Receptor model-based source apportionment of particulate pollution in Hyderabad, India

Air quality in Hyderabad, India, often exceeds the national ambient air quality standards, especially for particulate matter (PM), which, in 2010, averaged 82.2?±?24.6, 96.2?±?12.1, and 64.3?±?21.2 μg/m³ of PM₁₀, at commercial, industrial, and residential monitoring stations, respectively, exceeding the national ambient standard of 60 μg/m³. In 2005, following an ordinance passed by the Supreme Court of India, a source apportionment study was conducted to quantify source contributions to PM pollution in Hyderabad, using the chemical mass balance (version 8.2) receptor model for 180 ambient samples collected at three stations for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 size fractions for three seasons. The receptor modeling results indicated that the PM₁₀ pollution is dominated by the direct vehicular exhaust and road dust (more than 60 %). PM_2.5 with higher propensity to enter the human respiratory tracks, has mixed sources of vehicle exhaust, industrial coal combustion, garbage burning, and secondary PM. In order to improve the air quality in the city, these findings demonstrate the need to control emissions from all known sources and particularly focus on the low-hanging fruits like road dust and waste burning, while the technological and institutional advancements in the transport and industrial sectors are bound to enhance efficiencies. Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board utilized these results to prepare an air pollution control action plan for the city.     

Time series modelling of respiratory hospital admissions and geometrically weighted distributed lag effects from ambient particulate air pollution within Kathmandu Valley,Nepal

The distributed lag effects of ambient particulate air pollution exposure on respiratory hospital admissions in Kathmandu Valley are modelled using daily time series data. The extended exposure to PM₁₀ is accounted for by assigning weights to daily average PM₁₀ which decline geometrically as the lag period increases in days. Results show that the percent increase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospital admissions and respiratory admissions including COPD, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis per 10 μg/m³ rise in PM₁₀ are found to be 4.85% for 30 days lag effect, about 15.9% higher than that observed for same-day lag effect and 3.52% for 40 days lag effect, about 28.9% higher than the observed value for same-day lag effect, respectively.     

Characteristics of particulate matter pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China: an observational-based analysis of two monitoring sites

Two-year monitoring data (2006 and 2009), collected at the sub-urban site (WQS) and the background site (TH), were used to study the characteristics of Particulate Matter (PM) pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China. Similar levels of PM(2.5) concentration measured at both sites seem to confirm that the fine particles have emerged as a major regional pollution issue. The seasonal variation of PM(2.5) concentration is associated with the regional monsoon circulations while the diurnal variation is related to land-sea breeze, traffic emissions and boundary layer development. Negative correlation was found in PM(2.5)-wind speed and PM(2.5)-humidity. Analysis of radiation, temperature and ozone suggests the existence of secondary aerosol formation. Transport effect may be another contributing factor to high PM pollution in the region, such as occasional long-distance dust intrusion and trans-boundary effects from upwind areas.     

Genotoxic effects of water pollution on two fish species living in Karasu River,Erzurum, Turkey

Karasu River, which is the only river in the Erzurum plain, is the source of the Euphrates River (Eastern Anatolia of Turkey). The river is in a serious environmental situation as a result of pollution by agricultural and industrial sewage and domestic discharges. The present study aims to evaluate genotoxic effects of toxic metals in chub, Leuciscus cephalus, and transcaucasian barb, Capoeta capoeta, collected from contaminated site of the Karasu River, in comparison with fish from an unpolluted reference site. Heavy metal concentrations in surface water of the river were determined. The condition factor (CF) was taken as a general biomarker of the health of the fish, and genotoxicity assays such as micronucleus (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities (NA) were carried out on the fish species studied. MN and NA such as kidney-shaped nucleus, notched nucleus, binucleated, lobed nucleus, and blebbed nucleus were assessed in peripheral blood erythrocytes, gill epithelial cells, and liver cells of the fish. A significant decrease in CF values associated with a significant elevation in MN and NA frequencies was observed in fish collected from the polluted sites compared with those from the reference site. Results of the current study show the significance of integrating a set of biomarkers to identify the effects of anthropogenic pollution. High concentrations of heavy metals have a potential genotoxic effects, and the toxicity is possibly related to industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities.     

