An inequality study of ambient nitrogen dioxide and traffic levels near elementary schools in the Tampa area

Environmental equity has been identified as a challenge and goal of national to global air quality management. Here, relationships between traffic-related air pollution measures and the social demographics of elementary schools are investigated. Ogawa passive samplers were used to measure ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) levels near 75 randomly selected elementary schools in the county containing Tampa, FL over one week in March 2008. Concentrations were determined using colorimetric reaction using Hach nitrite reagent and photometric detection at 545 nm. NO(2) levels, two metrics of traffic (highest annual average daily traffic count within 500 m and 1000 m), and school enrollment data by demographic subgroup (racial/ethnic and socioeconomic) were then compared. Data were analyzed for distribution statistics, linear correlations, and differences in subgroup category means. Weighted average values of NO(2) and traffic count were also calculated for each subgroup. All measured NO(2) levels were low, with a mean of 2.7 ppbv and range from 0.8 to 4.7 ppbv. Values were largest at sites near downtown. Results from all analyses show comparatively higher potential exposures to measured NO(2) and traffic count for black school children, and lower values for white and Asian or Pacific Islander school children. The economically disadvantaged and Hispanic subgroups were also associated with higher levels of NO(2) and traffic counts, but the relationship was not as strong or robust. Although measured NO(2) levels were low and the differences between groups are small, results suggest disparities by racial/ethnic and economic status in children's exposures to air pollution for the Tampa area.     

Impacts on air pollution in urban areas

Environmental management involves controlling various forms of pollution to levels that do not pose a threat to the health of the people and the environment in general. This paper presents a framework to analyze sources of local air pollution in cities. Using an OLS model, an investigation is performed of the relationship among the concentrations of air pollutants [more precisely, concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), dust, nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon oxide (CO) and ozone (O₃)], economic activities, and meteorology. Time series analysis leads to a model, that explains a high degree of the variance in the air pollution data. The model is applied to daily time series from three measurement stations in innsbruck, Austria. Estimation results of the model generally fit with the expected relations. Space heating influences SO₂, dust, and NO, while NO₂ levels are primarily affected by traffic. These results also indicate interdependent relations among the pollutants NO, NO₂, O₃, and CO; O₃ levels depend on temperature and sunshine.     

Phenols and flavonoids in Aleppo pine needles as bioindicators of air pollution

The aim of the present study is to assess whether certain ecophysiological responses (contents of total phenols, total proanthocyanidins, and total and simple flavonols), in the needles of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) may be valid bioindicators for the assessment of the air quality. Samples were taken at five natural sites polluted by various pollutants (NO, NO2, other NOx, SO2, and O3). The results show a decrease in total phenol concentrations with levels of nitrogen oxide pollutions (significant negative correlations between the total phenol concentrations and concentrations of NO, NO2, and other NOx). Total flavonoids (total flavonols and proanthocyanidins) are useful bioindicators for ozone pollution (significant negative correlations between total proanthocyanidins and the concentrations of ozone and significant positive correlations between total flavonols and the ozone pollution). Sulfur dioxide pollution is distinguished by low concentrations in quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol (significant negative correlations between these simple flavonols and the concentrations of SO2). This work confirms the strong interest of using the phenolic compounds of Pinus halepensis as biological indicators of air quality.     

张掖市城区采暖期环境空气中污染物分布特征分析

以张掖市甘州区城区采暖期2008—2012年5年环境空气质量数据为主,对采暖期污染物变化状况及污染物分布情况进行分析。张掖市冬季采暖主要以燃煤为主,能源结构不合理、锅炉污染严重、工业企业结构不合理以及交通污染等原因,使得冬季采暖期间张掖市甘州区城区环境空气中主要污染物为二氧化硫、可吸入颗粒物、二氧化氮,采暖期间污染物浓度随时问呈正态分布特征。结合污染特点,提出调整能源结构、利用清洁能源、加大监管力度等建议,以期改善张掖市采暖期的环境空气质量。     

TEA滤膜挂片测定NO2用于山东省城市空气监测优化布点的研究

采用TEA滤膜挂片测定空气中NO2相对浓度的无动力采样方法，实验结果表明：TEA挂片可以反映环境空气中NO2的浓度水平，精密度较好，无需仪器、设备投入，应用于山东省15城市环境空气监测优化布点的网格实测，效果理想。     

Design of fuzzy synthetic evaluation model for air quality assessment

Little attention was paid to growing air quality concerns until about a decade earlier in India. Indian Government started continuous monitoring of the urban air quality in Taj corridor area to protect the heritage monuments like Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, the bird sanctuary at Bharatpur National Park and also the human health associated with air pollution. The aim of this study was to address air quality assessment using fuzzy synthetic evaluation model. The model was designed for four air pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, suspended particulate matters and respirable suspended particulate matter). In the present paper, an approach is demonstrated for the determination of fuzzy air quality index by aggregating the four pollutants. The model also considers the weights of individual pollutants during aggregation. The weights of individual pollutants were determined using analytical hierarchical process. The model was applied for air quality assessment in four monitoring stations situated in Taj Trapezium Zone.     

