Increased levels of bacterial markers and CO2 in occupied school rooms

Our group previously demonstrated that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in heavily occupied schools correlate with the levels of airborne bacterial markers. Since CO2 is derived from the room occupants, it was hypothesized that in schools, bacterial markers may be primarily increased in indoor air because of the presence of children; directly from skin microflora or indirectly, by stirring up dust from carpets and other sources. The purpose of this project was to test the hypothesis. Muramic acid (Mur) is found in almost all bacteria whereas 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) are found only in Gram-negative bacteria. Thus Mur and 3-OH FA serve as markers to assess bacterial levels in indoor air (pmol m(-3)). In our previous school studies, airborne dust was collected only from occupied rooms. However, in the present study, additional dust samples were collected from the same rooms each weekend when unoccupied. Samples were also collected from outside air. The levels of dust, Mur and C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0 3-OH FAs were each much higher (range 5-50 fold) in occupied rooms than in unoccupied school rooms. Levels in outdoor air were much lower than that of indoor air from occupied classrooms and higher than the levels in the same rooms when unoccupied. The mean CO2 concentrations were around 420 parts per million (ppm) in unoccupied rooms and outside air; and they ranged from 1017 to 1736 ppm in occupied rooms, regularly exceeding 800-1000 ppm, which are the maximum levels indicative of adequate indoor ventilation. This indicates that the children were responsible for the increased levels of bacterial markers. However, the concentration of Mur in dust was also 6 fold higher in occupied rooms (115.5 versus 18.2 pmole mg(-1)). This further suggests that airborne dust present in occupied and unoccupied rooms is quite distinct. In conclusion in unoccupied rooms, the dust was of environmental origin but the children were the primary source in occupied rooms.     

Large particles are responsible for elevated bacterial marker levels in school air upon occupation

Muramic acid (Mur) is found in bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) whereas 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) are found in Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus Mur and 3-OH FAs serve as markers to assess bacterial levels in indoor air. An initial survey, in a school, demonstrated that the levels of dust, PG and LPS (pmol m(-3)) were each much higher in occupied rooms than in the same rooms when unoccupied. In each instance, the Mur content of dust was increased and the hydroxy fatty acid distribution changed similarly suggesting an alteration in the bacterial population. Here, findings are compared with results from two additional schools. Follow-up aerosol monitoring by particle size was also performed for the first time for all 3 schools. The particle size distribution was shown to be quite different in occupied versus unoccupied schoolrooms. Within individual classrooms, concentrations of airborne particles [greater-than-or-equal]0.8 [micro sign]m in diameter, and CO(2) were correlated. This suggests that the increased levels of larger particles are responsible for elevation of bacterial markers during occupation. Release of culturable and non-culturable bacteria or bacterial aggregates from children (e.g. from flaking skin) might explain this phenomenon.     

Pentachlorophenol in indoor environments. Does a single measurement of air and dust concentrations represent the contamination?

In order to be able to make a decision, as to whether a room or building has a health-endangering pentachlorophenol (PCP) concentration, usually the PCP concentrations in air and settled dust are measured. The variability of the PCP concentration in indoor air and dust was studied. Air and dust samples were taken from 75 rooms in 30 buildings with suspicion of application of PCP-containing wood preservatives. Sampling was repeated four times within 18 months. Thirty-six rooms were reconstructed within the study; 39 rooms had unchanged contamination status during the study. The four times repeated measurements of PCP concentrations in air and dust in these rooms showed large variations of the measured values. The variability of the results is to a large extent in the same range as the measured values. The observed relative standard deviation of the PCP concentrations in air and dust does not depend on the average PCP concentration detected in the individual rooms.     

Study on Size Distribution of Total Aerosol and Water-Soluble Ions During an Asian Dust Storm Event at Jeju Island, Korea

