Class-2 hazmat transportation consequence assessment on surrounding population

The transportation of hazardous materials by road is an utmost necessity of the world for the societal benefits, but at the same time the activity is inherently dangerous. Incidents involving hazardous material (hazmat) cargo particularly the class-2 materials can lead to severe consequences in terms of fatalities, injuries, evacuation, property damage and environmental degradation. The rationale behind considering class-2 hazmats is that they pose the greatest danger to the people and property along the transport route because of their storage condition on the transport vessel. They are stored either in pressurized vessels or in cryogenic containers. Any external impact due to collision may cause catastrophic failure of transport vessels, known as BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) with devastating consequences. Further, any continuous release from containment may cause what is known as ‘Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosion’ (UVCE). Historically frequency of BLEVE occurrence is of the order of 1 × 10⁻⁶ per year or less, but other release scenarios e.g. a large vapour or liquid leaks are more probable and could also have devastating effects on the surrounding population. As such, the paper discussed various event scenarios and the consequences taking examples of a class-2.1 material (1,3 butadiene) and another class-2.3 (ammonia) hazmat. Comparative analysis suggests that per ton basis a rupture of ammonia tanker gives rise to larger impact areas and poses larger lethality risks compared to 1,3 butadiene as far as toxic effects are concerned. Besides, from fireball fatality on similar basis propylene causes higher consequence distance than LPG followed by ethylene oxide and 1,3 butadiene. The impact zone study results may be utilized as inputs for identifying the potential vulnerable area on a GIS enabled map, along a designated State highway route passing through an important industrial corridor in western India.     

Insights into the phenomenon of an explosive growth and sharp decline in haze: A case study in Beijing

A severe haze episode occurred in winter in the North China Plain(NCP),and the phenomenon of an explosive growth and sharp decline in PM_(2.5)(particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2.5μm)concentration was observed.To study the systematic causes for this phenomenon,comprehensive observations were conducted in Beijing from November 26 to December 2,2015;during this period,meteorological parameters,LIDAR data,and the chemical compositions of aerosols were determined.The haze episode was characterized by rapidly varying PM2.5 concentration,and the highest PM_(2.5) concentration reached 667μg/m~3.During the haze episode,the NCP was dominated by a weak high-pressure system and continuously low PBL(planetary boundary layer)heights,which are unfavorable conditions for the diffusion of pollutants.The large increases in the concentrations of SNA(SO_4~(2-),NO_3~-and NH_4~+)during the haze implied that the formation of SNA was the largest contribution.Water vapor also played a vital role in the formation of haze by promoting the chemical transformation of secondary pollutants,which led to higher PM_(2.5) concentrations.The spatial distributions of PM_(2.5) in Beijing at different times and the backward trajectories of the air masses also indicated that pollutants from surrounding provinces in particular,contributed to the higher PM_(2.5)concentration.     

An assessment of air pollution episodes in the urban area of athensfor the period 1984–1994

Air pollution episodes in the greater Athens area for the period 1984–1994 were examined to assess the type, frequency and repetitivity of air pollution in the examined area. The assessment depends strongly on the definition of an air pollution episode (APE), namely if it is the narrow or broad one. Results from the statistical analysis of the data record‐on the basis of the broad definition of the APE‐show a declining trend in the number of APEs especially for non‐photochemical species, a sharp increase of APEs from 1987 to 1993 due to high ozone levels and a similarly sharp decrease thereafter, and a decreasing trend of nitrogen dioxide episodes from the year 1992 thereon. Interannual examination of APEs shows that they occur in higher numbers during the period November to January and in the period May to July. Finally an examination of the number of days for which urgent‐short term‐measures were taken to reduce high levels of atmospheric pollution, shows a decreasing trend from 1989, with the exception of 1994 where the sharp increase in the number of days is due to the application of the urgent measures at a precautionary mode, i.e. when pollution loads exceed the alert levels, air pollution increases in rapid rates and meteorological conditions are supportive for an enhanced APE.     

