Air pollution, forest condition and forest decline in Southern Europe: an overview

Over the last decades much of the work on the impact of air pollution on forests in Europe has concentrated on central and northern countries. The southern part of Europe has received far less attention, although air pollutants-especially the photochemical ones-can reach concentrations likely to have adverse effects on forest vegetation. Although international forest condition surveys present serious problems where data consistency is concerned, they reveal considerable year-by-year species-specific fluctuations rather than a large-scale forest decline. Cases of obvious decline related to environmental factors are well circumscribed: (1) the deterioration of some coastal forests due to the action of polluted seaspray; (2) the deterioration of reforestation projects, especially conifers, mainly due to the poor ecological compatibility between species and site; and (3) the decline of deciduous oaks in southern Italy and of evergreen oaks in the Iberian peninsula apparently due to the interaction of climate stresses and pests and diseases. However, besides obvious deterioration, changes in environmental factors can provoke situations of more subtle stress. The most sensitive stands are Mediterranean conifer forests and mesophile forests of the Mediterranean-montane plane growing at the edges of the natural ecological distribution. Evergreen sclerophyllous forests appear less sensitive to variations in climatic parameters, since they can adapt quite well to both drought and the action of UV-B rays. Several experiments were carried out to test the sensitivity of Mediterranean forest species to air pollutants. Most of those experiments used seedlings of different species treated with pollutant concentrations too high to be realistic, so it is difficult to derive adequate information on the response of adult trees in field conditions. Ozone has been proved to cause foliar injury in a variety of native forest species in different Southern European countries, while the effects of other pollutants (e.g. nitrogen, sulphur, acidic deposition) are less obvious and likely to be very localized. In the case of ozone, visible symptoms were almost completely missed by large-scale surveys and-at the same time-non-visible symptoms are suspected to be even more widespread than the visible ones. Owing to this and to the complex relationships existing between species sensitivity, ozone exposure and doses, length of the vegetative periods, influence of climatic and edaphic condition on the tree's response, the impacted areas are yet to be identified. Therefore, the large-scale impact of air pollutants on the forests of Southern Europe remains largely unknown, until more specific investigations are carried out.     

Arctic air pollution: An overview of current knowledge

From December to April, the Arctic air mass is polluted by man-made mid-latitudinal emissions from fossil fuel combustion, smelting and industrial processes. In the rest of the year, pollution levels are much lower. This is the outcome of less efficient pollutant removal processes and better south (S) to north (N) transport during winter. In winter, the Arctic air mass covers much of Eurasia and N. America. Meteorological flow fields and the distribution of anthropogenic SO₂ emissions in the northern hemisphere favor northern Eurasia as the main source of visibility reducing haze. Observations of SO₄²⁻ concentrations in the atmosphere throughout the Arctic yield, depending on location and year, a January–April mean of 1.5–3.9 μg m⁻³ in the Norwegian Arctic to 1.2–2.2 μg m⁻³ in the N. American Arctic. An estimate of the mean vertical profile of fine particle aerosol mass during March and April shows that, on average, pollution is concentrated in the lower 5 km of the atmosphere. Not only are anthropogenic particles present in the Arctic atmosphere but also gases such as SO₂, perfluorocarbons and pesticides. The acidic nature and seasonal variation of Arctic pollution is reflected in precipitation, the snowpack and glacier snow in the Arctic. A pH of 4.9–5.2 in winter and ~ 5.6 in summer is expected in the absence of calcareous wind blown soil. Glacial records indicate that Arctic air pollution has undergone a marked increase since the mid 1950s paralleling a marked increase in SO₂ and NO_x emissions in Europe. Effects of Arctic pollution include a reduction in visibility and perturbation of the solar radiation budget in April–June. Potential effects are the acidification and toxification of sensitive ecosystems.     

Health impact assessment of auto rickshaw and cab drivers due to exposure to vehicular pollution in Delhi: an integrated approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Vehicular emission is an important contributor to air pollution in the urban environment and impacts the health of commuters as well as drivers. The...     

