scholarly journals Spatial and long-term temporal assessment of organic hazardous air pollutants and their comparative health risks

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3929-3942 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Kim ◽  
H.-H. Chun ◽  
W. K. Jo
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutants ◽  
Temporal Assessment

scholarly journals Concentrations, health risks, and sources of hazardous air pollutants in Seoul-Incheon, a megacity area in Korea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Ji Kim ◽  
Kyung-Min Baek ◽  
Jong-Bae Heo ◽  
Jang-Pyo Cheong ◽  
Sung-Ok Baek
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Hazard Quotient ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutants ◽  
Heating Period ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

AbstractWe conducted ambient monitoring of various hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for 2 years (2013-2015) in two adjacent Korean cities in a megacity area: Seoul and Incheon. Measured HAPs included volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals (HMs). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the spatiotemporal variations of HAPs, to prioritize HAPs based on health risks, to identify sources using a receptor-based model, and to estimate source-specific risks. Overall, the HAP levels in Incheon were higher than those in Seoul. The concentrations of combustion-origin HAPs, such as PAHs and some HMs, were significantly higher during the heating period than during the non-heating period. However, most VOCs exhibited an opposite trend. Benzo[a]pyrene showed the highest cancer risk in both cities, followed by formaldehyde, arsenic, and benzene; trichloroethylene was the only species that exceeded the hazard quotient of 1. Cumulative cancer risks were 2.0 × 10-4 in Seoul and 2.7 × 10-4 in Incheon. Major sources and their contributions to each HAP concentration were estimated by positive matrix factorization modeling. Based on source-specific risk assessments, we suggest that both cities should give high priority to the control of traffic pollution and the supply of cleaner fuels in non-residential sectors. Reducing carbonyl concentrations in Seoul and industrial emissions in Incheon is also necessary. Establishing new ambient standards for benzo[a]pyrene and formaldehyde is worth considering as a long-term measure. This study provides scientific information on the occurrence, health risks, and sources of various HAPs in large urban areas.

Hazardous Air Pollutants in Fresh and Aged Western US Wildfire Smoke and Implications for Long-Term Exposure

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (19) ◽  
pp. 11838-11847
Author(s):  
Katelyn O’Dell ◽  
Rebecca S. Hornbrook ◽  
Wade Permar ◽  
Ezra J. T. Levin ◽  
Lauren A. Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutants ◽  
Wildfire Smoke ◽  
Western Us

scholarly journals Investigating a Potential Map of PM2.5 Air Pollution and Risk for Tourist Attractions in Hsinchu County, Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8691
Author(s):  
Yuan-Chien Lin ◽  
Hua-San Shih ◽  
Chun-Yeh Lai ◽  
Jen-Kuo Tai
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Spatial Data Analysis ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Pollution Risk ◽  
Risk Levels

In the past few years, human health risks caused by fine particulate matters (PM2.5) and other air pollutants have gradually received attention. According to the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act of Taiwan’s Government enforced in 2017, “suspended particulate matter” has officially been acknowledged as a disaster-causing hazard. The long-term exposure to high concentrations of air pollutants negatively affects the health of citizens. Therefore, the precise determination of the spatial long-term distribution of hazardous high-level air pollutants can help protect the health and safety of residents. The analysis of spatial information of disaster potentials is an important measure for assessing the risks of possible hazards. However, the spatial disaster-potential characteristics of air pollution have not been comprehensively studied. In addition, the development of air pollution potential maps of various regions would provide valuable information. In this study, Hsinchu County was chosen as an example. In the spatial data analysis, historical PM2.5 concentration data from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (TWEPA) were used to analyze and estimate spatially the air pollution risk potential of PM2.5 in Hsinchu based on a geographic information system (GIS)-based radial basis function (RBF) spatial interpolation method. The probability that PM2.5 concentrations exceed a standard value was analyzed with the exceedance probability method; in addition, the air pollution risk levels of tourist attractions in Hsinchu County were determined. The results show that the air pollution risk levels of the different seasons are quite different. The most severe air pollution levels usually occur in spring and winter, whereas summer exhibits the best air quality. Xinfeng and Hukou Townships have the highest potential for air pollution episodes in Hsinchu County (approximately 18%). Hukou Old Street, which is one of the most important tourist attractions, has a relatively high air pollution risk. The analysis results of this study can be directly applied to other countries worldwide to provide references for tourists, tourism resource management, and air quality management; in addition, the results provide important information on the long-term health risks for local residents in the study area.

Acute, medium and long-term effects of yellow sand and air pollutants on allergy and biomarker search

Impact ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-65
Author(s):  
Tomomi Higashi
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Emergency Rooms ◽  
Improve Treatment ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Difficulty Breathing ◽  
Acute And Chronic Effects

Talk to any allergy sufferer and they will tell you how awful it can be. Runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing and difficulties breathing. For many these symptoms rise only to the level of annoyance and can be avoided by steering clear of the source of their allergy. What many people don't realise though is that allergies can become a far more serious issue for a large segment of the population. Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing due to allergies bring many people to emergency rooms and these are just the acute symptoms. Along with the potential for an allergic attack during a windy or dusty day, researchers and medical professionals are beginning to recognise that there are chronic, long term effects associated with allergies. In order to mitigate both the acute and chronic effects of allergies a better understanding of how genetic factors combine with environmental conditions to produce the ranges of symptoms and effects of allergy suffers is needed. Professor Tomomi Higashi, from the Department of Hygiene at Kanazawa University in Japan, is an expert in this field and is currently working to improve treatment and prevention of allergic disease.

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