Soil dust particles transported from loess regions of the Asian continent, called Asian dust, highly influences the air quality of north-eastern Asia and the northern Pacific Ocean. In order to investigate the effects of these dust storms on the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol particles with different size, measurements of size distributions of total aerosol and major ion species were carried out on Jeju Island, Korea during April 2001. Juju Island was chosen for the study because the levels of emissions of anthropogenic air pollutants are very low. A 5-stage cascade impactor was used to sample size-fractionated aerosol particles. Samples were analyzed for major water-soluble ions using Dionex DX-120 ion chromatograph. The average mass concentration of total aerosol was found to be 24.4 and 108.3 microg m(-3) for non-Asian dust and Asian dust periods, respectively. The total aerosol size distribution, measured during the non-Asian dust period, was bimodal, whereas the coarse particles dominated the size distribution of total aerosol during the Asian dust period. It was found that SO4(2-), NH4+ and K+ were mainly distributed in fine particles, while Cl-, NO3-, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were in coarse particles. Although SO4(2-) was mainly distributed in fine particles, during the Asian dust period, the concentrations in coarse particles were significantly increased. This indicates heterogeneous oxidation of SO2 on wet surfaces of basic soil dust particles. The NH4+ was found to exist as (NH4)2SO4 in fine particles, with a molar ratio of NH4+ to SO4(2-) of 2.37 and 1.52 for non-Asian dust and Asian dust periods, respectively. Taking into account the proximity of the sampling site to the sea, and the observed chloride depletion, coarse mode nitrate, during the non-Asian dust period, is assumed to originate from the reaction of nitric acid with sodium chloride on the surfaces of sea-salt particles although the chloride depletion was not shown to be large enough to prove this assumption. During the Asian dust period, however, chloride depletion was much smaller, indicating coarse nitrate particles were mainly produced by the reaction of nitric acid with surfaces of basic soil particles. Most chloride and sodium components were shown to originate from sea-salt particles. Asian dust aerosols, arriving at Jeju Island, contained considerable amounts of sea-salt particles as they passed over the Yellow Sea. Ca2+ was shown to be the most abundant species in Asian dust particles.     

Vanadium Concentrations in Settled Outdoor Dust Particles

Atmospheric dustfall is an important aspect of urban dust studies. Vanadium is considered as the marker element of air pollution emitted from residual oil and coal combustion. In this study, vanadium levels of outdoor dust particles are determined. The studied area covers the six sites located in Adapazarí (Turkey), which represents an earthquake-hit environment. The mass deposition rate was calculated for each sampling plate over the 30-days collection periods. The deposition rates for the six places in Adapazarí ranged from 20.5 to 84.9 μg/cm²/day. The arithmetic mean deposition rate for all places was 45.3 μg/cm²/day. Total dust deposition and vanadium loadings typically increased in magnitude according to the area order: Kampus > Serdivan > Çark C. > Ozanlar > Erenler > Ye?iltepe and Kampus > Serdivan > Çark C. > Ozanlar > Erenler > Ye?iltepe, respectively. The results suggested that vanadium may be useful for assessing the level of environmental pollution.     

考虑道路扬尘特性的环境空气质量在线监测方法

为判断环境空气污染的程度,提出一种考虑道路扬尘特性的环境空气质量在线监测方法。通过前端数据监测模块采集大气环境数据,基于光全散射法监测道路扬尘的质量浓度和密度;通过监测通信模块将监测结果传送至云服务器;云服务器利用基于极限学习机神经网络的预测模型,采用自适应粒子群优化算法,获取最佳的环境空气质量在线监测结果。结果表明,该方法学习速率的取值为0.5时,能够完成颗粒物浓度和密度的准确检测,且解释方差<2%,同时能够监测扬尘颗粒的扩散时间,确定适合活动的区域。     

江苏泰州城市霾天和沙尘天气溶胶中细菌群落结构特征研究

近年来,空气污染已成为长三角地区最关键的环境问题之一,气溶胶颗粒物(PM)是最主要的污染物之一.生物气溶胶作为颗粒物的重要组成部分,可能对空气质量和人体健康产生不利影响.利用高通量测序方法研究了江苏省泰州2019年11月至2020年1月期间发生沙尘和霾污染时生物气溶胶中细菌群落结构组成特征.结果表明:冬季沙尘天和霾天气...     

Elevated concentrations of endotoxin in indoor air due to cigarette smoking

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is an important worldwide public health issue. The present study demonstrates that cigarette smoke can be a major source of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) in indoor environments. Gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry was used to determine 3-hydroxy fatty acids as markers of endotoxin in air-borne house dust in homes of smokers and non-smokers. Air concentrations of endotoxin were 4-63 times higher in rooms of smoking students than in identical rooms of non-smoking students. The fact that cigarette smoke contains large amounts of endotoxin may partly explain the high prevalence of respiratory disorders among smokers and may also draw attention to a hitherto neglected risk factor of ETS.     

