On the spread of ultrafine particulate matter: A mathematical model for motor vehicle emissions and their effects as an asthma trigger

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle N. Rosado-Pérez ◽  
Karen Ríos-Soto
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Traveling Wave Solutions ◽  
Reaction Diffusion ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Diffusion Type

Asthma is a respiratory disease that affects the lungs, with a prevalence of 339.4 million people worldwide [G. Marks, N. Pearce, D. Strachan, I. Asher and P. Ellwood, The Global Asthma Report 2018, globalasthmareport.org (2018)]. Many factors contribute to the high prevalence of asthma, but with the rise of the industrial age, air pollutants have become one of the main Ultrafine particles (UFPs), which are a type of air pollutant that can affect asthmatics the most. These UFPs originate primarily from the combustion of motor vehicles [P. Solomon, Ultrafine particles in ambient air. EM: Air and Waste Management Association’s Magazine for Environmental Managers (2012)] and although in certain places some regulations to control their emission have been implemented they might not be enough. In this work, a mathematical model of reaction–diffusion type is constructed to study how UFPs grow and disperse in the environment and in turn how they affect an asthmatic population. Part of our focus is on the existence of traveling wave solutions and their minimum asymptotic speed of pollutant propagation [Formula: see text]. Through the analysis of the model it was possible to identify the necessary threshold conditions to control the pollutant emissions and consequently reduce the asthma episodes in the population. Analytical and numerical results from this work prove how harmful the UFEs are for the asthmatic population and how they can exacerbate their asthma episodes.

Air quality inside motor vehicles' cabins: A review

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Xu ◽  
Xiaokai Chen ◽  
Jianyin Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Air Filter ◽  
Effective Measure

Among many environments, the motor vehicle cabin microenvironment has been of particular public concern. Although commuters typically spend only 5.5% of their time in vehicles, the emissions from various interior components of motor vehicles as well as emissions from exhaust fumes carried by ventilation supply air are significant sources of harmful air pollutants that could lead to unhealthy human exposure due to their high concentrations inside vehicles' cabins. This review summarizes significant findings in the literature on air quality inside vehicle cabins, including chemical species, related sources, measurement methodologies and control measures. More than 90 relevant studies performed across over 10 countries were carefully reviewed. These comprised more than 2000 individual road trips, where concentrations of numerous air pollutants were determined. Ultrafine particles, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbonyls, semi-volatile organic compounds and microbes have been identified as the primary air pollutants inside vehicle cabins. Air recirculation with high-efficiency air filter has been reported as the most effective measure to lower air pollutant concentrations. Future work should focus on investigating the health risks of exposure to various air pollutants inside different vehicles and further developing advanced air filter to improve the in-cabin air quality.

scholarly journals Study on mapping ozone pollution and ozone pollution regime in Cantho city then propose solutions to reduce ozone pollution

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 247-257
Author(s):  
Bang Quoc Ho ◽  
Tam Thoai Nguyen ◽  
Khue Hoang Ngoc Vu
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ozone Concentration ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Ozone Pollution ◽  
Sensitive Areas ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Can Tho City ◽  
The City

Can Tho City is one the 5th largest city in Vietnam, with hight rate of economic growth and densely populated with 1,251,809 people, butsling traffic activities with 566,593 motobikes and 15,105 cars and hundreds of factories. The air in Can Tho city is polluted by dust and ozone. However, Can Tho city currently does not have a study on the simulation air pollution spread, therefore we do not have an overview on the status of air pollution in order to do not have solutions to limit the increase of pollution status of the city. The purpose of this study is to collect air pollutant emissions from other study. After that, TAPOM model is used to simulate the effects of ozone on the surrounding areas and study the ozone regime in Cantho city. The study results showed that the highest ozone concentration for an hour everage is 196 μg/m3. Compare with national technical regulation about ambient air QCVN 5:2013/BTNMT, ozone concentration is approximately at the allowable limit. The study of ozone regime had identified that VOC sensitive areas are Ninh Kieu district and a part in the south of Binh Thuy district, and NOx sensitive areas are the rested areas of Cantho city. The main cause contributing to increased VOC emission in the central area of the city is motorcycles, NOx emissions in the remaining areas of Cantho city are from the rice production factories. Proposals to protect the air quality in Cantho city are suggested.

