Evaluating Sources of Brominated Micropollutants within the Steel-Making Process

评估炼钢过程中溴化微污染物的来源

• 批准号: NE/G01146X/1
• 金额: $ 8.93万
• 依托单位: University of Birmingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Training Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2009 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FG01146X%2F1
• 关键词: Evaluating; Sources; Brominated; Micropollutants; within

There is mounting concern over the environmental impact of brominated organic pollutants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and brominated dioxins. PBDEs are brominated flame-retardants that have been used extensively as additives in plastic materials for the prevention of fire in items such as consumer goods like electronics, furniture foams, and fabrics, as well as industrial materials. Over time, these man-made additives have migrated into the environment with resultant human exposure via air inhalation, ingestion of indoor dust, and dietary ingestion. Such exposures are of concern owing to the mounting evidence of potential human health risks for humans, which have led to bans on the manufacture and new use of PBDEs within the EU. Concerns have also been raised for some time about the toxicity of brominated dioxins, which are thought to be emitted as products of incomplete combustion from a range of thermal (largely industrial) processes. Recent research elsewhere in the world has highlighted the potential for the emission of PBDEs and brominated dioxins from steel making. The objectives of this project are thus to evaluate whether such findings are applicable to the UK steel industry, and if so, to assess the environmental and human health implications. The project will involve an extensive monitoring programme of air and soil within and around a major UK integrated steel works. The samples will be analysed by the student at the University of Birmingham and Corus. The involvement of Corus is especially valuable as it provides access to and training in the use of a particularly sophisticated instrument that is essential for the determination of brominated dioxins but is unavailable at Birmingham. In addition to training in transferable research skills, the student will receive specialist training in air monitoring techniques and analysis of PBDEs at Birmingham, as well as process emission monitoring and analysis of brominated dioxins at Corus. Furthermore, the time spent working at Corus will provide the student with invaluable experience of a non-University research environment. A further training element will be provided by a 2 month study visit to Antwerp University. Here, the student will benefit from immersion in an internationally-renowned academic research environment outside the UK, and will procure relevant Belgian samples which when analysed will help place UK data in an international context. In summary, the student will study an area of environmental research undergoing rapid growth, within a research group of high international standing, and with substantial input and support from a key end-user. In so doing, they will receive an exceptional training experience in experimental design and execution, analytical and environmental chemistry.

人们越来越关注多溴联苯醚和溴化二恶英等溴化有机污染物对环境的影响。多溴联苯醚是一种溴化阻燃剂，已被广泛用作塑料材料的添加剂，用于电子产品、家具泡沫和纺织品等消费品以及工业材料的防火。随着时间的推移，这些人造添加剂已经迁移到环境中，导致人类通过吸入空气、摄入室内灰尘和饮食摄入而暴露在环境中。这种暴露令人关切，因为越来越多的证据表明，对人类的潜在健康风险已导致欧盟内禁止制造和新使用多溴二苯醚。一段时间以来，人们还对溴化二恶英的毒性提出了担忧。溴化二恶英被认为是一系列热(主要是工业)过程中不完全燃烧的产物。世界其他地方最近的研究强调了炼钢过程中排放多溴二苯醚和溴化二恶英的潜力。因此，该项目的目标是评估这些发现是否适用于英国钢铁行业，如果适用，则评估其对环境和人类健康的影响。该项目将涉及对英国一家主要综合钢铁厂内部和周围的空气和土壤进行广泛的监测。这些样本将由伯明翰大学和科鲁斯大学的学生进行分析。科鲁斯的参与特别有价值，因为它提供了使用一种特别复杂的仪器的途径和培训，这种仪器对于测定溴化二恶英是必不可少的，但在伯明翰是没有的。除了可转让的研究技能培训外，学生还将在伯明翰接受空气监测技术和多溴二苯醚分析方面的专业培训，以及在Corus接受过程排放监测和溴化二恶英分析。此外，在科鲁斯大学工作的时间将为学生提供宝贵的非大学研究环境的经验。将通过对安特卫普大学进行为期2个月的考察访问，提供进一步的培训内容。在这里，学生将受益于沉浸在英国以外的国际知名学术研究环境中，并将获得相关的比利时样本，当进行分析时，这些样本将有助于将英国的数据置于国际背景下。总而言之，学生将在一个具有很高国际声誉的研究小组内，在关键最终用户的大量投入和支持下，学习一个正在快速增长的环境研究领域。在这样做的过程中，他们将获得在实验设计和执行、分析和环境化学方面的特殊培训经验。