Indirect prediction of surface ozone concentration by plant growth responses in East Asia using mini-open top chambers

We developed small and mobile open top chambers (mini-OTC) measuring 0.6 m (W)?×?0.6 m (D)?×?1.2 m (H) with an air duct of 0.6 m (W)?×?0.23 m (D)?×?1.2 m (H). The air duct can be filled with activated charcoal to blow charcoal filtered air (CF) into the chamber, as opposed to non-filtered ambient air (NF). Ozone sensitive radish Raphanus sativus cv. Red Chime and rosette pakchoi Brassica campestris var. rosularis cv. ATU171 were exposed to NF and CF in mini-OTCs at different locations in East Asia. A total of 29 exposure experiments were conducted at nine locations, Shanghai, China, Ha Noi, Vietnam, Lampang, Phitsanulok and Pathumtani, Thailand, and Hiratsuka, Kisai, Abiko and Akagi, Japan. Although no significant relationships between the mean concentrations of ambient O₃ during the experimental period and the growth responses were observed for either species, multiple linear regression analysis suggested a good relationship between the biomass responses in each species and the O₃ concentration, temperature, and relative humidity. The cumulative daily mean O₃ (ppb/day) could be indirectly predicted by NF/CF based on the dry weight ratio of biomass, mean air temperature, and relative air humidity.     

Evaluation of applicability of the Sartorius Airport MD8 sampler for detection of Bacillus endospores in indoor air

This study was designed to evaluate the measuring range and lowest limit of detection of Bacillus endospores in the ambient room air when the Sartorius MD8 sampler, and two different culture methods for bacterial enumeration were used. Different concentrations of bioaerosol were generated inside the test chamber filled with either the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered air or with the ambient room air. The detection of endospores in the HEPA-filtered air was achievable: (1) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 7.56?×?10³ CFU/m³ and analyzed with spread plate method, and (2) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 4.00?×?10² CFU/m³ and analyzed with pour plate method. The detection of endospores in the ambient room air was possible: (1) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 9.1?×?10³ CFU/m³ and analyzed with spread plate method, and (2) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 5.6?×?10² CFU/m³ and analyzed with pour plate method. The microorganisms present in the ambient room air interfere with precise quantification of Bacillus endospores when their concentration is relatively low. The results of this study may be helpful in critical assessment of the results obtained from monitoring the air for bacterial endospores.     

Delineating shallow saline groundwater zones from Southern India using geophysical indicators

A geophysical survey was conducted over an industrial belt encompassing 80 functional leather factories in Southern India. These factories discharge untreated effluents which pollute shallow groundwater where electrical conductivity (EC) value had a wide range between 545 and 26,600 μS/cm (mean, 3, 901 μS/cm). The ranges of Na⁺ and Cl^? ions were from 46 to 4,850 mg/L (mean, 348 mg/L) and 25 to 10,390 mg/L (mean, 1,079 mg/L), respectively. Geoelectrical layer parameters of 37 vertical electrical soundings were analyzed to demarcate fresh and saline water zones. However, the analysis not did lead to a unique resolution of saline and fresh waters. It was difficult to assign a definitive value to the aquifer resistivity of any area. Thus, geophysical indicators, namely longitudinal unit conductance (S), transverse unit resistance (T), and average longitudinal resistivity (R _s), were calculated for identifying fresh and saline waters. Spatial distributions of S, T, and R _s reflected widely varying ranges for the saline and fresh water zones. Further, the empirical relation of formation factor (F) was established from pore-water resistivity and aquifer resistivity for fresh and saline aquifers, which may be used to estimate local EC values from the aquifer resistivity, where well water is not available.     

