Treatment of de-icing contaminated surface water runoff along an airport runway using in-situ soil enriched with structural filter materials.

Airport surface runoff during wintertime contains high concentrations of pavement de-icing fluids (PDFs). Uncontrolled discharge of this runoff poses a potential environmental hazard for the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. Several technologies for collection, transportation and treatment of contaminated runoff water are available, mainly technical systems, which require high operation and maintenance efforts. For moderately contaminated runoff, the discharge to a wastewater treatment plant is usually applied. In this study, a passive soil-based filter is proposed to treat the contaminated surface water runoff. The degradation of two PDFs was under investigation, namely Safeway® KA-Hot based on potassium acetate, and urea. The main research objective was to determine the capability of the in-situ soil and a soil based filter using zeolite and perlite as additional filter media to degrade the organic pollutants in the runoff. Column experiments at temperatures between 3 °C and 5 °C were carried out to determine the degradation potential when using 50% in-situ soil mixed with zeolite and perlite. Besides TOC, the nitrogen degradation was also under investigation. Due to the low temperatures, available nutrients are a key factor for the TOC degrading microorganisms. Overall TOC reduction rates were found from 76% up to 98%, with TOC effluent concentrations in the range of 18 to 870 mg·L-1, depending on the influent concentration. Based on the results, the use of a soil-based filter is a promising, passive, natural based solution for the treatment of de-icing runoff.

The EXIT (ex-utero intrapartum treatment) procedure - from the paediatric ENT perspective.

The main principle of the EXIT procedure is to maintain uteroplacental circulation with neonatal anaesthesia by controlled uterine hypotonia. This enables securing the foetal airways and decompress or resect large neck and mediastinal foetal masses. The authors present their experience with use of the EXIT procedure in 7 foetuses in whom evaluation and management of the airways were performed. In 4 patients, the neck mass was surgically removed in the neonatal period, in 1 the propranolol treatment was introduced. Two newborns died shortly after the EXIT procedure. The EXIT procedure allows the paediatric otolaryngologist to provide airway patency of newborns during delivery. Both ultrasound and MR imaging are crucial in the prenatal assessment of foetal head and neck masses. Their application in the evaluation of any foetal anomaly is essential for proper prognosis and treatment. Maternal monitoring for complications such as polyhydramnios and preterm labour are important in planning and desirability of the EXIT procedure.

[Congenital laryngomalacia in children]. / Wrodzona wiotkosc krtani u dzieci.

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of congenital infantile stridor which is respiratory in all cases. It is first noted at birth and usually resolves spontaneously by the age of 2 years. In severe cases it may lead to life-threatening obstructive apnea, cor pulmonale and failure to thrive, and in these patients surgical intervention may be required. This anomaly has been described in the medical literature for over 100 years. The purpose of this study is to review the literature, present terminology, types of laryngomalacia, cause, pathogenesis and relationship with other diseases. Finally, we describe the possible methods of its treatment.