Diurnal trends in coarse particulate matter composition in the Los Angeles Basin

To investigate the diurnal profile of the concentration and composition of ambient coarse particles, three sampling sites were set up in the Los Angeles Basin to collect coarse particulate matter (CPM) in four different time periods of the day (morning, midday, afternoon and overnight) in summer and winter. The samples were analyzed for total and water-soluble elements, inorganic ions and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). In summer, highest concentrations of CPM gravimetric mass, mineral and road dust, and WSOC were observed in midday and afternoon, when the prevailing onshore wind was stronger. In general, atmospheric dilution was lower in winter, contributing to the accumulation of air pollutants during stagnation conditions. Turbulences induced by traffic become a significant particle re-suspension mechanism, particularly during winter night time, when mixing height was lowest. This is evident by the high levels of CPM mass, mineral and road dust in winter overnight at the near-freeway sites located in urban Los Angeles, and to a lesser extent in Riverside. WSOC levels were higher in summer, with a similar diurnal profile with mineral and road dust, indicating that they either share common sources, or that WSOC may be adsorbed or absorbed onto the surfaces of these dust particles. In general, the contribution of inorganic ions to CPM mass was greater in the overnight sampling period at all sampling sites, suggesting that the prevailing meteorological conditions (lower temperature and higher relative humidity) favor the formation of these ions in the coarse mode. Nitrate, the most abundant CPM-bound inorganic species in this basin, is found to be predominantly formed by reactions with sea salt particles in summer. When the sea salt concentrations were low, the reaction with mineral dust particles and the condensation of ammonium nitrate on CPM surfaces also contributes to the formation of nitrate in the coarse mode.     

青海高原一次沙尘重污染天气成因分析

利用常规观测的卫星云图资料、地面资料、探空资料、地面污染物监测数据,结合拉格朗日粒子扩散模型(LPDM)污染源溯源方法,对2018年2月青海高原一次沙尘重污染天气的主要成因以及沙尘传输特征进行了分析。结果表明:此次重污染天气受高空低槽东移影响,在300~700 hPa形成了强烈的辐散下沉,槽后的高空急流随之东移。在其东移过程中,受高空急流动量下传及偏北气流中的冷空气共同作用,青海东部出现了大风沙尘天气。边界层中逆温层的存在是此次污染天气持续的重要原因之一,加之未出现明显降水,不利于大气污染物的扩散。通过运用LPDM对此次污染天气的运动轨迹进行分析来看,气团影响的模拟高度层距离地面100 m,气团层趋势一致。研究区地处青藏高原,海拔较高,0~100 m高度的气团足迹可以反映出PM 10污染气团的输送路径。同时,0~100 m是主要的人为源排放空间,也是对人类活动影响较大的区域。气团足迹与PM 10浓度的变化趋势一致,即青海东部沙尘污染主要是由河西走廊沙尘倒灌进入青海东部导致,这与天气学分析结果一致。     

Validation of a standardized portable fluorescence method for determining trace beryllium in workplace air and wipe samples

Beryllium is widely used in industry for its unique properties; however, occupational exposure to beryllium particles can cause potentially fatal disease. Consequently, exposure limits for beryllium particles in air and action levels on surfaces have been established to reduce exposure risks for workers. Field-portable monitoring methods for beryllium are desired in order to facilitate on-site measurement of beryllium in the workplace, so that immediate action can be taken to protect human health. In this work, a standardized, portable fluorescence method for the determination of trace beryllium in workplace samples, i.e., air filters and dust wipes, was validated through intra- and inter-laboratory testing. The procedure entails extraction of beryllium in 1% ammonium bifluoride (NH(4)HF(2), aqueous), followed by fluorescence measurement of the complex formed between beryllium ion and hydroxybenzoquinoline sulfonate (HBQS). The method detection limit was estimated to be less than 0.02 microg Be per air filter or wipe sample, with a dynamic range up to greater than 10 microg. The overall method accuracy was shown to satisfy the accuracy criterion (A< or = +/-25%) for analytical methods promulgated by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Interferences from numerous metals tested (in >400-fold excess concentration compared to that of beryllium) were negligible or minimal. The procedure was shown to be effective for the dissolution and quantitative detection of beryllium extracted from refractory beryllium oxide particles. An American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International voluntary consensus standard based on the methodology has recently been published.     

