ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8500-6545
Current Organisations
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
,
Royal College of Physicians
,
University of Leeds
,
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-06-2020
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 10-09-2003
DOI: 10.1021/ES034142F
Abstract: Hydroxyaldehyde products of the OH radical-initiated reactions (in the presence of NO) of two volatile vegetative emissions, Z-3-hexen-1-ol and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, were examined to assess the qualitative and quantitative potential of two analysis techniques (1) s ling by Solid-Phase MicroExtraction (SPME) with on-fiber derivatization followed by gas chromatographic analyses and (2) in situ analysis by negative ion mode atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (API-MS). The compounds were chosen because reaction mechanisms predict hydroxyaldehyde products, and reliable coproduct yield data are available. The API-MS analyses showed product ion peaks attributed to the NO2- adducts of 3-hydroxypropanal and dihydroxynitrates from Z-3-hexen-1-ol, and a formation yield of 3-hydroxypropanal of 44% was derived. Product ion peaks attributed to NO2- adducts of glycolaldehyde [HOCH2CHO], 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanal [(CH3)2C(OH)CHO], and dihydroxynitrates were observed by API-MS from 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, and a formation yield of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanal of 16% was obtained. In experiments with SPME s ling, the formation yields of hydroxycarbonyls measured as their oxime derivatives were as follows: from Z-3-hexen-1-ol, propanal, 56 +/- 8% 3-hydroxypropanal, 101 +/- 24% and from 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanal, 31 +/- 4%. Both the API-MS and SPME analyses provided product information, and hydroxycarbonyl yields from the SPME data are in reasonable agreement with previously measured formation yields of coproducts.
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 27-07-2020
Abstract: Abstract. In order to assess the evolution of aerosol parameters affecting climate change, a long-term trend analysis of aerosol optical properties was performed on time series from 52 stations situated across five continents. The time series of measured scattering, backscattering and absorption coefficients as well as the derived single scattering albedo, backscattering fraction, scattering and absorption Ångström exponents covered at least 10 years and up to 40 years for some stations. The non-parametric seasonal Mann–Kendall (MK) statistical test associated with several pre-whitening methods and with Sen's slope was used as the main trend analysis method. Comparisons with general least mean square associated with autoregressive bootstrap (GLS/ARB) and with standard least mean square analysis (LMS) enabled confirmation of the detected MK statistically significant trends and the assessment of advantages and limitations of each method. Currently, scattering and backscattering coefficient trends are mostly decreasing in Europe and North America and are not statistically significant in Asia, while polar stations exhibit a mix of increasing and decreasing trends. A few increasing trends are also found at some stations in North America and Australia. Absorption coefficient time series also exhibit primarily decreasing trends. For single scattering albedo, 52 % of the sites exhibit statistically significant positive trends, mostly in Asia, eastern/northern Europe and the Arctic, 22 % of sites exhibit statistically significant negative trends, mostly in central Europe and central North America, while the remaining 26 % of sites have trends which are not statistically significant. In addition to evaluating trends for the overall time series, the evolution of the trends in sequential 10-year segments was also analyzed. For scattering and backscattering, statistically significant increasing 10-year trends are primarily found for earlier periods (10-year trends ending in 2010–2015) for polar stations and Mauna Loa. For most of the stations, the present-day statistically significant decreasing 10-year trends of the single scattering albedo were preceded by not statistically significant and statistically significant increasing 10-year trends. The effect of air pollution abatement policies in continental North America is very obvious in the 10-year trends of the scattering coefficient – there is a shift to statistically significant negative trends in 2009–2012 for all stations in the eastern and central USA. This long-term trend analysis of aerosol radiative properties with a broad spatial coverage provides insight into potential aerosol effects on climate changes.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-05-2020
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 11-02-2020
DOI: 10.5194/AMT-2019-499
