scholarly journals The ozone climate penalty, NAAQS attainment, and health equity along the Colorado Front Range

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Crooks ◽  
Rachel Licker ◽  
Adrienne L. Hollis ◽  
Brenda Ekwurzel
Keyword(s):  
Health Equity ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Colorado Front Range ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ozone Concentrations ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Background While ozone levels in the USA have decreased since the 1980s, the Denver Metro North Front Range (DMNFR) region remains in nonattainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Objective To estimate the warm season ozone climate penalty to characterize its impact on Colorado Front Range NAAQS attainment and health equity. Methods May to October ozone concentrations were estimated using spatio-temporal land-use regression models accounting for climate and weather patterns. The ozone climate penalty was defined as the difference between the 2010s concentrations and concentrations predicted using daily 2010s weather adjusted to match the 1950s climate, holding constant other factors affecting ozone formation. Results The ozone climate penalty was 0.5–1.0 ppb for 8-h max ozone concentrations. The highest penalty was around major urban centers and later in the summer. The penalty was positively associated with census tract-level percentage of Hispanic/Latino residents, children living within 100–200% of the federal poverty level, and residents with asthma, diabetes, fair or poor health status, or lacking health insurance. Significance The penalty increased the DMNFR ozone NAAQS design values, delaying extrapolated future attainment of the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards by approximately 2 years each, to 2025 and 2035, respectively.

scholarly journals Estimating background contributions and US anthropogenic enhancements to maximum ozone concentrations in the northern US

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (19) ◽  
pp. 12587-12605 ◽  
Author(s):  
David D. Parrish ◽  
Christine A. Ennis
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Ozone Concentrations ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
The Us ◽  
Ambient Air Quality Standard

Abstract. US ambient ozone concentrations have two components: US background ozone and enhancements produced from the country's anthropogenic precursor emissions. Only the enhancements effectively respond to national emission controls. We investigate the temporal evolution and spatial variability in the largest ozone concentrations, i.e., those that define the ozone design value (ODV) upon which the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is based, within the northern tier of US states. We focus on two regions: rural western states, with only small anthropogenic precursor emissions, and the urbanized northeastern states, which include the New York City urban area, the nation's most populated. The US background ODV (i.e., the ODV remaining if US anthropogenic precursor emissions were reduced to zero) is estimated to vary from 54 to 63 ppb in the rural western states and to be smaller and nearly constant (45.8±3.0 ppb) throughout the northeastern states. These US background ODVs correspond to 65 % to 90 % of the 2015 NAAQS of 70 ppb. Over the past 2 to 3 decades US emission control efforts have decreased the US anthropogenic ODV enhancements at an approximately exponential rate, with an e-folding time constant of ∼22 years. These ODV enhancements are relatively large in the northeastern US, with state maximum ODV enhancements of ∼35–64 ppb in 2000, but are not discernible in the rural western states. The US background ODV contribution is significantly larger than the present-day ODV enhancements due to photochemical production from US anthropogenic precursor emissions in the urban as well as the rural regions investigated. Forward projections of past trends suggest that average maximum ODVs in northeastern US will drop below the NAAQS of 70 ppb by about 2021, assuming that the exponential decrease in the ODV enhancements can be maintained and the US background ODV remains constant. This estimate is much more optimistic than in the Los Angeles urban area, where a similar approach estimates the maximum ODV to reach 70 ppb in ∼2050 (Parrish et al., 2017a). The primary reason for this large difference is the significantly higher US ODV background (62.0±2.0 ppb) estimated for the Los Angeles urban area. The approach used in this work has some unquantified uncertainties that are discussed. Models can also estimate US background ODVs; some of those results are shown to correlate with the observationally based estimates derived here (r2 values for different models are ∼0.31 to 0.90), but they are on average systematically lower by 4 to 13 ppb. Further model improvement is required until their output can accurately reproduce the time series and spatial variability in observed ODVs. Ideally, the uncertainties in the model and observationally based approaches can then be reduced through additional comparisons.

scholarly journals High PM2.5 Concentrations in a Small Residential City with Low Anthropogenic Emissions in South Korea

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Yeo Byun ◽  
Hekap Kim ◽  
Young-Ji Han ◽  
Sang-Deok Lee ◽  
Sung-Won Park
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
City Water

High particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations have been considered a serious environmental issue in South Korea. Recent studies have focused mostly on metropolitan and industrial cities; however, high PM2.5 episodes have also been frequently observed even in small– and middle-sized cities. Thus, in this study, PM2.5 and its major chemical components were measured in a small residential city with low anthropogenic emissions for 2 years to identify the factors affecting the PM2.5 concentrations. Overall, the average PM2.5 concentration was 29.4 μg m−3: about two times higher than the annual ambient air quality standard value. In winter, when the PM2.5 concentrations were generally higher, relative humidity (RH) was significantly correlated with both PM2.5 mass and the PM2.5/PM10 ratio, suggesting that high RH promoted the formation of secondary PM2.5. In addition, SO42−and NO3− were found to be correlated with both NH4+ and K+ in winter, indicating that biomass burning was an important source in this city. Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was also highly correlated with elemental carbon (EC) and K+ in fall and winter, when the burning of agricultural residues actively occurred. During high concentration episodes, NO3− exhibited the highest increase; nevertheless, other components (e.g., K+ and organic carbon) also significantly increased.

