Air Quality Atmosphere and Health最新文献

The concern about microplastics is increasing due to their adverse effects on human health and environmental pollution. This study identified microplastics in the indoor air of hospitals in different departments, including laboratory, physiotherapy, endoscopy, and emergency departments, as well as in outdoor air around hospitals. Additionally, we assessed exposure to microplastics through inhalation. A total of 56 samples of indoor air and 14 samples of outdoor air were collected and analyzed. Microplastics were identified in indoor and outdoor air of hospitals with mean values of 29.75 ± 8.28 and 2.2 ± 0.95 MPs/m3, respectively. The highest abundance of microplastics was found in the indoor air of the laboratory department (33.13 ± 4.98 MPs/m3), followed by physiotherapy (31.49 ± 3.81 MPs/m3), emergency (28.08 ± 3.28 MPs/m3), and endoscopy (26.74 ± 3.09 MPs/m3) departments, respectively. PET and PP were the predominant polymer compounds of microplastics in indoor and outdoor air, respectively. The mean values of daily exposure to microplastics through inhalation in indoor and outdoor air in hospitals were157.18 ± 54.64 and 12.23 ± 5.51 MPs/day, respectively. We conclude that exposure to microplastics through inhalation may increase health risks to individuals, necessitating further investigation.

The burning of incense is a prevalent issue in many Asian countries, particularly in Taiwan, where temples and night markets are close to residential and commercial areas due to the overlapping of urban functional blocks. The resulting pollutant emissions from temple incense burning and night market activities may cause serious health issues for residents. In this study, we focused on a specific temple and night market in Kaohsiung City to assess the current air quality in and around these locations. To simulate PM_2.5 diffusions, we used the Industrial Source Complex Short-Term (ISCST3) air quality model. By comparing the pollutant emissions data from three different air quality monitoring stations with the sample information from three distinct sites in Kaohsiung City, we found that metallic element concentrations during temple activities were 506 ng/m³ and 224–297 ng/m³ during non-temple activities. Similarly, metallic element concentrations during night market activities were 1179–1471 ng/m³ and 814–929 ng/m³ during non-night market operating hours. We also used Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to analyze metallic elements and PM_2.5 compositions from incense burning at Baoan Temple and activities at Jilin Night Market close to Kaohsiung Medical University. Our findings revealed that Al, Ca, and Na were the significant elements dispersed at sampling sites, with an average metallic element concentration order of Al > Ca > Fe > K > Pb > Mg > Mn > Na > Pb > Zn in PM_2.5. Although we could not make firm conclusions about the precise effects of the temple and the night market, our simulation model showed that the temple contributed to pollutant emissions. Thus, our findings suggest that it is crucial to establish government policies for planning temple development and community optimization in Taiwanese cities to mitigate the negative impact of temple incense burning and night market activities on public health.

Fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies and laundry products, emit potentially hazardous compounds that can adversely affect human health and air quality. However, fragrance compounds, such as terpenes, are generally absent in fragrance-free versions of products. This study aimed to investigate whether fragranced and fragrance-free versions of the same products, with the same concentration and brand, may have different toxicological effects. To explore this question, this study examined five pairs of fragranced and fragrance-free versions of products from different categories: dish soap, daily shower spray, tub and tile cleaner, laundry detergent, and all purpose cleaner. Toxicity tests were conducted with adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The results indicated that in four pairs of products, the fragrance-free versions showed lower toxicity to mosquitoes compared to fragranced versions at the same concentration. For the all purpose cleaner, both versions showed low toxicity that was indistinguishable from the control. Our results provide novel evidence that fragrance-free versions of products can demonstrate lower toxicity than fragranced versions of products.

