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Biomass burning for cooking prevalent in the developing countries is an issue which has been a concern for the past several decades for the noxious emissions and subsequent effects on the health of women and children due to the exposure of particulate matter (PM) and other gases. In this study, PM (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) were measured in biomass-burning households for different communities of Brahmaputra Valley region northeast India by a 31-channel aerosol spectrometer. The levels of emission of PM in the case of different community households were found to be significantly different. Also, the emission characteristics of different cooking time of the day were found to be different across communities. The emission levels in the biomass-burning households were compared with emission in household using "clean" LPG fuel, and it was found that the biomass fuels emitted 10–12 times more PM2.5 and 6–7 times more PM10. The number densities of the emission were found to be more with smaller sizes of particulates which could explain why such biomass-burning emissions can pose with greater health risks. The exposure doses were calculated and were found to be about three times higher in biomass-burning houses than "clean" LPG fuel. It is important to note that the exposure from biomass burning while cooking has a gender perspective. The woman of the house generally takes care of the activities in the kitchen and get exposed to the noxious PM and the gases. Children often accompany their mothers and face the same fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an analysis of research on a series of passenger vehicles equipped with diesel and spark-ignition engines of modern generation. These studies show the attempt to determine the consistency of the measurement results presented by the electrical motor with respect to the external direct measurements determining the level ecological driving unit such as a gas analyzer. The premise of this material is to assess the suitability of the read actual parameters sent by the ECU as the data source the level of organic vehicle, for example. The test for diagnostic station with annual regular reviews. The inspiration for the material was the attempt to determine the sensitivity of the self-diagnosis system of the propulsion unit, which correctness of the diagnosis itself is one of the criteria of the positive periodic test guidelines.

Abstract Background Wood combustion emissions have been studied previously either by in vitro or in vivo models using collected particles, yet most studies have neglected gaseous compounds. Furthermore, a more accurate and holistic view of the toxicity of aerosols can be gained with parallel in vitro and in vivo studies using direct exposure methods. Moreover, modern exposure techniques such as air-liquid interface (ALI) exposures enable better assessment of the toxicity of the applied aerosols than, for example, the previous state-of-the-art submerged cell exposure techniques. Methods We used three different ALI exposure systems in parallel to study the toxicological effects of spruce and pine combustion emissions in human alveolar epithelial (A549) and murine macrophage (RAW264.7) cell lines. A whole-body mouse inhalation system was also used to expose C57BL/6 J mice to aerosol emissions. Moreover, gaseous and particulate fractions were studied separately in one of the cell exposure systems. After exposure, the cells and animals were measured for various parameters of cytotoxicity, inflammation, genotoxicity, transcriptome and proteome. Results We found that diluted (1:15) exposure pine combustion emissions (PM1 mass 7.7 ± 6.5 mg m− 3, 41 mg MJ− 1) contained, on average, more PM and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than spruce (PM1 mass 4.3 ± 5.1 mg m− 3, 26 mg MJ− 1) emissions, which instead showed a higher concentration of inorganic metals in the emission aerosol. Both A549 cells and mice exposed to these emissions showed low levels of inflammation but significantly increased genotoxicity. Gaseous emission compounds produced similar genotoxicity and a higher inflammatory response than the corresponding complete combustion emission in A549 cells. Systems biology approaches supported the findings, but we detected differing responses between in vivo and in vitro experiments. Conclusions Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo exposure studies with emission characterization and systems biology approaches revealed further information on the effects of combustion aerosol toxicity than could be achieved with either method alone. Interestingly, in vitro and in vivo exposures showed the opposite order of the highest DNA damage. In vitro measurements also indicated that the gaseous fraction of emission aerosols may be more important in causing adverse toxicological effects. Combustion aerosols of different wood species result in mild but aerosol specific in vitro and in vivo effects.

Abstract Background While the physical and chemical properties of airborne particulate matter (PM) have been extensively studied, their associated microbiome remains largely unexplored. Here, we performed a longitudinal metagenomic survey of 106 samples of airborne PM2.5 and PM10 in Beijing over a period of 6 months in 2012 and 2013, including those from several historically severe smog events. Results We observed that the microbiome composition and functional potential were conserved between PM2.5 and PM10, although considerable temporal variations existed. Among the airborne microorganisms, Propionibacterium acnes, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Lactobacillus amylovorus, and Lactobacillus reuteri dominated, along with several viral species. We further identified an extensive repertoire of genes involved in antibiotic resistance and detoxification, including transporters, transpeptidases, and thioredoxins. Sample stratification based on Air Quality Index (AQI) demonstrated that many microbial species, including those associated with human, dog, and mouse feces, exhibit AQI-dependent incidence dynamics. The phylogenetic and functional diversity of air microbiome is comparable to those of soil and water environments, as its composition likely derives from a wide variety of sources. Conclusions Airborne particulate matter accommodates rich and dynamic microbial communities, including a range of microbial elements that are associated with potential health consequences.

The present work was conducted in a two-part study. In part I, the levels of indoor and outdoor PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 was measured using real time GRIMM dust monitors. In part II, the performance of NAIs method was investigated on reduction of indoor concentration of PM in these residential buildings for the first time. Hourly average concentration and standard deviation (SD) of PM10 in indoor and outdoor at residential buildings were 63.5 ± 27.4 and 90.1 ± 33.5 µg/m3, respectively. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM2.5 in residential buildings were 39.4 ± 18.1 and 49.5 ± 18.2 µg/m3 and for PM1 the concentrations were 4.3 ± 7.7 and 6.5 ± 10.1 µg/m3, respectively. We estimated that nearly 71.47% of PM10, 79.86% of PM2.5 and of 61.25% of PM1 in indoor of residential buildings can be removed by negative air ions.

