Field Comparison of two NO2 Passive Samplers to Assess Spatial Variation

Two-week average NO₂ concentrations were measured in Amsterdam (NL), Huddersfield (UK) and Prague (CZ) at 80 sites in each study area, to assess small area spatial variation, using a tube type and a badge type passive sampler. The badges appeared to be less robust than the tubes. The lower detection limit for tubes and badges was 3.7 and 0.91 µg/m³, respectively for fortnightly measurements. Accuracy of the samplers was determined with reference methods (chemiluminescence). The mean ratio of the concentration measured by diffusion tube over that by the reference method was 1.16, 1.03 and 0.77 in Amsterdam, Huddersfield and Prague, respectively. Standardizing the badges for the results obtained in Amsterdam, the relative mean ratio of the concentration measured by the badges over that by the reference method was 0.95 and 0.58 in Huddersfield and Prague, respectively. NO₂ concentrations measured by the two designs did not differ significantly. Mean NO₂ concentrations were 36, 26 and 22 µg/m³ in Amsterdam, Huddersfield and Prague, respectively. The precision of duplicate tubes and badges was 8% and 11%, respectively. Both samplers are suitable for determining real variation in small area NO₂ concentrations in the ranges which occurred. It is concluded that low-cost, simple NO₂ passive samplers can provide reliable information about variation in NO₂ concentrations within urban or rural areas on a small spatial scale. Based on its robustness and its precision, tubes were preferred over badges.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor and outdoor air in Turkey: Estimations of sources and exposure

The aim of the current study was to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in eight indoor (In both kitchen and living room) air sampling locations using a passive sampling method for collection. Passive outdoor air samples were also collected from 3 of the same sampling locations as the indoor air sampling sites. Sampling was conducted in three seasons. The summer season, when windows are generally open, was between 18th July and 01st September, 2014; the autumn and winter seasons, when windows are mostly closed, was between 18^th October and 01^st December, 2014, and 01^st December, 2014, and 18^th January, 2015, respectively.

Average PAH concentrations in summer were 22 ± 21 ng/m³ and 17 ± 12 ng/m³ in the living room and kitchen, respectively, whereas living room and kitchen average PAH concentrations were 23 ± 16 ng/m³ and 20 ± 9 ng/m³, respectively, in autumn and 23 ± 13 ng/m³ and 23 ± 24 ng/m³, respectively, in winter. Outdoor air PAH concentrations in summer, autumn and winter were 7 ± 0.4 ng/m³, 22 ± 13 ng/m³ and 209 ± 33 ng/m³, respectively. An increase in outdoor PAH concentrations was measured in winter compared to the concentrations in summer and autumn, which paralleled the lower outdoor air temperature. However, PAH concentrations in the indoor environment vary according to the household characteristics and personal habits.     

汞蒸汽被动式检气管的初步研制

初步研制的汞蒸汽被动式检气管是建立在气体分子扩散和化学吸收原理基础上的,新制备的碘化亚铜沉淀和乙醇、甘油、硝酸混合、研碎,伴入经活化的层析硅胶,填充到检气管中,当汞蒸气进入管内时,发生显色反应,检气管显色长度的平方与汞蒸汽浓度及采样时间的乘积成线性关系,检测下限为0.001ug/mL(1h)。该法集采样与分析于一体,结构简单,不需动力,便于携带,操作方便,实验室模拟运用,其灵敏度和标准偏差令人满意。     

Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compound Monitoring. Ozone Induced Artefact Formation

Assessment of population exposure to VOC in ambient atmospheres is receiving heightened interest as the adverse health effects of chronic exposure to certain of these compounds are identified. Active (pumped) and passive samplers are the most commonly used devices for this type of monitoring. It has been shown, however, that these devices, along with all other preconcentration techniques, are susceptible to ozone interference. It is demonstrated that this interference occurs even at low ozone concentrations and that it may result in the under-estimation of population exposure. A convenient and effective ozone scrubbing method is identified and successfully applied and validated for both active and passive samplers for a range of VOC.     

A New All Season Passive Sampling System for Monitoring Ozone in Air

A new all season passive sampling system for monitoring O₃ in the atmosphere has been developed in the laboratory and validated in the field. The unique features for this system include a newly designed passive sampler and a rain shelter, which allow the passive sampler to be installed in the field facing downwards. An equation associated with meteorological parameters is used to calculate the passive sampling rates. This system has been extensively tested in the lab (temperature from –18 to 20°C, relative humidity from 13 to 81%, and wind speed from 0.5 to 150 cm/s) and validated in the field in climates of all seasons. The accuracy of the ozone concentrations in the atmosphere obtained with the use of the new passive sampling system was higher than 85% compared to those obtained with continuous ozone analyzers. The new ozone passive sampling system can be used to measure ambient O₃ concentrations ranging from 3 ppb to 1000 ppb based on one-day exposure and 0.1 ppb to 140 ppb for a monthly exposure period. It is also reasonable to conclude that the new passive sampling system can be used for eight-hour exposure study because of the low field blanks and high sampling rates.     