Abstract: Abstract. Aerosol particles are essential constituents of the Earth’s atmosphere, impacting the earth radiation balance directly by scattering and absorbing solar radiation, and indirectly by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. In contrast to most greenhouse gases, aerosol particles have short atmospheric residence time resulting in a highly heterogeneous distribution in space and time. There is a clear need to document this variability at regional scale through observations involving, in particular, the in-situ near-surface segment of the atmospheric observations system. This paper will provide the widest effort so far to document variability of climate-relevant in-situ aerosol properties (namely wavelength dependent particle light scattering and absorption coefficients, particle number concentration and particle number size distribution) from all sites connected to the Global Atmosphere Watch network. High quality data from more than 90 stations worldwide have been collected and controlled for quality and are reported for a reference year in 2017, providing a very extended and robust view of the variability of these variables worldwide. The range of variability observed worldwide for light scattering and absorption coefficients, single scattering albedo and particle number concentration are presented together with preliminary information on their long-term trends and comparison with model simulation for the different stations. The scope of the present paper is also to provide the necessary suite of information including data provision procedures, quality control and analysis, data policy and usage of the ground-based aerosol measurements network. It delivers to users of the World Data Centre on Aerosol, the required confidence in data products in the form of a fully-characterized value chain, including uncertainty estimation and requirements for contributing to the global climate monitoring system.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BJA.2019.01.026
Abstract: Unsubstantiated penicillin-allergy labels are common in surgical patients, and can lead to significant harm through avoidance of best first-line prophylaxis of surgical site infections and increased infection with resistant bacterial strains. Up to 98% of penicillin-allergy labels are incorrect when tested. Because of the scarcity of trained allergists in all healthcare systems, only a minority of surgical patients have the opportunity to undergo testing and de-labelling before surgery. Testing pathways can be modified and shortened in selected patients. A variety of healthcare professionals can, with appropriate training and in collaboration with allergists, provide testing for selected patients. We review how patients might be assessed, the appropriate testing strategies that can be used, and the minimum standards of safe testing.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BJA.2019.01.027
Abstract: Suspected perioperative hypersensitivity reactions are rare but contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality of surgical procedures. Recent publications have highlighted the differences between countries concerning the respective risk of different drugs, and changes in patterns of causal agents and the emergence of new allergens. This review summarises recent information on the epidemiology of perioperative hypersensitivity reactions, with specific consideration of differences between geographic areas for the most frequently involved offending agents.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-10-2021
DOI: 10.3390/S21217206
Abstract: Biomass burning smoke is often a significant source of airborne fine particles in regional areas where air quality monitoring is scarce. Emerging sensor technology provides opportunities to monitor air quality on a much larger geographical scale with much finer spatial resolution. It can also engage communities in the conversation around local pollution sources. The SMoke Observation Gadget (SMOG), a unit with a Plantower dust sensor PMS3003, was designed as part of a school-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) project looking at smoke impacts in regional areas of Victoria, Australia. A smoke-specific calibration curve between the SMOG units and a standard regulatory instrument was developed using an hourly data set collected during a peat fire. The calibration curve was applied to the SMOG units during all field-based validation measurements at several locations and during different seasons. The results showed strong associations between in idual SMOG units for PM2.5 concentrations (r2 = 0.93–0.99) and good accuracy (mean absolute error (MAE) 2 μg m−3). Correlations of the SMOG units to reference instruments also demonstrated strong associations (r2 = 0.87–95) and good accuracy (MAE of 2.5–3.0 μg m−3). The PM2.5 concentrations tracked by the SMOG units had a similar response time as those measured by collocated reference instruments. Overall, the study has shown that the SMOG units provide relevant information about ambient PM2.5 concentrations in an airshed impacted predominantly by biomass burning, provided that an adequate adjustment factor is applied.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 25-11-2021
DOI: 10.5194/ACP-21-17185-2021