Airborne and soilborne microfungi in the vicinity Hamitabat Thermic Power Plant in Kirklareli City (Turkey), their seasonal distributions and relations with climatological factors

Soil and air samples of seven different localities around Hamitabat Thermic Power Plant, 10 km far away from Luleburgaz/Kirklareli (Turkey), were taken between the years 2003 and 2004 with seasonal intervals. The samples were brought to the laboratory and their microfungal identifications were done. From the air samples, 737 microfungi colonies were isolated comprising 26 species belonging to eight genera. From soil samples, 170.6 × 10⁴ colony-forming unit (CFU)/g was isolated from 33 species belonging to 16 genera. The most isolated genus from air samples was Alternaria (324 CFU, 43.96%), followed by Cladosporium (208 CFU, 25.52%) and Phoma (44 CFU, 5.40%). Penicillium was the most isolated genus from the soil samples with a value of 560,000 CFU/g (32.8%), followed by Fusarium (226,000 CFU/g, 13.12%) and Aspergillus (154,000 CFU/g, 9.03%). Among these species, Alternaria citri and Alternaria alternata are the most abundant species in air with 164 and 107 CFU, respectively, whereas Fusarium graminearum and Penicillium citrinum are the most abundant species in soil with CFU per gram values of 17.8 × 10⁴ and 1.3 × 10⁵. Correlation analysis was applied to determine whether or not there was a relationship between colony number of isolated fungal genera and meteorological factors. Some parameters of soil samples’ incontent during the research period were calculated using a computer analysis program. From the air samples, a positive correlation was found between relative humidity and Alternaria colonial counts and Cladosporium spore counts (r?=?0.912 and r?=?1.000, respectively). Similarly, with the analysis of soil samples, a positive correlation between colonial counts of Alternaria and soil pH and a positive correlation between colonial counts of Aspergillus and Penicillium and salt percentage concentration of soil were found.     

Synergistic action of tropospheric ozone and carbon dioxide on yield and nutritional quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.)

Field experiments were conducted in open top chamber during rabi seasons of 2009–10 and 2010–11 at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of tropospheric ozone (O₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) interaction on yield and nutritional quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.). Mustard plants were grown from emergence to maturity under different treatments: charcoal-filtered air (CF, 80–85 % less O₃ than ambient O₃ and ambient CO₂), nonfiltered air (NF, 5–10 % less O₃ than ambient O₃ and ambient CO₂ ), nonfiltered air with elevated carbon dioxide (NF?+?CO₂, NF air and 550?±?50 ppm CO₂), elevated ozone (EO, NF air and 25–35 ppb elevated O₃), elevated ozone along with elevated carbon dioxide (EO?+?CO₂, NF air, 25–35 ppb O₃ and 550?±?50 ppm CO₂), and ambient chamber less control (AC, ambient O₃ and CO₂). Elevated O₃ exposure led to reduced photosynthesis and leaf area index resulting in decreased seed yield of mustard. Elevated ozone significantly decreased the oil and micronutrient content in mustard. Thirteen to 17 ppm hour O₃ exposure (accumulated over threshold of 40 ppm, AOT 40) reduced the oil content by 18–20 %. Elevated CO₂ (500?±?50 ppm) along with EO was able to counter the decline in oil content in the seed, and it increased by 11 to 13 % over EO alone. Elevated CO₂, however, decreased protein, calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, and sulfur content in seed as compared to the nonfiltered control, whereas removal of O₃ from air in the charcoal-filtered treatment resulted in a significant increase in the same.     

能源结构变化对兰州市大气质量的影响

将2001—2010年的主要能源材料消耗、主要污染物变化及主要行业分布进行了相关性分析,结果表明:兰州市大气4种主要污染物中除烟尘呈下降趋势外,废气总量、SO2、NOx仍呈上升趋势;主要污染源为燃煤,主要污染行业为电力、蒸汽热水产供业;废气和SO2排放总量与燃煤和燃气呈强正相关,而NOx排放只与燃气呈强正相关。建议发挥兰州地域优势,加大以水电供应为主的能源结构调整,对改善当地空气质量有重要价值。     

Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey

Pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungal species are major causes of nosocomial infections, especially in controlled environments where immunocompromised patients are hospitalized. Indoor fungal contamination in hospital air is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Regular determination of fungal spore counts in controlled hospital environments may help reduce the risk of fungal infections. Because infants have inchoate immune systems, they are given immunocompromised patient status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate culturable airborne fungi in the air of hospital newborn units in the Thrace, Marmara, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. A total of 108 air samples were collected seasonally from newborn units in July 2012, October 2012, January 2013, and April 2013 by using an air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) as isolation media. We obtained 2593 fungal colonies comprising 370 fungal isolates representing 109 species of 28 genera, which were identified through multi-loci gene sequencing. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Talaromyces, and Alternaria were the most abundant genera identified (35.14, 25.40, 17.57, 2.70, and 6.22% of the total, respectively).     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in effluents from wastewater treatment plants and receiving streams in Tianjin, China

