The combined influence of SO2 and heavy metal-containing particulates on beans,carrots and parsley

The effects of various concentrations of air pollutants on crop losses were investigated. Parsley, bean and carrots were fumigated using SO₂ in concentrations ranging from 0.35 mg m^-3 (0.13 ppm) to 4.5 mg m^-3 (1.7 ppm) with and without lead/zinc/cadmium-containing particulate matter. It was concluded that a long-term exposure to low levels of SO₂, even without visible plant injuries, resulted in more significant crop losses than short-term, high concentrations.Measurements of root and leaf weight in carrot and parsley fumigated in exposure chambers with SO₂ show that the ratio of root to leaf weight is dependent on the type and concentration of pollutants. This result leads to the conclusion that a mathematical model describing the above phenomena might be an useful tool in the assessment of crop losses due to known concentrations of air pollutants during the growth period.     

Assessment of Ambient Air Quality in Urban Centres of Haryana (India) in Relation to Different Anthropogenic Activities and Health Risks

Considering the mounting evidences of the effects of air pollution on health, the present study was undertaken to assess the ambient air quality status in the fast growing urban centres of Haryana state, India. The samples were collected for total suspended particulate matter (TSPM), respirable suspended particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and oxides of nitrogen (NO₂) during different seasons from 8 districts of Haryana during January, 1999 to September, 2000. The four types of sampling sites with different anthropogenic activities i.e. residential, sensitive, commercial and industrial were identified in each city. The ambient air concentration of TSPM and PM₁₀ observed was well above the prescribed standards at almost all the sites. The average ambient air concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂ were found below the permissible limits at all the centres. Comparatively higher concentration of SO₂ was observed during winter seasons, which seems to be related with the enhanced combustion of fuel for space heating and relatively stable atmospheric conditions. Air Quality Index (AQI) prepared for these cities shows that residential, sensitive and commercial areas were moderately to severely polluted which is a cause of concern for the residents of these cities. The high levels of TSPM and SO₂ especially in winter are of major health concern because of their synergistic action. The data from Hisar city reveals a significant increase in the total number of hospital visits/admissions of the patients with acute respiratory diseases during winter season when the level of air pollutants was high.     

Monitoring the results of Canada/U.S.A acid rain control programs: some lake responses

Aquatic acidification by deposition of airborne pollutants emerged as an environmental issue in southeastern Canada during the 1970s. Drawing information from the extensive research and monitoring programs, a sequence of issue assessments demonstrated the necessity of reducing the anthropogenic emissions of acidifying pollutants, particularly sulphur dioxide (SO₂). The 1991 Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement (AQA) was negotiated to reduce North American SO₂ emissions by 40% relative to 1980 levels by 2010, and at present, both countries have reduced emissions beyond their AQA commitment. In response to reduced SO₂ emissions, atmospheric deposition of sulphate (SO₄ ^2–) and SO₄ ^2– concentrations in many lakes have declined, particularly in south-central Ontario and southern Québec. Sulphate deposition still exceeds aquatic critical loads throughout southeastern Canada however. Increasing pH or alkalinity (commonly deemed recovery) has been observed in only some lakes. Several biogeochemical factors have intervened to modify the lake chemistry response to reduced SO₄ ^2– input, notably release of stored SO₄ ^2– from wetlands following periods of drought and reduction in the export of base cations from terrestrial soils. Three examples from Ontario are presented to illustrate these responses. Significant increases in pH and alkalinity have been observed in many lakes in the Sudbury area of Ontario due to the large reductions in local SO₂ emissions; early-stage biological recovery is evident in these lakes. An integrated assessment model predicts that AQA emission reductions will not be sufficient to promote widespread chemical or biological recovery of Canadian lakes. Monitoring and modeling are mutually supporting assessment activities and both must continue.     

