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Plants act as natural scrubbers of urban air particulate matter. However, chemical fractionation of leaf-deposited particulate matter is an unexplored research area demanding immediate attention to get an insight into the source and fate of elements in plants. Therefore, work was carried out to evaluate the spatial and species variability in capturing air particles with variable elemental chemical fractions in an urban area in India. The results favor a distinct spatial and species variability in trapping total and fractional elemental leaf-deposited particulate matter (p < 0.05). Spatially, sensitive (0.135–16.979 μg/cm2) and industrial zones (0.043–3.982 μg/cm2) had a significant impact on the elemental fractionation of particles with the highest inter-species variation. Similarly, Mangifera indica was the best performer in trapping elements of all chemical fractions and was in the order M. indica > Butea monosperma > Ficus benghalensis. Ca and Na were found to be in all chemical fractions. When evaluated for biochemical impact, the leaf-extract pH and relative water content did not show any significant role in regulating the chemical fractionation in leaf deposits. Scanning electron micrographs highlighted the role of the waxy layer and pubescens as efficient particle retention zones. Thus, it is concluded that the chemical fractionation of elements in leaf-deposited particulate matter depends on the category of area and type of plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust pollution from Chinese open-pit coal mines (OPCMs) threatens the coexistence of resource development and environmental protection. This research introduces a new approach to designing OPCMs based on meteorological indicators for dust removal and diffusion. It analyzes the production, distribution, and dust emission features of large-scale OPCMs in China. The factors affecting dust dispersion and atmospheric pollution characteristics were also examined. The findings reveal a surge in the number and output of OPCMs, intensifying the conflict between resource development and environmental protection. Notably, over 80% of OPCMs are in arid and semi-arid regions, exacerbating the challenge. Microclimate effects, including circulation and inversion effects, further amplify dust pollution. Regional and seasonal dust pollution patterns were identified, with the southern region experiencing the highest pollution levels, followed by the northern and central regions. Seasonally, dust pollution exhibits the following pattern: winter > autumn > spring > summer. An alarming decline in atmospheric self-cleaning capacity over the past two decades underscores the pressing challenges ahead for dust control. The increase in air stagnation days/events highlights the urgency for effective dust prevention and control measures. This research suggests considering meteorological elements in OPCM design for dust control. Optimizing mining operations based on weather forecasts enables the utilization of natural conditions for effective dust prevention and control. The results provide insights for dust prevention and control in open-pit mines to foster green and climate-smart mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chandrapur City of Maharashtra state of India has undergone rapid industrialization, development, and infrastructure facilities along with prominent increase in population. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to study the air quality of the city. The mitigation measures of air pollution in the city were also discussed in the present study. Air quality monitoring was carried out at each monitoring station taken twice a week for 24 hours for particulate matter (PM10), particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxides (SO2), nitrogen dioxides NO2, and carbon monoxides (CO). The data revealed the high levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) to approximately 1.56-2.15 times and 1.47-2.21 times higher than National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), respectively and were many times higher than WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines. The major sources of pollution were the emission from industries, mining activities and traffic. Observed concentrations of SO2 (24.88 to 45 μg/m³), NO2 (45.4 to 70.6 μg/m³ ) and (0.63 to 0.88 mg/m³) were below NAAQS. The obtained data was also processed for the calculation of air quality index (AQI). The AQI value at Chandrapur super thermal power station (CSTPS) was found higher (310) followed by MIDC with AQI of 302 (Very poor air quality) mainly due to higher particulate pollution, indicating respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. AQI for remaining three stations namely, Jatpura gate, Bimba gate and Babupeth ranged from 264 to 284 (Poor air quality) mainly due to vehicular pollution indicating breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure. All the pollutants were observed higher than the concentrations recorded in earlier studies and showed increasing trend as compared to records of previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Cosmetic Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Air pollution, especially indoor air pollution, is increasingly recognized as a worldwide hazard that reduces life expectancy. Pollution caused by equipment such as surgical cautery is not just a nuisance but a workplace hazard that exposes the staff to respirable particulate matter and toxic chemical agents. It has not yet received much recognition in India, nor have mitigating measures like smoke evacuators and dedicated scavenging systems become prevalent. Methods: We aimed to do a prospective observational study of the extent of this hazard in the operation rooms in our tertiary care, Government-run hospital using a consumer-grade pollution measuring equipment (CAIR +™, Prana Air, New Delhi). We measured and compared the particulate pollutant matter (PM) levels, Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide at multiple areas of interest at different time points. Results: The particulate pollution level in PM 1.0, PM 2.5, and PM 10 and TVOCs rose many times the baseline near the surgical team during cautery use. It remained high near the anesthesia workstation. The median PM 2.5 level in µg/m³ (micrograms/cubic meter) was 181 near the surgical team during cautery use, and it was 25 at the anesthesia workstation. This peak level was 30 times the basal level of 6 µg/m³ at the start of the day and was above the annual population-weighted mean PM 2·5 breakpoint of 40 µg/m³ recommended by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in India. Conclusions: The pollution levels increase dramatically when surgical cautery is used, potentially exposing the team to large peak elevations in particulate matter and TVOCs. We recommend the mandatory use of smoke evacuators and optimization of the air conditioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron deposits of Ouenza and Boukhadra represent one of the main sources of iron ore supply for the Algerian steel industry. Being a fundamental wealth available to Algeria, the