14 Environment (pollution, health protection, safety)

97101454 Fireballs from deflagration and detonation of heterogeneous fuel-rich clouds Dorofeev, S. B. et al. Fire Saf. J., 1995, 25, (4). 323-336. Presents the results of large-scale experiments on the thermal effect from deflagrations and detonations in rich fuel-air heterogeneous mixtures. Gasoline, kerosine and diesel fuel were used. The fuel mass in the tests varied from 0.1 to 100 tonnes. The relationships for the maximum fireball radius. heat effect duration and total emitted energy vs the fuel mass were determined for this kind of process. Direct measurements of the heat flux and integral heat flux were carried out. Comparison with published data for other fuel types is made. The presented results may be used for accident analyses in industry and transport.

97101455 Fireproof clothing as a basic factor in decreasing occupational burns Dadonov. Yu. A. Bezop. Tr. Prom-sfi.. 1996, (l), 10-11. (In Russian) This article discusses the Canadian and American experience in developing heatproof clothing, including the studies on the kinetics and thermo- dynamics of explosion and fire: fabric inflammability and thermal burns; and the selection of protective fabrics and design of protective garments. Emphasizes the need to use this experience in different Russian industries (e.g, petroleum. gas, chemical, metallutgical and coal mining) is emphasized.

97101456 Gasification treatment of organic wastes Misemura, J. ef al. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 08, 132, 002 196, 132, 002) (Cl. B09B3100). 28 May 1996. Appl. 941277, 427, 11 Nov 1994, 7 pp (In Japanese). Presents a process which comprises degradation and gasification of organic wastes by microorganisms (e.g. Bacillus and/or Thermus) by the introduc- tion of air into the treatment tanks and refluxing, as water components, the steam contained in the atmospheric gases generated by the gasification treatment. Optionally, the gases generated by the gasification treatment are contacted with solutions containing deodorants (e.g. furfural polymer) for conversion of steam in the gases into water. The process maintains the optimum water contents of the carriers and provides high capacity with small-sized equipments.

97101457 Global methane emissions from minor anthropo- genie sources and biofuel combustion In residential stoves Piccot. S. D. ef al. J. Geqhys. Res., [Afmos.], 1996, 101, (D17), 22757- 22766. Individually, minor anthropogenic sources emit small quantities of CH4, but collectively, their contributions to a CHI budget may be significant. This report examines minor sources responsible for CH4 production. The sources examined include fuel combustion in furnaces, vehicles, aircraft, ship. rail systems, industrial waste treatment and combustion processes, various industrial manufacturing processes, on-site residential waste burning, forest wildfires and prescribed burning activities, oil refining and the storage/distribution of oil-derived products, coke production, and charcoal production. The total annual CH4 emissions from all sources examined is estimated-almost half of this total is due to residential fossil fuel and biofuels combustion.

97101458 The global tropospheric distribution of NO, estimated by a three-dimensional chemical tracer model Kraus, A. B. el ul. J. Geqhys. Res., (Atmos.], 1996, 101, (D13), 18587- 18604. Describes how the global distribution of NO, in the troposphere was calculated using a simple three-dimensional chemical tracer model. The model includes a simplified chemical scheme for the tracers NO, = NO + NO2 and HNOq, which are redistributed by advection, dry and wet convection, and large-scale diffusion. The sources of NO, considered include fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning and emissions by aircraft. The data are fully discussed.

97101459 Greenhouse gas mitigation technology: an over- view of the CO2 capture and sequestration studies and further activities of the IEA greenhouse gas R&D programme Audus. H. Energy, Feb/March 1997, 22, (213). 217-221. Discusses technologies for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Capture of CO2 adds substantially to the cost of power generation and reduces plant efficiency. In contrast, storage of CO* is unproven but relatively inexpensive. There are. however, major uncertainties about storage. Utilization of CO* has a limited potential.

97101460 Heavy metals, PAH, and PCS in Scats pine needles Kratz, W. Umwettwiss. Schadst.-Forsch., 1996, 8, (3), 130-137. (In German) A discussion of the atmospheric deposition of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, PAHs, and PCBs depositions in Scats pine needles in 1991 in the city of Berlin, and the surrounding rural areas of Brandeqburg in Germany. The total area of the monitored region was 3000 km-. Indications are given of locations characterised as pollution sources. Comparison with similar studies conducted in different parts of Germany and Europe are carried out. The Pb and PAH concentrations in the pine needles are closely correlated to the locations of combustion (petrol, oil, brown coal) and heavy traffic activities.

