Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1007/s44273-025-00071-2
Koichi Watanabe, Nanami Maki, Michiyo Chatani, Chisato Maki, Ayami Nakanishi, Yuki Wasada, Taisei Akahori, Ryoga Ono, Yuta Yamazaki, Chiharu Mori
Atmospheric concentrations of peroxides (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and methyl hydroperoxide (MHP)), formaldehyde (HCHO), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were measured using a helicopter over Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, central Japan in early summer (May and June) from 2022 to 2024. The impact of transboundary air pollution was relatively small during the observation days. H2O2 concentrations were higher in the high-altitude atmosphere than on the ground and were sufficiently high relative to SO2, similar to the H2O2 concentrations previously measured in mid-summer (August), suggesting that the potential for sulfur dioxide oxidation is high over central Japan during warm seasons. HCHO concentrations in the high-altitude atmosphere were high due to the influence of air pollution from domestic urban areas. The measurement results in this study were compared with the results of a series of helicopter observations previously conducted over Toyama Prefecture, and the characteristics of the oxidizing capacity in the atmosphere over central Japan are discussed.
{"title":"Peroxide concentrations measured over a rural site in the Hokuriku district, coastal region of the Sea of Japan, central Japan, during early summer using a helicopter","authors":"Koichi Watanabe, Nanami Maki, Michiyo Chatani, Chisato Maki, Ayami Nakanishi, Yuki Wasada, Taisei Akahori, Ryoga Ono, Yuta Yamazaki, Chiharu Mori","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00071-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00071-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Atmospheric concentrations of peroxides (hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and methyl hydroperoxide (MHP)), formaldehyde (HCHO), ozone (O<sub>3</sub>), and sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) were measured using a helicopter over Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, central Japan in early summer (May and June) from 2022 to 2024. The impact of transboundary air pollution was relatively small during the observation days. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> concentrations were higher in the high-altitude atmosphere than on the ground and were sufficiently high relative to SO<sub>2</sub>, similar to the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> concentrations previously measured in mid-summer (August), suggesting that the potential for sulfur dioxide oxidation is high over central Japan during warm seasons. HCHO concentrations in the high-altitude atmosphere were high due to the influence of air pollution from domestic urban areas. The measurement results in this study were compared with the results of a series of helicopter observations previously conducted over Toyama Prefecture, and the characteristics of the oxidizing capacity in the atmosphere over central Japan are discussed.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00071-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145612438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
With the rapid development of industry and urbanization, air pollution has become a global environmental issue, with PM2.5 attracting widespread attention due to its severe impact on human health and the environment. Therefore, accurate prediction of PM2.5 concentration is crucial for environmental protection and public health. However, the nonlinear and multivariate characteristics of PM2.5 data pose challenges to prediction accuracy. To address this issue, we propose an innovative hybrid multivariate prediction model called WTCrossformer, which integrates wavelet transform convolution (WTC) to better extract local features and reduce the impact of noise on predictions. Additionally, the model employs dimension segment-wise embedding (DSW) and two-stage attention (TSA) mechanisms to capture temporal and cross-variable correlations in multivariate PM2.5 data, leveraging a hierarchical encoder-decoder structure to generate prediction results. This paper selects a multivariate time-series dataset from the UCI Machine Learning Repository. There are a total of 13 variables in this dataset, which details the air pollutant situations and meteorological conditions at 12 monitoring stations in the Beijing area over a 5-year period. Comparative experiments carried out on multiple PM2.5 datasets indicate that the model achieves relatively high prediction accuracy. It can accurately predict the trends of PM2.5 concentration, offering effective guidance for people’s daily life and health. Ablation experiments further confirm that the introduction of the WTC module significantly enhances the prediction accuracy. Our research provides strong technical support for environmental monitoring and pollution prediction.