exploitation of iron ores and its use causes strong negative consequences on the environment, mainly by the expansion of dust, which will be a source of environmental degradation. The metallurgical industry is an integral part of the Algerian economy. Environmental problems that negatively affect the health of people and the environment is air pollution. These issues are relevant to the site and the town of Annaba, where the metallurgical industry is developed. Environmental awareness is characterized by strong environmental sensitization; especially in urban areas with metallurgical pollution sources. The object of this study is taking samples from sites that generate more dust within the steel complex plant. This study aims to characterize steelmaking dust from different sites of the plant in order to identify the mineral phases and their chemical compositions. The various analytical methods used include physico-chemical analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), crystal phases, crystal size, lattice parameters, microdeformations, laser granulometry analysis, X-ray diffraction, microscopy Electronic Scanning and Analysis (EDS) Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy. It was found that the average monthly quantity of dust released by the dust collectors of the Agglomerated Material Preparation (AMP) unit is 108.45 tons. The results obtained from the dust samples analysis of dust samples from the different points of the site differ in their mineral and chemical composition. The research confirmed the presence of iron oxides, silicon, many different mineral phases. The results of dimensional analysis prove that the two samples are different in their sizes ESP1et and ESP2 is coarser than ESP3 and FF3A, these results can lead to long-term occupational illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring air contaminants has become essential to exposure science, toxicology, and public health research. However, missing values are common while monitoring air contaminants, especially in resource-constrained settings such as power cuts, calibration, and sensor failure. In contaminants monitoring, evaluating existing imputation techniques for dealing with recurrent periods of missing and unobserved data are limited. The proposed study aims to perform a statistical evaluation of six univariate and four multivariate time series imputation methods. The univariate methods are based on inter-time correlation characteristics, and the multivariate approach considers muti-site to impute missing data. The present study retrieved data from 38 ground-based monitoring stations for particulate pollutants in Delhi for 4 years. For univariate methods, missing values were simulated under 0–20% (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), and high 40%, 60%, and 80% missing levels having long gaps. Before evaluating multivariate methods, input data underwent pre-processing steps: selecting the target station to be imputed, choosing covariates based on the spatial correlation between multiple sites, and framing a combination of target and neighbouring stations (covariates) under 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. Next, the particulate pollutants data of 1480 days is provided as input to four multivariate techniques. Finally, the performance of each algorithm was evaluated using error metrics. The results show that the long interval time series data and spatial correlation of multiple stations significantly improved outcomes for univariate and multivariate time series methods. The univariate Kalman_arima performs well for long-missing gaps and all missing levels (except for 60–80%), yielding low error and high R2 and d values. In contrast, multivariate MIPCA performed better than Kalman-arima for all target stations with the highest missing percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the non-linear relationship between air pollution, socio-economic factors, labor insurance, and labor productivity in the industrial sector in Taiwan. Using machine learning, specifically multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), provides an alternative approach to examining the impact of air pollution on labor productivity, apart from the traditional linear relationships and parametric methods employed in previous studies. Examining this topic is imperative for advancing the knowledge on the effects of air pollution on labor productivity and its association with labor insurance, employing a machine learning framework. The results reveal that air pollution, particularly PM10, has a negative impact on labor productivity. Lowering the PM10 level below 36.2 μg/m3 leads to an increase in marginal labor productivity. Additionally, the study identifies labor insurance as a significant factor in improving productivity, with a 9% increase in the total number of labor insurance holders resulting in a substantial 42.9% increase in productivity. Notably, a link between air pollution and insurance is observed, indicating that lower air pollution levels tend to be associated with higher labor insurance coverage. This research holds valuable implications for policymakers, businesses, and industries as it offers insights into improving labor productivity and promoting sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions in urban environment were investigated using a multidisciplinary model combination, with focus on traffic, emissions and atmospheric particles. An agent-based model was applied to simulate the evolution of unsustainable human behavior (usage of combustion-based personal vehicles) as a function of pro-environmental affordances (opportunities for sustainable choices). Scenarios regarding changes in multi-pollutant emissions were derived, and the non-linear implications to atmospheric particles were simulated with a box model. Based on the results for a Nordic city, increasing pro-environmental affordances by 10%, 50% or 100% leads to emission reductions of 15%, 30% and 40% within 2 years. To reduce ambient particle mass, emissions from traffic should decrease by > 15%, while the lung deposited surface area decreases in all scenarios ( - 23 % , - 32 % and - 36 % , correspondingly). The presented case is representative of one season, but the approach is generic and applicable to simulating a full year, given meteorological and pollution data that reflects seasonal variation. This work emphasizes the necessity to consider feedback mechanisms and non-linearities in both human behavior and atmospheric processes, when predicting the outcomes of changes in an urban system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the diesel particulate matter pollution problem at the 12,306 continuous mining face of Shangwan coal mine, the spatial and temporal evolution law of diesel particulate matter generated at the three locations of the shuttle car head tunnel, contact alley, and support tunnel under the pressure-in ventilation condition of the double lane of the continuous mining face was studied by numerical simulation. The results show that the highest diesel particulate matter concentration at the shuttle car discharge is about 144.17 mg/m3, which seriously affects the