Air pollution has become a significant environmental issue in the twenty-first century, causing a negative impact on the quality of life and human health. Various international organizations have been working to address air pollution issues and provide potential solutions. One of the primary tools used to measure air quality is the Air Quality Index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500, indicating levels of different air pollutants in the ambient air. Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most hazardous air pollutants. Outdoor air purification towers are a promising technology to address air quality issues, and this project aims to design and fabricate an air purification tower for Karachi, biggest city of Pakistan and an industrial hub with significant air pollution issues. The lack of air purification devices throughout the country is a significant motivation behind this project, and the main objectives include observing the current situation of ambient air quality in Karachi, testing the performance of the air purification tower, and evaluating the feasibility of the project to be replicated on a larger scale. The project’s methodology includes a review of existing literature and engineering knowledge, followed by design calculations based on heat losses, velocities, and volume flow rates. A parametric study and economic analysis were used to select feasible dimensions, and a CAD model was developed. The report outlines the project’s chronology, including an introduction, literature review, assessment of air quality in Karachi, heat loss coefficient, velocity and flow rate calculations, and a parametric study to reach optimal dimensions for the model used in fabrication. The project’s significance lies in addressing air pollution issues and providing a solution for Karachi’s air quality problems. The success of this project could inspire further replication of air purification towers on a larger scale in Pakistan and other countries facing similar air pollution issues.

Introduction: Particulate Matter (PM), also known as aerosol, is the sum of all particles suspended in droplets floating in the air, which can have harmful impacts on humans all over the world. This cross-sectional study set out to evaluate the potential health effects of over-exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 on aggravating mortality and hospitalization due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among Arak citizens. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional survey, AirQ+ model was used to estimate the health impacts of two particulate air pollutants (PM10 and PM2.5) based on Relative Risk (RR), and Baseline Incidence (BI) obtained from reference documents. Results: According to the calculations, the attributable proportion percentage (AP%) and attributable excess cases (persons) for total mortality from PM10 were 3.3% (95% CI, 2.8%-3.8%) in 2014 vs. 4.9% (95% CI, 4.1%-5.6%) in 2015 and 99 persons in 2014 vs. 148 persons in 2015, respectively. Likewise, the AP (%) and the number of excess cases (persons) calculated for total mortality from PM2.5 were 3.3% (95% CI, 2.6%-4.1%) in 2014 vs. 1.1% (95% CI, 0.8%-1.3%) in 2015 and 99 persons in 2014 vs. 33 persons in 2015, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that dominant west winds could increase the particle matters produced from power plants, petrochemical plants, and western dust storm, leading to a surge in the mortality and morbidity related to particulate air pollutants in Arak.

The manuscript describes the results of an experimental study of the level of PM (particulate matter) emissions arising from the combustion of two selected types of biomass (i.e., rapeseed straw pellets and engine biofuel (biodiesel, FAME)), which were derived from rapeseed. The PM emissions from the combustion of biofuels were compared with those obtained from the combustion of their traditional counterparts (i.e., wood pellets and diesel fuel). Both types of pellets were burned in a 10 kW boiler designed to burn these types of fuels. The engine fuels tested were burned in a John Deere 4045TF285JD engine mounted on a dynamometer bench in an engine dyno, under various speed and load conditions. A Testo 380 analyzer was used to measure the PM emission levels in boiler tests, while an MPM4 particle emission meter was used in the engine tests. The combustion (under rated conditions) of rapeseed straw pellets resulted in a significant increase in PM emissions compared to the combustion of wood pellets. The PM emissions during the combustion of wood pellets were 15.45 mg·kg−1, during the combustion of rapeseed straw pellets, they were 336 mg·kg−1, and the calculated emission factors were 44.5 mg·MJ−1 and 1589 mg·MJ−1, respectively. In the engine tests, however, significantly lower particulate emissions were obtained for the evaluated biofuel compared to its conventional counterpart. The combustion of rapeseed oil methyl esters resulted in a 40–60% reduction in PM content in the exhaust gas on average for the realized engine speeds over the full load range compared to the combustion of diesel fuel.

Particulate matter (PM) pollution from coal combustion is a leading contributor to the influence of atmospheric visibility, photochemical smog, and even global climate. A drop tube furnace was employed to explore the effects of temperature and chemical speciation of mineral elements on PM formation during the combustion of Zhundong coal. Chemical fractionation analysis (CFA), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were used to investigate the chemical and physical characteristics of the solid samples. It can be indicated that the combustion of similarly sized coal particles yielded more PM10 when the combustion temperature was increased from 1000 to 1400 °C. Zhundong coal is fractionated with deionized water, ammonium acetate, and hydrochloric acid, and pulverized coal, after fractionation, is burned to study the influence of mineral elements with different occurrence forms, such as water-soluble mineral elements, exchangeable ion elements, hydrochloric acid soluble elements and acid-insoluble elements, on the formation of particles. The results show that water-soluble salts play an important role in forming ultrafine particles (PM0.2); Fe, Ca, and other elements in organic form are distributed in flue gas through evaporation during pulverized coal combustion. When the flue gas temperature decreases, PM1 is formed through homogeneous nucleation and heterogeneous condensation, resulting in the distribution of these two elements on PM1. Different fractionation methods do not significantly affect the distribution of Si and Al in the PM1–10 combustion process.

