Pub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100372
Jiani Yang , Sina Hasheminassab , Meredith Franklin , Antong Zhang , David J. Diner , Joseph Pinto , Yuk L. Yung
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) poses major public health and environmental risks, yet the toxicity of its chemical components remains poorly understood due to limited chemical speciation data. In this study we apply an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine learning framework to predict key PM2.5 components including organic carbon, elemental carbon, nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, and metals, using readily available predictors: total PM2.5 mass concentrations, meteorological variables, trace gas measurements, and indicators of exceptional events (e.g., wildfires, fireworks). Leveraging a decade of data from two monitoring sites in Southern California (Los Angeles and Rubidoux), the models achieved strong predictive performance, particularly for nitrate, ammonium, and elemental carbon. Among the most influential predictors across components were total PM2.5 mass, relative humidity, and boundary layer height. This approach has promise for enhancing satellite remote sensing applications, improving chemical transport model inputs, and generating cost-effective estimates of PM2.5 components during sampling gaps and in regions lacking frequent monitoring. Further research is needed to assess the generalizability of this framework across diverse geographic and climatic settings.
{"title":"Prediction of ambient PM2.5 chemical components in Southern California using machine learning","authors":"Jiani Yang , Sina Hasheminassab , Meredith Franklin , Antong Zhang , David J. Diner , Joseph Pinto , Yuk L. Yung","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100372","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100372","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) poses major public health and environmental risks, yet the toxicity of its chemical components remains poorly understood due to limited chemical speciation data. In this study we apply an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine learning framework to predict key PM<sub>2.5</sub> components including organic carbon, elemental carbon, nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, and metals, using readily available predictors: total PM<sub>2.5</sub> mass concentrations, meteorological variables, trace gas measurements, and indicators of exceptional events (e.g., wildfires, fireworks). Leveraging a decade of data from two monitoring sites in Southern California (Los Angeles and Rubidoux), the models achieved strong predictive performance, particularly for nitrate, ammonium, and elemental carbon. Among the most influential predictors across components were total PM<sub>2.5</sub> mass, relative humidity, and boundary layer height. This approach has promise for enhancing satellite remote sensing applications, improving chemical transport model inputs, and generating cost-effective estimates of PM<sub>2.5</sub> components during sampling gaps and in regions lacking frequent monitoring. Further research is needed to assess the generalizability of this framework across diverse geographic and climatic settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100372"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100373
Gabriel Aranda Morales , Abhiramini M. Rajiv , Titus Venverloo , Juliane L. Fry
Construction sites are major sources of particulate matter pollution to cities, with heavy diesel equipment producing ultrafine particulate matter (UFP), black carbon (BC), and contributing (alongside earth-moving activities) to emissions of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) dust. These air pollutants are hazardous to the health of those working or living within their plumes. Hence, in this study we characterize the short-term pollutant concentrations at three construction sites in the Netherlands. We measured concentrations of four pollutants at three early-stage high-rise construction sites in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. We find that among the pollutants measured, UFP number concentrations are most strongly correlated with construction activities, with construction site concentrations at high levels of activity ∼20,000 # cm−3, while concentrations during periods without construction activity are <5000 # cm−3. Although we can attribute concentration peaks to specific pieces of construction equipment, there were no strong correlations between UFPs and the measured concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, as these latter particles have different sources in construction sites (e.g. earthmoving equipment) and in urban settings, as well as longer atmospheric lifetimes. At a relatively more isolated site with one major piece of diesel equipment, we do observe a strong correlation between UFP and BC (R = 0.62), suggesting that such measurements can be used to obtain emissions ratios. As new regulatory standards are being developed for health-hazardous UFP, knowledge of their number concentrations at and near construction sites will be crucial to developing source apportionments and dispersion modeling. We recommend increased measurement of UFP at construction sites, including the use of wearable monitors, to better understand exposure, and creating incentives to shift from diesel to electrical equipment wherever possible.
