Biomonitoring of chemical elements in an urban environment using arboreal and bush plant species

Purpose  

The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of using several bush and arboreal plant species, usually present as ornamental plants in street and parks, as environmental indicators of pollution. This is a research paper that evaluates the real possibility of using a fast and low-cost procedure to evaluate the pollution degree through data obtained from plant species growing within an urban environment.     

The state of indoor air quality in Pakistan—a review

Background and purpose  

In Pakistan, almost 70% of the population lives in rural areas. Ninety-four percent of households in rural areas and 58% in urban areas depend on biomass fuels (wood, dung, and agricultural waste). These solid fuels have poor combustion efficiency. Due to incomplete combustion of the biomass fuels, the resulting smoke contains a range of health-deteriorating substances that, at varying concentrations, can pose a serious threat to human health. Indoor air pollution accounts for 28,000 deaths a year and 40 million cases of acute respiratory illness. It places a significant economic burden on Pakistan with an annual cost of 1% of GDP. Despite the mounting evidence of an association between indoor air pollution and ill health, policy makers have paid little attention to it. This review analyzes the existing information on levels of indoor air pollution in Pakistan and suggests suitable intervention methods.     

Short-term effect of fine particulate matter (PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>) and ozone on daily mortality in Lisbon,Portugal

Introduction  

Urban ambient air pollution exposures continue to be a global public health concern. Although air quality targets are often exceeded in Lisbon, the largest city in Portugal, there is currently no study that has assessed the quantitative impact of these pollutants on daily mortality.     

Source apportionment of PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> and PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript> at multiple sites in the strait of Gibraltar by PMF: impact of shipping emissions

Background  

The impact of shipping emissions on urban agglomerations close to major ports and vessel routes is probably one of the lesser understood aspects of anthropogenic air pollution. Little research has been done providing a satisfactory comprehension of the relationship between primary pollutant emissions, secondary aerosols formation and resulting air quality.     

Stochastic analysis of concentration field in a wake region

Introduction  

Identifying geographic locations in urban areas from which air pollutants enter the atmosphere is one of the most important information needed to develop effective mitigation strategies for pollution control.     

Surface ozone comparison conducted in two rural areas in central-southern Spain

Purpose  

The purpose of this work is to contribute to the understanding of the photochemical air pollution analysing the levels and temporal variations of surface ozone in two rural areas situated in central-southern Spain.     

Effects of sulfur dioxide pollution on the translocation and accumulation of heavy metals in soybean grain

Background  

Open-top chambers were used to study the impact of simultaneous exposure to atmospheric SO₂ pollution and heavy metal contamination in soils on the metal contents and productivity of soybean plant.     

Mercury human exposure through fish consumption in a reservoir contaminated by a chlor-alkali plant: Babeni reservoir (Romania)

Purpose  

Chlor-alkali plants are one of the most important point sources of mercury to aquatic environment. The problem of Hg contamination has been studied in a region, Rm Valcea (Romania), impacted by the wastewater discharge of a chlor-alkali plant. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the current status of mercury pollution in the Babeni reservoir (Olt River) and the exposure of local population via fish consumption to mercury originating from the chlor-alkali plant.     

Phytoextraction of Pb and Cd by the Mediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus L.): metal uptake in relation to salinity

Background, aim, and scope  

The success of phytoextraction depends upon the identification of suitable plant species that hyperaccumulate heavy metals and produce large amounts of biomass using established agricultural techniques. In this study, the Mediterranean saltbush Atriplex halimus L., which is a C4 perennial native shrub of Mediterranean basin with an excellent tolerance to drought and salinity, is investigated with the main aim to assess its phytoremediation potential for Pb and Cd removal from contaminated soils. In particular, the influence of soil salinity in metal accumulation has been studied as there is notable evidence that salinity changes the bioavailability of metals in soil and is a key factor in the translocation of metals from roots to the aerial parts of the plant.     

Characterization of particle number concentrations and PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript> in a school: influence of outdoor air pollution on indoor air

Background, Aim and Scope  

The impact of air pollution on school children’s health is currently one of the key foci of international and national agencies. Of particular concern are ultrafine particles which are emitted in large quantities, contain large concentrations of toxins and are deposited deeply in the respiratory tract.     

The morphological structure of leaves and the dust-retaining capability of afforested plants in urban Guangzhou, South China

Purpose

Air pollution is a serious health problem throughout the world, exacerbating a wide range of respiratory and vascular illnesses in urban areas. The mass artificial plantation is very helpful to absorb dust and reduce pollution for conservation of the urban environment. The foliar surface of plants is an important receptor of atmospheric pollutants. Therefore, selection of suitable plant species for urban environment is very important.

Methods

The dust-retaining capability of urban trees in Guangzhou was determined at four different types of urban area, and the morphological traits of their leaves such as wax, cuticle, stomata, and trichomes were observed under a scanning electron microscope.