The diesel particulate filter of a diesel engine is an after-treatment device that removes particulate matter from exhaust emissions by filtering and oxidating them through a regeneration process. When the diesel particulate filter is damaged, a vehicle inspection is usually performed; if the cause is not found through using on-board diagnostics, then the diesel particulate filter is removed, and a visual test is conducted. However, it is not easy to find the exact cause of the diesel particulate filter being damaged, and a visual test takes a long time as the diesel particulate filter substrate is covered by a canister. In this study, using the computed radiography X-ray imaging technique, X-ray images were taken after placing an accumulated amount of carbon powder, similar to soot and ash powder in the substrate. Results confirmed that carbon powder and ash powder were shown in white in X-ray images, leading to a conclusion that distinguishing between carbon powder and ash powder is possible by analyzing the pixel value through the image processing technique. However, since pixel values alone are insufficient for exact quantitative evaluation, various studies and analyses are necessary for quantitative evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suspended particulate matter (PM) contributes significantly to airborne pollution, represents a significant risk of disease or premature death as confirmed by epidemiological studies and is also associated with economic losses in society. The review provides a comprehensive view of the physico-chemical characteristics of PM, the mechanism of its effects on the human body and summarises current information from exposure studies, epidemiological studies and experimental studies on animals. The article also summarises current possibilities and approaches available to international and national institutions as regards population health protection from the effects of particulate matter pollution, the expected further reduction of health-justified reference values and subsequent reduction of limits in the national legislation of individual states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work builds upon previous efforts at calibrating PM (particulate matter) monitors with ambient-like aerosols produced in the laboratory under well-controlled environmental conditions at the facility known as PALMA (Production of Ambient-like Model Aerosols). In this study, the sampling system of PALMA was equipped with commercial PM2.5 and PM10 impactors, designed according to the EN 12341:2014 standard, to select different aerosol size fractions for reference gravimetric measurements. Moreover, a metallic frame was mounted around the PM impactor to accommodate up to eight low-cost PM sensors. This sampling unit was placed at the bottom of the 2-meter-long aerosol homogenizer, right above the filter holder for the reference gravimetric measurements. As proof of principle, we used the upgraded PALMA facility to calibrate the new AirVisual Outdoor (IQAir, Goldach, Switzerland) and the SDS011 (InovaFitness, Jinan, China) low-cost PM sensors in a traceable manner against the reference gravimetric method according to the EN 12341 standard. This is the first time that PM2.5 and PM10 calibrations of low-cost sensors have been successfully carried out with complex ambient-like aerosols consisting of soot, inorganic species, secondary organic matter, and dust particles under controlled temperature and relative humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Macedonia, located in North-western Greece, is largely dominated by lignite mining and lignite-fired power plants, which are a significant part of the country’s economy. However, the electricity generation and the related activities are among the greatest sources of air pollutants. In this study, we focus on the air quality of Western Macedonia based on measurements of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) over a 12-year period (from 2010 to 2021) and a sampling of PM-bound trace elements over the course of 12 months (from December 2017 to November 2018). The analysis revealed an overall decrease of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations over the study period. In general, the concentrations of PM exhibited seasonality patterns associated with the weather conditions and the local sources of air pollutants. These major sources of air pollution are the lignite mining processes, the emissions from the lignite-fired power plants, and the anthropogenic emissions from the biomass burning and heating systems. In addition, the analysis of the PM-bound trace elements revealed some differences; the elemental profiles of both PM2.5 and PM10 were quite similar, while the most abundant elements (Ca and Si) indicate that the main emission sources were related with the mining activities and the coal combustion.

Particulate Matter (PM) has become an important source of air pollution. We proposed a flexible and lightweight carbon nanotube (CNT) composite air filter for PM removal. The developed CNT filtering layers were fabricated using a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) synthesis process and then combined with conventional filter fabrics to make a composite air filter. Filtration performance for CNT filtering layer alone and composited with other conventional filter fabrics for particles size 0.3 μm to 2.5 μm was investigated in this study. The CNT composite filter is highly hydrophobic, making it suitable for humid environments. The CNT composite filter with two layers of tissue CNT performed best and achieved a filtration efficiency over 90% with a modest pressure drop of ~290 Pa for a particle size of 2.5 μm. This CNT composite filter was tested over multiple cycles to ensure its reusability. The developed filter is very light weight and flexible and can be incorporated into textiles for wearable applications or used as a room filter.

