Climatic changes: what if the global increase of CO2 emissions cannot be kept under control?

Climatic changes threaten the planet. Most articles related to the subject present estimates of the disasters expected to occur, but few have proposed ways to deal with the impending menaces. One such threat is the global warming caused by the continuous increase in CO2 emissions leading to rising ocean levels due to the increasing temperatures of the polar regions. This threat is assumed to eventually cause the death of hundreds of millions of people. We propose to desalinize ocean water as a means to reduce the rise of ocean levels and to use this water for populations that need good quality potable water, precisely in the poorest regions of the planet. Technology is available in many countries to provide desalinated water at a justifiable cost considering the lives threatened both in coastal and desertified areas.

Inventário de emissões de gases do efeito estufa da cidade do Rio de Janeiro / Inventory of greenhouse gases in gas exhaust of the city of Rio de Janeiro

Os resultados desse estudo apresentam as emissões de dióxido de carbono e metano, de responsabilidade do município, provenientes dos setores de energia, indústria, tratamento de resíduos, transporte, uso do solo e, florestas e agricultura.

Hazards of nitrous oxide administration in presence of venous air embolism

Nitrous oxide administration in presence of venous air embolism results in its volume augmentation. The present case report of a 50-year old patient undergoing posterior fossa tumor excision in the sitting position demonstrates the hazards of nitrous oxide in presence of venous air embolism. Administration of 66% nitrous oxide 140 minutes after the incidence of air embolism resulted in a significant decrease of end-tidal carbon dioxide tension, moderate hypotension, and tachycardia, suggesting volume augmentation of the air embolism. The results of our case report are in contrast to that by Shapiro et al who noted that nitrogen washout following administration of 100% oxygen was complete 65 minutes after the occcurrence of venous air embolism. Shapiro and colleagues suggest the use of nitrous oxide challenge as a diagnostic aid in deciding when lung excretion of intravascular air is complete. However, our case report implies that nitrogen washout was not complete 140 minutes after venous air embolism incidence. Accordingly, we recommend to stop nitrous oxide administration once air embolism is suspected and to refrain from its readministration throughout the rest of surgery

Atmospheric pollution created by mould gas and dust

This paper presents an experimental study about pollution created by harmful gases present in mould gas mixture and siliceous fine dust. Samples of gas were collected from the atmospihere a large foundry, analysed, and suggestions are put forth for environmental control in foundries. Present study has revealed that quantity of CO and C02 gases and fine siliceous dust in moulding and fettling shops crosses the minimum admissible amounts and may cause fibrosis and silicosis. A contaminant free healthy atmosphere in working zone can be obtained by different modem techniques, electrostatic curtain for pushing gas fumes and smoke out of foundary, use of different fog guns for setting dust and by passing the mixture of gas present in foundry through some non-volatile absorbants, casting in vacuum mould free from carboneceous additives, replacing silica by non-silica moulding aggregates e.g, olivine and better ventilation system