重庆市机动车尾气对大气环境的影响分析及减缓措施

在对重庆市机动车保有量、主城区交通状况进行深入调查的基础上，对机动车尾气排放对大气环境的影响进行了细致的分析与评估。阐述了机动车尾气是造成重庆市大气污染的重要因素。同时结合国内外一些先进的预防、控制和处理汽车尾气污染的方法，及近年来的观察、研究和试验，提出了合理减缓、控制机动车尾气污染的措施，以防止机动车尾气污染进一步蔓延。     

Air quality and its possible impacts on the terrestrial ecosystems of the North American Great Plains: an overview

Over the past several decades, numerous studies have been conducted on the impacts of air pollutants (air quality) on terrestrial ecosystems (crops and forests). Although ambient air is always composed of pollutant mixtures, in determining the relative air quality and its ecosystem impacts at a given geographic location and time, a predominant number of studies have shown that at the present time surface-level O(3) is the most important phytotoxic air pollutant. Within the North American Great Plains, the precursors for surface-level O(3) are mainly anthropogenic NO(x) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Texas and Alberta are the top regions of such emissions in the United States and Canada, respectively. This appears to be due mainly to the prevalence of natural gas and/or oil industry in the two regions and the consequent urbanization. Nevertheless, the total emissions of NO(x) and VOCs within the North American Great Plains represent only about 25-36% of the corresponding total emissions within the contiguous United States and the whole of Canada. Within the Great Plains many major crop and tree species are known to be sensitive to O(3). This sensitivity assessment, however, is based mainly on our knowledge from univariate (O(3) only) exposure-plant response studies. In the context of global climate change, in almost all similar univariate studies, elevated CO(2) concentrations have produced increases in plant biomass (both crop and tree species). The question remains as to whether this stimulation will offset any adverse effects of elevated surface O(3) concentrations. Future research must address this important issue both for the Great Plains and for all other geographic locations, taking into consideration spatial and temporal variabilities in the ambient concentrations of the two trace gases.     

An overview of environmental pollution prevention and management in China

This paper provides a broad overview of pollution prevention and management in China and details the specific measures that have been adopted at a national level. The paper begins by exploring some of the key environmental issues faced by China, and the history of environmental management in China. Then the current environmental legislation and standards in China are detailed, and the strategic pollution prevention measures that have been adopted are described. Next, the paper examines the environmental economic instruments and ethos that China appears to have adopted, and concludes by drawing a comparison with the development of pollution prevention in the western world and proposes a broad research agenda.     

Effects of air pollution on monumental buildings in India: An overview

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Recent advancements in environmental monitoring and analysis have created public and institutional awareness on the social and health impacts of air...     

湘江株洲段镉污染动态模拟与情景分析

本研究利用美国环境保护局（USEPA）推荐的WASP水质分析模拟软件,对湘江株洲段2009年的镉浓度进行动态模拟,并进行总量控制的情景分析。对水文条件变化和源强变化2种情景下的河道镉浓度进行了预测。结果表明,WASP模型能较好重现镉浓度的时间变化规律。情景分析表明,水文条件和源强条件对镉浓度的影响在霞湾和马家河断面较为明显,且在枯水月份表现得更为明显。     

Climate of the earth: an overview

Climate has varied over a large range in the recent history of the Earth, with extremes represented by equable environments of the Cretaceous and Eocene and the comparatively frigid conditions of the ice ages that punctuated the past few million years. It is suggested that major shifts in climate are controlled largely by variations in CO(2) with related fluctuations in modes of ocean circulation. Changes in climate can proceed rapidly, on time scales as short as centuries or even decades, as indicated by data for the Younger Dryas (a period of globally cold conditions interrupting recovery of the Earth from the last ice age) and the Little Ice Age (a cold snap extending from about 1250 to about 1850 ad). Rapid fluctuations in climate appear to be linked to changes in production of deep water in the North Atlantic, possibly also to variations in circulation of intermediate waters in the Pacific. Mechanisms are discussed whereby changes in ocean circulation can result in shifts of climate on a global scale. A 10 000 year record of climate from Norway is used to provide context for a discussion of possible changes in climate today arising as a result of the build-up of industrially related greenhouse gases. Brief, somewhat pessimistic, comments are offered concerning the prospects for meaningful near-term predictions of the response of climate to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases. Studies of past climates, by drawing attention to important processes and feedbacks, can play a valuable role in the development of credible models for the future.     