In megacities and urban areas, grilling restaurants have been recognized as major sources of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter under 2.5 μm (PM2.5). To reduce PM emissions from grilling fumes, we developed and evaluated the performance of both multicompartment (M-type) and mirror-symmetrical multicompartment (MSM-type) scrubbers. M-type scrubbers exhibited a PM removal efficiency of 95.7%±3.7% at a fume flow rate of 6 m3/min and a water level of 10 cm, whereas the PM removal efficiency of MSM-type scrubbers was 95.3%±32.5% at a gas flow rate of 12 m3/min and a water level of 10 cm. The design parameters for the M-type and MSM-type scrubbers were compared with the parameters for conventional single-type (S-type) scrubbers. Each design parameter for each scrubber was calculated so that the PM in the grilling fumes at a flow rate of 30 m3/min could be removed at a >95%rate. The equipment volumes were 2.02, 0.54, and 0.47 m3 for the S-type, M-type, and MSM-type scrubbers, respectively. The MSM-type scrubber pressure drop was the lowest (141 mm H2O), followed by the M-type scrubber (162 mm H2O), and, finally, the S-type scrubber (220 mm H2O). These results demonstrate that the MSM-type scrubber represents a promising technology for PM reduction from grilling fumes thanks to its compact design, simple operation, and satisfactory PM removal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals host vulnerable people with potentially enhanced sensitivity to air pollutants. We measured particulate matter (PM) including PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 with a portable device in a hospital, a nearby reference building, and ambient air in Shiraz, Iran. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio values were calculated to infer on the origin of size-fractioned PM. The mean hospital indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 (4.7 and 38.7 μg/m3, respectively) but not PM1 were higher than in the reference building and lower than in ambient air. The highest hospital PM10 mean concentrations were found in the radiotherapy ward (77.5 μg/m3) and radiology ward (70.4 μg/m3) while the lowest were found in the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) ward (18.5 μg/m3) and cardiac surgery ward (19.8 μg/m3). The highest PM2.5 concentrations were found in the radiology (8.7 μg/m3) and orthopaedic wards (7.7 μg/m3) while the lowest were found in the BMT ward (2.8 μg/m3) and cardiac surgery ward (2.8 μg/m3). The I/O ratios and the timing of peak concentrations during the day (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) indicated the main roles of outdoor air and human activity on the indoor levels. These suggest the need for mechanical ventilation with PM control for a better indoor air quality (IAQ) in the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed, reliable, and continuous monitoring of aerosol optical depth (AOD) is essential for air quality management and protection of human health. The satellite-based AOD datasets have been typically used in many studies for the estimation of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentration in the tropospheric region. The prime focus of this study is to review the past studies to analyze the performance of various satellite-based AOD datasets and models used for PM estimation. The review results suggest that every satellite sensors data have some specific capabilities as well as some drawbacks. Multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) and visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) datasets showed better consistency in AOD and PM estimation in comparison to the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) datasets. In the context of PM estimation models' accuracy, the mixed-effect model (MEM) has been extensively used and found to be more consistent in general, whereas, geographically weighted regression (GWR) model outperforms other statistical regression models in regional scale. Incorporation of land use parameters along with meteorological parameters improves the PM estimation accuracy at various spatial scale. The review suggests that in the near future, high resolution (spatial and temporal) satellite data with the improved algorithms will be highly appreciable for accurate estimation of AOD and PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-exhaust PM emissions from vehicles in real road have been conducted, but heavy vehicles have rarely been tested. In this study, PM 2.5 and PM 10 samples were directly collected from a tire of a moving bus and the composition was analyzed to investigate the sources of PM emissions. Driving tests were conducted at a proving ground (PG) and a city road (CR). PM 2.5 emissions considerably increased when the lateral force of the tire increased and the vehicle accelerated. The PM emission rate was higher in the PG test than in the CR test because of the harsher driving conditions at PG. The emission rates of PM 10 in the PG and CR tests were higher than those of PM 2.5 by approximately 6 and 11 times, respectively. In the PG and CR tests, the proportions of tire wear particles (TWPs) were 4.9% and 2.1% in the PM 2.5 samples, and 6.8% and 8.2% in the PM 10 samples, respectively. Furthermore, TWPs with PM (TWP PM) were generated by other sources: secondary production of TWP PM by fragmentation of TWPs and resuspension of TWP PM on the road. The contributions of other sources to TWP 2.5 generation were at least 6% and 57% in the PG and CR tests, respectively, whereas that to TWP 10 generation was at least 3.5% in the CR test. Iron derived from brake abrasion and mineral particles was observed in the PM samples, and the Fe concentrations were higher in the PM 10 samples than in the PM 2.5 samples by over 9 and 18 times for the PG and CR tests, respectively. Sulfur sources, such as TWPs, exhaust gas, and bitumen, were observed in the PM samples. Based on our findings, we recommend that road wear particles should be removed from roads to reduce PM emissions upon driving. [Display omitted] • PM 2.5 emissions increased notably when the lateral force of the tire was increased. • The PM emission rate was higher in proving ground (PG) test than in city road (CR) test. • The tire wear particle (TWP) contributions to PM 2.5 /PM 10 emissions were 4.9/6.8% (PG) and 2.1/8.2% (CR). • The contributions of indirect TWP 2.5 generations were at least 6/57% in the PG/CR tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the spatial differentiation of particulates emission resulting from agricultural production in Poland. Some indicators of emission have been verified and adjusted to the Polish conditions. The paper estimates PM2.5 (particulate matter, aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) and PM10 (particulate matter, aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm) emission resulting from agricultural production and agricultural soil. The findings of the research conducted by the Institute of Ecology of Industrial Areas in Katowice in cooperation with the Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal in Zabrze were the main source of those alterations. Data concerning particular sources of emission also come from the information provided by the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw, the Bank of Local Data 2017. The estimation of PM2.5 and PM10 emission was conducted based on the structure of sources of emission resulting from agriculture contained in "EMEP/EEA Emission Inventory Guidebook" in accordance with the Tier 2 method.

Most people spent more than %80 of their time indoors. In Turkey, hospitals are prominent governmental places. Its importance becomes from more visits than others. An investigation about the interior air quality across the polyclinics of one of the most visited hospital of Şanlıurfa, Turkey, was conducted in this study. Indoor air quality in terms of PM, CO, CO2, temperature and relative humidity was investigated. The performed measurements were revealed that the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in surgery, urology, neurology, heart surgeon and eye diseases polyclinic were higher than the threshold limits in international standards set by WHO and ASHAE. CO2, a surrogate for indoor pollutants emitted by humans. In this research, CO2 was found to be under the standards in radiology, tomography, X-ray, orthopedics polyclinics and emergency services. Conversely, it was measured above the standards across the other polyclinics. Temperature and relative humidity were found unsuitable; CO was found to meet the standards. The significantly high rates were considered as a result of inadequate ventilation, lack of proper cleaning, low ceiling and crowd of patients. The old age of the building could create risk of dust particles, CO2, temperature, humidity in the hospital for the health of the staff and patients visiting the polyclinics.

