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Mineral sequestration has a great potential for abating CO2 emissions, especially at locations where no opportunities for CO2 geological storage exist. This article focuses on the mineral carbonation of magnesium silicates, that is, serpentinites, which offers an attractive option for CO2 emission mitigation in Lithuania. Mineral CO2 carbonation in a staged gas/solid process route is one of the most prospective approaches. The process was conducted in several steps. Firstly, extraction of the magnesium hydroxide from serpentinite via a solid/solid reaction between serpentinite and ammonium sulfate salt at a temperature interval of 500-540°C was carried out. The maximum Mg extraction (53.70 %) was obtained with the mass ratio of reactants of 2 g serpentinite/3 g ammonium sulfate, reaction temperature, and time of 520°C and 20 min, respectively. Secondly, the process of precipitation of Mg(OH)2 took place. The effect of precipitation of the Fe-containing compounds (first step) and the Mg(OH)2 (second step) was analyzed. At the pH of 8-10 and 10-12, compounds of Fe and Mg precipitated, respectively. The optimal Fe removal and Mg extraction was achieved at the pH of the ∼9.5 for the first step and at the pH of ∼11.50 for the second step. Finally, the carbonation of extracted magnesium hydroxide was accomplished and reached the effectiveness of 65 % after 15 min at 535°C, 51 bar. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 512-518, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure and health implications of exhaled aerosol particles from tobacco products remain a critical area of concern in public health. This research aimed to characterize the cytotoxicity of exhaled aerosol particles from conventional cigarettes (CC) and heated tobacco products (HTP) using a novel "Cells-on-Particles" integrated aerosol sampling and cytotoxicity in vitro testing platform. The research uniquely captures the physical and chemical characteristics of aerosols by depositing them onto fibrous matrixes, enabling a more accurate representation of exposure conditions. New insights were provided into the differences between CC and HTP in terms of particle size distributions, cell viability, metabolic activity, and the expression of genes related to xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress. This approach marks a significant advancement in the field by offering a more direct and representative method to evaluate the potential health hazards of tobacco aerosol particles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The presented research introduces the "Cells-on-Particles" integrated aerosol sampling and cytotoxicity testing in vitro platform, which allows for the direct assessment of the biological effects of captured aerosol particles on a selected cell type without the need for extraction or resuspension steps. By utilizing particles with unaltered chemical and physical properties, the method enables simple and fast screening of biological effects on specific cell types, making it a promising tool for assessing the cytotoxicity of particulate matter in ambient and occupational air. Platforms fabricated from cellulose acetate (CA) and poly[ε]caprolactone (PCL) were proven to be biocompatible and promoted the attachment and growth of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. The PCL platforms were exposed to simulated occupational aerosols of silver, copper, and graphene oxide nanoparticles. Each nanoparticle type exhibited different and dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on cells, evidenced by reduced cell viability and distinct, particle type-dependent gene expression patterns. Notably, copper nanoparticles were identified as the most cytotoxic, and graphene oxide the least. Comparing the "Cells-on-Particles" and submerged exposure ("Particles-on-Cells") testing strategies, BEAS-2B cells responded to selected nanoparticles in a comparable manner, suggesting the developed testing system could be proposed for further evaluation with more complex environmental aerosols. Despite limitations, including particle agglomeration and the need for more replicates to address variability, the "Cells-on-Particles" platform enables effective detection of toxicity induced by relatively low levels of nanoparticles, demonstrating good sensitivity and a relatively simpler procedure compared to standard 2D cell exposure methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests Dainius Martuzevicius reports financial support was provided by European Regional Development Fund. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polycaprolactone (PCL) has recently received significant attention due to its mechanical strength, low immunogenicity, elasticity, and biodegradability. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for cartilage tissue engineering. PCL is relatively hydrophobic in nature, so its hydrophilicity needs to be enhanced before its use in scaffolding. In our study, first, we aimed to improve the hydrophilicity properties after the network of the bilayer scaffold was formed by electrospinning. Electrospun bilayer PCL scaffolds were treated with ozone and further loaded with transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGFβ3). In vitro studies were performed to determine the rabbit muscle-derived stem cells' (rMDSCs) potential to differentiate into chondrocytes after the cells were seeded onto the scaffolds. Statistically significant results indicated that ozonated (O) scaffolds create a better environment for rMDSCs because collagen-II (Coll2) concentrations at day 21 were higher than non-ozonated (NO) scaffolds. In in vivo studies, we aimed to determine the cartilage regeneration outcomes by macroscopical and microscopical/histological evaluations at 3- and 6-month time-points. The Oswestry Arthroscopy Score (OAS) was the highest at both mentioned time-points using the scaffold loaded with TGFβ3 and rMDSCs. Evaluation of cartilage electromechanical quantitative parameters (QPs) showed significantly better results in cell-treated scaffolds at both 3 and 6 months. Safranin O staining indicated similar results as in macroscopical evaluations-cell-treated scaffolds revealed greater staining with safranin, although an empty defect also showed better results than non-cell-treated scaffolds. The scaffold with chondrocytes represented the best score when the scaffolds were evaluated with the Mankin histological grading scale. However, as in previous in vivo evaluations, cell-treated scaffolds showed better results than non-cell-treated scaffolds. In conclusion, we have investigated that an ozone-treated scaffold containing TGFβ3 with rMDSC is a proper combination and could be a promising scaffold for cartilage regeneration., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Malinauskas, Jankauskaite, Aukstikalne, Dabasinskaite, Rimkunas, Mickevicius, Pockevicius, Krugly, Martuzevicius, Ciuzas, Baniukaitiene and Usas.)

