Public perception of air pollution sources across Europe

Air pollution is one of the primary concerns of our society for its effect on human health and the environment. Among the policy measures that can be put in place to limit air pollutant emissions, end-of-pipe technologies and/or regulatory instruments may be implemented through legislative acts. Also, equally important are behavioural measures, requiring citizens’ active involvement. The success of any measure to limit pollutant emissions requires the acceptance by the citizens that, in turn, implies a correct perception of the main pollutant emission drivers. We present here the comparison between the public perception of air pollution sources and the real-world situation through a survey carried out in seven European countries and involving 16 101 respondents. Our study shows a dramatic underestimation of the contribution of the agri-food sector to air pollution. This result is common to all respondents in the seven countries examined and only to a small extent depends on gender, age and socio-economic status of the respondents.     

大气污染防治与可持续发展探究

目前,我国积极开展大气污染防治工作,提出了系列防治工作目标,正在全面落实。做好大气污染的防治,并将其作为系统性工程,落实到实践,对推动社会经济可持续发展有着重要意义。本文基于可持续发展目的,针对当前大气污染防治工作做了简单论述,并提出了防治策略,希望能够给相关人员提供参考。     

环境空气监测子站气象仪器性能状况比对研究

气象监测是环境空气质量监测的重要组成部分,在环境空气质量精细化管理中发挥着重要作用。气象部门通常采用集中送检或现场校准的方式对气象仪器性能状况进行检查,但环保部门对监测子站气象仪器的相关性能检查还处于空白状态。结合国家环境空气质量自动监测网管理现状,研究采用现场比对方式进行气象仪器性能评估。试验过程中,温度、气压比对数据结果最好,湿度、风速比对数据结果较好,风向比对数据结果较差。因此,在气象部门集中送检和现场校准方式之外,环保部门采用现场比对方式,对空气子站气象仪器性能状况进行评估总体可行,对正常开展空气子站气象监测具有重要意义。     

Numerical simulation of far-field blast loads arising from large TNT equivalent explosives

Large TNT equivalent explosions usually arise from accidents occurring during the transportation, storage, and manufacturing of chemicals relevant to process industries. The blast wave generated by the explosion will spread and interact with the surrounding factories and storehouses, damaging the building structures within several kilometers and causing significant casualties and property losses. This study aims to develop an efficient numerical simulation method to predict blast loads to estimate the consequences of accidents involving far-field free air bursts or surface burst explosions. Before its interaction with the interested target, a blast wave is generated in the numerical model by specifying the initial and boundary conditions of the disturbed air. Based on empirical data of incident overpressure, an explicit formula to calculate the air particle velocity is derived from the governing equations of a perfect inviscid gas. A simplified path line method is proposed to calculate the air density. The proposed method is applied to the LS-DYNA CESE solver to simulate the blast loads on building structures in the far field. Validations against empirical data and experiments indicate that the proposed method is sufficiently accurate for engineering applications and, through a case study, presents a more efficient performance than the LOAD_BLAST_ENHANCED (LBE) and mapping methods.     

空气污染天气过程与气象要素之间的关联性分析

随着经济和社会的不断发展,地球的环境正在遭受着严重的侵害,关于环境的问题也日益显现出来,比如全球变暖、雾霾等现象。本文分析了空气污染的因素、气象要素对空气质量的影响,并提出了防治空气污染的对策。     

Health impacts of air pollution in China

•Impacts of air pollution on various body systems health in China were highlighted. •China’s actions to control air pollution and their effects were briefly introduced. •Challenges and perspectives of the health effects of air pollution are provided. The health effects of air pollution have attracted considerable attention in China. In this review, the status of air pollution in China is briefly presented. The impacts of air pollution on the health of the respiratory system, the circulatory system, the nervous system, the digestive system, the urinary system, pregnancy and life expectancy are highlighted. Additionally, China’s actions to control air pollution and their effects are briefly introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of the health effects of air pollution are provided. We believe that this review will provide a promising perspective on the health impacts of air pollution in China, and further elicit more attention from governments and researchers worldwide.     

