Toxic effect in the lungs of rats after inhalation exposure to benzalkonium chloride

Background: Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) toxic to microorganisms. Inhalation is one of the major possible routes of human exposure to BAC. Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed on female Wistar rats. The rats were exposed to aerosol of BAC water solution at the target concentration of 0 (control group) and 35 mg/m3 for 5 days (6 h/day) and, after a 2-week interval, the animals were challenged (day 21) with BAC aerosol at the target concentration of 0 (control group) and 35 mg/m3 for 6 h. Results: Compared to the controls, the animals exposed to BAC aerosol were characterized by lower food intake and their body weight was significantly smaller. As regards BAC-exposed group, a significant increase was noted in relative lung mass, total protein concentration, and MIP-2 in BALF both directly after the termination of the exposure and 18 h afterwards. Significantly higher IL-6 and IgE concentrations in BALF and a decrease in the CC16 concentration in BALF were found in the exposed group immediately after the exposure. The leukocyte count in BALF was significantly higher in the animals exposed to BAC aerosol compared to the controls. In the lungs of rats exposed to BAC the following effects were observed: minimal perivascular, interstitial edema, focal aggregates of alveolar macrophages, interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrations, thickened alveolar septa and marginal lipoproteinosis. Conclusion: Inhalation of BAC induced a strong inflammatory response and a damage to the blood-air barrier. Reduced concentrations of CC16, which is an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory protein, in combination with increased IgE concentrations in BALF may be indicative of the immuno-inflammatory response in the animals exposed to BAC aerosol by inhalation. Histopathological examinations of tissue samples from the BAC-exposed rats revealed a number of pathological changes found only in the lungs

Geostatistical analysis of space variation in underground water various quality parameters in Kłodzko water intake area (SW part of Poland)

This paper presents selected results of research connected with the development of a (3D) geostatistical hydrogeochemical model of the Kłodzko Drainage Basin, dedicated to the spatial variation in the different quality parameters of underground water in the water intake area (SW part of Poland). The research covers the period 2011-2012. Spatial analyses of the variation in various quality parameters, i.e., contents of: iron, manganese, ammonium ion, nitrate ion, phosphate ion, total organic carbon, pH redox potential and temperature, were carried out on the basis of the chemical determinations of the quality parameters of underground water samples taken from the wells in the water intake area. Spatial variation in the parameters was analyzed on the basis of data obtained (November 2011) from tests of water taken from 14 existing wells with a depth ranging from 9.5 to 38.0 m b.g.l. The latest data (January 2012) were obtained (gained) from 3 new piezometers, made in other locations in the relevant area. A depth of these piezometers amounts to 9-10 m

Analiza przestrzenna wzbogacalności popiołożużli z wykorzystaniem metod geostatystycznych

Tyt. z nagłówka.Bibliogr. s. 460-[461].Dostępny również w formie drukowanej.STRESZCZENIE: Przedmiot badań geostatystycznych stanowił zbiornik A, wypełniony popiołożużlami, związanymi z działalnością przemysłu energetycznego, znajdujący się w rejonie Świecia (Toruń), w województwie Kujawsko-Pomorskim. Analizowano przestrzenne zróżnicowanie wzbogacalności e' popiołożużli występujących w zwałowisku stanowiącym hałdę odpadów, definiowanej jako odzysk węgla (w kilogramach) z 1 t popiołożużli. Przeprowadzono analizę strukturalną (wariograficzną) zmienności tego parametru, z zastosowaniem funkcji wariogramu kierunkowego, a następnie estymację (3D) średnich Z*, z użyciem krigingu zwyczajnego (blokowego). Przedstawiono model geostatystyczny zmienności parametrów technologicznych zwałowiska odpadów, co pozwala na rozpoznanie przestrzennego zróżnicowania ich wartości w poziomym i pionowym rozprzestrzenieniu warstw popiołożużli. Zastosowanie geostatystyki do opisu parametrów technologicznych odpadów traktowanych jako złoże antropogenne, umożliwiło uzyskanie różnych baz danych stanowiących komplet cennych informacji do ewentualnego podjęcia prac nad gospodarczym wykorzystaniem zdeponowanego materiału. SŁOWA KLUCZOWE: popiołożużle, wzbogacalność, zmienność, wariogram kierunkowy, kriging zwyczajny. ABSTRACT: Spatial analyses were carried out to develop a 3D geostatistical model of the spatial variation in the technological parameters of an ash-slags heap connected with the operation of the power utilities located near Świecie (Toruń). Tank A filled with ash-slags was the subject of geostatistical studies. The spatial variation of recoverability e' (defined as the amount of carbon kg recovered from 1 ton of ash- slags), was analyzed. The variation of these parameters in the horizontal and vertical extents of the ash-slags heap was subjected to structural (variographic) analysis using the directional variogram function. The parameters of geostatistical models approximating the directional variogram recoverability e' were the basis for the estimation. Averages Z* and corresponding standard estimation deviations delta/k were estimated for the particular depths of the tank using (3D) ordinary (block) kriging. Thanks to the application of the geostatistical methods to describe the parameters of the waste material (treated as an anthropogenic deposit) databases containing complete valuable input information for a project aimed at utilizing the deposited material were created. KEYWORDS: ASH-SLAGS, recoverability, variation, spatial analysis, directional variogram, ordinary kriging