scholarly journals Primary Air Pollutants Emissions Variation Characteristics and Future Control Strategies for Transportation Sector in Beijing, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifeng Xue ◽  
Xizi Cao ◽  
Yi Ai ◽  
Kangli Xu ◽  
Yichen Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Freight Transportation ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Railway Transportation ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Transportation Sector ◽  
Variation Characteristics ◽  
Beijing China

Air pollutant emissions from vehicles, railways, and aircraft for freight and passenger transportation are major sources of air pollution, and strongly impact the air quality of Beijing, China. To better understand the variation characteristics of these emissions, we used the emission factor method to quantitatively determine the air pollutant emissions from the transportation sector. The emission intensity of different modes of transportation was estimated, and measures are proposed to prevent and control air pollutants emitted from the transportation sector. The results showed that air pollutant emissions from the transportation sector have been decreasing year by year as a result of the reduction in emissions from motor vehicles, benefiting from the structural adjustment of motor vehicles. A comparison of the emission intensity of primary air pollutants from different modes of transportation showed that the emission level of railway transportation was much lower than that of road transportation. However, Beijing relies heavily on road transportation, with road freight transportation accounting for 96% of freight transportation, whereas the proportion of railway transportation was low. Primary air pollutants from the transportation sector contributed significantly to the total emissions in Beijing. The proportion of NOX emissions increased from 54% in 2013 to 58% in 2018. To reduce air pollutant emissions from the transportation sector, further adjustments and optimization of the structure of transportation in Beijing are needed. As for the control of motor vehicle pollutant emissions, vehicle composition must be adjusted and the development of clean energy must be promoted, as well as the replacement of diesel vehicles with electric vehicles for passenger and freight transportation.

Mathematical Modelling and Field Measurements of Nitrogen Oxides in Metropolitan Areas

1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-147
Author(s):  
M.M. Elkotb ◽  
O.M.F. Elbahar ◽  
T.A. Abdou Ahmed ◽  
T.W. Abou-Arab
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Numerical Procedure ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Mass Conservation ◽  
Eddy Diffusivity ◽  
Solution Procedure ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Motor Vehicles

A mathematical model for the prediction of pollutant emissions from motor vehicles is presented. The model is based on the numerical solution of the three-dimensional equation representing the mass conservation of dilute diffusing species. The variation of wind speed and eddy diffusivity with height is taken into consideration. The three-dimensional diffusion equation is solved numerically. The numerical procedure involves the discretization of the partial differential equation using the finite volume approach. The resulting set of discretization equation is solved iteratively using a fully implicit solution procedure. Furthermore, field measurements of the concentrations of nitrogen oxide in the downtown area of Cairo were conducted. For this purpose, a mobile air pollution laboratory fitted with gas analyzers, particulate matter sampler and equipment for the measurement of wind speed and direction has been used. This laboratory is also fitted with data recording and monitoring facility. The mathematical model is tested by comparing the computed pollutant concentrations with the experimental data obtained from the field measurements in the Cairo Metropolitan Area.

scholarly journals Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter (PM) in Ambient Air and the Number of New Cases of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Michalska ◽  
Katarzyna Zorena ◽  
Piotr Wąż ◽  
Maria Bartoszewicz ◽  
Agnieszka Brandt-Varma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Gaseous Pollutants ◽  
High Exposure

The increase in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence in children is worrying and not yet fully explored. It is suggested that probably air pollution exposure could contribute to the development of T1DM. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the concentration of gaseous pollutants including, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) in the air, and the number of new cases of T1DM in children. The number of new cases of T1DM was obtained from the Clinic of Paediatrics, Diabetology, and Endocrinology, Medical University of Gdańsk. The number of children of 0–18 years old in Pomeranian Voivodeship was acquired from the Statistical Yearbook. The concentrations of PM10 absorbance, NO2, NOx, SO2, and CO were measured at 41 measuring posts, between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016. It was detected that the average annual concentration of PM10 was higher than the value acceptable to the WHO. Furthermore, the average 24-hour concentration of PM10 was 92 μg/m3 and was higher compared to the acceptable value of 50 μg/m3 (acc. to EU and WHO). Moreover, the number of new cases of T1DM showed a correlation with the annual average concentration of PM10 (β = 2.396, p<0.001), SO2 (β = 2.294, p<0.001), and CO (β = 2.452, p<0.001). High exposure to gaseous pollutants and particulate matter in ambient air may be one of the factors contributing to the risk of developing T1DM in children. Therefore, it is important to take action to decrease air pollutant emissions in Poland. It is crucial to gradually but consistently eliminate the use of solid fuels, such as coal and wood in households, in favour of natural gas and electricity. The development of new technologies to improve air quality, such as “best available techniques” (BAT) or renewable energy sources (water, wind, and solar generation) is of critical importance as well.