{"title":"A new hybrid multivariate prediction model based on wavelet transform convolution for PM2.5 prediction","authors":"Xinbiao Lu, Wentao Zhang, Gaofan Zhan, Wen Wu, Changjiang Han, Xiaolong Wu","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00067-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00067-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the rapid development of industry and urbanization, air pollution has become a global environmental issue, with PM2.5 attracting widespread attention due to its severe impact on human health and the environment. Therefore, accurate prediction of PM2.5 concentration is crucial for environmental protection and public health. However, the nonlinear and multivariate characteristics of PM2.5 data pose challenges to prediction accuracy. To address this issue, we propose an innovative hybrid multivariate prediction model called WTCrossformer, which integrates wavelet transform convolution (WTC) to better extract local features and reduce the impact of noise on predictions. Additionally, the model employs dimension segment-wise embedding (DSW) and two-stage attention (TSA) mechanisms to capture temporal and cross-variable correlations in multivariate PM2.5 data, leveraging a hierarchical encoder-decoder structure to generate prediction results. This paper selects a multivariate time-series dataset from the UCI Machine Learning Repository. There are a total of 13 variables in this dataset, which details the air pollutant situations and meteorological conditions at 12 monitoring stations in the Beijing area over a 5-year period. Comparative experiments carried out on multiple PM2.5 datasets indicate that the model achieves relatively high prediction accuracy. It can accurately predict the trends of PM2.5 concentration, offering effective guidance for people’s daily life and health. Ablation experiments further confirm that the introduction of the WTC module significantly enhances the prediction accuracy. Our research provides strong technical support for environmental monitoring and pollution prediction.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00067-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145560849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1007/s44273-025-00062-3
Sunayana, Nahar Singh, Papiya Mandal
Black carbon (BC) is a major pollutant entering the human body through PM2.5 and posing major health effects. India lying in the Asia region is a major contributor to BC emissions from the combustion of biofuels. BC present in the atmosphere is a pollutant deteriorating air quality and is a light-absorbing aerosol (LAA), thus playing a dual role. In India, several studies have been published quantifying BC concentration. The optical measurement of BC has been carried out at multiple locations in India, and its radiative effect has been studied using the Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model. This review is an attempt to collate those studies that have measured BC and estimated its radiative effect. The BC levels, spectral Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), single scattering albedo (SSA) and direct radiative forcing (DRF) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), at the surface (SUR) and heat within the atmosphere (ATM) for 20 years (2002 to 2023) have been analysed. It was found that many studies for performing DRF calculations have not used BC measurements and have used AOD analysis to characterise the sources of aerosols as direct BC measurements are not required to estimate the DRF. The selection of AOD wavelength 500 nm or 550 nm is not clear in the literature for BC-RF calculations and needs to be standardised for DRF. IPCC AR6 has estimated Effective Radiative Forcing (ERF) due to BC with temperature and surface feedbacks, and future studies for ERF need to use climate models with tools like WRF-Chem. The source of BC is mostly from fossil fuel or biomass burning during the winter season, while it is dust aerosols during the summer. Biomass burning, use of traditional cook stoves and aerosol episodes contribute to the warming of the ambient environment. Beijing, China, has reduced ATM forcing in the summer when compared to Delhi, India, and has reduced the fraction of heat exerted in the atmosphere. The interactions of BC-UHI are not studied yet in India, and with the ARFINET network, an attempt can be made in this direction. The Urban Pollution Island (UPI)-Urban Heat Island (UHI) review identified PM2.5 contributing to UHI intensity during the summer and winter in metro cities, while BC-UHI interactions are not dealt with in detail.