Geostatistical Investigations of Displacements on the Basis of Data from the Geodetic Monitoring of a Hydrotechnical Object

Geostatistical methods make the analysis of measurement data possible. This article presents the problems directed towards the use of geostatistics in spatial analysis of displacements based on geodetic monitoring. Using methods of applied (spatial) statistics, the research deals with interesting and current issues connected to space-time analysis, modeling displacements and deformations, as applied to any large-area objects on which geodetic monitoring is conducted (e.g., water dams, urban areas in the vicinity of deep excavations, areas at a macro-regional scale subject to anthropogenic influences caused by mining, etc.). These problems are very crucial, especially for safety assessment of important hydrotechnical constructions, as well as for modeling and estimating mining damage

Geostatistical Characteristics of the Structure of Spatial Variation of Electrical Power in the National 110 KV Network Including Results of Variogram Model Components Filtering

The paper provides results of analysing the superficial variability of electrical power using two geostatistical methods – lognormal kriging and ordinary kriging. The research work was to provide detailed characterization and identification of the electrical load variability structure at nodes of a 110 kV network over the whole territory of Poland having been analyzed on the basis of results from kriging techniques applied. The paper proposes the methodology using two techniques of modelling and estimating average values Z* of electrical powers, i.e. lognormal kriging and ordinary kriging. The input data for calculations were electrical powers at nodes of 110 kV network related to the same time moment, i.e. 11:00 a.m. in summer and winter seasons. Kriging calculations were made for various variants of examinations. Filtering was carried out for assumed complex theoretical models of semivariograms of electrical powers, which means their dividing into several models components of the covariance (nugget effect, 1 spherical model, 2 spherical model), which were filtered out successively. Then, estimations were made for average values Z* of powers while particular components are passed over. The results of analyses made with considering particular components of semivariograms models were shown in raster maps providing distributions of estimated average values Z* of electrical powers. This allowed the orientation of variations in values of this parameter, both over the territory of the whole country and in time domain, for two seasons – summer and winter, and also when various models components were assumed of semivariograms of the loads. Detailed analysis of spatial-time variability of average values Z* of electrical loads over the country allowed to identify their range and nature of variability

Geostatistical model (2D) of the surface distribution of electricity transmission marginal costs

The paper presents a surface model of the accounting costs of electricity transmission over the 220 kV and 400 kV networks. In the further stages of the studies, taking into account the results of structural analysis of marginal costs variation, an estimation technique, such as the ordinary (block) kriging, was used to build the model (2D). The model describes the area and time variation of marginal costs, and has great potential in the electrical power sector, especially in the context of the development of market mechanisms in electric energy trading. The model has made it possible to observe the existing tendencies in cost (directional and time) variation, which is useful for setting electricity transmission tariffs stimulating properly the behaviour of the electric power network users – the electricity suppliers and consumers. Thus, this way of stimulating takes into account the electric power network’s specificity and operating conditions, including the network losses (caused by electricity transmission), the transmission constraints and the broadly understood operational safety of the electric power system. The model of the area variation of electricity transmission marginal costs is also useful in electric power system development planning procedures

Structural analysis of variation of electricity transmission marginal costs

The paper presents a surface model of the accounting costs of electricity transmission over the 220 kV and 400 kV networks. A structural analysis of marginal costs variation was carried out. Variogram functions (isotropic, directional variogram, variograms roses) were used to build the model. The model describes well the considered phenomenon, i.e. the area and time variation of marginal costs, and has great potential in the electrical power sector, especially in the context of the development of market mechanisms in electric energy trading. The model has made it possible to observe the existing tendencies in cost (directional and time) variation, which is useful for setting electricity transmission tariffs correctly stimulating the behaviour of the electric power network users – the electricity suppliers and consumers