Found 10481 publications. Showing page 110 of 420:
2019
Screening program 2018. Volatiles, Gd, BADGE, UV filters, Additives, and Medicines.
This screening project has focused on the occurrence and environmental fate of chemicals with possible PBT-properties. Samples were from indoor environments, surface waters, municipal wastewater, and the receiving marine environment. Some of the detected chemicals need to be studied in more detail. One UV-filter compound shows a potential environmental risk.
NILU
2019
2019
Recent Trends in Stratospheric Chlorine From Very Short-Lived Substances
Very short‐lived substances (VSLS), including dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), perchloroethylene (C2Cl4), and 1,2‐dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2), are a stratospheric chlorine source and therefore contribute to ozone depletion. We quantify stratospheric chlorine trends from these VSLS (VSLCltot) using a chemical transport model and atmospheric measurements, including novel high‐altitude aircraft data from the NASA VIRGAS (2015) and POSIDON (2016) missions. We estimate VSLCltot increased from 69 (±14) parts per trillion (ppt) Cl in 2000 to 111 (±22) ppt Cl in 2017, with >80% delivered to the stratosphere through source gas injection, and the remainder from product gases. The modeled evolution of chlorine source gas injection agrees well with historical aircraft data, which corroborate reported surface CH2Cl2 increases since the mid‐2000s. The relative contribution of VSLS to total stratospheric chlorine increased from ~2% in 2000 to ~3.4% in 2017, reflecting both VSLS growth and decreases in long‐lived halocarbons. We derive a mean VSLCltot growth rate of 3.8 (±0.3) ppt Cl/year between 2004 and 2017, though year‐to‐year growth rates are variable and were small or negative in the period 2015–2017. Whether this is a transient effect, or longer‐term stabilization, requires monitoring. In the upper stratosphere, the modeled rate of HCl decline (2004–2017) is −5.2% per decade with VSLS included, in good agreement to ACE satellite data (−4.8% per decade), and 15% slower than a model simulation without VSLS. Thus, VSLS have offset a portion of stratospheric chlorine reductions since the mid‐2000s.
2019
This paper presents a comprehensive review of European Union (EU) legislation addressing the safety of chemical substances, and possibilities within each piece of legislation for applying grouping and read-across approaches for the assessment of nanomaterials (NMs). Hence, this
review considers both the overarching regulation of chemical substances under REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals) and CLP (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures) and the sector-specific pieces of legislation for cosmetic, plant protection and biocidal products, and legislation addressing food, novel food, and food contact materials. The relevant supporting documents (e.g. guidance documents) regarding each piece of legislation were identified and reviewed, considering the relevant technical and scientific literature. Prospective regulatory needs for implementing grouping in the assessment of NMs were identi-
fied, and the question whether each particular piece of legislation permits the use of grouping and read-across to address information gaps was answered.
2019
Health and Exposure to VOCs From Pinewood in Indoor Environments
As a natural, biological material, wood emits various organic chemical substances, mostly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs) and formaldehyde. When such emissions occur in indoor spaces, concentrations of these substances are higher than concentrations outdoors. Consequently, the level of emissions from building materials are of relevance in relation to their possible health effects. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that exposure to VOCs from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) might increase mucous membrane symptoms and/or general symptoms, compared to exposure to VOCs from Norway spruce (Picea abies). The study was carried out as a double-blinded, crossover, randomized, controlled trial. The health indicators were measured using objective and subjective methods. The VOC exposure was measured with a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Thirty healthy individuals participated. The mean concentration of CO2 inside the chamber in each session varied between 420 ppm and 533 ppm. The temperature and RH varied between 21.5°C and 23.7°C and 12.0% and 24.2%. Ozone was supplied via ventilated outdoor air. The median concentration in outdoor air was 23 μg/m3 (13 ppb). The study was conducted with a statistically significant difference in the exposure to VOCs between the experimental (pine) exposure and the control (spruce) exposure. The mean concentrations of VOCs during the experimental exposure were methanol (31 ppb), acetaldehyde (8 ppb), formic acid (11 ppb), acetone/propanal (14 ppb), acetic acid (14 ppb) and monoterpenes (172 ppb). No difference in health outcome was revealed between the experimental and the control exposure. No inflammatory reactions or sensory irritation were found with exposure to 172 ppb monoterpenes and a low ozone concentration. Low relative humidity may have increased eye blinking in the participants in both exposure situations.
