Light Pollution as Part of the Environmental Problems

Unscrupulous outdoor lighting produces a number of effects that are currently included under the term light pollution. Its consequences (e.g. loss of resources by energy waste), are being recognized for some time, as well as the possibility to mitigate this pollution. In the present work, we present some lines of action developed at the Facultad Regional San Nicolás of National Technological University (UTN) of Argentina to include the CL as a regular topic of study in the problems of air pollution

Simulations of dispersion and deposition of coarse particulate matter

In order to study the dispersion and deposition of coarse anthropogenic particulate matter (PMc, aerodynamic diameters> 10 mm), a FORTRAN simulator based on the numerical integrator of Bulirsch and Stoer has been developed. It calculates trajectories of particles of several shapes released into the atmosphere under very general conditions. This first version, fully three-dimensional, models the meteorology under neutral stability conditions. The simulations of such pollutants are also important because the standard software (usually originating in the United States Environmental Protection Agency-EPA-) describe only the behavior of PM10 (diameter less than 10 mm). Bulirsch and Stoer integrator of widespread use in astrophysics, is also very fast and accurate for this type of simulations. We present 2D and 3D trajectories in physical space and discuss the final deposition in function of various parameters. PMc simulations results in the range of 50-100 mm and densities of 5.5 g cm-3 emitted from chimneys, indicate that for the purpose of deposition, the emission velocities are not as important as wind speed and the shape of the particles. For densities less than 2 g cm-3, the lack of consideration of buoyancy introduces important changes in the distribution of deposited PMc.Con el objeto de estudiar dispersión y deposición de material particulado grueso antropogénico (PMc, diámetros aerodinámicos > 10 mm), se ha desarrollado un simulador FORTRAN basado en el integrador numérico de Bulirsch y Stoer, que calcula trayectorias de partículas de diversas formas liberadas al ambiente bajo condiciones muy generales. Esta primera versión, totalmente tridimensional, modela la meteorología en circunstancias de estabilidad neutral. La presentación de un simulador de dispersión de este tipo de contaminantes es, además, relevante debido a que los software de uso corriente (generalmente originados en la United States Environmental Protection Agency –USEPA-) describen sólo el comportamiento del PM10 (diámetros menores que 10 mm). El integrador Bulirsch y Stoer, de difundido uso en astrofísica, resulta también muy rápido y preciso para este tipo de simulaciones. Se presentan trayectorias 2D y 3D en el espacio físico y se analiza la deposición en función de diversos parámetros. Resultados de simulaciones de PMc en el rango de 50-100 mm y densidades de 5.5 g cm-3 emitidos por chimeneas indican que, a efectos de la deposición, las velocidades de emisión del PMc no son tan importantes frente a la velocidad del viento y la forma de las partículas. Para densidades menores que 2 g cm-3, la no consideración de la flotabilidad introduce importantes modificaciones en la distribución del PMc depositado

Differences in the Same OMI/MLS Aura Tropospheric Ozone Data Set Published Before and After January 2013

On the website "NASA Goddard Homepage for Tropospheric Ozone", global data of tropospheric ozone obtained from observations of OMI and MLS Aura satellite instruments, are reported. In mid-2013, the data was covering the period between October 2004 and January 2013. Subsequently, in early 2014, the time series was extended until December 2013. At present time, the published series has been extended to December 2014. Analysing this new series, we observed that the data already published to January 2013 had been replaced; not only the missing months of 2013 were added but all the values published since 2004 were recalculated. We present the detected differences in the comparison between common data to both time series (the original, before January 2013, and the new one, currently published on the website). These differences are important considering that they represent the result of the same satellite observation and should be considered when comparing results before/after January 2013, especially when adopting a certain confidence level in the spectral analysis of these data to intraseasonal scale. A warn of caution is suggested in the use of these observations and intercomparison with other values of these and other instruments, because of possible recurrent problems of instrumental calibration.Fil: Cionco, Rodolfo Gustavo. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Agosta Scarel, Eduardo Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Rubén L.. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Quaranta, Nancy Esther. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentin

Contaminación lumínica como tópico en las carreras de Ingeniería

En el presente trabajo se exponen las líneas de acción propuestas en la Facultad Regional San Nicolás, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, para desarrollar la introducción de la contaminación lumínica como tópico regular de estudio dentro de algunas de las carreras de Ingeniería, como por ejemplo: Eléctrica, Electrónica, Mecánica e Industrial. Estas actividades se enmarcan en el Proyecto Integrador para la Mitigación de la Contaminación Atmosférica (PROIMCA) de la UTN

Sobre el cálculo de la insolación a lo largo del tiempo

El objetivo del presente trabajo es obtener expresiones aproximadas, suficientemente precisas y sencillas a fin de modelar, a partir de un valor de la constante solar, la radiación incidente en un determinado punto de la atmósfera o de la corteza terrestre, debido al cambio de orientación del Sol a lo largo del día y del año

Differences in the Same OMI/MLS Aura Tropospheric Ozone Data Set Published Before and After January 2013