Abstract: Abstract. Aerosol particles are a complex component of the atmospheric system which influence climate directly by interacting with solar radiation, and indirectly by contributing to cloud formation. The variety of their sources, as well as the multiple transformations they may undergo during their transport (including wet and dry deposition), result in significant spatial and temporal variability of their properties. Documenting this variability is essential to provide a proper representation of aerosols and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in climate models. Using measurements conducted in 2016 or 2017 at 62 ground-based stations around the world, this study provides the most up-to-date picture of the spatial distribution of particle number concentration (Ntot) and number size distribution (PNSD, from 39 sites). A sensitivity study was first performed to assess the impact of data availability on Ntot's annual and seasonal statistics, as well as on the analysis of its diel cycle. Thresholds of 50 % and 60 % were set at the seasonal and annual scale, respectively, for the study of the corresponding statistics, and a slightly higher coverage (75 %) was required to document the diel cycle. Although some observations are common to a majority of sites, the variety of environments characterizing these stations made it possible to highlight contrasting findings, which, among other factors, seem to be significantly related to the level of anthropogenic influence. The concentrations measured at polar sites are the lowest (∼ 102 cm−3) and show a clear seasonality, which is also visible in the shape of the PNSD, while diel cycles are in general less evident, due notably to the absence of a regular day–night cycle in some seasons. In contrast, the concentrations characteristic of urban environments are the highest (∼ 103–104 cm−3) and do not show pronounced seasonal variations, whereas diel cycles tend to be very regular over the year at these stations. The remaining sites, including mountain and non-urban continental and coastal stations, do not exhibit as obvious common behaviour as polar and urban sites and display, on average, intermediate Ntot (∼ 102–103 cm−3). Particle concentrations measured at mountain sites, however, are generally lower compared to nearby lowland sites, and tend to exhibit somewhat more pronounced seasonal variations as a likely result of the strong impact of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) influence in connection with the topography of the sites. ABL dynamics also likely contribute to the diel cycle of Ntot observed at these stations. Based on available PNSD measurements, CCN-sized particles (considered here as either nm or nm) can represent from a few percent to almost all of Ntot, corresponding to seasonal medians on the order of ∼ 10 to 1000 cm−3, with seasonal patterns and a hierarchy of the site types broadly similar to those observed for Ntot. Overall, this work illustrates the importance of in situ measurements, in particular for the study of aerosol physical properties, and thus strongly supports the development of a broad global network of near surface observatories to increase and homogenize the spatial coverage of the measurements, and guarantee as well data availability and quality. The results of this study also provide a valuable, freely available and easy to use support for model comparison and validation, with the ultimate goal of contributing to improvement of the representation of aerosol–cloud interactions in models, and, therefore, of the evaluation of the impact of aerosol particles on climate.
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 13-05-2019
DOI: 10.5194/ESSD-2019-56
Abstract: Abstract. The Sydney Particle Study involved the comprehensive measurement of meteorology, particles and gases at a location in western Sydney during February/March 2011 and April/May 2012. The aim of this study was to increase scientific knowledge of the processes leading to particle formation and transformations in Sydney. In this paper we describe the methods used to collect and analyse particle and gaseous s les, as well as the methods employed for the continuous measurement of particle concentrations, particle microphysical properties and gaseous concentrations. This paper also provides a description of the data collected and is a meta data record for the data sets published in Keywood et al. (2016a) 0.4225/08/57903B83D6A5D and Keywood et al. (2016b) 0.4225/08/5791B5528BD63.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-11-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BJA.2019.04.044
Abstract: Suspected perioperative allergic reactions are rare but can be life-threatening. The diagnosis is difficult to make in the perioperative setting, but prompt recognition and correct treatment is necessary to ensure a good outcome. A group of 26 international experts in perioperative allergy (anaesthesiologists, allergists, and immunologists) contributed to a modified Delphi consensus process, which covered areas such as differential diagnosis, management during and after anaphylaxis, allergy investigations, and plans for a subsequent anaesthetic. They were asked to rank the appropriateness of statements related to the immediate management of suspected perioperative allergic reactions. Statements were selected to represent areas where there is a lack of consensus in existing guidelines, such as dosing of epinephrine and fluids, the management of impending cardiac arrest, and reactions refractory to standard treatment. The results of the modified Delphi consensus process have been included in the recommendations on the management of suspected perioperative allergic reactions. This paper provides anaesthetists with an overview of relevant knowledge on the immediate and postoperative management of suspected perioperative allergic reactions based on current literature and expert opinion. In addition, it provides practical advice and recommendations in areas where consensus has been lacking in existing guidelines.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1071/EN06008
