Nitrous acid concentrations in homes and offices in residential areas in Greater Cairo

Indoor and outdoor measurements of nitrous acid and nitrogen dioxide were conducted at four homes and two offices in residential areas in Greater Cairo during winter (2000-2001) and summer (2001) seasons. Indoor nitrogen dioxide concentrations were higher than outdoor levels at the four homes, whereas indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were lower than outdoor levels at the two offices, during both seasons. Indoor nitrous acid concentrations were higher than outdoor levels at all homes and offices during the period of study. The mean indoor nitrous acid concentrations were 6.8 ppb and 3.67 ppb in the four homes, whereas they were 1.42 ppb and 1.24 ppb in the two offices, during the winter and summer seasons, respectively. Indoor/outdoor ratios of nitrous acid concentration were 6.94 in the winter and 5.03 in the summer for all of the homes. However, the ratios were 1.31 and 1.61 during the winter and summer seasons, respectively, for the two offices. Insignificant positive correlation coefficients were found between indoor and outdoor concentrations of nitrous acid at homes and offices. The maximum outdoor nitrous acid concentrations were recorded during the winter season. Significant positive correlation coefficients were found between nitrous acid and nitrogen dioxide and relative humidity in homes and offices. The ratios of nitrous acid to nitrogen dioxide concentrations ranged from 0.045 to 0.16, with a mean of 0.1, in the four homes, whereas the ratios ranged from 0.026 to 0.09, with a mean of 0.059, in the two offices.     

Outdoor-indoor air quality in Riyadh: SO2, NH3, and HCHO

A funded research project was conducted during the period July1992 through November 1994. The project was designed to evaluateindoor and ambient air quality in and around buildings of different types and uses in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.Thirty intercity buildings and two outercity (background) siteswere carefully selected and monitored for air quality. Ten airpollutants, together with relevant meteorological parameters, were monitored indoor and outdoor at each site continuously andsimultaneously for a period of two weeks covering summer and winter seasons.This article discusses the results obtained for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃) and formaldehyde (HCHO). Results of this investigation revealed that most sites had on the averageexceeded the recommended standards for SO₂ and NH₃ bothindoor and outdoor, with indoor levels being worse than outdoorduring winter time. Several sites also showed high levels of HCHO, with outdoor levels being consistently higher than indoor.Statistical and frequency analyses were performed on the collected data, showing seasonal and sector by sector variability, and outdoor-indoor correlations.     

Study of personal exposure to airborne respirable particles and carbon monoxide

Simultaneous measurements of CO and respirable particles (RP) at outdoor network stations and of personal exposure in a sample of twelve volunteers were carried out during the winter and summer season of 1980/81 in order to evaluate how well personal exposure can be assessed from outdoor network station data.The results have shown that personal exposure of our subjects to both CO and RP is in best correlation with exposure at home where subjects spend in the average nearly 70% of their time. While personal exposure to CO can hardly be related to outdoor CO levels, personal exposure to RP is in fair agreement with simultaneously measured outdoor concentrations in winter (but not in summer). A large intercept on WAE axis of the WAE/RP relationship indicates that a considerable part of personal exposure to RP should be attributed to particles which are not of indoor origin. This part does not follow the seasonal and day-to-day changes in outdoor RP concentration and causes a negative, but highly significant correlation between WAE/RP ratio and RP.     

Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM2.5 trace elements at homes, preschools and schools in Stockholm, Sweden

Fine particles (PM2.5) were sampled indoors and outdoors at 40 sampling sites; in ten classrooms in five schools, at ten preschools and 20 non-smoking homes, in three communities in Stockholm, Sweden, during nine 2-week periods. Each sampling site was sampled twice, once during winter and once during spring. The samples were analysed for elemental concentrations using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. In all locations significantly higher outdoor concentrations were found for elements that are related to long-range transported air masses (S, Ni, Br and Pb), while only Ti was higher indoors in all locations. Similar differences for S, Br and Pb were found in both seasons for homes and schools. In preschools different seasonal patterns were seen for the long-range transported elements S, Br and Pb and the crustal elements Ti, Mn and Fe. The indoor/outdoor ratios for S and Pb suggest an outdoor PM2.5 particle net infiltration of about 0.6 in these buildings. The community located 25 km from the city centre had significantly lower outdoor concentrations of elements of crustal or traffic origin compared with the two central communities, but had similar levels of long-range transported elements. Significant correlations were found between PM2.5 and most elements outdoors (rs = 0.45-0.90). Copper levels were found to correlate well (rs = 0.64-0.91) to the traffic marker NO2 during both winter and spring in all locations. Copper may be a suitable elemental marker for traffic-related aerosols in health studies in areas without other significant outdoor Cu sources.     