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a non-cytotoxic, completely biodegradable biomaterial, ideal for cartilage tissue engineering. Despite drawbacks such as low hydrophilicity and lack of functional groups necessary for incorporating growth factors, it provides a proper environment for different cells, including stem cells. In our study, we aimed to improve properties of scaffolds for better cell adherence and cartilage regeneration. Thus, electrospun PCL-scaffolds were functionalized with ozone and loaded with TGF-β3. Together, human-muscle-derived stem cells (hMDSCs) were isolated and assessed for their phenotype and potential to differentiate into specific lineages. Then, hMDSCs were seeded on ozonated (O) and non-ozonated ("naïve" (NO)) scaffolds with or without protein and submitted for in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro studies showed that hMDSC and control cells (human chondrocyte) could be tracked for at least 14 days. We observed better proliferation of hMDSCs in O scaffolds compared to NO scaffolds from day 7 to day 28. Protein analysis revealed slightly higher expression of type II collagen (Coll2) on O scaffolds compared to NO on days 21 and 28. We detected more pronounced formation of glycosaminoglycans in the O scaffolds containing TGF-β3 and hMDSC compared to NO and scaffolds without TGF-β3 in in vivo animal experiments. Coll2-positive extracellular matrix was observed within O and NO scaffolds containing TGF-β3 and hMDSC for up to 8 weeks after implantation. These findings suggest that ozone-treated, TGF-β3-loaded scaffold with hMDSC is a promising tool in neocartilage formation.

The importance of the cellulose cycle has been increasing during the last decade along the ambitious targets of bioeconomy, however many novel fabrication processes yet lack of technological robustness. We present the optimization process for the fabrication of cellulose fibrous matrix by wet electrospinning via the controlled removal of the ionic liquids in order to avoid the formation of film-like structures. Fibers were produced on a bespoke wet-type electrospinning rig from cotton cellulose solutions of 3% in different types of ionic liquids (BMIMAc/C10MIMCl/EMIMAc). Three stage elution with a range of elution ratios using deionized water were applied to coagulate cellulose and remove residuals of ionic liquid. A variety of fibrous morphologies has been obtained. In case of a high water/IL ratio, the median fiber width across all ionic liquids was 0.4 μm, with the porosity at 92.3% and the pore diameter at 155 μm. The increasing elution ratio positively affected separate cellulose fiber formation, crystallinity, and mechanical strength of formed structures., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Novel highly porous nanoparticle materials are increasingly being applied in adsorption processes, but they need to be supported by robust matrixes to maintain their functionality. We present a study of hosting graphene oxide (GO) particles on polyether block amide (PEBA) melt electrospun fibers and applying such composite matrix to the adsorption of the cationic dye (crystal violet) from water. Various amounts of GO (from 0.5 to 2.0%) were mixed into pure PEBA and electrospun by melt electrospinning obtaining micro fibrous matrixes. These were characterized for morphology (SEM), chemical composition (FTIR), crystallinity (XRD), and wetting behavior (WCA). The increasing amount of GO adversely affected fiber diameter (reduced from 13.18 to 4.38 μm), while the hydrophilic properties (Water contact angle decrease from 109 to 76°) and overall dye adsorption was increased. Efficient adsorption has been demonstrated, reaching approximately 100 % removal efficiency using a 2% GO composite matrix at a dose of 40 mg/l and pH of 10. Further increase of GO concentration in polymer is not feasible due to instability in the electrospinning process., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ozonation has been proved as a viable surface modification technique providing certain properties to the scaffolds that are essential in tissue engineering. However, the ozone (O 3 ) treatment of PCL scaffolds in aqueous environments has not yet been presented. O 3 treatment performed in aqueous environments is more effective compared with traditional, executed in ambient air treatment due to more abundant production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) within the O 3 reaction with water molecules. During interaction with •OH, the scaffold acquires functional groups which improve wettability properties and encapsulate growth factors. In this study, a poly(ε)caprolactone (PCL) scaffold was fabricated using solution electrospinning and was subsequently ozonated in a water reactor. The O 3 treatment resulted in the expected occurrence of oxygen-containing functional groups, which improved scaffold wettability by almost 27% and enhanced cell proliferation for up to 14 days. The PCL scaffold was able to withhold 120 min of O 3 treatment, maintaining fibrous morphology and mechanical properties.

