Yield responses of different crop species to long-term fumigation with sulphur dioxide in open-top chambers

Potted plants of commercial cultivars of rape (Brassica napus L., cv. 'callypso'), summer barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cvs. 'arena' and 'hockey') and bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cvs. 'rintintin' and 'rosisty') were continuously exposed in open-top chambers to sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) for the whole growing season in order to assess effects of this pollutant on growth and various yield parameters. Treatments consisted of charcoal-filtered air (CF) and CF supplemented with four levels of SO(2), resulting in mean exposure concentrations (microg m(-3)) of approximately 8, 50, 90, 140 and 190. With the exception of the 1000 seeds weight, which was slightly reduced, dry matter production and yield parameters of rape remained unaffected by all SO(2) concentrations or were even stimulated. Compared to CF vegetative growth of both bean cultivars was reduced by 10-26% at all SO(2) levels; however, with significant effects only for cv. 'rintintin'. While all SO(2) additions reduced significantly the yield (dry weight of pods) of the bean cultivar 'rosisty' between 17% and 32%, cv. 'rintintin' showed a significant reduction of up to 42% only at the two highest pollutant concentrations. Dry matter production of the barley cultivars was mainly impaired at SO(2) concentrations > 100 microg m(-3) with a reduction of 30-52%. While nearly all yield parameters of cv. 'hockey' reacted similar to the dry matter production, the yield of cv. 'arena' was reduced already at the low SO(2) levels. At a treatment concentration of 90 microg SO(2) m(-3) a significant yield loss of 30% was recorded. A reduction of the 1000 grains weight mainly contributed to these yield losses observed for both barley cultivars. From these results, it may be assumed that SO(2) concentrations within the range 50-90 microg m(-3) are potentially phytotoxic to some crop species.     

Physiological and growth responses of differentially irrigated cotton to ozone

This study was conducted to determine the physiological and growth responses of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to the interaction of ozonee (O3) and drought stress. Cotton (cv SJ-2) was grown in open-top chambers in the field at three levels of soil water and exposed to charcoal-filtered air (CF), nonfiltered air (NF), and NF x 1.25, and NF x 1.5 ambient O3 concentrations in Riverside, CA, from June to October 1986. Ozone reduced carbon fixation an average of 74.6% in optimally watered (OW) plots, 63.4% in suboptimal (SO) plots, but only 19.3% in severely water-stressed (SS) plots. Leaf and stem biomass in OW and SO plots showed similar linear reductions in mass response to increased O3 concentrations, but SS plots showed no response to O3 except at the highest O3 treatment (seasonal 12-h O3 mean of 0.111 ppm 218 microm(-3)). These results showed that moderately water-stressed cotton had similar physiological and growth responses to O3 as well-watered plants, but severely water-stressed cotton showed little response to O3 at ambient O3 concentrations.     

Influence of ozone and ethylenediurea (EDU) on growth and yield of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in open-top field chambers

Greenhouse and ambient air experiments have shown ethylene diurea (EDU) to be a strong and specific protective suppressant of ozone injury in plants. To examine how EDU affects plant responses to various ozone (O(3)) levels under controlled field conditions, Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Lit was treated with 150 ppm EDU every 14 days and exposed in open-top chambers to charcoal-filtered air (CF), nonfiltered air (NF) or two cf treatments with ozone added. The ozone treatments were proportional additions of one (CF1) and two (CF2) times ambient ozone levels. The mean ozone concentrations in the CF, NF, CF1 and CF2 treatments were 0.98, 14.1, 14.98 and 31.56 nl litre(-1). A two-way split plot ANOVA revealed that shoot dry weight was significantly reduced by ozone. EDU treatment was highly significant for leaf dry weight, root dry weight and shoot dry weight, but not for pod dry weight; leading to a higher biomass of EDU-treated plants. Ozone/EDU interactions were significant for root weight only, indicating that EDU reduced growth suppression by ozone. These results show that EDU action on plant biomass could be interpreted as a delay in senescence since EDU-treated plants showed a significant decreased biomass loss even in the CF treatment.     

