Impact of a semi-industrial coke processing plant in the surrounding surface soil

Dı́az-Somoano, Mercedes; López-Antón, M. Antonia; Suárez‐Ruíz, Isabel; Calvo, Montserrat; Suárez, Sonia; Garcı́a, Roberto; Martı́nez-Tarazona, M. Rosa

doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2012.04.034

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We also observed significant changes in coal-related trace element levels (As and S) at the CSN monitor nearest the coking plant. Similar air pollution findings have been reported in studies in Europe and Asia, identifying elevated levels of SO 2 and particulate matter arsenic, sulfate in the proximity of coking plants (Khare and Baruah 2011, Díaz-Somoano et al 2012, Mu et al 2012, Zajusz-Zubek et al 2017.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

An interrupted time series analysis of the cardiovascular health benefits of a coal coking operation closure

Yu,

Thurston

2023

Environ. Res.: Health

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With the widespread implementation of air pollution mitigation strategies for health and climate policy, there is an emerging interest in accountability studies to validate whether a reduction of air pollution exposure, in fact, produces the human health benefits estimated from past air pollution epidemiology. The closure of a coal coking plant provides an ideal ‘natural’ experiment opportunity to rigorously evaluate the health benefits of air pollution emissions reductions. In this study, we applied an interrupted time series model to test the hypothesis that the substantial reduction in air pollution induced by the closure of the Shenango, Inc. coke plant in Pittsburgh, PA during January, 2016 was followed by immediate and/or longer-term cumulative local cardiovascular health benefits. We observed a 90% decrease in nearby SO2 levels, as well as significant reductions in coal-related fine particulate matter constituents (sulfate and arsenic), after the closure. Statistically significant cardiovascular health benefits were documented in the local population, including a 42% immediate drop (95% CI: 33%, 51%) in cardiovascular emergency department (ED) visits from the pre-closure mean. A longer-term downward trend was also observed for overall emergency visits at −0.14 (95% CI: −0.17, −0.11) visits per week rate of decrease after the closure, vs. a rise of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.20) visits per week before. Similarly, inpatient cardiovascular hospitalizations per year showed a decrease after closure (−27.97 [95% CI: −46.90, −9.04], as compared with a 5.09 [95% CI: −13.84, 24.02] average increase in cases/year over the prior three years). Our study provides clear evidence that this intervention lowering fossil fuel-associated air pollution benefited public health in both the short and longer term, while also providing validation of the past use of observational air pollution epidemiology effect estimates in policy analyses.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

An interrupted time series analysis of the cardiovascular health benefits of a coal coking operation closure

Yu,

Thurston

2023

Environ. Res.: Health

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“…These gypsum samples have been previously characterized by the authors [21]. The soil samples were collected from the surrounding area of a coking plant [26]. PUSH3 and FAR2 were taken from points close to, and outside, the area of greatest activity of the plant, respectively, whereas TDIST1 was sampled at the point of maximum mercury concentration [27].…”

Section: Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of devices using thermal desorption for mercury speciation in solids

Rumayor

Dı́az-Somoano

et al. 2016

Talanta

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The goal of this work is to emphasize the reliability of the thermal desorption technique in identifying mercury species. The analysis of mercury species in solids is essential for assessing the risk of disposal or re-use of mercury-contaminated materials. This study evaluates the accuracy and reliability of thermal desorption as a technique for identifying mercury species by means of different thermo-desorption devices. For this purpose, mercury species present in samples related with coal utilization processes were identified. Three devices were compared for analyzing samples free of carbon or with a low carbon content (fly ashes, gypsums and soils), and a new equipment was developed to analyze samples with a high carbon content (coal). In spite of the fact that the first three devices employ different experimental conditions (i.e., heating rate, gas flow and carrier gas), the mercury species identified in the samples were comparable in all cases.The need for new equipment for mercury speciation in materials containing carbon was a consequence of interferences produced from the pyrolysis products of the organic matter. The new device consists of two furnaces and two gas inlets to allow thermal oxidation of organic pyrolysis products and the identification of mercury species in carbonaceous samples. This new approach offers the application of thermal desorption to mercury speciation in all types of materials contaminated with mercury.

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The level of toxic and essential trace elements in hair of petrochemical workers involved in different technological processes

Skalny

Kaminskaya²,

Krekesheva³

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The objective of the investigation is comparative analysis of hair trace element content in workers of different departments of petrochemical plant. A total of 75 men working in office (engineers), and departments 1 (D), 3 (D), and 4 (D) of the petrochemical plant, as well as occupationally non-exposed persons, were examined. Hair trace element levels were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The office workers were characterized by the highest hair As, Hg, Sn, I, and Si content as compared to the workers of other departments, whereas the level of those elements did not differ significantly from the control values. It is notable that hair Be levels in all employees of petrochemical plant were significantly lower, whereas Se content was significantly higher than that in unexposed controls. Hair toxic trace element content in workers directly involved in industrial processes did not differ significantly or was lower than that in the control group. At the same time, the highest levels of essential trace elements (Cr, Fe, and I) were observed in employees working in primary oil refining (D). Hair levels of Co, I, and Li were maximal in persons of sulfur and bitumen-producing division (D). The lowest levels of both essential and toxic trace elements in hair were detected in employees involved in production of liquefied gas, kerosene, and diesel fuel (D). The obtained data demonstrate that involvement in different technological processes in petrochemical complex differentially affect hair trace element content in workers.

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Impact of a semi-industrial coke processing plant in the surrounding surface soil

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

An interrupted time series analysis of the cardiovascular health benefits of a coal coking operation closure

An interrupted time series analysis of the cardiovascular health benefits of a coal coking operation closure

A comparison of devices using thermal desorption for mercury speciation in solids

The level of toxic and essential trace elements in hair of petrochemical workers involved in different technological processes

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