Geographic and environmental changes in human erythrocyte AChE and their possible relationship with environmental pollution caused by organophosphate pesticides

Comparative studies have been carried out on average values of AChE in different agricultural areas in the province of Granada (Spain) and on activity variations according to employment and season of the year and its relationship with altitude and number of inhabitants. At local level, the lowest activity of statistical significance was found in the Coast area which is directly related to the wider use of pesticides in this area, since crops are grown in greenhouses.     

Sampling technologies and air pollution control devices for gaseous and particulate arsenic: a review

Direct measurement of arsenic release requires a good sampling and analysis procedure in order to capture and detect the total amount of metals emitted. The literature is extensively reviewed in order to evaluate the efficiency of full field-scale and laboratory scale techniques for capturing particulate and gaseous emissions of arsenic from the thermo-chemical treatment of different sources of arsenic. Furthermore, trace arsenic concentrations in ambient air, national standard sampling methods and arsenic analysis methods are considered. Besides sampling techniques, the use of sorbents is also reviewed with respect to both approaches (1) to prevent the metals from exiting with the flue gas and (2) to react or combine with the metals in order to be collected in air pollution control systems. The most important conclusion is that submicron arsenic fumes are difficult to control in conventional air pollution control devices. Complete capture of the arsenic species requires a combination of particle control and vapour control devices.     

环境费税研究现状与展望

环境费税是环境保护经济手段的重要组成部分，对于控制污染、实现环境与经济的协调和可持续发展具有重要的意义。文章概述了环境费税研究的现状，并展望了未来发展的趋势。     

Mercury pollution in Peru: geographic distribution,health hazards,and sustainable removal technologies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Peru is one of the great gold producers worldwide. However, a significant portion of the gold produced in Peru derives from artisanal small-scale gold...     

Meteorological factors and air pollution in Lithuanian forests: possible effects on tree condition

This study investigates changes in tree condition and environmental factors in Lithuania during the active growing season in 1991-2001. The average crown defoliation and the proportion of healthy trees of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Fraxinus excelsior, Alnus incana, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, and Quercus robur, meteorological (average temperature, amount of precipitation, hydrothermal coefficient) and air pollution data (acidity of precipitation, concentrations of SO2, NO2 and exposure of O3) were analysed. During the period 1991-2001 the condition of Pinus sylvestris, Populus tremula showed a tendency of improvement, while defoliation of Fraxinus excelsior significantly increased. The proportion of healthy trees correlated well with the average temperature and O3 (AOT40), while defoliation correlated well with the acidity of precipitation and the concentrations of SO2 and NO2. Deciduous species appeared to be more sensitive to O3 exposure and conifers to the concentrations of SO2 and NO2.     

苯胺污染事故应急处置技术评估体系及其应用

苯胺所造成的环境污染问题日益严重,如何正确地选择处理处置技术,对降低化学品所造成的影响有着极其重要的意义。为了在事故发生后能够最短时间内有效地消除污染物对环境的影响,选取最适合的处理处置技术,提出了苯胺污染事故处理处置技术评估指标体系,从技术性能、经济成本、环境影响和社会影响4个方面进行了评估指标选取;另外,采用基于群决策的层次分析法(AHP)进行了数据处理,以降低评估过程中专家的主观性对评估结果的影响,结合评分标准最终获得最佳的应急处理处置技术方案,可为苯胺环境污染事故应急预案的制定与事故应急处理处置技术的选取提供参考。     

Salt marsh restoration: an overview of techniques and success indicators

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Coastal wetlands including salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They are known for improving the quality of coastal water...     

Bioeconomic modelling and salmon aquaculture: an overview of the literature

Bioeconomic models can be used to assist producers and decision-makers in identifying optimal production system designs, operation management strategies, and alternative development and policy approaches. This paper reviews the literature on bioeconomic modelling in aquaculture since 1993 and builds on an earlier article by Leung (1994) which examines this literature for the 1974-1993 period. In order to identify the papers reviewed in the present study, a thorough online search in various databases and some specific journals was conducted. Observations on the general state-of-the-art of bioeconomic modelling in aquaculture are discerned based on a comparative analysis of work in the field, with specific reference to salmon aquaculture. Implications for salmon aquaculture systems in Chile and elsewhere are discussed.     

超声波与其他技术联用在水污染控制中的研究现状

主要介绍了国内外利用超声波与其他技术的联用方法降解水中污染物的进展 ,显示出超声波在降解有机污染物领域潜在的应用前景。