Airborne microplastics (MP) are a recently hyped but unexplored area of research leading to some unanswered questions concerning its impact on vegetation. Work was conducted to evaluate the MP accumulating potential and its impact on the biochemical parameters of plants in an urban area (Sambalpur) in India. Four forms of MPs (viz. fiber, fragment, film, and bead) deposited on the leaf surface were analyzed through fluorescence microscopy using the Nile red dye method. Biochemical parameters (ascorbic acid (AA), leaf extract pH (P), total chlorophyll (TC), and relative water content (RWC)) and air pollution tolerance index (APTI) were also determined through standard protocol. The result found the dominance of beads with other MPs in the order: bead (44.7%) > film (27.7%) > fragment (20.7%) > fiber (6.9%) displaying significant spatial and species variation (p < 0.05). Spatially, the MP accumulation on leaf surface followed an order: residence (4.8 count/cm²) > sensitive (4.6 count/cm²) > urban biotope (4.3 count/cm²) > industry (3.3 count/cm²) > traffic (2.2 count/cm²). Species-wise Ficus benghalensis, Polyalthia longifolia, and Mangifera indica performed reasonably well concerning the MP accumulation while exhibiting good APTI scores. The RWC and leaf extract pH were the most influential factors regulating the MP accumulation. The former was chiefly responsible for dictating the tolerance ability of plants which is corroborated by the principal component and cluster analyses. Thus, it can be ascertained that the plant species offer distinct specificity in MP accumulation which is largely influenced by spatial variations, relative water content, and APTI value of plants.

The cooking in residential settings generates high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), causing health risks to occupants. Kitchen range hoods are commonly installed in the Republic of Korea, but their frequency of use and efficiency are considerably low. This study examined the effect of a make-up air-supply system during cooking or even after cooking in combination with a range hood by measuring the indoor concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs) and PM_2.5. Conducted in a full-scale test house, the study investigated the actual airflow of range hoods and evaluated how the make-up air-supply system affected particle removal and dispersion. The results showed that the addition of a make-up air supply system significantly increased airflow and reduced the spread of pollutants. When the range hood was operated after cooking, the particle removal efficiency was 96.9% and 74.6% for PM_2.5 and UFPs, respectively. These findings strongly indicate that integrating a make-up air-supply system with range hoods can significantly improve indoor air quality in residential buildings. This method is more compatible with occupant behavior and has the potential to improve health outcomes.

The Korea-United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) joint measurements primarily focused on the western region of South Korea during May and June 2016. This study thoroughly analyzes ground-level O₃ and dust concentrations at a rural research site in west Cheong-ju city, located 125 km south of Seoul. Over the 45-day observation period, 33 days exhibited episodes of high O₃ levels exceeding 81 ppb. On 8 days, peak hourly O₃ concentrations ranged between 120 ppb and 137 ppb. High O₃ levels persisted for 5 to 14 h on 28 days, with 13 days experiencing concentrations exceeding 10 h daily. Simultaneously, there were 16 episodes of elevated dust levels, with hourly PM₁₀ exceeding 81 µg m^-3, among which 5 days recorded PM₁₀ values surpassing 100 µg m^-3. During the campaign, 6 days witnessed high hourly PM_2.5 values ranging from 51 to 74 µg m^-3. On 7 May, a moderate dust fall occurred due to a sand storm originating from Mongolia and northern China, with the highest hourly TSP value reaching 345 µg m^-3. The PM₁₀ concentration during this event was 244 µg m^-3, while PM_2.5 levels were relatively lower at 41 µg m^-3. In comparison, on 2 May, elevated concentrations resulting from pine tree pollen release were observed, with TSP, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5 values reaching 357 µg m^-3, 106 µg m^-3, and 23 µg m^-3, respectively. Detailed and meticulous analyses involving air-parcel trajectory and satellite imagery were conducted to ascertain the causes of long-range transport of air pollution (LRTAP). The increase in O₃ due to LRTAP intensifies the atmosphere’s oxidizing capacity, possibly contributing to the formation of secondary aerosols in PM_2.5. The findings indicate that local and regional emissions from China contributed to the air pollution episodes observed during the study period.

Affected by unique topography, meteorological factors and high emission sources, it is crucial to have an in-depth understanding of the air pollution characteristics of Chengdu megacity. This research investigated the spatial evolution features of the six criteria pollutants in Chengdu from 2014 to 2020. The relationship between air pollutants and multi-meteorological factors also will be systematically elucidated. Together with the backward trajectory model, the potential source areas of PM_2.5 and O₃ were further simulated. The results revealed that there is spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of air pollution in Chengdu. Besides, the concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂ and CO are only positively correlated with pressure. While, O₃ only shows a negative correlation with relative humidity and pressure. Furthermore, regional transport is also one of the important contributing sources of PM_2.5 and O₃. This study can accurately grasp the status of regional air pollution, and provide accurate and feasible solutions for the collaborative reduction of air pollution in the Cheng-Yu area. Furthermore, it provides data references for exploring efficient air pollution control measures in complex terrain, and also accumulates some experience for the megacities of similar situations in the world.