A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is an exhaust after-treatment device designed to capture and store exhaust particulate matter, such as soot and ash, to reduce emissions from diesel-powered vehicles. A DPF has a finite capacity and typically uses a substrate made of ceramic material that is formed into a honeycomb structure. Diesel particulate filters play an important role in diesel-fueled vehicles. Failure to maintain these filters can have significant consequences for vehicles. In this study, we investigated the failure type in cordierite DPF substrates. In addition, we experimentally characterized the particle number (PN) emission and on-board diagnostics (OBD) signal of a 2.0 L diesel-fueled vehicle generated by three types of DPF failure (crack, melting, and hollow). Specifically, X-ray photography analysis of the cordierite DPF was performed. The PN and OBD signals were assessed via the KD-147 vehicle driving mode and measured using a DMS-500 (PN measurement device) and global diagnosis tool (GDS) scanner (OBD diagnostic device), respectively. X-ray photography was used to characterize the internal structure of the three DPF-failure samples. A key result was that the maximum value of the OBD data, including airflow mass, boost pressure, and VGT actuator, was distinctly different for each DPF sample. The exhaust temperature gradient for the normal DPF and crack-damaged DPF followed the KD-147 driving pattern. This was because there was no volume damage inside the cordierite DPF substrates. However, in the case of the hollow and melting-damaged DPF, the volume inside the cordierite DPF substrates was reduced or the time for the exhaust gas to stay in the DPF substrates was decreased. The melting-damaged DPF continuously emitted the largest number of nanoparticles (of the order of 109 #/cc). This was regardless of the vehicle driving speed in the KD-147 driving mode. Eventually, an OBD-based algorithm to determine whether a DPF is damaged was derived in this study.

Among the many different chemicals in the air, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pose a serious threat to human health. Firefighters are exposed to them both during fire suppression and in fire vehicles and fire stations due to inhalation of the fumes from contaminated clothing and personal protective equipment. This study aimed to estimate the exposure and cancer risk caused by suspended particulate matter and PAHs present in these particles. Air samples were collected for 4 months in a garage of the fire station in a small town, located in an urban–rural area. PAH concentrations were measured using the gas chromatography method with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The concentration of PM4 (particulate matter with a diameter below 4µm) and TSP (total suspended particulate) in the fire station garage was 7 and 9 times higher than outside, respectively. The calculated values of health hazard risks associated with the exposure to PAHs in PM4 and TSP are: a toxic equivalent (TEQ) up to 10.36 and 23.3, incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) up to 3.45 and 4.65 and hazard quotient (HQ) up to 0.42 and 0.57, respectively. A significantly increased risk of cancers in the professional group of firefighters was found.

In this study, two different dust collectors, one based on an inertial separator and the other based on an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), were developed in order to reduce brake wear particulate matter (PM) emissions. Additionally, the collection efficiencies for brake wear particles (BWPs) of the inertial separator and the ESP were evaluated according to brake pad type. In the case of the inertial separator, the BWP collection efficiencies for the low-metallic (LM) and non-asbestos organic (NAO) pads were similar, and the cut-off size at 50% collection efficiency (D50) was 2.2 µm. The ESP was designed without an additional electrostatic charging device because naturally induced electrostatic charging occurred due to the friction between the brake disc and pad. The BWP collection efficiency of the ESP was higher for NAO pad than for LM pad because the BWPs generated from the NAO pad contained a relatively low iron (Fe) component compared to that of the LM pad, thereby generating more frictional electricity. The maximum ESP collection efficiencies of the BWPs generated from the LM and NAO pads were determined to be 60% and 75%, respectively, and the remaining BWPs that were not collected were presumed to be particles that were not frictionally charged.

Fugitive dust particles are important contributors to urban ambient particulate matter (PM), while their emissions have been ignored or greatly underestimated in previous studies, leading to the underestimation of PM concentrations and health impacts. Thus, studying the morphology of fugitive dust, taking appropriate dust-suppression measures, and evaluating dust-suppression effects are crucial to the prevention and control of fugitive dust. In this study, we investigated the morphology and composition of dust particles from different dust sources, including bare land, stock dump, construction, and road dust. Afterwards, different dust-suppression measures including fence interception nets, bare ground mesh nets, and road dust-suppressants were undertaken to simulate and analyze their dust-suppression effects. Finally, the height concentration profiling method was used to comprehensively evaluate the on-site dust-suppression effect, which can not only accurately evaluate the dust-suppression effect, but also predict the dust-suppression ability in a wide range. Gaining insights into the morphology and composition of dust from representative sources is an important step forward to prevent and control fugitive dust, and selecting an appropriate dust-suppression effect evaluation method will provide a beneficial guide for effectively controlling PM pollution in the future.

The prevalence of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) ranges from 13–33%. A majority of those presenting with a chief complaint of chest pain are found to have a diagnosis of NCCP. Aerodigestive diseases are a cause of NCCP, and billions of dollars are spent annually on the treatment of NCCP. Furthermore, NCCP can cause significant psychological stress. NCCP is commonly diagnosed when patients have chest pain despite a normal cardiac evaluation. The leading cause of NCCP is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). GORD should be suspected in patients who report a history of acid regurgitation, cough, dysphagia, and bloating. Another common cause of NCCP is obstructive airway disease (OAD). A thorough history and review of the symptoms should be performed for those with suspected NCCP, especially because of the contributing end organs. It is known that environmental exposures can commonly cause GORD and OAD; however, NCCP has not been fully explored in the context of environmental exposure. Patients with a history of exposure to particulate matter can develop environmental-exposure-associated GORD and coexisting OAD. This narrative review aims to provide a practical overview of NCCP, its causes, their relation to environmental exposure, and associated biomarkers. The authors used a PubMed search that spanned 2003–2018 to accomplish this. Additionally, this review provides a broad overview of biomarkers of GORD-associated NCCP and OAD-associated NCCP due to environmental exposure.