scholarly journals Estimating background contributions and U.S. anthropogenic enhancements to maximum ozone concentrations in the northern U.S.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David D. Parrish
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Ozone Concentrations ◽  
Background Ozone ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Ambient Air Quality Standard ◽  
The U.S

Abstract. U.S. ambient ozone concentrations have two components: U.S. background ozone and enhancements produced from the country’s anthropogenic precursor emissions; only the enhancements effectively respond to national emission controls. We investigate the temporal evolution and spatial variability of the largest ozone concentrations, i.e., those that define the ozone design value (ODV) upon which the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is based, within the northern tier of U.S. states. We focus on two regions: rural western states, with only small anthropogenic precursor emissions, and the urbanized northeastern states, which include the New York City urban area, the nation's most populated. The U.S. background ODV (i.e., the ODV remaining if U.S. anthropogenic precursor emissions were reduced to zero) is estimated to vary from 54 to 63 ppb in the rural western states, and to be smaller and nearly constant (45.8 ± 1.7 ppb) throughout the northeastern states. These U.S. background ODVs correspond to 65 to 90 % of the 2015 NAAQS of 70 ppb. Over the past two to three decades U.S. emission control efforts have decreased the anthropogenic ODV enhancements at an approximately exponential rate with an e-folding time constant of ~ 22 years. These ODV enhancements are small in the rural western states (2.4 ± 1.2 ppb in 2000), with much larger state maximum ODV enhancements (~ 35–64 ppb in 2000) in the northeastern states. The U.S. background ODV contribution is significantly larger than the present-day ODV enhancements due to photochemical production from U.S. anthropogenic precursor emissions in the urban as well as the rural regions investigated. Forward projections of past trends suggest that average maximum ODVs in northeastern U.S. will drop below the NAAQS of 70 ppb by about 2021, assuming that the exponential decrease of the ODV enhancements can be maintained and the U.S. background ODV remains constant. This estimate is much more optimistic than in the Los Angeles urban area, where a similar approach estimates ~ 2050 for the maximum ODV to reach 70 ppb (Parrish et al., 2017). The primary reason for this large difference is the significantly higher U.S. ODV background (62.0 ± 2.0 ppb) estimated for the Los Angeles urban area. The approach used in this work has some unquantified uncertainties that are discussed. Models can also estimate U.S. background ODVs; some of those results are shown to correlate with the observational estimates derived here (r2 values for different models are ~ 0.31 to 0.85), but are on average systematically lower by 4 to 12 ppb. Further model improvement is required until their output can accurately reproduce the time series and variability of observed ODVs, and the uncertainties in the two approaches can be reduced through additional comparisons.

scholarly journals A decadal satellite analysis of the origins and impacts of smoke in Colorado

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 7429-7439 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Val Martin ◽  
C. L. Heald ◽  
B. Ford ◽  
A. J. Prenni ◽  
C. Wiedinmyer
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Colorado Front Range ◽  
Orthogonal Polarization ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Modis Aod ◽  
High Park Fire ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. We analyze the record of aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured by the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite in combination with surface PM2.5 to investigate the impact of fires on aerosol loading and air quality over Colorado from 2000 to 2012, and to evaluate the contribution of local versus transported smoke. Fire smoke contributed significantly to the AOD levels observed over Colorado. During the worst fire seasons of 2002 and 2012, average MODIS AOD over the Colorado Front Range corridor were 20–50% larger than the other 11 yr studied. Surface PM2.5 was also unusually elevated during fire events and concentrations were in many occasions above the daily National Ambient Air Quality Standard (35 μg m−3) and even reached locally unhealthy levels (> 100 μg m−3) over populated areas during the 2012 High Park fire and the 2002 Hayman fire. Over the 13 yr examined, long-range transport of smoke from northwestern US and even California (> 1500 km distance) occurred often and affected AOD and surface PM2.5. During most of the transport events, MODIS AOD and surface PM2.5 were reasonable correlated (r2 = 0.2–0.9), indicating that smoke subsided into the Colorado boundary layer and reached surface levels. However, that is not always the case since at least one event of AOD enhancement was disconnected from the surface (r2<0.01 and low PM2.5 levels). Observed plume heights from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) satellite instrument and vertical aerosol profiles measured by the space-based Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) showed a complex vertical distribution of smoke emitted by the High Park fire in 2012. Smoke was detected from a range of 1.5 to 7.5 km altitude at the fire origin and from ground levels to 12.3 km altitude far away from the source. The variability of smoke altitude as well as the local meteorology were key in determining the aerosol loading and air quality over the Colorado Front Range region. Our results underline the importance of accurate characterization of the vertical distribution of smoke for estimating the air quality degradation associated with fire activity and its link to human health.