Surface water, suspended particulate matter, pore water, and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Yongding New River, South Drainage Canal and North Drainage Canal, which receive most of wastewater from industrial city of Tianjin. PAH concentrations in effluent samples of wastewater treatment plants (WTP) discharging into the South Drainage Canal and North Drainage Canal were quantified for the first time. The results showed that the discharge of the WTPs recently only contributed to the PAH contamination in the canals near the outlets of the WTPs. PAH levels in sediments of the streams were greatly higher than those in soils by riverbank probably due to receiving large amounts of untreated wastewater. Unusually high benz[a] anthracene concentration strongly influenced the seasonal and spatial variation of total PAH concentrations in South Drainage Canal. Paired samples t test of ??Nap, Fl, Phe, Fluo and ??Nap, Phe, Fluo, Chry concentrations, which were dominant components in the air samples from non-heating and heating season, respectively, in the suspended particulate matters from the streams showed that PAH source from air deposition was more important for Yongding New River than that for South Drainage Canal and North Drainage Canal. Source apportionment based on PAH profiles indicated that coal combustion was the major PAH contamination source, and coke oven sources and wood combustion also contributed to the PAH contamination of the streams. This was further indicated by organic petrography analysis.     

北京市空气污染指数及其影响因素分析

以北京市2001—2012年空气污染指数(API)和气象资料为基础,通过描述统计和GLM模型分析了北京市API的变化趋势和影响因素。分析结果表明,从年际变化看,北京空气质量呈逐年好转趋势;空气质量季节差别显著,春季和冬季的空气质量最差,夏季空气质量显著优于冬季和春季;各气象因素对空气质量均有显著影响,气压、气温、降水、日照时间与API呈负相关关系,其升高有利于空气质量改善,而日最高温、湿度、风速与API呈正相关关系。交通限行政策对北京空气质量有显著改善作用,但未发现API存在显著的周末效应。     

Development of monitoring technology for airborne particulate matter

Particulate matter suspended in the air has adverse effects onhuman health. Its level of concentration is an important parameter in evaluating the degree of hazard it poses to the atmosphere. Conventional methods used in measuring particulatematter are often filter-based, which indicates some disadvantagesbecause such a base requires labor and time. In this study, to achieve real-time measurements, a new electrical method was developed for measuring PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. The basicprinciple is to electrically charge particles passing through thePM inlet using a corona charger and measure the currents createdby charged particles to obtain the number concentration of particulate matter. A new type inlet based on the particle cupimpactor configuration was designed and its performance was evaluated. A unipolar diffusion charger was developed and thecharger's efficiency was determined experimentally in terms ofPn, which represents the penetration through the charger,P, times the average charge number acquired by a particle,n, for different particle sizes. The correlation was constructed between the PM10 (or the PM2.5) mass concentrationsand the electrical currents due to particles, which were chargedby the diffusion charger.     

The effect of atmospheric pressure on CH4 and CO2 emission from a closed landfill site in Manchester, UK

A time series study was conducted to ascertain the effect of barometric pressure on the variability of CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations in a closed landfill site. An in situ data of methane/carbon dioxide concentrations and environmental parameters were collected by means of an in-borehole gas monitor, the GasClam (Ion Science, UK). Linear regression analysis was used to determine the strength of the correlation between ground-gas concentrations and barometric pressure. The result shows CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations to be variable with weak negative correlations of 0.2691 and 0.2773, respectively, with barometric pressure over the entire monitoring period. Although the R ² was slightly improved by considering their concentration over single periods of rising and falling pressure, single periods of rising pressure and single periods of falling pressure, their correlations remained insignificant at 95 % confidence level. The result revealed that atmospheric pressure—the acclaimed major control on the variability of ground-gas concentration—is not always so. A case was made for the determination of other possible controls such as changes in temperature, soil permeability, landfill water depth, season, and geology of the borehole and also how much of control each factor would have on the variability/migration of CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations from the studied landfill.     