Abstract: Environmental Context. Significant bushfires have recently occurred in Indonesia (1997), Europe (2002), Australia (2000–2001) and the USA (2003), and burned large areas over extended periods of time. They cause widespread and serious air pollution through the release of respirable particles and other toxic air contaminants. These large fire events have shown clear impacts on community health and have caused increasing concern about the impact of bushfire smoke, whether from accidental or planned fires, on the health of surrounding communities. Abstract. Bushfires can cause widespread air pollution through the emission of high levels of toxic air contaminants that affect the health of surrounding communities. This review of studies that have evaluated the health impacts of bushfires in North America, Australia and South-East Asia shows that the primary pollutant consistently exceeding air quality guidelines is particulate matter. Elevated levels of respirable particles are likely to be the major cause of the higher number of hospital visits and admissions for respiratory and/or cardiovascular treatment, increased mortality, and elevated respiratory-related symptoms that were observed in communities after major bushfire events. Morbidity effects were found to be mostly short-lived and reversible after exposure ceased, and were more prevalent among susceptible groups such as asthmatics, children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiac illnesses. Implications of such exposures to the Australian population will be discussed in relation to existing (urban) air quality measures and options for community response to bushfire events.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-02-2016
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1071/WF15034
Abstract: Wildfire activity is predicted to increase with global climate change, resulting in longer fire seasons and larger areas burned. The emissions from fires are highly variable owing to differences in fuel, burning conditions and other external environmental factors. The smoke that is generated can impact human populations spread over vast geographical areas. Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of pollutants that can undergo physical and chemical transformation processes during transport and can have major impacts on air quality and public health. This review looks at the main features of smoke that should be considered in the assessment of public health risk. It describes the current state of knowledge and discusses how smoke is produced, what factors affect emissions and smoke distribution, and what constituents of smoke are most likely to cause adverse health effects.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-02-2019
DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1567623
Abstract: Bushfires, prescribed burns, and residential wood burning are significant sources of fine particles (aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm PM
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2016
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 09-08-2018
DOI: 10.1029/2018JD028488
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BJA.2019.02.029
Abstract: Grading schemes for severity of suspected allergic reactions have been applied to the perioperative setting, but there is no scoring system that estimates the likelihood that the reaction is an immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Such a score would be useful in evaluating current and proposed tests for the diagnosis of suspected perioperative immediate hypersensitivity reactions and culprit agents. We conducted a Delphi consensus process involving a panel of 25 international multidisciplinary experts in suspected perioperative allergy. Items were ranked according to appropriateness (on a scale of 1-9) and consensus, which informed development of a clinical scoring system. The scoring system was assessed by comparing scores generated for a series of clinical scenarios against ratings of panel members. Supplementary scores for mast cell tryptase were generated. Two rounds of the Delphi process achieved stopping criteria for all statements. From an initial 60 statements, 43 were rated appropriate (median score 7 or more) and met agreement criteria (disagreement index <0.5) these were used in the clinical scoring system. The rating of clinical scenarios supported the validity of the scoring system. Although there was variability in the interpretation of changes in mast cell tryptase by the panel, we were able to include supplementary scores for mast cell tryptase. We used a robust consensus development process to devise a clinical scoring system for suspected perioperative immediate hypersensitivity reactions. This will enable objectivity and uniformity in the assessment of the sensitivity of diagnostic tests.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 14-04-2015
DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2015.1032445
Abstract: Given the increase in wildfire intensity and frequency worldwide, prescribed burning is becoming a more common and widespread practice. Prescribed burning is a fire management tool used to reduce fuel loads for wildfire suppression purposes and occurs on an annual basis in many parts of the world. Smoke from prescribed burning can have a substantial impact on air quality and the environment. Prescribed burning is a significant source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 aerodynamic diameter<2.5µm) and these particulates are found to be consistently elevated during smoke events. Due to their fine nature PM2.5 are particularly harmful to human health. Here we discuss the impact of prescribed burning on air quality particularly focussing on PM2.5. We have summarised available case studies from Australia including a recent study we conducted in regional Victoria, Australia during the prescribed burning season in 2013. The studies reported very high short-term (hourly) concentrations of PM2.5 during prescribed burning. Given the increase in PM2.5 concentrations during smoke events, there is a need to understand the influence of prescribed burning smoke exposure on human health. This is important especially since adverse health impacts have been observed during wildfire events when PM2.5 concentrations were similar to those observed during prescribed burning events. Robust research is required to quantify and determine health impacts from prescribed burning smoke exposure and derive evidence based interventions for managing the risk. Given the increase in PM2.5 concentrations during PB smoke events and its impact on the local air quality, the need to understand the influence of PB smoke exposure on human health is important. This knowledge will be important to inform policy and practice of the integrated, consistent, and adaptive approach to the appropriate planning and implementation of public health strategies during PB events. This will also have important implications for land management and public health organizations in developing evidence based objectives to minimize the risk of PB smoke exposure.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-01-2021
Abstract: Many Australians are intermittently exposed to landscape fire smoke from wildfires or planned (prescribed) burns. This study aimed to investigate effects of outdoor smoke from planned burns, wildfires and a coal mine fire by assessing biomarkers of inflammation in an exposed and predominantly older population. Participants were recruited from three communities in south-eastern Australia. Concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were continuously measured within these communities, with participants performing a range of health measures during and without a smoke event. Changes in biomarkers were examined in response to PM2.5 concentrations from outdoor smoke. Increased levels of FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) (β = 0.500 [95%CI 0.192 to 0.808] p 0.001) at a 4 h lag were associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 levels from outdoor smoke, with effects also shown for wildfire smoke at 4, 12, 24 and 48-h lag periods and coal mine fire smoke at a 4 h lag. Total white cell (β = −0.088 [−0.171 to −0.006] p = 0.036) and neutrophil counts (β = −0.077 [−0.144 to −0.010] p = 0.024) declined in response to a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5. However, exposure to outdoor smoke resulting from wildfires, planned burns and a coal mine fire was not found to affect other blood biomarkers.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2016
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 17-11-2017
DOI: 10.5194/ACP-17-13681-2017
Abstract: Abstract. The SAFIRED (Savannah Fires in the Early Dry Season) c aign took place from 29 May until 30 June 2014 at the Australian Tropical Atmospheric Research Station (ATARS) in the Northern Territory, Australia. The purpose of this c aign was to investigate emissions from fires in the early dry season in northern Australia. Measurements were made of biomass burning aerosols, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic carbons, greenhouse gases, radon, speciated atmospheric mercury and trace metals. Aspects of the biomass burning aerosol emissions investigated included emission factors of various species, physical and chemical aerosol properties, aerosol aging, micronutrient supply to the ocean, nucleation, and aerosol water uptake. Over the course of the month-long c aign, biomass burning signals were prevalent and emissions from several large single burning events were observed at ATARS.Biomass burning emissions dominated the gas and aerosol concentrations in this region. Dry season fires are extremely frequent and widespread across the northern region of Australia, which suggests that the measured aerosol and gaseous emissions at ATARS are likely representative of signals across the entire region of north Australia. Air mass forward trajectories show that these biomass burning emissions are carried north-west over the Timor Sea and could influence the atmosphere over Indonesia and the tropical atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. Here we present characteristics of the biomass burning observed at the s ling site and provide an overview of the more specific outcomes of the SAFIRED c aign.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 21-08-2017
