scholarly journals Unexpected slowdown of US pollutant emission reduction in the past decade

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (20) ◽  
pp. 5099-5104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Jiang ◽  
Brian C. McDonald ◽  
Helen Worden ◽  
John R. Worden ◽  
Kazuyuki Miyazaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diesel Emissions ◽  
Pollutant Emission ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
The Past ◽  
Surface Measurements ◽  
The Difference

Ground and satellite observations show that air pollution regulations in the United States (US) have resulted in substantial reductions in emissions and corresponding improvements in air quality over the last several decades. However, large uncertainties remain in evaluating how recent regulations affect different emission sectors and pollutant trends. Here we show a significant slowdown in decreasing US emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) for 2011–2015 using satellite and surface measurements. This observed slowdown in emission reductions is significantly different from the trend expected using US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bottom-up inventories and impedes compliance with local and federal agency air-quality goals. We find that the difference between observations and EPA’s NOx emission estimates could be explained by: (i) growing relative contributions of industrial, area, and off-road sources, (ii) decreasing relative contributions of on-road gasoline, and (iii) slower than expected decreases in on-road diesel emissions.

scholarly journals What Do Economists Have to Say about the Clean Air Act 50 Years after the Establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency?

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Currie ◽  
Reed Walker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Clean Air Act ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
The Past ◽  
Clean Air

Air quality in the United States has improved dramatically over the past 50 years in large part due to the introduction of the Clean Air Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce it. This article is a reflection on the 50-year anniversary of the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, describing what economic research says about the ways in which the Clean Air Act has shaped our society—in terms of costs, benefits, and important distributional concerns. We conclude with a discussion of how recent changes to both policy and technology present new opportunities for researchers in this area.

scholarly journals Members of the genus Burkholderia: good and bad guys

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Eberl ◽  
Peter Vandamme
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
The Past

In the 1990s several biocontrol agents on that containedBurkholderiastrains were registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). After risk assessment these products were withdrawn from the market and a moratorium was placed on the registration ofBurkholderia-containing products, as these strains may pose a risk to human health. However, over the past few years the number of novelBurkholderiaspecies that exhibit plant-beneficial properties and are normally not isolated from infected patients has increased tremendously. In this commentary we wish to summarize recent efforts that aim at discerning pathogenic from beneficialBurkholderiastrains.

National Assessment of Near-Road Air Quality in 2016: Multi-Year Pollutant Trends and Estimation of Near-Road PM2.5 Increment

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie F. Seagram ◽  
Steven G. Brown ◽  
ShihMing Huang ◽  
Karin Landsberg ◽  
Douglas S. Eisinger
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
The United States ◽  
Monitoring Site ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Distance Weighting ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Set Up ◽  
A Site

Continuous monitoring of PM2.5, NO2, and other pollutants occurs at near-road air quality monitoring locations throughout the United States, as required by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Near-road monitoring sites were set up from 2014 through 2016, with 68 NO2 monitors in 2016, 31 of which also monitored PM2.5. Annual and multi-year statistics of NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations were compared with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. A PM2.5“increment”—the difference between concentrations measured in the near-road environment and those concentrations measured at nearby sites—was estimated. Several methods were used to select nearby sites from which to calculate “background” concentrations: (1) sites within 25 km, 50 km, and 100 km of the near-road site, and sites whose 24 h PM2.5 concentrations were well correlated with those at the near-road site; (2) sites within 40 km of the near-road site, where PM2.5 concentrations were interpolated using an inverse distance weighting; and (3) a site in the “upwind” direction from the near-road site. The mean PM2.5 increment across all near-road sites ranged from +0.6 to +1.1 μg/m3 (or 6–10% of the average PM2.5), depending on the method. Understanding the variation in the PM2.5 increment can be useful to assess calculations of PM2.5 background, which is required by EPA under various regulatory frameworks. The PM2.5 increment generally decreased with increasing distance from monitoring site to roadway, and increased with increasing traffic volume.

Diesel Particulate Emissions: Landmark Research 1994-2001

2002 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Diesel Emissions ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Mobile Source ◽  
Emissions Reductions ◽  
Diesel Particulate ◽  
The Past ◽  
Light Duty

The need for manufacturers to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mobile source diesel emissions standards for on-highway light duty and heavy duty vehicles has been the driving force for the control of diesel particulate and NOx emissions reductions. Diesel Particulate Emissions: Landmark Research 1994-2001 contains the latest research and development findings that will help guide engineers to achieve low particulate emissions from future engines. Based on extensive SAE literature from the past seven years, the 45 papers in this book have been selected from the SAE Transactions Journals.