美国加州南岸地区空气质量监测系统运行管理与借鉴

借鉴加州南岸空气质量监测管理经验（特别是运行管理模式）对于现阶段我国城市环境空气质量监测管理具有极高的参考价值。简要介绍了加州南岸空气质量管理局（ SCAQMD）的空气质量监测现状、监测网络布局、颗粒物采样方法和相关质量管理体系。对现行的环境空气质量指数、管理架构和PM2?5考核方法进行了综合比较，建议从4个方面借鉴SCAQMD经验：试行“空气质量管理区”模式；开展专项研究网络建设；逐步开展手工监测采样和颗粒物化学组分分析；提升数据挖掘水平，服务管理决策。     

典型陆源入海排污对邻近海域富营养化及生物毒性的影响

主要采用等标污染负荷、营养状态指数、生物综合毒性指标和GIS手段,通过对秦皇岛海域3个陆源入海排污口及邻近海域水质因子调查,考察典型陆源入海排污对邻近海域富营养化及生物毒性的影响。结果表明,大蒲河、人造河和洋河入海污染物的等标污染负荷比分别为36.9%、61.1%和2.0%,其中大蒲河和人造河对该海域污染负荷比的贡献达98%,为主要污染源;邻近海域主要超标污染物为PO3-4和DIN,PO3-4浓度与NQI相关分析(r=0.76,P=0.004 6)和GIS空间对比表明,PO3-4可能是造成该海域富营养化的主要因子。NQI和发光细菌发光抑制率的空间分布特征表明,该海域受陆源排污的影响比较明显。     

Efficient control of air pollution through plants, a cost-effective alternative: studies on Dalbergia sissoo Roxb

Plants can be used as both passive biomonitors and biomitigators in urban and industrial environments to indicate the environmental quality and to ameliorate pollution level in a locality. Many studies reveal that plants are negatively affected by the ambient levels of air pollutants. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of air pollution on comparative basis with reference to changes in photosynthetic pigments, plant height, leaves, as well as, biochemical parameters of plants of different sites around Udaipur city receiving varying levels of pollution load. The investigated tree species Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. (Family: Fabaceae) exhibited a reduction in various physiological and biochemical growth parameters that correspond with air pollution levels at different sites. The tree species growing in polluted and control areas were compared with respect to foliar dust load, leaf area, and chlorophyll and total carbohydrate and total protein concentration in the leaves. Our studies suggest that D. sissoo Roxb. can successfully be grown in an area for monitoring air pollution, where it is mild and droughts are common. It will prove as an ideal tree species to control pollution effectively beside acting as a shade tree and being a source of food for birds and animals. By plantation of D. sissoo Roxb., mitigative measure at the polluted sites to control generation of particulate matter and the air quality required can be ensured. Our results also confirm that industrial and vehicular air pollution level in Udaipur city is shifting beyond limits.     

Opaque closed chambers underestimate methane fluxes of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud

Closed chamber measurements for methane emission estimation are often carried out with opaque chambers to avoid heating of the headspace. However, mainly in wetlands, some plants possess an internal convective gas transport which quickly responds to changes in irradiation. These plants have also been found to often channel a large part of the released methane in temperate fens. We compare methane fluxes derived from transparent versus opaque chambers on Carex-, Phragmites-, and Typha-dominated stands of a temperate fen. Transparent chamber fluxes almost doubled opaque chamber fluxes in the convective transporting Phragmites stand. In Typha, a trend of higher fluxes determined with the transparent chambers was detectable, whereas in Carex, transparent and opaque chamber fluxes did not differ significantly. Thus, opaque chambers bias the outcome of methane measurements, depending on dominant vegetation. We recommend the use of transparent chambers when determining emissions of convective plants or extrapolating fluxes to larger scales.     