The chronic effects of oil pollution on marine phytoplankton in a subtropical bay, China

To evaluate the effects of crude oil water accommodated fraction (WAF) on marine phytoplankton community, natural phytoplankton collected seasonally from the Yueqing bay were exposed to eight groups of crude oil WAF for 15 days under laboratory conditions. Chlorophyll a and cell density were measured, and species of phytoplankton were identified every 24 h to reflect the change of phytoplankton community. The results showed that (1) High concentrations (??2.28 mg l^???1) of oil pollution would greatly restrain phytoplankton growth (p?< 0.001), decrease chlorophyll a content and cell density, whereas low concentrations (??1.21 mg l^???1) did not restrain its growth but rather promoted the phytoplankton growth. (2) The biodiversity, evenness, and species number of phytoplankton were all significantly influenced by crude oil WAF in all seasons (p?<?0.001). (3) The dominant species changes were different under different pollutant concentrations in different seasons. Different species had different tolerances to the oil pollution, thus leading to abnormal succession.     

Assessment of indoor and outdoor particulate air pollution at an urban background site in Iran

The relationship between indoor and outdoor particulate air pollution was investigated at an urban background site on the Payambar Azam Campus of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Sari, Northern Iran. The concentration of particulate matter sized with a diameter less than 1 μm (PM_1.0), 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), and 10 μm (PM₁₀) was evaluated at 5 outdoor and 12 indoor locations. Indoor sites included classrooms, corridors, and office sites in four university buildings. Outdoor PM concentrations were characterized at five locations around the university campus. Indoor and outdoor PM measurements (1-min resolution) were conducted in parallel during weekday mornings and afternoons. No difference found between indoor PM₁₀ (50.1 ± 32.1 μg/m³) and outdoor PM₁₀ concentrations (46.5 ± 26.0 μg/m³), indoor PM_2.5 (22.6 ± 17.4 μg/m³) and outdoor PM_2.5 concentration (22.2 ± 15.4 μg/m³), or indoor PM_1.0 (14.5 ± 13.4 μg/m³) and outdoor mean PM_1.0 concentrations (14.2 ± 12.3 μg/m³). Despite these similar concentrations, no correlations were found between outdoor and indoor PM levels. The present findings are not only of importance for the potential health effects of particulate air pollution on people who spend their daytime over a period of several hours in closed and confined spaces located at a university campus but also can inform regulatory about the improvement of indoor air quality, especially in developing countries.     

空气污染对儿童肺功能指标影响的初步分析

报告中国 4城市 8所小学儿童肺功能指标受室外空气污染影响的结果。以 FVC/预测值 (85% )、FEV1 /预测值(85% )、FEV1 / FVC(实测值之比 ) (80 % )作为判断肺功能指标异常的参考标准 ,并将 8所小学按污染程度分为污染严重和污染较轻两类三组。污染严重组儿童肺功能指标的异常率均比污染较轻组要高。空气的严重污染 ,可使儿童肺功能FVC、FEV1 、FEV1 / FVC异常率的危险程度分别增高 3 0 %～ 78%、52 %～ 86%和 1 0 2 %～ 1 2 7%。异常组儿童的 FVC、FEV1 的平均值约下降 3 3 0～ 4 60 ml,FEV1 / FVC平均值约下降 1 3 %～ 1 5%。说明空气的严重污染对儿童肺功能生长发育可能有不利影响     

The effects of anthropogenic particulate emissions on roadway dust and Nerium oleander leaves in Messina (Sicily, Italy)

Complementary studies on the inorganic chemical composition of Nerium oleander leaves collected in the town of Messina (Sicily, Italy) and seven grain-size fractions of local roadway dust have been carried out. Data and maps are presented to show that the particulate matter present in the air of Messina contains trace elements significantly in excess with respect to the average continental earth crust. The anomalies follow the outline of the urban area, the highest concentrations of trace elements being observed where traffic density is highest. Chemical and isotopic analyses of both road dust and Nerium oleander leaves indicate that Pb contamination still characterizes roads with heavy traffic. In addition to Pb, other metals such as Pt, Pd, Sb, Au, Br, Zn, Cu, Mo, and Cd are significantly enriched in roadway dust, indicating their common anthropogenic origin, especially from traffic. SEM/EDS study of some roadway dust particles has shown the presence of gypsum probably of secondary origin, mixed particles formed by coagulation or gas-to-particle conversion, and porous spherical particles apparently emanating from combustion processes.     

