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.     

海洋颗粒有机碳的遥感探测与应用分析

海洋颗粒有机碳(POC)监测对研究海洋碳循环和全球变化有重要意义。为寻求POC探测的有效方法,先讨论了POC的定义组成,介绍了POC的常规测定方法及国内外POC相关研究进展,接着介绍了国外POC遥感探测方法原理。通过对常规测定方法和遥感探测方法优缺点对比分析,我们认为遥感探测海洋POC方法将成为海洋环境监测的重要手段。采用2009年8月的MODIS数据,借鉴蓝绿光比值法建立的POC遥感反演模型,进行了渤海POC的遥感探测,从大尺度揭示了整个渤海POC的分布态势,最高值达370 mg/m3。结果表明:POC遥感探测方法可有效、迅捷、直观反映海区POC变化,因此研究建立具有区域特点的POC生物光学遥感模型用于POC监测,将是海洋环境监测和海洋碳循环研究的重要方向之一。     

可吸入颗粒物污染与气象因子的关系

对闸北区空气自动监测站2009年SO2、NO2、PM10的浓度和气象参数变化特征进行研究,可吸入颗粒物的时间变化特征表明,总体上呈现冬春季高、夏秋季低;PM10与降水量、相对湿度、温度呈现一定的负相关性,但与风速的相关性随季节不同而不同,与气压略呈正相关性。对典型日和灰霾日PM10、SO2、NO2以及相应气象因子的特征进行了分析比较。     

呼和浩特市工业料堆扬尘排放清单研究

颗粒物污染是影响中国城市空气质量的首要因素。工业料堆扬尘是城市大气颗粒物污染的主要来源之一。本文通过对呼和浩特市建成区内典型行业风蚀、作业及交通运输扬尘进行采样分析,应用美国AP-42提供的模型,以2006年作为基准年,建立了呼和浩特市工业料堆排放清单。研究结果表明:呼和浩特市建成区内工业料堆扬尘排放量为TSP:5 305 t/a,PM10:1 012 t/a,PM2.5:267 t/a。从空间分布看玉泉区工业料堆扬尘排放量最大,其次是赛罕区。行业分布上排放最大的行业是建材工业,其次是电力热力工业,最少的是化工工业。在各行业类别的工业料堆排放量中,交通运输扬尘排放量是最大的。     

灰霾天气成因危害及控制治理

随着经济社会发展、城市迅速扩大和城市化进程加快,大气气溶胶污染日趋严重,由气溶胶颗粒物造成能见度恶化事件越来越多,灰霾天气已成为一种常见环境灾害污染事件。简要概述了灰霾天气定义分级、分布特征与雾霾比较,深入研究了灰霾天气形成原因、影响因素与存在危害,系统探讨了灰霾天气控制措施、监测方法与治理对策。指出在现有灰霾天气成因危害及控制治理状况下,加强理念宣贯,建立预报预警,开展PM2.5防治,推进城区绿化,科学布设规划,可有效解决中国资源节约型、环境友好型、生态文明型可持续发展过程中所面临灰霾天气防控治理问题。     

城市大气颗粒物背景值涵义及定值方法

城市大气颗粒物背景值的概念对防治城市大气颗粒物污染具有重要意义。城市大气颗粒物背景值不同于颗粒物本底值。本底值是指不受人类活动影响的自然条件下颗粒物的浓度值,而背景值是个相对值,其所在的环境条件有可能已经受到了环境污染。影响城市大气颗粒物背景值的因素主要包括两个方面:一是污染源,主要包括城市本地源排放和外来颗粒物,二是颗粒物扩散的天气和气象因素。将城市大气颗粒物的背景值定义为在一定时期内,由于城市本身的排放,城市大气环境中颗粒物的浓度水平。通过分析总结近年来人们对大气颗粒物垂直分布规律的研究,探讨了采用监测一定高度处大气颗粒物,结合气象因素确定城市环境空气中大气颗粒物背景值的方法。     