Polyether block amide (PEBA) nanocomposite membranes, including Graphene (GA)/PEBA membranes are considered to be a promising emerging technology for removing CO 2 from natural gas and biogas. However, poor dispersion of GA in the produced membranes at industrial scale still forms the main barrier to commercialize. Within this frame, this research aims to develop a new industrial approach to produce GA/PEBA granules that could be used as a feedstock material for mass production of GA/PEBA membranes. The developed approach consists of three sequential phases. The first stage was concentrated on production of GA/PEBA granules using extrusion process (at 170-210 °C, depending on GA concentration) in the presence of Paraffin Liquid (PL) as an adhesive layer (between GA and PEBA) and assisted melting of PEBA. The second phase was devoted to production of GA/PEBA membranes using a solution casting method. The last phase was focused on evaluation of CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of the fabricated membranes at low and high temperatures (25 and 55 °C) at a constant feeding pressure (2 bar) using a test rig built especially for that purpose. The granules and membranes were prepared with different concentrations of GA in the range 0.05 to 0.5 wt.% and constant amount of PL (2 wt.%). Also, the morphology, physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical behaviors of the synthesized membranes were analyzed with the help of SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA-DTG, and universal testing machine. The results showed that incorporation of GA with PEBA using the developed approach resulted in significant improvements in dispersion, thermal, and mechanical properties (higher elasticity increased by ~10%). Also, ideal CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity was improved by 29% at 25 °C and 32% at 55 °C., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Introduction: There are fundamental differences between electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and conventional cigarette product categories with regards to potential environmental exposures, notably that e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco or generate side-stream emissions. Here we assess the spatial and temporal patterns of exhaled e-cigarette aerosol at a bystander's position, and compare it with conventional cigarette smoke emissions., Methods: Smokers were asked to use e-cigarettes or smoke conventional cigarettes in a room-simulating chamber. Volunteers used the products at different distances from a heated mannequin, representing a bystander, and under different room ventilation rates. Aerosol particle concentrations and size distributions at the bystander's position were measured., Results: For both product categories, the particle concentrations registered following each puff were in the same order of magnitude. However, for e-cigarettes the particle concentration returned rapidly to background values within seconds; for conventional cigarettes it increased with successive puffs, returning to background levels after 30-45 minutes. Unlike for the e-cigarette devices tested, such temporal variation was dependent on the room ventilation rate. Particle size measurements showed that exhaled e-cigarette particles were smaller than those emitted during smoking conventional cigarettes and evaporated almost immediately after exhalation, thus affecting the removal of particles through evaporation rather than displacement by ventilation., Conclusions: Significant differences between emissions from the tested e- and conventional cigarettes are reported. Exhaled e-cigarette particles are liquid droplets evaporating rapidly; conventional cigarette smoke particles are far more stable and linger., Implications: • Several factors potentially influencing particle behavior after exhalation of e-cigarette aerosols or emitted during smoking conventional cigarettes were studied.• Differences in particle size between those exhaled following use of e-cigarettes and those emitted during smoking of conventional cigarettes were observed.• E-cigarette particle concentrations decreased rapidly following exhalation due to evaporation.• The removal of particles following smoking conventional cigarettes was much slower and was dependent on the room ventilation rate., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.)

