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Currently, traffic-related sources are considered to be one of the major contributors to air pollutants in urban areas. As the number of motor vehicles increases, the impact of traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs) on human health has also increased in recent years. People are easily exposed to TRAPs in their daily lives. However, long-term exposure to TRAPs can have adverse health effects. Mobile monitoring is more flexible compared to traditional urban monitoring stations and can effectively obtain the spatial variation characteristics of air pollutants. We mounted a sensor package on an electric bicycle and conducted mobile measurements of CO, NO2 and SO2 on a circular road in the center of Shaoxing, a city in the center of the Yangtze Delta, China. The CO, NO2 and SO2 concentrations were observed to be higher in the morning and evening rush hours, and the three pollutants show different seasonal and spatial variation characteristics. CO concentration was higher in urban arterial and crossroads. NO2 concentration was variable, alternating between high and low concentrations. SO2 concentration was relatively stable and aggregated. This study provides important information on the spatial and temporal variations of TRAPs, which helps commuters understand how to effectively reduce pollutant exposure during personal travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorine (Cl) released from coal-fired power plants can be harmful to power equipment, the ecological environment and human health. Here, we investigated the Cl releasing characteristics from four coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in China's Anhui province based on an ion chromatography analysis of the combustion by-production samples collected from different locations of the power plants. The results showed that Cl content in coals was low (198–367 μg·g−1), which positively correlated with the contents of lead, mercury and total sulfur, but was weakly correlated with the moisture and ash yield in coal. The releasing rate of Cl during coal combustion was highly correlated with temperature and volatile matter, and most Cl is transferred into the flue gas. Dust collector and wet flue gas devices equipped in the CFPPs were robust for removing Cl in the particulate phase, and the fabric filter showed a higher removal efficiency than the electrostatic precipitator. This study can provide theoretical support for Cl pollution control in coal-fired power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]