Modelling the dispersion of particle numbers in five European cities

We present an overview of the modelling of particle number concentrations (PNCs) in five major European cities, namely Helsinki, Oslo, London, Rotterdam, and Athens, in 2008. Novel emission inventories of particle numbers have been compiled both on urban and European scales. We used atmospheric dispersion modelling for PNCs in the five target cities and on a European scale, and evaluated the predicted results against available measured concentrations. In all the target cities, the concentrations of particle numbers (PNs) were mostly influenced by the emissions originating from local vehicular traffic. The influence of shipping and harbours was also significant for Helsinki, Oslo, Rotterdam, and Athens, but not for London. The influence of the aviation emissions in Athens was also notable. The regional background concentrations were clearly lower than the contributions originating from urban sources in Helsinki, Oslo, and Athens. The regional background was also lower than urban contributions in traffic environments in London, but higher or approximately equal to urban contributions in Rotterdam. It was numerically evaluated that the influence of coagulation and dry deposition on the predicted PNCs was substantial for the urban background in Oslo. The predicted and measured annual average PNCs in four cities agreed within approximatelyPeer reviewe

Exposure Assessment Approaches for Engineered Nanomaterials

Products based on nanotechnology are rapidly emerging in the marketplace, sometimes with little notice to consumers of their nanotechnology pedigree. This wide variety of nanotechnology products will result (in some cases) in unintentional human exposure to purposely engineered nanoscale materials via the dermal, inhalation, ingestion, and ocular pathways. Occupational, consumer, and environmental exposure to the nanomaterials should be characterized during the entire product lifecycle—manufacture, use, and disposal. Monitoring the fate and transport of engineered nanomaterials is complicated by the lack of detection techniques and the lack of a defined set of standardized metrics to be consistently measured. New exposure metrics may be required for engineered nanomaterials, but progress is possible by building on existing tools. An exposure metric matrix could organize existing data by relating likely exposure pathways (dermal, inhalation, ocular, ingestion) with existing measurements of important characteristics of nanoscale materials (particle number, mass, size distribution, charge). Nanomaterial characteristics not commonly measured, but shown to initiate a biological response during toxicity testing, signal a need for further research, such as the pressing need to develop monitoring devices capable of measuring those aspects of engineered nanomaterials that result in biological responses in humans. Modeling the behavior of nanoparticles may require new types of exposure models that individually track particles through the environment while keeping track of the particle shape, surface area, and other surface characteristics as the nanoparticles are transformed or become reactive. Lifecycle analysis could also be used to develop conceptual models of exposure from engineered nanomaterials.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79200/1/j.1539-6924.2010.01446.x.pd

Camille Pissarro's Turpitudes sociales : challenging the medical model of social deviance

The French temperance movement during the nineteenth century believed that it had discovered the source of social problems when it linked accidents, conjugal violence and crime to an increase in alcohol consumption by the working classes. In a swift attempt to curb these societal ills, the campaign led by the medical community targeted the working classes in France. This instigated the further alienation of the masses and allowed government officials to promote its own agenda of moral reform. In an effort to expose the elitist intentions of this state run temperance movement, this thesis analyzes four images from Camille Pissarro's unpublished album, Turpitudes Sociales of 1889, which represent similar imagery but with an opposite message. I will analyze these images from Pissarro's unpublished work in order to shed light on his incorporation of class relations and depiction of the bourgeoisie's negative impact on the French working classes

Nose exposure during commuting in three European cities

In the TRANSPHORM study, noise exposures during commuting were measured. Measurements were performed with noise dosimeters in three European cities, Helsinki, Thessaloniki and Rotterdam, during spring 2011. ln each city, two to five approximately 8 km commuting routes were selected to represent typical commuting routes of the city population. Measurement campaigns lasted for 6 days, each day including 4 one-way drives on the same study route with a bike, a bus and a car with first open and then closed windows. In Helsinki, the median La"o levels were 72.9 dB, 7l .2 dB, 66.4 dB and 67.8 dB for a bicycle, a bus, a car with closed windows and a car with open co-driver window, respectively. Corresponding results in Thessaloniki were 74.9 d8,73.2 d8,70.7 dB and72.l dB. In Rotterdam, the median L¡,"0 level during bicycling was 69.3 dB and during the bus journeys 68.9 dB. There were clear differences between the cities in the noise levels, but in all cities bicyclers were exposed to the highest noise levels, followed by the bus passengers. It is unclear to what extent noise effects on the selection between a private car and eco-friendlier commuting modes

Transport-related airborne nanoparticles: Sources, different aerosol modes, and their toxicity

Nanoparticle emissions from transport are of considerable importance because of their dominance in terms of particle number concentration in most urban atmospheres. Nanoparticles may carry toxic substances, posing a serious threat to pedestrians, passengers and residents. The road sector has been studied intensively in both academia and industry and considerable knowledge has already been gathered. Shipping is also a significant source of nanoparticles both at the global and the European level and may be responsible for cardiopulmonary diseases and lung cancer at the global level, while ship emissions are known as one of the least regulated sources of pollutants. Aviation nanoparticle emissions have also received increasing attention in recent years because of the rapid growth of air transport volumes and the expected expansion to meet capacity needs for future years. Exhaust nanoparticle emissions from diesel rail transport are not very well known and only a few sources addressing actual emission rates are available. All modes of transport are sources of non-exhaust nanoparticle number emission associated with the tire, brake, and road/rail surface wear and tear. This paper provides a literature review to identify the different aerosol modes (i.e., primary, delayed primary, and secondary) from each transport source (road, shipping, aviation, rail), in both laboratory and field tests and to explore their toxicity relevance. The review focuses on nanoparticles (<100 nm) and investigates both exhaust and non-exhaust emissions. We present details on nanoparticles produced by transport sources in the urban environment and parameters that influence nanoparticle emissions. Also, we review the potential relationship between the different aerosol modes and their toxicity effects and point out some issues concerning nanoparticle collection for chemical and toxicity characterization. As regards the toxicity part, it is concluded that transport sources emit large number of nanoparticles which may pose a health risk. They can damage the respiratory tract and lungs, thus playing a crucial role in the physiology of pulmonary pathologies. These nanoparticles can also affect other organs, and the cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive systems. The combination of oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, inflammation, and activation of apoptosis, are the initiators of the systemic toxicity of nanoparticles, triggered by a unique combination of heavy metals and organic compounds present in combustion products.This work was funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, under grant agreement № 954377.Peer reviewe