health of miners. The highest diesel particulate matter concentration at the shuttle car tunnel is 52.58 mg/m3, and at the contact alley, the diesel particulate matter diffusion space is limited by the compression of the space inside the contact alley by the shuttle car machine body and the alley wall, which makes the diesel particulate matter accumulate here, forming a high diesel particulate matter concentration distribution area with a concentration value of 112.75 mg/m3. When supporting the roadway at the shuttle, diesel particulate matter accumulates in the range of X = 55 m ~ 60 m, Y = 0 m ~ 4 m, and Z = 23.4 m ~ 29.4 m. According to the degree of DPM pollution in different areas, different individual protective equipment is used to obtain different levels of pollution protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of air pollution from particulate matter (PM) is getting worse as more and more people move into urban areas around the globe. Due to the complexity and diversity of pollution sources, it has long been hard to rely on source control techniques to manage this issue. Due to the fact that urban trees may provide a variety of ecosystem services, there is an urgent need to investigate alternative strategies for dramatically improving air quality. PM has always been a significant concern due to its adverse effects on humans and the entire ecosystem. The severity of this issue has risen in the current global environmental context. Numerous studies on respiratory and other human disorders have revealed a statistical relationship between human exposure to outdoor levels of particles or dust and harmful health effects. These risks are undeniably close to industrial areas where these airborne, inhalable particles are produced. The combined and individual effects of the particle and gaseous contaminants on plants' general physiology can be detrimental. According to research, plant leaves, the primary receptors of PM pollution, can function as biological filters to remove significant amounts of particles from the atmosphere of urban areas. This study showed that vegetation could provide a promising green infrastructure (GI) for better air quality through the canopy and leaf-level processes, going beyond its traditional role as a passive target and sink for air pollutants. Opportunities exist for urban GI as a natural remedy for urban pollution caused by PMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diwali has become an occasion of air and noise pollution, and the release of particulate matter and toxic gases has chronic and acute effects on people and their environment. Thus, an air quality assessment study was done by CSIR-CSMCRI covering the pre-to-post Diwali 2021 period (5 days) in the three locations (traffic, residential, and control) of Bhavnagar. The average 24-h concentration of PM10 (380 µg/m3), PM2.5 (182.2 µg/m3), and SPM (403 µg/m3) was significantly higher during Diwali, exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The concentrations of SO2 and NO2 were 121.8 µg/m3 and 102.1 µg/m3. Metals like Zn, Al, Pb, and Mn were found in higher concentrations during the study. The air quality index (AQI) was maximum on Diwali, resembling very poor air quality. More elements and oxides were detected in PM2.5 (S, Al, Mg, Ba, and Zn and their oxides) than in PM10 (Fe and S) through WDXRF. Water-soluble anions like SO42−, Cl−, and NO3− were observed during the study, with a higher SO42− (64%) on Diwali. The PM10 morphology and mapping of elements were done using SEM–EDX. Emerging contaminants, specifically phthalate groups, were detected through GCMS. The enrichment factor (EF) showed Zn and Pb originating from anthropogenic activities. The air quality data was validated using a variance test, least significance difference (LSD), correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). This paper is the first to highlight the air quality assessment during Diwali for a western coastal place in India. It is time to implement regulations on burning firecrackers for pollution reduction, aiming to achieve a sustainable atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Inzynieria Mineralna is the property of Polskie Towarzystwo Przerobki Kopalin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban air pollution is a growing menace leading to human discomfort, increased hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality. This study deals with deteriorated air quality due to firecracker bursting during Diwali in Lucknow. Inhalable particulates and gaseous pollutants were monitored during Diwali 2020 using air samplers. Elements, ions, and surface morphology of particles were analyzed using ICP-MS, ion chromatograph, and SEM-EDX, respectively. PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 were 558, 352, 44, and 86 μg/m3 during Diwali night and 233, 101, 17, and 40 μg/m3 on pre-Diwali night while 241, 122, 24, and 43 μg/m3 on Diwali day. Concentrations surged for PM10: 139% and 132%, PM2.5: 249% and 189%, SO2: 159% and 83%, and NO2: 115% and 100% on Diwali night compared to pre-Diwali night and corresponding Diwali day, respectively. Al, K, Ba, and B showed dominance in PM10 whereas Zn, Al, Ba, and K in PM2.5 on Diwali night. The order of metal abundance in PM2.5 was Cd < Co < Ag < As < Cr < Ni < Cu < Bi < Pb < Mn < Sr < Fe < B < Zn < Al < Ba < K. Cations NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and anions F−, Cl−, NO3−, Br−, NO2−, SO4−2, PO43− showed a 2–8 fold increase on Diwali night relative to pre-Diwali night. Average metal concentrations varied by 2.2, 1.6, and 0.09 times on Diwali than pre-Diwali in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, respectively. PM10 concentration increased by 458% and 1140% while PM2.5, 487%, and 2247% than respective NAAQS and WHO standards. Tiny firecracker particles vary in toxicity as compared to vehicular emissions and have enhanced bioavailability leading to severe threat in terms of LRI, COPD, and atherosclerosis for city dwellers. It is imperative to recognize the present status of ambient air quality and implement regulatory strategies for emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Savanna fire management is a topic of global debate, with early dry season burning promoted as a large-scale emissions reduction opportunity. To date, discussions have centred on carbon abatement efficacy, biodiversity and cultural benefits and/or risks. Here we use a case study of Darwin, Australia to highlight smoke pollution as another critical consideration. Smoke pollution from savanna fires is a major public health issue, yet absent so far from discussions of program design. Here, we assess the likely impacts of increased early dry season burning on smoke pollution in Darwin between 2004 and 2019, spanning the introduction and expansion of carbon abatement programs. We found increased smoke pollution in the early dry season but little change in the late dry season, contributing to a net annual increase in air quality standard exceedances. Geospatial analysis suggests this relates to increased burning in the path of early dry season trade winds. This study highlights the complex health trade-offs involved