Biomonitoring of metal levels in urban areas with different vehicular traffic intensity by using Araucaria heterophylla needles

AbstractExposure to environmental pollutants in humans can be conducted through direct measurement of biological media such as blood, urine or hair. Assessment studies of metals and metalloids in Malaysia is very scarce although cross-sectional nationwide human biomonitoring surveys have been established by the USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, and Korea. This study aims to assess urinary metal levels namely cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) among Malaysian adults. This was a cross-sectional study involving 1440 adults between the age of 18 and 88 years old. After excluding those with 24 h urine samples of less than 500 ml, urine creatinine levels < 0.3 or > 3.0 g/L and those who refuse to participate in the study, a total of 817 respondents were included for analysis. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information such as age, gender, occupation, ethnic, academic qualification and medical history was administered to the respondents. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected in a container before being transported at 4 °C to the laboratory. Samples were then aliquoted into 15 ml tubes and kept at − 80 °C until further analysis. Urine was diluted ten-fold with ultrapure water, filtered and analysed for metals and metalloids using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The geometric mean of urinary As, Ni, Cd and Pb concentrations among adults in Malaysia was 48.21, 4.37, 0.32, and 0.80 µg/L, respectively. Males showed significantly higher urinary metal concentrations compared to females for As, Cd and Pb except for Ni. Those who resided in rural areas exhibited significantly higher As, Cd and Pb urinary concentrations than those who resided in urban areas. As there are no nationwide data on urinary metals, findings from this study could be used to identify high exposure groups, thus enabling policy makers to improve public health strategically.

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Design of Experiments Applied in Particulate Material of Urban Areas of High Vehicular Traffic

Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences ◽

10.36478/jeasci.2019.9578.9582 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (24) ◽

pp. 9578-9582

Author(s):

Luz Vargas ◽

Waldyr Fong ◽

Irlena Ahumada ◽

Jorge Posada ◽

Ivan Orjuela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Design Of Experiments ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Particulate Material ◽

Vehicular Traffic

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A Novel Framework to Control and Optimize the Traffic Congestion Issue in VANET

International Journal of Engineering & Technology ◽

10.14419/ijet.v7i3.31.18234 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2.31) ◽

pp. 245

Author(s):

Tanuja Kayarga ◽

H M. Navyashree

Keyword(s):

Traffic Congestion ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Fuzzy Inference ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Vehicular Communication ◽

Hoc Networks ◽

Set Up ◽

Inference Systems

In the recent times due to the increase of vehicular nodes in a vehicular communication network, there is a need of developing efficient systems in order to optimize the vehicular traffic congestion issues in urban areas. The current research trends shows that most of the conventional studies focused on developing fuzzy inference systems based vehicular traffic congestion model which has gained lots of attention on detecting and minimizing the congestion levels.We have proposed a new approach towards detection and controlling of traffic congestion in VANET. The proposed system utilizes the communication channels very efficiently and irrespective of any kind of overload. This proposed system aims to introduce a novel framework for identifying traffic jam on Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks. In order to detect and minimize the level of congestion our approach will use a fuzzy logic based approach to notify the drivers about available routes during the traffic congestion. An experimental prototype will be set up to enable the graphical simulation.

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Trace Metal Accumulation in Rice Variety Kainat Irrigated with Canal Water

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132413739 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (24) ◽

pp. 13739

Author(s):

Zafar Iqbal Khan ◽

Asim Mansha ◽

Muhammad Hamzah Saleem ◽

Farah Tariq ◽

Kafeel Ahmad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Risk Index ◽

Rice Variety ◽

Translocation Factor ◽

Pollution Load Index ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Health Risk Index ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Root Area ◽

Metal Levels

Due to the rapid increase in industrial and urban areas, environmental pollution is increasing worldwide, causing unwanted changes in the air, water, and soil at biological, physical, and chemical levels, ultimately causing negative effects for living things. This work was performed in Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan, and examined and measured heavy metal levels in various plant parts of the rice (Oryza sativa) variety Kainat (roots, shoots, and grains) with results been set in relation to the soil around the root area. The samples were taken from five different sites. The mean level of trace metals (mg/kg) in grains was soil-dependent and varied from cadmium (Cd) (2.49–5.52), zinc (Zn) (5.8–10.78), copper (Cu) (4.82–7.85), cobalt (Co) (1.48–6.52), iron (Fe) (8.68–14.73), manganese (Mn) (6.87–13.93), and nickel (Ni) (2.3–8.34). Excluding Cd, the absorption of all metals under inspection was recorded within permissible limits, as recommended by the FAO and WHO. The pollution load index for Cd was highest at all sites. The enrichment coefficient of Co, Cd, and Cu were greater. The bioaccumulation factor at all studied sites was present, in order: Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Fe ˃ Mn ˃ Co ˃ Ni ˃ Cd. The translocation factor was present at five different sites: Mn ˃ Fe ˃ Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Co ˃ Cd ˃ Ni. The health risk index of all inspected metals was lower than 1 and was within safe limits. The higher pollution of Cd suggested maintenance of rice crop is recommended, decreasing health risks in humans.