Abstract: This study reveals that open-field biomass burning can be an important source of various semivolatile organic chemicals (SVOCs) to the atmosphere including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and a range of pesticides. Emission factors (EFs) for 39 in idual SVOCs are determined from burning of various fuel types that are common in tropical Australia. Emissions of PAHs are found to be sensitive to differences in combustion efficiencies rather than fuel types, reflecting a de novo formation mechanism. In contrast, revolatilization may be important for other SVOCs such as PCBs. On the basis of the EFs determined in this work, estimates of the annual emissions of these SVOCs from Australian bushfires/wildfires are achieved, including, for ex le, ∑PAHs (160 (min)-1100 (max) Mg), ∑PCBs (14-300 kg), ∑PBDEs (8.8-590 kg), α-endosulfan (6.5-200 kg), and chlorpyrifos (up to 1400 kg), as well as dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs) of ∑dioxin-like-PCBs (0.018-1.4 g). Emissions of SVOCs that are predominantly revolatilized appear to be related to their use history, with higher emissions estimated for chemicals that had a greater historical usage and were banned only recently or are still in use.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BJA.2019.03.018
Abstract: Suspected perioperative allergic reactions are often severe. To avoid potentially life-threatening re-exposure to the culprit drug, establishing a firm diagnosis and identifying the culprit is crucial. Drug provocation tests are considered the gold standard in drug allergy investigation but have not been recommended in the investigation of perioperative allergy, mainly because of the pharmacological effects of drugs such as induction agents and neuromuscular blocking agents. Some specialised centres have reported benefits of provocation testing in perioperative allergy investigation, but the literature on the subject is limited. Here we provide a status update on the use of drug provocation testing in perioperative allergy, including its use in specific drug groups. This review is based on a literature search and experiences of the authors comprising anaesthesiologists and allergists with experience in perioperative allergy investigation. In addition, 19 participating centres in the International Suspected Perioperative Allergic Reaction Group were surveyed on the use of provocation testing in perioperative allergy investigation. A response was received from 13 centres in eight European countries, New Zealand, and the USA. Also, 21 centres from the Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group were surveyed. Two centres performed provocation routinely and seven centres performed no provocations at all. Nearly half of the centres reported performing provocations with induction agents and neuromuscular blocking agents. Drug provocation testing is being used in perioperative allergy investigation in specialised centres, but collaborations between relevant specialties and multicentre studies are necessary to determine indications and establish common testing protocols.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2008.08.011
Abstract: Bushfire fighting is a hazardous occupation and control strategies are generally in place to minimize the hazards. However, little is known regarding firefighters' exposure to bushfire smoke, which is a complex mixture of toxic gases and particles. In Australia, during the prescribed burning season, firefighters are likely to be exposed on a regular basis to bushfire smoke, but whether these exposures affect health has yet to be determined. There are a number of factors that govern whether exposure to smoke will result in short-term and/or long-term health problems, including the concentrations of air pollutants within the breathing zone of the firefighter, the exposure duration, and health susceptibility of the in idual, especially for pre-existing lung or heart disease. This paper presents measurements of firefighters' personal exposure to bushfire smoke, the first step within a risk management framework. It provides crucial information on the magnitude, extent and frequency of personal exposure to bushfire smoke for a range of typical scenarios. It is found that the primary air toxics of concern are carbon monoxide (CO), respirable particles and formaldehyde. Also, work activity is a major factor influencing exposure with exposure standards (both average and short-term limits) likely to be exceeded for activities such as suppression of spot fires, holding the fireline, and patrolling at the edge of a burn area in the urban-rural interface.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2011
