a b s t r a c tConcentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, in classrooms, kindergartens, and outdoor playgrounds of three primary schools were measured in spring, winter, and fall terms inİzmir, Turkey. A health-risk assessment was conducted for odor detection, sensory irritation, chronic toxic effects, and cancer. Active sampling was applied for VOCs and formaldehyde on Tenax TA and DNPH tubes, respectively. VOCs were analyzed in a thermal desorption-GC-MS system. Formaldehyde analysis was performed using an HPLC instrument. Benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde were the most abundant compounds with 95th percentile indoor air concentrations of 29, 87, and 106 g/m 3 , respectively. Naphthalene and xylenes followed them with an order of magnitude lower concentrations. Two isomers of dichlorobenzene (1,3 and 1,4) were the other notable compounds. The concentrations were utilized to classify the indoor air pollutants with respect to potential health effects. In addition, carcinogenic and chronic toxic risks were estimated using Monte-Carlo simulation. Formaldehyde appears to be the most concerning pollutant with high chronic toxic and carcinogenic risk levels according to the health assessment followed by naphthalene, benzene, and toluene due to their chronic effects.

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The micro-structure of laminar premixed, atmospheric-pressure, fuel-rich flames of n-heptane/oxygen/argon has been studied at two equivalence ratios (C/O ϭ 0.63 and C/O ϭ 0.67). A heated quartz microprobe coupled to an online gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HP 5890 Series II/HP 5972) has been used to establish the identities and absolute concentrations of stable major, minor, and trace species by the direct analysis of samples withdrawn from the flames. Benzene was the most abundant aromatic compound identified. The largest PAH detected were the family of C 18 H 10 (molecular weight of 226) that include cyclopenta[cd]pyrene and benzo[ghi]fluoranthene, with peak concentrations reaching 8 ppm and 6 ppm, respectively. Soot particle diameters, number densities, and volume fractions were determined using classical light scattering and extinction measurements. The largest soot particle diameter measured was about 18 nm and the soot volume fraction reached the amount of 4.9 ϫ 10 Ϫ7.

Effects of three oxygenate additives (methanol, ethanol, and MTBE) on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot in laminar, premixed, atmospheric pressure, fuel-rich flames of n-heptane were studied at an equivalence ratio of 2.10. A heated quartz microprobe coupled to online gas chromatography=mass spectrometry was used to establish the identities and absolute concentrations of major, minor, and trace species by the direct analysis of samples withdrawn from the flames. Benzene was the most abundant aromatic compound identified. The largest PAH detected was the family of C 18 H 10 (molecular weight of 226) that includes cyclopenta[cd]pyrene and benzo[ghi]fluoranthene. Soot particle diameters, number densities, and volume fractions were determined using classical light scattering and extinction measurements. All the oxygenate additives studied reduced the mole fractions of aromatic and PAH species, as well as soot formation. However, the reduction in soot formation was comparable for different oxygenates under the experimental conditions investigated.

Exposure Risk Trihalomethanes İzmir A B S T R A C TConcentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in the drinking water in Province of İzmir, Turkey, and associated health risks due to ingestion of these compounds were investigated using population weighted random samples. A total of 100 houses were visited in different districts of İzmir and drinking water samples were collected from consumers' drinking water source. Questionnaires were administered to one participant in each house to determine demographics and drinking water consumption rates. Oral exposure and risks were estimated for each participant and İzmir population by deterministic and probabilistic approaches, respectively. The four trihalomethane (THM) species (i.e., chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform), benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and naphthalene were the most frequently detected VOCs with concentrations ranging from below detection limit to 35 mg/l. The risk estimates were found to be less than the values reported in the literature with few exceptions.Noncarcinogenic risks attributable to ingestion of VOCs for İzmir population were negligible, whereas the mean carcinogenic risk estimates for bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane were above the de minimis level of one in a million (10 À6 ). For all VOCs, the concentrations measured in metropolitan area were greater than those in other districts. All THM species were detected in higher concentrations in tap water, whereas nontap water contained more benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and naphthalene. Therefore, the concentrations of the latter four compounds and associated risks increased with increasing income and education level since bottled water was used in larger proportions within these subgroups. The results of this study showed that oral exposure to drinking water contaminants and associated risks may be higher than the acceptable levels even if the concentrations fall below the standards.

