Evaluating the PM damage cost due to urban air pollution and vehicle emissions in Seoul, Korea

This study evaluated the prospective damage costs of PM(2.5) inhalation. We performed a health risk assessment based on an exposure-response function to estimate the annual population risk in the Seoul metropolitan city, Korea. Also, we estimated a willingness-to-pay (WTP) amount for reducing the mortality rate in order to evaluate a statistical life value. We combined the annual population risk and the value-of-statistical-life to calculate the damage cost estimate. In the health risk assessment, we applied the PM(2.5) relative risk to evaluate the annual population risk. We targeted an exposure population of 5,401,369 persons who were over the age of 30. Using a Monte-Carlo simulation for uncertainty analysis, we estimated that the population risk of PM(2.5) inhalation during a year in Seoul is 2181 premature deaths for acute exposure and 18,510 premature deaths for chronic exposure. The monthly average WTP for 5/1000 mortality reduction over ten years is $20.20 USD (95% C.I: $16.60-24.50) and the implied value-of-statistical-life (VSL) is $485,000 USD (95% C.I: $398,000-588,000). The damage cost estimate due to risk from PM(2.5) inhalation in Seoul is about $1057 million USD per year for acute exposure, and $8972 million USD per year for chronic exposure. It is important to note that this cost estimate does not reflect all health damage cost estimates in this urban area. This recommendation is a model for evaluating a mortality risk reduction and as such we must re-evaluate an integrated application of morbidity risk.     

Limiting the impact of light pollution on human health, environment and stellar visibility

Light pollution is one of the most rapidly increasing types of environmental degradation. Its levels have been growing exponentially over the natural nocturnal lighting levels provided by starlight and moonlight. To limit this pollution several effective practices have been defined: the use of shielding on lighting fixture to prevent direct upward light, particularly at low angles above the horizon; no over lighting, i.e. avoid using higher lighting levels than strictly needed for the task, constraining illumination to the area where it is needed and the time it will be used. Nevertheless, even after the best control of the light distribution is reached and when the proper quantity of light is used, some upward light emission remains, due to reflections from the lit surfaces and atmospheric scatter. The environmental impact of this "residual light pollution", cannot be neglected and should be limited too. Here we propose a new way to limit the effects of this residual light pollution on wildlife, human health and stellar visibility. We performed analysis of the spectra of common types of lamps for external use, including the new LEDs. We evaluated their emissions relative to the spectral response functions of human eye photoreceptors, in the photopic, scotopic and the 'meltopic' melatonin suppressing bands. We found that the amount of pollution is strongly dependent on the spectral characteristics of the lamps, with the more environmentally friendly lamps being low pressure sodium, followed by high pressure sodium. Most polluting are the lamps with a strong blue emission, like Metal Halide and white LEDs. Migration from the now widely used sodium lamps to white lamps (MH and LEDs) would produce an increase of pollution in the scotopic and melatonin suppression bands of more than five times the present levels, supposing the same photopic installed flux. This increase will exacerbate known and possible unknown effects of light pollution on human health, environment and on visual perception of the Universe by humans. We present quantitative criteria to evaluate the lamps based on their spectral emissions and we suggest regulatory limits for future lighting.     

An adaptive neural network algorithm for assessment and improvement of job satisfaction with respect to HSE and ergonomics program: The case of a gas refinery

Researchers have been continuously trying to improve human performance with respect to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and ergonomics (hence HSEE). This study proposes an adaptive neural network (ANN) algorithm for measuring and improving job satisfaction among operators with respect to HSEE in a gas refinery. To achieve the objectives of this study, standard questionnaires with respect to HSEE are completed by operators. The average results for each category of HSEE are used as inputs and job satisfaction is used as output for the ANN algorithm. Moreover, ANN is used to rank operators performance with respect to HSEE and job satisfaction. Finally, Normal probability technique is used to identify outlier operators. Moreover, operators with inadequate job satisfaction with respect to HSEE are identified. This would help managers to see if operators are satisfied with their jobs in the context of HSEE. This is the first study that introduces an integrated ANN algorithm for assessment and improvement of human job satisfaction with respect to HSEE program in complex systems.     

Evaluating cost and benefit of air pollution control policies in China: A systematic review

China has put great efforts into air pollution control over the past years and recently committed to its most ambitious climate target. Cost and benefit analysis has been widely used to evaluate the control policies in terms of past performance, future reduction potential,and direct and indirect impacts. To understand the cost and benefit analysis for air pollution control in China, we conducted a bibliometric review of more than 100 studies published over the past two decades, including the cur...     