2019
<i>Background</i> - Concerns have been raised that extensive use of personal care products that contain endocrine disrupting compounds increase the risk of hormone sensitive cancers.<p> <p><i>Objective</i> - To assess the effect of skincare product use on the risk of pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer, estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and negative (ER-) breast cancer and cancer of the endometrium.<p> <p><i>Methods</i> - We used data from 106,978 participants in the population-based Norwegian Women and Cancer cohort. Participants were categorized into non-, light, moderate, frequent and heavy users of skincare products based on self-reported use of hand and facial cream and body lotion. Cancer incidence information from the Cancer Registry of Norway was linked to individual data through the unique identity number of Norwegian citizens. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess the effect of skincare product use on the risk of cancer of the breast and endometrium. We used multiple imputation by chained equations to evaluate the effect of missing data on observed associations.<p> <p><i>Results</i> - We found no associations between use of skincare products and incidence of premenopausal breast cancer (frequent/heavy versus non−/light use: hazard ratio [HR] =1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–1.32), postmenopausal breast cancer (heavy versus light use: HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.65–1.18, frequent versus light use: HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.07) or endometrial cancer (frequent/heavy versus non−/light use: HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.79–1.20). Use of skincare products did not increase the risk of ER+ or ER- breast cancer and there was no difference in effect across ER status (0.58 ≤ <sub>pheterogeneity</sub> ≤ 0.99). The magnitude and direction of the effect estimates based on complete case analyses and multiple imputation were similar.<p> <p><i>Conclusion</i> Heavy use of skincare products, i.e. creaming the body up to two times per day during mid-life, did not increase the risk of cancer of the breast or endometrium.
2019
Diurnal cycle of iodine, bromine, and mercury concentrations in Svalbard surface snow
Sunlit snow is highly photochemically active and plays a key role in the exchange of gas phase species between the cryosphere and the atmosphere. Here, we investigate the behaviour of two selected species in surface snow: mercury (Hg) and iodine (I). Hg can deposit year-round and accumulate in the snowpack. However, photo-induced re-emission of gas phase Hg from the surface has been widely reported. Iodine is active in atmospheric new particle formation, especially in the marine boundary layer, and in the destruction of atmospheric ozone. It can also undergo photochemical re-emission. Although previous studies indicate possible post-depositional processes, little is known about the diurnal behaviour of these two species and their interaction in surface snow. The mechanisms are still poorly constrained, and no field experiments have been performed in different seasons to investigate the magnitude of re-emission processes Three sampling campaigns conducted at an hourly resolution for 3 d each were carried out near Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard) to study the behaviour of mercury and iodine in surface snow under different sunlight and environmental conditions (24 h darkness, 24 h sunlight and day–night cycles). Our results indicate a different behaviour of mercury and iodine in surface snow during the different campaigns. The day–night experiments demonstrate the existence of a diurnal cycle in surface snow for Hg and iodine, indicating that these species are indeed influenced by the daily solar radiation cycle. Differently, bromine did not show any diurnal cycle. The diurnal cycle also disappeared for Hg and iodine during the 24 h sunlight period and during 24 h darkness experiments supporting the idea of the occurrence (absence) of a continuous recycling or exchange at the snow–air interface. These results demonstrate that this surface snow recycling is seasonally dependent, through sunlight. They also highlight the non-negligible role that snowpack emissions have on ambient air concentrations and potentially on iodine-induced atmospheric nucleation processes.
2019
Using meteor wind data from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) in the Northern Hemisphere, we (1) demonstrate that the migrating (Sun‐synchronous) tides can be separated from the nonmigrating components in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region and (2) use this to determine the response of the different components of the semidiurnal tide (SDT) to sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) conditions. The radars span a limited range of latitudes around 60°N and are located over nearly 180° of longitude. The migrating tide is extracted from the nonmigrating components observed in the meridional wind recorded from meteor ablation drift velocities around 95‐km altitude, and a 20‐year climatology of the different components is presented. The well‐documented late summer and wintertime maxima in the semidiurnal winds are shown to be due primarily to the migrating SDT, whereas during late autumn and spring the nonmigrating components are at least as strong as the migrating SDT. The robust behavior of the SDT components during SSWs is then examined by compositing 13 SSW events associated with an elevated stratopause recorded between 1995 and 2013. The migrating SDT is seen to reduce in amplitude immediately after SSW onset and then return anomalously strongly around 10–17 days after the SSW onset. We conclude that changes in the underlying wind direction play a role in modulating the tidal amplitude during the evolution of SSWs and that the enhancement in the midlatitude migrating SDT (previously reported in modeling studies) is observed in the MLT at least up to 60°N.