Seasonal variation in ambient PM mass and number concentrations (case study: Tehran, Iran)

Tehran, the capital city of Iran, is an important industrial and commercial center. This city is one of the worst cities in the world in terms of air pollution, which is mostly due to mobile sources rather than stationary sources. Particulate matter (PM), which is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets, is considered as an important source of air pollution in Tehran. In this study, our objective was to study PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 mass and number concentrations and find the correlations of these two parameters in the west-central parts of Tehran during two consecutive warm and cold seasons. The particles collected from five stations were analyzed for their mass and number simultaneously by a laser-based Grimm dust monitor. In general, it was found that the accumulation of the PM in this region is more in the cold season. PM₁₀ mass concentration increases almost twofold and PM_2.5 and PM_1.0 almost three times in this season. The mean number concentration of the particles (0.3–20 μm) was found to be almost 4.8 times in the cold season. It was also noticed that the average dimensions of the particles decrease in that season.     

Saharan dust particles in snow samples of Alps and Apennines during an exceptional event of transboundary air pollution

Southern European countries are often affected in summer by transboundary air pollution from Saharan dust. However, very few studies deal with Saharan dust pollution at high altitudes in winter. In Italy, the exceptional event occurred on February 19, 2014, colored in red the entire mountain range (Alps and Apennines) and allowed to characterize the particulate matter deposited on snow from a morphological and chemical point of view. Snow samples were collected after this event in four areas in the Alps and one in the Apennines. The particulate matter of the melted snow samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These analyses confirmed the presence of Saharan dust particle components in all areas with similar percentages, supported also by the positive correlations between Mg-Ca, Al-Ca, Al-Mg, and Al-K in all samples.     

Classification of particles from the farm environment by automated sizing, counting and chemical characterisation with scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy

About 60,000 particles in 288 aerosol samples collected during farm work have been characterised with automated particle analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Based on EDS-analysis of materials with known composition (potato flour, alpha-quartz, K-feldspar and beta-wollastonite), criteria were developed for classification of particles as: (1) organic, (2) silicon-rich (silica), and (3) other inorganic particles. The reproducibility of the relative mass proportions in dust samples collected during farm work was 0.078 when approximately 200 particles were characterised per sample. Field samples from the farm environment showed clear differences in composition. Generally, inorganic particles dominated the particle mass. The proportion of the organic particle mass was highest for tending of swine and poultry, 55 and 38% respectively. Silica particles amounted to 10 to 20% of the total mass during handling crops, e.g. grain, straw, hay, potatoes, and onions. It seems likely that the results can be used in etiologic studies, but further validation would be needed for quantitative purposes.     

Characteristics of aerosol types during large-scale transport of air pollution over the Yellow Sea region and at Cheongwon,Korea, in 2008

Episodes of large-scale transport of airborne dust and anthropogenic pollutant particles from different sources in the East Asian continent in 2008 were identified by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite RGB (red, green, and blue)-composite images and the mass concentrations of ground level particulate matter. These particles were divided into dust, sea salt, smoke plume, and sulfate by an aerosol classification algorithm. To analyze the aerosol size distribution during large-scale transport of atmospheric aerosols, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and fine aerosol weighting (FW) of moderate imaging spectroradiometer aerosol products were used over the East Asian region. Six episodes of massive airborne dust particles, originating from sandstorms in northern China, Mongolia, and the Loess Plateau of China, were observed at Cheongwon. Classified dust aerosol types were distributed on a large-scale over the Yellow Sea region. The average PM10 and PM2.5 ratio to the total mass concentration TSP were 70% and 15%, respectively. However, the mass concentration of PM2.5 among TSP increased to as high as 23% in an episode where dust traveled in by way of an industrial area in eastern China. In the other five episodes of anthropogenic pollutant particles that flowed into the Korean Peninsula from eastern China, the anthropogenic pollutant particles were largely detected in the form of smoke over the Yellow Sea region. The average PM10 and PM2.5 ratios to TSP were 82% and 65%, respectively. The ratio of PM2.5 mass concentrations among TSP varied significantly depending on the origin and pathway of the airborne dust particles. The average AOD for the large-scale transport of anthropogenic pollutant particles in the East Asian region was measured to be 0.42 ± 0.17, which is higher in terms of the rate against atmospheric aerosols as compared with the AOD (0.36 ± 0.13) for airborne dust particles with sandstorms. In particular, the region ranging from eastern China, the Yellow Sea, and the Korean Peninsula to the Korea East Sea was characterized by high AOD distributions. In the episode of anthropogenic polluted aerosols, FW averaged 0.63 ± 0.16, a value higher than that in the episode of airborne dust particles (0.52 ± 0.13) with sandstorms, showing that fine anthropogenic pollutant particles contribute greatly to atmospheric aerosols in East Asia.     