On the website "NASA Goddard Homepage for Tropospheric Ozone", global data of tropospheric ozone obtained from observations of OMI and MLS Aura satellite instruments, are reported. In mid-2013, the data was covering the period between October 2004 and January 2013. Subsequently, in early 2014, the time series was extended until December 2013. At present time, the published series has been extended to December 2014. Analysing this new series, we observed that the data already published to January 2013 had been replaced; not only the missing months of 2013 were added but all the values published since 2004 were recalculated. We present the detected differences in the comparison between common data to both time series (the original, before January 2013, and the new one, currently published on the website). These differences are important considering that they represent the result of the same satellite observation and should be considered when comparing results before/after January 2013, especially when adopting a certain confidence level in the spectral analysis of these data to intraseasonal scale. A warn of caution is suggested in the use of these observations and intercomparison with other values of these and other instruments, because of possible recurrent problems of instrumental calibration.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Air pollution is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Short-term exposure (from one hour to days) to selected air pollutants has been associated with human mortality. This systematic review was conducted to analyse the evidence on the effects of short-term exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less or equal than 10 and 2.5 µm (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), on all-cause mortality, and PM10 and PM2.5 on cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular mortality. Methods: We included studies on human populations exposed to outdoor air pollution from any source, excluding occupational exposures. Relative risks (RRs) per 10 µg/m3 increase in air pollutants concentrations were used as the effect estimates. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using 80% prediction intervals. Risk of bias (RoB) in individual studies was analysed using a new domain-based assessment tool, developed by a working group convened by the World Health Organization and designed specifically to evaluate RoB within eligible air pollution studies included in systematic reviews. We conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses by age, sex, continent, study design, single or multicity studies, time lag, and RoB. The certainty of evidence was assessed for each exposure-outcome combination. The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018087749). Results: We included 196 articles in quantitative analysis. All combinations of pollutants and all-cause and cause-specific mortality were positively associated in the main analysis, and in a wide range of sensitivity analyses. The only exception was NO2, but when considering a 1-hour maximum exposure. We found positive associations between pollutants and all-cause mortality for PM10 (RR: 1.0041; 95% CI: 1.0034–1.0049), PM2.5 (RR: 1.0065; 95% CI: 1.0044–1.0086), NO2 (24-hour average) (RR: 1.0072; 95% CI: 1.0059–1.0085), and O3 (RR: 1.0043; 95% CI: 1.0034–1.0052). PM10 and PM2.5 were also positively associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular mortality. We found some degree of heterogeneity between studies in three exposure-outcome combinations, and this heterogeneity could not be explained after subgroup analysis. RoB was low or moderate in the majority of articles. The certainty of evidence was judged as high in 10 out of 11 combinations, and moderate in one combination. Conclusions: This study found evidence of a positive association between short-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 and all-cause mortality, and between PM10 and PM2.5 and cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular mortality. These results were robust through several sensitivity analyses. In general, the level of evidence was high, meaning that we can be confident in the associations found in this study.Fil: Orellano, Pablo Wenceslao. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Nicolás; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Reynoso, Julieta Itati. Hospital General “San Felipe"; ArgentinaFil: Quaranta, Nancy Esther. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Nicolás; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Bardach, Ariel Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: Ciapponi, Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; Argentin

Use of wastes from the peanut industry in the manufacture of building materials

Most of the national peanut production, estimated at 900,000 tons per year, is processed in several cities in the central area of Argentina. The third part of this amount corresponds to the shells, which are separated in the peanut selection and processing plants. In this work, the possibility of using peanut shells as raw material for the manufacture of ceramic materials for the civil construction industry is studied. There are precedents on the use of biomass residues in different building blocks, mainly with the aim of generating lightweight ceramics. With this objective, ceramic pieces were obtained from green bodies manufactured with mixtures of commercial clay and different percentages of ground and dry residue. After a drying period, the samples were heat treated following curves similar to those used in the ceramic industry. The raw material used, clay and peanut shells, were characterized with different techniques, such as XRD, SEM and DTA-TGA. The DTA-TGA analysis shows that the organic material added is burned in a wide temperature range, between 300 °C and 550 °C. Thus, the sintering process of the bricks is performed without cracking or shattering. This test also shows that after the heat treatment, the waste material eventually incorporated into bricks (ashes) is less than 3%. The obtained products have good physical and mechanical properties, with acceptable values of porosity, modulus of rupture, permanent volumetric variation and weight loss on ignition.Fil: Quaranta, Nancy Esther. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Caligaris, Marta Graciela. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Pelozo, Gisela Guadalupe. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Nicolás; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cesari, Andrea. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Cristobal, Adrian Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Calidad de aire en la ciudad de Rafaela

Dentro del ambiente urbano la calidad del aire es afectada fundamentalmente por presencia de sustancias que provienen de los procesos de combustión producidos en los vehículos de transporte público y privado. Los contaminantes primarios más importantes son CO, NOx, SO2, HC, y material particulado. En el presente trabajo se estudia la calidad del aire en zona céntrica de la ciudad de Rafaela, provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina. La ciudad de Rafaela se encuentra en la zona centrooeste de la provincia de Santa Fe. Su población es de 82.530 habitantes y cuenta con un parque automotor de alrededor de 59.679 vehículos. (Datos de INDEC Censo 2001 y RNRPA 2007)

Niveles de contaminación de aire: relación con distintos factores

Se realizaron estudios de diferentes contaminantes gaseosos y material particulado en varias ciudades de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Estas ciudades tienen diferencias notables respecto del número de habitantes, la densidad vehicular, la actividad industrial, etc. Ellas son La Plata, Bahía Blanca, Mar del Plata, Pergamino, San Nicolás, entre otras. En cada ciudad, se instaló un equipo de monitoreo continuo con tecnología de sensores electroquímicos para determinar NOx, CO, HC, SO2 y O3. Las muestras del material particulado total para su análisis fisicoquímico fueron recogidas usando un equipo de alto volumen, y las concentraciones diarias de PM10 fueron determinadas por analizador de tecnología láser. Las partículas fueron caracterizadas por microscopías óptica y electrónica de barrido, y análisis por difracción electrónica de Rayos X. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron una relación directa entre el tipo y la cantidad de las partículas presentes y las características generales de las ciudades