An open-top chamber study with filtered and non-filtered air to evaluate the effects of air pollutants on crops

Four non-filtered and four charcoal-filtered open-top chambers were employed to determine the effects of ambient levels of gaseous air pollutants at Braunschweig, FRG, on growth and yield of potted plants of winter and spring barley. During the exposure period (November 1985-August 1986) monthly mean values of gaseous air pollutants (microg m(-3)) ranged between 34 and 127 for SO(2), 34 and 52 for NO(2) and 12 and 33 for O(3) in winter (November-March), and 16 to 26 for SO(2), 20 to 33 for NO(2) and 42 to 53 for O(3) in spring-summer (April-August). Monthly 2% percentile values for these gases reached (microg m (-3)) 561 for SO(2), 140 for NO(2) and 170 for O(3). The filtering efficiencies of the charcoal filters used averaged 60% for SO(2), 50% for NO(2) and 70% for O(3). All plants of winter barley from the unchambered plot were killed by severe frost periods in winter, 1986. Little frost damage occurred on plants grown in the chambers. Air filtration resulted in higher numbers of plants of winter barley per pot, i.e. a higher number of individuals per area, and a higher dry weight of whole plants and ears compared to the non-filtered atmosphere. In the experiments with spring barley, fresh and dry weight of whole plants were lower and dry weight of leaves were higher in the filtered open-top chambers. These effects could not be observed at all harvests which were carried out during the growing season. Grain yield and sulphur content of the leaves of both barley cultivars were not affected by the air filtration. Production of biomass of spring barley grown in ambient air was higher than of that grown in open-top chambers.     

The influence of ozone exposure dynamics on the growth and yield of kidney bean

A field experiment was conducted in open-top chambers to assess the importance of peak exposure concentration and exposure frequency on the responses of kidney bean plants to O3. There were five treatments in the study: charcoal-filtered air, constant exposure to 0.05 ppm O3 (131 microg m(-3)) daily. fluctuating exposure to 0.08 ppm O3 on three alternate days, cluster exposure to 0.08 ppm O3 on three consecutive days, and peak exposure to 0.12 ppm O3 on two consecutive days. Exposures lasted 4 h and produced an average weekly exposure-period concentration of approximately 0.05 ppm in the O3-addition treatments and 0.025 ppm in the charcoal-filtered treatment. Exposures began on June 23 and terminated on September 8. Plants were harvested weekly and assessed for the number, area, and dry mass of leaves; dry mass of stems; dry mass of roots; the number of pods; and the incidence of foliar O3 injury. Yield was assessed at the end of the study. There were no consistent differences between the plants receiving charcoal-filtered air and those receiving O3 exposure. Significant differences were detected among the treatments for several of the growth variables assessed at the interim harvests, but in the final two harvests these differences had mostly disappeared. There were no significant effects of the O3-addition treatments on yield when compared to the plants receiving charcoal-filtered air. This indicates that there were no cumulative impacts on plants exposed to 0.12 ppm O3 for 4 h on two consecutive days followed by filtered air compared to plants receiving charcoal-filtered air. The seasonal 7-h average concentrations of O3 in the peak and filtered air treatments were approximately 0.040 and 0.025 ppm, respectively.     

Indirect effects of air pollutants: Changes in plant/parasite interactions

The impact of air pollutants on plant/parasite-interactions has been investigated. It could be demonstrated that fumigation of Vicia faba L. with 0.15 ppm SO2 (400 microg m(-3)) or 0.2 ppm NO2 (400 microg m(-3)) during 7 days caused changes in plant metabolism which resulted in higher growth rates of the aphid Aphis fabae Scop. feeding on these plants. Fumigation of V. faba with 0.085 ppm O3 during 2 or 3 days, however, caused decreased aphid growth on fumigated plants. That result could be reversed by higher O3 concentrations or through the presence of NOx during O3 fumigation. Ambient air comprising a mixture of pollutant gases had a strong enhancing effect on aphid performance. Thus, the growth of A. fabae on field bean plants was significantly higher in ambient summertime. London air than in charcoal-filtered air. Similarly, the growth of Macrosiphon rosae L. on rose bushes (Rosa sp., cv. Nina Weibull) was improved in ambient summertime Munich air; the increase in growth rate averaged about 20%.     

