Air Quality Atmosphere and Health最新文献

Airborne particles, denoted as particulate matter (PM), are one of major environmental pollutants. Particles smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀) penetrate into the human lungs during breathing and exert damage by physical and chemical mechanisms. PM mass concentration in the air and major toxicants contained are thus regulated by relevant directives all around the world, and their continuous monitoring is prescribed. Elemental composition of PM is one of the most often measured air-quality parameters, and the standard method for its determination produces huge amounts of toxic chemical waste. Sustainable alternatives are thus sought for, such as laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICPMS), which allows for the direct analysis of PM collected on a filter without the microwave-assisted extraction step prior to the analysis with ICPMS. In this work, we evaluated the performance of 213 nm Nd:YAG laser system (LA213) compared to the more powerful 193 nm excimer laser (LA193) for this application, in order to facilitate the replacement of the standard method (i.e., MW/ICPMS) with a new, waste-free one. We show that LA213 produces good results when operated under optimized instrument conditions, which were in fact very similar to the LA193 system. Sensitivity for some elements was, however, a bit poorer, but this can be overcome with additional fine-tuning, if necessary. Wrapping-up our thorough evaluation, we can conclude that the more affordable LA213 is suitable for air-quality monitoring purposes.

Airborne fungal spores constitute a significant fraction of atmospheric bioparticles, and most of them are responsible for causing the respiratory allergy. The present study deals with the evaluation of fungal aerospora by microscopy-based and culture-based methods in one outdoor and six indoor microenvironments in Kolkata, India, from May 2014 to April 2017. The association of environmental parameters with spore concentrations was explored by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The impact of spore concentrations on the local population was assessed through a questionnaire survey, linear regression analysis, and Skin Prick Test (SPT). The maximum spore concentration was found in the outdoor environment. Ascospores, Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus/Penicillium spp., and basidiospores were found as major taxa recorded by microscopy-based method, whereas in culture-based method, Aspergillus spp. were abundant. In the outdoor, particles with aerodynamic diameter < 10 µm (PM₁₀) and in indoors, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, average sun hour, PM₁₀, and ambient nitrogen dioxide concentration (NO₂) were identified as significant predictors. The linear regression analysis showed several positive associations of major taxa with respiratory diseases in the local inhabitant. SPT with several fungi was able to induce allergic inflammation in a selected atopic patient cohort. Analysis of spore concentrations and their relation with environmental parameters will give an insight into the air quality in Kolkata. The association with respiratory diseases will shed a light on the increasing burden of airway diseases in the urban megacity. Observations from this study will be useful for assessing the potential health impact on residents.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is associated with adverse health effects, including mortality, even at low concentrations. Rail conveyance of coal, accounting for one-third of American rail freight tonnage, is a source of PM_2.5. However, there are limited studies of its contribution to PM_2.5, especially in urban settings where residents experience higher exposure and vulnerability to air pollution. We developed a novel artificial intelligence-driven monitoring system to quantify average and maximum PM_2.5 concentrations of full and empty (unloaded) coal trains compared to freight and passenger trains. The monitor was close to the train tracks in Richmond, California, a city with a racially diverse population of 115,000 and high rates of asthma and heart disease. We used multiple linear regression models controlling for diurnal patterns and meteorology. The results indicate coal trains add on average 8.32 µg/m³ (95% CI = 6.37, 10.28; p < 0.01) to ambient PM_2.5, while sensitivity analysis produced midpoints ranging from 5 to 12 µg/m³. Coal trains contributed 2 to 3 µg/m³ more of PM_2.5 than freight trains, and 7 µg/m³ more under calm wind conditions, suggesting our study underestimates emissions and subsequent concentrations of coal train dust. Empty coal cars tended to add 2 µg/m³. Regarding peak concentrations of PM_2.5, our models suggest an increase of 17.4 µg/m³ (95% CI = 6.2, 28.5; p < 0.01) from coal trains, about 3 µg/m³ more than freight trains. Given rail shipment of coal occurs globally, including in populous areas, it is likely to have adverse effects on health and environmental justice.