常州市工业大气污染物排放特征研究

通过调查企业生产情况,采用现场实测、模型、排放因子等方法,获得了常州市工业大气污染物的排放量,从行业、排放口高度、空间、时间及重点源所占比例等方面,分析了常州市工业大气污染物的分布特征。结果显示:常州市工业PM、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、SO_2、NO_x、CO、NH_3、VOCs排放量分别为3.089、1.348、0.695、5.380、7.077、14.459、0.030、0.848万t;钢铁、水泥、热电、金属制品、化工是常州市大气污染物产生的主要行业;高架源、中架源、低架源排放比例依次增加;11.5%的企业占据了全市排放量的86%以上;SO2等污染物各月排放量基本稳定,PM2.5等上半年排放量波动较大;市区企业的集中排放在不利气象条件下易造成大气污染。     

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。     

基于GIS的唐山地区大气污染物时空分布研究

应用数据统计和ArcGIS对北方重工业城市唐山地区2014年14个县(区)18个空气自动监测站的数据进行时空分布特征分析,监测的污染物为PM_(10)、SO_2、NO_2、PM_(2.5)、O_3、CO共6项。利用ArcGIS对各个自动监测站污染物数据建立网格模型,采用反距离权重法分别对年均、采暖期、非采暖期的环境空气质量综合指数和6项污染因子浓度的空间分布进行估算,直观比较了污染物在不同时期内的空间分布状况。结果表明,空气质量时间分布较为明显,非采暖期明显好于采暖期。同时,计算出每个网格单元污染指数的标准偏差,结合气象气候、地形地势、工业发展等情况,分析得出北部山区、市中心区附近区域空气质量波动较大。为区域大气污染有针对性的综合防治、联防联控及污染物区域削减计划打下数据基础。     

Effect of particulate matter, atmospheric gases, temperature, and humidity on respiratory and circulatory diseases’ trends in Lisbon, Portugal

This study addresses the significant effects of both well-known contaminants (particles, gases) and less-studied variables (temperature, humidity) on serious, if relatively common, respiratory and circulatory diseases. The area of study is Lisbon, Portugal, and time series of health outcome (daily admissions in 12 hospitals) and environmental data (daily averages of air temperature, relative humidity, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO, NO₂, CO, and O₃) have been gathered for 1999–2004 to ascertain (1) whether concentrations of air pollutants and levels of temperature and humidity do interfere on human health, as gauged by hospital admissions due to respiratory and circulatory ailments; and (2) whether there is an effect of population age in such admissions. In general terms, statistically significant (p?<?0.001) correlations were found between hospital admissions and temperature, humidity, PM₁₀, and all gaseous pollutants except CO and NO. Age appears to influence respiratory conditions in association with temperature, whereas, for circulatory conditions, such an influence likely involves temperature as well as the gaseous pollutants NO₂ and SO₂.     

Study of Meteorological Aspects and Urban Concentration of SO2 in Atmospheric Environment of La Plata, Argentina

This article presents and discusses SO₂ (ppbv) concentration measurements combined with meteorological data (mainly wind speed and direction) for a five-year campaign (1996 to 2000), in a site near an oil refinery plant close to the city of La Plata and surroundings (aprox. 740.000 inh.), considered one of the six most affected cities by air pollution in the country. Since there is no monitoring network in the area, the obtained results should be considered as medium term accumulated data that enables to determine trends by analyzing together gas concentrations and meteorological parameters. Preliminary characterization of the behaviour of the predominant winds of the region in relation with potential atmospheric gas pollutants from seasonal wind roses is possible to carry out from the data. These results are complemented with monthly averaged SO₂ measurements. In particular, for year 2000, pollutant roses were determined which enable predictions about contamination emission sources. As a general result we can state that there is a clear increase in annual SO₂ concentration and that the selected site should be considered as a key site for future survey monitoring network deployment. Annual SO₂ average concentration and prevailing seasonal winds determined in this work, together with the potential health impact of SO₂ reveals the need for a comprehensive and systematic study involving particulate matter an other basic pollutant gases.     

Spatiotemporal Modeling of Ambient Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations in Rural Western Canada

The provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia are major oil- and gas-producing regions in western Canada. With increasing oil and gas production activities, there has been a growing concern of the effect of oil and gas industry emissions on health. Nevertheless, lack of proper tools to estimate the exposure to these emissions has been a hindrance to epidemiological studies and risk assessment. This paper presents a spatiotemporal modeling approach to estimating ambient sulfur dioxide (SO₂) levels based on environmental monitoring data (N = 10,295), which were collected at rural sites (591 per month on average) of this region from June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002. Based on the model, illustrative maps consistently revealed high and low SO₂ concentration sub-regions. The sub-regions with elevated SO₂ concentrations had increased levels during the winter months from December 2001 to March 2002 and then decreased during the spring of 2002. This statistical modeling approach may help researchers estimate the SO₂ levels within the study area for their epidemiological studies or risk assessment.     