Air quality impact of the coal-fired power plants in the northern passageway of the China West-East Power Transmission Project

This paper analyzes the air quality impacts of coal-fired power plants in the northern passageway of the West-East Power Transmission Project in China. A three-layer Lagrangian model called ATMOS, was used to simulate the spatial distribution of incremental sulfur dioxide (SO2) and coarse particulate matter (PM10) concentrations under different emission control scenarios. In the year 2005, the emissions from planned power plants mainly affected the air quality of Shanxi, Shaanxi, the common boundary of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, and the area around the boundary between Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. In these areas, the annually averaged incremental SO2 and PM10 concentrations exceed 2 and 2.5 microg/m3, respectively. The maximum increases of the annually averaged SO2 and PM10 concentrations are 8.3 and 7.2 microg/m3, respectively, which occur around Hancheng city, near the boundary of the Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. After integrated control measures are considered, the maximum increases of annually averaged SO2 and PM10 concentrations fall to 4.9 and 4 microg/m3, respectively. In the year 2010, the areas affected by planned power plants are mainly North Shaanxi, North Ningxia, and Northwest Shanxi. The maximum increases of the annually averaged SO2 and PM10, concentrations are, respectively, 6.3 and 5.6 microg/m3, occurring in Northwest Shanxi, which decline to 4.4 and 4.1 microg/m3 after the control measures are implemented. The results showed that the proposed power plants mainly affect the air quality of the region where the power plants are built, with little impact on East China where the electricity will be used. The influences of planned power plants on air quality will be decreased greatly by implementing integrated control measures.     

Secondary effects of air pollution: ozone decreases brown rust disease potential in wheat

Young wheat plants were fumigated with 170 microg m(-3) ozone for 3 days, or with 210 microg m(-3) ozone for 7 days, for 7 hours a day. At the end of the fumigation period the plants were inoculated with brown rust (Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici) uredospores. The development of new uredospore pustules on fumigated and control plants was evaluated as a measure of rust disease potential. The number of pustules on the ozone fumigated plants was greatly reduced in comparison with the number of plants treated with charcoal-filtered air.     

Ozone induced leaf loss and decreased leaf production of European Holly (Ilex aquifolium L.) over multiple seasons

European Holly (Ilex aquifolium L.) was used to study the impact of one short (28 day) ozone fumigation episode on leaf production, leaf loss and stomatal conductance (g(s)), in order to explore potential longer term effects over 3 growing seasons. Young I. aquifolium plants received an episode of either charcoal-filtered air or charcoal-filtered air with 70 nl l(-1) O(3) added for 7 h d(-1) over a 28 day period from June 15th 1996, then placed into ambient environment, Stoke-on-Trent, U.K. Data were collected per leaf cohort over the next three growing seasons. Ozone exposure significantly increased leaf loss and stomatal conductance and reduced leaf production over all subsequent seasons. Impact of the initial ozone stress was still detected in leaves that had no direct experimental ozone exposure. This study has shown the potential of ozone to introduce long-term phenological perturbations into ecosystems by influencing productivity over a number of seasons.     

Effects of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, singly and in mixture, on the macroscopic growth of three birch clones

An investigation of some aspects of the effects of low concentrations of the gases, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, singly and in mixture, was made on the growth of three birch clones, two of Betula pendula Roth. (silver birch) and one of Betula pubescens Ehr. (downy birch). Comparative measurements of the growth form and dry mass increment were made over one year in glasshouses supplied with charcoal-filtered ambient air, and SO(2) and NO(2), singly or in mixture, at mean concentrations of 62 ppb (nl litre (-1)) of one or both gases. The main effects were found in those plants that were fumigated with SO(2) singly, and SO(2) and NO(2) together. Both treatments induced premature leaf loss and reduction in mass, especially of roots, the effects increasing over time. The heights and initial leaf areas were maintained, apparently at the expense of other parameters. NO(2), if present singly, had little or no effect, but it tended to enhance the damaging effect of SO(2) when the two were applied together. The different clones showed different degrees of response to the pollutants, but these differences became less marked during the second season of fumigation. The effects found are discussed in relation to the annual growth of trees, particularly birch.     

Single and interactive effects of low levels of O3, SO2 and NO2 on the growth and yield of spring rape

