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The cement industry is the most energy intensive of Taiwan's manufacturing industries. This paper presents a case study of the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory in Taiwan's cement industry, which includes an analysis of GHG emission intensity (EI) and the testing of raw meal calcination. The GHG inventory analysis results show that direct GHG emissions (Scope 1) are the largest emission source of the study subject, the H plant. As regards the EI analysis results of Taiwan's cement plants, only one cement plant (H plant) meets the EI limit announced by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Taiwan. According to the calcination test, the major calcination reaction occurs in the 700–900°C temperature range and accounts for nearly 87% of total CO2emissions. Finally, a modified and feasible process is proposed as a base case for simulating options for GHG reductions in the cement industry. The modified process can reduce coal consumption and pipeline corrosion, and increase the efficiency of waste heat recovery and the calcination rate; these procedures require low investment and operating cost. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Over the past few decades, Taiwan has seen striking improvements in the life expectancy of its 400 registered β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients due mainly to adequate transfusion regimens and effective iron chelation therapy. Since 1995, Taiwanese citizens have enjoyed universal health care through National Health Insurance (NIH), receiving comprehensive treatment at minimal cost. In 1984, a national program for thalassemia prevention, control, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was initiated. Recent data show 1- and 2-year event-free survival rates of 85 and 78%, respectively. Chelation agents like deferoxamine (DFO), deferiprone (L1) and deferasirox (DFRA) are available in Taiwan, and therapy is tailored to individuals based on drug availability and tissue distribution of iron load. Intensive chelation regimens combining L1 and DFO are recommended in patients with cardiac complications, while DFRA has been found to be effective in reducing serum ferritin, with acceptable side effects. Here, we report advances in thalassemia treatment in Taiwan and suggest treatment guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deferiprone (L1) has been recommended as an effective oral chelation therapy for patients with ß-thalassemia major (TM). From 1999 to 2004, 114 patients with TM from five treatment centers were enrolled in this program: iron (Fe) was chelated with L1 in 57 patients, deferoxamine (DFO) in 26, and combined L1/DFO therapy in 31. We found that serum ferritin (SF) was significantly lower in nine patients receiving L1 for more than 5 years ( p = 0.04), 22 patients receiving L1 for 1–2 years ( p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]