建筑工地是城市颗粒物污染的主要来源,重型柴油设备会产生超细颗粒物(UFP)和黑碳(BC),除了土方活动外,还会排放细颗粒物(PM2.5)和粗颗粒物(PM10)。这些空气污染物对在其烟雾中工作或生活的人的健康有害。因此,在本研究中,我们描述了荷兰三个建筑工地的短期污染物浓度。我们在鹿特丹和阿姆斯特丹的三个早期高层建筑工地测量了四种污染物的浓度。我们发现,在测量到的污染物中,UFP数浓度与建筑活动的相关性最强,建筑工地的UFP浓度处于高活动水平~ 20,000 # cm - 3,而在没有建筑活动期间的UFP浓度为<;5000 # cm - 3。虽然我们可以将浓度峰值归因于特定的建筑设备,但ufp与PM2.5和PM10的测量浓度之间没有很强的相关性,因为后者在建筑工地(例如土方设备)和城市环境中有不同的来源,并且大气寿命更长。在一个相对孤立的地点,只有一个主要的柴油设备,我们确实观察到UFP和BC之间有很强的相关性(R = 0.62),这表明这种测量可以用来获得排放比。由于正在为危害健康的超射光物质制定新的管理标准,因此了解建筑工地及其附近的超射光物质数量浓度对于制定来源分摊和扩散模型至关重要。我们建议在建筑工地增加对UFP的测量,包括使用可穿戴监视器,以更好地了解暴露情况,并尽可能鼓励从柴油设备转向电气设备。
{"title":"Where particulates matter: High-rise construction emissions of PM2.5, PM10, BC, and UFP in Dutch cities","authors":"Gabriel Aranda Morales , Abhiramini M. Rajiv , Titus Venverloo , Juliane L. Fry","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction sites are major sources of particulate matter pollution to cities, with heavy diesel equipment producing ultrafine particulate matter (UFP), black carbon (BC), and contributing (alongside earth-moving activities) to emissions of fine (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) and coarse (PM<sub>10</sub>) dust. These air pollutants are hazardous to the health of those working or living within their plumes. Hence, in this study we characterize the short-term pollutant concentrations at three construction sites in the Netherlands. We measured concentrations of four pollutants at three early-stage high-rise construction sites in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. We find that among the pollutants measured, UFP number concentrations are most strongly correlated with construction activities, with construction site concentrations at high levels of activity ∼20,000 # cm<sup>−3</sup>, while concentrations during periods without construction activity are <5000 # cm<sup>−3</sup>. Although we can attribute concentration peaks to specific pieces of construction equipment, there were no strong correlations between UFPs and the measured concentrations of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub>, as these latter particles have different sources in construction sites (e.g. earthmoving equipment) and in urban settings, as well as longer atmospheric lifetimes. At a relatively more isolated site with one major piece of diesel equipment, we do observe a strong correlation between UFP and BC (R = 0.62), suggesting that such measurements can be used to obtain emissions ratios. As new regulatory standards are being developed for health-hazardous UFP, knowledge of their number concentrations at and near construction sites will be crucial to developing source apportionments and dispersion modeling. We recommend increased measurement of UFP at construction sites, including the use of wearable monitors, to better understand exposure, and creating incentives to shift from diesel to electrical equipment wherever possible.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100373"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145269214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100370
Demi van Wijk , Ceder R. Raben , Hans J. Erbrink , Dick J.J. Heederik , Wietske Dohmen
Excessive nitrogen deposition is a major problem in nature areas, causing soil acidification and eutrophication, which reduces biodiversity. In the Netherlands, most nitrogen originates from ammonia emissions related to agriculture. This study investigates how various ammonia emission reduction strategies affect spatial patterns of livestock-related ambient ammonia levels, focusing on nature areas near a livestock-dense region. The aim is to provide insights into effects of interventions on environmental exposure levels and efficiency of mitigation strategies. Using dispersion modeling, annual average patterns of ambient ammonia levels were estimated per scenario, considering emissions from approximately 4500 farms. Results indicate that scenarios involving significant reductions in ammonia emissions (54–86 %), achieved through technical or management modifications or farm removal, result in substantial reductions (62–87 %) in ambient ammonia levels within nature areas. Targeted strategies aimed at specific sectors that contribute most to ammonia levels in nature areas achieved relatively modest absolute reductions (8–13 %) but generally higher efficiency compared to more generic approaches. Scenario efficiency, defined as the ratio between emission/concentration reduction, varied considerably from 0.5 to 1.3. This variations underscores the importance of assessing spatial ammonia patterns rather than focusing and relying solely on emission reduction expressed in terms of total mass. The efficiency of reduction strategies depends on the geographical distribution of (sector-specific) farms near nature areas, and emission height from these farms. Therefore, combined strategies explicitly targeting these factors, such as integrating spatially focused measures (e.g., zoning) with generic emission reductions, are expected most effective in reducing ammonia concentrations in nature areas.