with any large-scale prescribed burning, including for carbon abatement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the multi-year relationship between particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations and possible precursors including NO2, SO2, and NH3 based on local observations over the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) from 2015 to 2017. Surface NH3 concentrations were obtained from Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) retrievals, while other pollutants were observed at 142 ground sites. We found that NH3 had the highest correlation with PM2.5 (R = 0.51) compared to other precursors such as NO2 and SO2 (R of 0.16 and 0.14, respectively). The correlations indicate that NH3 emissions are likely a limiting factor in controlling PM2.5 over the SMA in a high-NOx environment. This implies that the current Korean policy urgently requires tools for controlling local NH3 emissions from the livestock industry (for example, from hog manure). These findings provide the first satellite-based trace gas evidence that implementing an NH3 control strategy could play a key role in improving air quality in the SMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emissions from fossil fuel use not only affect climate but also affects air pollution both directly (emitting primary particles) and indirectly (emitting precursors for formation of ozone [O3] and particulates). Effects on ozone and particulates (especially PM2.5) are of major concern because of their adverse health effects on human and other life on Earth. Although alternative energy use is increasing, the impacts are not yet large enough to reduce the poor air quality resulting from extensive use of fossil fuels and resulting emissions in much of the world. A more definite energy transformation is needed to reduce these health impacts. Here, we examine the possibility of a midcentury future, where, because of its influence on climate, fossil fuel use has been extensively reduced in much of the world, and replaced by nonpolluting forms of energy. Analyses of the clean energy future globally and in five regions across the world, including 29 megacities, show that air quality with respect to ozone and particulate pollution improves significantly. When compared to the high‐emission future under the clean energy scenario, population weighted ozone, and particulate matter exposure are reduced by >40% and 50%, respectively. The number air quality noncompliance events, defined by exceedance days and air quality index (AQI), improved considerably under the clean energy scenario. Annually, exceedance days are reduced to 0.7% ± 1.7% for ozone pollution and 7.4% ± 17.8% for particulate pollution under the clean energy scenario. AQI always stayed above the "very unhealthy category" and are improved significantly for the "unhealthy category" in all regions. Overall major hotspots experienced significantly cleaner air under the clean energy scenario, emphasizing the significance of transforming energy production, and moving away from conventional use of fossil fuels, on air quality and human health. Plain Language Summary: Fossil fuel emission increases the burden of air pollutants like ozone and particulate matter which have adverse effect on human health. Unchecked use of fossil fuels will expose more people to poor air quality. In this study, we explore a clean energy future, where, by midcentury, fossil fuel usage has been completely eliminated except for biomass burning. The study shows how a fossil fuel free clean energy future, reduces air quality issues significantly. Future planning on adapting to newer energy should take these results into consideration. Key Points: The transformation to fossil fuel free energy and transportation systems would greatly improve air quality throughout the worldLocations known for air quality noncompliance and associated health issues would be almost completely compliant by midcentury under a clean energy transformationThe significant reduction in exposure to poor air quality is a major incentive toward moving to a cleaner energy world [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green infrastructure (GI) is effective in reducing PM concentrations in near-road environments, but how such reductions in concentration compared with relative respiratory deposition doses (RDDs) is rarely discussed. We quantified variations in RDD in the presence of three GI types (trees, hedges and tree-hedge combinations), and compared them with PM reduced by the GI under different wind directions and seasons through the assessment of data collected during multiple field campaigns. We also studied three scenarios (sitting, walking, running) to investigate RDD in adults and children during different possible activities in the presence of GI at public parks or gardens or in front of houses. Finally, we illustrated particle mass distribution before and after different GI configurations to explore the reasons for variations in RDD. Changes in RDD displayed a trend of %ΔRDDPM10 > %ΔRDDPM2.5 = %ΔRDDPM1, compared to the changes in PM concentrations of %ΔPM1 > %ΔPM10 > %ΔPM2.5. A maximum reduction (25%) in RDD was observed for PM10 in the presence of the tree-hedge combination, and this combination emerged as the most effective GI type in lowering the RDD. The changes in ratios of mass median diameter and deposition fraction of roughly ±0.2 before and after the GI led to differences between %∆PM and %∆RDD. Cross-winds (perpendicular to road direction) led to greater variations between %∆PM and %∆RDD, whereas parallel winds (along the road) led to similar variations in %∆RDD and %∆PM. Particle mass distributions revealed the absence of a peak around particle diameter 2.5 μm in the presence of GI. The highest difference in RDD behind GI was observed in the presence of a hedge-tree combination during different physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (Nr) has been a cause of serious environmental pollution in China. Historically, China used too little Nr in its agriculture to feed its population. However, with the rapid increase in N fertilizer use for food production and fossil fuel consumption for energy supply over the last four decades, increasing gaseous Nr species (e.g. NH3 and NOx) have been emitted to the atmosphere and then deposited as wet and dry deposition, with adverse impacts on air, water and soil quality as well as plant biodiversity and human health. This paper reviews the issues associated with this in a holistic way. The emissions, deposition, impacts, actions and regulations for the mitigation of atmospheric Nr are discussed systematically. Both NH3 and NOx make major contributions to environmental pollution but especially to the formation of secondary fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which impacts human health and light scattering (haze). In addition, atmospheric deposition of NH3 and NOx causes adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to acidification and eutrophication. Regulations and practices introduced by China that meet the urgent need to reduce Nr emissions are explained and resulting effects on emissions are discussed. Recommendations for improving future N management for achieving 'win-win' outcomes for Chinese agricultural production and food supply, and human and environmental health, are described. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Air quality, past present and future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation mechanisms of particulate pollution in Lanzhou, which used to be one of the most polluted cities across the world, remain unclear even though air pollution in Lanzhou has been improved in recent decades. Multiple online data during 2019–2020 winter was used to analyze the characteristics and reveal the formation mechanisms of particulate pollution in Lanzhou. Organic matter, nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium accounted for 35.8%, 16.6%, 12.7%, and 10.8%, respectively, of PM2.5 mass. The contribution of secondary inorganic aerosols decreased from low to high particulate levels. Nitrate and ammonium concentrations consistently increased with increasing PM2.5 while sulfate concentrations firstly increased but remained stagnant under high particulate conditions. The sulfur and nitrogen oxidation ratios exhibited relatively low values of 0.18 ± 0.12 and 0.11 ± 0.05, respectively. Nitrogen oxidation ratio showed little dependence on relative humidity because of limited aqueous phase generation of nitrate. The increasing nitrate to sulfate ratio and decreasing organic carbon to elemental carbon ratio under high particulate concentrations indicate relative decreasing contribution of coal burning and increasing contribution of vehicle exhaust emissions on particulate pollution. The rapid decreasing trend of secondary organic carbon to elemental carbon ratio under high particulate concentrations was attributed to a combination of the relatively decreasing photochemical generations and increasing accumulation of primary emissions by the weakened atmospheric diffusion ability. Our results suggest that controlling primary carbonaceous species and vehicle exhaust emissions is the most effective measure in order to sustainably mitigate particulate pollution in Lanzhou in the future. Key Points: The secondary inorganic aerosols were mainly originated from photochemical generations during winter in LanzhouThe contributions of both inorganic and organic secondary species decreased with increasing particulate pollutionThe influence of vehicle exhaust emissions on particulate pollution increased with increasing particulate pollution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Institute of Science & Technology / Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Igdir University, Institute of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aerosol-radiation interaction (ARI) plays a significant role in the accumulation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by stabilizing the planetary boundary layer and thus deteriorating air quality during haze events. However, modification of photolysis by aerosol scattering or absorbing solar radiation (aerosol-photolysis interaction or API) alters the atmospheric oxidizing capacity, decreases the rate of secondary aerosol formation, and ultimately alleviates the ARI effect on PM2.5 pollution. Therefore, the synergetic effect of both ARI and API can either aggravate or even mitigate PM2.5 pollution. To test the effect, a fully coupled Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Chem model has been used to simulate a heavy haze episode in North China Plain. Our results show that ARI contributes to a 7.8% increase in near-surface PM2.5. However, API suppresses secondary aerosol formation, and the combination of ARI and API results in only 4.8% net increase of PM2.5. Additionally, API increases the solar radiation reaching the surface and perturbs aerosol nucleation and activation to form cloud condensation nuclei, influencing aerosol-cloud interaction. The results suggest that API reduces PM2.5 pollution during haze events, but adds uncertainties in climate prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annales UMCS, Geographia, Geologia, Mineralogia et Petrographia is the property of Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An editorial is presented on adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease being vulnerable to air pollution and cardiovascular risk. Topics include mortality associations being observed in cohorts of patients receiving a cardiac transplant and survivors of myocardial infarction (MI); and allowing for model adjustments for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, body mass index, and baseline comorbidities.

Copyright of Geomatics & Information Science of Wuhan University is the property of Geomatics & Information Science of Wuhan University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM) are one of the major air pollutants emerging out of the industrial development and human activities. Plants exhibit differential sensitivity to SO2 pollution and its effects on plant growth can be both direct and/or indirect. We have earlier reported that a high SO2 stress contributes toward the S-nutrition of crops. The SO2 enriched environment significantly improved the activity of serine transacetylase (SAT) in all the experimental crops, however, the activity of O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OAS-TL) was enhanced chiefly in wheat but not in chickpea and barley. Further, the relative tolerance of crops to the particulate and gaseous pollutants was related to a lower level of superoxide and H2O2 radicals and lipid peroxidation and a higher level of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and peroxidase activity. Relative tolerance of crops to the particulate and gaseous pollutants was related to a lower oxidative stress and a higher anti-oxidative defence that elevated SO2 contributes to S-nutrition of crops however, the threshold value of phytotoxicity need to be determined across the crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to examine whether chronic exposure to smoke during daily household cooking with biomass fuel (BMF) elicits changes in airway cytology and expressions of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2 [NF-E2]-related factor 2 [Nrf2]), Keap1 (Kelch-like erythroid-cell-derived protein with CNC homology [ECH]-associated protein 1), and NQO1 (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1) proteins in the airways. For this, 282 BMF-using women (median age 34 year) and 236 age-matched women who cooked with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were enrolled. Particulate matter with diameters of < 10 µm (PM10) and < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) were measured in indoor air with real-time laser photometer. Routine hematology, sputum cytology, Nrf2, Keap1, NQO1, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) along with the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were measured in both groups. PM10 and PM2.5 levels were significantly higher in BMF-using households compared to LPG. Compared with LPG users, BMF users had 32% more leukocytes in circulation and their sputa were 1.4-times more cellular with significant increase in absolute