During three consecutive seasons (1987-1989), the effects of low-levels of O3, SO2 and NO2 singly and in all possible combinations (NO2 in 1988 and 1989 only) on growth and yield of potted plants of spring rape (Brassica napus L. var. napus, 'callypso') were investigated by means of factorial fumigation experiments in open-top chambers. Plants were exposed from the early vegetative stage of development until seed harvest, to charcoal-filtered air (CF; control) and CF which was supplemented for 8-h per day (8.00-16.00) with O3, for 16-h per day with NO2 (16.00-8.00) and continuously with SO2. Including the controls, the 24-h daily mean concentrations [microg m(-3)] ranged between 6-44 (O3), 9-88 (SO2) and 10-43 (NO2). The corresponding daily mean concentrations during the time of fumigation were 10-121 and 11-60 microg m(-3) for O3 and NO2, respectively. Single effects of O3 on growth and yield parameters were mostly negative and the magnitude of this effect was dependent on the season. O3 reduced plant dry weight by 11.3-18.6% and yield of seeds by 11.4-26.9%. While medium levels of SO2 stimulated the weight of pods up to 33%, higher concentrations (88 microg m(-3)) caused a decline of yield of 12.3%. From the significant interactive effects which were observed, it could be established that SO2 and NO2 alone mostly acted positively, but that their interaction with each other and especially with O3 was antagonistic, as some of the detrimental effects of O3 were mitigated by these pollutants. An important antagonistic effect between SO2 and O3 or NO2 was observed on yield. While 56 microg m(-3) SO2 increased yield by 9.9% compared to the control treatment, it aggravated the yield loss caused by O3 from -16.18% to -21.4%, and it reduced the yield stimulation caused by NO2 from +11.8% to +4.2%. Leaf area was the only parameter which was negatively affected by all pollutants, their joint action being synergistic.     

Effects of atmospheric ammonia and ammonium sulphate on Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Three-year-old Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were fumigated with 180 microg m(-3) NH3 or clean (charcoal-filtered) air. During these fumigations the plants received 15 mm artificial rain weekly, supplemented with 20, 500 or 2500 micromol litre(-1) (NH4)2SO4. Exposure to NH3 and NH4+ for 14 weeks resulted in a change of the nutrient status of the needles. The most remarkable effect was the increase in the N/K ratio, due to both uptake of N and leaching of K. The action of NH3 was stronger than that of NH4+. Both NH3 and (NH4)2SO4 affected the epicuticular wax layer and decreased mycorhiza frequency. Following fumigation and artificial rain treatments, needles were incubated for 8 h in a medium containing 0, 50, 250, 500 and 2500 micromol litre(-1) (NH4)2SO4. Almost no exchange of Ca, Mg and K for NH4+ was found. Therefore this ion exchange probably explains only a minor part of the changes in nutrient status of the whole trees.     

Screening loblolly pine seedling responses to SO2 and O3: analysis of families differing in resistance to fusiform rust disease

Open pollinated families of loblolly pine differing in resistance to fusiform rust disease were screened in laboratory studies for responses to gaseous air pollutants. Twenty families were given acute exposures (2 fumigations for 4 h each) to SO(2) (0.4-1.0 ppm), O(3) (0.25 ppm), SO(2) (0.4-1.0 ppm) + O(3) (0.25 ppm) and control. Analyses of variance were performed to evaluate the treatment effects of these air pollutants on percent foliar injury, and to determine whether the families responded differentially to the air pollution treatments. Treatment effects were significant, with the combination treatment of SO(2) + O(3) producing a higher percentage of foliar injury than the controls; however, injury levels were very low and may not be of biological significance. Subsequently, twelve families were grown in two soil types for exposure to chronic levels of SO(2) (0.06 ppm), O(3) (0.07 ppm), SO(2) (0.06 ppm) + O(3) (0.07 ppm) and control. The families were then ranked for decreased primary shoot growth, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total plant dry weight and root/shoot ratio after exposure to air pollution treatments. Air pollution treatments as a main effect were significant for only one of five growth parameters measured, that of primary shoot growth. The main effect of family, and the interaction of family and air pollution treatments, were significant for most growth parameters measured. In general, O(3) alone and in combination with SO(2) reduced growth more than SO(2) alone. Fumigation with O(3) reduced growth of two families in comparison with control groups, whereas SO(2) alone produced decreased growth in one family and stimulated growth in three families. Treatment with O(3) alone produced higher root/shoot ratios than fumigation with charcoal-filtered air in two families. Overall, families which were fast growers under control conditions maintained their ranking after exposure to air pollution. Families producing less growth in charcoal-filtered air also produced less growth under various air pollution regimes. Results indicated that these families exhibited a high degree of resistance to air pollution injury. Growth responses of seedlings may not reflect family differences in long-term productivity. No relationship was apparent between fusiform rust resistance and growth reductions due to air pollutants.     

