Functional Foods
Datta Sourya, Debasis Bagchi in Extreme and Rare Sports, 2019
Bioenergetics is the study of energy production and expenditure (exchange in the form of heat) in a living organism performing different biological functions. Energy exchange takes place through aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions through the multi-step enzymic pathway. In humans, the oxidation of macromolecules like carbohydrates (glucose), fats (fatty acids) and proteins (amino acids) results in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production via cellular respiration (redox) including glycolysis, citric acid or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and electron transport chain (ETC) and oxidative phosphorylation. Combustion is a well-known energy exchange process which occurs when energy fuel (molecules) with a proton (H+) and electron (e−) readily liberates oxygen. Higher proton and electron donation or transfer would yield higher energy (heat). Similarly, glucose and fatty acids (energy is held within the molecular bonds) undergoes oxidation (based on ATP turnover) in the presence of molecular oxygen to yield ATP and CO2 (Volkov, 2010).
Chemical injuries
Jan de Boer, Marcel Dubouloz in Handbook of Disaster Medicine, 2020
Exposure to hazardous materials can involve just a single toxin, as with an industrial spill, or a variety of combustion products, as with a fire. Toxic products will be generated when the burning products contain atoms other than carbon, hydrogen or oxygen. About thirty toxic products of partial or complete combustion have been identified including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen and sulphur oxides, aldehydes and polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons13,23,28. The production of combustion products is a function of the combustion mixture, the continuing oxygen supply and other combustion conditions. From a health effect point of view, incomplete combustion is generally more harmful than complete combustion. Thus, the means of extinguishing a fire can directly influence the occurrence of combustion products; as the temperature decreases, and as available oxygen supplies are depleted or minimised, a greater amount of products of incomplete combustion will result. Release of complete and incomplete combustion products may result in serious health and environmental effects in individuals (e.g. plant employees, rescue personnel, and local residents) and in the surrounding area (e.g. waterways, ground water and soil). Run-off fire fighting water can become an important environmental pollution problem28.
Asphyxia due to Metabolic Poisons
Burkhard Madea in Asphyxiation, Suffocation,and Neck Pressure Deaths, 2020
During complete combustion of hydrocarbons, water and carbon dioxide are the final products, but in most situations, the oxygen concentration in the air is insufficient during a rapid onset, or consumed during a fire, resulting in the formation of carbon monoxide (CO). Upon inhalation, carbon monoxide binds approximately 220 times stronger to haemoglobin than oxygen to form carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb). A continuous breathing implies that COHb accumulates; hence the outcome depends on both the concentration of CO in the inhaled air and the time of exposure. Unfortunately, pure CO intoxication typically induces tachypnoea [2], speeding up the COHb formation. If the concentration is very high, unconsciousness, and even death, may occur within minutes. Since most modern motor vehicle engines today are equipped with catalysts, the number of suicides from inhalation of exhaust fumes in a car has dropped dramatically in most countries. A similar decrease of indoor suicides has also been recorded following the gradual shutdown of domestic gas supplies to many cities worldwide. As a consequence of the elimination of these sources, charcoal burning of briquettes in enclosed spaces started to increase around year 2000 as a means for suicide [23]. The effectiveness of small disposable barbecue grills for this purpose was spread over the internet, resulting in reports of such suicides in many countries. However, most fatal CO poisonings seen today are fire victims, and the vast majority of these are unintentional deaths [16].
Numerical investigation of the effect of air supply on cook stove performance
Published in Inhalation Toxicology, 2021
Ankur Kaundal, Satvasheel Powar, Atul Dhar
Wood combustion is a complicated process of burning; combustion is the result of reactions between oxygen and gasses emitted from the feedstock, not solid feedstock. Upon heating solid feedstock releases gaseous components viz—pyrolysis gases with high oxygen affinity to react and create flames. Temperature due to this exothermic reaction is very high, making combustion luminous and flaming. Primary air and heating of the wood are responsible for releasing the volatiles. In short, it's called primary wood combustion. The remaining air supplied throughout the process is secondary air. Number of vents are placed on the horizontal sections of pipes (shown in Figure 1) inside the combustion chamber for the induction of secondary air. Oxygen in secondary air reacts with volatiles, resulting in flaming combustion. An appropriate mechanism for primary and secondary air intake is therefore essential for efficient cook stove operation.
The toxicology of air pollution predicts its epidemiology
Published in Inhalation Toxicology, 2018
Andrew J. Ghio, Joleen M. Soukup, Michael C. Madden
HULIS is a mixture of complex, organic, macromolecular compounds initially extracted from atmospheric aerosol particles and isolated from fog and cloud water (Dinar et al., 2006; Graber & Rudich, 2006; Jacobson et al., 2000; Zheng et al., 2013). They derive their name from their similarities to terrestrial and aquatic humic and fulvic acids in characteristics of ultraviolet-visible, Fourier-transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. HULIS share components with HS including carboxylate and aromatic groups but differ in having a smaller average molecular weight and lower aromaticity (Graber & Rudich 2006). HULIS contain both soluble and insoluble fractions. These substances are recognized to be a component of many combustion products. HULIS have also been isolated from PM in cigarette smoke and combustion products including wood smoke particle, diesel exhaust particle, and emissions from the burning of biomass (Forrister et al., 2015; Ghio et al., 1994, 1996; Hoffer et al., 2006; Stedman et al., 1966). There is the potential secondary formation of HULIS following atmospheric oxidation of soot particles, levoglucosan, α-pinene and isoprene (Decesari et al., 2002; Holmes & Petrucci, 2007; Iinuma et al., 2004; Limbeck et al., 2003). Evidence supporting such secondary formation of HULIS has been provided in field studies (Krivacsy et al., 2008). HULIS from combustion products can be lower in oxygen content, relative to HS in the natural organic matter, consistent with a loss of oxygen-containing functional groups such as that which follows a heating of HS (Perdue, 1985).
Prevalence and determinants of airflow limitation in urban and rural children exposed to cooking fuels in South-East Nigeria
Published in Paediatrics and International Child Health, 2018
Tagbo Oguonu, Ijeoma N. Obumneme-Anyim, Joy N. Eze, Adaeze C. Ayuk, Chinyere V. Okoli, Ikenna K. Ndu
About half of the world population use biomass fuels as their primary source of domestic energy for cooking, home heating and light [1]. Globally, the household use of biomass fuel is the most significant source of indoor air pollution leading to respiratory complications and death in about 4.3 million people per year worldwide [2]. Women and children are most vulnerable, with high morbidity/mortality attributable to household air pollution (HAP) owing to their more involvement in daily cooking and other domestic activities within the home [3]. Different types of biomass fuel produce different effects on the body organs, particularly the respiratory system. The most efficient fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electric stoves generate more heat and fewer pollutants per unit of fuel but are more expensive [3]. Incomplete combustion results in black carbon emission with an adverse effect on health [4].
Related Knowledge Centers
- Chemical Reaction
- Oxidizing Agent
- Oxygen
- Pyrolysis
- Smoke
- Redox
- Activation Energy
- Elementary Reaction
- Radical
- Hydrogen