Graphical Abstract
黑碳是通过PM2.5进入人体的主要污染物，对人体健康有重大影响。印度位于亚洲地区，是燃烧生物燃料排放二氧化碳的主要贡献者。BC存在于大气中，是一种使空气质量恶化的污染物，同时又是一种吸光气溶胶（LAA），具有双重作用。在印度，已经发表了几项量化BC浓度的研究。在印度的多个地点进行了BC的光学测量，并利用Santa Barbara DISORT大气辐射传输（SBDART）模式研究了其辐射效应。本综述试图整理那些测量BC并估计其辐射效应的研究。分析了20年（2002 - 2023）的BC水平、光谱气溶胶光学深度（AOD）、单散射反照率（SSA）和大气顶部（TOA）、地表（SUR）和大气热（ATM）的直接辐射强迫（DRF）。研究发现，许多进行DRF计算的研究没有使用BC测量，而是使用AOD分析来表征气溶胶的来源，因为直接的BC测量不需要估计DRF。在BC-RF计算中，AOD波长500nm或550nm的选择在文献中并不明确，需要对DRF进行标准化。IPCC AR6利用温度和地表反馈估算了由BC引起的有效辐射强迫（ERF），未来对ERF的研究需要使用WRF-Chem等工具的气候模式。在冬季，BC的来源主要是化石燃料或生物质燃烧，而在夏季则是粉尘气溶胶。生物质燃烧、传统炉灶的使用和气溶胶事件导致环境变暖。与印度德里相比，中国北京在夏季减少了ATM强迫，并且减少了大气中热量的比例。印度还没有研究BC-UHI的相互作用，通过ARFINET网络，可以朝这个方向进行尝试。城市污染岛(UPI)-城市热岛（UHI）综述确定了PM2.5在夏季和冬季对地铁城市热岛强度的贡献，而BC-UHI的相互作用没有详细处理。图形抽象
{"title":"Black carbon and its radiative effect with role in Urban Heat Island (UHI) over India: a review","authors":"Sunayana, Nahar Singh, Papiya Mandal","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00062-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00062-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Black carbon (BC) is a major pollutant entering the human body through PM<sub>2.5</sub> and posing major health effects. India lying in the Asia region is a major contributor to BC emissions from the combustion of biofuels. BC present in the atmosphere is a pollutant deteriorating air quality and is a light-absorbing aerosol (LAA), thus playing a dual role. In India, several studies have been published quantifying BC concentration. The optical measurement of BC has been carried out at multiple locations in India, and its radiative effect has been studied using the Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model. This review is an attempt to collate those studies that have measured BC and estimated its radiative effect. The BC levels, spectral Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), single scattering albedo (SSA) and direct radiative forcing (DRF) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), at the surface (SUR) and heat within the atmosphere (ATM) for 20 years (2002 to 2023) have been analysed. It was found that many studies for performing DRF calculations have not used BC measurements and have used AOD analysis to characterise the sources of aerosols as direct BC measurements are not required to estimate the DRF. The selection of AOD wavelength 500 nm or 550 nm is not clear in the literature for BC-RF calculations and needs to be standardised for DRF. IPCC AR6 has estimated Effective Radiative Forcing (ERF) due to BC with temperature and surface feedbacks, and future studies for ERF need to use climate models with tools like WRF-Chem. The source of BC is mostly from fossil fuel or biomass burning during the winter season, while it is dust aerosols during the summer. Biomass burning, use of traditional cook stoves and aerosol episodes contribute to the warming of the ambient environment. Beijing, China, has reduced ATM forcing in the summer when compared to Delhi, India, and has reduced the fraction of heat exerted in the atmosphere. The interactions of BC-UHI are not studied yet in India, and with the ARFINET network, an attempt can be made in this direction. The Urban Pollution Island (UPI)-Urban Heat Island (UHI) review identified PM<sub>2.5</sub> contributing to UHI intensity during the summer and winter in metro cities, while BC-UHI interactions are not dealt with in detail.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00062-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145456702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic is now a globally acknowledged pollutant. The current annual production of plastic worldwide is over 400 million tonnes, of which more than 40% is contributed by single-use plastic, resulting in plastic waste. This plastic garbage degrades into finer particles termed microplastics (less than 1 mm) and nano-plastics (less than 1 µm), together known as micro-nano-plastics (MNPs). Because of their endurance, they may remain in the environment for several decades, and their low density can easily be dispersed by wind and sea waves, often traveling thousands of kilometers. Due to these characteristics, MNPs are omnipresent now. Humans get exposed to these MNPs regularly, mainly through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Huge quantities of MNPs have been reported in the ocean around the globe, and through this, they enter the seafood and further into humans. Additionally, MNPs have been detected in processed food and beverages such as beer, tea bags, and table salt. Once MNPs enter the body, they accumulate in the tissues, enter the bloodstream, and affect various cellular pathways. So, the hazard assessment results from various studies on MPs and NPs are diverse and sometimes conflicting, most likely due to the use of research models and the diversity of the MNPs (varying size, shape, and composition). Therefore, considering these parameters this review will thoroughly evaluate the possible impact of MNP exposure on the gastrointestinal system and further amplifications on human health.