{"title":"Effects of different ammonia emission reduction strategies from livestock farming on ambient ammonia concentrations in nature areas: a series of scenario analyses","authors":"Demi van Wijk , Ceder R. Raben , Hans J. Erbrink , Dick J.J. Heederik , Wietske Dohmen","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excessive nitrogen deposition is a major problem in nature areas, causing soil acidification and eutrophication, which reduces biodiversity. In the Netherlands, most nitrogen originates from ammonia emissions related to agriculture. This study investigates how various ammonia emission reduction strategies affect spatial patterns of livestock-related ambient ammonia levels, focusing on nature areas near a livestock-dense region. The aim is to provide insights into effects of interventions on environmental exposure levels and efficiency of mitigation strategies. Using dispersion modeling, annual average patterns of ambient ammonia levels were estimated per scenario, considering emissions from approximately 4500 farms. Results indicate that scenarios involving significant reductions in ammonia emissions (54–86 %), achieved through technical or management modifications or farm removal, result in substantial reductions (62–87 %) in ambient ammonia levels within nature areas. Targeted strategies aimed at specific sectors that contribute most to ammonia levels in nature areas achieved relatively modest absolute reductions (8–13 %) but generally higher efficiency compared to more generic approaches. Scenario efficiency, defined as the ratio between emission/concentration reduction, varied considerably from 0.5 to 1.3. This variations underscores the importance of assessing spatial ammonia patterns rather than focusing and relying solely on emission reduction expressed in terms of total mass. The efficiency of reduction strategies depends on the geographical distribution of (sector-specific) farms near nature areas, and emission height from these farms. Therefore, combined strategies explicitly targeting these factors, such as integrating spatially focused measures (e.g., zoning) with generic emission reductions, are expected most effective in reducing ammonia concentrations in nature areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100370"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145098797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In recent years, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment have gained scientific interest because of their persistent nature, widespread occurrence, and the potential threats they pose to humans and the environment. Urban populations are exposed to PCBs through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption of particles present in the air. The present study aimed to evaluate the gaseous and particulate PCB concentrations present in the ambient air based on various seasons and locations and to evaluate the health risks associated with PCBs in urban areas of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. A total of 180 (each PUF and filter paper) samples were collected for the analysis of PCBs in ambient air. PCBs in filter paper and polyurethane foam (PUF) were extracted by ultra-sonication and soxhlet extraction methods, respectively, and analyzed using GC-MS/MS. The maximum mean ∑10PCBs concentration was observed in industrial areas (3.11 ng/m3) and the minimum concentration in rural areas (0.44 ng/m3). Similarly, among the different seasons monitored, the maximum values were observed in the summer season (2.04 ng/m3) and the minimum was in the monsoon season (1.53 ng/m3). The USEPA exposure risk model was used to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of population exposure to PCBs. The current finding indicates that the carcinogenic risk from ∑10PCBs through inhalation exposure was lower than the permissible limit (1.0E-04) for the urban population. The population residing near industrial, traffic, commercial, and residential areas has a slightly high carcinogenic risk through inhalation exposure and dermal contact. This study demonstrated that Inhalation is the primary route of atmospheric PCB exposure, leading to an increased carcinogenic risk for urban population. Therefore, to alleviate the situation and safeguard humans, further continuous monitoring of other toxic contaminants and investigations of biomarkers are highly recommended.