number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and alveolar macrophages, suggesting airway inflammation. ROS generation was 1.5-times higher in blood neutrophils and 34% higher in sputum cells of BMF users while erythrocyte SOD was 31% lower and plasma catalase was relatively unchanged, suggesting oxidative stress. In BMF users, Keap1 expression was reduced, the percentage of AEC with nuclear expression of Nrf2 was two- to three-times more, and NQO1 level in sputum cell lysate was two-times higher than that of LPG users. In conclusion, cooking with BMF was associated with Nrf2 activation and elevated NQO1 protein level in the airways. The changes may be adaptive cellular response to counteract biomass smoke-elicited oxidative stress and inflammation-related tissue injury in the airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial distribution of PM concentration and its contributing environmental variables is critical to develop strategies of addressing adverse effects of the particulate pollution. In this study, a range of meteorological and land use factors were incorporated into a linear regression (LR) model and a logistic model-based regression (LMR) model to simulate the annual and winter PM concentrations. The vegetation cover, derived from a linear spectral unmixing analysis (LSUA), and the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), were found to improve the goodness of fit of the models. The study shows that (1) both the LR and the LMR agree on the predicted spatial patterns of PM concentration and (2) the goodness of fit is higher for the models established based on the annual PM concentration than that based on the winter PM. The modeling results show that higher PM concentration coincided with the major urban area for the annual average but focused on the suburban and rural areas for the winter. The methods introduced in this study can potentially be applied to similar regions in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have reported associations between daily particles less than 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and deaths, but they have been associational studies that did not use formal causal modeling approaches. On the basis of a potential outcome approach, we used 2 causal modeling methods with different assumptions and strengths to address whether there was a causal association between daily PM2.5 and deaths in Boston, Massachusetts (2004-2009). We used an instrumental variable approach, including back trajectories as instruments for variations in PM2.5 uncorrelated with other predictors of death. We also used propensity score as an alternative causal modeling analysis. The former protects against confounding by measured and unmeasured confounders and is based on the assumption of a valid instrument. The latter protects against confounding by all measured covariates, provides valid estimates in the case of effect modification, and is based on the assumption of no unmeasured confounders. We found a causal association of PM2.5 with mortality, with a 0.53% (95% confidence interval: 0.09,0.97) and a 0.50% (95% confidence interval: 0.20,0.80) increase in daily deaths using the instrumental variable and the propensity score, respectively. We failed to reject the null association with exposure after the deaths (P= 0.93). Given these results, prior studies, and extensive toxicological support, the association between PM2.5 and deaths is almost certainly causal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The source apportionment study in Hyderabad listed transportation, industries, and waste burning as critical sources of particulate matter (PM) pollution in the city. In this paper, we present sector-specific emissions for 2010-2011 for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation region, accounting for 42,600 t of PM (PM size <10 μm), 24,500 t of PM (PM size <2.5 μm), 11,000 t of sulfur dioxide, 127,000 t of nitrogen oxides, 431,000 t of carbon monoxide, 113,400 t of non-methane volatile organic compounds, and 25.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The inventory is spatially disaggregated at 0.01° resolution on a GIS platform, for use in a chemical transport model (ATMoS). The modeled concentrations for the urban area are 105.2 ± 28.6 μg/m for PM and 72.6 ± 18.0 μg/m for PM, when overlaid on gridded population, resulted in estimated 3,700 premature deaths and 280,000 asthma attacks for 2010-2011. The analysis shows that aggressive pollution control measures are imperative to control pollution in Hyderabad and reduce excess exposure levels on the roads and in the residential areas. The planning and implementation of measures like advancing the public transportation systems, integrating the road and metro-rail services, promotion of walking and cycling, introduction of cleaner brick production technologies, encouraging efficient technologies for the old and the new industries, and better waste management systems to control garbage burning need to take priority, as these measures are expected to result in health benefits, which surpass any of the institutional, technical, and economic costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 1,000 kilns producing 3.5 billion bricks and consuming 0.85 million tons of coal per year resulted in an estimated 2,200 to 4,000 premature deaths and 0.2 to 0.5 million asthma attacks per year in the Greater Dhaka region. In this paper, the emission reductions and health cost savings are presented for moving to cleaner brick manufacturing technologies for the districts of Gazipur, Savar, Dhamrai, Rupganj, Manikganj, Kaliganj, and Narayanganj. A summary of various technologies and feasibility of these technologies based on lessons learnt from the pilots is discussed. We explored three 'what-if' scenarios through 2020 for better energy efficiency, lower coal consumption, and lower emission rates, under which the total health cost savings are estimated to range between USD12 million annually for short-term implementation and up to 55 million annually for long-term implementation. Between 2015 and 2020, the cumulative health cost savings could range between USD126 and 234 million, which clearly outweigh any cost of capital investment necessary for the technology change. An improvement in energy efficiency will result in USD1.8 to 3.0 million per year in coal savings, which will accrue to the kiln owners collectively, and these savings will pay back the capital investment within 3-4 years, in addition to the health cost savings for the city inhabitants. Hence, the entrepreneurs have all the social, environmental, and economic incentives to adopt cleaner technologies. A major gap at the regulatory level is in building awareness for the entrepreneurs and setting up an incentive structure to implement this transition, which is being addressed by an advisory committee by the Government of Bangladesh responsible for the revision of the Brick Burning Act of 1989 and related legislations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Air quality in Hyderabad, India, often exceeds the national ambient air quality standards, especially for particulate matter (PM), which, in 2010, averaged 