Humanity faces an increasing impact of air pollution worldwide, including threats to human health. Air pollutants prompt and promote chronic inflammation, tumourigenesis, autoimmune and other destructive processes in the human body. Post-translational modification of proteins, for example citrullination, results from damaging attacks of pollutants, including smoking, air pollution and others, rendering host tissues immunogenic. Citrullinated proteins and citrullinating enzymes, deiminases, are more prevalent in patients with COPD and correlate with ongoing inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we installed an in-house-designed diesel exhaust delivery and cannabidiol vaporization system where mice were exposed to relevant, urban traffic-related levels of diesel exhaust for 14 days and assessed integrity of alveolar tissue, gene expression shifts and changes in protein content in the lungs and other tissues of exposed mice. Systemic presence of modified proteins was also tested. The protective effect of phytocannabinoids was investigated as well. Data obtained in our study show subacute effects of diesel exhaust on mouse lung integrity and protein content. Emphysematous changes are documented in exposed mouse lungs. In parallel, increased levels of citrulline were detected in the alveolar lung tissue and peripheral blood of exposed mice. Pre-treatment with vaporized cannabidiol ameliorated some damaging effects. Results reported hereby provide new insights into subacute lung tissue changes that follow diesel exhaust exposure and suggest possible dietary and/or other therapeutic interventions for maintaining lung health and healthy ageing., (© 2019 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).)

We assessed 45 multifamily buildings (240 apartments) from Finland and 20 (96 apartments) from Lithuania, out of which 37 buildings in Finland and 15 buildings in Lithuania underwent energy retrofits. Building characteristics, retrofit activities, and energy consumption data were collected, and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) parameters, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), formaldehyde (CH 2 O), selected volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), radon, and microbial content in settled dust were measured before and after the retrofits. After the retrofits, heating energy consumption decreased by an average of 24% and 49% in Finnish and Lithuanian buildings, respectively. After the retrofits of Finnish buildings, there was a significant increase in BTEX concentrations (estimated mean increase of 2.5 µg/m 3 ), whereas significant reductions were seen in fungal (0.6-log reduction in cells/m 2 /d) and bacterial (0.6-log reduction in gram-positive and 0.9-log reduction in gram-negative bacterial cells/m 2 /d) concentrations. In Lithuanian buildings, radon concentrations were significantly increased (estimated mean increase of 13.8 Bq/m 3 ) after the retrofits. Mechanical ventilation was associated with significantly lower CH 2 O concentrations in Finnish buildings. The results and recommendations presented in this paper can inform building retrofit studies and other programs and policies aimed to improve indoor environment and health., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) constitutes the major part of urban air pollution and is a heterogeneous mixture of solid and liquid particles of different origin, size, and chemistry. Human exposure to PM in urban areas poses considerable and significant adverse effects on the respiratory system and human health in general. Major contributors to PM content are combustion-related sources such as diesel vehicles, household, and industrial heating. PM is composed of thousands of different high molecular weight organic compounds, including poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of this study was to clarify the cytotoxic effects of the extract of actual urban PM1 with high benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) content collected in Eastern European mid-sized city during winter heating season on human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Decreased cell viability, alteration of cell layer integrity, increased apoptosis, and oxidative stress were observed during the 3-day exposure to the PM extract. In addition, following PM exposure pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was upregulated at gene and protein levels. Morphology and motility changes, i.e., decreased cells' ability to cover scratch area, were also documented. We report here that the extract of urban PM1 may induce bronchial epithelium changes and render it pro-inflammatory and compromised within 3 days.