用于汽车安全气囊的气体发生器产气性能研究

建立了模拟汽车碰撞过程的实验系统;利用该系统模拟汽车碰撞时产生的撞击信号触发气体发生器开始工作,对模拟安全气囊的密闭、定容积的充气筒内产生的p-t曲线、气体发生器内部的p-t曲线、撞击时产生的a-t曲线进行测试并得到相关测试参数值;从而对气体发生器的产气性能进行研究。测试结果表明,温度对安全气囊的工作有一定影响。利用该测试系统测试得到的数据与美国BREED公司对同类产品的测试结果比较,有很好的相比性,测得的数据可作为气体发生器生产质量的检验依据。     

Passive Samplers for NOx Monitoring: A Critical Review

Nitrogen oxide is an important gaseous air pollutant. It plays a major role in atmospheric chemistry, particularly in the formation of secondary air pollutants such as ozone, peroxyacyl nitrate (PAN), nitrate aerosols, and contributes to environmental acidification. A comprehensive assessment of NO₂ levels in the atmosphere is required for developing effective strategies for control of air pollution and improvement of air quality. Consequently, spatial NO₂ monitoring has become an important aspect of air quality assessment. Present NO₂ monitoring networks are mostly confined to urban areas, having a limited number of monitoring sites. Wide spatial NO₂ monitoring in India is constrained because of the limited availability of the monitoring equipment, such as continuous chemiluminesence monitors, high volume and handy samplers, which are expensive and need to be imported. Moreover, they require elaborate infrastructure, scientific personnel, technical support and uninterrupted power supply. In an effort to overcome the above shortcomings, passive samplers have been successfully used for large scale monitoring of NO₂ in the ambient environment.In recent years, passive samplers have been gaining increasing attention because they are simple, lightweight and cheap devices, which operate without any power source. Passive samplers have been found to be efficient, cost effective and free from the need for elaborate calibration and maintenance. Hence, they are ideally suited for developing a wide spatial network for NO₂ monitoring. This paper presents a comprehensive review including, historical development and critical assessment of validation studies along with comparison of both badge and tube type passive samplers. An attempt has been also made to highlight advantages and limitations, as well as discussion on the factors affecting the efficiency of passive samplers under field conditions.     

2008~2010年北京城区大气BTEX的浓度水平及其O3 生成潜势

苯、甲苯、乙苯及二甲苯是典型的人为排放有机物,不仅危害人体健康还参与对流层的光化学反应,生成O3和二次有机气溶胶.为认知北京大气中BTEX的浓度水平,评估其O3生成潜势,于2007年12月～2010年11月使用被动采样和化学分析相结合的方法对BTEX和O3浓度进行了连续3 a的同步观测.结果表明,北京城区大气BTEX中甲苯的浓度高达(8.7±3.1)μg·m-3,其次为苯、乙苯和间对二甲苯,浓度分别为(7.1±3.3)、(4.2±1.4)和(3.4±1.5)μg·m-3.BTEX总浓度在春、夏、秋和冬季的平均值分别为(16.8±1.4)、(24.7±2.8)、(25.9±4.9)和(26.8±12.1)μg·m-3,冬季苯的浓度全年最高,而夏季甲苯浓度高于冬季.采用最大增量反应活性方法计算了北京城区大气BTEX夏季O3生成潜势,发现间对二甲苯的贡献最大.北京2008、2009和2010年夏季BTEX的O3生成潜势分别为65.2、60.2和75.7μg·m-3,与O3实际浓度的年际变化趋势一致(同期浓度分别为80.5、65.0和101.9μg·m-3).机动车尾气和溶剂挥发是北京城区大气BTEX的主要来源,冬季苯的浓度可能受取暖燃煤的影响,夏季溶剂挥发对BTEX影响更大,并对O3的生成有一定贡献.     

关于“二手烟”污染危害性的探讨

烟草危害是当今世界最严重的公共卫生问题之一。目前全球共有11亿吸烟者,烟草每年造成的死亡估计为1000万人,每10秒就有一人死于“香烟”危害。如何减轻“二手烟”危害,关系着烟民的自身健康及社会环境的可持续健康发展。“二手烟”实际上由两种烟雾构成：一种是吸烟者呼出的烟雾称为主流烟;另一种是香烟燃烧时所产生的烟雾称为分流烟。吸“二手烟”比原先外界所知道的还要危险一些,与吸烟者共同生活的女性患肺癌的几率比常人多出6倍。为了孩子们的成长、为了那些素不相识的不吸烟者健康、更为了吸烟者自已,我们奉劝吸烟者要少抽或不抽香烟。     

北京市民居室内气态多环芳烃呼吸暴露评价

采用被动采样装置采集并测定北京地区38个家庭采暖期和非采暖期室内空气中的7种气态多环芳烃(PAHs)的含量.结果表明,室内气态PAHs以2、3环组分为主,7种气态PAHs的总平均浓度为100 ng/m3左右.根据实测的PAHs浓度、不同年龄段人群室内平均停留时间及其相应的呼吸速率,计算得到室内成年人(包括老人)对7种气态PAHs的潜在总暴露速率在采暖期和非采暖期分别为66 ng/h和58 ng/h;而未成年人的潜在总暴露速率则分别为56 ng/h和50 ng/h.