Nitrogen Dioxide in the Workplace Environment

Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were measured in shops and car parks over a 19 week period during the winter. For the shops indoor:outdoor ratios varied from 0.34 to 0.54 with an average value of 0.44. NO2 levels ranged from 13 to 38 µg m-3. With little or no contribution from indoor sources, ambient concentrations are the primary factor in determining indoor levels. Concentrations of NO2 in car parks were similar to those measured at the kerb side. Concentrations in the payment booths were higher than those in shops and ranged from 42 to 60 µg m-3. Despite ventilation systems in the payment booths ratios of booth:car park NO2 varied from 0.65 to 0.86.     

Indoor concentrations of carbon monoxide in selected urban microenvironments

CO concentrations were measured in five kindergartens, one children's hospital and two homes for aged, practically without indoor sources, all situated in the city centre, for ten random days in winter and ten in summer. The indoor CO concentrations were the result of the distance from and the traffic density in the nearest street, of general pollution level, seasonal differences, day-to-day variations and daily cycle of air pollution, the vicinity of traffic having a dominant influence. Therefore location of institutions for sensitive population groups in old city centres within a block of houses seems to be a suitable solution as far as exposure to CO is concerned.Revised version of a paper presented as poster at the VIth World Congress on Air Quality, Paris 1983.     

重庆市区灰霾天气变化及特征分析

分析了近15年重庆市区灰霾的时间变化特征以及主要大气污染物与能见度的相关性。1997—2012年,灰霾天气占41.2%,发生天数没有明显变化,严重程度有所减缓。灰霾在冬季发生的天数最多,持续时间长,且容易发生重度的持续灰霾。夏季灰霾天数最少,程度最轻。PM10、PM2.5、SO2、NO2浓度随灰霾的加重而增加,其中PM2.5浓度增幅最大,O3浓度随灰霾的加重而降低。灰霾对能见度的影响大于降水天气对其的影响。灰霾天气下能见度受PM2.5的影响较大,非灰霾天气下,能见度主要受O3的影响。     

苏州市区灰霾现象形成的气象条件分析

随着社会和经济的快速发展,灰霾现象的发生有逐渐上升趋势,严重影响城市形象和群众的身心健康。苏州市的灰霾现象发生频率1—2月最高,7—8月最低。通过寻找形成灰霾现象的主要气象控制因子,有助于判别不同气象条件在灰霾天气形成中的作用。采用基于因子分析的主成分提取方法,将6个气象因子观测资料整合为3个主成分,并逐一揭示4个典型季节各主成分的支配因子在灰霾天气形成中的作用。结果表明,热量条件是影响1—2月、4—5月和7—8月霾日形成的主要气象条件。动力条件是10—11月霾日形成的主要气象条件,水分条件影响相对较弱,仅起辅助作用。     

PM2.5 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air: a focus on the effect of meteorology

PM(2.5) and VOCs (benzene, toluene, m-p-o-xylenes) concentrations were measured in an urban and a suburban site in Athens, Greece, during the period between April and November 2004. This period, which is considered to be the warmer period in Greece, is characterized by the development of sea-breeze over the Attica Basin. Additionally strong Northern, North-eastern winds called "The Etesians", predominate during the summer months (July-August), acting positively to the dispersion of pollutants. In this campaign, 24 days with sea-breeze development were observed, 15 days with northern winds, 6 days with southern winds while the rest of the days presented no specific wind profile. Maximum concentrations of PM(2.5), VOCs and nitrogen oxides, were detected during the days with sea-breeze, while minimum concentrations during the days with northern winds. Ozone was the only pollutant that appeared to have higher concentrations in the background site and not in the city centre, where benzene presented strong negative correlation with ozone, indicating the photochemical reaction of hydrocarbons that lead to the ozone formation. The BTX ratios were similar for both sites and wind profiles, indicating common sources for those pollutants. T/B ratio ranged in low levels, between 3-5 for site A and 2-5 for site B, suggesting vehicles emissions as the main sources of volatile compounds. Finally, the strong correlations of PM(2.5) and benzene concentrations, between the two sampling sites, indicate that both the city centre and the background site, are affected by the same sources, under common meteorological conditions (sea-breeze, northern winds).     