Background: Driven by climate change mitigation, EU countries are committed to improve energy efficiency of their building stock by implementing the energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD). Should higher energy efficiency result in better indoor environmental quality (IEQ), this policy could also be seen as an opportunity to improve public health across Europe., Objectives: This paper focuses on the assessment of the effects of energy retrofits on occupant satisfaction with IEQ and health in multifamily buildings., Methods: Data on occupant satisfaction with IEQ and health were collected from the occupants of 39 Finnish and 15 Lithuanian multifamily buildings (an average of five apartments per building, one adult per apartment) both before and after energy retrofits (such as improving thermal insulation, windows, heating and/or ventilation systems). Parallel to the data collected from the occupants, data on several IEQ parameters, including temperature, temperature factor, and air change rate, were collected from their apartments. Moreover, data from seven Finnish and five Lithuanian non-retrofitted control buildings were collected according to the same protocol., Results: Occupant satisfaction regarding indoor temperature was associated with both retrofit status (OR 5.3, 95% CI 2.6-11.0) and measured IEQ parameters (indoor temperature OR 1.4 per 1 °C increase, temperature factor OR 1.1 per 1% increase, and air change rate OR 5.6 per 1/h increase). Additional positive associations were found between retrofit status and occupants reporting absence of upper respiratory symptoms (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9) as well as not missing work or school due to respiratory infections (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2-13.8), however, these associations were independent of the measured IEQ parameters., Conclusions: There seems to be a strong subjective component related to the observed changes in occupant satisfaction with IEQ and health as a result of energy retrofitting in buildings. Further studies are needed to verify the actual mechanisms, as well as possible long term effects., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Impacts of energy retrofits on indoor thermal environment, i.e. temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH), as well as ventilation rates and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations, were assessed in 46 Finnish and 20 Lithuanian multi-family buildings, including 39 retrofitted case buildings in Finland and 15 in Lithuania (the remaining buildings were control buildings with no retrofits). In the Finnish buildings, high indoor T along with low RH levels was commonly observed both before and after the retrofits. Ventilation rates (l/s per person) were higher after the retrofits in buildings with mechanical exhaust ventilation than the corresponding values before the retrofits. Measured CO 2 levels were low in vast majority of buildings. In Lithuania, average indoor T levels were low before the retrofits and there was a significant increase in the average T after the retrofits. In addition, average ventilation rate was lower and CO 2 levels were higher after the retrofits in the case buildings (N=15), both in apartments with natural and mixed ventilation. Based on the results, assessment of thermal conditions and ventilation rates after energy retrofits is crucial for optimal indoor environmental quality and energy use., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A bench-scale advanced oxidation (AO) reactor was investigated for the degradation of six pollutants (2-naphthol, phenol, oxalic acid, phthalate, methylene blue, and D-glucose) in a model wastewater at with the aim to test opportunities for the further upscale to industrial applications. Six experimental conditions were designed to completely examine the experimental reactor, including photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation, photolytic ozonation, catalytic ozonation, and photocatalytic ozonation. The stationary catalyst construction was made from commercially available TiO 2 nanopowder by mounting it on a glass support and subsequently characterized for morphology (X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy) as well as durability. The ozone was generated in a dielectrical barrier discharge reactor using air as a source of oxygen. The degradation efficiency was estimated by the decrease in total organic carbon (TOC) concentration as well as toxicity using Daphnia magna, and degradation by-products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The photocatalytic ozonation was the most effective for the treatment of all model wastewater. The photocatalytic ozonation was most effective against ozonation and photolytic ozonation at tested pH values. A complete toxicity loss was obtained after the treatment using photocatalytic ozonation. The possible degradation pathway of the phthalate by oxidation was suggested based on aromatic ring opening reactions. The catalyst used at this experiment confirmed as a durable for continuous use with almost no loss of activity over time. The design of the reactor was found to be very effective for water treatment using photocatalytic ozonation. Such design has a high potential and can be further upscaled to industrial applications due to the simplicity and versatility of manufacturing and maintenance.

The purpose of this study was to determine the properties of fibrous gas filtration media produced from mineral zeolite. Fibres were generated by direct current plasma spray. The paper characterizes morphology, chemical composition, geometrical structure of elementary fibres, and thermal resistance, as well as the filtration properties of fibre media. The diameter of the produced elementary fibres ranged from 0.17 to 0.90 μm and the length ranged from 0.025 to 5.1 mm. The release of fibres from the media in the air stream was noticed, but it was minimized by hot-pressing the formed fibre mats. The fibres kept their properties up to the temperature of 956°C, while further increase in temperature resulted in the filter media becoming shrunk and brittle. The filtration efficiency of the prepared filter mats ranged from 95.34% to 99.99% for aerosol particles ranging in a size between 0.03 and 10.0 μm. Unprocessed fibre media showed the highest filtration efficiency when filtering aerosol particles smaller than 0.1 µm. Hot-pressed filters were characterized by the highest quality factor values, ranging from 0.021 to 0.064 Pa(-1) (average value 0.034 Pa(-1)).