97101461 Indoor air pollution in household kitchens in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam Ito, A. er al. Redo Kagoku, 1996, 72, (11) 455-456 (In Japanese). Presents the findings of an investigation into indoor air pollution in seven household kitchens in Mekong Delta area, South Vietnam, was investigated by measuring air temperature, relative humidity, and airborne dust concentrations continuously for 24 h. The cooking fuels considered by the study include gas, kerosene, and biomass fuels (e.g. rice hulls and wood).

97101462 Industrial chemicals and occupational skin cancers Nomura, S. Rode Kugaku, 1996, 72, (9). 333-349 (In Japanese). Considers the occurrence and chemical causes of occupational skin cancer and cancerous skin diseases such as keratoacanthoma and keratosis in modern industry related with industrial chemicals. Attention was first drawn to the relationships by a scrotal cancer caused by soot among chimney-sweeps. Skin cancers are now known to be associated with the high content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soot, coal tar, pitch, and creosote as well as in shale and mineral oils. Inorganic arsenic is another agent known to be associated with occupationally induced skin cancer.

97101463 Inspection of the operation of cooling towers for final cooling of coke-oven gas Akimova. L. N. et al. K&s Khim., 1996, (4), 39-40. (In Russian) A discussion of the final stage towers for the cooling of coke oven gas-a source of pollutant emissions. Close cycle cooling systems, even when they are used at one stage only, lower emissions, but HCN and salts accumulate in the recycled water, creating problems.

97101464 Leaching model of pollutants in fly ash Zhu, F. et al. Huanjing Kexue Xuebao, 1996, 16, (2) 203-210. (In Chinese) This paper presents a leaching model of the pollutants in fly ash. Fly ashes from power plants in China are alkaline. Concentrations of most heavy metals in leachate are enerally lower under natural leaching conditions. Nevertheless, pH, SO4 $- - , F and Cr’+ often exceed legal standards for drinking water. F-~ and pH often exceed comprehensive discharge standards for wastewater. CaZf and F- in ash are readily released in acid media. Crh+ is readily released in alkaline media. Mobility and release speed of pollutant can be predicted. Suggestions as to whether or not the ash pond needs special liners are provided.

97101465 Life cycle assessment of the road transport sector Eriksson, E. et al. Sri. Total Environ.. 1996, 189/190, 69-76. In this study the consumption of non-renewable fuels, electricity, and air emissions have been considered. The production, maintenance, and after- use treatment of the vehicle have been shown to contribute significantly to the total environmental impact of road transportation. This is especially valid for passenger cars, for which the amount of fossil fuel used for production of the vehicle is about 10% of the total amount used during the whole lifetime of the car.

97101466 Method and apparatus for treating waste gases Shikada, T. et al. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JI) 08, 131, 769 [96, 131. 7691 (Cl. BOlDS3/64), 28 May 1996, Appl. 941273, 305, 8 Nov 1994, 5 pp (In Japanese). The waste gases with which this paper is concerned are treated through contact with metal beads to remove the vapours of heavy metals and their compounds, alkali mist and tar by condensation. The beads are pre-cooled to a temperature lower than that of the waste gas and their surface temperature is controlled at SO-300°C during the contact. The apparatus includes a means for supplying (0.5-10) mm metal beads free falling in the waste gas passage.

97101467 Method for determination of the mutagenic activity of coal-tar substances In atmospheric dusts Krogulski, A. and Borkowska, M. Rocz. Panstw. Zakl. Hig.. 1996, 47, (2), 175-189. (In Polish) In assessing environmental contamination with potentially carcinogenic mutagens it is important to consider the absorbtion of possible mutagenic substances by dust supsended in air. These substances include at least several hundred organic compounds. Only a small part of them have been studied in detail and it is known that at least a score of them are carcinogenic. The presence of some of them can change significantly the action of others. Because of that, the effects of a mixture of these substances should be studied as a whole. As these contaminants are present in air and can be transported over great distances they can be dangerous to humans through inhalation and through contamination of water, soil and food. Parallel use in the described method of two cross-bred strains of fruit flies made possible separate assessment of the activity of mutagens and promutangens requiring activation in presence of cytochrome P 450. The use of a eukaryotic organism in which mutations are observed in many cells in the one individual (-2500) enables reliable data to be obtained about the degree of human health risk.

Fuel and Energy Abstracts March 1997 115