82.2 ± 24.6, 96.2 ± 12.1, and 64.3 ± 21.2 μg/m of PM, at commercial, industrial, and residential monitoring stations, respectively, exceeding the national ambient standard of 60 μg/m. In 2005, following an ordinance passed by the Supreme Court of India, a source apportionment study was conducted to quantify source contributions to PM pollution in Hyderabad, using the chemical mass balance (version 8.2) receptor model for 180 ambient samples collected at three stations for PM and PM size fractions for three seasons. The receptor modeling results indicated that the PM pollution is dominated by the direct vehicular exhaust and road dust (more than 60 %). PM with higher propensity to enter the human respiratory tracks, has mixed sources of vehicle exhaust, industrial coal combustion, garbage burning, and secondary PM. In order to improve the air quality in the city, these findings demonstrate the need to control emissions from all known sources and particularly focus on the low-hanging fruits like road dust and waste burning, while the technological and institutional advancements in the transport and industrial sectors are bound to enhance efficiencies. Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board utilized these results to prepare an air pollution control action plan for the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brick manufacturing is the fastest-growing industrial sector in Bangladesh and among the top three sectors, along with vehicle exhaust and resuspended road dust, contributing to the air pollution and health problems in Dhaka. The brick manufacturing in the Greater Dhaka region, from ~1,000 brick kilns spread across six districts, is confined to the winter season (October to March) as current technologies do not allow production during the monsoon. The total emissions are estimated at 23,300 t of PM, 15,500 t of sulfur dioxide (SO), 302,000 t of carbon monoxide (CO), 6,000 t of black carbon, and 1.8 million tons of CO emissions from these clusters, to produce 3.5 billion bricks per year, using energy-inefficient fixed chimney bull trench kiln technology and predominantly using coal and agricultural waste as fuel. The associated health impacts largely fall on the densely populated districts of Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA), Gazipur, and Narayanganj. Using the Atmospheric Transport Modeling System dispersion model, the impact of brick kiln emissions was estimated over DMA-ranging from 7 to 99 μg/m (5th and 95th percentile concentration per model grid) at an average of 38 μg/m; and spatial contributions from the surrounding clusters-with 27 % originating from Narayanganj (to the south with the highest kiln density), 30 % from Gazipur (to the north with equally large cluster spread along the river and canals), and 23 % from Savar. The modeling results are validated using evidence from receptor modeling studies conducted in DMA. An introduction of emerging vertical shaft combustion technology can provide faster benefits for public health in DMA and reduce climate precursor emissions by selecting the most influential clusters discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate whether indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuel use was associated with hypertension, platelet hyperactivity, and elevated levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and anticardiolipin antibody (aCL). We enrolled 244 biomass fuel-using (median age 34 year) and 236 age-matched control women who cooked with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure oxLDL in plasma and aCL in serum, flow cytometry for P-selectin expression on platelet and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by leukocytes, aggregometry for platelet aggregation, spectrophotometry for superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes, and laser photometer for particulate matter <10 and 2.5 µm in diameter (PM10 and PM2.5, respectively) in cooking areas. Biomass users had three times more particulate pollution in kitchen, had higher prevalence of hypertension (29.5 vs. 11.0% in control, P < 0.05), elevated oxLDL (170.6 vs. 45.9 U/l; P < 0.001), platelet P-selectin expression (9.1% vs. 2.4%), platelet aggregation (23.2 vs. 15.9 Ohm), raised aCL IgG (28.7% vs. 2.1%), IgM (8.6% of vs. 0.4%), and ROS (44%) but depleted (13%) SOD. After controlling potential confounders, the changes were positively associated with PM10 and PM2.5 in indoor air, suggesting a positive association between IAP and increased cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous environmental or occupational exposure to airborne particulate pollution is believed to be a major hazard for human health. A technique to characterize their deposition and clearance from the lungs is fundamental to understand the underlying mechanisms behind their negative health effects. In this work, we describe a method for production and follow up of ultrafine carbon particles labeled with radioactive 111Indium (111In). The physicochemical and biological properties of the aerosol are described in terms of particle size and concentration, agglomeration rate, chemical bonding stability, and human lung deposition and retention. Preliminary in vivo data from a healthy human pilot exposure and 1-week follow up of the aerosol is presented. More than 98% of the generated aerosol was labeled with Indium and with particle sizes log normally distributed around 79 nm count median diameter. The aerosol showed good generation reproducibility and chemical stability, about 5% leaching 7 days after generation. During human inhalation, the particles were deposited in the alveolar space, with no central airways involvement. Seven days after exposure, the cumulative activity retention was 95.3%. Activity leaching tests from blood and urine samples confirmed that the observed clearance was explained by unbound activity, suggesting that there was no significant elimination of ultrafine particles. Compared to previously presented methods based on Technegas, 111In-labelled ultrafine carbon particles allow for extended follow-up assessments of particulate pollution retention in healthy and diseased lungs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in total suspended particulates (TSP) emission inventories were compared with ambient TSP concentrations during the period of 1993–1999 in the Czech Republic. The TSP annual emission decreased within the period of observation from 441 300 to 67 000 of metric tonnes (by 85%). During the same period a less pronounced downward trend from 80.3 μg m-3 to 31.5μg m-3 (decrease by 61%) was noted also for the ambient TSP annual average. Difference between the two air quality indicators seems to indicate that changes in TSP emission inventories from year to year are being to some extent overestimated. Monthly ambient particulate concentrations did not respond to overall drop in emissions proportionately but were closely associated with monthly mean temperatures. While in the winter the correlation between ambient TSP and temperature was negative, in summer the correlation between the two variables was positive. In spring and autumn there was no clear correlation between temperature and