Particulate matter (PM) generate oxidative stress and damage to exposed cells. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant mechanisms of Sargassum horneri ethanol extract (SHE) against PM in lung epithelial cell, MLE-12 cells. We discovered that transition metals in PM adhered to the surfaces of MLE-12 cells, triggering intracellular ROS generation and lipid peroxidation. The PM-induced oxidative stress in turn reduced the antioxidant enzymes activities. This disturbance in redox balance further produced oxidative DNA damage and eventually led to apoptotic cell death as expected. However, we uncovered that SHE containing polyphenols chelated the transition metals (Si, Mg, Al, Ti, and Fe) on the surfaces of MLE-12 cells. In addition, SHE not only attenuated the intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation but also regulated antioxidant enzymes to suppress the PM-induce oxidative DNA damage and apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that SHE containing polyphenols contribute to the alleviation of the PM-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death via ROS scavenging and transition metals chelating.

With the combustion of solid fuels, emissions such as particulate matter are also formed, which have a negative impact on human health. Reducing their amount in the air can be achieved by optimizing the combustion process as well as the flue gas flow. This article aims to optimize the flue gas tract using separation baffles. This design can make it possible to capture particulate matter by using three baffles and prevent it from escaping into the air in the flue gas. The geometric parameters of the first baffle were changed twice more. The dependence of the flue gas flow on the baffles was first observed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and subsequently verified by the particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) method. Based on the CFD results, the most effective is setting 1 with the same boundary conditions as those during experimental PIV measurements. Setting 2 can capture 1.8% less particles and setting 3 can capture 0.6% less particles than setting 1. Based on the stoichiometric calculations, it would be possible to capture up to 62.3% of the particles in setting 1. The velocities comparison obtained from CFD and PIV confirmed the supposed character of the turbulent flow with vortexes appearing in the flue gas tract, despite some inaccuracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fugitive dust at construction sites reduces air quality and can affect respiratory health. Contractors must often use dust control strategies to meet environmental regulations for dust mitigation. Water application is the most common mitigation strategy, although alternatives such as magnesium chloride (MgCl2) are also used. Although these strategies reduce fugitive dust emissions at the site, they cause other environmental impacts onsite and off-site throughout their life cycle. A new approach to dust mitigation, enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP), has been developed to improve dust mitigation while reducing life cycle impacts. A life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) was performed to compare common dust mitigation strategies with EICP across a variety of environmental impacts and cost. LCSA has not previously been applied to dust mitigation strategies, so this work contributes new knowledge on the sustainability of existing and novel approaches to dust mitigation. The results show that EICP is potentially more sustainable than water application, particularly as watering frequency or persistence of the EICP treatment increases. Compared with MgCl2 , EICP may be more environmentally intensive and more expensive. However, indicators for salinization of water and soil, impacts of concern for MgCl2 , do not exist, making the comparison incomplete. It is anticipated that with further research and development focused on preventing EICP process emissions, enhancing the durability of EICP treatment, and reducing production costs, the technology will become more favorable for fugitive dust control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollutants as risk factors for benign brain tumor (BBT) remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study by integrating the patients’ clinical data and daily air quality data to assess the environmental risk factors of BBT in Taiwan.Daily air quality data were categorized into quartiles (Q1 to Q4). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) was evaluated by comparing the BBT incidence rate of the subjects in Q2–Q4 with that of the subjects in Q1 (the lowest concentration of air pollutants). A total of 161,213 subjects were enrolled in the study. Among the air pollutants tested, the aHR of BBT was significantly higher in the subjects who were exposed to the highest level (Q4) of CO (aHR 1.37, 95% CI 1.08–1.74), NO2 (aHR 1.40, 95% CI 1.09–1.78), and PM2.5 (aHR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.65) than that in the subjects who were exposed to the lowest level (Q1). No significant risk association of BBT with SO2 and PM10 exposure was observed. The results revealed that long-term exposure to air pollutants, particularly CO, NO2, and PM2.5, is associated with the risk of BBT.

The indoor environment is usually more polluted than outdoors due to emissions of gas and particle-phase pollutants from multiple sources, leading to their accumulation on top of the infiltration of outdoor pollution. While it is widely recognized that negative health effects arise from the exposure to outdoor air pollution, exposure to indoor pollutants also needs to be well assessed since we spend most of our time (~90%) breathing indoors. Indoor concentrations of pollutants are driven by physicochemical processes and chemical transformations taking place indoors, acting as sources and/or sinks. While these basic concepts are understood, assessing the contribution of each process is still challenging. In this study, we deployed online instrumentation in an unoccupied room to test a methodology for the apportionment of indoor and outdoor pollutant sources. This method was successfully applied to the apportionment of PM1 and VOCs, however, there are limitations for reactive gases such as O3. The results showed that this unoccupied indoor environment acts as a source of VOCs and contributes 87% on OVOCs and 6% on CxHy, while it acts as a sink for particles, likely due to losses through volatilization up to 60%.