2019
2019
This report studies the distribution and fate of contaminants such as mercury (Hg), cyclic volatile methylated siloxanes (cVMS: D4, D5, D6), brominated flame retardants (BFR, PBDEs), alkylphenols, organic phosphorous flame retardants (oPFR), poly- and perfluorated alkyl substances (PFAS), new brominated flame retardants (nBFR) and UV-chemicals. Samples of the pelagic food web of Lake Mjøsa (zooplankton, Mysis, vendace, European smelt and brown trout) and the top predator brown trout in Lake Femunden are studied. Results are compared to environmental quality standards (EQS) and the time trends for major contaminants are studied.
Norsk institutt for vannforskning (NIVA)
2019
2019
Review of the Assessment of Industrial Emissions with Mosses
Commissioned by Norwegian Environmental Agency, NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research has surveyed the literature on the topic of “Assessment of industrial emissions using moss”. The purpose is to provide an overview of published knowledge on possible relationships between metal concentrations in moss and air quality, emissions, uptake in other organisms and impacts on environment and health. In addition, there was a request for information on whether other countries use moss surveys around industries and, if so, how the results are used by the authorities. The literature search resulted in 51 relevant publications, which mostly are from the period 2016-2019. The results of these publications show that moss is a good passive sampler for airborne contaminants and can provide valuable information on chemical signature and deposition of metals. No studies have been found that relates concentration in moss to air quality or amount emission from selected industries. A single 2019 study attempts to link moss concentration in context of health effects. A survey among the participating countries in ICP-Vegetation shows that results from moss surveys so far not have been used by authorities in a regulatory context.
NILU
2019
Frequency of extreme precipitation increases extensively with event rareness under global warming
The intensity of the heaviest extreme precipitation events is known to increase with global warming. How often such events occur in a warmer world is however less well established, and the combined effect of changes in frequency and intensity on the total amount of rain falling as extreme precipitation is much less explored, in spite of potentially large societal impacts. Here, we employ observations and climate model simulations to document strong increases in the frequencies of extreme precipitation events occurring on decadal timescales. Based on observations we find that the total precipitation from these intense events almost doubles per degree of warming, mainly due to changes in frequency, while the intensity changes are relatively weak, in accordance to previous studies. This shift towards stronger total precipitation from extreme events is seen in observations and climate models, and increases with the strength – and hence the rareness – of the event. Based on these results, we project that if historical trends continue, the most intense precipitation events observed today are likely to almost double in occurrence for each degree of further global warming. Changes to extreme precipitation of this magnitude are dramatically stronger than the more widely communicated changes to global mean precipitation.
2019
Land cover and traffic data inclusion in PM mapping
Annual European-wide air quality maps have been produced using geostatistical techniques for many years and is based primarily on air quality measurements. The mapping method follows in principle the sequence of regression – interpolation – merging. It combines monitoring data, chemical transport model outputs and other supplementary data (such as altitude and meteorology) using a linear regression model followed by kriging of its residuals (‘residual kriging’), applied separately for rural and urban background areas. The rural and urban background map layers are
subsequently merged on basis of population densities into one final concentration map for Europe.
Inclusion of land cover and road type data among the set of the supplementary data demonstrated to improve the quality of urban and rural background layers in the NO2 map and is currently routinely applied in the NO2 mapping. In addition, an urban traffic map layer based on the measurement data from traffic stations is constructed and takes art in the merging process with the rural and urban background map layers to reach a final NO2 map.
This report examines now – due to its proved added value in the NO2 mapping – whether for PM10 and PM2.5 the similar method provides also sufficient added value to include it on a routinely basis in the production of the final concentration map and population exposure estimates.. It concerns the inclusion of land cover data and road type data in the background map layers, as well as the inclusion of the urban traffic layer based on traffic measurement stations. The analysis is done based on 2015 data, being the most recent year with all data needed available when this study started.
ETC/ACM
2019