基于AGNES算法优化BP神经网络和GIS系统的大气污染物浓度预测

建立了大气污染物浓度与影响因子之间的BP神经网络,对城市中各监测点位的次日大气污染物浓度进行预测,采用GIS的插值分析进行污染物空间分布预测,其中BP神经网络的输入向量采用AGNES算法进行处理。以太原市区SO2、PM10浓度预测为例,选择气温、湿度、降水量、大气压强、风速和前5天的污染物浓度等10个参数训练BP神经网络,结果表明,BP神经网络的训练效果较好,预测结果与实际浓度显著相关,R2分别为0.988、0.976;结合太原市8个监测点位的污染物浓度预测值,运用GIS空间差值法绘出SO2、PM10的浓度分布预测图,该图与实际情况大体符合,并且与国控大气污染企业的分布显著相关,Pearson相关系数分别为0.969、0.949。     

Particulate matter concentration in ambient air and its effects on lung functions among residents in the National Capital Region, India

The World Health Organization has estimated that air pollution is responsible for 1.4 % of all deaths and 0.8 % of disability-adjusted life years. NOIDA, located at the National Capital Region, India, was declared as one of the critically air-polluted areas by the Central Pollution Control Board of the Government of India. Studies on the relationship of reduction in lung functions of residents living in areas with higher concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in ambient air were inconclusive since the subjects of most of the studies are hospital admission cases. Very few studies, including one from India, have shown the relationship of PM concentration and its effects of lung functions in the same location. Hence, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to study the effect of particulate matter concentration in ambient air on the lung functions of residents living in a critically air-polluted area in India. PM concentrations in ambient air (PM_1, PM_2.5) were monitored at residential locations and identified locations with higher (NOIDA) and lower concentrations (Gurgaon). Lung function tests (FEV₁, PEFR) were conducted using a spirometer in 757 residents. Both air monitoring and lung function tests were conducted on the same day. Significant negative linear relationship exists between higher concentrations of PM₁ with reduced FEV₁ and increased concentrations of PM_2.5 with reduced PEFR and FEV₁. The study shows that reductions in lung functions (PEFR and FEV₁) can be attributed to higher particulate matter concentrations in ambient air. Decline in airflow obstruction in subjects exposed to high PM concentrations can be attributed to the fibrogenic response and associated airway wall remodeling. The study suggests the intervention of policy makers and stake holders to take necessary steps to reduce the emissions of PM concentrations, especially PM_1, PM_2.5, which can lead to serious respiratory health concerns in residents.     

河源市2014-2017年空气污染特征及天气类型分析

利用2014—2017年河源城区环境空气自动监测站数据和气象数据，对期间出现的污染天气过程进行统计，对影响污染的天气类型进行分类。结果表明，2014—2017年，河源城区累计出现污染天气65 d，超标污染物主要为PM_2.5和O₃，O₃超标比例逐年上升成为达标率首要影响因子。PM_2.5易污染天气型中冷高压出海占比最多（38.2%），其次为冷锋前（17.7%）和均压场（14.8%）；O₃易污染天气型中副高控制占比最多（31.0%），其次为副高叠加台风外围（24.1%）和冷高压出海（13.8%）及均压场（13.8%）。河源城区低程度污染（AQI值101～110）占比较大。     

Seasonal evaluation of bioaerosols from indoor air of residential apartments within the metropolitan area in South Korea

The aims of the present study were to determine the levels of bioaerosols including airborne culturable bacteria (total suspended bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Gram-negative bacteria), fungi, endotoxin, and viruses (influenza A, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus types A/B, parainfluenza virus types 1/2/3, metapnemovirus, and adenovirus) and their seasonal variations in indoor air of residential apartments. Of the total suspended bacteria cultured in an indoor environment, Staphylococcus was dominant and occupied 49.0 to 61.3 % of indoor air. Among Staphylococcus, S. aureus were detected in 100 % of households' indoor air ranging from 4 to 140 CFU/m³, and 66 % of households were positive for MRSA ranging from 2 to 80 CFU/m³. Staphylococcus and S. aureus concentrations correlated with indoor temperature (adjusted β: 0.4440 and 0.403, p?<?0.0001). Among respiratory viruses, adenovirus was detected in 14 (14 %) samples and influenza A virus was detected in 3 (3 %) samples regarding the indoor air of apartments. Adenovirus concentrations were generally higher in winter (mean concentration was 2,106 copies/m³) than in spring (mean concentration was 173 copies/m³), with concentrations ranging between 12 and 560 copies/m³. Also, a strong negative correlation between adenovirus concentrations and relative humidity in indoor air was observed (r?=??0.808, p?<?0.01). Furthermore, temperature also negatively correlated with adenovirus concentrations (r?=??0.559, p?<?0.05).