{"title":"Microplastics and health hazards: gastrointestinal risk assessment across a multi-species perspective","authors":"Shiv Basant Kumar, Jey Kumar Pachiyappan, Sudharsanavasan Chandrasekar, Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Reddy Karri, Praveen Thaggikuppe Krishnamurthy, Jawahar Natarajan, Thava Palaniami, Gowthamarajan Kuppusamy","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00068-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00068-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Plastic is now a globally acknowledged pollutant. The current annual production of plastic worldwide is over 400 million tonnes, of which more than 40% is contributed by single-use plastic, resulting in plastic waste. This plastic garbage degrades into finer particles termed microplastics (less than 1 mm) and nano-plastics (less than 1 µm), together known as micro-nano-plastics (MNPs). Because of their endurance, they may remain in the environment for several decades, and their low density can easily be dispersed by wind and sea waves, often traveling thousands of kilometers. Due to these characteristics, MNPs are omnipresent now. Humans get exposed to these MNPs regularly, mainly through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Huge quantities of MNPs have been reported in the ocean around the globe, and through this, they enter the seafood and further into humans. Additionally, MNPs have been detected in processed food and beverages such as beer, tea bags, and table salt. Once MNPs enter the body, they accumulate in the tissues, enter the bloodstream, and affect various cellular pathways. So, the hazard assessment results from various studies on MPs and NPs are diverse and sometimes conflicting, most likely due to the use of research models and the diversity of the MNPs (varying size, shape, and composition). Therefore, considering these parameters this review will thoroughly evaluate the possible impact of MNP exposure on the gastrointestinal system and further amplifications on human health.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00068-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To quantify and characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from swine sheds—a major source of atmospheric pollutants—this study investigated VOC concentrations and emission rates in a commercial swine facility in Okinawa, Japan, across four seasons. Average VOC concentrations at the exhaust outlet Ranged from 480 to 750 µg m⁻3 with limited seasonal variation. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs), particularly acetic acid (31–38%), consistently dominated the VOC profile, followed by p-cresol, acetaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. VFAs also made the largest contributions to both the OH radical reactivity (OHR) and ozone formation potential (OFP), indicating their significance in secondary pollutant formation. VOC emission rates (ERs) Ranged from 1.1 to 2.8 mg h⁻1 kg⁻1 and exhibited an exponential increase with temperature. The derived temperature–ER regression model was consistent with previous findings from other swine facilities, suggesting its broader applicability. Using this model, we estimated that annual VOC emissions from Japanese commercial swine sheds amount to approximately 10,000 tons, equivalent to 1.8% of the nation’s total VOC emissions. These findings highlight the livestock sector as a non-negligible contributor to national VOC inventories and suggest that mitigation strategies should account for animal husbandry emissions.