Combustion of mixed materials during open air burning of refuse or structural fires in the wildland urban interface produces emissions that worsen air quality, contaminate rivers and streams, and cause poor health outcomes including developmental effects. The zebrafish, a freshwater fish, is a useful model for quickly screening the toxicological and developmental effects of agents in such species and elicits biological responses that are often analogous and predictive of responses in mammals. The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental toxicity of smoke derived from the burning of 5 different burn pit-related material types (plywood, cardboard, plastic, a mixture of the three, and the mixture plus diesel fuel as an accelerant) in zebrafish larvae. Larvae were exposed to organic extracts of increasing concentrations of each smoke 6-to-8-hr post fertilization and assessed for morphological and behavioral toxicity at 5 days post fertilization. To examine chemical and biological determinants of toxicity, responses were related to emissions concentrations of polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH). Emissions from plastic and the mixture containing plastic caused the most pronounced developmental effects, including mortality, impaired swim bladder inflation, pericardial edema, spinal curvature, tail kinks, and/or craniofacial deformities, although all extracts caused concentration-dependent effects. Plywood, by contrast, altered locomotor responsiveness to light changes to the greatest extent. Some morphological and behavioral responses correlated strongly with smoke extract levels of PAHs including 9-fluorenone. Overall, the findings suggest that material type and emissions chemistry impact the severity of zebrafish developmental toxicity responses to burn pit-related smoke., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Health effects attributable to short-term and long-term ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure in Indian population are less understood. This study evaluates the effect of short time and long-term exposure to AAP on respiratory morbidity, mortality and premature mortality for the exposed population. A total of 59 studies are reviewed to examine the effects of short-term exposure (n = 23); long-term exposure (n = 18) and premature mortality (n = 18). Short-term exposures to ambient pollutants have strong associations between COPD, respiratory illnesses and higher rates of hospital admission or visit. The long-term effects of AAP, associated with deficit lung function, asthma, heart attack, cardiovascular mortality and premature mortality have received much attention. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is primarily responsible for respiratory health problems. Out of 18 literature reviewed on premature mortality, most (12 of 18) studies have statistically significant associations between AAP exposure and increased premature mortality risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was conducted in a two-part study. In part I, the levels of indoor and outdoor PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 was measured using real time GRIMM dust monitors. In part II, the performance of NAIs method was investigated on reduction of indoor concentration of PM in these residential buildings for the first time. Hourly average concentration and standard deviation (SD) of PM10 in indoor and outdoor at residential buildings were 63.5 ± 27.4 and 90.1 ± 33.5 µg/m3, respectively. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM2.5 in residential buildings were 39.4 ± 18.1 and 49.5 ± 18.2 µg/m3 and for PM1 the concentrations were 4.3 ± 7.7 and 6.5 ± 10.1 µg/m3, respectively. We estimated that nearly 71.47% of PM10, 79.86% of PM2.5 and of 61.25% of PM1 in indoor of residential buildings can be removed by negative air ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the impacts of abattoir activities on ambient air quality and health risk associated with exposure to PM2.5 and PM10, H2S, SO2 and NH3. Air samplings were done simultaneously around the abattoir at three points for sixty consecutive days (October to November) and standard methods adopted for the samplings and analysis. Health risks associated with exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 were estimated, using attributable fractions, relative risk and the excess lifetime cancer risk. The non-carcinogenic risks induced by the inhalation of H2S, SO2 and NH3 were also evaluated using hazard quotient (HQ). The results indicated that the average concentrations of 18.75 μg/m3, 89.17 μg/m3 and 0.1ppm for PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 respectively, were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO), National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) permissible limits. Air Quality Index showed that the ambient air quality in respect of CO and NH3 was very good, moderate for PM10 and was very poor for NO2 and SO2. It was also shown that 0.32% of deaths from lung cancer, and 0.23% from cardiopulmonary could be avoided if PM2.5 is reduced to 3 μg/m3 and while about 0.14% of all-cause mortality could be avoided if PM10 is reduced to 10 μg/m3. In similar manner, at least 0.45% likelihood that an individual in a group of people exposed to PM2.5 100m away from the burning point may have health issue (lung cancer) than an individual from another set of people that is exposed to baseline concentration of 3 μg/m3. All the HQ values exceeded the threshold value, set at the unity, implying that H2S, SO2 and NH3 are likely to cause adverse health effects in the area. Conclusively, continuous operation of this abattoir within the residential area can constitute a great environmental menace to the residents of the area and can result in complication to those with existing health challenge.

High particulate matter (PM) concentrations in the cleanroom semiconductor factory have become a significant concern as they can damage electronic devices during the manufacturing process. PM can be predicted before becoming more concentrated based on its historical data to support factory management in regulating the air quality in the cleanroom. In this paper, a Multi-Dense Layer BiLSTM model is proposed to predict PM2.5 concentrations in the indoor environment of the cleanroom. To obtain reliability, validity, and interoperability data, the datasets containing temperature, humidity, PM0.3, PM0.5, PM1, PM2.5, PM5, and PM10 were retrieved in a standardized manner via oneM2M-defined representational state transfer application programmable interfaces by employing software platforms compliant with the Internet of Things (IoT) standard. Based on the proposed model, an algorithm was built providing short-term PM2.5 concentration predictions (one hour ahead, two hours ahead, and three hours ahead). The proposed model outperformed the RNN, LSTM, CNN-LSTM, and Single-Dense Layer BiLSTM models in terms of MSE, MAE, and MAPE values. The model created in this study could predict high PM2.5 concentration levels more accurately, thus providing vital support for operation and maintenance for the semiconductor industry.

A physical-mathematical model has been designed to estimate the emission of dust from the surface of granular materials exposed to wind erosion. The emission model implements the Monte Carlo probabilistic approach, which for a given wind velocity (i.e., shear stress velocity) ascribes the probability of saltation to the particle aggregates composing the erodible surface and calculates the emission of dust aerosol based on the main laws governing the physics of wind-blown particles. The article discusses the application of the emission code to the surfaces of two metal sulphides (PbS and ZnS), which are typically stored in stockpiles in the open yards of industrial plants that operate in the commodity sector, to be used as raw materials for the production of lead and zinc (non-ferrous metals). The results of the simulation were found to be in agreement with the indication provided by the technical literature about the emission potential of the two metal sulphides. The emission model hereby proposed intends to provide an analytical integration to the experimental and empirical Emission Factors (EF) already suggested by the technical and scientific literature about industrial wind erosion.