Graphical Abstract

Atmospheric aerosols and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are a global concern, especially in major Asian cities, because of their multiple impacts on climate, health, ecology, and the environment. Although many studies have been conducted individually, studies on the coupling of NO₂ and Aerosol optical depth (AOD) in major Asian cities are still scarce. This study aims to critically evaluate the challenges of AOD and NO₂ in Asia through a detailed discussion of the sources and mitigation solutions. The impact and intensity of these two pollutants are severe in countries such as India, China, Bangladesh, India, and Japan. China is the region with the highest AOD in the world. Increases in NO₂ and AOD have been observed in the megacities of South Asia (e.g., Lahore, Dhaka, Mumbai, and Kolkata). East Asia (China, South Korea, and Japan) is a significant source of aerosols and their precursors, a complex mixture of coarse and small particles. Diesel vehicles are a significant contributor to NO₂ emissions in many Asian cities. High population density, rapid urbanization, increasing energy demand, multiple sources, and the complex chemistry of pollutants pose a significant challenge for AOD and NO₂ pollution. This study highlights pollution scenarios, emerging issues, and sources of AOD and NO₂ in general that have not been thoroughly studied in earlier research on major Asian cities. To summarize, our study identifies these research gaps and proposes solutions to them which are eco-friendly technology, legislation, policy development, and awareness-raising.

Microbiological pollutants of cabin filters may affect the air quality inside vehicles. The main aim of the study was to evaluate cabin filters in terms of their effectiveness in retaining mycological contaminants. The research material consisted of 100 cabin filters obtained during periodic replacement of filters in passenger cars. Mycological contamination of filters was examined using microbiological, biochemical, immunoenzymatic and molecular methods. The average concentration of fungi in cabin filters was 7.2 × 10⁷ CFU/m², and Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Aspergillus genera were most often isolated. For Aspergillus species, the highest concentration reached 3.3 × 10⁷ CFU/m², with dominance of A. fumigatus. Among the Aspergillus strains tested, the presence of the aflO gene related to aflatoxin biosynthesis and the polyketide synthase gene related to ochratoxin A biosynthesis was detected. The presence of total aflatoxin (B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂) and aflatoxin B₁ was detected at levels of 5.37 µg/kg and 1.71 µg/kg for standard filters and 2.43 µg/kg and 0.65 µg/kg for carbon filters. The level of ochratoxin A contamination was 0.96 µg/kg and 0.55 µg/kg for standard and carbon filters, respectively. Aspergillus species showed high enzymatic activity of acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, naphthol phosphohydrolase and N-acetyl-β-glucosamidase. Based on the test results regarding the concentration of mycotoxins and the effectiveness of capturing fungal conidia, it was found that carbon filters are more effective than standard filters. Recommendations for filter manufacturers and car service policies should include the use of cabin filters with a layer of activated carbon, and their regular replacement after a year of use.

This paper presents a method that combines Imaging Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (IDOAS) with Computed Tomography (CT) technique to reconstruct the spatial distribution of SO₂ in the vertical plane. A cubic quartz glass container with a side length of 450 mm was used, and SO₂ gas was injected into the container from a steel cylinder. Two IDOASs were used to collect spectral data on the vertical plane. The Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) algorithm was employed to retrieve the slant column densities (SCDs). The gas distribution in the gas container was estimated with the help of linear fitting. It was found that the experimental SCDs were in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. Based on the sparse gradient of the gas distribution in the gas container and the non-negative of the gas concentration, a CT algorithm called ABOCS-TVM with total variational (TV) regularization was introduced. Numerical simulations show that if the gas in the container is uniform, the algorithm works well even under the influence of perturbations, and the artifacts in the reconstructed images are suppressed. The experiment showed that the algorithm is able to accurately locate the SO₂ gas and provide an approximate distribution. In particular, the reconstructed peak molecular number density is approximately 11% higher than the theoretical value. Research has demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing IDOAS-based CT reconstruction technology to reconstruct the spatial distribution of SO₂ in a vertical plane. This technology allows precise localization of the spatial position of SO₂ and quantitative analysis of its distribution.