Measurement of air exchange rates in different indoor environments using continuous CO2 sensors

A new air exchange rate (AER) monitoring method using continuous CO₂ sensors was developed and validated through both laboratory experiments and field studies. Controlled laboratory simulation tests were conducted in a 1-m³ environmental chamber at different AERs (0.1-10.0 hr^-1). AERs were determined using the decay method based on box model assumptions. Field tests were conducted in classrooms, dormitories, meeting rooms and apartments during 2-5 weekdays using CO₂ sensors coupled with data loggers. Indoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CO₂ concentrations were continuously monitored while outdoor parameters combined with on-site climate conditions were recorded. Statistical results indicated that good laboratory performance was achieved: duplicate precision was within 10%, and the measured AERs were 90%-120% of the real AERs. Average AERs were 1.22, 1.37, 1.10, 1.91 and 0.73 hr^-1 in dormitories, air-conditioned classrooms, classrooms with an air circulation cooling system, reading rooms, and meeting rooms, respectively. In an elderly particulate matter exposure study, all the homes had AER values ranging from 0.29 to 3.46 hr??1 in fall, and 0.12 to 1.39 hr^-1 in winter with a median AER of 1.15.     

An air quality forecasting system in Beijing - Application to the study of dust storm events in China in May 2008

An air pollution forecast system, ARIA Regional, was implemented in 2007-2008 at the Beijing Municipality Environmental Monitoring Center, providing daily forecast of main pollutant concentrations. The chemistry-transport model CHIMERE was coupled with the dust emission model MB95 for restituting dust storm events in springtime so as to improve forecast results. Dust storm events were sporadic but could be extremely intense and then control air quality indexes close to the source areas but also far in the Beijing area. A dust episode having occurred at the end of May 2008 was analyzed in this article, and its impact of particulate matter on the Chinese air pollution index (API) was evaluated. Following our estimation, about 23 Tg of dust were emitted from source areas in Mongolia and in the Inner Mongolia of China, transporting towards southeast. This episode of dust storm influenced a large part of North China and East China, and also South Korea. The model result was then evaluated using satellite observations and in situ data. The simulated daily concentrations of total suspended particulate at 6:00 UTC had a similar spatial pattern with respect to OMI satellite aerosol index. Temporal evolution of dust plume was evaluated by comparing dust aerosol optical depth (AOD) calculated from the simulations with AOD derived from MODIS satellite products. Finally, the comparison of reported Chinese API in Beijing with API calculated from the simulation including dust emissions had showed the significant improvement of the model results taking into account mineral dust correctly.     

Air quality management in China: Issues, challenges, and options

This article analyzed the control progress and current status of air quality,identified the major air pollution issues and challenges in future,proposed the long-term air pollution control targets,and ...     

天津市典型排污河水体中溶解性有机质的荧光分布特征分析

利用三维荧光光谱研究了天津市两条典型排污河(大沽排污河和北塘排污河)沿河水体中溶解性有机质(DOM)的荧光分布特征,并通过对荧光参数——紫外区类富里酸峰中心位置的荧光强度与可见区类富里酸峰中心位置的荧光强度比值(r(A,C))和激发光波长370nm时荧光发射光谱强度在450nm与500nm处的比值(f450/500)的分析,探讨了水体中DOM的来源.结果表明,大沽排污河除中游个别位置外,其它位置水体均能检出紫外区类富里酸、类蛋白、可见光区类腐殖质、紫外区类腐殖质,总体上呈中游少、上下游多的特点;而北塘排污河水体中DOM的荧光峰从上游到下游呈增多趋势,但检出数量比较少.两条排污河水体中DOM均以紫外区类腐殖质最强.两条排污河水体中DOM的荧光强度与其水质参数之间存在显著相关性,而大沽排污河的相关系数更大.结合荧光参数r(A,C)和f450/500的分析和现场对入河排污口的调研,发现两条排污河的溶解性有机质来源均以入河排污口排污汇入(陆源)为主,另外还有少量沉积物有机质释放(微生物作用).