Trends in airborne particulates in Stuttgart, Germany: 1972-2005

Since 1972, at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, airborne particulate matter (PM12 and then PM10) was continuously collected on filters and analyzed for environmentally relevant elements by X-ray fluorescence analysis. The resulting long-term time series are suitable for the investigation of trends and of seasonal variation. For the period 1972-2005, monthly and annual concentration mean values of 13 elements (Br, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Ti, V, and Zn) in the air are presented. Trend curves were fitted and the mean yearly variation of the concentration for these elements was calculated and represented graphically. All trend curves show a diminution of the air pollution during this period, but to different extents. Mean trends in percent per year were calculated for each element both for the entire investigation period and for three data subsets of 10-11 years. Possible explanations are discussed in detail.     

Modification of the biochemical pathways of plants induced by ozone: what are the varied routes to change?

When plants are observed under a low dose of ozone, some physiological and metabolic shifts occur. Barring extreme injury such as tissue damage or stomata closure, most of these disruptive changes are likely to have been initiated at the level of gene expression. The belief is oxidative products formed in ozone exposed leaves, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, are responsible for much of the biochemical adjustments. The first line of defense is a range of antioxidants, such as ascorbate and glutathione, but if this defense is overwhelmed, subsequent actions occur, similar to systemic acquired resistance or general wounding. Yet there are seemingly unrelated metabolic responses which are also triggered, such as early senescence. We discuss here the current understanding of gene control and signal transduction/control in order to increase our comprehension of how ozone alters the basic metabolism of plants and how plants counteract or cope with ozone.     

Analyzing the cost effectiveness of Santiago, Chile's policy of using urban forests to improve air quality

Santiago, Chile has the distinction of having among the worst urban air pollution problems in Latin America. As part of an atmospheric pollution reduction plan, the Santiago Regional Metropolitan government defined an environmental policy goal of using urban forests to remove particulate matter less than 10 microm (PM(10)) in the Gran Santiago area. We used cost effectiveness, or the process of establishing costs and selecting least cost alternatives for obtaining a defined policy goal of PM(10) removal, to analyze this policy goal. For this study, we quantified PM(10) removal by Santiago's urban forests based on socioeconomic strata and using field and real-time pollution and climate data via a dry deposition urban forest effects model. Municipal urban forest management costs were estimated using management cost surveys and Chilean Ministry of Planning and Cooperation documents. Results indicate that managing municipal urban forests (trees, shrubs, and grass whose management is under the jurisdiction of Santiago's 36 municipalities) to remove PM(10) was a cost-effective policy for abating PM(10) based on criteria set by the World Bank. In addition, we compared the cost effectiveness of managing municipal urban forests and street trees to other control policies (e.g. alternative fuels) to abate PM(10) in Santiago and determined that municipal urban forest management efficiency was similar to these other air quality improvement measures.     

Study of Trace Elements and Soot in Aerosols from a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Northern Vietnam

Two measurement campaigns were conducted in two sampling sites, An Thinh and Duy Minh, in northern Vietnam during the months of November–December 2000 and November 2001–February 2002 in order to investigate the extend of the particulate air pollution from the Pha Lai coal fired power plant. Fine particle samples were analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry and soot samples were analyzed by reflectometer. The result showed that high concentration of soot and elements mostly coincided with the air masses originating from the power plant. Sea spray aerosol was found to be the major source of chlorine at both sites. Ratios of specific elements and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that coal combustion was the main contributor to the air pollution at both sites. PCA also indicated that there were other sources responsible for the elements emission, probably the influence of long distance transport and Asian Brown Cloud.     

Real time remote monitoring of air pollutants and their online transmission to the web using internet protocol

Recent advances in both information and sensor technologies have enabled the development of Real Time Remote Monitoring (RTRM) capabilities for environmental management. An online and real time remote monitoring system for air pollution has been designed and installed at a traffic police station at Punjagutta in Hyderabad, India. The system is optimized using electrochemical sensors and a real time particulate matter analyzer. The system also monitors meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure, wind speed and wind direction. The system periodically monitors both pollution and meteorological parameters at pre- programmed intervals of hr during peak periods and 1 hr during non peak periods of the day and continuously uploads to a predestinated web site (www.appcb.org/home.htm) using File Transfer Protocol. The web site renders a quick, simple and graphical display of air pollution levels and meteorological parameters and their significance to humans. The present paper highlights design considerations of a pollution monitoring system, system hardware and software requirements and practical limitations and future directions for real time remote monitoring of air pollution.     

