The effects of license plate-based driving restrictions on air quality: Theory and empirical evidence

A typical driving restriction prohibits drivers from using their vehicles on given weekdays, based on the last digits of their vehicles’ license plates. A number of cities in developing countries have used license plate-based driving restrictions as a policy for reducing urban air pollution and traffic congestion. This paper develops a theoretical model of the effects of license plate-based driving restrictions on air quality that combines an economic model with information about the sources and atmospheric chemistry of different air pollutants. We then draw upon suggestive empirical evidence from license plate-based driving restrictions implemented in Bogotá, Colombia. Consistent with our theory model, we find suggestive empirical evidence that under certain circumstances, due to substitution, the purchase of a second car, the use of alternative modes of transportation, and/or atmospheric chemistry, it is possible for license plate-based driving restrictions to increase air pollution. Also consistent with our theory, we find that license plate-based driving restrictions may have different effects on different air pollutants, reflecting heterogeneity in the sources and atmospheric chemistry of the pollutants. In particular, owing to atmospheric chemistry, it is possible for a license plate-based driving restriction to cause a significant decrease in NO and a significant increase in NO₂, NO_x, and O₃.     

深圳市机动车限行对臭氧浓度影响分析

利用美国EPA开发的区域多尺度空气质量模式CMAQ对2008年8月发生在深圳地区的臭氧污染过程进行模拟,运用brute-force方法分析深圳机动车限行对臭氧浓度变化的影响.研究表明,CMAQ模式能较好的重现模拟期间臭氧的浓度水平和变化趋势;深圳机动车限行造成机动车的排放源削减会提高深圳城区臭氧浓度峰值,数值一般在10μg/m3以下。     

兴化市环境信访现状分析及对策

环境信访作为人民群众反映自身诉求,保障合法环境权益的主要方式,当前已成为环保工作的重中之重。从环保部门来讲,如何从处理环境信访过程中掌握本地的环境现状和主要矛盾,从而采取有针对性的措施解决区域性的环境问题,也体现了政府部门的执政理念和工作水平。笔者根据兴化市2008年－2012年环境信访数据统计,从信访类型、信访时间、信访区域、环境要素诸方面进行分析,梳理出群众所关注的环保热点问题．     

Fine particulate matter and cardiorespiratory health in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

This review aimed to systematically summarize the epidemiological literature on the cardiorespiratory effects of PM_2.5 published during the 13^th Five-Year Plan period (2016–2020) in China. Original articles published between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2021 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Internet Database and Wanfang Database. Random- or fixed-effects models were used to pool effect estimates where appropriate. Of 8558 records identified, 145 met the full eligibility criteria. A 10 µg/m³ increase in short-term PM_2.5 exposure was significantly associated with increases of 0.70%, 0.86%, 0.38% and 0.96% in cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, cardiovascular morbidity, and respiratory morbidity, respectively. The specific diseases with significant associations included stroke, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and allergic rhinitis. The pooled estimates per 10 µg/m³ increase in long-term PM_2.5 exposure were 15.1%, 11.9% and 21.0% increases in cardiovascular, stroke and lung cancer mortality, and 17.4%, 11.0% and 4.88% increases in cardiovascular, hypertension and lung cancer incidence respectively. Adverse changes in blood pressure, heart rate variability, systemic inflammation, blood lipids, lung function and airway inflammation were observed for either short-term or long-term PM_2.5 exposure, or both. Collectively, we summarized representative exposure-response relationships between short- and long-term PM_2.5 exposure and a wide range of cardiorespiratory outcomes applicable to China. The magnitudes of estimates were generally smaller in short-term associations and comparable in long-term associations compared with those in developed countries. Our findings are helpful for future standard revisions and policy formulation. There are still some notable gaps that merit further investigation in China.     

Formation mechanism and control strategy for particulate nitrate in China

Over the past decade, fine particulate matter (PM) pollution in China has been abated significantly, benefiting from strict emission control measures, but particulate nitrate continues to rise. Here, we review the progress in particulate nitrate (pNO₃⁻) pollution characterization, nitrate formation mechanisms, and the proposed control strategies in China. The spatial and temporal distributions of pNO₃⁻ are summarized. The current status of knowledge on the chemical mechanism is updated, and the significance of its formation pathways is assessed by various approaches such as field observation and modelling of nitrate production rate, as well as isotopic analysis. The factors impacting pNO₃⁻ formation and the corresponding pollution regulation strategies are discussed, in which the importance of atmospheric oxidation capacity and ammonia are addressed. Finally, the challenges and open questions in pNO₃⁻ pollution control in China are outlined.     