哈大绥城市“十三五”期间大气环境容量分析

根据2016—2020年哈尔滨市、大庆市、绥化市(以下称哈大绥)国控环境空气自动监测站的SO₂、NO₂、PM_2.5监测资料,统计年鉴中行政区划、污染物排放及气象等监测数据,分析哈大绥区域环境空气质量的变化趋势和测算因子,采用A值法核定了哈大绥区域SO₂、NO₂、PM_2.5的大气环境容量。结果表明:哈大绥SO₂、NO₂、PM_2.5 3项污染物采暖季的大气环境容量均呈逐年递增趋势。通过计算环境承载能力发现,哈大绥SO₂、NO₂、PM_2.5 3项污染物在非采暖季均具有高承载能力,哈大绥非采暖季环境容量高于采暖季。哈尔滨的个别污染物仍然处于临界超载状态,为减少重污染天气,应进一步削减采暖季污染物排放量。     

Study of temporal variation in ambient air quality during Diwali festival in India

The variation in air quality was assessed from the ambient concentrations of various air pollutants [total suspended particle (TSP), particulate matter ≤10 μm (PM₁₀), SO₂, and NO₂] for pre-Diwali, Diwali festival, post-Diwali, and foggy day (October, November, and December), Delhi (India), from 2002 to 2007. The extensive use of fireworks was found to be related to short-term variation in air quality. During the festival, TSP is almost of the same order as compared to the concentration at an industrial site in Delhi in all the years. However, the concentrations of PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO₂ increased two to six times during the Diwali period when compared to the data reported for an industrial site. Similar trend was observed when the concentrations of pollutants were compared with values obtained for a typical foggy day each year in December. The levels of these pollutants observed during Diwali were found to be higher due to adverse meteorological conditions, i.e., decrease in 24 h average mixing height, temperature, and wind speed. The trend analysis shows that TSP, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ concentration increased just before Diwali and reached to a maximum concentration on the day of the festival. The values gradually decreased after the festival. On Diwali day, 24-h values for TSP and PM₁₀ in all the years from 2002 to 2007 and for NO₂ in 2004 and 2007 were found to be higher than prescribed limits of National Ambient Air Quality Standards and exceptionally high (3.6 times) for PM₁₀ in 2007. These results indicate that fireworks during the Diwali festival affected the ambient air quality adversely due to emission and accumulation of TSP, PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO_2.     

离子色谱法测废印刷电路板真空热解气相污染物中HBr、NO2和SO2

在淋洗液中加入H2O2和三乙醇胺配制成吸收液,通过离子色谱法同时测定废印刷电路板真空热解气相产物中HBr、NO_2和SO_2的含量,方法简单、快速、准确。当用50 m L吸收液、采样体积为30 L时,3种污染物的检出限分别为0.000 005 7、0.000 003 4、0.000 002 9 mg/L。该方法加标回收率为95.7%~104.8%,完全能满足废印刷电路板真空热解气相污染物中HBr、NO_2和SO_2的同时测定要求。利用该方法和行标方法同时测定环境空气中的HBr、NO_2和SO_2,再利用Excel分析工具对测定数据进行F检验和t检验,检验结果表明2种测定方法无显著差异。     

Air Quality Status of an Open Pit Mining Area in India

This investigation presents the assessment of ambient air quality carried out at an open pit coal mining area in Orissa state of India. The 24-h average concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM), respirable particulate matter (RPM, particles of less than 10 m aerodynamic diameter), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) were determined at regular interval throughout one year at 13 monitoring stations in residential area and four stations in mining/industrial area. During the study period, the 24-h and annual average SPM and RPM concentrations exceeded the respective standards set in the Indian ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) protocol in most of the residential and industrial areas. However, the 24-h and annual average concentrations of SO₂ and NO_x were well within the prescribed limit of the NAAQS in both residential and industrial areas. A management strategy is formulated for effective control of particulate matter at source and other mitigative measures are recommended including implementation of green belts around the sensitive areas.     

The Valuation of Health Effects Caused by Stationary Sources–Related SO2 Emissions: The Adaptation of Impact Pathway Approach in Taiwan

This paper presents the externalities of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in the Taichung metropolitan, Taiwan. The human effects of SO₂ from stationary sources are a key element for local air quality management. A methodology to evaluate those effects in monetary term had been adapted and applied. This method was modified from the EU-based impact pathway approach link to the skill of geographic information systems. The studied area was divided into 66 districts and the quantity of SO₂ was allocated to each district. Then, the ambient concentration of SO₂ was estimated by using the ordinary kriging method. A risk analysis was employed to characterize the health impacts caused by SO₂. Finally, a monetary transfer approach based on the European data was conducted to estimate local damage costs per ton of SO₂. Health impacts, especially acute mortality, dominate in term of costs. The calculation showed that damage costs ranged from 0.56 to 7.38 USD/kg SO₂ based on the 2002 emission data. The results could be used in the internalization of SO₂ externalities and management of the stationary sources in the studied area. This paper also concludes that the externalities caused by stationary-related SO₂ emissions are some 28.5 million US dollars in Taichung metropolitan (Taiwan) in 2002.     

