ENVIRONMENTAL/HEALTH, ENERGY AND POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO METALS, MATERIALS AND MINERAL PROCESSING

Among the rechargeable batteries, a Li-S battery is potentially of the highest possible gravimetric capacity and theoretical energy density, ranging up to a factor of five beyond conventional Li-ion batteries. Herein, we present the electrochemical properties and performance of a novel sulfur-carbon nantube fibers composite as the cathode for rechargeable polymer lithium batteries. The microstructure of the carbon nanotube fibers and the composite was characterized by TEM, SEM, XRD, and BET surface area. The electrochemical performance of the composite cathode in a polymer electrolyte was studied by galvanostatic and cyclic voltammetry methods. We have obtained very promising results based on which we discuss the electrochemical reaction mechanism of the sulfur-carbon nanotube fibers composite in combination with the polymer electrolyte and metallic lithium as the anode. The laboratory assembly process is simple, generic and broadly applicable, conceptually providing new opportunities for tailored design that can be extended to new composite electrode materials.

The air pollution belongs to the most important environmental threat to human health. Particularly sensitive are children, elderly people and patients with chronic conditions. Individual susceptibility is influenced by many factors: Age, nutrition, presence of disease, genetic determination, global health status. Children are a focus points in the health protection considering possibilities of early organs and functions impairment. Cross-sectional study of respiratory health included measurements of pulmonary function (1994 -2000). Parents questionnaires collected data about socio-economic status and reported respiratory morbidity and symptoms in children. Data were received from 8 exposed and 1 control area in eastern Slovakia, included totally 1805 filled questionnaires from parents of children 6 – 11 years old. Pulmonary functions were evaluated in 1337 children from exposed areas and 193 children from control area. Results confirmed impact of SES on the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children and incidence of lower respiratory infection (LRI). ARI were statistically more frequent in families with lower education, local heating system, in children with respiratory allergy and in children living in higher outdoor air pollution score - AP. Lower respiratory infection were influenced by air pollution score, parents education, allergy in children and parents. ETS - environmental tobacco smoke - wasn’t confirmed as statistically important factor neither for respiratory symptoms nor for lower pulmonary function. ETS exposure might be influenced by domestic habits where indoor smoking is mostly refused by families. *Supported by grant VEGA 1/0451/09 and KEGA 260-002UPJS - 4/2010.

The air pollution belongs to the most important environmental threat to human health. Particularly sensitive are children, elderly people and patients with chronic conditions. Individual susceptibility is influenced by many factors: Age, nutrition, presence of disease, genetic determination, global health status. Children are a focus points in the health protection considering possibilities of early organs and functions impairment. Cross-sectional study of respiratory health included measurements of pulmonary function (1994 -2000). Parents questionnaires collected data about socio-economic status and reported respiratory morbidity and symptoms in children. Data were received from 8 exposed and 1 control area in eastern Slovakia, included totally 1805 filled questionnaires from parents of children 6 – 11 years old. Pulmonary functions were evaluated in 1337 children from exposed areas and 193 children from control area. Results confirmed impact of SES on the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children and incidence of lower respiratory infection (LRI). ARI were statistically more frequent in families with lower education, local heating system, in children with respiratory allergy and in children living in higher outdoor air pollution score - AP. Lower respiratory infection were influenced by air pollution score, parents education, allergy in children and parents. ETS - environmental tobacco smoke - wasn’t confirmed as statistically important factor neither for respiratory symptoms nor for lower pulmonary function. ETS exposure might be influenced by domestic habits where indoor smoking is mostly refused by families.

The average consumption of electricity for production of one kilogram Aluminum is about 14 KWh. So, it could be say that Aluminum is the mass for saving and condensing energy. This was a reason for Iran and other Persian Gulf countries that have more oil and gas for export, to thing if they could convert their oil to Aluminum Primary as a condensed energy and then export them. By this reason the Aluminum industry strategy was to produce about 1.5 million tons primary Aluminum in Iran. In other hand Iran has had policy of subsidize economy for about 30 years. The subsidization was considered for some common using goods, especially for energy and electricity and even some capital investments. The subsidize capacity for energy was about more than 50 milliard US dollars per year in 2010. The whole of economy, Industry and even the culture were matching with this policy in Iran. Now after 30 years subsidizing situation, the policy is going to change to competitive condition by removal of subsidize policy. This makes changing the economical and also technological condition of Iranian industries. The most effect will be for Aluminum production industries, because of primary Aluminum production need the most energy. What will happen in this new stipulation by the Aluminum industries?This Article is survey the condition of Aluminum Industries, Technology and economy in Iran with the co-reaction by Persian Gulf region and world. It also investigates the role of subsidization elimination effects to the Aluminum development Strategy, and show a new road map for these Industries in this new circumstance.