Metallic elements in fossil fuel combustion products: amounts and form of emissions and evaluation of carcinogenicity and mutagenicity.

Abstract

Metallic elements contained in coal, oil and gasoline are mobilized by combustion processes and may be emitted into the atmosphere, mainly as components of submicron particles. The information about the amounts, composition and form of metal compounds is reviewed for some fuels and combustion processes. Since metal compounds are always contained in urban air pollutants, they have to be considered whenever an evaluation of biological impact of air pollutants is made. The value of currently used bioassays for the evaluation of the role of trace metal compounds, either as major biologically active components or as modifiers of biological effects of organic compounds is assessed. The whole animal bioassays for carcinogenicity do not seem to be an appropriate approach. They are costly, time-consuming and not easily amenable to the testing of complex mixtures. Some problems related to the application and interpretation of short-term bioassays are considered, and the usefulness of such bioassays for the evaluation of trace metal components contained in complex air pollution mixtures is examined.

Deciphering human–climate interactions in an ombrotrophic peat record: REE, Nd and Pb isotope signatures of dust supplies over the last 2500years (Misten bog, Belgium)

“…Those samples show a progressive increase in REE, reaching a maximum sum REE/Sc ratio ($50) in the sample found at 1937 AD, at the end of the Industrial Revolution interval (Table 1a). Such REE enrichment is explained by intensive coal combustion over this time interval, coals being characterized by a global REE enrichment (e.g., American coals - Vouk and Piver, 1983). Indeed the Misten samples point towards the average ratio of three main Belgian coal ores (mean sum REE/ Sc = 120).…”

Naphthoquinone enhances antigen-related airway inflammation in mice

“…DEP consist of carbonaceous nuclei and a vast number of organic chemical compounds such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, heterocycles and quinones [26,28,29]. Previous in vitro studies have indicated that exposure of macrophages to organic chemicals extracted from DEP increases the oxidative stress-inducible protein haeme oxygenase-1 [12] and results in induction of apoptosis [11].…”

EDTA functionalized magnetic nanoparticle sorbents for cadmium and lead contaminated water treatment

“…volcanic eruptions and forest fires) (Bandara et al, 2008) and anthropogenic activities (e.g. non-ferrous metals production (Vromman et al, 2008), electroplating (Islamoglu et al, 2006), manufacturing of NieCd batteries and pigments (Fthenakis, 2004), application of phosphate fertilizers (Mortvedt and Osborn, 1982), and burning of fossil fuels (Vouk and Piver, 1983)). Pb also is emitted from natural sources and anthropogenic activities (e.g.…”