The main objective of this study is to know the current state of thermal discomfort and its changes in the coming decades in one of the semi-arid climates of Iran. This study is very important considering the importance and direct impact of climate change and global warming on human health and can help adopt preventive policies to face them properly. Thermal discomfort changes were assessed by the temperature-humid index (THI) and effective temperature (ET) in Arak City as a representative of the semi-arid climate of Iran. The modeling was done using the CanESM2 general circulation model. The statistical downscaling model (SDSM) software was used to downscale the model data in the period of 2011 to 2099 with three different scenarios of optimistic (RCP 2.6), intermediate (RCP 4.5), and pessimistic (RCP 8.5). The results showed that based on all three scenarios, the values of THI in January, February, and May in the coming decades will be higher than the base values (1976–2005), which will indicate an increase in thermal discomfort in these months. The pattern of changes based on the ET index was almost similar to the THI except in the optimistic scenario in all periods. In this scenario, there is a slight downward trend from 8.1% in the base period to 1.9%, 4.3%, and 3.7% in the decades 2011 to 2040, 2041 to 2070, and 2071 to 2099, respectively. In general, the increasing temperature in the study area based on all three scenarios will cause major changes in thermal comfort, so that thermal discomfort increases not only in hot seasons, but also in other seasons.

Abstract 

Environmental pollution, especially indoor air pollution, has become a global issue and affects nearly all domains of life. Being both natural and anthropogenic substances, indoor air pollutants lead to the deterioration of the ecosystem and have a negative impact on human health. Cost-effective plant-based approaches can help to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), regulate temperature, and protect humans from potential health risks. Thus, in this review, we have highlighted the common indoor air pollutants and their mitigation through plant-based approaches. Potted plants, green walls, and their combination with bio-filtration are such emerging approaches that can efficiently purify the indoor air. Moreover, we have discussed the pathways or mechanisms of phytoremediation, which involve the aerial parts of the plants (phyllosphere), growth media, and roots along with their associated microorganisms (rhizosphere). In conclusion, plants and their associated microbial communities can be key solutions for reducing indoor air pollution. However, there is a dire need to explore advanced omics technologies to get in-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanisms associated with plant-based reduction of indoor air pollutants.

The study of the different pollutants present in atmospheric aerosols such as trace elements and radionuclides is essential to assess the air quality. To analyze the particulate matter (PM), atmospheric filters with different dimensions and geometries (rectangular, circular, slotted, and square filters) are usually employed. Regarding the pollutants existing in atmospheric aerosols, radionuclides are usually analyzed due to their multiple applications such as either in the environmental radiological control or as tracers of atmospheric processes. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new and general methodology to calibrate in efficiency coaxial Ge detectors to properly determine radionuclides present in the PM by gamma-ray spectrometry for several filter types. For this, granular certified reference materials (CRM) containing only natural radionuclides (²³⁸U-series, ²³²Th-series, and ⁴⁰ K) were selected. Several granular solid CRMs were chosen allowing us to reproduce the same PM deposition geometry and to assure the homogeneity of the added CRMs. These are the main advantages in relation to the typical methods that use liquid CRMs. Furthermore, for filters whose surfaces are relatively large, they were cut in several pieces and placed one on top of the other, achieving the same geometry than the PM deposited onto the filter. Then, the experimental full-energy peak efficiencies (FEPEs) were obtained for each energy of interest (E_γ) and they were fitted versus E_γ, finding a general FEPE function for each filter type. Finally, this methodology was validated for both natural and artificial radionuclides (from 46 to 1332 keV) by using different filter types employed in proficiency test exercises, obtaining |z_score|< 2 for all cases.