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Intersection Signal Timing Optimisation for an Urban Street Network to Minimise Traffic Delays

PROMET - Traffic&Transportation ◽

10.7307/ptt.v33i4.3694 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 579-592

Author(s):

Manel Terraza ◽

Ji Zhang ◽

Zongzhi Li

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Travel Demand ◽

Computational Study ◽

Demand Forecasting ◽

Central Business District ◽

Signal Timing ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Street Network ◽

Urban Street ◽

Pedestrian Delays

The ever-increasing travel demand outpacing available transportation capacity especially in the U.S. urban areas has led to more severe traffic congestion and delays. This study proposes a methodology for intersection signal timing optimisation for an urban street network aimed to minimise intersection-related delays by dynamically adjusting green splits of signal timing plans designed for intersections in an urban street network in each hour of the day in response to varying traffic entering the intersections. Two options are considered in optimisation formulation, which are concerned with minimising vehicle delays per cycle, and minimising weighted vehicle and pedestrian delays per cycle calculated using the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) method. The hourly vehicular traffic is derived by progressively executing a regional travel demand forecasting model that could handle interactions between signal timing plans and predicted vehicular traffic entering intersections, coupled with pedestrian crossing counts. A computational study is conducted for methodology application to the central business district (CBD) street network in Chicago, USA. Relative weights for calculating weighted vehicle and pedestrian delays, and intersection degrees of saturation are revealed to be significant factors affecting the effectiveness of network-wide signal timing optimisation. For the current study, delay reductions are maximised using a weighting split of 78/22 between vehicle and pedestrian delays.

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Capability of a Portable Chromatic Unit for Monitoring Airborne Particles over Wide Urban Areas

Journal of Sensors ◽

10.1155/2009/693801 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2009 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. A. Aceves-Fernandez ◽

G. R. Jones ◽

Y. R. Kolupula ◽

T. Reichelt ◽

J. W. Spencer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Scattered Light ◽

Airborne Particles ◽

Quality Monitoring ◽

City Centre ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Air Quality Monitoring ◽

Local School ◽

Preliminary Identification ◽

Urban Bus

Investigations are described into the use of a compact, portable unit, using polychromatic scattered light, for the preliminary monitoring airborne PM 2–10 particulates over widespread urban areas subjected to vehicular traffic. The monitoring unit has been used at a city centre bus terminus, at sites along an urban bus corridor and outside a local school adjacent to an air quality monitoring station. Holistic results are presented which demonstrate the use of the unit for the preliminary identification of locations and conditions with elevated levels of PM 2–10 particles which can be investigated in greater detail with particle-specific, high-precision instruments.

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Contribution of point sources to trace metal levels in urban areas surrounded by industrial activities in the Cantabria Region (Northern Spain)

Procedia Environmental Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.proenv.2011.03.010 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 76-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S. Ruiz ◽

A. Arruti ◽

I. Fernández-Olmo ◽

J.A. Irabien

Keyword(s):

Trace Metal ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Point Sources ◽

Northern Spain ◽

Industrial Activities ◽

Metal Levels

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Impact of vehicular traffic on the accumulation of metals by plants in the territory of Lviv

Visnyk of Lviv University Biological series ◽

10.30970/vlubs.2020.82.08 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 101-109

Author(s):

A. Polishchuk ◽

◽

M. Lesiv ◽

H. Antonyak ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte ◽

Lemna Minor ◽

Urban Ecosystem ◽

Middle Part ◽

Traffic Load ◽

Traffic Density ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Accumulation Of Metals