以特殊环境功能区思路突破传统环境功能区划困境——新疆“十一五”环境功能区划新思维

以往的环境功能区划将城市或某一区域作为整个目标范围的功能区划,这种方法划分环境功能区不是过细就是过笼统,使保护目标定的过高或过低。环境功能区划模糊,无法从整体上解决城市结构性污染和布局不合理的现象,达不到“分级管理、分类保护、分区防治”的环境管理目的。针对新疆特殊绿洲环境特征,本文提出新的区划方法,重新对全疆各地环境功能进行特殊环境功能区划,以期明确各类特殊环境功能区的主要特点、主要问题、主导功能和建设要求,在今后的可持续发展过程中,为国民经济和社会发展提供科学的决策依据,将对新疆社会经济的快速、稳定、持续发展具有十分现实和深远的意义。     

Evolution of lead concentration in the particulate matter of Santiago,Chile, since 1978

Santiago is a city of over 4.5 million inhabitants and about 415000 motor vehicles using leaded gasoline. Twenty-four-hour samples were taken of total and fractionated particulate matter using a low-volume system and two Andersen cascade impactors, between 1978 and 1989 at different sites of the city of Santiago. Lead concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results show that Pb concentrations vary greatly depending on the site selected. Higher values are always detected near the city center. An annual variation with the highest value during the autumn-winter period (May–July) is clearly observed. Lead concentrations versus size are clearly biased to particles smaller than 2 µm. A correlation is observed between Pb concentrations and the suspended particulate matter under 3 µm at different sites of the city. The curves of Pb concentration versus size of the aerosols emitted by the gas exhaust of motor vehicles using leaded gasoline are similar to those of the atmospheric aerosols.     

室内外空气污染对学龄儿童呼吸系统影响的研究

通过对污染区和对照区 2 0 0 0多名学龄儿童呼吸系统症状、疾病患病率比较 ,并运用非条件 Logistic回归分析方法 ,就室内外空气污染对学龄儿童呼吸系统健康的影响 ,进行了研究。结果显示 ,污染区室内外空气污染较严重 ,大气中TSP、SO2 和 NOx 的浓度均超过国家二级标准 ,其儿童呼吸系统症状、疾病患病率明显高于对照区。对儿童呼吸系统发病有显著影响的环境因素是 :大气污染、被动吸烟、家庭燃煤、冬季取暖和室内油烟污染程度。其中咳嗽与以上五个因素有显著的正相关关系 (P<0 .0 5) ;除被动吸烟外 ,支气管炎与其它四个因素呈显著正相关 (P<0 .0 5) ;咳痰与大气污染、被动吸烟、冬季取暖和室内油烟污染程度 ,气喘和呼吸系统疾病住院率与大气污染和室内油烟污染正相关关系显著 (P<0 .0 5)。哮喘与室内外空气污染无显著的统计学联系     

Investigating the impacts of some meteorological parameters on air pollution in Balikesir, Turkey

Air pollution is one of the most important environmental problems in Balikesir, situated in the western part of Turkey, during the winter periods. The unfavorable climate as well as the city’s topography, and inappropriate fuel usage cause serious air pollution problems. The air pollutant concentrations in the city have a close relationship with meteorological parameters. In the present study, the relationship between daily average total suspended particulate (TSP) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations measured between 1999–2005 winter seasons were correlated with meteorological factors, such as wind speed, temperature, relative humidity and pressure. This statistical analysis was achieved using the stepwise multiple linear regression method. According to the results obtained through the analysis, higher TSP and SO₂ concentrations are strongly related to colder temperatures, lower wind speed, higher atmospheric pressure and higher relative humidity. The statistical models of SO₂ and TSP gave correlation coefficient values (R ²) of 0.735 and 0.656, respectively.     