The benefits and costs of reducing emissions from the electricity sector

Recent federal policy proposals to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)), and mercury from the US electricity sector promise important improvements in air quality and reductions in acid deposition. The cost of achieving these reductions depends on the form and stringency of the regulation. In this research, we analyze the economic benefits and costs of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) as characterized in the supplemental rule proposed in June 2004, and the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) as proposed in February 2004. The assessment integrates a model of the electricity sector, two models of atmospheric transport of air pollutants, and a model of environmental and public health endpoints affected by pollution. We model explicitly the emissions of SO(2), NO(x), mercury and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and the effects of changes in emissions of SO(2) and NO(x) on environmental and public health. The manner in which mercury emissions are regulated will have important implications not only for the cost of the regulation, but also for emission levels for SO(2) and NO(x) and where those emissions are located. We find the economic benefits of CAIR and CAMR are far greater than the costs. Recent estimates of benefits of reductions in mercury and acidification indicate that our model captures the lion's share of quantifiable benefits. We also find that the EPA would have been justified on economic grounds in pursuing additional SO(2) emissions reductions beyond the requirements of CAIR.     

四川省城市环境空气质量及变化趋势

本文根据2000～2009年四川省24个地级城市例行空气监测数据,按照《环境空气质量标准》(GB3095-1996)中的二级标准,采用综合污染指数法分析了四川省近10年环境空气质量的现状、变化趋势及影响因素。结果表明:从年际变化看,可吸入颗粒物浓度呈下降趋势,二氧化硫、二氧化氮浓度变化较平稳;年内变化显示,各污染物浓度季节变化明显,冬季污染最严重,污染程度由高到低的顺序为冬季、春季、秋季、夏季。全省综合污染指数呈下降趋势,空气污染程度得到了明显缓解,空气质量逐渐变好。     

基于模糊数学的大气环境质量综合评价

鉴于大气环境质量评价中客观存在的不确定性和模糊性,运用模糊数学方法,选用SO2、NO2、PM10作为评价因子,参照大气环境质量标准,通过计算污染因子权重分配系数和隶属度对乌鲁木齐市2004年至2010年大气环境质量给出客观的评价,综合评价结果表明乌鲁木齐市总体大气环境质量为轻度污染(三级),但空气质量在逐年好转,SO2和PM10依然是乌鲁木齐市空气质量的制约因子,且NO2的权重在逐年上升。模糊综合评判考虑环境空气质量评价的模糊性,根据污染物浓度对各级别的贴近度考察污染物的级别,评价结果比较直观,可以细致准确的评价环境质量等级,评价结果基本可以反映环境空气污染的情况。     

都江堰市2001～2010年城市环境空气质量变化分析

本文以2001～2010年都江堰市大气环境监测数据为依据,采用综合污染指数法分析了都江堰市近10年环境空气质量的现状、变化趋势及影响因素,并分析比较2008年地震前后空气污染物的变化。结果表明：都江堰市的空气综合污染指数较低（1     

A methodology for estimation of vehicle emissions in an urban environment: an example from Greater Manchester

Road transport is a major contributor to urban air pollution. The introduction of local air qua lity management in the UK will require objective test procedures to evaluate and prioritise the air pollution benefits of existing transport systems and proposed developments. This methodology has been developed to assist the land use and transport planning professionals in evaluating current and potential future impacts on air quality. The method couples an emissions estimation procedure to a traffic flow database. It requires data on emission factors, the composition of the vehicle fleet, vehicle control technologies and the daily traffic flow profile. With these data, it is possible to generate emission estimates per kilometre, link or road as selected by the user. Forecasts can be made by varying input variables. The current methodology allows prediction of five or more pollutant species/classes, limited only by availability of emission factors. The method utilises a commercially available personal computer based spreadsheet. Further coupling of the method to a geographical information system will improve the decision support capability of the method.     

Environmental Management of Sulfur Trioxide Emission: Impact of SO3 on Human Health

The major contributors to global acidification are sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides emitted mostly by the burning of fossil fuels. From the scientific point of view, it is necessary to make a clear distinction between sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide when referring to sulfur oxides. These two air pollutants have different properties. This paper reports the following aspects: the strong effect of sulfur trioxide on local human health (a case study of asthma in Yokkaichi), the problem of corrosion caused by sulfur trioxide, the difference in analytical methods for determining sulfur dioxide concentrations and sulfur trioxide concentrations, and the difference in removal methods for sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. An important initiative at the third European conference of environment ministers was that the issue of human health related to local air pollution should be given priority over that of global pollution. The declines in the emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides have mainly been effective in reducing acidification due to long-range transport. The reduction in sulfur trioxide may be more effective in improving local human health mentioned in the initiative.     