Sixteen existing multi-family buildings (94 apartments) in Finland and 20 (96 apartments) in Lithuania were investigated prior to their renovation in order to develop and test out a common protocol for the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) assessment, and to assess the potential for improving IEQ along with energy efficiency. Baseline data on buildings, as well as data on temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon, and microbial content in settled dust were collected from each apartment. In addition, questionnaire data regarding housing quality and health were collected from the occupants. The results indicated that most measured IEQ parameters were within recommended limits. However, different baselines in each country were observed especially for parameters related to thermal conditions and ventilation. Different baselines were also observed for the respondents' satisfaction with their residence and indoor air quality, as well as their behavior related to indoor environment. In this paper, we present some evidence for the potential in improving IEQ along with energy efficiency in the current building stock, followed by discussion of possible IEQ indicators and development of the assessment protocol., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Forecasting of generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in developing countries is often a challenging task due to the lack of data and selection of suitable forecasting method. This article aimed to select and evaluate several methods for MSW forecasting in a medium-scaled Eastern European city (Kaunas, Lithuania) with rapidly developing economics, with respect to affluence-related and seasonal impacts. The MSW generation was forecast with respect to the economic activity of the city (regression modelling) and using time series analysis. The modelling based on social-economic indicators (regression implemented in LCA-IWM model) showed particular sensitivity (deviation from actual data in the range from 2.2 to 20.6%) to external factors, such as the synergetic effects of affluence parameters or changes in MSW collection system. For the time series analysis, the combination of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and seasonal exponential smoothing (SES) techniques were found to be the most accurate (mean absolute percentage error equalled to 6.5). Time series analysis method was very valuable for forecasting the weekly variation of waste generation data (r (2) > 0.87), but the forecast yearly increase should be verified against the data obtained by regression modelling. The methods and findings of this study may assist the experts, decision-makers and scientists performing forecasts of MSW generation, especially in developing countries.

This complex study presents indoor and outdoor levels of air-borne fine particles, particle-bound PAHs and VOCs at two urban locations in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania, and considers possible sources of pollution. Two sampling campaigns were performed in January-February and March-April 2009. The mean outdoor PM(2.5) concentration at Location 1 in winter was 34.5 ± 15.2 µg m(-3) while in spring it was 24.7 ± 12.2 µg m(-3); at Location 2 the corresponding values were 36.7 ± 21.7 and 22.4 ± 19.4 µg m(-3), respectively. In general there was little difference between the PM concentrations at Locations 1 and 2. PM(2.5) concentrations were lower during the spring sampling campaign. These PM concentrations were similar to those in many other European cities; however, the levels of most PAHs analysed were notably higher. The mean sum PAH concentrations at Locations 1 and 2 in the winter campaign were 75.1 ± 32.7 and 32.7 ± 11.8 ng m(-3), respectively. These differences are greater than expected from the difference in traffic intensity at the two sites, suggesting that there is another significant source of PAH emissions at Location 1 in addition to the traffic. The low observed indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios indicate that PAH emissions at the locations studied arise primarily from outdoor sources. The buildings at both locations have old windows with wooden frames that are fairly permissive in terms of air circulation. VOC concentrations were mostly low and comparable to those reported from Sweden. The mean outdoor concentrations of VOC's were: 0.7 ± 0.2, 3.0 ± 0.8, 0.5 ± 0.2, 3.5 ± 0.3, and 0.2 ± 0.1 µg m(-3), for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, sum of m-, p-, o-xylenes, and naphthalene, respectively. Higher concentrations of VOCs were observed during the winter campaign, possibly due to slower dispersion, slower chemical transformations and/or the lengthy "cold start" period required by vehicles in the wintertime. A trajectory analysis showed that air masses coming from Eastern Europe carried significantly higher levels of PM(2.5) compared to masses from other regions, but the PAHs within the PM(2.5) are of local origin. It has been suggested that street dust, widely used for winter sanding activities in Eastern and Central European countries, may act not only as a source of PM, but also as source of particle-bound PAHs. Other potential sources include vehicle exhaust, domestic heating and long-range transport.

