Air Quality Atmosphere and Health最新文献

The present empirical analysis takes into account a panel of BRICS data between 2000 and 2022 to probe the influence and the extent of digitalization (DIG), economic growth (GDP), governance (GOV), and renewable energy (RE) with PM2.5 air pollution in BRICS. Under the examination, the panel is investigated for numerous diagnostic tests where we confirmed a long-run co-integration among the studied variables. The econometric technique of the Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQREG) analysis supports that GDP is inimical, conversely, digitalization (DIG), renewable energy (RE), and effective governance (GOV) illustrate heterogeneous influences on PM2.5 air pollution. Moreover, the robustness test of the Robust Least Square (RLS) Fully-Modified (OLS), and Dynamic (OLS) confirms and validates the prior outcomes of the Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQREG) method. The results indicate that, with the exception of GDP, the explanatory factors effectively reduce PM2.5 air pollution in BRICS countries. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the BRICS member state should give top priority to the development of green and sustainable energy and enhance digitalization (DIG) by importing high-tech solutions. This approach would alleviate the burden on environmental quality. Additionally, the presence of effective governance will play a crucial role in coordinating various institutions, thereby maximizing the benefits derived from the deployment of renewable energy sources.

Although the influence of tourism on the environment is a frequently studied topic, examining the impact of tourism diversification on carbon emissions is a recent area of research. In this context, this study examines the impacts of tourism diversification, income, energy consumption, research and development expenditures, and population density on carbon emissions in New Zealand for the period 1981–2020 using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach. The results illustrate that income, lower tourism diversification, and energy consumption increase carbon emissions, while an upsurge in population density and research and development expenditures minimizes environmental degradation. According to the findings, New Zealand’s intensification of tourism in certain areas increases the environmental damage. It is therefore recommended that the New Zealand government promote tourism diversification and research and development expenditures to achieve environmental sustainability goals.

PM_2.5 pollution is problematic in megacities on the western coast in South Korea (Seoul, Incheon, and Gwangju). As these megacities are located downwind of China, their air quality is easily affected by local and long-range transport sources. PM_2.5 samples collected in Seoul (n = 222), Incheon (n = 221), and Gwangju (n = 224) from September 2020 to March 2022, were chemically characterized. Dispersion normalized positive matrix factorization was applied to these PM_2.5 speciated data to provide source apportionments. Nine common sources (including secondary nitrate, secondary sulfate, biomass burning, mobile, and waste incinerator) were identified at all sites. The conditional bivariate probability function helped to identify each site’s local sources. Joint potential source contribution function analysis identified northeast China and Inner Mongolia as potential source areas of long-range transport pollutants affecting all sites. Forced lifestyle changes due to the pandemic such as limited gatherings while increased recreational activities may have caused different patterns on the biomass burning source. The constraints on old vehicles during the policy implementation periods likely reduced the mobile source contributions in cities that adopted the policy. Secondary nitrate accounted for 40% of the PM_2.5 mass at all sites, implying a significant impact from NO_X sources. While the current policy focuses primarily on controlling primary emission sources, it should include secondary sources as well which may include precursor emissions control. Healthier air quality would be achieved if the policy effects are not limited to local, but also to foreign sources in regions upwind of Korea by intergovernmental collaboration.

There are wide racial disparities in lung cancer incidence, treatment, and outcomes. Previous studies have shown the impact of structural racism and the built environment on lung cancer outcomes in Black communities. The current study sought to understand the mediation of airborne pollutants between racial segregation and lung cancer incidence in the United States. Lung cancer incidence data for Black/white populations from 2014 to 2018 were obtained from the CDC. We assessed the impact of segregation on lung cancer incidence and the mediating effects of pollutants SO₂, NO₂, PM_2.5, O₃, and CO in the pathway. We estimated the indirect effect of each pollutant on the interaction between segregation and cancer outcomes. We found that segregation was associated with an 11% increase in lung cancer incidence among Black individuals (IRR 1.11, 95%CI 1.08,1.14) and a 7% increase in white lung cancer incidence (IRR 1.07, 95%CI 1.05,1.09). For Black lung cancer rates, this effect was mediated by SO₂/ NO₂ (23%), PM_2.5 (9.2%), and smoking (36%). For white lung cancer rate, the effect was mediated through SO₂/ NO₂ (25%), PM_2.5 (15%), O₃/CO (4%), and smoking (37.4%). Air pollution is an important mediating factor on lung cancer incidence in more segregated areas, suggesting that the increased pollution in more segregated areas likely also affects white residents, leading to higher levels of lung cancer compared to their counterparts in less segregated areas. Policies targeting polluting sources in segregated areas will be important in reducing lung cancer incidence and disparities therein.