Graphical Abstract
为了量化和表征猪舍挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）的排放-大气污染物的主要来源-本研究调查了日本冲绳一家商业养猪场四个季节的VOC浓度和排放率。排放口VOC的平均浓度为480 ~ 750µg(3)，季节性变化有限。挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs），尤其是乙酸（31-38%），一直主导VOC谱，其次是对甲酚、乙醛、丙酮和乙醇。VFAs对OH自由基反应活性（OHR）和臭氧形成势（OFP）的贡献最大，表明其在二次污染物形成中的重要性。挥发性有机化合物排放率（ERs）从1.1到2.8 mg h - 1 kg - 1，并随着温度呈指数增长。导出的温度- er回归模型与先前在其他猪场的研究结果一致，表明其更广泛的适用性。利用这一模型，我们估计日本商业猪舍每年挥发性有机化合物的排放量约为1万吨，相当于日本总挥发性有机化合物排放量的1.8%。这些发现突出表明，畜牧业对国家挥发性有机化合物清单的贡献不可忽视，并建议减缓战略应考虑到畜牧业的排放。图形抽象
{"title":"Seasonal variation and temperature-dependent emission of volatile organic compounds from a commercial swine shed in Japan","authors":"Nobuyuki Tanaka, Kaho Nishimura, Akane Miyazaki, Hiroshi Hayami","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00066-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00066-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To quantify and characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from swine sheds—a major source of atmospheric pollutants—this study investigated VOC concentrations and emission rates in a commercial swine facility in Okinawa, Japan, across four seasons. Average VOC concentrations at the exhaust outlet Ranged from 480 to 750 µg m⁻<sup>3</sup> with limited seasonal variation. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs), particularly acetic acid (31–38%), consistently dominated the VOC profile, followed by p-cresol, acetaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. VFAs also made the largest contributions to both the OH radical reactivity (OHR) and ozone formation potential (OFP), indicating their significance in secondary pollutant formation. VOC emission rates (ERs) Ranged from 1.1 to 2.8 mg h⁻<sup>1</sup> kg⁻<sup>1</sup> and exhibited an exponential increase with temperature. The derived temperature–ER regression model was consistent with previous findings from other swine facilities, suggesting its broader applicability. Using this model, we estimated that annual VOC emissions from Japanese commercial swine sheds amount to approximately 10,000 tons, equivalent to 1.8% of the nation’s total VOC emissions. These findings highlight the livestock sector as a non-negligible contributor to national VOC inventories and suggest that mitigation strategies should account for animal husbandry emissions.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00066-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Over the past decades, the atmospheric environment in Northeast Asia has changed dynamically. The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) has accumulated wet deposition monitoring data through daily sampling at many sites. Daily precipitation samples may reflect air pollutant concentrations more dynamically than samples collected at longer intervals, such as weekly or biweekly. Among daily precipitation data accumulated over the 20 years from 2000 to 2019 at the 10 EANET sites in Japan, we selected high-concentration data within the top 2% range for non-sea salt components, namely H⁺, NH₄⁺, nss-Ca2⁺, NO₃⁻, and nss-SO₄2⁻, respectively. Approximately 67% of the high-concentration data were from 2005 to 2014. Thereafter, the number of high-concentration data points was limited in recent years. Most of the high-concentration data were obtained in spring (March–May; approximately 50%) and winter (December–February; approximately 31%). These results are partially consistent with the air pollution conditions in mainland China, and the high concentration phenomenon is thought to be influenced by transboundary air pollution. Trajectory analysis performed on the samples with the highest concentration data in the winter-spring season confirmed that, in most cases, air masses from the continent were transported to each site. The seasonal differences in the coexisting high-concentration components in the samples suggested that counterions of SO₄2⁻ and NO3⁻ were changed from H+ to Ca2+ from winter to spring due to the transport of spring dust storm from the continent. Thus, the daily high-concentration data dynamically reflected the air mass flow in the region.