In this study, the culturability of indoor and outdoor airborne fungi was determined through long-term sampling (24-h) using a Button Personal Inhalable Aerosol Sampler. The air samples were collected during three seasons in six Cincinnati area homes that were free from moisture damage or visible mold. Cultivation and total microscopic enumeration methods were employed for the sample analysis. The geometric means of indoor and outdoor culturable fungal concentrations were 88 and 102 colony-forming units (CFU) m(-3), respectively, with a geometric mean of the I/O ratio equal to 0.66. Overall, 26 genera of culturable fungi were recovered from the indoor and outdoor samples. For total fungal spores, the indoor and outdoor geometric means were 211 and 605 spores m(-3), respectively, with a geometric mean of I/O ratio equal to 0.32. The identification revealed 37 fungal genera from indoor and outdoor samples based on the total spore analysis. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of culturable and total fungal spores showed significant correlations (r = 0.655, p<0.0001 and r = 0.633, p<0.0001, respectively). The indoor and outdoor median viabilities of fungi were 55% and 25%, respectively, which indicates that indoor environment provides more favorable survival conditions for the aerosolized fungi. Among the seasons, the highest indoor and outdoor culturability of fungi was observed in the fall. Cladosporium had a highest median value of culturability (38% and 33% for indoor and outdoor, respectively) followed by Aspergillus/Penicillium (9% and 2%) among predominant genera of fungi. Increased culturability of fungi inside the homes may have important implications because of the potential increase in the release of allergens from viable spores and pathogenicity of viable fungi on immunocompromised individuals.

In this study, we have examined the relationships between the concentrations of ambient inhalable airborne fungi and pollen with PM10, PM2.5, ozone, organic carbon, selected trace metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc), temperature, and relative humidity. The database was collected in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, during two consecutive years. Measurements of all environmental variables were performed at the same site continuously 5 days a week except during winter months. The airborne concentrations of biological and non-biological pollutants ranged as follows: total fungi: 184-16 979 spores m(-3); total pollen: 0-6692 pollen m(-3); PM10: 6.70-65.38 microg m(-3); PM2.5: 5.04-45.02 microg m(-3); and ozone: 2.54-64.17 ppb. Higher levels of total inhalable fungi and particulate matter were found during fall and summer months. In contrast, total pollen concentration showed elevated levels in spring. Peak concentrations of ozone were observed during summer and beginning of fall. Our study concluded that several types of inhalable airborne fungi and pollen, particulate matter, and ozone could be positively correlated as a result of the atmospheric temperature influence.

The "Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS)" is underway to determine if infants who are exposed to diesel engine exhaust particles are at an increased risk for atopy and atopic respiratory disorders, and to determine if this effect is magnified in a genetically at risk population. In support of this study, a methodology has been developed to allocate local traffic source contributions to ambient PM(2.5) in the Cincinnati airshed. As a first step towards this allocation, UNMIX was used to generate factors for ambient PM(2.5) at two sites near at interstate highway. Procedures adopted to collect, analyze and prepare the data sets to run UNMIX are described. The factors attributed to traffic sources were similar for the two sites. These factors were also similar to locally measured truck engine-exhaust enriched ambient profiles. The temporal variation of the factors was analyzed with clear differences observed between factors attributed to traffic sources and combustion-related regional secondary sources.