scholarly journals The Efficiency of Economic Performance, Electricity Consumption, and Environmental Pollutants in Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Wen-jie Zou ◽  
Tai-Yu Lin ◽  
Yung-ho Chiu ◽  
Ting Teng ◽  
Kuei Ying Huang
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Disposable Income ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Overall Efficiency

Finding the balance between economic development and environmental protection is a major problem for many countries around the world. Air pollution caused by economic growth has caused serious damage to humans’ living environment, and as improving energy and resource efficiencies is the first priority, many countries are targeting to move towards a sustainable environment and economic development. This study uses the modified dynamic SBM (slack-based measure) model to explore the economic efficiency and air pollutants emission efficiency in Taiwan’s counties and cities from 2012 to 2015 by taking labor, motor vehicles, and electricity consumption as inputs and average disposable income as output. Particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxide emissions (NO2), and sulfur oxide emissions (SO2) are undesirable outputs, whereas factory fixed assets are a carry-over variable, and the results show the following: (1) the regions with the best overall efficiency between 2012 and 2015 include Taipei City, Keelung City, Hsinchu City, Chiayi City, and Taitung County; (2) in counties and cities with poor overall efficiency performance, the average disposable income per household has no significant relationship with air pollutant emissions; (3) in counties and cities where overall efficiency is poor, the average efficiency of each household’s disposable income is small; and (4) except for the five counties and cities with the best overall performance, the three air pollutants in the other fourteen counties and cities are high. Overall, the air pollution of most areas needs improvement.

scholarly journals Quantifying air quality co-benefits of climate policy across sectors and regions

2020 ◽  
Vol 163 (3) ◽  
pp. 1501-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toon Vandyck ◽  
Kimon Keramidas ◽  
Stéphane Tchung-Ming ◽  
Matthias Weitzel ◽  
Rita Van Dingenen
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Health Related

AbstractThe overlap in sources of greenhouse gas and local air pollutant emissions creates scope for policy measures to limit global warming and improve air quality simultaneously. In a first step, we derive estimates for the air pollution mortality-related component of the social cost of atmospheric release for 6 pollutants and 56 regions in the world. Combining these estimates with emission inventory data highlights that sector contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution health impacts differ widely across regions. Next, simulations of future emission pathways consistent with the 2 °C and 1.5 °C targets illustrate that strengthening climate policy ambition raises the total value of air quality co-benefits despite lower marginal co-benefits per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions abated. Finally, we use results from a multi-model ensemble to quantify and compare the value of health-related ambient air quality co-benefits of climate policy across sectors and regions. On the global level, overall air quality co-benefits range from $8 to $40 per tonne of greenhouse gases abated in 2030, with median across models and scenarios of $18/tCO2e. These results mask strong differentiation across regions and sectors, with median co-benefits from mitigation in the residential and service sectors in India exceeding $500/tCO2e. By taking a sector- and region-specific perspective, the results presented here reveal promising channels to improve human health outcomes and to ratchet up greenhouse gas reduction efforts to bridge the gap between countries’ pledges and the global targets of the Paris Agreement.

Air Environmental Impact Research of Urban Traffic Development – A Case Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 113-116 ◽  
pp. 854-858
Author(s):  
Qing Song Wang ◽  
Xue Liang Yuan ◽  
Chun Yuan Ma
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Exhaust Emissions ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Urban Traffic ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
Vehicle Exhaust ◽  
Air Pollutions ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

With the speed-up of urbanization, the number of motor vehicles has increased rapidly, which is the main urban air pollutant source because of too much emitted exhaust gas. Based on the motor vehicle exhaust emissions in Shandong Province in 2006, using trend extrapolation and scenario analysis, predict the motor vehicle exhaust emissions for future planning. The results show that the motor vehicles in 2015and 2020 are 27.52 million and 34.53 million, which is 1.9times and 2.38 times of the motor vehicles in 2006, respectively. For the specific air pollutants from motor vehicles exhaust in 2020, SO2, NOx, PM2.5 and PM10 will reach 28.4 thousand tons, 356.7 thousand tons, 10.8 thousand tons and 12.2 thousand tons, which will be 3 times, 1.2 times, 5 times and 5 times of the emissions in 2006. The urban air pollutions caused by motor vehicles exhaust will be very serious.

