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Through smokestacks, combustion plants discharge flue gases into the atmosphere, gases containing significant amounts of polluting substances such as: gaseous noxae (sulphur oxides - SOx, nitric oxides - NOx, carbon monoxide and dioxide - CO and CO2); as well as flue dust (suspended particulate matter - aerosols, precipitate dusts), unburned and soot. At present, methods used to measure ambient air concentrations are continuous methods that are fully automatic (monitoring stations) and discontinuous instrumental methods, using numerical display devices equipped with sampling probes. There are situations in which the smokestack does not have inspection holes for taking samples or there is no platform located at the appropriate height (recommended by normative acts) or certain situations where the smokestack height is 30-50 m making it impossible to sample burned gases. Lately, drones have become more and more intelligent, and given the current complexity and performance of hardware and software, we could say that this development will take place swiftly. The current paper explores the possibility of using drones equipped with gas sensors to measure industrial gas emissions from large combustion plants. In this case, account shall be taken of air currents generated by drones and temperature of discharged exhaust gases. This method has a character of novelty because drones are not currently used in industry. The results of the research will conclude if drones equipped with sensors will or will not be widely used in this field, given their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, this paper will be a starting point for future research regarding gas emissions measurements both by using drones and the standardized measurement method (sampling inside smokestacks). Also, the use of aerospace vehicles (drones) will be a real help for improving services, quick reaction in case of damages, for the safety and security of workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to physicochemical pollutants in the work environment leads to occupational illnesses. Workers working in the fields of production of raw materials, energy, material goods, etc. are exposed to these noxious substances over a long period of time. Longterm exposure to many pollutants may have a cumulative effect on the worker. In order to quantify the occupational exposure generated by cumulative exposure to noxious substances, it is necessary to determine the exposure level for each harmful substance. In this respect, the current paper presents a case study, where workers carry out their activity under difficult working conditions in an environment where physicochemical pollutant concentrations exceed limits allowed by national / international legislation. Also, the paper presents the monitoring of physicochemical pollutants in order to be able to quantify the exposure of workers and their health status. Physical and chemical monitored pollutants (omnipresent in industry) are: noise, vibrations, particulate matter and chemicals used in / generated by the workplace atmosphere (CO, CO2, NOx, etc.). Disabilities resulting from the exercise of a job or profession, caused by physical and / or chemical damaging factors characteristic of work places, are difficult to diagnose in the absence of systematic monitoring of health, as causality between factors that generated occupational illness must be assessed, these being usually determined by a combination of determinants (main factors) and biasing (secondary) factors. The effects of exposure to physicochemical pollutants on health of workers are presented both quantitatively by measuring the level of exposure and from the situation of occupational illnesses point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions from industrial plants, including those producing ceramic building materials (bricks, tiles, etc.) represent a considerable share of key atmospheric pollutants total emissions having significant environmental effects. Large volumes of flue gases and dust are continuously and constantly released into the atmosphere through exhaust chimneys of heat treatment facilities. As a result, righteously, these plants are considered to be major stationary sources of anthropogenic emissions, which according to Law 278/2013 must be monitored. In this respect, given the importance of actions to reduce pollution at national level, traders producing ceramic building materials are bound by the environmental permit to monitor gas concentrations in effluents, through discontinuous measurement. This paper presents the assessment of environmental impact generated by production of ceramic building materials and its effects on the local population. Depending on the specific production processes, plants manufacturing ceramic products cause emissions that are discharged into air, water and soil (waste). Type and amount of air pollution depend on different parameters, such as raw materials being used, auxiliaries, fuels and production methods. The trader where emission measurements were taken gas used mari clay and fire clay as stock for manufacturing bricks, tiles and other construction products and the fuel used in thermal process is natural gas. This paper is a summary of a scientific study based on the European Directive 2010/75/EU and Law 278/2013 on industrial emissions that refer to limiting greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In urban areas, air pollution represents one of the biggest problems concerning protection of human health and natural environment. This leads to the fact that local authorities of each area set as priority objective a management system of air quality. Moreover, given the fact that environmental pollution is the consequence of the economic situation of a country or region, it is necessary that actions of prevention and protection of environment and human health to be an important issue for any company. But all this requires an assessment of possibilities for inspection and monitoring of disturbances and propagation of air pollutants in each region depending on the level of industrial development and specific topographic and climatic conditions. The paper presents monitoring of air quality in the area of a bone meal factory, it being a source of pollution for surrounding areas, as well as the impact on the environment and human health. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the importance of monitoring air pollutants, given that the breathable air pollution is a problem that concerns not only organizations and specialized agencies in this area, but also base citizens. Importance of the paper comes from the fact that prolonged exposure of population to pollution caused by dust and gas emissions leads to alterations of population health, also significantly contributing to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]