Seasonal variation in concentrations of two different disinfection by-product groups, trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetonitriles (HANs), was investigated in tap water samples collected from five sampling points (one groundwater and four surface water sources) in İzmir, Turkey. Estimates of previously published carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks through oral exposure to THMs were re-evaluated using a probabilistic approach that took the seasonal concentration variation into account. Chloroform, bromoform, dibromochloromethane and dichloroacetonitrile were the most frequently detected compounds. Among these, chloroform was detected with the highest concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 98.4 µg/L. In tap water, at the groundwater supplied sampling point, brominated species, bromoform and dibromoacetonitrile, were detected at the highest levels most probably due to bromide ion intrusion from seawater. The highest total THM and total HAN concentrations were detected in spring while the lowest in summer and fall. The annual average total THM concentration measured at one of the surface water supplied sampling points exceeded the USEPA's limit of 80 µg/L. While all non-carcinogenic risks due to exposure to THMs in İzmir drinking water were negligible, carcinogenic risk levels associated with bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane were higher than one in million. IntroductionChlorination of drinking water leads to formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) which may create adverse health effects on human beings. The DBPs are formed as a result of reactions between the precursor materials (natural organic matter and bromide ion) and aqueous forms of the disinfectants. The major groups of DBPs are trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), and halogenated ketones (HKs). THMs include four species; chloroform (CF), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM) and bromoform (BF). Epidemiological studies have suggested that exposure to DBPs increases the risk of bladder, colon-rectum, leukemia, stomach and rectal cancers as well as abortion, low birth weight, and birth defects (IARC, 1991;Calderon, 2000;Villanueva et al., 2004). The formation of DBPs is affected by several factors including water temperature and pH, nature and concentration of the

In this study, the production of ZnSt 2 using sodium stearate and zinc sulfate in a precipitation process, and stearic acid and zinc oxide in a fusion process, was investigated with regard to product purity. In the fusion process, an increase in mixing rate decreased the induction time occurring at the beginning of the reaction. While the melting point of the zinc stearate prepared by the precipitation process was found to be about 122°C by optical microscopy, it was slightly lower than 122°C for zinc stearate produced by the fusion process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated onset of melting at 120°C and 118°C for samples prepared by precipitation and fusion processes, respectively. Characteristic peaks of ZnSt 2 were present in XRD patterns of the products obtained by both processes. From SEM micrographs, it was seen that zinc stearate obtained by both processes had lamellar structure.

In this study, Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) were produced from post-consumer bulky wastes of recycled plastic and wood in order to minimize waste, decrease environmental effects of plastics, reserve natural resources, and support circular economy for sustainable production and consumption. Five different types of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) based recycled plastics and wood obtained from urban household bulky wastes were used in the production of recycled WPC composites, r-WPCs. Virgin WPC (v-WPC) and r-WPC compounds were prepared with wood flour (WF) and maleic anhydride grafted compatibilizer (MAPP or MAPE) to evaluate the effect of recycled polymer type and compatibilizer on the mechanical properties. It was found that tensile strength properties of r-WPCs produced from recycled PP (r-PP) were higher than that of the r-WPCs produced from mixed polyolefins and recycled PE. r-WPCs containing anti-oxidants, UV stabilizers, and compatibilizer with different WF compositions were produced from only recycled garden fraction PP (PPFGF) to determine the optimum composition and processing temperature for pilot scale manufacturing of r-WPCs. Based on tensile, impact, flexural, and water sorption properties of r-WPC compounds with different formulations, the optimum conditions of r-WPC compounds for industrial manufacturing process were determined. Surface morphology of fractured surfaces as well as tensile, flexural and density results of r-WPC compounds revealed the enhancement effect of MAPP on interfacial adhesion in r-WPCs. r-WPC products (crates and table/chair legs) based on bulky wastes were produced using an injection molding process at industrial scale by using 30 wt% WF-filled r-WPC compound. This study demonstrated that r-WPC compounds from recycled bulky plastic and wood wastes can be used as a potential raw material in plastic as well as WPC industry, contributing to circular economy. Graphic AbstractKeywords Wood plastic composite · Recycling · Bulky plastic waste · Mechanical property · WPC manufacturing