Modeling of land use and reservoir effects on nonpoint source pollution in a highly agricultural basin

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is tightly linked to land use activities that determine the sources and magnitudes of pollutant loadings to stream water. The pollutant loads may also be alleviated within reservoirs because of the physical interception resulting from changed hydrological regimes and other biochemical processes. It is important but challenging to assess the NPS pollution processes with human effects due to the measurement limitations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of human activities such as land uses and reservoir operation on the hydrological and NPS pollution processes in a highly agricultural area-the Iowa River Basin-using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The evaluation of model performance at multiple sites reveals that SWAT can consistently simulate the daily streamflow, and monthly/annual sediment and nutrient loads (nitrate nitrogen and mineral phosphorus) in the basin. We also used the calibrated model to estimate the trap efficiencies of sediment (～78%) and nutrients (～30%) in the Coralville Reservoir within the basin. These non-negligible effects emphasize the significance of incorporating the sediment and nutrient removal mechanisms into watershed system studies. The spatial quantification of the critical NPS pollution loads can help identify hot-spot areas that are likely locations for the best management practices.     

Evaluating the efficiency of sediment metal pollution indices in interpreting the pollution of Haraz River sediments, southern Caspian Sea basin

The Haraz River is one of the most significant rivers in the southern Caspian Sea basin. Towards the estuary, the river receives discharges of industrial, agricultural, and urban wastes. In the present investigation, bulk concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni, Cr, Co, and Sr in Haraz River (Iran) bed sediments were measured from several sample locations. In addition, association of studied metals with various sedimentary phases was assessed to determine the proportions of metals in different forms. The intensity of sediment contamination was evaluated using an enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (I_geo), and a newly developed pollution index (I_poll). Both EF and I_geo formulae compare present concentrations of metals to their background levels in crust and shale, respectively. In a specific area with its own geological background like Haraz River water basin where naturally high concentrations of metals may be found, such a comparison may lead to biased conclusions regarding levels of anthropogenic contamination. Accordingly, chemical partitioning results are substituted for the mean crust and shale levels in the new index (I_poll). The Pearson correlation coefficient between the anthropogenic portion of metallic pollution in Haraz river-bed sediments with I_poll showed much more value in comparison with those of geochemical accumulation index and enrichment factor. The order of metals introduced by anthropogenic activities are as follows: Sr > Pb > Co > Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > As > Cr > Fe. The results showed relatively higher concentrations of Cd, As, Sr, and Pb in comparison with those of shale. However, based on the chemical partitioning of metals, it is found that Sr, Pb, Co, and Cd are the most mobile metals. In spite of the high As concentrations in sediments, it is not likely that this element is a major hazard for the aquatic environment since it is found mainly in the residual fraction. Also, Fe, Cr, and Ni are present in the greatest percentages in the residual fraction, which implies that these metals are strongly linked to the sediments.     

A method for screening for the risk of chronic effects of surface water pollution

The article describes a method for screening for the risk of chronic surface water pollution which was developed at the T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute. The approach, which is based on exotoxicological analyses, can be classed as a rapid method of assessment. The degree of risk of chronic effects surface water pollution is determined from an evaluation of two major parameters—toxicity and genotoxicity. As the method utilizes relative simple procedures for sample collection, pretreatment of the sample, chemical analyses, bioassays and results assessment, this approach is suitable for widespread practical use. Extensive utilization of this approach for assessing river basins in the Czech Republic has proved its suitability for a more sophisticated detection of the biological impact of surface water pollution. This is documented in the article where the method is used in a study of the Bílina River, and in the overview of the results of the risk assessment of chronic effects of surface water pollution in selected sections of three international river basins in the Czech Republic.     