Seasonal variation for the ratio of BaP to BeP at different sites in Great Xiamen Bay

From March 2008 to February 2009, PM(10) samples were collected and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at eight sampling sites in Great Xiamen Bay, China. Analyses of the seasonal and spatial variations of these compounds revealed the following results. Significantly high levels of PAHs were found in the winter compared to the summer, sometimes exceeding 100 ng m(-3), and the spatial variations were influenced most by the sampling site surroundings. Composition profiles of PAHs of an urban and a rural site were shown to be very similar with a positive correlation coefficient larger than 0.9 at the 0.01 level of significance for the same season. Diagnostic ratios, together with principal component and multiple linear regression analysis, showed that more PAHs were from grass/wood/coal combustion in winter than in other seasons. The ratios of benzo[a]pyrene to benzo[e]pyrene (BaP-BeP) in winter and fall were 0.6-1.7 times higher than those in spring and summer, suggesting the importance of local emissions of PAHs. The BaP-BeP ratios in Kinmen were generally lower than those in Xiamen, indicating that the aging degree of PAHs was higher in Kinmen than in Xiamen. The external input of PAHs from upwind urban and industrial areas was one of the key factors causing high levels of PAHs in PM(10) in Great Xiamen Bay in winter.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air of Chinese cities

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the air of 37 cities and 3 rural locations across China during the winter, spring, summer and autumn of 2005, using polyurethane foam (PUF) disks as passive air samplers (PAS). Winter and autumn concentrations in cities exceeded spring and summer values. Concentrations were amongst the highest in the world; seasonally averaged autumn/winter values in some cities in the north and north-west of China exceeded proposed European Union air quality standards. Several factors, acting in combination, influenced air concentrations. A significant negative correlation was found between average annual city concentrations and the annual average temperature, while winter time PAH concentrations correlated with estimated coal consumption. The highest total PAH concentrations and loadings of high molecular weight compounds generally occurred in major cities located on higher land (500-2000 m), where relatively cold winters and higher coal consumption occurs. Lower values occurred in cities located in the south and east China and along the coastal regions. Molecular markers indicated incomplete combustion of fossil fuels dominated the urban air and gave evidence for photo-decomposition of selected compounds.     

Temporal and Spatial Variations in Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations Across an Urban Landscape: Cambridge, UK

The acquisition of a comprehensive air quality dataset for a small city environment is described for use in statistical modelling of dispersion processes and micro-scale assessment of polluted zones. The dataset is based on a nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube survey for Cambridge where up to 80 roadside and background sites have been monitored continuously over two years, using a two week exposure period. Site categories are defined by their function within the urban landscape. Spatial and temporal features of the data set are explained in terms of urban location, street geometry, meteorology and traffic behaviour. The highest levels of NO2 are found in central canyon streets which are narrow with enclosing architecture and slow-moving traffic. In contrast lower levels are found for the wider, more open radial routes where traffic is free-flowing. The influence of street geometry on NO2 levels for central streets is demonstrated, where canyon sections adjacent to open sections having the same traffic flow record higher concentrations. Whilst all roadside sites are affected by a photochemical pollution 'episode', the greater potential for elevated NO2 concentrations within the canyon sections is significant. The close proximity of low background levels of NO2 to roadside 'hot-spots' is important for public exposure assessment. The variation in background levels across the urban landscape is very small and unrelated to location; whether central, suburban or outer city. Seasonal variation, not seen in roadside data, is clearly apparent in background data with a winter maximum and summer minimum.     

川东北中心城市南充大气污染态势及其主要成因

基于南充市主城区6项大气污染物浓度数据,研究了2014-2020年南充市的空气质量指数、空气质量指数等级和首要污染物的时序分布。结果表明:随着大气污染防治的开展,南充市大气污染物浓度逐渐下降,出现首要污染物的天数逐年减少,空气质量逐步提高。受污染物节律性影响,空气质量呈现明显的季节差异,冬季空气质量最差,春季次之,夏季污染相对较轻,秋季最轻。首要污染物类型的季节分布特征表现为冬季出现首要污染物天数最多,春季和夏季次之,秋季最少。春、秋、冬季以PM_2.5污染为主,夏季以O₃污染为主。从全年来看,与O₃相比,PM_2.5对空气质量的影响更为突出。在持续控制大气污染物排放总量的同时,精细化协同管控细颗粒物、氮氧化物、挥发性有机物和二氧化硫排放将有助于现阶段的大气污染防治。     

Levels, sources, and health risks of carbonyls in residential indoor air in Hangzhou, China

Concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, propionaldehyde, i-pentanal, and butyraldehyde in residential indoor air in Hangzhou were determined. The mean concentration of the total carbonyl compounds in summer was 222.6 μg/m³, higher than that in winter (68.5 μg/m³). The concentration of a specific carbonyl in indoor air was higher than the outdoor air measurement, indicating the release of carbonyls from the indoor sources. Formaldehyde and acetone were the most abundant carbonyls detected in summer and winter, respectively. Multiple regression analysis indicated that carbonyl concentrations in residential indoor air depended on the age of decoration and furniture, as well as their concentrations in outdoor air. In addition, a primary estimation showed that the health risks of carbonyls in summer were higher than those in winter.     

遵义市PM10中元素污染特征、来源与生态风险评价

采集2012年3月-2013年2月遵义市丁字口（市区点）、凤凰山（背景点）监测点的 PM10样品,并对 PM10中元素污染特征、来源和生态风险进行分析与评价。结果表明,遵义市 PM10质量浓度季节变化为：冬季＞春季＞秋季＞夏季,且市区点高于背景点,冬季超标率均为100％。PM10中 As、Pb、Hg、Mn质量浓度市区点高于背景点,且均为冬季最高。富集因子分析表明,Pb、As、Cd、Hg、Mn、Cu、Zn来自人为污染,生态危害顺序为：Cd＞Pb ＞As＞Cu ＞Zn ＞Ni ＞Cr,其中 Cd 的潜在生态危害为极强。     

Characteristics and sources of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Shanghai, China

A field campaign was conducted to measure and analyze 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in six major zones in the city of Shanghai, P.R. China from August 2006 to April 2007. Ambient air samples were collected seasonally using passive air samplers, and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy was used in this field campaign. The results showed that there was a sequence of 13 PAHs at Phen > FA > Pyr > Chr > Fl > An > BaA > BbFA > BghiP > IcdP > BkFA > BaP > DahA and the sum of these PAHs is 36.01 ± 10.85 ng/m³ in gas phase. FL, Phen, FA, Pyr, and Chr were the dominant PAHs in gas phase in the city. They contributed 90% of total PAHs in the gas phase. Proportion of measured PAHs with three, four, five, and six rings to total PAHs was 53%, 42%, 3%, and 2%, respectively. The highest concentration of ΣPAHs (the sum of 13 PAHs) occurred in the wintertime and the lowest was in the summer. This investigation suggested that traffic, wood combustion, and metal scrap burn emissions were dominant sources of the concentrations of PAHs in six city zones compared with coal burning and industry emissions. Further, the traffic emission sources of PAHs in the city were attributed mostly to gasoline-powered vehicles compared with diesel-powered vehicles. It was revealed that the seasonal changes in PAHs in the city depended on different source types. Metal scrap burn was found to be the major source of PAHs during the autumn, while the PAH levels in the atmosphere for winter and spring seasons were mainly influenced by wood and biomass combustion. Comparisons of PAHs among different city zones and with several other cities worldwide were also made and discussed.     

青藏高原典型高寒森林地带CH4浓度特征分析

基于波长扫描光腔衰荡光谱线监测系统在海螺沟国家大气背景站(以下简称海螺沟站)开展甲烷(CH_4)连续自动监测,通过局部近似回归法进行背景值筛分分析。结果表明:2016、2017年海螺沟站CH_4年均体积分数和筛分的背景体积分数接近,两者浓度水平与北半球中纬度地区全球本底站CH_4浓度水平相当;海螺沟站CH_4能够代表背景区域浓度水平。海螺沟站CH_4体积分数呈春、夏季低,秋、冬季高特征,季节变化主要受到特定的地理环境和大气环流的影响,大气环流占主导影响。夏季CH_4体积分数最低但日振幅最大,与高原高海拔背景下森林地带的辐射对流引起局地扩散作用有关。采用逐步逼近回归筛分CH_4监测数据,海螺沟站CH_4背景季浓度变化和北半球中高纬度地区其他背景站大气CH_4的季节变化特征以及CH_4季体积分数振幅基本一致。背景站四季的CH_4载荷贡献在16个风向分布结果表明,在春、夏季存在西风带下南亚方向污染物气团的远距离输送;青藏高原东部近地面在冬季处于反气旋冷高压控制下,而SSW方向风向能够短暂打破这种稳定的气象条件,污染物得到迅速扩散,SSW为负贡献。     

Ambient site, home outdoor and home indoor particulate concentrations as proxies of personal exposures

