Carbon Monoxide Concentration in a Street Canyon of Buenos Aires City (Argentina)

The analysis of three years of 8-h CO concentration values registered in a deep street canyon downtown shows high frequency of values that exceed WHO health protection guidelines. An inverse relationship between opposing percentiles of the distributions of CO concentrations and mean wind speed could be found. Data also showed a variation of mean CO values with prevailing wind direction. The averaged concentration value obtained when the sampler probe is on the leeward side is lower than the obtained when it is on the windward wall. A preliminary explanation of this feature may be related to the advection of polluted air from a high traffic density area nearby.     

Biomonitoring of heavy metals by pollen in urban environment

Abstract Industrial development and consumption of petroleum products leads to increase air pollution levels especially in urban and industrial areas. Heavy metal components associated with air pollutants have far reaching effects with respect to economic and ecological importance of pollens. The pollens are male reproductive organs of the plant and travel through air from flower to flower for pollination purpose. During this period they are exposed to air pollutants. Present investigation thus pertains to study of effect of air pollutants on pollens especially biosorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals. The pollens of three commonly occurring plants namely Cassia siamea, Cyperus rotundus, Kigelia pinnata have been studied from the NH-6 of Nagpur city, India. The pollens exposed to polluted air showed the presence of higher concentrations of Ca, Al and Fe as compared to unexposed pollens. Higher concentration of these metals was observed in Cyperus rotundus followed by Cassia siamea and Kigelia pinnata. These results indicate that pollens act as good indicator of air pollution giving results in short time of exposure of 5–10 h. Apart from this, it is also reported that some of these metals play crucial role in the metabolic activity in pollens for example Calcium is necessary for growth of pollen tube and other metabolic activities in pollens. The presence of these metals in pollens may also enhance the allergenicity of the pollens. Similarly accumulation of heavy metals may also deteriorate the quality of pollen for their economical use. The viability of pollen is also affected by these pollutants in sensitive species leading to impairment of their fertility.     

Artificial neural network based carbon monoxide persistence models for episodic urban air quality management

This paper describes the development of artificial neural network (ANN) based carbon monoxide (CO) persistence (ANNCOP) models to forecast 8-h average CO concentration using 1-h maximum predicted CO data for the critical (winter) period (November–March). The models have been developed for three 8-h groupings of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2–10 p.m., at two air quality control regions (AQCRs) in Delhi city, representing an urban intersection and an arterial road consisting heterogeneous traffic flows. The result indicates that time grouping of 2–10 pm is dominantly affected by inversion conditions and peak traffic flow. The ANNCOP model corresponding to this grouping predicts the 8-h average CO concentrations within the accuracy range of 68–71%. The CO persistence values derived from ANNCOP model are comparable with the persistence values as suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA. This work demonstrates that ANN based model is capable of describing winter period CO persistence phenomena.     

Using the polychaete Arenicola marina to determine toxicity and bioaccumulation of PAHS bound to sediments

Transportation system has contributed significantly to the development of human civilization; on the other hand it has an enormous impact on the ambient air quality in several ways. In this paper the air and noise pollution at selected sites along three sections of National Highway was monitored. Pakistan National Highway Authority has started a Highway Improvement program for rehabilitations and maintenance of National highways to improve the traffic flows, and would ultimately improve the air quality along highways. The ambient air quality and noise level was monitored at nine different locations along these sections of highways to quantify the air pollution. The duration of monitoring at individual location was 72 h. The most of the sampling points were near the urban or village population, schools or hospitals, in order to quantify the air pollution at most affected locations along these roads. A database consisting of information regarding the source of emission, local metrology and air quality may be created to assess the profile of air quality in the area.     

对地级市空气自动监测多参数站建设的思考

阐述了地级市空气自动监测多参数站(超级站)建设的必要性,提出了统筹考虑、分期实施与突出重点、兼顾一般的建设思路,介绍了站房选址原则。指出超级站建设应以常规监测、霾监测、光化学烟雾监测、空间立体监测和源解析监测为目标,实施质量控制和质量保证手段,设置数据采集和显示平台,满足对大气复合污染的监测需求。     

欧盟空气质量监测现状及加强我国空气质量监测体系建设的建议

从欧盟空气质量监测政策和监测网络建设现状两个方面描述了欧盟空气质量监测发展现状。分析了我国空气污染现状和空气质量监测体系中存在的问题,并借鉴欧盟的经验,提出了加大政策支持和财政保障力度、逐步健全空气质量监测网络体系、加强空气质量监测技术研究、完善空气质量监测数据库、开展能力建设、提高公众参与度等加强我国空气质量监测体系建设的建议。     

空气质量AQI实时发布的改进探讨

针对《环境空气质量指数(AQI)技术规定(试行)》(HJ 633-2012)中对空气质量AQI实时发布存在的欠缺,从增加颗粒物1 h浓度的AQI分级浓度限值及颗粒物24 h滑动平均值计算方法改进着手,解决PM2.5和PM10的24 h滑动平均值实时延迟、1 h平均值代替24 h滑动平均值偏高等问题。     

济南市空气污染现状及控制对策

利用2013年1—12月济南市大气监测数据,分析该市空气质量现状及时空分布特征,结果表明:2013年济南市空气主要污染物质量浓度均超过《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095—2012)二级标准限值,空气污染严重时段为冬季采暖期,颗粒物污染严重区域为该市西部和西北部地区,SO2、NO2污染严重区为中心城区,并从点源、面源和移动源3个方面提出相应的污染防治对策。在SO2、NOx和工业烟粉尘分别减排22.5%、18.2%和31.4%的条件下,运用Models-3/CMAQ模型模拟计算得出:2015年1月和7月,济南市空气中SO2、NO2、PM10和PM2.5的质量浓度与2010年同期相比将分别降低23.9%和29.7%、11.4%和15.9%、21.9%和32.6%、13.5%和26.9%,空气质量得到明显改善。     

泰州市冬季空气质量变化特征

为了解泰州市冬季空气质量变化特征,于2013年12月27日—2014年1月7日对NO2,SO2,O3,CO,PM10和PM2.5进行了监测,结合地面气象资料和HYSPLIT轨迹模式分析了污染物的来源与传输过程。结果表明,观测期间AQI优良率仅为25%,PM10和PM2.5日均值超标率分别为58.3%,75.0%;有机碳是泰州市ρ(PM2.5)中最高的化学组分,其次是富钾和元素碳。PM2.5主要来源为汽车尾气、工业源、燃煤,分别占来源比例21.76%,16.52%,15.54%。局地污染源和不利气象条件是造成大气污染的主要原因。     

长三角城市群污染输送相互影响的敏感性试验

利用WRF-Chem模式,对2013年11月29日至12月11日长江三角洲地区的严重空气污染事件进行数值模拟,研究长三角核心区不同污染物本地源和外来输送所占比重。分析长三角核心区排放源对本地不同污染物浓度的污染贡献。结果表明,在2013年12月的这一次污染事件中,颗粒物平均本地贡献与外来输送基本比重相当;而SO_2、CO、NH_3、NO_x这4种气体污染物则以本地贡献为主,本地贡献的差异与气体的化学反应活性有关,活性越强本地贡献比重越大。污染过程中12月7日至12月9日00:00为污染最严重的时段,污染物的本地贡献有明显上升。区域间输送的方向和强度与地面风向、风速有紧密的联系。在边界层高度范围内,大部分污染物越往高空本地排放源的贡献越弱,外来输送主导作用增强,而硝酸盐在地面、1 km和1.5 km的本地贡献差异远小于其他污染物。