Environmental forensic investigation of the air pollution from a cement manufacturing unit

Abstract

Cement manufacturing is a process that results in the emission of significant quantities of suspended particulate matter (SPM) to the ambient air. An environmental forensic investigation was carried out in the surroundings of a major cement manufacturing unit at a place called Coimbatore in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The investigation was carried out to identify the contribution of the cement manufacturing unit to the SPM concentration of the surrounding air environment. The sampling points’ selection and sample collection were done following the principles outlined in the INTERPOL Manual for Pollution Crime Forensic Investigation. On-site monitoring of the air samples was carried out using Mini Laser Aerosol Spectrometer (GRIMM, Mini-LAS Model 11R). The instrument was capable of measuring particles ranging from 0.25 to 32 µm and classifying them into 31 size channels. The test results at majority of the monitoring locations were well above the limits specified in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of India. Microscopic studies of the dust samples were carried out for surface texture and particle shape. The spatial distribution of particles was analysed using geographic information system (GIS) for the visual identification of the extent of the pollution by keeping the cement factory as the focal point. The results from the GIS and microscopic analysis established the role of the cement factory in the particulate matter pollution of its surroundings, specifically in the areas North-West of the factory. The successfully adopted procedure can serve as a guideline for the environmental forensic investigation of similar pollution incidences.     

解析日本空气环境质量标准体系

完善监测技术支撑体系,修订环境监测技术规范和分析方法是《国家环境监测“十二五”规划》的目标之一.2011年末,北京、上海、南京、济南等多个城市出现灰霾天气,空气环境质量标准成为热议话题;在此背景下,开展其他国家空气质量标准体系研究,可以为完善我国空气环境质量标准体系提供有效参考.日本在明治维新后开始近代工业发展,二战后更是进入经济高速发展阶段,伴随着工业化和城市化进程的不断深入和扩大,从而引发的环境问题也十分突出,治理空气污染是日本政府在上个世纪及本世纪的重要工作之一.根据日本空气环境质量标准文件、发布的监测数据和空气环境质量报告、日本中央环境审议会审议资料,并在查询大量相关资料的基础上,解析了日本空气环境质量标准体系的形成和主要内容,其空气质量标准由传统的空气污染物、大气中有害污染物质、Dioxins类物质和PM2.5四个部分组成.监测规范包括各类污染物监测技术手册及监测准则等内容.     

亚运时段广州大气污染物来源数值模拟研究

利用嵌套网格空气质量预报模式系统(Nested Air Quality Prediction Model System,NAQPMS)研究2006年亚运时段广州的空气质量状况,同时结合污染源追踪方法,分析珠三角各城市的源排放对广州全市、广州二环以内市区、广州6个亚运加强观测站的污染物浓度贡献.结果表明,NAQPMS模式能较好地反映广州各污染物(NO2、SO2、PM10)浓度的变化;广州全市、广州市区、6个亚运加强观测站的污染物最主要来源于本地排放,而周边城市以东莞的贡献最大.3个源受体中,广州市区受本地排放的影响最显著,来自本地的NO2、SO2、PM10的月均贡献率分别为89.5%、75.4%、86.7%;东莞则对6个亚运加强观测站的影响最为突出,其NO2、SO2、PM10的月均贡献率达9.3%、23.8%、21.7%,而日最大贡献率高达19.3%、40.2%、48.7%.因此在大力削减广州本地污染排放的同时,对周边城市特别是东莞实施区域联防联控,将能有效改善亚运场馆附近的空气质量.     

High-resolution modeling and evaluation of ozone air quality of Osaka using MM5-CMAQ system

High-resolution modeling approach is increasingly being considered as a necessary step for improving the monitoring and predictions of regional air quality. This is especially true for highly urbanized region with complex terrain and land-use. This study uses Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model coupled with MM5 mesoscale model for a comprehensive analysis to assess the suitability of such high-resolution modeling system in predicting ozone air quality in the complex terrains of Osaka, Japan. The 1-km and 3-km grid domains were nested inside a 9-km domain and the domain with 1-km grid covered the Osaka region. High-resolution Grid Point Value-Mesoscale Model (GPV-MSM) data were used after suitable validation. The simulated ozone concentrations were validated and evaluated using statistical metrics using performance criteria set for ozone. Daily maxima of ozone were found better simulated by the 1-km grid domain than the coarser 9-km and 3-km domains, with the maximum improvement in the mean absolute gross error about 3 ppbv. In addition, 1-km grid results fared better than other grids at most of the observation stations that showed noticeable di erences in gross error as well as correlation. These results amply justify the use of the integrated high-resolution MM5-CMAQ modeling system in the highly urbanized region, such as the Osaka region, which has complex terrain and land-use.