An integrated air quality forecast system for a metropolitan area

Air quality forecasting is an important issue in environmental research, due to the effects that air pollutants have on population health. To deal with this topic, in this work an integrated modelling system has been developed to forecast daily maximum eight hours ozone concentrations and daily mean PM10 concentrations, up to two days in advance, over an urban area. The presented approach involves two steps. In the first step, artificial neural networks are identified and applied to get point-wise forecasting. In the second step, the forecasts obtained at the monitoring station locations are spatially interpolated all over the domain using the cokriging technique, which allows to improve the spatial interpolation in the absence of densely sampled data. The integrated modelling system has been then applied to a case study over Northern Italy, performing a validation over space and time for the year 2004 and analyzing if the limit values for the protection of human health set by the European Commission are respected. The presented approach represents a fast and reliable way to provide decision makers and the general public with air quality forecasting, and to support prevention and precautionary measures.     

Eco-friendly synthesis of phytochemical-capped iron oxide nanoparticles as nano-priming agent for boosting seed germination in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Recently the applications of engineered nanoparticles in the agricultural sector is increased as nano-pesticides, nano-fertilizers, nanocarrier for...     

Environmental exposure to urinary Bisphenol-A in North Indian children aged between 6 and 16 years and its association with body mass index

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study investigates the effect of environmental risk factors among North Indian children aged between 6 and 16 years associated with body mass...     

Fluoride toxicity variably affects overall physiology and grain development in three contrasting rice genotypes,representing a potential biohazard

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Ingestion of fluoride through consumption of contaminated food grains has been regarded to be hazardous for consumer health. The current study...     

Production and characterization of Komagataeibacter xylinus SGP8 nanocellulose and its calcite based composite for removal of Cd ions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the present study, fermentative production of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) by using Komagataeibacter xylinus strain SGP8 and characterization of...     

Bacterial and archaeal diversity in oil fields and reservoirs and their potential role in hydrocarbon recovery and bioprospecting

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Hydrocarbon is a primary source of energy in the current urbanized society. Considering the increasing demand, worldwide oil productions are declining...     

Spatio-temporal assessment of ambient air quality,their health effects and improvement during COVID-19 lockdown in one of the most polluted cities of India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present work aims to investigate seasonal variations in air pollution levels in Lucknow and assess the ambient air quality of the city together...     

Removal of chromate ions from leachate-contaminated groundwater samples of Khan Chandpur,India, using chitin modified iron-enriched hydroxyapatite nanocomposite

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Chromite ore processing residues (COPR) are real environmental threats, leading to CrO42-, i.e., Cr (VI) leaching into groundwater. It is of serious...     

Translocation of aged cyclodiene insecticide residues from soil into forage crops and pastures at various growth stages under field conditions.

Field trials were conducted to measure translocation of pesticides by summer and winter forage/pasture species from soil containing aged residues of heptachlor and, to a lesser extent, dieldrin. Substantial amounts of heptachlor epoxide, and lesser amounts of gamma-chlordane were translocated to plants from contaminated soil. Residue levels varied with crop species and stage of plant development. In summer crops residues were higher in soybean > cowpeas > lab-lab > Sorghum > millet > sweet saccaline at the grazing and mature stages. Compared to glasshouse studies undertaken previously, residues in crops grown under field conditions were much lower. This apparently reflects the lower soil moisture levels and the reduced rates of translocation. Heptachlor residues in winter crops were highest in Saia oats > Berseem clover > Haifa clover > Cassia oats > Tetila ryegrass > Schooner barley > Shaftal clover > Hunter river lucerne at the grazing stage. There were no detectable levels in barley and oats at the mature stage. No dieldrin residues were translocated into the various crop species.