Detection of sulphur dioxide in the air using Scotch pine needles

Air quality is especially important in surface layers, for it is this layer that provides the living components of environment with the needed oxygen and carbon dioxide. Various air polluting gases penetrate cells affecting and contaminating them. Chloroplast shell of some pine species, for instance, doubles under the impact of carbon dioxide which is followed by tillacoids swelling and reduction.Literature provides opinions of some authors, who consider Scotch pine needle to be a biological indicator of sulphur dioxide. Others object to it basing on the observations of physiological development.The property of a Scotch pine as that of biological indicator manifests in SO₂ absorption by its needles. The analysis of total content of SO₂ in the needles shows an increase of SO₂ concentration.Sulphur in the needles is found in the form of organically bound sulphur, aminoacids, hormones as well as in the form of sulphates.Basing on our previous analysis we have generalized the data on the correlation concentrations of sulphur dioxide in the air and general concentrations of sulphur in the needles. We have supplemented the observations with the analyses of organically bound sulphur and concentrations of nonorganic sulphur. According to research data, needles contain a characteristic and rather stable quantity of organically bound sulphur.So we may state that the SO _inf4 ^sup2– concentration and the amount of SO₂ absorbed from the air are interdependent.Some authors state that SO _inf4 ^sup2– content in the soil doesn't affect sulphur content in pine needles. That is why we studied the affect of SO _inf4 ^sup2– content in the soil on sulphur content in Scotch pine needles.We could prove this statement by means of various kinds of analyses only partially. The ion transport is affected by the presence of other ions, pH and a lot of other factors.What may be said for sure is that different qualities of soils gave only minor and insignificant deviations.Hence our assumption about the SO₂ contamination from air, proved by its effect on the soils, turns to suit approximate measurements.     

烟花爆竹禁燃对春节期间东北地区空气质量影响评估

利用2015—2017年春节期间东北地区主要大气污染物(PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、SO_2、NO_2、CO和O3)质量浓度监测资料及相应气象因子(温度、湿度、风速和气压)观测资料,分析了春节期间烟花爆竹禁燃对东北地区空气质量的影响。结果表明:随着东北地区主要城市禁燃力度的增强,空气质量逐年提升,PM_(2.5)和SO_2浓度逐年大幅度下降。禁燃可明显降低城区PM_(2.5)浓度,而由于春节期间污染源整体减少,城区和城郊监测点PM_(2.5)浓度值差异减小。烟花爆竹对PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)浓度影响高于对气体污染物SO_2、NO_2和CO的影响。此外,气象条件对东北地区春节期间禁燃改善空气质量的效果也有明显影响。因此,结合春节期间的气象条件,在东北地区实施禁燃政策动态调整非常必要。     

Preparation and Validation of Gridded Emission Inventory of Criteria Air Pollutants and Identification of Emission Hotspots for Megacity Delhi

Delhi is one of the many megacities struggling with punishing levels of pollution from industrial, residential, and transportation sources. Over the years, pollution abatement in Delhi has become an important constituent of state policies. In the past one decade a lot of policies and regulations have been implemented which have had a noticeable effect on pollution levels. In this context, air quality models provide a powerful tool to study the impact of development plans on the expected air pollution levels and thus aid the regulating and planning authorities in decision-making process. In air quality modeling, emissions in the modeling domain at regular interval are one of the most important inputs. From the annual emission data of over a decade (1990–2000), emission inventory is prepared for the megacity Delhi. Four criteria pollutants namely, CO, SO₂, PM, and NO _x are considered and a gridded emission inventory over Delhi has been prepared taking into account land use pattern, population density, traffic density, industrial areas, etc. A top down approach is used for this purpose. Emission isopleths are drawn and annual emission patterns are discussed mainly for the years 1990, 1996 and 2000. Primary and secondary areas of emission hotspots are identified and emission variations discussed during the study period. Validation of estimated values is desired from the available data. There is a direct relationship of pollution levels and emission strength in a given area. Hence, an attempt has been made to validate the emission inventory for all criteria pollutants by analyzing emissions in various sampling zones with the ambient pollution levels. For validation purpose, the geographical region encompassing the study area (Delhi) has been divided into seven emission zones as per the air quality monitoring stations using Voronoi polygon concept. Dispersion modeling is also used for continuous elevated sources to have the contributing emissions at the ground level to facilitate validation. A good correlation between emission estimates and concentration has been found. Correlation coefficient of 0.82, 0.77, 0.58 and 0.68 for CO, SO₂, PM and NO _x respectively shows a reasonably satisfactory performance of the present estimates.     