The article concerns the issue of the existence of non-obvious relationships and of potential correlations between the emission of greenhouse gases and particulate matter (PM), renewable energy and corruption perceptions. Additionally, it analyses the possible impact of these above-mentioned connections on the economic, environmental and social situation in the context of further economic development, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and in relation to European countries. The issue of reducing dirty energy sources and corrupt activities is not only a problem considered at the state level, but it is very closely related to the operation of many private enterprises. The conducted research applied methods of desk research as well as comparative quantitative analyses and used extensive statistical data of most European Union member states as well as the United Kingdom and Norway. The ambiguity of the results obtained in the research does not allow for an explicit verification of the existence of relationships between corruption and the pro-ecological initiatives influencing the lower intensity of greenhouse gases and particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere or increasing share of renewable energy in the whole energy consumption. However, in many analysed cases it is possible to observe the occurrence of the indicated relationships, which, although not considered to be a rule, may give direction to further detailed research in this area, in particular in order to show the resulting beneficial or unfavourable implications for the performance and development of companies and the economy as a whole with rules of sustainability.

Relatively high Particulate Matter (PM) concentration characterizing the Middle East and Israel are attributed mainly to natural dust storms, but also to local and remote anthropogenic sources. The spatio-temporal distribution of the pollution highly depends on the geographical characteristics of the region, such as the complex terrain of Haifa, the nearby bay structure and the atmospheric conditions determined by the combined meso-, local and synoptic-scale circulations. The research analyzes the role of synoptic conditions and climatic stress in the temporal and spatial distribution of PM10 and PM2.5, adopting the ‘environment to circulation’ approach. The study focuses on the summer season, characterized by the persistent northwesterly Etesian winds, with no dust import from the Sahara or the Arabian deserts. A pronounced diurnal and weekly course of PM concentrations indicate its anthropogenic sources, both local and remote. PM concentrations were found positively correlated with the summer climatic stress index, developed by Saaroni et al. (2017). High climatic stress conditions are characterized by weakening of the Etesian winds and a thinner boundary layer over Israel. This reduces the transport of remote pollution from East Europe on the one hand, but enhances locally originated pollution on the other, due to the implied weakening of their removal mechanisms. An increase in the climatic stress is well noted along the study period, 2002-2017, associated with the general warming. Nevertheless, a significant reduction trend in the daily summer concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 is found, attributed to the dominant role of the regulations in reducing air pollution. This negative trend is accompanied by relatively high inter-annual variability, which reflects the dependence of concentrations on the climatic stress.

Air pollution has become a global issue from the perspective of public health and the social economy. Of the various air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can cause serious health problems such as asthma, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and premature death. The ability to have accurate dust information in real-life is very important for patients with respiratory illnesses. Visible-light communication, which performs the functions of illumination and data transmission in indoor environments, could be utilized for the long-term transmission of important environment information, even in places where RF transmissions are restricted, such as medical centers, emergency rooms, or nursing homes. In this paper, a prototype of a wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system is proposed for electromagnetic interference-free indoor dust monitoring. Important indoor environment information, such as dust concentration, temperature, and relative humidity, are transferred by red green blue (RGB) light sources. A single RGB-type white light-emitting diode and a single color sensor are adopted to enable a low-complexity implementation. An average voltage-tracking technique is utilized for robust light detection to eliminate ambient light and low-frequency noise. The incoming RGB lights are separated by a color sensor, and are simultaneously processed by a receiver microcontroller. Medical experts and patients can then monitor indoor air quality in real-time, and they can improve the environmental awareness of individuals.

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the primary pollutants found in the indoor environment. It can cause deterioration of the indoor air quality (IAQ) and is often linked with adverse health effects especially towards susceptible subgroup of the population like children. School children are exposed to PM inside the classroom, as this indoor PM may originate from both indoor and outdoor sources. Furthermore, ambient surrounding could be one of the major factors that contribute to its high concentration, specifically for school environment like government-subsidized schools in Malaysia whereby the schools are using natural ventilation systems to control the thermal comfort inside the classrooms. Hence the infiltration of outdoor PM into the indoor is probably high and significant. The high concentration of PM may affect the children’s health and learning performances. Due to this reason, it is important to study the effects of PM towards children. Thus, this study aims to assess the concentrations of PM and selected IAQ parameters in the school indoor environment with distinct background characteristics including residential, industrial, and rural areas. PM and IAQ parameters (temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)) were assessed for 8-hours duration via DustMate Environmental Dust Detector (Turnkey Instruments, USA) and VelociCalc® Multi-Function Ventilation Meter 9565 (TSI®, USA) respectively, during occupied and non-occupied time in the classrooms. Second, considering the children’s prolonged and repetitive exposure towards PM in school indoor environment and their body sensitivity, this study also screened for the prevalence of non-specific respiratory disease (NSRD) and persistent cough and phlegm (PCP) among children via structured questionnaire developed by American Thoracic Society’s Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD-78-C). Higher concentrations of PM and prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the school from the industrial area were expected, due to the high concentration of PM originated from nearby industrial activities and anthropogenic sources. Hopefully, better understanding and insights on the issue were obtained through this study.

The protective effects of water extracts of djulis (Chenopodium formosanum) (WECF) and their bioactive compounds on particulate matter (PM)-induced oxidative injury in A549 cells via the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling were investigated. WECF at 50–300 µg/mL protected A549 cells from PM-induced cytotoxicity. The cytoprotection of WECF was associated with decreases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation, and increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) contents. WECF increased Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in A549 cells exposed to PM. SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and U0126 (an ERK inhibitor) attenuated the WECF-induced Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. According to the HPLC-MS/MS analysis, rutin (2219.7 µg/g) and quercetin derivatives (2648.2 µg/g) were the most abundant bioactive compounds present in WECF. Rutin and quercetin ameliorated PM-induced oxidative stress in the cells. Collectively, the bioactive compounds present in WECF can protect A549 cells from PM-induced oxidative injury by upregulating Nrf2 and HO-1 via activation of the ERK and JUN signaling pathways.