{"title":"Assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ambient air and its health risk evaluation in an urban city, Bangalore, India","authors":"Thamaraikannan Mohankumar , Dhananjayan Venugopal , Ravichandran Beerappa , Jayanthi Palaniyappan , Raghavendra Lingayya , Jawahar Salavath , Mala Ambikapathy , Panjakumar Karunamoorthy","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100371","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100371","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment have gained scientific interest because of their persistent nature, widespread occurrence, and the potential threats they pose to humans and the environment. Urban populations are exposed to PCBs through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption of particles present in the air. The present study aimed to evaluate the gaseous and particulate PCB concentrations present in the ambient air based on various seasons and locations and to evaluate the health risks associated with PCBs in urban areas of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. A total of 180 (each PUF and filter paper) samples were collected for the analysis of PCBs in ambient air. PCBs in filter paper and polyurethane foam (PUF) were extracted by ultra-sonication and soxhlet extraction methods, respectively, and analyzed using GC-MS/MS. The maximum mean ∑<sub>10</sub>PCBs concentration was observed in industrial areas (3.11 ng/m<sup>3</sup>) and the minimum concentration in rural areas (0.44 ng/m<sup>3</sup>). Similarly, among the different seasons monitored, the maximum values were observed in the summer season (2.04 ng/m<sup>3</sup>) and the minimum was in the monsoon season (1.53 ng/m<sup>3</sup>). The USEPA exposure risk model was used to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of population exposure to PCBs. The current finding indicates that the carcinogenic risk from ∑<sub>10</sub>PCBs through inhalation exposure was lower than the permissible limit (1.0E-04) for the urban population. The population residing near industrial, traffic, commercial, and residential areas has a slightly high carcinogenic risk through inhalation exposure and dermal contact. This study demonstrated that Inhalation is the primary route of atmospheric PCB exposure, leading to an increased carcinogenic risk for urban population. Therefore, to alleviate the situation and safeguard humans, further continuous monitoring of other toxic contaminants and investigations of biomarkers are highly recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100371"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145120576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100366
Cong Cao , Ramit Debnath , R. Michael Alvarez
This study examines the interaction between climate factors and air quality in three Norwegian cities, addressing the gap in which policymakers often analyze air quality and climate change in isolation. We investigate the association of specific climate variables on air pollution by comparing traditional regression models with machine learning techniques, including k-means clustering, hierarchical clustering, random forest, and recursive feature elimination. The models used are based on Europe's standard environmental policy frameworks, and the analysis draws on a decade's worth of daily data on traffic, weather, and air pollution from three major cities in Norway (2009–2018). Our findings highlight a strong correlation between Heating Degree Days (HDD) and elevated levels of pollutants like PM2.5 and NOx, indicating that increased heating demand and traffic volume contribute significantly to worsening air quality. This research provides valuable insights into the seasonal dynamics of air pollution and offers a robust data-driven framework to help policymakers develop more effective and integrated urban climate and air quality policies. The research emphasizes the necessity of accounting for the interplay between climate change and air quality in the development of strategies to mitigate the health hazards linked to air pollution.
{"title":"Interaction between climate factors and air quality in three Norwegian cities: A machine learning analysis","authors":"Cong Cao , Ramit Debnath , R. Michael Alvarez","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the interaction between climate factors and air quality in three Norwegian cities, addressing the gap in which policymakers often analyze air quality and climate change in isolation. We investigate the association of specific climate variables on air pollution by comparing traditional regression models with machine learning techniques, including k-means clustering, hierarchical clustering, random forest, and recursive feature elimination. The models used are based on Europe's standard environmental policy frameworks, and the analysis draws on a decade's worth of daily data on traffic, weather, and air pollution from three major cities in Norway (2009–2018). Our findings highlight a strong correlation between Heating Degree Days (HDD) and elevated levels of pollutants like <em>PM</em><sub>2.5</sub> and <em>NO</em><sub><em>x</em></sub>, indicating that increased heating demand and traffic volume contribute significantly to worsening air quality. This research provides valuable insights into the seasonal dynamics of air pollution and offers a robust data-driven framework to help policymakers develop more effective and integrated urban climate and air quality policies. The research emphasizes the necessity of accounting for the interplay between climate change and air quality in the development of strategies to mitigate the health hazards linked to air pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100366"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a secondary atmospheric pollutant formed through complex photochemical reactions of precursors, mainly involving nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which poses critical challenges to air quality, public health, and environmental sustainability. This study provides an in-depth analysis of industrial emissions of O3 precursors in Spain, focusing on their spatial distribution, sectoral contributions, temporal trends, and the effectiveness of realistic mitigation strategies. By analysing the emission inventories of the precursors and collecting information from visits to 50 industrial facilities in the four critical O3 air basins in Spain, the research identifies the main emission sources, assesses the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) and examines the potential impacts of decarbonisation initiatives. Findings revealed that a small number of facilities contribute largely to total emissions of precursors, with significant regional and sectoral differences in monitoring practices and emission abatements. NOx emissions, largely channelled, have seen significant reductions mainly due to the high penetration of renewable energies in electricity generation in Spain, while VOC emissions remain challenging due to their diffuse nature and reliance on solvent-intensive processes. Decarbonisation efforts are shown to have a dual effect, with potential reductions in NOx but limited influence on VOC emissions. The recommendations include strengthening regulatory harmonisation, improving emission monitoring methodologies, especially for multi-source and non-channelled emissions, as well as promoting innovation in precursor reduction technologies. The conclusions and recommendations will be integrated into the Spanish Tropospheric Ozone Mitigation Plan (STOMP) and may provide valuable insights for other mitigation plans.