Comparison of air quality in the UK and Russia

Summary A comparison is made of some of the key elements of ambient air quality in the UK and the Russian Federation. In each country air quality has recently moved towards the top of public environmental concerns. The legislative and regulatory framework for controlling/improving air quality is considered briefly. In the Russian Federation ambient air ground level standards exist for over 20 chemicals. In contrast, in the UK, to date, only four EEC (European Union) imposed standards are in operation. The Russian standards are considerably stricter than those of the UK, but compliance in many cities is very poor. In each country air quality has benefited more from economic recessionary forces than direct government action. In both countries the trend is to a reduction in sulphur dioxide levels. In contrast, nitrogen dioxide levels are increasing primarily because of growing road traffic levels. An attempt is made to compare air quality in Moscow with that in London. Constraints include the use of different methodologies and forms of data presentation. However, the overall impression is of substantial similarities in the air quality of the two capital cities.     

Inexpensive substrate sampler for macroinvertebrates

Assessment of aquatic macroinvertebrates is a critical component of many watershed monitoring programs and passive samplers are often used to collect long-term site data, especially in environments where active sampling is not possible. However, standard passive samplers can be expensive and lost in extreme conditions. We developed a sampler using plastic soda bottles (PSB) filled with river rock and compared its effectiveness with standard Hester-Dendy samplers in both lotic and lentic environments. Abundance, taxa richness, and macroinvertebrate composition showed no significant differences between sampler types in either habitat type. PSB samplers, which can be constructed for less than one dollar each, collected the same number of organisms and represented the same diversity as Hester-Dendy devices that cost around $38 each. In studies where funds are limited, PSB samplers appear to be suitable for passive monitoring.     

湘潭市环境空气质量变化趋势分析及对策

本文以湘潭市1996～2003年大气监测资料数据为依据,确定了湘潭市空气中的主要污染物,并利用Spearman相关系数法对湘潭市空气质量变化趋势进行了分析,结果表明：湘潭市大气污染属于煤烟型,主要污染物为PM10、SO2,其次为NO2,三种污染物浓度均呈现上升趋势,PM10和NO2上升趋势更为明显.文章并进一步提出了改善空气质量的防治对策.     

新乡市环境质量变化原因及应对措施

通过对比分析新乡市2011年与2010年的监测数据,发现：环境空气质量、地表水河流控制断面有污染加重的趋势;气象条件、经济形势低迷、机动车尾气排放、交通干道堵塞是引起空气质量变化的原因;引起地表水质量变化的原因包括没有新鲜水源补给、结构性污染严重、其他城市来水污染、污水处理厂没有脱氮除磷设施。由此,提出了严格实行总量预算管理、转变经济增长方式、加强政府干预、加大环境监管、加强基础设施建设、河渠综合整治的改善环境质量的对策建议。     

广州市2002～2003年空气污染指数分析

根据广州市2002年1月1日至2003年12月31日的空气污染指数资料,对广州市每日的空气污染指数和可吸入颗粒物、NO2和SO2的污染指数、空气污染指数的月平均值和年平均值、空气质量级别、首要污染物等指标进行了统计分析.结果表明,广州市的空气污染状况与大尺度的天气现象如季风和降雨量等密切相关.     

Investigation of trace element atmospheric pollution by nuclear analytical techniques at a global scale: harmonized approaches supported by the IAEA

In the framework of the IAEA programmes, Member States involved in air pollution studies using nuclear analytical techniques have harmonized their methodologies. Participants characterising chemical composition of size fractionated airborne particulate matter based their methodology on a common type of air sampler, centralised data collection and evaluation, and the same kind of data processing. Institutions involved in biomonitoring air pollution identified appropriate organisms to be applied at a regional scale, and harmonized procedures for sample preparation and analysis, as well as data processing and presentation. Both metrology approaches have been validated and disseminated in many Member States.     

乌鲁木齐市大气环境污染特征及改善途径分析

以乌鲁木齐市环境监测站1996-2010年监测的大气中主要污染物SO2、NO2、PM10数据为依据,分析了乌鲁木齐市主要大气污染物浓度变化特征及变化趋势,阐明了乌鲁木齐市以煤烟型和沙尘型污染为主的大气污染现状,呈现出较为明显的采暖期污染重于非采暖期的特征,并提出通过改变能源结构、调整工业布局、完善相关法律法规等措施来改善乌鲁木齐市大气污染现状。     

南充市城市空气质量变化及达标分析

为了掌握南充市近年来城市空气质量变化及其达标情况,对南充市城区2008～2012年SO2、NO2和PM10的质量浓度数据进行统计分析,并计算各个站点的空气污染指数和空气质量指数。结果表明,3种污染物浓度值都有明显的下降趋势,S02浓度在0．002～0．052mg／m^3之间变化;N02浓度值从0．042mg／m^3下降到0．029mg／m^3;PM10浓度在0．060～0．063mg／m^3之间波动。南充市空气质量冬季较差,夏季较好。在5个监测点中,炼油厂空气质量最差,优良率为92．9％（85．1％）;高坪空气质量最好,优良率为99．1％（98．3％）。相关性分析表明,南充市空气污染源主要是工业燃煤和机动车尾气。