Characterisation of particulate matter on the receptor level in a city environment

Airborne particulate matter (PM) has become one of the dominant pollutants with the increasing material and energy demand due to global economic growth. The main objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive receptor level characterisation of the particulate matter collected in a city environment. Particulate matter samples were collected on Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) filters from five monitoring sites over a period of 1 year. An Andersen eight-stage cascade impactor was also used to collect airborne PM samples from three other locations to compare with the samples collected by TEOM. All the samples were then subjected to individual particle morphology and chemical composition analysis by SEM/EDS. Bulk chemical composition of the samples were also analysed through ICP–OES. Based on these analyses, possible sources of the PM samples were identified. The results showed that the monitoring sites in residential environments were dominated by transportation-derived particles and other migratory particulates. Monitoring sites near the city centre were dominant by particles from transportation, with biological particles abundant for the site closer to a river. The monitoring station located close to the industrial area, despite only 200 m away from a motorway, has low contribution of non-exhaust particulates from vehicles. Instead, the particulates collected from this site were dominated by industrial sources. An air dispersion modelling package was also used to model the particulate matter dispersion in the city area for the period of sampling. The results from the model showed that the points of high emissions were around industrial areas.     

Characterization of elemental pollution and its variations in sediments and suspended particulate matter from the River Elbe via multi-element analysis combined with chemometric data evaluation

Sediments and suspended particulate matter taken from about 100 sampling sites along the River Elbe from the source to the mouth during the period 1992 and 1998 have been analyzed for the concentrations of more than 60 elements in each sample. The analytical data were subsequently processed by means of multivariate statistics in order to characterize the charge of the River Elbe with inorganic pollutants to elucidate pollution trends. Using factor analysis 18 elements were found to be enriched by human activities. By means of cluster analysis--using the 18 anthropogenically influenced elements as variables--the sampling sites were aggregated into groups having similar element distributions. Thus, the entire stretch of the River Elbe was divided into three sections of characteristic elemental pollution. Finally, the trends in anthropogenic pollution within the characteristic regions since the early nineties were assessed. It turned out that most of the anthropogenically influenced elements showed a decrease in the upper and middle parts of the river, whereas no decrease could be verified in the estuary region.     

Assessment of pollution profile in Buyukcekmece Watershed, Turkey

Buyukcekmece Lake located north of the Marmara Sea coast of Turkey is the third largest water resources among the six main reservoirs of a megacity Istanbul, providing 17% water demand. This study aims to investigate the water quality changes in Buyukcekmece Lake and to classify it in accordance to Turkish Water Pollution Control Regulation for inland surface waters, and assess the impacts of the land-use practices, population density, and settlement in the Buyukcekmece watershed. Physical, chemical, and biological quality of Büyükçekmece Lake has been investigated between December 2007 and June 2008 by collecting samples from the Lake and four streams that feed Büyükçekmece Lake. Land use profile maps of the water basin were created by using ARC-GIS to ensure the quality of drinking water. It was determined that the water quality of Büyükçekmece Lake was still of overall second class, implying that it can be used as a safe drinking water resource following a conventional water treatment scheme; however, it is moving toward the third class. Remarkable portion of the pollution in water basin was attributed to domestic wastewater discharges. Agricultural areas that occupy more than half of the water basin have also adversely affected the water quality.     

Air pollution forecasting in Ankara, Turkey using air pollution index and its relation to assimilative capacity of the atmosphere

A conditional time-averaged gradient (COTAG) system has been developed to provide direct long-term (weekly to monthly) average flux gradient measurements for a range of trace gases, between land and atmosphere. Over daily periods, atmospheric conditions can range from high stability, where the vertical gradients of ambient concentration are enhanced due to very small diffusivity, to highly unstable conditions, in which concentration gradients are small due to the intense turbulent activity of the surface layer. The large vertical gradients generated by high stability would bias the estimate of the actual flux: to avoid this, the COTAG system samples conditionally, within a carefully refined range of stability. A comparison with a continuous flux gradient system suggested that the removal of stable conditions from the sampling period does not substantially modify the evaluation of the long-term fluxes.