The interaction of SO2 and root-knot nematode on tomato

Intermittent exposure of tomato plants (cv. Pusa Ruby) to SO(2) at 286 microg m(-3) (3 h every heavy third day for 75 days) induced slight chlorosis of leaves. At 571 microg m(-3), considerable chlorosis with browning developed on the foliage. These symptoms were more pronounced and appeared earlier on SO(2)-exposed plants infected with Meloidogyne incognita race 1 (Mi), especially in post- and concomitant-inoculation exposures. Mi and/or SO(2) significantly reduced different parameters of plant growth. Synergistic (positive) interactions between SO(2) and Mi occurred in concomitant- and post-inoculation exposures at 286 and 571 microg m(-3), respectively. In other treatments, an antagonistic (negative) interaction was observed. However, in a few cases, additive effects of SO(2) and Mi were also recorded. Intensity of root-knot (galling) was enhanced at both concentrations of SO(2), while reproduction (egg mass production) of Mi was enhanced in concomitant-inoculation exposures at 286 microg m(-3) and inhibited at 571 micro m(-3). Exposure to SO(2) and/or Mi decreased the number and size of stomata but increased the number and length of trichomes on both the leaf surfaces. Stomatal aperture was significantly wider in the plants exposed to 571 microg SO(2) m(-3) alone and in pre-, post-, and concomitant-inoculation exposures at 286 or 571 microg m(-3). Stomatal aperture was directly related to foliar injury and reductions in growth, yield, and leaf pigments.     

Influence of two growing seasons of experimental ozone fumigation on photosynthetic characteristics of white oak seedlings

White oak (Quercus alba L.) seedlings were exposed to charcoal-filtered air or to above-ambient ozone concentrations for 19-20 weeks during each of two growing seasons in continuously stirred tank reactors in greenhouses. Ozone treatments were 0.15 ppm (300 microg m(-3)) for 8 h day(-1), 3 days week(-1) in 1988, and continuous 15% above ambient in 1989. The seedlings were grown in forest soil watered twice weekly with simulated rain of pH 5.2. Responses of net photosynthesis to photosynthetically active radiation and intercellular CO(2) concentration were measured three times each year. There were no significant differences in light-saturated net photosynthesis or stomatal conductance, dark respiration, quantum or carboxylation efficiencies, and light or CO(2) compensation points on any date between control and ozone-exposed seedlings.     

Relation between estimated dry deposition and throughfall in a coniferous forest exposed to controlled levels of SO2 and NO2

Throughfall was collected in a Scots pine forest exposed to about 14 microg m(-3) of both SO2 and NO2, and in a control forest with 1 microg m(-3) SO2 and < 1 microg m(-3) NO2. Precipitation was collected in a nearby open field. Collection was performed on an event basis during the whole vegetation period. Exposure was made by an open-air release system during the vegetation period, except during rain and at night. Additional sulfate deposition in the exposed forest (compared to control forest) was nearly equal to dry deposition of sulfur dioxide, as estimated with a stomatal conductance model adapted for the particular forest. It is thus concluded that essentially all of the dry deposited sulfur dioxide is eventually extracted and appears in throughfall-including the fraction that has been deposited through stomata. Attempts to relate net throughfall deposition to dry deposition of sulfate in the control forest were inconclusive, since a minor (10%) uncertainty in the water balance had a major influence on calculated deposition velocity for particulate sulfate. Nitrate throughfall deposition is about half of the open field wet deposition, both for the exposed and control forest. Thus, a long-term exposure with about 14 microg m(-3) NO2 decreased nitrate throughfall deposition.     

Soybean root distribution, top growth and yield responses to ambient ozone and soil moisture stress when grown in soil columns in greenhouses

Soybeans (Glycine max. cv. Williams) were grown to maturity in soil columns within polyvinyl pipe and placed in greenhouses with charcoal filtered (CF) and nonfiltered (NF) air. In each greenhouse plants were grown with and without soil moisture stress (SMS). Targeted soil water potentials at 0.25 m for no SMS and between 0.45 and 0.60 m for the SMS regime were -0.05 and -0.45 M Pa, respectively. The 7 h (1000-1700 h EDT) mean O(3) concentrations (June-October) were 0.039 and 0.009 ppm in NF and CF air, respectively. Ozone and SMS in combination were less than additive in their effects on growth of the plant top and bean yields. Plants in CF air had 70% greater top weight, 58% more bean yield and 43% more root dry weight than in NF air. Both the plant and the seed weight from plants without SMS weighed 35% more than with SMS. Total root length in CF air for plants with and without SMS averaged 1.84 and 1.98 km, respectively, as compared to 1.59 and 1.66 km for plants with and without SMS in NF air. The resultsare different, so far as the combined effects of O(3) and SMS on yield and root growth are concerned, than in a similar field study by Heggestad and co-workers primarily because of the presence of a water table in the field but absence of it in the columns, as planned, in this experiment. It is unique to use large soil columns to study root distribution and length as related to the effects of ambient O(3) alone, and its combination with SMS.     