杭州市大气污染物排放清单及特征

以杭州市区为研究区域,通过调查整合多套污染源数据库及其他统计资料,研究文献报道及模型计算的各种污染源排放因子,获得杭州市区各行业PM10、PM2.5、SO2、NOx、CO、VOCs、NH3等污染物的排放量,建立了杭州市区2010年1 km×1 km大气污染物排放清单。结果表明,2010年杭州市区PM10、PM2.5、SO2、NOx、CO、VOCs和NH3的排放总量分别为7.96×104、4.02×104、7.23×104、8.98×104、73.90×104、39.56×104、3.32×104t。从排放源的行业分布来看,机动车尾气排放是杭州市区大气污染物最重要排放源之一,对PM10、PM2.5、NOx、CO和VOCs的贡献分别达到14.4%、27.1%、40.3%、21.4%、31.1%。道路扬尘、电厂锅炉、工业炉窑、植被、畜禽养殖对不同污染物分别有着重要贡献,道路扬尘对PM10和PM2.5的贡献分别为44.6%和20.0%、电厂锅炉对SO2和NOx的贡献分别为37.0%和25.7%、工业炉窑对CO的贡献为41.5%、植被排放对VOCs的贡献为27.1%、畜禽养殖对NH3的贡献为76.5%。从空间分布来看,萧山区和余杭区对SO2、NH3和植被排放BVOC的贡献要显著高于主城区;而主城区机动车对PM2.5、NOx和VOCs的贡献分别达到36.3%、56.0%和47.4%,较市区范围内显著增加,表明机动车尾气排放已成为杭州主城区大气污染最重要的来源之一。     

临汾市大气污染物的时间分布特征与源区分析

多年来，临汾市多次名列我国生态环境部公布的空气质量最差的重点城市之列，对其大气污染的时间分布特征和潜在源区进行分析对其环境管理与污染防治具有重要意义。利用2015—2019年临汾市5个国控空气环境质量监测站点的6种空气污染物(SO₂、NO₂、CO、O₃、PM_2.5和PM₁₀)浓度数据和气象观测数据，使用HYSPLIT模型研究了该市空气污染物的时间变化特征、轨迹输送特征和可能的来源。结果表明，PM_2.5和PM₁₀的年均浓度均超过了《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095—2012)Ⅱ级标准，SO₂仅在2016—2017年超过该标准，其余3种污染物的年均浓度均低于该标准。6种污染物2015—2019年的月均浓度的变化特征表现为O₃浓度呈以6、7月为中心的近似正态分布，SO₂、NO₂和CO以及PM_2.5和PM₁₀浓...     

Assessment of the effects of Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb soil contamination by ecotoxicological tests

This study aimed to assess soil quality by chemical and ecotoxicological investigations and to check the correspondence between soil metal concentrations and ecotoxicity. For these purposes, surface soils collected at four adjacent roadside urban parks and at a former industrial area were characterized for C/N, organic matter content, texture, and pH. Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb, chosen among the most representative soil metal contaminants, were measured as total content and as available and water soluble fractions. In addition, the total concentrations of the investigated metals were used to calculate two chemical indices: the contamination and the potential ecological risk factors. The toxicity of the investigated soils was evaluated by an ecotoxicity test battery carried out on both soil samples (Vibrio fischeri, Heterocypris incongruens and Sinapis alba) and elutriates (Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna and Selenastrum capricornutum). The findings, both by the chemical and ecotoxicological approaches, would suggest that the soils with high metal contamination pose ecological risks. On the other hand, moderately metal contaminated soils did not exclude soil ecotoxicity. In fact, toxic effects were also highlighted in soils with low metal content, toxicity being affected by metal availability and soil characteristics. Moreover, the results suggest the importance of using a battery of tests to assess soil ecotoxicity.