pesquisa objetivou verificar a viabilidade da utilizaÃÃo dos produtos da combustÃo do carvÃo mineral em argamassas de assentamento e revestimento. As matÃrias-primas foram caracterizadas quanto aos aspectos fÃsicos, quÃmicos e para os PCCs tambÃm foi avaliada sua pozolanicidade. Foram confeccionadas argamassas de referÃncia e com adiÃÃo de PCCs nos teores de 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50% como substituto parcial do cimento. ApÃs tempos de cura de 7 e 28 dias, foram feitos teste de resistÃncia à traÃÃo na flexÃo e resistÃncia à compressÃo. AlÃm disso, as argamassas foram sujeitas a anÃlises de difraÃÃo de Raios â X, Microscopia EletrÃnica de Varredura, absorÃÃo de Ãgua, determinaÃÃo de Ãndice de vazios e massa especÃfica aparente. Os resultados obtidos mostraram-se compatÃveis quando comparados com os dados da literatura, demonstrando ser viÃvel a aplicaÃÃo dos produtos da combustÃo do carvÃo mineral na indÃstria da construÃÃo civil. / The use of residues as alternative materials has proven successful according to several investigations. Coal combustion products (CCPs) is a residue that causes environmental impact, but it has a great potential for use in civil engineering construction in the production of mortars and concrete. It posesses a high content of silica (SiO2) and so it can be used as pozzolan. This research aimed to verify the viability of adding coal combustion products to mortars for bricklaying and covering. The raw materials were submitted to physical, and chemical characterization. CCPs were also rated according to their pozzolanicity. Reference mortars were prepared, as well as mortars containing 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% amounts of CCPs as a partial replacement for cement. After curing time of 7 and 28 days, prismatic samples were tested to determine their tensile strength in bending and their compression strength. Moreover, the mortars were subjected to X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and determination of water absorption, voids and apparent density. The results obtained were consistent with literature data, showing that application of coal combustion products in the construction industry is a viable alternative.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.