德州、北京重污染过程PM2.5中PAHs污染特征及来源分析

为探讨华北地区秋冬季重污染过程PM_2.5（细颗粒物）中PAHs（多环芳烃）的污染水平、分布特征及来源,分别采集2018年11月17日—2019年1月19日德州市和北京市PM_2.5样品,利用气相色谱-质谱法测量两个站点6次重污染过程中26种PAHs浓度水平,分析PAHs污染特征、分子组成分布及其来源,并利用毒性当量因子估算了PAHs毒性.结果表明:①6次重污染过程中,德州站点∑₂₆PAHs浓度为62~191 ng/m3,北京站点为61~129 ng/m3.②单位质量PM_2.5中PAHs的浓度北京站点更高.③两个站点PAHs分子组成分布较为一致,萘、蒽、芴等低分子量的PAHs浓度较低,高分子量PAHs浓度较高,浓度最高的分别为苯并[b]荧蒽、苯并[a]芘、苯并[a]蒽和甲基荧蒽等.④特征比值结果显示,PAHs来源包括柴油车尾气、燃煤和生物质燃烧,德州站点受生物质燃烧影响更为显著.⑤毒性当量计算结果表明,德州站点毒性当量浓度（TEQ）高于北京站点,6次重污染过程中两个站点PAHs的TEQ平均值在6.5~17.2 ng/m3之间,低于国内其他一些地区,但苯并[a]芘的浓度在5.2~13.1 ng/m3之间,超过了GB 3095—2012《环境空气质量标准》日均值的标准限值（2.5 ng/m3）,对人体健康存在潜在危害.研究显示:秋冬季重污染过程中,北京站点单位质量PM_2.5中PAHs的浓度较高,两个点位PAHs分子组成分布特征及来源较为相似,且均对人体健康存在潜在危害;应进一步加强对PAHs浓度水平的控制,这不仅有利于持续改善PM_2.5污染,也有助于减轻人体潜在的健康风险.      

Cause of PM2.5 pollution during the 2016-2017 heating season in Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang, China

To investigate the cause of fine particulate matter (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm, PM_2.5) pollution in the heating season in the North China Plain (specifically Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang), water-soluble ions and carbonaceous components in PM_2.5 were simultaneously measured by online instruments with 1-hr resolution, from November 15, 2016 to March 15, 2017. The results showed extreme severity of PM_2.5 pollution on a regional scale. Secondary inorganic ions (SNA, i.e., NO₃^?+SO₄²+ NH₄⁺) dominated the water-soluble ions, accounting for 30%-40% of PM_2.5, while the total carbon (TC, i.e., OC + EC) contributed to 26.5%-30.1% of PM_2.5 in the three cities. SNA were mainly responsible for the increasing PM_2.5 pollution compared with organic matter (OM). NO₃^? was the most abundant species among water-soluble ions, but SO₄^2- played a much more important role in driving the elevated PM_2.5 concentrations. The relative humidity (RH) and its precursor SO₂ were the key factors affecting the formation of sulfate. Homogeneous reactions dominated the formation of nitrate which was mainly limited by HNO₃ in ammonia-rich conditions. Secondary formation and regional transport from the heavily polluted region promoted the growth of PM_2.5 concentrations in the formation stage of PM_2.5 pollution in Beijing and Langfang. Regional transport or local emissions, along with secondary formation, made great contributions to the PM_2.5 pollution in the evolution stage of PM_2.5 pollution in Beijing and Langfang. The favourable meteorological conditions and regional transport from a relatively clean region both favored the diffusion of pollutants in all three cities.     

上海城区二次污染物形成过程及影响因素研究

利用气溶胶质谱仪在上海典型城区开展了对夏季亚微米颗粒物(PM_1)浓度及化学组分的实时在线观测,旨在捕捉污染过程、研究二次污染物的形成机制及影响因素.结果发现,上海城区二次污染物,包括二次有机气溶胶(SOA)、硫酸盐与硝酸盐是PM_1的主要组成,占比为82.5%,其中,SOA(28%)、硫酸盐(27%)与硝酸盐(27%)的比重相当.观测期间捕捉到了一个清洁期与两次污染的生消过程,清洁期的二次有机与无机污染物显著受到局地日间光化学转化过程的影响,污染过程根据气象条件的不同可以分为不同的阶段,包括传输期、累积期与消散期.传输期与消散期的局地光化学过程对SOA的形成有显著的促进作用,累积期SOA受到颗粒相水含量与区域传输的共同作用.污染期硝酸盐浓度显著上升,液相反应是促进污染期硝酸盐生成的重要因素,而污染期硫酸盐主要受到区域传输的影响.     

