Lifetime losses due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributable to air pollution in polluted and unpolluted areas.

The article assesses differences in lifetime losses caused by premature deaths from cardiopulmonary disease in populations living in areas with different environmental burdens. The results provide different perspectives on data on total years lost and lifetime losses attributable to air pollution. Such lifetime losses in the industrial area related to cardiovascular causes of death are 7.6 or 5.1 years per male or female deceased, representing an average lifetime loss of 0.01907 years (i.e. 7 days) per 1 male or 0.01273 years (i.e. 4.6 days) per 1 female in the entire population. Losses related to cerebrovascular or respiratory causes of death are about 5.4 or 5.9 years per 1 deceased male or 3.9 or 5 years per 1 deceased female, respectively, which represents a loss of 0.00481 (1.8 days), or 0.00148 years (0.5 days) per 1 male or 0.00466 (1.7 days), or 0.00058 years (0.2 days) per 1 female.

Evaluation of Fine and Ultrafine Particles Proportion in Airborne Dust in an Industrial Area.

The health impacts of suspended particulate matter (SPM) are significantly associated with size-the smaller the aerosol particles, the stronger the biological effect. Quantitative evaluation of fine and ultrafine particles (FP and UFP) is, therefore, an integral part of ongoing epidemiological studies. The mass concentrations of SPM fractions (especially PM2.5, PM1.0, PM0.25) were measured in an industrial area using cascade personal samplers and a gravimetric method, and their mass ratio was determined. The results of PM2.5, PM1.0 were also compared with the reference measurement at stationary stations. The mean ratios PM2.5/SPM, PM1.0/SPM, and PM1.0/PM2.5 were 0.76, 0.65, and 0.86, respectively. Surprisingly, a mass dominance of UFP with an aerodynamic diameter <0.25 µm (PM0.25) was found with mean ratios of 0.43, 0.57, 0.67 in SPM, PM2.5 and PM1.0. The method used showed satisfactory agreement in comparison with reference measurements. The respirable fraction may consist predominantly of UFP. Despite the measures currently being taken to improve air quality, the most biologically efficient UFP can escape and remain in the air. UFP are currently determined primarily as particle number as opposed to the mass concentration used for conventional fractions. This complicates their mutual comparison and determination of individual fraction ratios.

Assessment of the Composition of Forest Waste in Terms of Its Further Use.

This paper presents the results of the analysis of the chemical composition and content of heavy metal contamination in forest logging residues, in order to assess the possibility for their further utilisation. The samples were divided into 9 groups, which included coniferous tree cones, wood, and other multi-species logging residues. The elementary composition, ash content, and calorific value were determined as energy use indicators for the samples. Additionally, the content of heavy and alkali metals, which may affect combustion processes and pollutant emissions, was tested. The high content of heavy metals may also disqualify these residues for other uses. The research shows that the test residues are suitable for energy use due to their high calorific value and low content of heavy metals. However, an increased ash content in some samples and the presence of alkali metals, causing high-temperature corrosion of boilers, may disqualify them as a potential fuel in the combustion process. The forest residues may be used in other thermal processes such as pyrolysis or gasification. A low content of heavy metals and a high content of organic matter permit the use of these residues for the production of adsorbents or composite materials.

Characterization of composted sewage sludge during the maturation process: a pilot scale study.

This paper determines the impact of the maturation process of composted sewage sludge on the quality of the final product and assesses the stabilization effect. The samples of composted sewage sludge were taken from a wastewater treatment plant located in Pomerania in northern Poland. The sewage sludge was composted in an open windrow composting plant with the addition of straw and wood chips in the turning windrow. The aeration of the sewage sludge mixture was conducted based on two methods. The first phase (intensive degradation phase of 6 to 8 weeks) was characterized by frequently turning; the second phase for maturation used aeration channels (2 to 3 months). In three sampling campaigns samples were taken from the same windrow after 2 (no. 1), 8 (no. 2), and 12 weeks (no. 3) of maturation. Fresh samples were used for analyzing the stabilization parameter as static respiration activity (AT4). Furthermore, the values of pH, organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), elementary composition, nutrients, total content, and mobile forms of heavy metals were analyzed in the compost samples. A significant decrease was found in the stabilization parameter (AT4) during the maturation of tested materials. In turn, no significant differences were found in the elementary composition. The concentration of most metals increased in the final product. The total content of heavy metals in the final product did not exceed the limit values for the agricultural use of sewage sludge, compost from municipal waste, and for organic fertilizers. There were no significant changes in the percentage of bioavailable and mobile forms of heavy metals during compost maturation. Zinc was characterized by the highest level of mobile and bioavailable forms, which may cause bioaccumulation after the fertilization of soil. The study has shown that the process of maturation of compost from sewage sludge not affects changes in the content of heavy metal forms. The scope of this study has been planned on a wider scale for different variants of sewage sludge composting, in order to evaluate the process.