Halogen-specific total organic halogen analysis: Assessment by recovery of total bromine

Determination of halogen-specific total organic halogen(TOX) is vital for studies of disinfection of waters containing bromide, since total organic bromine(TOBr) is likely to be more problematic than total organic chlorine. Here, we present further halogen-specific TOX method optimisation and validation, focusing on measurement of TOBr. The optimised halogen-specific TOX method was validated based on the recovery of model compounds covering different classes of disinfection by-products(haloacetic acids, haloacetonitriles,halophenols and halogenated benzenes) and the recovery of total bromine(mass balance of TOBr and bromide concentrations) during disinfection of waters containing dissolved organic matter and bromide. The validation of a halogen-specific TOX method based on the mass balance of total bromine has not previously been reported. Very good recoveries of organic halogen from all model compounds were obtained, indicating high or complete conversion of all organic halogen in the model compound solution through to halide in the absorber solution for ion chromatography analysis. The method was also successfully applied to monitor conversion of bromide to TOBr in a groundwater treatment plant. An excellent recovery(101%)of total bromine was observed from the raw water to the post-chlorination stage. Excellent recoveries of total bromine(92%–95%) were also obtained from chlorination of a synthetic water containing dissolved organic matter and bromide, demonstrating the validity of the halogen-specific TOX method for TOBr measurement. The halogen-specific TOX method is an important tool to monitor and better understand the formation of halogenated organic compounds, in particular brominated organic compounds, in drinking water systems.     

Human health ambient water quality criteria for 13 heavy metals and health risk assessment in Taihu Lake

• The concentrations of 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake were analyzed. • Aquatic vegetables intake was first included in deriving human health AWQC. • The human health AWQC for 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake were derived. • Human health risk assessment for 13 heavy metals were conducted in Taihu Lake. Heavy metals are widely concerning because of their toxicity, persistence, non-degradation and bioaccumulation ability. Human health ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) are specific levels of chemicals that can occur in water without harming human health. At present, most countries do not consider the effects of aquatic vegetables in deriving human health AWQC. Therefore, the intake of aquatic vegetables (Brasenia schreberi) was added to the derivation of human health AWQC and a health risk assessment for 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake. The human health AWQC (consumption of water, fish and aquatic vegetables) values of 13 heavy metals ranged from 0.04 (Cd) to 710.87 μg/L (Sn), and the intake of B. schreberi had a very significant effect on the human health AWQC for Cu, with a more than 62-fold difference. The hazard quotients of As (2.8), Cd (1.6), Cr (1.4) and Cu (4.86) were higher than the safe level (HQ= 1), indicating that As, Cd, Cr and Cu in Taihu Lake posed a significant health risk. Sensitivity analysis showed that the contribution rate of B. schreberi intake to the human health risk from Cu was 91.6%, and all results indicated that the risk of Cu in B. schreberi to human health should be of particular concern. This study adds the consideration of aquatic vegetable consumption to the traditional method of human health AWQC derivation and risk assessments for the first time, and this approach can promote the development of risk assessments and water quality criteria.     

南方某市地铁车站空气PM10中重金属健康风险评估

以南方某城市的10个地铁车站作为研究对象,分析空气可吸入颗粒物（PM₁₀）样品中10种重金属砷（As）、铬（Cr）、镉（Cd）、镍（Ni）、汞（Hg）、铅（Pb）、锰（Mn）、锑（Sb）、锡（Se）、铜（Cu）的质量浓度。采用美国环境保护局（US EPA）推荐的健康风险评估模型,对重金属通过呼吸途径引起的人群健康风险进行评估。结果表明,地铁车站空气PM₁₀中的重金属Cr和As对人群可能存在潜在致癌健康风险;重金属Mn、Cu、Pb、Se、Hg和Sb对人群的非致癌健康风险较小。提出,应进一步关注地铁车站空气PM₁₀中重金属对暴露人群可能存在的健康风险,采取有针对性的措施进行防护。     

国家自然科学基金“土地科学和自然资源管理”申请代码领域研究格局、热点透视与发展展望

支持基础研究是国家自然科学基金的职责使命。自然资源管理是地理科学交叉融合创新的重要领域。划分国家自然科学基金土地科学和自然资源管理申请代码领域的研究方向,分析该领域申报与资助格局,透视研究热点,提出发展展望。研究发现：2021年以来土地科学和自然资源管理领域的申报格局以交叉且偏向人文要素研究为主,交叉类研究占55%以上,人文要素为主类研究占30%,自然要素为主类研究占15%;以土地资源为对象研究占73%,以生态资源为对象占14%,以其他自然资源为对象的研究占13%。资助格局中土地资源类项目占主导,在75%以上,其他自然资源资助比例不高且资助率不稳定,在土地资源中,农用地、建设用地与土地系统是主要资助领域。为推动自然资源管理领域的健康持续发展,要创新该领域研究范式,增强基础研究属性,树立交叉融合研究典范,坚持申请代码初衷内涵。     

A review of Australian approaches for monitoring,assessing and reporting estuarine condition: I. International context and evaluation criteria

Given the immeasurable value of estuaries and their severe and growing pressures, sound understanding and reporting of estuarine condition is essential for their effective management and sustainable development. In light of this, we aim to provide a timely and comprehensive three-part review of the approaches currently employed for monitoring, assessing and reporting estuarine condition, focussing on Australian systems. Here, in Part 1, we establish the national and international context of our review and define globally-relevant evaluation criteria against which to assess Australian progress. We achieve this by examining effective monitoring, assessment and reporting programs from around the world and characterising ‘best practice’. We then highlight the Australian historical context and consider recent policies, frameworks, guidelines and legislation relating to the monitoring and reporting of estuarine condition nationwide.