scholarly journals Surface ozone in the Colorado northern Front Range and the influence of oil and gas development during FRAPPE/DISCOVER-AQ in summer 2014

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Cheadle ◽  
S. J. Oltmans ◽  
G. Pétron ◽  
R. C. Schnell ◽  
E. J. Mattson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Surface O3

High mixing ratios of ozone (O3) in the northern Front Range (NFR) of Colorado are not limited to the urban Denver area but were also observed in rural areas where oil and gas activity is the primary source of O3 precursors. On individual days, oil and gas O3 precursors can contribute in excess of 30 ppb to O3 growth and can lead to exceedances of the EPA O3 National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Data used in this study were gathered from continuous surface O3 monitors for June–August 2013–2015 as well as additional flask measurements and mobile laboratories that were part of the FRAPPE/DISCOVER-AQ field campaign of July–August 2014. Overall observed O3 levels during the summer of 2014 were lower than in 2013, likely due to cooler and damper weather than an average summer. This study determined the median hourly surface O3 mixing ratio in the NFR on summer days with limited photochemical production to be approximately 45–55 ppb. Mobile laboratory and flask data collected on three days provide representative case studies of different O3 formation environments in and around Greeley, Colorado. Observations of several gases (including methane, ethane, CO, nitrous oxide) along with O3 are used to identify sources of O3 precursor emissions. A July 23 survey demonstrated low O3 (45–60 ppb) while August 3 and August 13 surveys recorded O3 levels of 75–80 ppb or more. August 3 exemplifies influence of moderate urban and high oil and gas O3 precursor emissions. August 13 demonstrates high oil and gas emissions, low agricultural emissions, and CO measurements that were well correlated with ethane from oil and gas, suggesting an oil and gas related activity as a NOx and O3 precursor source. Low isoprene levels indicated that they were not a significant contributor to O3 precursors measured during the case studies.

scholarly journals A decadal satellite analysis of the origins and impacts of smoke in Colorado

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 8233-8260 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Val Martin ◽  
C. L. Heald ◽  
B. Ford ◽  
A. J. Prenni ◽  
C. Wiedinmyer
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Colorado Front Range ◽  
Orthogonal Polarization ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Modis Aod ◽  
High Park Fire ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. We analyze the record of aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured by the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite in combination with surface PM2.5 to investigate the impact of fires on aerosol loading and air quality over Colorado from 2000 to 2012, and to evaluate the contribution of local versus transported smoke. Fire smoke contributed significantly to the AOD levels observed over Colorado. During the worst fire seasons of 2002 and 2012, average MODIS AOD over the Colorado Front Range corridor were 20–50% larger than the other 11 yr studied. Surface PM2.5 was also unusually elevated during fire events and concentrations were in many occasions above the daily National Ambient Air Quality Standard (35 μg m−3) and even reached locally unhealthy levels (> 100 μg m−3) over populated areas during the 2012 High Park fire and the 2002 Hayman fire. Over the 13 yr examined, long-range transport of smoke from northwestern US and even California (>1500 km distance) occurred often and affected AOD and surface PM2.5. During most of the transport events, MODIS AOD and surface PM2.5 were reasonable correlated (r2 = 0.2–0.9), indicating that smoke subsided into the Colorado boundary layer and reached surface levels. However, that is not always the case since at least one event of AOD enhancement was disconnected from the surface (r2<0.01 and low PM2.5 levels). Observed plume heights from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) satellite instrument and vertical aerosol profiles measured by the space-based Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) showed a complex vertical distribution of smoke emitted by the High Park fire in 2012. Smoke was detected from a range of 1.5 to 7.5 km altitude at the fire origin and from ground levels to 12.3 km altitude far away from the source. The variability of smoke altitude as well as the local meteorology were key in determining the aerosol loading and air quality over the Colorado Front Range region. Our results underline the importance of accurate characterization of the vertical distribution of smoke for estimating the air quality degradation associated with fire activity and its link to human health.

Electron Microscopic Characterization and Quantitation of Air Borne Particulate Matter with Special Emphasis on Asbestos

1972 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 356-357
Author(s):  
Peter K. Mueller ◽  
Glenn R. Smith ◽  
Leslie M Carpenter ◽  
Ronald L. Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Cellulose Ester ◽  
Main Concept ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Air Samples ◽  
Diffraction Patterns

At the present time the primary objective of the electron microscopy group of the Air and Industrial Hygiene Laboratory is the development of a method suitable for use in establishing an air quality standard for asbestos in ambient air and for use in its surveillance. The main concept and thrust of our approach for the development of this method is to obtain a true picture of fiber occurrence as a function of particle size and asbestos type utilizing light and electron microscopy.We have now available an electron micrographic atlas of all asbestos types including selected area diffraction patterns and examples of fibers isolated from air samples. Several alternative approaches for measuring asbestos in ambient air have been developed and/or evaluated. Our experiences in this regard will be described. The most promising method involves: 1) taking air samples on cellulose ester membrane filters with a nominal pore size of 0.8 micron; 2) ashing in a low temperature oxygen plasma for several hours;

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document