Despite strong longitudinal associations between particle personal exposures and ambient concentrations, previous studies have found considerable inter-personal variability in these associations. Factors contributing to this inter-personal variability are important to identify in order to improve our ability to assess particulate exposures for individuals. This paper examines whether ambient, home outdoor and home indoor particle concentrations can be used as proxies of corresponding personal exposures. We explore the strength of the associations between personal, home indoor, home outdoor and central outdoor monitoring site ("ambient site") concentrations of sulfate, fine particle mass (PM(2.5)) and elemental carbon (EC) by season and subject for 25 individuals living in the Boston, MA, USA area. Ambient sulfate concentrations accounted for approximately 70 to 80% of the variability in personal and indoor sulfate levels. Correlations between ambient and personal sulfate, however, varied by subject (0.1-1.0), with associations between personal and outdoor sulfate concentrations generally mirroring personal-ambient associations (median subject-specific correlations of 0.8 to 0.9). Ambient sulfate concentrations are good indicators of personal exposures for individuals living in the Boston area, even though their levels may differ from actual personal exposures. The strong associations for sulfate indicate that ambient concentrations and housing characteristics are the driving factors determining personal sulfate exposures. Ambient PM(2.5) and EC concentrations were more weakly associated with corresponding personal and indoor levels, as compared to sulfate. For EC and PM(2.5), local traffic, indoor sources and/or personal activities can significantly weaken associations with ambient concentrations. Infiltration was shown to impact the ability of ambient concentrations to reflect exposures with higher exposures to particles from ambient sources during summer. In contrast in the winter, lower infiltration can result in a greater contribution of indoor sources to PM(2.5) and EC exposures. Placing EC monitors closer to participants' homes may reduce exposure error in epidemiological studies of traffic-related particles, but this reduction in exposure error may be greater in winter than summer. It should be noted that approximately 20% of the EC data were below the field limit of detection, making it difficult to determine if the weaker associations with the central site for EC were merely a result of methodological limitations.     

Personal, indoor, and outdoor exposure to VOCs in the immediate vicinity of a local airport

This study measures the effect of emissions from an airport on the air quality of surrounding neighborhoods. The ambient concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-, m-, and p-xylene (BTEX) were measured using passive samplers at 15 households located close to the airport (indoor, outdoor, and personal), at the end of airport runways and an out-of-neighborhood location. Measurements occurred over a 48-h period during summer 2006 and winter 2006?C2007. The average concentrations were 0.84, 3.21, 0.30, 0.99, and 0.34 ??g/m³ at the airport runways and 0.84, 3.76, 0.39, 1.22, and 0.39 ??g/m³ in the neighborhood for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-, p-, and o-xylene. The average neighborhood concentrations were not significantly different to those measured at the airport runways and were higher than the out-of-neighborhood location (0.48, 1.09, 0.15, 0.78, and 0.43 ??g/m³, each BTEX). B/T ratios were used as a tracer for emission sources and the average B/T ratio at the airport and outdoors were 0.20 and 0.23 for the summer and 0.40 and 0.42 for the winter, suggesting that both areas are affected by the same emission source. Personal exposure was closely related to levels in the indoor environment where subjects spent most of their time. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for BTEX ranged from 1.13 to 2.60 and 1.41 to 3.02 for summer and winter. The seasonal differences in I/O ratios reflected residential ventilation patterns, resulting in increased indoor concentrations of volatile organic compounds during winter.     

太湖流域近地表主要温室气体本底浓度特征

根据2003年1月-2005年6月太湖流域近地表大气中主要温室气体CO2、CH4和N2O本底浓度的监测资料,研究了该流域近地表大气主要温室气体浓度的变化特征.结果表明,在观测时段内,该流域近地表大气CO2浓度呈上升趋势;CH4浓度呈逐年递减趋势;N2O浓度呈先减后增趋势.3种气体主要与人类活动、工农业生产和交通运输业发展有关,CO2浓度的季节变化明显,冬春季高,夏秋季低,最高值在12月,最低值在8月;CH4浓度由春至夏升高,由夏至秋至冬递减,最高值在7月,最低值在2月;N2O浓度没有明显的季节变化,它们主要受源汇强度变化影响.CO2浓度的日变化基本呈双峰态,是源汇强度变化和边界层稳定程度相互作用的原因,CH4浓度无明显日变化规律,N2O浓度日变化中的最高值总体呈现是夏、秋、春至冬逐渐延迟的状态.