Comparisons of two serious air pollution episodes in winter and summer in Beijing

Characteristics of two serious air pollution episodes(9–15 January, as the winter case; and30 June to 1 July, as the summer case), which occurred in Beijing in 2013 were investigated and compared using multi-method observations and numerical simulations. During these two air pollution episodes, PM_(2.5) concentrations varied significantly within Beijing, with PM_(2.5) concentrations in southern parts of Beijing being significantly higher than in northern areas. Typically, heavy air pollution episodes begin in the southern parts and disperse towards the northern parts of Beijing. Clearly, synoptic patterns and the stability of atmospheric circulation patterns were the main factors controlling air pollution in Beijing.During the winter case, a warm center above 900 h Pa occurred over Beijing. Meanwhile, in the summer case, although there was only a weak inversion, the convective inhibition energy was strong(over 200 J/k G). This clearly influenced the duration of the air pollution event. Except for the local accumulation and secondary atmospheric reactions in both cases, regional straw burnings contributed a lot to the PM_(2.5) concentrations in summer case.Using the CAMxmodel, we established that regional transport contributed almost 59% to the PM_(2.5) averaged concentration in Beijing in the winter case, but only 31% in the summer case. Thus, the winter case was a typical regional air pollution episode, while the summer case resulted from local accumulation straw burnings transportation and strong secondary atmospheric reactions. Given that air pollution is a regional problem in China, consistent and simultaneous implementation of regional prevention and control strategies is necessary to improve regional air quality.     

Atmospheric stability and PM10 concentrations at far distance from elevated point sources in complex terrain: worst-case episode study

Atmospheric stability is the most important parameter affecting dilution of air pollutants. It plays a very important role in the investigation of parameters that affect ambient pollutant concentrations, especially in the case of complex terrain areas. In this study, the classification of atmospheric stability by Pasquill-Turner classes and any associated variation of ambient PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter<10 microm) concentrations for a region of complex terrain is investigated. Real experimental meteorological and PM10 data are used for a 2-year period from one observation station far distant from the main stack sources and they are related with the classified atmospheric stability categories in an hourly and monthly based distribution. A more detailed analysis is carried out during PM10 episodes for the same period in order to reveal the governing worst-case atmospheric conditions.     

Understanding unusually high levels of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in winter in Urban Jinan, China

Peroxyacetyl nitrate(PAN), as a major secondary pollutant, has gained increasing worldwide attentions, but relevant studies in China are still quite limited. During winter of 2015 to summer of 2016, the ambient levels of PAN were measured continuously by an automatic gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector(GC–ECD) analyzer at an urban site in Jinan(China), with related parameters including concentrations of O3, NO, NO_2, PM_(2.5), HONO,the photolysis rate constant of NO_2 and meteorological factors observed concurrently. The mean and maximum values of PAN concentration were(1.89 ± 1.42) and 9.61 ppbv respectively in winter, and(2.54 ± 1.44) and 13.47 ppbv respectively in summer. Unusually high levels of PAN were observed during severe haze episodes in winter, and the formation mechanisms of them were emphatically discussed. Study showed that high levels of PAN in winter were mainly caused by local accumulation and strong photochemical reactions during haze episodes, while mass transport played only a minor role. Accelerated photochemical reactions(compared to winter days without haze) during haze episodes were deduced by the higher concentrations but shorter lifetimes of PAN, which was further supported by the sufficient solar radiation in the photolysis band along with the high concentrations of precursors(NO_2, VOCs) and HONO during haze episodes. In addition, significant PAN accumulation during calm weather of haze episodes was verified by meteorological data.     

天津冬季雾霾天气下颗粒物质量浓度分布与光学特性

年1—2月连续在线观测天津ρ(PM_2.5)、ρ(PM₁₀)、大气能见度、σ_sp(气溶胶散射系数)、σ_ap(气溶胶吸收系数)和AOD(大气光学厚度),结合气象资料,分析天津城区雾霾天气下的颗粒物质量浓度分布与光学特性. 结果表明:在为期52d的观测期间,发生雾日8d、轻雾日1d、霾日29d,雾霾日占观测时长的73%;霾日ρ(PM_2.5)/ρ(PM₁₀)为0.65,SSA(单次散射反照率)为0.95,MSE(气溶胶质量散射系数)为3.30m2/g,均高于非雾霾日,表明雾霾日下细粒子的散射作用是大气消光的主要贡献者;雾霾日的σ_sp和σ_ap均高于非雾霾日,随着霾等级增强,σ_sp和σ_ap逐渐增大,重度霾天气的σ_sp和σ_ap与中度霾天气相当,分析高RH可能是造成能见度进一步降低的主要因素;雾霾天气下AOD_500nm和波长指数均显著高于非雾霾天气,表明雾霾天气下气溶胶浓度远高于非雾霾天气,并且细粒子占主导地位.