The study was aimed at investigating the effect of traffic load on the accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) by moss gametophytes (Brachythecium rutabulum and Pylaisia polyantha) and aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor in the territory of the city of Lviv (Ukraine). In the course of the study, five sites were selected: site 1 in the territory of the Stryiskyi Park, which was used as a control one, and sites 2–5, in which the traffic intensity was analyzed and plant samples were collected. Sites 2 and 3 were selected in the middle and end parts of Stryiska Street, respectively, site 4 was located near the junction of Lychakivska and Pasichna streets, and site 5 was chosen in the immediate vicinity of Khortytska Street. Gametophytes of mosses B. rutabulum and P. polyantha were collected at sites 1–4 and analyzed for metals content; two ponds were selected at sites 2 and 5, respectively, and metal concentrations were analyzed in water and in the samples of L. minor. Metal concentrations were determined using a Selmi C-115PK atomic absorption spectrometer. According to observations, the daily traffic intensity at sites 2–4 was high; at the same time, site 5 was characterized by low traffic intensity. It was found that at sites 2–4 with heavy vehicular traffic, the accumulation levels of Mn, Pb, and Zn in gametophytes of both species of mosses and Cu in gametophyte of B. rutabulum were significantly higher compared to the control site in Stryiskyi Park. Significantly higher concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were found in the water of the pond located at site 2 with a high level of transport load (the middle part of Stryiska Street) compared to the pond at site 5, where the level of transport load was negligible; samples of L. minor from this reservoir were characterized by a higher content of Cr, Fe, and Zn compared to the pond at site 5. Investigating the accumulation of metals in L. minor, the highest values of bioaccumulation factors were found for Mn, Fe, and Zn. The obtained results show the bioindication potential of the plants Brachythecium rutabulum, Pylaisia polyantha and Lemna minor, and suggest that these species can be used to assess environmental pollution by heavy metals in the urban ecosystem of Lviv and in other areas with high traffic density.

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Correlation between vehicular traffic and heavy metal concentrations in road sediments of Bogotá, Colombia

Revista de la Facultad de Medicina ◽

10.15446/revfacmed.v67n2.68269 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 193-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Carlos Zafra-Mejía ◽

Álvaro Gutiérrez-Malaxechebarria ◽

Yolanda Hernández-Peña

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Heavy Traffic ◽

Size Fraction ◽

Deep Understanding ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Metal Concentrations ◽

Heavy Metal Concentrations ◽

Flame Atomic Absorption

Introduction: Diseases such as asthma and lung cancer are associated with heavy traffic in urban areas. A deep understanding of the pollutants generated by road traffic is relevant to public health control.Objective: To analyze the correlation between vehicular traffic intensity and heavy metal concentrations in road sediments in the city of Bogota, Colombia.Materials and methods: A descriptive observational study was performed. The degree of road pollution was assessed based on reference legislation for the protection of human health (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact). Heavy metal concentrations (lead, zinc and copper) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Regression models between traffic intensity and metal concentrations were developed.Results: The size fraction <250 µm of the road sediment was representative to analyze the correlation between traffic intensity and heavy metal concentrations. Lead was the heavy metal of greatest concern from the view point of public health in Bogotá.Conclusions: The following public health limits for control decision-making regarding lead are proposed: lower limit = 4 850 vehicles/day; upper limit = 11 300 vehicles/day.

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Prediction of L10 and Leq Noise Levels Due to Vehicular Traffic in Urban Area Using ANN and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Interface System (ANFIS) Approach

10.4018/978-1-6684-2408-7.ch027 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 597-611

Author(s):

Vilas K Patil ◽

P.P. Nagarale

Keyword(s):

Noise Level ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Road Traffic ◽

Traffic Noise ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Anfis Model ◽

Neuro Fuzzy ◽

Interface System ◽

Artificial Neural Network Ann

Recently in urban areas, road traffic noise is one of the primary sources of noise pollution. Variation in noise level is impacted by the synthesis of traffic and the percentage of heavy vehicles. Presentation to high noise levels may cause serious impact on the health of an individual or community residing near the roadside. Thus, predicting the vehicular traffic noise level is important. The present study aims at the formulation of regression, an artificial neural network (ANN) and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system (ANFIS) model using the data of observed noise levels, traffic volume, and average speed of vehicles for the prediction of L10 and Leq. Measured noise levels are compared to the noise levels predicted by the experimental model. It is observed that the ANFIS approach is more superior when compared to output given by regression and an ANN model. Also, there exists a positive correlation between measured and predicted noise levels. The proposed ANFIS model can be utilized as a tool for traffic direction and planning of new roads in zones of similar land use pattern.

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