Haze has a severe impact on public health and daily life. The effective monitoring of atmospheric environment and regional air quality can be achieved through the comprehensive utilization of ground-based stations and satellite observations. By analyzing pollutant data, ground-based lidar observations, VIIRS and CALIPSO satellite images, meteorological data, and backward trajectory patterns, the three winter aerosol pollution events are studied in the Hefei region from 2018 to 2020. The results reveal similar median PM_2.5 concentrations during the three aerosol pollution events, approximately 82 µg/m³, with aerosol extinction coefficients of about 0.8 and AOD values consistently exceeding 1. However, the formation processes and pollution mechanisms of the three haze events are different. Furthermore, the favorable meteorological conditions for aerosol pollution in the Hefei region during winter are the combined effects of surface cold high-pressure systems and low wind speeds. This study reveals the mechanisms underlying different aerosol pollution events in the winter season of the Hefei region, providing new reference and perspectives for aerosol pollution research and prevention.

Urban areas in developing countries are facing challenges in air quality management due to high spatio-temporal variations in emission sources. This complexity requires innovative ways of assessment and management of air quality within the city. The present work provides a roadmap for hybrid monitoring-based air quality assessment and local air quality management plan (LAMP) for urban hotspot. In this study, fixed and mobile economical portable sensors (EPS) are deployed around a continuous ambient air quality monitoring station (CAAQMS) to assess the trends in air quality of the area. The pre-evaluated EPS are used to accurately capture the hyperlocal variations in the pollution level around an expensive regulatory monitoring station in Delhi, India. The micro-meteorology around the CAAQMS is also taken into account by fixing additional weather stations in different directions. The findings indicate high monthly variations in PM_2.5 (160-201 µg/m³) and NO₂ (41–56 µg/m³) concentrations within a small 2 km radial area around a CAAQMS. The polarplot analysis indicates that local sources are responsible for pollution level. Based on correlation analysis, PM_2.5 dispersion around CAAQMS is correlated well with relative humidity (RH) (r² = 0.58). It is also observed that green area enhance RH and reduce ambient temperature which ultimately influences the pollutant dispersion. This robust assessment of air quality variations at micro scale brings the need for designing of effective and efficient mitigation measures at the local level for hotspots.

As students spend the bulk of their time indoors, the study’s goals were to estimate the daily personal exposures of students to PM_2.5, estimate contributions to personal exposure from different micro-environments, and allocate the contributions of PM_2.5 sources to the outdoor and indoor environment. Between July and October 2019, college students aged 16 to 20 were personally monitored for PM_2.5 concentrations. PM_2.5 personal concentrations for college students ranged from 215.6 to 121.4 µgm^-3, with an average of 137.5 ± 41.9 µgm^-3. Personal environmental monitors (PEM) were used to test PM_2.5 and its metal compositions of Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ba, Cu, and Hg. Using the positive matrix factorization along with geo-accumulation index and enrichment factor analysis, other sources responsible for the production of particle pollution have also been identified. According to the findings of the factor analysis, anthropogenic activities, traffic emissions, tobacco or cigarette smoke, and metal processing, all play a significant role in the production of metal-bound PM_2.5 particle pollution emissions. Based on the non-cancer risk findings for metals, ingestion of metals via inhalation was not a potentially high chronic risk. But the carcinogenic risks of metals like Cd, Ni, and Cr represent a health risk. Future studies should focus more on investigating the specific epidemiological effects of exposure to heavy metals in fine particles.

This study investigated indoor exposure of particulate matter (PM) at six residential homes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to assess the degradation of indoor air quality (IAQ) by PM_1.0, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, as well as correlate indoor PM_2.5 with occupants’ lung efficacy and blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Concentrations of indoor and outdoor PM were monitored individually at day and night using IGERESS Air Quality Monitoring Detector. Mean concentration of indoor PM_1.0, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were 91.7 ± 47.2, 121 ± 62.4, and 140 ± 72.0 µgm^− 3, respectively. Indoor PM of all size ranges at night were found to be 1.69 times higher than their corresponding daytime concentration. Mean I/O ratio (I/O_day= 0.95 and I/O_night= 0.93) and strong positive correlation (R²_day= 0.90 and R²_night = 0.80) between indoor and outdoor PM confirmed infiltration of polluted outdoor air inside the households. Indoor sources had 11% and 14% contribution to indoor PM during day and night, respectively. For Cantonment site, PM measurement was conducted during haze and non- haze weather. Haze- time PM concentration was 1.55 to 1.86 times greater than the non- haze period, which indicated that despite the same indoor environment, infiltrated outdoor PM during haze deteriorated IAQ. The average peak flow rate and SpO₂ of 30 inhabitants in six sampling households were 353 L min^− 1 and 98.7%, respectively. Peak flow rate showed strong, negative correlation (R² = 0.82) with indoor PM_2.5 concentration, which implied that inhalation of excess PM_2.5 was probably responsible for the reduced lung function of the residents. However, no association could be established between SpO₂ and indoor PM_2.5 concentration. These outcomes indicated severely compromised IAQ in urban Dhaka households, so necessary measures are required to reduce the extent of indoor air pollution.

Zabol City in eastern Iran has been recognized as one of the windiest, dustiest, and most unhealthy urban environments globally. This work examines the chemical speciation, environmental contamination, and human health risk associated with atmospheric dust in Zabol and surrounding areas, via analysis of 77 dust samples collected at 12 urban and rural sites from October 2018 to September 2020. On average, the concentrations of trace elements followed a decreasing order of Mn > Ba > Sr > Zn > Cr > V > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Mo > Cd, while abundant elements Al and Fe accounted for 5% and 2.9% of airborne dust, respectively. Significant enrichment factors were found for As and Cd and moderate for Mo. The ecological risk index indicated moderate pollution, with the highest contributions from Cd (68%) and As (25%). The intensive use of As-based fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural lands in the Sitan Basin is the most likely source for the high As levels, while Cd, Pb, and Mo in airborne dust can be partly attributed to traffic-related contamination. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that ingestion is the primary exposure source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) for both children and adults, with deleterious health effects, followed by skin contact and inhalation. The Hazard index (HI) for selected PTEs decreased in the order of Cr > As > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cu > Zn for both children and adults, classified within safe limits (HI < 1). However, Cr and As posed cancer risks above the safety threshold (> 10^− 4) through ingestion exposure. Current results indicate that Zabol is still experiencing significant environmental and ecological contamination, as well as important health risks due to dust contaminated PTEs, necessitating appropriate mitigation strategies.

The primary route of COVID-19 infection is airborne transmission, which occurs when an infected person's aerosol droplets are inhaled. To mitigate the spread of the airborne virus, maintaining proper indoor air quality (IAQ) levels is essential. Children are more vulnerable to poor IAQ because they breathe more air per unit of weight and are more susceptible to heat, cold and moisture. Cohesive information based on interventions to control IAQ is essential for making informed decisions on their deployment and greater uptake. We seek to fill this information gap by synthesizing the available scientific literature through this comprehensive study which examines the indoor air pollutants in school buildings and their respective health effects on children with the latest policy interventions and proposes a path for the future school environment. It is reported that high carbon dioxide (CO₂) level causes lethargy and sleepiness leading to poor school attendance, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) cause contact dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and lung cancer, particulate matter (PM) causes cardiovascular disease and asthma. Proper ventilation improved the test scores of students and chalkboards usage resulted in chalk dust, contributing to PM₁₀ concentration. The leading causes of poor IAQ are inappropriate building envelopes, inadequate ventilation and lack of appropriate legislative interventions. No one technique has been identified as the only effective way to limit exposure to contaminants, but their combined use can be efficient in the majority of situations. For the best effects, more research is required on evaluating integrated interventions and how to synchronize their operations.