{"title":"Evaluation of industrial emissions of tropospheric ozone precursors in Spain (2017–2022)","authors":"Eliseo Monfort , Irina Celades , Salvador Gomar , Gerard Balaguer , Francesc Ochando , Marc Guevara , Jordi Massagué , Xavier Querol","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) is a secondary atmospheric pollutant formed through complex photochemical reactions of precursors, mainly involving nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which poses critical challenges to air quality, public health, and environmental sustainability. This study provides an in-depth analysis of industrial emissions of O<sub>3</sub> precursors in Spain, focusing on their spatial distribution, sectoral contributions, temporal trends, and the effectiveness of realistic mitigation strategies. By analysing the emission inventories of the precursors and collecting information from visits to 50 industrial facilities in the four critical O<sub>3</sub> air basins in Spain, the research identifies the main emission sources, assesses the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) and examines the potential impacts of decarbonisation initiatives. Findings revealed that a small number of facilities contribute largely to total emissions of precursors, with significant regional and sectoral differences in monitoring practices and emission abatements. NOx emissions, largely channelled, have seen significant reductions mainly due to the high penetration of renewable energies in electricity generation in Spain, while VOC emissions remain challenging due to their diffuse nature and reliance on solvent-intensive processes. Decarbonisation efforts are shown to have a dual effect, with potential reductions in NOx but limited influence on VOC emissions. The recommendations include strengthening regulatory harmonisation, improving emission monitoring methodologies, especially for multi-source and non-channelled emissions, as well as promoting innovation in precursor reduction technologies. The conclusions and recommendations will be integrated into the Spanish Tropospheric Ozone Mitigation Plan (STOMP) and may provide valuable insights for other mitigation plans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100365"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-04DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100360
Ufaith Qadiri , Mohammad Alkhedher
This study explores a new strategy for enhancing performance and lowering emissions in a three-cylinder spark ignition engine by utilizing various blended alternative fuels. Using one-dimensional simulation software. Avl Boost analysed the engine's emission characteristics and performance metrics across a speed range of 1500–5000 rpm. The optimal fuel blend 80 % LPG and 20 % hydrogen delivered impressive results. It boosted Brake power by 30 % compared to M10/G90 and by 20 % over E85/G15 while also improving thermal efficiency by 25 %. A comparative analysis of three fuel blends (mixed by volume) showed performance gains across all options. Both M10/G90 and E85/G15 blends exhibited better power output. Brake-specific fuel consumption, and Brake mean effective pressure notably, the E85/G15 blend produced 15 % more brake power than M10/G90 and achieved a 10 % reduction in Bsfc. The LPG80/H220 blend stood out for its efficiency, registering the lowest Bsfc values 45 % and 50 % lower than ethanol and methanol blends, respectively. Emission modelling further confirmed its advantages, as it resulted in the lowest CO, HC, and NOx emissions. However, a slight rise in NOx emissions was observed at higher engine speeds.