{"title":"Temporal and seasonal variations in the frequency of high-concentration precipitation samples at EANET sites in Japan: 20 years of daily wet deposition data","authors":"Yuhei Kato, Tsuyoshi Ohizumi, Makoto Nakata, Hiroyuki Sase","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00065-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00065-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Over the past decades, the atmospheric environment in Northeast Asia has changed dynamically. The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) has accumulated wet deposition monitoring data through daily sampling at many sites. Daily precipitation samples may reflect air pollutant concentrations more dynamically than samples collected at longer intervals, such as weekly or biweekly. Among daily precipitation data accumulated over the 20 years from 2000 to 2019 at the 10 EANET sites in Japan, we selected high-concentration data within the top 2% range for non-sea salt components, namely H⁺, NH₄⁺, nss-Ca<sup>2</sup>⁺, NO₃⁻, and nss-SO₄<sup>2</sup>⁻, respectively. Approximately 67% of the high-concentration data were from 2005 to 2014. Thereafter, the number of high-concentration data points was limited in recent years. Most of the high-concentration data were obtained in spring (March–May; approximately 50%) and winter (December–February; approximately 31%). These results are partially consistent with the air pollution conditions in mainland China, and the high concentration phenomenon is thought to be influenced by transboundary air pollution. Trajectory analysis performed on the samples with the highest concentration data in the winter-spring season confirmed that, in most cases, air masses from the continent were transported to each site. The seasonal differences in the coexisting high-concentration components in the samples suggested that counterions of SO₄<sup>2</sup>⁻ and NO<sub>3</sub>⁻ were changed from H<sup>+</sup> to Ca<sup>2+</sup> from winter to spring due to the transport of spring dust storm from the continent. Thus, the daily high-concentration data dynamically reflected the air mass flow in the region.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00065-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144923081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1007/s44273-025-00064-1
Ji-Yun Jung, Jong-Won Kim, Tae-Woo Koo, Joon-Young Heo, Cheol-Min Lee
This study aimed to assess the aggregate health risks associated with multi-pathway exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air near the Sinpyeong and Jangrim industrial complexes in Busan, South Korea. As part of efforts to evaluate the necessity of reducing air pollutant emissions and improving air quality management, five residential areas with high population density near the industrial complexes were selected. VOCs concentrations were measured, and aggregate risk assessments were conducted considering inhalation and dermal exposure pathways. The results of the assessment indicated that the carcinogenic substances (chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, ethylbenzene, and 1,3-butadiene) exceeded the risk level of 1 × 10−5, suggesting potential adverse health effects. In the case of non-carcinogenic substances, benzene, tetrachloroethylene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene surpassed the risk level of 1, also indicating possible health risks. This study is significant in that it identifies the necessity of aggregate risk assessments by comparing the individual and aggregate risks of VOCs and identifying major exposure pathways. Based on the findings, it is deemed necessary to establish management strategies focusing on the primary exposure pathways to protect the health of residents living near the Sinpyeong and Jangrim industrial complexes. Furthermore, the results have potential value in informing broader air pollutant emission control and air quality management strategies for the entire Saha-gu district of Busan.
{"title":"Aggregate risk assessment of VOCs exposure in residents near Busan’s Sinpyeong and Jangrim industrial complexes","authors":"Ji-Yun Jung, Jong-Won Kim, Tae-Woo Koo, Joon-Young Heo, Cheol-Min Lee","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00064-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00064-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to assess the aggregate health risks associated with multi-pathway exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air near the Sinpyeong and Jangrim industrial complexes in Busan, South Korea. As part of efforts to evaluate the necessity of reducing air pollutant emissions and improving air quality management, five residential areas with high population density near the industrial complexes were selected. VOCs concentrations were measured, and aggregate risk assessments were conducted considering inhalation and dermal exposure pathways. The results of the assessment indicated that the carcinogenic substances (chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, ethylbenzene, and 1,3-butadiene) exceeded the risk level of 1 × 10<sup>−5</sup>, suggesting potential adverse health effects. In the case of non-carcinogenic substances, benzene, tetrachloroethylene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene surpassed the risk level of 1, also indicating possible health risks. This study is significant in that it identifies the necessity of aggregate risk assessments by comparing the individual and aggregate risks of VOCs and identifying major exposure pathways. Based on the findings, it is deemed necessary to establish management strategies focusing on the primary exposure pathways to protect the health of residents living near the Sinpyeong and Jangrim industrial complexes. Furthermore, the results have potential value in informing broader air pollutant emission control and air quality management strategies for the entire Saha-gu district of Busan.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00064-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1007/s44273-025-00063-2
Qurban Aliyar, Heman Das Lohano
The world’s poorest communities are most affected by environmental contamination, as they often lack access to essential sanitation services. Unsafe stool disposal practices by households further exacerbate contamination in shared neighborhood spaces, posing serious health risks not only to their own children but also to children living nearby. In this study, we examine the impact of neighborhood-level contamination and other environmental factors on child morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan. We estimate logistic regression models using cross-sectional data on 32,712 children under five from the latest publicly available Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey, published in 2017. The findings show that children in neighborhoods where unsafe stool disposal is widespread face a 3.8 percentage points higher risk of diarrhea and a 1.1 percentage points higher risk of child mortality than those in neighborhoods where safe stool disposal is practiced. The use of polluting fuels for cooking increases the likelihood of cough in children by 1.5 percentage points and child mortality by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, averting behaviors such as using non-shared toilets, improved water sources, and cooking in separate rooms or outdoor spaces significantly reduce the risks of these health outcomes. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate environmental health risks and safeguard child well-being in Afghanistan.