ambient particulate pollution. The improvement of air quality in the Czech Republic since the economical and political transformation in 1990s is substantial when demonstrated by emission figures, however, true state of particulate pollution expressed by ambient levels requires further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether previous symptoms or recognized risk factors of cardiovascular ill health, are associated with an increased likelihood of adverse health effects related to particulate air pollution.Methods: Cardiovascular event rates were studied relative to urban concentrations of particulate air pollution and baseline risk factors. The Edinburgh artery study consisted of a cohort of 1592 subjects aged 55-74 and was followed up to the end of March 1998 for a median of 10 years resulting in about 5 million person-days of observation. Baseline measurements included plasma fibrinogen and blood and plasma viscosity. A nested case-control approach was used to investigate a possible interaction between effects of these selected baseline risk factors and particulate air pollution, on subsequent event rates.Results: During the follow up period there were 343 fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarctions or strokes. Trends in adverse cardiovascular outcomes related to pollution were identified among subjects belonging to the highest baseline quintile of plasma fibrinogen. Evidence for interactions between concentrations of particulate pollution and fibrinogen was not established at conventional levels of significance.Conclusions: People with high concentrations of plasma fibrinogen might be more susceptible to adverse cardiovascular effects of particulate air pollution, but limitations of power mean that evidence relating to such an interaction is not conclusive. A range of cardiopulmonary risk factors warrant investigation in relation to possible susceptibility to air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The particulate pollution in the open-pit coal mines of China is particularly severe in winter. The aim of this study is to understand the pollution characteristics of particulate matter (PM) in winter and provide a basis for the prevention and control of particulate pollution. We took the problem of PM concentration at the bottom of the Haerwusu Open-pit Coal Mine (HOCM) as the research object. Dust monitoring equipment at two measurement points at different heights were positioned for continuous monitoring of the PM concentration. The data for three months were gathered. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze the variation characteristics of the PM and its relationship with meteorological factors. The results show that the average PM concentration in the study area is below the average daily limit of the China National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012). However, the average concentration of PM10 exceeded the national limit in December. The order of PM concentration is observed as December > January > February. The correlation of PM is found to be positive with humidity and negative with wind speed. Temperature is found to be positively correlated with PM in December, while it is negative in January. At the same time, the temperature difference in December is negatively correlated with PM concentration. Under the combined action of multiple meteorological factors, the magnitude of the impact on the PM concentration at the bottom of the pit in winter is humidity > temperature > wind speed > temperature difference (inverse temperature intensity). In conclusion, PM2.5 is found to be more sensitive to environmental factors. The results of this study are particularly useful to progress in green mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, China's particulate pollution control is principally focused on primary particles and sulfur dioxide from coal combustion. The contribution of ammonia emissions to particulate matter with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) has been increasingly emphasized. As a world-famous agricultural country with 523 million farmers (2017, National Bureau of Statistics of China), approximately 70.0–90.0% of China's ammonia emissions come from agriculture. With such a huge population, agriculture industrialization (socioeconomic policies and technology upgrades to reduce ammonia emissions from fertilizers and livestock) has a large potential but is more vulnerable to costs compared to other industries. We need a solution involving both economic benefits and environmental protection. For this purpose, we sent out an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 16 questions to 420 farmers and conducted a field visit survey in a rural area of Jiangsu Province. Through statistical analysis, we found that the use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, which are an important source of ammonia through volatilization, is normal (200/420 × 100% = 47.62% of farmers use such fertilizers). Among the 420 farmers surveyed, 90.71% of them have knowledge of air pollution from agricultural activities and 92.15% of them have certain understanding of agricultural industrialization policies, indicating that coordinated control of ammonia emissions can be achieved together with policy propaganda. Through factor analysis and correlation analysis, we find that the early propaganda of policies can help farmers to be more willing to accept the policies. The correlation coefficient between awareness of pollution and policy approval is 0.94, and that between policy publicity and policy approval is 0.95. Generally speaking, the promotion of policies is worth carrying out during the implementation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to assess and characterize the air quality in what concerns particulate pollution in urban–industrial environments. The main objectives were to study the spatial variability of the deposition flux of particulate pollution identifying areas with higher deposition and to associate the variability with climatological variables and with possible surrounding emitting sources. The method for collecting the deposited particles was based on the standard NF X 43–007. Sampling for particulate pollution took place between April 2015 and February 2016 through seven sampling campaigns. Maps of the spatial dispersion for the particulate pollution were obtained through statistics and geostatistics techniques. Elemental identification by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used but only in two sampling campaigns. The results show that the sampling campaigns that took place during hot and dry periods, 2nd and 3rd, present higher deposition flux: 2.04 g/(m2 × month) and 1.72 g/(m2 × month), respectively. Lower deposition fluxes were registered in the 6th and 7th campaigns: 0.23 g/(m2 × month) and 0.24 g/(m2 × month), respectively. A recurrent high deposition was also observed at specific sampling points that may be due to both the nearby road traffic and the presence of chimneys. SEM analysis allowed to associate repetitive element deposition, at the same sampling point, to the same emitting source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]