Influence of Relative Humidity and Ozone on the Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds on Carbotrap/Carbosieve Adsorbents

By using a dynamic dilution system, the atmospheric measurement of 11 selected toxics VOCs (ethylene, acetylene, propene, 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene) from the list WHO of 1996 and TO-14 method of US EPA by preconcentration by thermal desorption (TD), analysis by gas chromatography (GC), identification and quantification with a flame ionisation detector (FID) was developed and validated in term of metrology, especially the techniques of sampling of these VOCs with adsorbents cartridges "Air Toxics" when used with an "UMEG sampler" equipped in the inlet with a nafion membrane. In particular the influence of climatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and the influence of chemical factors like ozone, on the representativity of sampling were studied. Experiments made with various humidities showed that the addition of a nafion membrane in the inlet of the sampling system was required. Without this membrane, losses of compounds were observed for RH >50%. With this membrane, storage for 2 weeks in a refrigerator, as for canisters, did not induce a loss of compounds. No significative decrease of concentrations of the studied VOCs after 14 days storage, which are known to react with ozone, were observed with an ozone concentrations of 55 ppb. One explanation is that nafion membrane, placed in the inlet of the sampler, will neutralize ozone before entering the sampling tubes. This observation is in accordance with literature which states that the sampling of VOCs on Carbotrap cartridges without ozone scrubber induce a loss of compounds.     

环境空气监测子站气象仪器性能状况比对研究

气象监测是环境空气质量监测的重要组成部分,在环境空气质量精细化管理中发挥着重要作用.气象部门通常采用集中送检或现场校准的方式对气象仪器性能状况进行检查,但环保部门对监测子站气象仪器的相关性能检查还处于空白状态.结合国家环境空气质量自动监测网管理现状,研究采用现场比对方式进行气象仪器性能评估.试验过程中,温度、气压比对数...     

《大气污染防治行动计划》对郑州市冬季PM2.5浓度及化学组成影响

基于《大气污染防治行动计划》实施前后,在污染严重的冬季（2013年和2018年12月同期）,采集郑州市监测站的PM_2.5样品,分析PM_2.5化学组成,通过对比分析PM_2.5中的EC、OC、水溶性离子和金属元素的浓度变化来评估PM_2.5浓度及化学组成的变化,同时选取不同阶段重污染过程,探究PM_2.5浓度及组成的变化. 结果表明：①郑州市冬季ρ（PM_2.5）平均值由2013年的（215.38 ±107.28） μg·m^-3 下降至2018年的（77.45 ±49.81） μg·m^-3,下降率高达64%. ②PM_2.5中EC、K⁺、SO₄^2-和Cl^-,分别下降了85%、80%、78%和72%;OC、NH₄⁺和NO₃^-下降幅度较小,分别为50%、41%和32%. ③与2013年冬季相比,2018年冬季OC/EC的值升高了2.6倍,二次有机碳在OC中占比升高至57%;同时,硫氧化率和氮氧化率的值分别升高了1.5倍和1.0倍,表明郑州市二次污染较为严重,二次转化程度升高. ④NO₃^-/SO₄^2-（质量比）由2013年的0.8 ±0.2升高至2018年2.5 ±1.0,表明郑州市移动源贡献上升并且超过固定源成为冬季大气污染的主要来源. ⑤不同阶段重污染过程对比结果显示,与2013年相比,2018年重污染过程中PM_2.5浓度下降显著,峰值浓度下降了61%,主要化学组成由OC、NO₃^-、SO₄^2-和NH₄⁺变为OC、NO₃^-和NH₄⁺. 研究结果表明郑州市一次排放源管控取得了显著的成效,但二次生成对PM_2.5贡献呈现升高趋势,因此未来需要关注二次生成的影响.     

Emissions of volatile hydrocarbons from floating roof tanks and their local dispersion: Considerations for normal operation and in case of damage

This work investigates the release and dispersion of volatile organic hydrocarbons, which may escape from external floating roof tanks (EFRT) during normal operation or in case of damage. The dispersion will be described using CFD simulations in close range of the EFRT where hazardous areas are assigned. The aim of this work is to investigate which events can lead to emissions in dangerous quantities and to estimate the corresponding likelihood with regard to explosion protection. An emission in hazardous amount is present if the lower explosion limit has been exceeded and if the extent of this emission is not too low. It is discussed in particular whether the used zoning of potentially explosive areas is conservative or over-conservative.     

武汉新装修住宅室内空气中甲醛的分析研究

采用国家标准<公共场所空气中甲醛测定方法>(GB/T18204.26-2000)中的酚试剂分光光度法对50套新装修住宅进行了室内空气中甲醛浓度的测定,结果有40套超过我国<室内空气质量标准>规定的浓度(0.1 mg/m3).选择有代表性的三户新装修居室进行了室内甲醛浓度的跟踪监测,并对一户住宅及三个实验室进行了四个季节甲醛平均浓度的检测,结果表明人造板材及木制家具是室内装修甲醛污染的主要来源,温度是影响甲醛释放最主要的因素.