{"title":"Neighborhood-level contamination and risks of child morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan","authors":"Qurban Aliyar, Heman Das Lohano","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00063-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00063-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The world’s poorest communities are most affected by environmental contamination, as they often lack access to essential sanitation services. Unsafe stool disposal practices by households further exacerbate contamination in shared neighborhood spaces, posing serious health risks not only to their own children but also to children living nearby. In this study, we examine the impact of neighborhood-level contamination and other environmental factors on child morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan. We estimate logistic regression models using cross-sectional data on 32,712 children under five from the latest publicly available Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey, published in 2017. The findings show that children in neighborhoods where unsafe stool disposal is widespread face a 3.8 percentage points higher risk of diarrhea and a 1.1 percentage points higher risk of child mortality than those in neighborhoods where safe stool disposal is practiced. The use of polluting fuels for cooking increases the likelihood of cough in children by 1.5 percentage points and child mortality by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, averting behaviors such as using non-shared toilets, improved water sources, and cooking in separate rooms or outdoor spaces significantly reduce the risks of these health outcomes. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate environmental health risks and safeguard child well-being in Afghanistan.\u0000</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00063-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145162086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To investigate the impact of low-dose radiation from fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident on plants, inflorescences of Somei-yoshino cherry trees (Cerasus × yedoensis) were collected just before blooming from 2014 to 2021 at three locations: Tsushima Elementary School (TE), Tsushima Junior High School (TJ), and Namie High School (NH) in the Tsushima area of Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture. The immature pollen ratio (IPR) was examined. We modeled the annual changes in spatial dose rates (SDR) and the IPR to verify whether SDR affected the IPR. Our results showed that the low-dose radiation from FDNPP accident increased IPR in Somei-yoshino cherry trees at the study sites in Fukushima Prefecture. The relative increase of IPR was highest in the range from 30 to 60% in 2014, when the SDR was at its highest, and then decreased to 20–40% with the decline in the SDR in 2016, and remained in 15 to 35% range thereafter. The increase of IPR at the Fukushima sites over the extended period of time suggests negative impacts on pollen formation in other perennial species and accordingly long-term cumulative effects on biodiversity across the affected region.
Graphical Abstract
为了研究福岛第一核电站（FDNPP）事故放射性沉降物的低剂量辐射对植物的影响，于2014年至2021年在福岛县浪江镇对马地区的对马小学（TE）、对马初中（TJ）和浪江高中（NH）三个地点采集了一些吉野樱桃树（Cerasus x yedoensis）开花前的花序。测定了未成熟花粉比（IPR）。我们模拟了空间剂量率（SDR）和知识产权的年变化，以验证SDR是否影响知识产权。结果表明，福岛核电站事故低剂量辐射增加了福岛县某些吉野樱桃树的IPR。2014年SDR最高时，知识产权相对增幅最高，为30% - 60%，2016年随着SDR贬值，知识产权相对增幅降至20% - 40%，此后一直保持在15% - 35%的水平。在较长一段时间内，福岛站点的知识产权增加表明对其他多年生物种花粉形成的负面影响，从而对整个受影响地区的生物多样性产生长期累积影响。图形抽象
{"title":"Effect of low-dose radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident on cherry blossom pollen formation","authors":"Nobuyoshi Nakajima, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masanori Tamaoki, Mitsuko Aono","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00059-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00059-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To investigate the impact of low-dose radiation from fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident on plants, inflorescences of Somei-yoshino cherry trees (Cerasus × yedoensis) were collected just before blooming from 2014 to 2021 at three locations: Tsushima Elementary School (TE), Tsushima Junior High School (TJ), and Namie High School (NH) in the Tsushima area of Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture. The immature pollen ratio (IPR) was examined. We modeled the annual changes in spatial dose rates (SDR) and the IPR to verify whether SDR affected the IPR. Our results showed that the low-dose radiation from FDNPP accident increased IPR in Somei-yoshino cherry trees at the study sites in Fukushima Prefecture. The relative increase of IPR was highest in the range from 30 to 60% in 2014, when the SDR was at its highest, and then decreased to 20–40% with the decline in the SDR in 2016, and remained in 15 to 35% range thereafter. The increase of IPR at the Fukushima sites over the extended period of time suggests negative impacts on pollen formation in other perennial species and accordingly long-term cumulative effects on biodiversity across the affected region.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00059-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-11DOI: 10.1007/s44273-025-00058-z
