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Abstract: We present our recent investigation on the internal structure of hybrid materials based on pyrogenic chlorobenzylated silica obtained by classical heating and sonochemistry. A fluorescent labelling by the alkoxypyridylindolizine derivative was carried out by linking the chlorobenzyl pattern, of the native hybrid materials, by quaternization of the free pyridyl group contained in the fluorescent unit. The two fluorescent materials were characterized by InfraRed spectroscopy, Solid-state 13C NMR, Thermal analysis, SEM and the structural parameters were determined from the nitrogen''s isotherm sorption using BET method and BJH model. It is shown that the fluorescence properties depend of the internal structure of materials and, consequently, of the synthesis methodology. So, the thermic way has furnished an open porous system while the sonochemical method''s has led to a more closed porous system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An efficient approach has been developed to synthesize a new versatile organo-silica material by non-conventional method (microwave irradiation and ultrasonic vibration) from amorphous pyrogenic silica and has been compared with thermic procedure. The samples were fully characterized by FTIR, solid-state 29Si and 13C CP/MAS NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by N2-sorption isotherms measurements. The functionalization of silicon dioxide by 4-(chloromethylphenyl) trichlorosilane has been easily achieved by ultrasound irradiation in a very short time with high loading of organic fragments. Significant different sizes of pores were observed according to conventional or non-conventional synthesis procedure. In addition, new structural properties have been created with the emergence of a mesoporosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach to enhance performances of a cyclodextrin-based fluorescent chemosensor combining grafting on a silica matrix and quaternization reaction is presented. The full characterization of new fluorescent hybrid material has clearly revealed the embedding of cyclodextrin inside the siliceous material. Finally, through a comparison with previous aqueous studies, a preliminary test of toluene detection was presented and highlighted the high potential of this approach, which opens attractive perspectives of evolution toward more sensitive and selective VOC’s sensing in air or in hot industrial gaseous waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diesel exhausts are partly responsible for the deleterious effects on human health associated with urban pollution, including cardiovascular diseases, asthma, COPD, and possibly lung cancer. Particulate fraction has been incriminated and thus largely investigated for its genotoxic properties, based on exposure conditions that are, however, not relevant for human risk assessment. In this paper, original and more realistic protocols were used to investigate the hazards induced by exhausts emitted by the combustion of standard (DF0) vs . bio-diesel fuels (DF7 and DF30) and to assess the impact of exhaust treatment devices (DOC and DPF). Mutagenicity and genotoxicity were evaluated for (1) resuspended particles (“off line” exposure that takes into account the bioavailability of adsorbed chemicals) and for (2) the whole aerosols (particles + gas phase components) under continuous flow exposure (“on line” exposure). Native particles displayed mutagenic properties associated with nitroaromatic profiles (YG1041), whereas PAHs did not seem to be involved. After DOC treatment, the mutagenicity of particles was fully abolished. In contrast, the level of particle deposition was low under continuous flow exposure, and the observed mutagenicity in TA98 and TA102 was thus attributable to the gas phase. A bactericidal effect was also observed in TA102 after DOC treatment, and a weak but significant mutagenicity persisted after DPF treatment for bio-diesel fuels. No formation of bulky DNA-adducts was observed on A549 cells exposed to diesel exhaust, even in very drastic conditions (organic extracts corresponding to 500 μg equivalent particule/mL, 48 h exposure). Taken together, these data indicate that the exhausts issued from the bio-diesel fuels supplemented with rapseed methyl ester (RME), and generated by current diesel engines equipped with after treatment devices are less mutagenic than older ones. The residual mutagenicity is linked to the gas phase and could be due to pro-oxydants, mainly for RME-supplemented fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Pelletization of cardboard wastes. [•] Determination of thermal properties in view of their energy recovery. [•] Combustion tests in domestic pellets boiler. [•] Determination of boiler and combustion efficiencies. [•] Measurements of main gaseous and particulate pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the health effects within a child population, neighbouring a landfill. After detecting metals in soil and air samples collected in the surroundings of the landfill and in a control site, we have studied: (i) levels of lead (Pb) and exposure biomarkers in blood and urine, (ii) oxidative stress biomarkers and (iii) renal injury by applying a set of early effect biomarkers. Levels of Pb were higher in the exposed site (i.e. 1129 mg/kg and 640 ng/m3 in soil and air samples, respectively) versus those in the control site (i.e. 14.3 mg/kg and 9.3 ng/m3 in soil and air samples, respectively). Pb impregnation and levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine were influenced by the living site that shows the prevailingly alarming situation in the Mbeubeuss landfill. Malondialdehyde changes indicated Pb-induced excessive production of reactive oxygen species. Lactate dehydrogenase activities and proteinuria were found to be higher in the children living in the exposed site. These evidences may reveal the usefulness of these two effect biomarkers to monitor the kidney injury entailed by relatively low-environmental exposure to Pb. Overall, these results show that the Mbeubeuss landfill constitutes a real source of environmental and health risk, be it living or working on site, of the surrounding population, predominantly for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the development of an optical instrument based on incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS) for simultaneous open-path measurements of nitrous acid (HONO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO) in ambient air using a UV light emitting diode operating at ∼366 nm. Detection limits of ∼430 pptv for HONO and ∼1 ppbv for NO were achieved with an optimum acquisition time of 90 s, determined by an Allan variance analysis. Based on a 1.85 m long high optical finesse open-path cavity, the effective optical path length of 2.8 km was realized in aerosol-free samples or in an urban environment at modest aerosol levels. Such a kilometer long optical absorption is comparable to that achieved in the well established differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technology while keeping the instrument very compact. Open-path detection configuration allows one to avoid absorption cell wall losses and sampling induced artifacts. The demonstrated sensitivity and specificity shows high potential of this cost-effective and compact infrastructure for future field applications with high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An investigation was made into the emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as well as inorganic gases (e.g. CO) from a wood fired combustion boiler using wood pellets, under two different boiler operating modes. Levels of total PAHs varied from 6.4 and 154μgm−3, and were found to be dominating in the gas phase (>80%), regardless of pellet type and boiler operating mode. In addition to this, PAH concentrations were higher in slumber mode than in full flame, and increased with the moisture content of pellets, consistent with the lower combustion efficiency in slumber mode (58.6–64.3%) than in full flame (74.4–82.3%). PAHs in the gas phase comprised mainly of low molecular mass compounds, while PAHs in the particulate phase were mostly composed of high molecular mass compounds, consistent with the physicochemical properties of such compounds. In comparison to PAHs, significantly lower concentrations of PCBs (a maximum of 2.5μgm−3) were released from pellet combustion, consistent with the virgin nature of the pellets. The PCBs in both the gas and particulate phases were dominated by hexachlorinated congeners, although congeners with more chlorine substitution were more abundant in the particulate phase than in gas phase. Significant relationships were established between CO and organic pollutants, and between PAHs and PCBs, which are useful tools for prediction purposes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Terahertz time domain spectroscopy and photomixing have been used alongside one another for the detection and the quantification of small polar species in mainstream cigarette smoke. The broadband submillimeter source used in time domain spectroscopy allowed a rapid and simultaneous detection of several pure rotational transitions of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and carbon monoxide (CO) in realistic conditions of pressure and temperature. The spectral purity of the continuous wave terahertz source produced by photomixing, permitted the concentrations of these molecules to be measured at pressures of tens of hPa. Moreover, at lower pressure, traces of formaldehyde (H2CO) have been unambiguously identified at frequencies above 1 THz. A comparison with chemical analytical methods has been completed for each molecule highlighting the advantages of the direct measurement by THz spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate metabolization of benzo[ a ]pyrene (B a P), a high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of five aromatic rings, by a Deuteromycete Fusarium solani , a culture with [7,10- 14 C]benzo[ a ]pyrene was carried out in a batch fermentor under cometabolic conditions. In spite of drastic culture conditions with a high load of B a P (302 mg in a 1.6 liters), analysis of the growth and substrate depletion kinetics showed a classical pattern. The evolution of 14 CO 2 release demonstrated that B a P mineralization by the non-white rot fungus F. solani occurred rapidly at early stages of fermentation (15 hr) during the germination process. At the end of fermentation, 1.2% of the B a P was evolved as 14 CO 2 and 5.3% was incorporated in biomass. B a P metabolization was also confirmed by isolating metabolic products, extracted from mycelia and identified as 1,6-benzo[ a ]pyrene quinone and 3,6-benzo[ a ]pyrene quinone, by mass and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]