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/WF14009
Abstract: A high-intensity wildfire burnt through a dry Eucalyptus forest in south-eastern Australia that had been fuel reduced with fire 3 months prior, presenting a unique opportunity to measure the effects of fuel reduction (FR) on forest carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wildfires at the start of the fuel accumulation cycle. Less than 3% of total forest carbon to 30-cm soil depth was transferred to the atmosphere in FR burning the subsequent wildfire transferred a further 6% to the atmosphere. There was a 9% loss in carbon for the FR–wildfire sequence. In nearby forest, last burnt 25 years previously, the wildfire burning transferred 16% of forest carbon to the atmosphere and was characterised by more complete combustion of all fuels and less surface charcoal deposition, compared with fuel-reduced forest. Compared to the fuel-reduced forests, release of non-CO2 GHG doubled following wildfire in long-unburnt forest. Although this is the maximum emission mitigation likely within a planned burning cycle, it suggests a significant potential for FR burns to mitigate GHG emissions in forests at high risk from wildfires.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-04-2021
Abstract: During extreme air pollution events, such as bushfires, public health agencies often recommend that vulnerable in iduals visit a nearby public building with central air conditioning to reduce their exposure to smoke. However, there is limited evidence that these “cleaner indoor air shelters” reduce exposure or health risks. We quantified the impact of a “cleaner indoor air shelter” in a public library in Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia when concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were elevated during a local peat fire and nearby bushfires. Specifically, we evaluated the air quality improvements with central air conditioning only and with the use of portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air cleaners. We measured PM2.5 from August 2019 until February 2020 by deploying pairs of low-cost PM2.5 sensors (i) inside the main library, (ii) in a smaller media room inside the library, (iii) outside the library, and (iv) co-located with regulatory monitors located in the town. We operated two HEPA cleaners in the media room from August until October 2019. We quantified the infiltration efficiency of outdoor PM2.5 concentrations, defined as the fraction of the outdoor PM2.5 concentration that penetrates indoors and remains suspended, as well as the additional effect of HEPA cleaners on PM2.5 concentrations. The infiltration efficiency of outdoor PM2.5 into the air-conditioned main library was 30%, meaning that compared to the PM2.5 concentration outdoors, the concentrations of outdoor-generated PM2.5 indoors were reduced by 70%. In the media room, when the HEPA cleaners were operating, PM2.5 concentrations were reduced further with a PM2.5 infiltration efficiency of 17%. A carefully selected air-conditioned public building could be used as a cleaner indoor air shelter during episodes of elevated smoke emissions. Further improvements in indoor air quality within the building can be achieved by operating appropriately sized HEPA cleaners.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 06-09-2002
DOI: 10.1021/ES025761B
Abstract: Acenaphthene and acenaphthylene are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted into the atmosphere from a variety of incomplete combustion sources such as diesel exhaust. Both PAHs are present in the gas phase under typical atmospheric conditions and therefore can undergo atmospheric gas-phase reactions with the hydroxyl (OH) radical and for acenaphthylene with ozone. Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been measured at 296 +/- 2 K for the OH radical reactions with acenaphthene and acenaphthylene of (in units of 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1)) 8.0 +/- 0.4 and 12.4 +/- 0.7, respectively, and for the O3 reaction with acenaphthylene of (1.6 +/- 0.1) x 10(-16) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The products of the gas-phase reactions of acenaphthene and acenaphthylene and their fully deuterated analogues have been investigated using in situ atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (API-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major products identified from the OH radical-initiated reaction of acenaphthene and acenaphthylene were a 10 carbon ring-opened product and a dialdehyde, respectively. The major product observed from the API-MS analysis of the O3 reaction with acenaphthylene was a secondary ozonide, which was not observed by GC-MS.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2010.09.005