{"title":"One-dimensional computational investigations on a 3- cylinder spark ignition engine fuelled LPG/H2, methanol/gasoline blends, and E85 for meeting future emission norms","authors":"Ufaith Qadiri , Mohammad Alkhedher","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores a new strategy for enhancing performance and lowering emissions in a three-cylinder spark ignition engine by utilizing various blended alternative fuels. Using one-dimensional simulation software. Avl Boost analysed the engine's emission characteristics and performance metrics across a speed range of 1500–5000 rpm. The optimal fuel blend 80 % LPG and 20 % hydrogen delivered impressive results. It boosted Brake power by 30 % compared to M10/G90 and by 20 % over E85/G15 while also improving thermal efficiency by 25 %. A comparative analysis of three fuel blends (mixed by volume) showed performance gains across all options. Both M10/G90 and E85/G15 blends exhibited better power output. Brake-specific fuel consumption, and Brake mean effective pressure notably, the E85/G15 blend produced 15 % more brake power than M10/G90 and achieved a 10 % reduction in Bsfc. The LPG80/H<sub>2</sub>20 blend stood out for its efficiency, registering the lowest Bsfc values 45 % and 50 % lower than ethanol and methanol blends, respectively. Emission modelling further confirmed its advantages, as it resulted in the lowest CO, HC, and NOx emissions. However, a slight rise in NOx emissions was observed at higher engine speeds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100360"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100355
M. Bosio , F. Mazzei , M. Brunoldi , D. Massabó , V. Vernocchi , F. Parodi , P. Prati , E. Roccotiello
As urban areas continue to grow, the need for effective pollution mitigation strategies becomes more critical. This study presents the outcomes of a set of experiments conducted in an atmospheric simulation chamber (ChAMBRe: Chamber for Aerosol Modelling and Bioaerosol Research) to evaluate the uptake of NO2 and PM main components (black carbon and dust) capacity of 3 different plant species: Myrtus communis, Nerium oleander and Taxus baccata. To isolate the interactions between plants and individual pollutants, each pollutant was sequentially injected into ChAMBRe one at a time. Finally, to simulate real-world conditions, a mixture of all pollutants was injected. The concentration of pollutants within the chamber was monitored in real-time thanks to the ChAMBRe slow control and data logging system. Results indicate different removal capacities of the selected species and varying relationships between plants and pollutants, suggesting different potential applications in urban pollution mitigation strategies. Among the tested species, T. baccata demonstrated the most consistent and well-balanced performance across all pollutants, with notably high effectiveness in capturing black carbon. M. communis exhibited the highest specialization in the uptake of black carbon, although its performance declined significantly in the dust exposure scenarios. In contrast, N. oleander showed the highest capacity for capturing dust particles, while being less effective in the presence of the other pollutants. This study provides new insights into the ability of plants, especially M. communis, to act as natural biofilters and lays the groundwork for future applications in environmental and urban planning.
随着城市地区的不断扩大,对有效减轻污染战略的需求变得更加迫切。本研究介绍了在大气模拟室(ChAMBRe: chamber for Aerosol Modelling and Bioaerosol Research)进行的一系列实验的结果,以评估3种不同植物物种:桃金桃(Myrtus communis)、夹竹桃(Nerium oleander)和红豆杉(Taxus baccata)对NO2和PM主要成分(黑碳和粉尘)的吸收能力。为了分离植物和单个污染物之间的相互作用,每种污染物被顺序地一次注入一个腔室。最后,为了模拟现实世界的条件,所有污染物的混合物被注入。由于ChAMBRe的慢速控制和数据记录系统,可以实时监测室内污染物的浓度。结果表明,所选物种的去除能力不同,植物与污染物之间的关系也不同,表明在城市污染缓解策略中的潜在应用不同。在被试物种中,白颊霉在所有污染物中表现出最一致和最平衡的性能,在捕获黑碳方面表现出显著的高效率。M. communis在黑碳吸收方面表现出最高的专门化,尽管在粉尘暴露情景下其表现显著下降。相比之下,夹竹桃表现出最高的捕获尘埃颗粒的能力,而在其他污染物存在时效果较差。该研究为植物,特别是m.s communis作为天然生物过滤器的能力提供了新的见解,并为未来在环境和城市规划中的应用奠定了基础。
{"title":"Experimental investigation of plants interactions with airborne pollutants in an atmospheric simulation chamber","authors":"M. Bosio , F. Mazzei , M. Brunoldi , D. Massabó , V. Vernocchi , F. Parodi , P. Prati , E. Roccotiello","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As urban areas continue to grow, the need for effective pollution mitigation strategies becomes more critical. This study presents the outcomes of a set of experiments conducted in an atmospheric simulation chamber (ChAMBRe: Chamber for Aerosol Modelling and Bioaerosol Research) to evaluate the uptake of NO<sub>2</sub> and PM main components (black carbon and dust) capacity of 3 different plant species: <em>Myrtus communis</em>, <em>Nerium oleander</em> and <em>Taxus baccata</em>. To isolate the interactions between plants and individual pollutants, each pollutant was sequentially injected into ChAMBRe one at a time. Finally, to simulate real-world conditions, a mixture of all pollutants was injected. The concentration of pollutants within the chamber was monitored in real-time thanks to the ChAMBRe slow control and data logging system. Results indicate different removal capacities of the selected species and varying relationships between plants and pollutants, suggesting different potential applications in urban pollution mitigation strategies. Among the tested species, <em>T. baccata</em> demonstrated the most consistent and well-balanced performance across all pollutants, with notably high effectiveness in capturing black carbon. <em>M. communis</em> exhibited the highest specialization in the uptake of black carbon, although its performance declined significantly in the dust exposure scenarios. In contrast, <em>N. oleander</em> showed the highest capacity for capturing dust particles, while being less effective in the presence of the other pollutants. This study provides new insights into the ability of plants, especially <em>M. communis</em>, to act as natural biofilters and lays the groundwork for future applications in environmental and urban planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100355"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar and geomagnetic activity have been linked to a multitude of impacts on human health including cardiovascular disease (CVD), and total non-accidental mortality. However, this has not been assessed in the Eastern Mediterranean Region or the Middle East. Our study aimed to assess the effects of short-term geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) on mortality in six locations across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions (Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Greece; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Limassol and Nicosia, Cyprus).
