Skip to content

Health

New tool picks out smoke-hazard in atmosphere

by Martin Leggett 16 May 2011
New tool picks out smoke-hazard in atmosphere

Advances in technology for sniffing out low-levels of potentially hazardous chemicals have given scientists a new tool for probing the smoky byproducts of combustion. One compound in particular, isocyanic acid, is linked to cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cataracts - and has always been hard to measure.

But in this study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists from the NOAA have successfully picked up its traces in the downwind air of wildfires and the urban pollution of Los Angeles smog, as well as in cigarette smoke.

The tool that has put HNCO (as isocyanic acid is known, from its chemical formula) onto the scientist's radar is a custom-built mass spectrometer - one that the team themselves put together. It can pick up concentrations of HNCO below the billionth per part level, which is the concentration often found outside of the laboratory in real-world situations.

HNCO is among one of suite of organic acids emitted from the burning of biomass, such as forest fires, cigarette smoke or cooking fires. The team calculated that the really harmful effects of HNCO kick in above 1 part per billion (ppbv). The eyes and lungs are especially vulnerable, as their moist membranes dissolve the acid. That can then lead onto inflammation, which may contribute towards cataract formation, or a greater risk of heart disease.

So tracking the concentrations of HNCO, and its health effects, is very important from a public health perspective. It was already known that very high levels are found in smoking cigarettes, but billions of people are also exposed to HNCO through the burning firewood for heating homes and cooking food. The team reckons that it is likely the acid's concentrations exceeds their calculated risk threshold, of 1 ppbv, for such poorly ventilated indoor fires.

The lead author of the paper, NOAA scientist Jim Roberts, said ''If these indoor fires release similar levels of isocyanic acid as the fires we studied in the laboratory, families could be exposed to high levels of the chemical.'' In contrast, the levels of HNCO found in air from the LA urban zone, as well as those downwind of a wildfire in Fourmile Canyon, near Boulder, were comparatively low.

But as the team points out, the health impacts of lower concentrations are still unknown. The fact that levels of HNCO are likely to rise - as global warming increases so will forest fires - makes this new instrument potentially useful for tracking how emissions of this pollutant evolve. It is expected that emissions will also increase from man-made sources, as equipment to strip nitrous oxides from car tailpipe fumes also produces HNCO. ''We may be facing a future of higher amounts of HNCO in the atmosphere,'' said Roberts. ''It is fortunate that now we can measure it.''


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping