Air

Biomass burning is one of the largest sources of particulate matter emissions globally. However, the emission of particulate inorganic species from prescribed grassland burning in Japan has not yet been characterized. In this study, we collected total suspended particulate matter from prescribed grassland burning in Hirado, Akiyoshidai, and Aso, Japan. The collected filter samples were brought to the laboratory, and water-soluble inorganic components were analyzed via ion chromatography. The measurement results showed high excess concentrations of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and these substances were highly correlated, which agreed with previously reported findings. In contrast, the concentrations of sodium, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate were insignificant, even though their high concentrations were reported in other biomass burning studies. Among these low concentration substances, a high correlation was still observed between sulfate and nitrate. It is possible that the low concentrations of those species could have been biased in the measurements, particularly as a result of subtracting blank and background values from the observed concentrations. Building up more data in this area may allow us to characterize the significance of domestic biomass burning’s contribution to inorganic particulate components in Japanese air, which may consequently contributes to better understanding of adverse health effect of airborne particulate matter. Full article

This paper describes an innovative method that recursively applies the machine learning Random Forest to an assumed homogeneous aerographic domain around measurement sites to predict concentrations and emissions of ammonia, an atmospheric pollutant that causes acidification and eutrophication of soil and water and contributes to secondary PM_2.5. The methodology was implemented to understand the effects of weather and emission changes on atmospheric ammonia concentrations. The model was trained and tested by hourly measurements of ammonia concentrations and atmospheric turbulence parameters, starting from a constant emission scenario. The initial values of emissions were calculated based on a bottom-up emission inventory detailed at the municipal level and considering a circular area of about 4 km radius centered on measurement sites. By comparing predicted and measured concentrations for each iteration, the emissions were modified, the model’s training and testing were repeated, and the model converged to a very high performance in predicting ammonia concentrations and establishing hourly time-varying emission profiles. The ammonia concentration predictions were extremely accurate and reliable compared to the measured values. The relationship between NH₃ concentrations and the calculated emissions rates is compatible with physical atmospheric turbulence parameters. The site-specific emissions profiles, estimated by the proposed methodology, clearly show a nonlinear relation with measured concentrations and allow the identification of the effect of atmospheric turbulence on pollutant accumulation. The proposed methodology is suitable for validating and confirming emission time series and defining highly accurate emission profiles for the improvement of the performances of chemical and transport models (CTMs) in combination with in situ measurements and/or optical depth from satellite observation. Full article

Background: Growing evidence suggests that air pollution may influence fetal development, with potential consequences for later health. Alteration of telomere length (TL) is one possible mediating mechanism for the link between fetal exposure to air pollution and the development of disease. However, the few studies exploring associations between prenatal pollution and infant TL have assessed varied trimesters of pregnancy and shown mixed results. The aim of this study was to examine the differential relationships between prenatal exposure to air pollutant PM_2.5 during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy with infant TL at one month of age. Methods: Women (n = 74) were recruited in obstetric clinics during their third trimester. Data on PM_2.5 exposure for each woman’s residential area during each trimester was acquired from the regional Air Quality Management District. At one month postnatal, a salivary sample was collected from the infant, which provided DNA for the telomere assay. Women completed questionnaires about stressors in their lives, perceived stress, depression, and sociodemographics for inclusion as covariates. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the results. Results: PM_2.5 exposure during the second (β = 0.31, p = 0.003) and third (β = 0.24, p = 0.02) trimesters was associated with longer infant TL. Exposure in the first trimester was not related to TL. Covariates of maternal depression and age and infant female sex were also associated with longer TL. Variables in the model contributed to 34% of the variance in TL (F = 10.58, p = 0.000). Discussion: Fetal programming of longer telomeres in response to pollution may have adaptive value in preparing the neonate for a postnatal environment that is less than optimal in terms of air quality. Alternatively, longer telomeres may forecast later health risks, considering established links between longer TL and diseases such as cancer. Future research needs to address how prenatal pollution interacts with TL to influence health over time. Full article

The global concern of escalating ambient air pollution and its profound impact on human health is paramount. While traffic police personnel are critical for maintaining the road safety and transportation system of any city in India, they are susceptible to occupational health risks due to ambient air pollution. This study investigated health challenges faced by traffic police personnel due to prolonged exposure to air pollutants prevalent in traffic-congested areas, including particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The first phase of this study collected and analyzed secondary air quality data over five years (2019–2023) across six locations in Kolkata, India. The second phase employed a questionnaire-based survey to assess the health implications of air pollution exposure. The survey questionnaire captured information on physical health symptoms, stress-related indicators, lifestyle habits, and work hours of around 100 police personnel from Kolkata with indoor (control group) and outdoor (exposed group) work responsibilities. The results of this study established a strong positive correlation between air pollution and a range of health issues experienced by the exposed group. The outcome of this study is significant for urban planning, policy formulation, and public health interventions geared toward minimizing the adverse impacts of air pollution on traffic police personnel. Full article

Source apportionment of observed PM_2.5 concentrations is of growing interest as communities seek ways to improve their air quality. We evaluated publicly available PM_2.5 data from the USEPA in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area to determine the contributions from various PM_2.5 sources to the total PM_2.5 observed. The approach combines interpolation and fixed effect regression models to disentangle background from local PM_2.5 contributions. These models found that January had the lowest total PM_2.5 mean concentrations, ranging from 5.0 µg/m³ to 6.4 µg/m³, depending on monitoring location. July had the highest total PM_2.5 mean concentrations, ranging from 8.7 µg/m³ to 11.1 µg/m³, depending on the location. January also had the lowest mean local PM_2.5 concentrations, ranging from 2.6 µg/m³ to 3.6 µg/m³, depending on the location. Despite having the lowest local PM_2.5 concentrations, January had the highest local attributions [51–57%]. July had the highest mean local PM_2.5 concentrations, ranging from 2.9 µg/m³ to 4.1 µg/m³, depending on the location. Despite having the highest local PM_2.5 concentrations, July had the lowest local attributions [33–37%]. These results suggest that local contributions have a limited effect on total PM_2.5 concentrations and that the observed seasonal changes are likely the result of background influence, as opposed to modest changes in local contributions. Overall, the results demonstrate that in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, approximately half of the observed total PM_2.5 is from background PM_2.5 sources and half is from local PM_2.5 sources_. Among the local PM_2.5 source contributions in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, our analysis shows that the vast majority is from non-point sources, such as from the transportation sector. While local point sources may have some incremental site-specific local contribution, such contributions are not clearly distinguishable in the data evaluated. We present this approach as a roadmap for disentangling PM_2.5 concentrations at different spatial levels (i.e., the local, regional, or state level) and from various sectors (i.e., residential, industrial, transport, etc.). This roadmap can help decision-makers to optimize mitigatory, regulatory, and/or community efforts towards reducing total community PM_2.5 exposure. Full article

The urban areas of Pakistan exhibit some of the world’s highest levels of air pollution, primarily due to sub-2.5 μm particulate emissions. This issue significantly impairs both the country’s economy and the quality of life of its residents. Road transport is a significant contributor to anthropogenic air pollution but there are discrepancies about the extent of its share. Source apportionment and sectoral inventory studies attribute anywhere between 5 and >80% of the total air pollution to vehicular sources. This uncertainty propagates into the transport policy interventions that are informed by such studies and can thus hinder the achievement of desired pollution mitigation targets. In an effort to reconcile such discrepancies and guide future studies and policy-making efforts, this paper critically reviews source apportionment studies conducted in the urban centres of Pakistan over the past two decades. The strengths and weaknesses of different approaches are compared, and results from the studies are discussed based on the emissions profile of Pakistan’s automotive fleet that emerges. Inconsistencies in the reporting of pollutant concentrations and interpreting their impacts without accounting for the relative disease burden of different pollutant species are found to be the major reasons for the large variations in the reported sectoral shares. At the end, a framework for regular air pollution monitoring and source tracking is proposed in which high-fidelity receptor-based studies inform lower-fidelity but economical sectoral inventory assessments. Full article

The impact of relative humidity (RH) on organic new particle formation (NPF) from the ozonolysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) remains an area of active debate. Previous reports provide contradictory results, indicating both the depression and enhancement of NPF under conditions of high RH. Herein, we report on the impact of RH on NPF from the dark ozonolysis of cis-3-hexenyl acetate (CHA), a green-leaf volatile (GLV) emitted by vegetation. We show that RH inhibits NPF by this BVOC, essentially shutting it down at RH levels > 1%. While the mechanism for the inhibition of NPF remains unclear, we demonstrate that it is likely not due to increased losses of CHA to the humid chamber walls. New oxidation products dominant under humid conditions are proposed that, based on estimated vapor pressures (VPs), should enhance NPF; however, it is possible that the vapor phase concentration of these low-volatility products is not sufficient to initiate NPF. Furthermore, the reaction of C₃-excited state Criegee intermediates (CIs) with water may lead to the formation of small carboxylic acids that do not contribute to NPF. This hypothesis is supported by experiments with quaternary O₃ + CHA + α-pinene + RH systems, which showed decreases in total α-pinene-derived NPF at ~0% RH and subsequent recovery at elevated RH. Full article

Air quality monitoring in Ireland is under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency in compliance with the Gothenburg Protocol, EU/national legislation, and the National Clean Air Strategy. Secondary inorganic aerosols (SIAS) have been acknowledged as a key atmospheric pollutant, with serious public health impacts and no safe exposure threshold in place to date. Ammonia (NH₃) emissions are linked to the secondary production of aerosols through atmospheric reactions occurring with acidic atmospheric components such as sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acid. These reactions result in the formation of ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride, among others. Approximately 98% of NH₃ emissions occurring in Ireland arise from agriculture, with minor contributions from transport and natural sources. A better understanding of NH₃ emissions and SIA formation can be achieved through monitoring emissions at the source level. Additionally, mitigation strategies with a more thorough understanding of NH₃ dynamics at the source level and consequential SIA formation allow for more efficient action. This project monitored ambient NH₃ and SIA on two selected arable agricultural sites and a control site in a rural site close to Dublin on the east coast of Ireland to establish emission levels. Meteorological factors affecting emissions and SIA formation were also measured and cross-correlated to determine micro-meteorological effects. Monitoring at the agricultural sites observed ambient NH₃ concentrations ranging from 0.52 µg m⁻³ to 1.70 µg m⁻³, with an average of 1.45 µg m⁻³. At the control site, ambient NH₃ measured concentrations ranged from 0.05 µg m⁻³ to 1.76 µg m⁻³ with an average of 0.516 µg m⁻³. Aerosol NH₄⁺ ranged from 0.03 µg m⁻³ to 1.05 µg m⁻³ with an average concentration of 0.27 µg m⁻³ at the agricultural site. The potential effects of meteorological conditions and the implications for the effects of these emissions are discussed, with recommendations to aid compliance with the National Emissions Ceiling and the National Clean Air Strategy (Directive 2001/81/EC). Full article

Air pollution is a leading cause of death in the United States and is associated with adverse health outcomes, including increased vulnerability to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The AirBeam2 was used to measure particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or smaller (PM_2.5) to investigate differences between indoor and ambient levels at seven private homes in New York during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Measurements taken in 2020 fall, 2021 winter, and 2022 fall showed that at 90% of the sites, indoor PM_2.5 levels exceeded outdoor levels both during and after the COVID-19 lockdown, p = 0.03, possibly exceeding safety levels. Higher indoor PM_2.5 levels attributed to little or no ventilation in the basement and kitchens from cooking and smoke were greater in fall than in winter. Higher ambient PM_2.5 levels were attributed to vehicular traffic at a street-facing sampling site. PM_2.5 sources identified in this study may help in devising control strategies to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and consequently alleviate respiratory health effects. These findings may be used as a basis for in-house modifications, including natural ventilation and the use of air purifiers to reduce exposures, mitigate future risks, and prevent potential harm to vulnerable residents. Full article

The vehicle in-cabin is subject to several types of pollutants infiltrating from the outdoors or emitted directly inside it, such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The concentration of TVOC (total volatile organic compounds) is the result of the emission from different equipment surfaces that compose the car cabin. In the present study, the experimental characterization of TVOC emission from the interior surfaces of a car cabin is discussed by considering the influence of two parameters: the temperature and ventilation modes. A measurement location grid was used to measure TVOC’s emissions from 267 points on all surfaces of the car’s interior equipment. Three different temperatures and two ventilation modes (recirculation and outdoor air) were investigated. The results indicate that the concentration of TVOC increases with the temperature inside the cabin with a contribution that varies with the type of cabin equipment including the dashboard, center console, seats, and carpets. On the other hand, the concentration distributions of TVOC showed relative differences of 10–13% and 2–5% for surface and volumetric measurements, respectively. This implies no preferential positioning of the in-cabin probe for TVOC volumetric concentration measurements. In addition, the recirculation ventilation mode results in a higher accumulation of TVOC; therefore, higher concentrations are measured. Full article

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature produced by the catalytic oxidation of ethylene. EtO is widely used by medical sterilization facilities to clean medical supplies and equipment. Recent epidemiological studies showed that EtO is a more potent carcinogen than previously documented, leading the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update, in December 2016, the inhalation unit risk estimate for EtO. This resulted in the identification of EtO as a potential health concern in several areas across the US, including the state of Utah. The geography surrounding Salt Lake Valley creates a bowl, which is ideal for collecting air pollution emissions. The region often experiences inversion episodes which inhibit vertical mixing and cause an accumulation of air pollutants, leading to unhealthy pollution levels. Using the EPA’s dispersion modeling software, AERMOD, this study estimated EtO concentrations through facility stack and fugitive emissions modeling results. These values were compared with those of canister-based concentrations from ambient air samples taken near a medical device sterilization facility in Salt Lake Valley. Stainless steel whole-air passivated canisters were used to collect 24 h ambient concentration samples of EtO. Eight locations surrounding a Salt Lake Valley medical device sterilization facility and four background sites were chosen to measure the ambient concentrations. Accounting for potential atmospheric impacts on EtO, measurements were sampled in winter 2022 (January–March) and summer 2022 (July–September). The modeled EtO concentrations were adjusted to account for background values associated with the winter or summer data. Then, the two methodologies were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-ranked paired test. The statistical analysis resulted in six of the eight sample locations surrounding the sterilization facility being significantly different when comparing the canister-based measurements of ambient EtO to modeled estimates. Canister-based measurements taken at sites one, three, and four were statistically greater than the modeled estimates, while sites two, five, and seven were statistically less than the modeled estimates. Also, the summer background value calculated was almost 2.5 times greater than the winter one. The results do not suggest whether one method is more or less conservative than the other. In conclusion, the five of the closest sites and site seven were statistically different when comparing measured and modeled ambient concentrations of EtO. The comparison results do not clearly indicate if a correction factor could be derived for future human exposure to cancer risk assessment modeling. However, it is reasonable that the closer to the sterilization facility, the more total EtO exposure will be realized. Full article

In this work, the catalytic performance of clinoptilolite (CLIN) and SBA-15 catalysts, doped with Fe and Cu, was evaluated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO using NH₃ as a reducing agent (SCR-NH₃). Both Cu-CLIN and Fe-CLIN were obtained by ion-exchange using natural clinoptilolite zeolite originating from the Hrabovec deposit (northeast Slovakia region). Cu-SBA-15 and Fe-SBA-15 were prepared by impregnation into SBA-15 mesoporous synthesized silica. Standard catalytic activity tests were carried out on a bench-scale laboratory apparatus using a reaction mixture of a standard test. GHSV of 48,000 h⁻¹ was adopted based on the space velocity of a real NH₃-SCR catalyst for diesel vehicles (100–550 °C). All Cu-doped samples showed better NO conversion values than Fe-doped samples. Clinoptilolite catalysts were more active than those based on SBA-15. Maximum NO conversions of about 96% were observed for Cu-CLIN and Fe-CLIN at 350–400 °C, respectively. Moreover, Fe-CLIN also showed higher stability in the presence of SO₂ and water steam at 350 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of metal-doped natural clinoptilolite to be used as cost-effective catalysts applied to the abatement of NOx emissions generated in automotive combustion processes. Full article

One of people’s greatest concerns about air quality degradation is its impact on human health. This work is a case study that aims to investigate the air quality and the related impact on people’s health in a coastal city over the eastern Mediterranean. The analysis proceeded during a low-tourist density period, covering the days from 17 to 27 November 2022. Hourly ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$, ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{O}}_3$ concentration records from three, mobile, Air Quality Monitoring Systems (AQMS), established in an urban location, port and central area of Rhodes city, are analyzed. To investigate the impact of pollution levels on human health, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is calculated. The daily and diurnal variation of pollutants’ concentration and AQHI among the different areas, as well as the relation among the ambient air pollutants and AQHI, are studied. Additionally, to investigate the impact of wind regime on the variation of pollution and AQHI levels, the hourly zonal and meridional wind-speed components, as well as the temperature at 2 m, the dew point temperature at 2 m, and the height of the boundary layer from ERA5 reanalysis, are retrieved for the region of the southeastern Mediterranean. Results show that the highest pollution level occurs in the city center of Rhodes, compared to the rest of the studied locations. In general, the findings do not show exceedances of the pollutants’ concentration according to the European Directive 2008/50/EC. Moreover, findings show that in some cases, the health risk is classified from Low to Moderate in terms of AQHI. The analysis indicates that the climate conditions affect the pollutants’ concentration due to dispersion, and likely, the atmospheric transport of pollutants. Finally, this work aims to improve the knowledge regarding the air quality of southeastern Greece, promoting the framework for the green and sustainable development of the South Aegean Sea. Full article

The increasing population and its associated amenities demand innovative devices, infrastructure, methods, plans and policies. Regional climate has a great role in deciding the air quality and energy demand, and therefore, weather and climate have an indisputable role in its consumption and storage. Here, we present the changes in trace gases and associated regional weather in India during lockdown and unlock periods of COVID-19. We observe a reduction of about 30% in sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and 10–20% in aerosols in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), large cities, industrial sites, mining areas and thermal power plants during lockdown as compared to the same period in the previous year and with respect to its climatology. However, a considerable increase in aerosols is found, particularly over IGP during Unlock 1.0 (1–30 June 2020), because of the relaxation of lockdown restrictions. The analyses also show a decrease in temperature by 1–3 °C during lockdown compared to its climatology for the same period, mainly in IGP and Central India, possibly due to the significant reduction in absorbing aerosols such as black carbon and decrease in humidity during the period. The west coast, northwest and central India show reduced wind speed when compared to its previous year and climatological values, suggesting that there was a change in regional weather due to the lockdown. Energy demand in India decreased by about 25–30% during the first phase of lockdown and about 20% during the complete lockdown period. This study thus suggests that the reduction of pollution could also modify local weather, and these results would be useful for drafting policy decisions on air pollution reduction, urban development, the energy sector, agriculture and water resources. Full article

This article is a case study of museum premises at the Museum of King John III’s Palace at Wilanow (Warsaw, Poland), wetted as a result of a failure of the water supply system to the air conditioning unit located in the attic of the building. As a result of flooding, discoloration and cracks appeared on the plaster and stucco decoration of the ceiling, located mainly in the central part of the ceiling of the King’s Library. The paintings (plafonds) mounted on the ceiling of this room also became damp. The article analyzes the microbiological contamination of air and damp paintings in the context of promptly proceeding with the drying of damp building partitions. The obtained results of microbiological air pollution in the flooded rooms were significantly lower than the permissible values recommended by Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment. In the King’s Library, i.e., the room with the dampest plaster and stucco as a result of the accident, the concentration of mold spores in the air was only 15 cfu/m³. This means that the immediate commencement of intensive drying of the building partitions (walls, ceilings with wooden floors) brought very good results. The rapid reduction in the moisture of the building partitions contributed to the worsening conditions for the development of microorganisms, which can have an adverse effect on wooden building partitions, plaster, stucco, etc. Full article

Air pollution is a major public health concern. The region of South Texas in the United States has experienced high levels of air pollution in recent years due to an increase in population, cross-border trade between the U.S.A. and Mexico, and high vehicular activity. This review assesses the relationships between human health and air pollution in South Texas. A thorough scientific search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, and ProQuest, with most of the literature focusing on the source apportionment of particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in width (PM_2.5), Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), Black Carbon (BC), and associated health risks for children and pregnant women. Findings from the source apportionment studies suggest the role of industries, automobiles emissions, agricultural burning, construction work, and unpaved roads in the overall deterioration of air quality and deleterious health effects, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This review demonstrates the pressing need for more air pollution and health effects studies in this region, especially the Brownsville–Harlingen–McAllen metropolitan area. Full article

The greatest challenge of the coming century will be the consequences of an imbalanced atmosphere. Currently, projections of global heating due to an increasingly imbalanced atmosphere are dire, but they underestimate the near-term heating impacts of the growing concentrations of methane. Industrially mediated carbon capture and storage sometimes gets raised as a promising solution on the CO₂ front, but it is presently commercially inviable. Despite these facts, we nonetheless need to act globally to reduce the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, although our increasingly separate information ecosystems make finding a way to express the reality of the atmospheric imbalance crisis to a wide audience daunting. One approach to presenting the atmospheric imbalances leading to global heating is to strip the discussion down initially to its bare bones with a sharp focus on the variables of the logistic growth equation. Although virtually anything can be politicized, the logistic growth equation’s variables are at least apolitical in their origin. After examining those variables, we can proceed to focus on density-dependent mortality factors (DDMFs) and their relationship to visible climatic changes driven by atmospheric imbalances. Both the Global North and the Global South need to do all that we do to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas accumulation, reducing DDMFs, while paying careful attention to Indigenous rights and to the need for global gender equity, so that our efforts to control DDMFs do not produce a new expression of colonialism. Full article

Fluorine (F) produced from the fertilizer factory occurs in the process of phosphate fertilizer production, using sulfur and phosphate rocks as raw materials. Technologies to control atmospheric pollution with F should be adopted to reduce the impact on agricultural production. This study has the hypothesis that the emission of F, derived from the chimneys of fertilizer factories, is influencing the quality of corn (Zea mays L.) and increasing the F levels in the soil and plants. The objective of the study was to monitor the contents of F in corn leaves and soil in properties located close to the fertilizer production industry (between 1.5 and 2.0 km) before and after the installation of scrubber filters in the chimneys of the factory. A field study was carried out during the 2020/2021 harvest to evaluate the contents of F in corn plants and soil. Results showed that the scrubber filter installation represented a F reduction average of 92% in leaves comparing the average before the scrubber filter installation. Corn showed symptoms of F toxicity, such as leaf chlorosis, caused by the disintegration of chloroplasts, inhibition of photosynthesis, and others. In addition, there was a reduction of 40% (from the first to the second collecting) and 75% (from the first to the third collecting) in the levels of F in the soil after the scrubber filter installation. Based on the results, we conclude that the implementation of a scrubber filter is an optimal alternative to reduce F levels in corn leaves and the soil in properties located close to a fertilizer factory. Full article