Scanning electron microscopy of asbestos-containing material where the asbestos fibers are considered locked in a binder

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 472-473
Author(s):  
J. R. Millette ◽  
R. S. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Asbestos Fibers ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Binder Material ◽  
Scanning Electron

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has labeled as “friable” those building materials that are likely to readily release fibers. Friable materials when dry, can easily be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder using hand pressure. Other asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) where the asbestos fibers are in a matrix of cement or bituminous or resinous binders are considered non-friable. However, when subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting or other forms of abrasion, these non-friable materials are to be treated as friable asbestos material. There has been a hypothesis that all raw asbestos fibers are encapsulated in solvents and binders and are not released as individual fibers if the material is cut or abraded. Examination of a number of different types of non-friable materials under the SEM show that after cutting or abrasion, tuffs or bundles of fibers are evident on the surfaces of the materials. When these tuffs or bundles are examined, they are shown to contain asbestos fibers which are free from binder material. These free fibers may be released into the air upon further cutting or abrasion.

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Technology Transfer Activities of the United States Environmental Protection Agency

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 685-698
Author(s):  
J. J. Convery ◽  
J. F. Kreissl ◽  
A. D. Venosa ◽  
J. H. Bender ◽  
D. J. Lussier
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
The United States ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Transfer Programs

Technology transfer is an important activity within the ll.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Specific technology transfer programs such as the activities of the Center for Environmental Research Information, the Innovative and Alternative Technology Program, as well as the Small Community Outreach Program are used to encourage the utilization of cost-effective municipal pollution control technology. Case studies of three technologies including a plant operations diagnostic/remediation methodology, alternative sewer technologies and ultraviolet disinfection are presented. These case studies are presented retrospectively in the context of a generalized concept of how technology flows from science to utilization which was developed in a study by Allen (1977). Additional insights from this study are presented on the information gathering characteristics of engineers and scientists which may be useful in designing technology transfer programs. The recognition of the need for a technology or a deficiency in current practice are important stimuli other than technology transfer for accelerating the utilization of new technology.

The Flynn Effect

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Duckworth ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Graduate School ◽  
The United States ◽  
Delay Of Gratification ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Political Scientist ◽  
Abstract Reasoning ◽  
Flynn Effect ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Difference

In tandem with increases in delay of gratification, the human capacity for abstract reasoning has increased enormously over the past century. This phenomenon is called the Flynn Effect, after the political scientist who discovered it. I first learned about the Flynn Effect in graduate school. I remember thinking it was impossible. How could it be that as a species, we're getting smarter? And not just a little bit smarter. The size of the Flynn Effect is staggering: more than 30 IQ points—the difference between getting an average score on a standard intelligence test versus qualifying as mentally gifted. Gains are comparable in all areas of the United States and, indeed, around the world.

scholarly journals High Emitter Light Duty Vehicle Contributions to On-road Mobile Emissions in 2018 and 2030

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Collet ◽  
Toru Kidokoro ◽  
Yukio Kinugasa ◽  
Prakash Karamchandani ◽  
Allison DenBleyker
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Vehicle Miles Traveled ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Quality Improvement Strategy ◽  
Light Duty ◽  
Air Quality Improvement ◽  
Light Duty Vehicle ◽  
Tier 3

Quantifying the proportion of normal- and high-emitting vehicles and their emissions is vital for creating an air quality improvement strategy for emission reduction policies. This paper includes the California LEV III and United States Environmental Protection Agency Tier 3 vehicle regulations in this projection of high emitter quantification for 2018 and 2030. Results show high emitting vehicles account for up to 6% of vehicle population and vehicle miles traveled. Yet, they will contribute to over 75% of exhaust and 66% of evaporative emissions. As these high emitting vehicles are gradually retired from service and are removed from the roads, the overall effect on air quality from vehicle emissions will be reduced.

The Preservation of Chesapeake Bay Watercraft

1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Baker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
The United States ◽  
Naval Architecture ◽  
The Past ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Sailing Yacht ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Naval Service ◽  
Maritime Heritage

The logo for this Third Chesapeake Sailing Yacht Symposium, the profile of a rakish sailing log canoe superimposed on that of a modern racing sloop, vividly illustrates the difference between the past and the present. Some might say good riddance to the past but there are many good reasons for trying to preserve something of our maritime heritage, not only the larger vessels such as the whaler Charles w. Morgan and the U. S. Corvette Constellation, but the smaller working watercraft as well. Although the Constellation was built in the Bay region, she was designed as a normal ocean-going ship for naval service; she has none of the unique features of Bay naval architecture hence is outside of the scope of this paper. In the days of our grandfathers the Chesapeake Bay region was the home of a multitude of watercraft employed for a wide variety of pursuits from general freighting to crabbing. There were rams, pungies, schooners, sloops, bugeyes, brogans, canoes, bateaux, skiffs, and scows. Of the skiffs alone, it is said that fourteen different designs were recognized on the Bay. While large numbers of these working boats and vessels have disappeared, it is only on Chesapeake Bay, of all the waters of the United States, that a fair variety of local watercraft can be found. Here there is still a chance of preserving for posterity more than isolated examples.

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