scholarly journals How much does traffic contribute to benzene and PAH air pollution? Results from a high-resolution North American air quality model centered on Toronto, Canada

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia H. Whaley ◽  
Elisabeth Galarneau ◽  
Paul A. Makar ◽  
Michael D. Moran ◽  
Junhua Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Vehicle Emissions ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Road Vehicle ◽  
Model Domain ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Atmospheric Processing ◽  
Emissions Inventories

Abstract. Benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic air pollutants that have long been associated with motor vehicle emissions, though the importance of such emissions has never been quantified over an extended domain using a chemical transport model. Herein we present the first application of such a model (GEM-MACH-PAH) to examine the contribution of motor vehicles to benzene and PAHs in ambient air. We have applied the model over a region that is centered on Toronto, Canada, and includes much of southern Ontario and the northeastern United States. The resolution (2.5 km) was the highest ever employed by a model for these compounds in North America, and the model domain was the largest at this resolution in the world to date. Using paired model simulations that were run with vehicle emissions turned on and off (while all other emissions were left on), we estimated the absolute and relative contributions of motor vehicles to ambient pollutant concentrations. Our results provide estimates of motor vehicle contributions that are realistic as a result of the inclusion of atmospheric processing, whereas assessing changes in benzene and PAH emissions alone would neglect effects caused by shifts in atmospheric oxidation and particle/gas partitioning. A secondary benefit of our scenario approach is in its utility in representing a fleet of zero emission vehicles (ZEV), whose adoption is being encouraged in a variety of jurisdictions. Our simulations predicted domain-average on-road vehicle contributions to benzene and PAH concentrations of 4–21 % and 14–24 % in the spring–summer and fall–winter periods, respectively, depending on the aromatic compound. Contributions to PAH concentrations up to 50 % were predicted for the Greater Toronto Area, with a domain maximum of 91 %. Such contributions are substantially higher than those reported in national emissions inventories, and they also differ from inventory estimates at the sub-national scale because those do not account for the physico-chemical processing that alters pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere. The removal of on-road vehicle emissions generally led to decreases in benzene and PAH concentrations during both periods that were studied, though atmospheric processing (such as chemical reactions and changes to gas/particle partitioning) contributed to non-linear behaviour at some locations or times of year. Such results demonstrate the added value associated with regional air quality modelling relative to examinations of emissions inventories alone. We also found that removing on-road vehicle emissions reduced spring–summertime surface O3 volume mixing ratios and fall–wintertime PM10 concentrations each by ~ 10 % in the model domain, providing further air quality benefits. Toxic equivalents contributed by vehicle emissions of PAHs were found to be substantial (20–60 % depending on location), and this finding is particularly relevant to the study of public health in the urban areas of our model area where human population, ambient concentrations, and traffic volumes tend to be high.

The Influence of the Diffusion Space Geometry on Behavior of some Processes in Biochemistry and Electrochemistry

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 3-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Baronas ◽  
F. Ivanauskas ◽  
J. Kulys ◽  
M. Sapagovas ◽  
A. Survila
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Reaction Diffusion ◽  
Electrode Reaction ◽  
Reaction Diffusion Equations ◽  
Diffusion Equations ◽  
Carbon Paste ◽  
Diffusion Type ◽  
Function Modelling ◽  
Partially Blocked Electrodes ◽  
The Mathematical Model

The reaction-diffusion and diffusion equations were applied for modelling of some processes in biochemistry and electrochemistry. Modelling of the amperometric biosensors based on carbon paste electrodes encrusted with a single nonhomogeneous microreactor is analyzed. The mathematical model of the biosensor operation is based on nonstationary reaction-diffusion equations containing a non-linear term given by Michaelis-Menten function. Modelling of a simple redox-electrode reaction, involving two soluble species, is also considered. The model of the electrode behavior, taking into account the resist layer of the partially blocked electrodes, was expressed as a system of differential equations of the diffusion type with initial and boundary conditions. The mathematical model generalizing both processes: biochemical and electrochemical is presented in this paper. The generalized problem was solved numerically. The finite-difference technique was used for discretisation of the model. Using the numerical solution of the generalized problem, the influence of the size, shape and position of a microreactor as well as the thickness of the resist layer on the current dynamics was investigated.

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