Relationship between SO2 dose and growth of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, on peas

A series of experiments was carried out in controlled environment cabinets to investigate the effects of SO(2) dose on the mean relative growth rate (MRGR) of pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, feeding on the pea plant, Pisum sativum. There was a significant linear increase in the MRGR of aphids feeding on SO(2)-fumigated plants, relative to control aphids feeding on plants in charcoal-filtered air. The increase in MRGR reached a maximum of 11% at SO(2) concentrations between 90 and 110 nl litre(-1). MRGR declined at higher SO(2) concentrations until above 220 nl litre(-1) it was below that of the controls. The dose-response curve is discussed in relation to reported changes in the nitrogen metabolism of plants subject to air pollution, the response of aphids to host plant nitrogen and possible toxic effects of high concentrations of SO(2) on the aphid.     

Particulate and dissolved organic carbon in cloud water in southern Scotland

Total particulate carbon (TPC), which includes both elemental carbon and particulate organic carbon, total suspended particulate matter (TSP) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured in 53 cloud water samples collected using a passive 'Harp-wire' cloud collector at weekly intervals at a hill-top site in southern Scotland (Dunslair Heights, 602 m above sea level) between December 1990 and April 1992. The concentrations of TPC, TSP and DOC were in the range 0.03-6.9 mg 1(-1) (median 1.05 mg l(-1)), 2.6-51.6 mg l(-1) (median 13.6 mg l(-1)) and 0.-14 mg l(-1) (median 3.6 mg l(-1)), respectively. The concentrations of TPC, TSP and DOC were greatest in winter (December-February), up to 6.9, 42 and 4.6 mg l(-1) respectively in 1990-1991 and up to 6.0, 51 and 14 mg l(-1), respectively, in 1991-1992. Particulate carbon in cloud water samples comprised 1-47% of the TSP. Concentrations of major anions (Cl(-), NO(-)(3), SO(2-)(4)) and pH were measured on the same water samples. Estimates of cloud liquid water content from January to April 1992 were derived from measured wind speeds and volumes of water collected. These estimates suggested that the air contained up to 1.2 microg TPC m(-3), 16 microg TSP m(-3) and 2.3 microg DOC m(-3), which are typical of concentrations to be expected in rural air. There was no correlation between concentrations of DOC in cloud water and either TPC or TSP, indicating that the sources and partitioning of DOC and TPC in the atmosphere are different. The largest concentrations of TPC coincided with the largest concentrations of non-marine sulphate, and although there was a significant linear correlation between the two sets of data, the log-transformed data were not correlated. Concentrations of TPC were significantly correlated with concentrations of other particulate matter (TSP-TPC), suggesting that similar sources and/or partitioning processes were involved in determining concentrations in cloud. Concentrations of DOC in cloud were significantly correlated (p < 0.02) with concentrations of nitrate, suggesting that sources of DOC were related to the emission and chemistry of nitrogen oxides. The very large concentrations of particulate carbon, especially in winter, indicate that carbon-catalysed oxidation of sulphur dioxide by molecular oxygen in cloud water may be a significant pathway when concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are small.     

Indoor and outdoor air quality investigation at schools in Hong Kong

Five classrooms in Hong Kong (HK), air-conditioned or ceiling fans ventilated, were chosen for investigation of indoor and outdoor air quality. Parameters such as temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total bacteria counts were monitored indoors and outdoors simultaneously. The average respirable particulate matter concentrations were higher than the HK Objective, and the maximum indoor PM10 level exceeded 1000 microg/m3. Indoor CO2 concentrations often exceeded 1000 microl/l in air-conditioning and ceiling fan classrooms, indicating inadequate ventilation. Maximum indoor CO2 level reached 5900 microl/l during class at the classroom with cooling tower ventilation. Increasing the rate of ventilation or implementation of breaks between classes is recommended to alleviate the high CO2 level. Other pollution parameters measured in this study complied with the standards. The two most important classroom air quality problems in Hong Kong were PM10 and CO2 levels.