Volatile organic compounds concentration profiles and control strategy in container manufacturing industry: Case studies in China

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), important precursors of ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), are the key to curb the momentum of O₃ growth and further reducing PM_2.5 in China. Container manufacturing industry is one of the major VOC emitters, and more than 96% containers of the world are produced in China, with the annual usage of coatings of over 200,000 tons in recent years. This is the first research on the emission characteristics of VOCs in Chinese container manufacturing industry, including concentration and ozone formation potential (OFP) of each species. The result shows that the largest amounts of VOCs are emitted during the pretreatment process, followed by the paint mixing process and primer painting process, and finally other sprays process. The average VOC concentrations in the workshops, the exhausts before treatment and the exhausts after treatment are ranging from 82.67–797.46 , 170–1,812.65 , 66.20–349.63 mg/m³, respectively. Benzenes, alcohols and ethers are main species, which contribute more than 90% OFP together. Based on the emission characteristics of VOCs and the technical feasibility, it is recommended to set the emission limit in standard of benzene to 1.0 mg/m³, toluene to 10 mg/m³, xylene to 20 mg/m³, benzenes to 40 mg/m³, alcohols and ethers to 50 mg/m³, and VOCs to 100 mg/m³. The study reports the industry emission characteristics and discusses the standard limits, which is a powerful support to promote VOCs emission reduction, and to promote the coordinated control of PM_2.5 and O₃ pollution.     

Distribution and relationship between antimicrobial resistance genes and heavy metals in surface sediments of Taihu Lake, China

Heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and other wastes released into the environment can significantly influence environmental antibiotic resistance. We investigated the occurrence of 22 antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs) and 10 heavy metal concentrations, and the relationship between ARGs and heavy metals in surface sediment from seven sites of Lake Taihu. The results showed significant correlations(p 0.05) between sediment ARG levels,especially for tetracycline and sulfonamides(e.g., tet(A), tet(D), tet(E), tet(O), sul1, sul2 and int-1) and specific heavy metals(Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Zn, among others) in the Lake. In the surface sediments, heavy metals showed an interaction with resistance genes, but the strength of interaction was diminished with increasing depth. For most of the heavy metals, the concentration of elements in the top sediments was higher than that in other depths.Tetracycline resistance genes(tet(A), tet(B), tet(D), tet(E) and tet(O), β-lactam resistance genes(SHV, TEM, CTX, OXA and OXY) and sulfonamide resistance genes(sulA, sul1, sul2, sul3 and int-1) were detected. They showed a trend which inferred a statistically significant increase followed by decreases in the relative abundance of these ARGs(normalized to 16 S rRNA genes) with increasing depth. This study revealed that tet(A), tet(O), TEM, OXY, int-1, sul1 and sul3 were widespread in surface sediments with high abundance, indicating that these genes deserve more attention in future work.     

武汉市湖泊侵占现状分析与洪涝灾害

湖泊是集提供水源、补充地下水、调节径流、抵御洪涝灾害、改善微小气候等功能为一体的重要水域,是湿地的重要组成部分。分析武汉市湖泊侵占与洪涝灾害现状发现,武汉市湖泊侵占现状严重,面积锐减,从而影响了湖泊在防洪排涝体系中的重要作用,是造成了武汉市历年遭受特大洪涝灾害的原因之一。2016年的洪涝灾害应该进一步敲醒警钟,保护武汉市湖泊资源迫在眉睫。为政府决策部门、职能部门、科研机构保护武汉市湖泊资源提供依据。     

南通市重污染过程PM_(2.5)中OC/EC浓度水平及污染特征分析

采用EC/OC在线分析仪连续监测数据,结合空气自动监测站监测的PM_(2.5)浓度数据和气象参数,对南通市几次重污染过程进行了分析。结果表明,OC/EC浓度随PM_(2.5)浓度变化趋势基本一致,重污染过程中明显升高,是导致南通市重污染天气的重要元素之一。重污染过程中存在明显的二次有机碳污染,且重污染程度越高,二次有机污染越严重。单次重污染过程OC/EC来源基本相同,仅凭OC/EC的比值判断污染物来源是不充分的。污染过程中TC(OC+EC)的上升幅度较PM_(2.5)中其他组分低,污染后其下降幅度也相对较低。     

通风及营养元素对多环芳烃污染土壤修复影响

文章在无外源接种体的条件下,评估了强制通风(通风量为1.51 L/min)与营养元素对土壤中多环芳烃(PAHs)降解的交互作用。结果表明:仅靠合适的营养液配方和长时间通风可以刺激污染土壤中的土著微生物生长,并影响微生物菌群的形成。通风同时添加营养液有利于好氧菌生长、加快PAHs的降解;与通风相比,添加营养元素是影响PAHs降解的主要因素。通风和添加营养元素对3环PAHs降解影响不显著,但可促进4环、5环和6环PAHs污染物降解。60 d内,仅通风、仅添加营养元素、同时通风和添加营养元素处理的PAHs分别降解了52%、59%、67%。