Young-hyun Kim, Shin-young Park, Hyeok Jang, Cheol-Min Lee
Ulsan City, South Korea, hosts various industries, including metal processing, petrochemicals, machinery, and electronics. The complex interplay of industrial activities, traffic emissions, and marine influences contributes to the formation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This study investigated the chemical composition and sources of PM2.5 in Ulsan using samples collected periodically from five air monitoring stations between August 2020 and December 2023. The highest PM2.5 concentrations were observed in areas with dense industrial facilities, such as the Onsan National and Mipo General Industrial Complexes. These areas were characterized by large-scale industrial operations, including metal processing facilities and petrochemical plants, which were identified as major pollution sources. Coefficient of divergence (COD) analysis revealed minimal differences in pollution sources between the monitoring sites, suggesting that the primary emission sources were relatively uniform across the study area. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) identified various contributors, including metal processing and smelting industries, soil dust, and sea salt particles. Elements such as Fe and Mn were strongly associated with metal processing and machining activities, whereas V and Ni, which originated from petrochemical processes, were indicators of petroleum combustion. PM2.5 exhibited seasonal variations, with higher levels in winter due to increased heating emissions and in spring due to dust storms. The primary sources of pollution included vehicle exhaust, metal processing and smelting, and sea salt particles, with a more pronounced distribution in regions of intense industrial activity. This study provides essential information on PM2.5 sources and emissions within Ulsan’s industrial complexes, serving as a foundational resource for air quality management and policy development in the city.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal distribution characterization and source estimation of PM2.5 components in the Ulsan Industrial Complex","authors":"Young-hyun Kim, Shin-young Park, Hyeok Jang, Cheol-Min Lee","doi":"10.1007/s44273-025-00058-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44273-025-00058-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ulsan City, South Korea, hosts various industries, including metal processing, petrochemicals, machinery, and electronics. The complex interplay of industrial activities, traffic emissions, and marine influences contributes to the formation of fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). This study investigated the chemical composition and sources of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in Ulsan using samples collected periodically from five air monitoring stations between August 2020 and December 2023. The highest PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations were observed in areas with dense industrial facilities, such as the Onsan National and Mipo General Industrial Complexes. These areas were characterized by large-scale industrial operations, including metal processing facilities and petrochemical plants, which were identified as major pollution sources. Coefficient of divergence (COD) analysis revealed minimal differences in pollution sources between the monitoring sites, suggesting that the primary emission sources were relatively uniform across the study area. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) identified various contributors, including metal processing and smelting industries, soil dust, and sea salt particles. Elements such as Fe and Mn were strongly associated with metal processing and machining activities, whereas V and Ni, which originated from petrochemical processes, were indicators of petroleum combustion. PM<sub>2.5</sub> exhibited seasonal variations, with higher levels in winter due to increased heating emissions and in spring due to dust storms. The primary sources of pollution included vehicle exhaust, metal processing and smelting, and sea salt particles, with a more pronounced distribution in regions of intense industrial activity. This study provides essential information on PM<sub>2.5</sub> sources and emissions within Ulsan’s industrial complexes, serving as a foundational resource for air quality management and policy development in the city.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":45358,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44273-025-00058-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145164054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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