Growing epidemiological evidence has shown that ambient temperature variability (TV) contributes to multiple health problems. However, whether short-term TV affects mental health remains unclear. Based on a nationally representative cohort sample from 2011 to 2018 in China, this study linked monthly TV with depressive symptoms. City-level data on daily temperature for 1 month prior to the survey date were collected. The TV in 1 month for each participant, measured by the standard deviations (SDs) of daily humidex, daily mean temperature, daily minimum temperature, and daily maximum temperature, was calculated based on the above daily data. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms. Random effects models and difference-in-difference models based on the introduction of low-carbon cities (LCCs) were applied. A one-point increase in the 1-month SDs of daily humidex and mean temperature was associated with 0.096 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.040–0.152) and 0.178 (95% CI: 0.081–0.276) increases in CES-D scores. Similar associations were found when temperature variability was measured by the SDs of the daily minimum temperature and maximum temperature. In addition, a positive and statistically significant mental health effect of changes in TV was found after the introduction of the LCCs. A one-point increase in monthly TV, measured by daily humidex, was associated with an increase in the CES-D score of 0.148 (95% CI: 0.018–0.277) for those experiencing the introduction of LCCs. Our results suggest that mental health improvements should account for ambient TV in China.

Observed synoptic anomalies in connection with China’s extreme precipitation events/floods in the summers of 1982/83, 1997/98, 2010, 2014, 2015/16, and 2020 are studied. These events mainly occur within the middle and lower Yangtze basins. The dominant moisture source is the Northern Indian Ocean and the Southwestern Pacific Ocean of the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP). Both of these bodies of water have warmed since 1979. In East Asia, the strong land‐sea thermal contrast driven by global warming drives the increased East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) circulation, which develops deep convective precipitation. The total precipitable water in the Indo-Pacific region has also been increasing since 1979. The intense southwest Indian monsoon transports moist air to the Yangtze basin in mid-June and forms the Meiyu (plum rain) front. Strengthened Okhotsk/Ural blocking highs in East and West Asia, as well as the Western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and the South Asian high (SAH) over south Eurasia, remain stationary for long periods and interact to exacerbate the precipitation. The western edge of the WPSH expands westward towards East Asia to transport moisture. To the north, the WPSH combines with the two blocking highs to trigger more rain. The intensified SAH expands eastward and merges with the extended WPSH to add rain. On the other hand, rainfall is modulated by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), notably in relation to the super El Niño events in 1982–1983, 1997–1998, 2015–2016, and 2020. The research described in this paper highlights changes in the weather systems with warming and, in particular, the enormous and dominating impact of the warming and expanding IPWP on rainfall extremes. Improved seasonal forecasts and planning ahead will protect lives and livelihoods.

In Europe, emissions of many air pollutants have decreased in recent decades, but there exist sites where concentrations of pollutants are still high and have become a public health problem. The air quality monitoring networks include urban stations in big cities and rural background stations. Main pollutants (SO₂, NO_x, CO, particulate matter) are measured automatically and reported on hourly basis, but there is very few research about air quality in small towns. The small towns are important transport nodes between cities and nowadays they are growing bigger, often being focused on seasonal tourism. In this paper, we try to understand the level of pollution in three small towns in Northern Europe, namely Otepää (Estonia), Lillehammer (Norway) and Saldus (Latvia) This research we point at seasonality of air pollution in towns related with winter sport activities, where the traffic flow increases in cold time simultaneously with heating season and higher prevalence of thermal inversions in atmospheric surface layer. Concentration peak of PM₁₀ in Northern Europe appears in early spring, in snow thawing season and shortly after that. Even higher episodic concentrations may occur near unpaved streets in dry season. High seasonal variation of measured nitrogen dioxide concentrations was found in Lillehammer and Otepää, with remarkable contributions of traffic hotspots. This paper confirms that it is worth to study the air quality in small towns, furthermore, because air pollution levels and related public health concerns in small towns are not negligible.