Abstract: Firefighters are exposed to known health-damaging air pollutants present in bushfire smoke and poorly managed exposure can result in serious health issues. A better understanding of exposure levels and the major factors influencing exposures is crucial for the development of mitigation strategies to minimise exposure risks and adverse health impacts. This study monitored air toxics within the breathing zone of firefighters at prescribed burns and at wildfires in Australia. The results showed that exposure levels were highly variable, with higher exposures (sometimes exceeding occupational exposure standards) associated with particular work tasks (such as patrol and suppression) and with certain burn conditions. The majority of firefighter's exposures were at low and moderate levels (~60%), however considerable attention should be given to the high (~30%) and very high (6%) exposure risk situations for which acute and chronic health risks are very likely and for which control strategies should be developed and implemented to minimise health risks.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 06-05-2005
DOI: 10.1021/ES0483589
Abstract: Alkanes account for approximately 50% of nonmethane organic compounds present in urban atmospheres. Previous studies have shown that hydroxycarbonyls are important products ofthe OH radical initiated reactions of > or = C5 n-alkanes, but isomer-specific identifications and quantifications of these products have not been carried out. In this work, we have used solid-phase microextraction fibers precoated with O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine for on-fiber derivatization of carbonyl-containing compounds with subsequent analyses by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). GC-MS analyses showed the presence of the oximes of 5-hydroxy-2-pentanone and 4-hydroxypentanal from the n-pentane reaction 5-hydroxy-2-hexanone, 6-hydroxy-3-hexanone, and 4-hydroxyhexanal from the n-hexane reaction 5-hydroxy-2-heptanone, 6-hydroxy-3-heptanone, 1-hydroxy-4-heptanone, and 4-hydroxyheptanal from the n-heptane reaction and 5-hydroxy-2-octanone, 6-hydroxy-3-octanone, 7-hydroxy-4-octanone, and 4-hydroxyoctanal from the n-octane reaction. The formation yields of these 1,4-hydroxycarbonyls were determined from GC-FID analyses. By use of the yields of 1,4-hydroxycarbonyls formed from n-hexane, n-heptane, and n-octane at 50% relative humidity (and those from n-pentane at both 5 and 50% relative humidity), then formation of 1,4-hydroxycarbonyls accounts for 54% of the reaction products from n-pentane, 57% from n-hexane, 51% from n-heptane, and 53% from n-octane. Combined with previously measured yields of carbonyls, alkyl nitrates, and hydroxyalkyl nitrates, we can now accountfor approximately 74-118% of the products formed from the n-pentane through n-octane reactions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2003
Publisher: American Meteorological Society
Date: 2019
Abstract: To estimate global aerosol radiative forcing, measurements of aerosol optical properties are made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)’s Global Monitoring Division (GMD) and their collaborators at 30 monitoring locations around the world. Many of the sites are located in regions influenced by specific aerosol types (Asian and Saharan desert dust, Asian pollution, biomass burning, etc.). This network of monitoring stations is a shared endeavor of NOAA and many collaborating organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), several U.S. and foreign universities, and foreign science organizations. The result is a long-term cooperative program making atmospheric measurements that are directly comparable with those from all the other network stations and with shared data access. The protocols and software developed to support the program facilitate participation in GAW’s atmospheric observation strategy, and the sites in the NOAA/ESRL network make up a substantial subset of the GAW aerosol observations. This paper describes the history of the NOAA/ESRL Federated Aerosol Network, details about measurements and operations, and some recent findings from the network measurements.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2020
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 26-10-2012
DOI: 10.1029/2012JD017671
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Date: 03-10-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-08-2009
DOI: 10.1007/S00244-008-9209-3
Abstract: Bushfire smoke contains an array of organic and inorganic compounds, including respirable and inspirable particles, aldehydes, and carbon monoxide. These compounds have been found to be a health hazard for firefighters in the United States. Despite the high frequency of bushfires in Australia, analyses of bushfire smoke components are scarce. As part of an occupational health study investigating the respiratory health effects of bushfire smoke in firefighters, air toxics s ling was undertaken in a smoke chamber and during prescribed burns. Levels of formaldehyde and acrolein were demonstrated at respectively 60% and 80% of the Short Term Exposure Limit in the smoke chamber. Carbon monoxide levels exceeded the peak limit of 400 ppm significantly. Although concentrations were lower during the prescribed burns, the study shows that Australian bushfire smoke contains air toxics of concern and provides justification for further research into the levels of air toxics measured at bushfires and the associated health impacts.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United States of America
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Fabienne Reisen.