Methods
We used a time series analysis adjusted for temperature and humidity over the period between 1997 and 2019 to estimate the effects of GMD (Kp index, sunspot number - SSN, plasma beta, and interplanetary magnetic field - IMF) on daily total non-accidental, CVD, and respiratory mortality, for each study area. We applied meta-analysis to estimate the pooled GMD mortality effect across all locations.
Results
Our analysis included 664,427 deaths over the study period. Kp index was found to be significantly associated with total, CVD, and respiratory mortality. There was a 0.94 % (95 % CI: 0.019, 1.87) increase in total non-accidental mortality; a 0.63 % (95 % CI: 0.013, 1.25) increase in CVD mortality; and a 2.53 % (95 % CI: 0.36, 4.75) increase in respiratory mortality per IQR increase in Kp index (IQR = 15.63). However, solar activity parameters (SSN, Plasma beta, or IMF) were not statistically significantly associated with mortality.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate an association between exposure to higher levels of Kp index and total non-accidental, CVD and respiratory mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Regions. The results warrant additional exploration to ascertain if variations in solar activity-driven human physiological dynamics may also be linked to other health consequences.
{"title":"Solar activity and mortality: a meta-analysis of six cities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East","authors":"Madeleine Wissoker , Carolina Zilli Vieira , Souzana Achilleos , Barrak Alahmad , Maria Athanasiadou , Anastasia Paschalidou , Nikos Kalivitis , Evangelia Samoli , Petros Koutrakis , Annalisa Quattrocchi","doi":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100352","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100352","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Solar and geomagnetic activity have been linked to a multitude of impacts on human health including cardiovascular disease (CVD), and total non-accidental mortality. However, this has not been assessed in the Eastern Mediterranean Region or the Middle East. Our study aimed to assess the effects of short-term geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) on mortality in six locations across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions (Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Greece; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Limassol and Nicosia, Cyprus).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used a time series analysis adjusted for temperature and humidity over the period between 1997 and 2019 to estimate the effects of GMD (K<sub><em>p</em></sub> index, sunspot number - SSN, plasma beta, and interplanetary magnetic field - IMF) on daily total non-accidental, CVD, and respiratory mortality, for each study area. We applied meta-analysis to estimate the pooled GMD mortality effect across all locations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our analysis included 664,427 deaths over the study period. K<sub><em>p</em></sub> index was found to be significantly associated with total, CVD, and respiratory mortality. There was a 0.94 % (95 % CI: 0.019, 1.87) increase in total non-accidental mortality; a 0.63 % (95 % CI: 0.013, 1.25) increase in CVD mortality; and a 2.53 % (95 % CI: 0.36, 4.75) increase in respiratory mortality per IQR increase in K<sub><em>p</em></sub> index (IQR = 15.63). However, solar activity parameters (SSN, Plasma beta, or IMF) were not statistically significantly associated with mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings indicate an association between exposure to higher levels of K<sub><em>p</em></sub> index and total non-accidental, CVD and respiratory mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Regions. The results warrant additional exploration to ascertain if variations in solar activity-driven human physiological dynamics may also be linked to other health consequences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37150,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Environment: X","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100352"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144748889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}