DESIGN AND OPERATION OF AN AMBIENT AIR POLLUTION MONITORING NETWORK IN THE VAAL TRIANGLE AIR POLLUTION HEALTH STUDY

An extensive ambient air pollution monitoring network was designed as part of the Vaal Triangle Air Pollution Health Study (VAPS). The objective of the outdoor study is to determine air quality levels in the Vaal Triangle region. The monitoring was designed simultaneously with the health component of the VAPS. The network HUS designed according to specific criteria and has been in operation since July 1991. Six monitoring sites, which are presently in operation, were gradually phased in over the last 12 months. The pollutants which are considered as important and which are monitored in the area on a continuous basis for 365 days a year are: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, non-methane hydrocarbons particulates and hydrogen sulphide. Meteorological parameters are also monitored. The design of the network, as well as preliminary results from two monitoring sites, will be discussed

EXPOSURE CHARACTERIZATION AND POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF DOMESTIC FUEL USE IN HOMES IN KHAYELITSHA, WESTERN CAPE

The pattern of fuel use in Lower socio-economic class homes in the Western Cape differs from that in Gauteng province, in that the use of paraffn and gas predominates. The degree of exposure to gaseous and particulate pollutants as a result of the use of these fuels is not well documented. It is against this background that the study to assess the potential health impacts of air pollution emitted from domestic fuel use in the Western Cape area was conducted. The project collected data on exposure to air pollution in households using paraffin and/or gas and wood in comparison to those using electricity. The study consisted of a pollution monitoring survey and the administration of a questionnaire in each of the homes selected. Pollutants were measured. These were sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and total suspended particulates. Co-located sampling was also performed in one home of each group, measuring indoor and outdoor concentrations simaltaneously. The results indicate that the homes using mixed fuels had higher levels of indoor air pollution than those which used mainly electricity, or electricity and gas or paraffin. However, these levels were low when compared to coal and wood burning homes in the Gauteng province. This limited exposure assessment study confirms the hypothesis that paraffin (and gas) are cleaner from an air pollution point of view than coal or wood. The respiratory health risks associated with the use of gas and paraffin would therefore be lower than those associated with wood or coal. From an airpollution perspective, the increased use of the former will make a positive contribution. However, promotion of these fuels is constrained by the serious safety concerns around the use ofparaffin in lower socio-economic areas

Health effects of passive smoking in adolescent children

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The effect of temperature factor on the detection of nitrate based on planar electromagnetic sensor and independent component analysis

In this paper, the output parameters of the planar electromagnetic sensor have observed with different kind of water samples at different concentrations. The output parameters have been derived and tested to be incorporated with independent component analysis (ICA) and as inputs for an analysis model. The analysis model targeted to estimate the amount of nitrate contamination in water samples with the assistance of ICA based on FastICAfixed point algorithm under the contrast functions of pow3 and tanh. Nitrates sample in the form of ammonium nitrates (NH 4NO 3), each of different concentration between 5 mg and 20 mg dissolved in 1 litre of deionized water (mili-q) was used as one of the main references. A model based on independent component analysis was developed to estimate nitrate contamination in natural water source. The model was tested with two sets of mixed NH 4NO 3 and (NH 4) 2HPO 4 water samples based on Manawatu river water. From the results, the model can acceptably detect the presence of nitrate in Manawatu River and capable of distinguishing the concentration level in the presence of other type of contamination. Furthermore, the effect of temperature change was also observed in this study. The system and approach presented in this paper has the potential to be used as a useful tool for water sources monitoring