广州市春季一次沙尘天气过程综合观测

2017年4月21—23日广州市经历了一次远距离传输的沙尘天气过程,为了解沙尘过程对广州市空气质量的影响,基于广州市大气超级站,利用单颗粒气溶胶质谱(SPAMS)、气溶胶激光雷达观测数据并结合HYSPLIT后向轨迹模型分析了沙尘过程细颗粒物组分及污染来源贡献变化和沙尘气溶胶的来源及路径。结果表明:受沙尘过境影响,PM_(10)浓度大幅升高,PM_(2.5)/PM_(10)最小值仅为12.1%;沙尘过境期间影响近地面颗粒物的沙尘高度主要分布在1 km以下区域,近地面颗粒物消光系数均值为100.11 Mm~(-1),探测到最大退偏振比为0.28。SPAMS研究发现沙尘过境期间含硅酸盐颗粒物(SI)的细颗粒物数浓度比例达25.9%,是沙尘过境前的1.4倍;PM_(2.5)中扬尘贡献率明显增大,达到了17.3%,是沙尘过境前的1.9倍。后向轨迹模型HYSPLIT显示此次沙尘为典型的北方沙尘传输,沙尘源自中国西北地区,传输方向为自西北输送至华东地区后,转为东南方向影响广州市。     

上海浦东新区环境空气质量特点及成因分析

为了解浦东新区建区以来的环境空气质量，浦东新区环境保护监测站对1994年－2001年环境空气中主要污染物监测结果进行了分析：SO2，NOx,TSP的质量浓度和分指数结果相比较，TSP占有最大权重，处于污染主导地位，其主要污染源为工业粉尘，烟尘，机动车排放的尾气，建筑施工及道路交通产生的尘污染。     

北方沙尘对江苏环境空气中可吸入颗粒物浓度的影响

利用卫星遥感数据、气象观测资料和江苏省环境空气自动站的可吸入颗粒物的监测数据,对春季中国北方的沙尘暴过程对江苏环境空气中可吸入颗粒物浓度的影响分析发现,沙尘暴所含的沙尘粒子在冷空气的引导下可能进入江苏,对环境空气中可吸入颗粒物浓度将会产生较大的影响;北方沙尘暴所携带的沙尘粒子是春季江苏空气污染的重要来源之一,是预报空气质量异常偏高的重要依据之一。     

Elemental and individual particle analysis of atmospheric aerosols from high Himalayas

Atmospheric aerosols were collected during the scientific expedition to Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) in May–June, 2005. The elemental concentrations of the aerosols were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This yielded data for the concentration of 14 elements: Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb. The mean elemental concentrations were generally comparable with those from central Asia and the Arctic, while much higher than those from Antarctic. Size, morphology, and chemical composition of 900 individual aerosol particles were determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Based on morphology and elemental composition, the particles were clustered into eight groups: soot (8%), tar ball (3%), alumosilicates/silica (55%), calcium sulfate (16%), Ca/Mg carbonate (2%), Fe/Ti-rich particles (3%), Pb-rich particles (1%), and biological particles (12%). The sampling site, located at 6,520 m in the Himalayas, is particularly remote and located at high altitude. Nonetheless, high aerosol enrichment factors for copper, chromium, lead, nickel, vanadium, and zinc all suggest the influence of long-range transported pollution, while enrichment in calcium and the presence of alumino-silicates in individual particle analyses indicates a distinct mineral dust influence. The backward air mass trajectories showed that the northwestern part of India may contribute to the atmospheric aerosol in the central high Himalayas.     

LIDAR Measurements of the Vertical Aerosol Profile and Optical Depth during the ACE-Asia 2001 IOP, at Gosan, Jeju Island, Korea

In order to investigate the characteristic of optical properties of Asian dust particles, the atmospheric aerosol vertical profile was measured with the multi-wavelength LIDAR system, at the Gosan super site (33 degrees 17'N, 126 degrees 10'E) in Jeju Island, Korea, during the ACE-Asia intensive observation period, 11 March-4 May 2001. An air mass backward trajectory analysis, using Hysplit-4, was carried out to track the aerosol plume, with high mass loading, from the Chinese desert regions during the period of Asian dust storm events. Vertical atmospheric aerosol profiles on three major Asian dust storm event days, 22 March and 13 and 26 April 2001, have been analyzed. The LIDAR-derived aerosol optical depth values were compared with those measured by a collocated sunphotometer.