Results

It was determined that the dust-retaining capability of any given tree species is significantly different in the same place. Of the four studied tree species in the industrial area (IA) and commercial/traffic areas (CTA) type urban areas, the highest amounts of dust removed by Mangifera indica Linn was 12.723 and 1.482?g/m², respectively. However, in contrast, the equivalent maxima for Bauhinia blakeana is only 2.682?g/m² and 0.720?g/m², respectively. Different plant species have different leaf morphology. The leaf of M. indica has deep grooves and high stomata density which are in favor of dust-retained, and thus, their dust-retained capability is stronger, while B. blakeana has the cells and epicuticular wax with its stomata arranging regularly, resulting in poor dust catching capability. Leaf size was also shown to be related to dust capture for the four studied tree species.

Conclusions

The dust removal capacity of individual tree species should be taken into account in the management of greening plantation in and around an urban area. It was also shown that temporal variation in dust accumulation occurred over the 28-day observation period and this was discussed. Furthermore, spatial contrasts in dust accumulation were evidenced by the data. This reflected the differing pollution loadings of the four urban-type areas. The highest amount of dust accumulation was associated with the industrial area in which shipyard and steelworks occurred whilst the lowest dust accumulation was associated with the grounds of the University which was the control area.     

Predicting regional space–time variation of PM2.5 with land-use regression model and MODIS data

Purpose  

Existing land-use regression (LUR) models use land use/cover, population, and traffic information to predict long-term intra-urban variation of air pollution. These models are limited to explaining spatial variation of air pollutants, and few of them are capable of addressing temporal variability. This article proposes a space–time LUR model at a regional scale by incorporating aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).     

Thorough analysis of polyhalogenated compounds in ray liver samples off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Introduction  

Five liver samples of two different ray species (Gymnura altavela and Zapteryx brevirostris) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed for their pollution with anthropogenic and naturally occurring organohalogen compounds.     

Combined biodegradation and ozonation for removal of tannins and dyes for the reduction of pollution loads

Purpose  

Tannins and dyes pose major threat to the environment by generating huge pollution problem. Biodegradation of wattle extract, chrome tannin and dye compounds using suitable fungal culture namely Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. were carried out. In addition to these, ozone treatment was carried out to get higher degradation rate.     

A method of detecting carbonyl compounds in tree leaves in China

Background, aim, and scope  

Carbonyl compounds have been paid more and more attention because some carbonyl species have been proven to be carcinogenic or a risk for human health. Plant leaves are both an important emission source and an important sink of carbonyl compounds. But the research on carbonyl compounds from plant leaves is very scarce. In order to make an approach to the emission mechanism of plant leaves, a new method was established to extract carbonyl compounds from fresh plant leaves.     

Trace element concentrations from lichen transplants in Pretoria,South Africa

Purpose  

The purpose of this study was to assess the level and possible sources of trace elements in Tshwane metropolis using transplanted lichen thallus of Parmelia sulcata with a view to evaluating the ability of this lichen species to monitor air pollutants from a perceived polluted environment.     

Volatile organic compounds and bioaerosols in the vicinity of a municipal waste organic fraction treatment plant. Human health risks

Purpose  

The aim of this study was to analyze air concentrations of chemical and microbiological pollutants in the vicinity of an organic waste treatment plant, Ecoparc-2, located in Montcada i Reixac (Catalonia, Spain), as well as to determine the seasonal trends. The human health risks due to the presence of those agents were also assessed.     

The state of ambient air quality in Pakistan—a review

Background and purpose  

Pakistan, during the last decade, has seen an extensive escalation in population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, together with a great increase in motorization and energy use. As a result, a substantial rise has taken place in the types and number of emission sources of various air pollutants. However, due to the lack of air quality management capabilities, the country is suffering from deterioration of air quality. Evidence from various governmental organizations and international bodies has indicated that air pollution is a significant risk to the environment, quality of life, and health of the population. The Government has taken positive steps toward air quality management in the form of the Pakistan Clean Air Program and has recently established a small number of continuous monitoring stations. However, ambient air quality standards have not yet been established. This paper reviews the data being available on the criteria air pollutants: particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead.     

Study of the uncertainty in NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> chemiluminescence measurements due to the NO–O<Subscript>3</Subscript> reaction in sampling lines

Introduction  

The change in light intensity that takes place when an ambient air sample is drawn into the detection chamber of a chemiluminescence monitor generates changes in the concentrations of several species, such as NO₂, NO and O₃. Although this phenomenon has been known for several decades, there is still no commonly accepted approach on when or how to correct for it in NO₂ and O₃ readings.     

Surface ozone measurements in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Huelva,Spain)

Introduction  

Photochemical ozone pollution of the lower troposphere (LT) is a very complex process involving meteorological, topographic emissions and chemical parameters. Ozone is considered the most important air pollutant in rural, suburban and industrial areas of many sites in the world since it strongly affects human health, vegetation and forest ecosystems, and its increase during the last decades has been significant. In addition, ozone is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. For these reasons, it is necessary to carry out investigations that determine the behaviour of ozone at different locations. The aim of this work is to understand the levels and temporal variations of surface ozone in an industrial-urban region of the Southwest Iberian Peninsula.