Assessment of combustion products of medical waste incinerators in Alexandria

The emissions and ashes from medical waste incinerators might perform a threat to the environment and the public health. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the emissions and ashes of six medical wastes incinerators in six hospitals in Alexandria. Five air pollutants were sampled and analyzed in the emissions comprising smoke, lead, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.Ash samples were analyzed for bacterial count, volatile substances, lead and cadmium. Shape and color of ash were observed visually. The results of the present study have revealed that all the average values of gases in the six incinerators were within the limits stated in Egyptian environmental law, where as carbonaceous particulate [smoke] averages of the six incinerators have exceeded the maximum allowable limit in the law. On the other hand, lead concentration in emissions were far below the maximum allowable limit in the law. Incinerator No6 emissions have been significantly higher in CO, NO 2, SO 2 and smoke concentration than the other five incinerators P<0.001, P<0.0006, P<0.0001, and P<0.002 respectively. There was no significant variation in bacterial count of ash samples at 20°C and 37°C between the six studied incinerators. Volatile substance percentage of ash samples in the six incinerators were much higher than the recommended percentage. There was a highly significant variation between the six incinerators [p<0.005]. Lead and cadmium concentrations in ash samples were much higher than those in developed countries, meanwhile, more or less as those in developing countries. It is recommended to state specific realistic emissions limits for medical waste incinerators and to substitute sporadic incinerators in hospitals by two central incinerators in proper places outside the city

Evaluation of occupational hazards in foundries

The working environment of foundries is hazardous and characterized by multiple simultaneous chemical, physical and mechanical hazards exposure, which would lead to injuries of foundry workers. The aim of the present work is to evaluate occupational hazards in four foundries, two in Alexandria: El Nasr and Ramsis, and two in Behira: Misr Spinning and Weaving and Misr Rayon companies. Levels of total and respirable dust, free silica% in total dust and lead concentration in total and respirable dust; NO 2, SO 2 and CO concentrations; noise and heat stress levels have been determined in the present work. Occupational injuries data were analyzed in a three years period from 1998 to 2000. The results of the present work revealed; 1. The levels of total dust and respirable dust exceeded the threshold limit values at knockout and cleaning operations at El Nasr Company. 2. Free silica percentage exceeded permissible levels in all operations except pouring in El Nasr Company. 3. CO levels in Misr Spinning and Weaving Company were higher than threshold levels. 4. Noise levels in knockout and cleaning operations at the four companies were exceeding the threshold limit values. 5. Heat stress levels in melting and pouring operations in El Nasr and in pouring operation in Ramsis Company were higher than the maximum permissible levels. 6. The age group 31-40 years has recorded the highest average incidence rate of injuries of age groups [P<0.01]. 7. Lower extremities and higher extremities have recorded the highest average incidence rate in the four companies [P<0.001-P<0.01 respectively]. 8. Transportation and lifting was the main cause of injury in the four companies [P<0.05]. 9. Faulty action and striking against was the main mean of injury in the four companies [P<0.01]. 10. Ramsis Company has the highest average incidence rate in almost all injuries parameters and indices [frequency rate and severity rate] [P<0.05-P<0.001]. The present work is a massive survey, which highlights the occupational hazards in Egyptian foundries

Development of a modified method for the simultaneous determination of vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride in the air

A commercial grade activated carbon has been used as an adsorbent medium. It has been loaded via a simple device with different mixtures of vinyl chloride and ethylene dichloride each administered separately. About 3 g of loaded active carbon is put in a vacutainer tube while 10 ml of technical grade CS2 as adsorbent is added. The tube is stoppered and stored at 4C. After 24 hours, 1 ml aliquot is injected through a closed loop to a precalibrated infrared gas analyzer to assess the percentage recovery of vinyl chloride and ethylene dichloride. The spent activated carbon is washed thoroughly with water and is dried in two stages [at 50C for 8 hours and at 120C for 16 hours] to be used again. The procedure is accurate, precise, simple and economic. It gave percentage recoveries of 85% for VCM and 100% for EDC. It depends on the available resources, making it a suitable methodology to be applied in a developing country

Performance of a modified method for the simultaneous determination of vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride in the atmosphere of a petrochemical plant in Alexandria

Ethylene dichloride [EDC] and vinyl chloride monomer [VCM] are considered the major air pollutants associated with any petrochemical industry. The two pollutants are categorized as carcinogenic substances for man and animal. Large number of samples were collected from the air of a Petrochemical Plant in Alexandria during a period of 12 months to study the efficiency, accuracy and applicability of a modified method for the simultaneous determination of VCM and EDC in the air. For this purpose, different sampling stations were selected inside the plant and at its walls. Samples of VCM and EDC were collected simultaneously by adsorption on the surface of activated charcoal and then analyzed by a chemical desorption process using carbon disulfide [CS2]. Levels of VCM and EDC were determined by an infrared spectrophotometer