Studies requiring ambient exposure assessments invariably ask: How often should measurements be taken? Answer to such questions is dictated by budgetary considerations as well as spatial and temporal variability in the data. For example, do we obtain measurements during all seasons, all months within seasons, weeks within months and days within weeks? On one hand, we can obtain a one-time snapshot sample and regard it as representing the "true" mean exposure. On the other hand, we may obtain a large number of measurements over time and then average these in order to represent this "true" mean exposure. The former estimate is the least expensive but may also be the least precise while the latter, may be very precise but prohibitively costly. In this paper, we demonstrate how a pilot study can be undertaken with a potentially promising and feasible sampling plan for the full-scale study. By applying the statistical methodology of variance component analysis (VCA) to the pilot study data and exploiting mathematical relationship between the variance of the overall mean exposure and posited variance components, we can develop a sampling design with decreased sampling costs and/or increased precision of the mean exposure. Our approach was applied to determine sampling design choices for an on-going study that aimed at assessing ambient particulate matter exposure. We conclude that a pilot study followed by the VCA analysis may often lead to sampling design choices that offer considerable cost savings and, at the same time, promise to provide relatively precise estimates of the mean exposure for the subsequent full-scale study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the PM(2.5) monitoring network established in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky metropolitan area for measuring the 24 h integrated PM(2.5) concentration, as well as-at selected sites-hourly PM(2.5) concentration and 24 h integrated PM(2.5) speciation. The data collected during three years at 13 measurement sites were analyzed for spatial and temporal variations. It was found that both daily and hourly concentrations of PM(2.5) have low spatial variation due to a regional influence of secondary ammonium sulfate. In contrast, the trace element concentrations had high spatial variation. Seasonal variation accounted for most of the total temporal variation (60%), while yearly, monthly, weekly and daily variations were lower. The variance components and cluster analyses were applied to optimize the number of sites for measuring the 24 h PM(2.5) concentration. It was found that the 13-site network may be optimized by reducing the number of sites to 8, which would result in a relative precision reduction of 9% and a relative cost reduction of 36%. At the same time, the data suggest that the spatial resolution of speciation monitors and real-time PM(2.5) mass monitors should be increased to better represent spatial and temporal variations of the markers of local air pollution sources.

As part of a larger study undertaken in the Greater Cincinnati area to determine if diesel truck emissions are adjuvant to naturally occurring bioaerosols in the initiation of allergies in children, a more detailed intensive measurement campaign was undertaken to elucidate the characteristics of the ambient aerosol and compare to the regular, integrated measurements being conducted. The mass concentration, total number concentration, size distributions, and morphologies were established at several locations including a residential area far from major traffic (Mernic), a suburban area on both sides of a major highway (I-275, Blue Ash), a site in the city center very close to the highway (I-75, Findlay), and an enclosed oval track at a Truck Driving School.Differences between real-time tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) average mass concentrations and integrated Harvard impactor (HI) measurements were observed, with the magnitude of the difference being dependent on location and the organic compounds (OC) concentrations in the sample. Qualitative variation of the peaks in real-time PM 2.5 concentrations were observed with variation in truck traffic at the Findlay site; and no peaks in real-time PM 2.5 levels were observed at Mernic. Minimal variation in PM 2.5 was observed with distance from the highway at the Blue Ash site (fewer trucks). The site at Mernic had a smaller fraction of aggregated particles in comparison to the other sites. The two-dimensional fractal dimensions measured at the Findlay, Blue Ash, and Truck Driving School sites were statistically identical (1.58-1.61) but were higher than that measured at the Mernic site (1.41). Implications of the intensive measurement campaign vis-à-vis the epidemiological study are discussed briefly.

The objective of this study was to determine if there is an exposure gradient in particulate matter concentrations for people living near interstate highways, and to determine how far from the highway the gradient extends. Air samples were collected in a residential area of Greater Cincinnati in the vicinity of two major highways. The measurements were conducted at different distances from the highways by using ultrafine particle counters (measurement range: 0.02-1 microm), optical particle counters (0.3-20 microm), and PM2.5 Harvard Impactors (0.02-2.5 microm). The collected PM2.5 samples were analyzed for mass concentration, for elemental and organic carbon, and for elemental concentrations. The results show that the aerosol concentration gradient was most clearly seen in the particle number concentration measured by the ultrafine particle counters. The concentration of ultrafine particles decreased to half between the sampling points located at 50 m and 150 m downwind from the highway. Additionally, elemental analysis revealed a gradient in sulfur concentrations up to 400 m from the highway in a residential area that does not have major nearby industrial sources. This gradient was qualitatively attributed to the sulfate particle emissions from diesel engine exhausts, and was supported by the concentration data on several key elements indicative of traffic sources (road dust and diesel exhaust). As different particulate components gave different profiles of the diesel exposure gradient, these results indicate that no single element or component of diesel exhaust can be used as a surrogate for diesel exposure, but more comprehensive signature analysis is needed. This characterization is crucial especially when the exposure data are to be used in epidemiological studies.