scholarly journals Assessment of ambient air pollution in the Waterberg Priority Area 2012-2015

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.T. Feig ◽  
S. Naidoo ◽  
N. Ncgukana
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Priority Area ◽  
Hourly Data ◽  
Ambient Concentrations ◽  
Monitoring Stations

The Waterberg Priority Area ambient air quality monitoring network was established in 2012 to monitor the ambient air quality in the Waterberg Air Quality Priority Area. Three monitoring stations were established in Lephalale, Thabazimbi and Mokopane. The monitoring stations measure the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx, CO, O3, BTEX and meteorological parameters. Hourly data for a 31 month period (October 2012-April 2015) was obtained from the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) and analysed to assess patterns in atmospheric concentrations, including seasonal and diurnal patterns of the ambient concentrations and to assess the impacts that such reported pollution concentration may have. Local source regions for SO2, PM10, PM2.5 and O3 were identified and trends in the recorded concentrations are discussed.

scholarly journals Assessment of changes in concentrations of selected criteria pollutants in the Vaal and Highveld Priority Areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Feig ◽  
Rebecca M. Garland ◽  
Seneca Naidoo ◽  
Amukelani Maluleke ◽  
Marna Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Priority Area ◽  
Priority Areas ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Ambient Concentrations

Ambient air pollution has important impacts on a variety of environmental issues, particularly on human health and ecosystem processes. A key tool for understanding the impacts of atmospheric pollution is through the long term measurement of the ambient concentrations of criteria atmospheric pollutants. Monitoring of ambient pollution concentrations has been conducted in the National Air Quality Priority areas since 2009. During this time period, significant changes in the management of air pollution have occurred, including the adoption of the ambient air quality standards, and the implementation of section 21 emission standards. This paper examines the long term evolution of ambient concentrations for PM, SO2 in the Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area 2007-2017 and Highveld Priority Area. These trends will be evaluated against the implementation of management interventions and highlight the variation in the measured concentrations and emerging areas of concern.  

scholarly journals Ambient Air Quality in the Czech Republic: Past and Present

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Hůnová
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Pollution Impacts

Based on an analysis of related core papers and reports, this review presents a historical perspective on ambient air pollution and ambient air quality development in the modern-day Czech Republic (CR) over the past seven decades, i.e., from the 1950s to the present. It offers insights into major air pollution problems, reveals the main hot spots and problematic regions and indicates the principal air pollutants in the CR. Air pollution is not presented as a stand-alone problem, but in the wider context of air pollution impacts both on human health and the environment in the CR. The review is arranged into three main parts: (1) the time period until the Velvet Revolution of 1989, (2) the transition period of the 1990s and (3) the modern period after 2000. Obviously, a major improvement in ambient air quality has been achieved since the 1970s and 1980s, when air pollution in the former Czechoslovakia culminated. Nevertheless, new challenges including fine aerosol, benzo[a]pyrene and ground-level ozone, of which the limit values are still vastly exceeded, have emerged. Furthermore, in spite of a significant reduction in overall emissions, the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen, in particular, remains high in some regions.

scholarly journals Discrimination in Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring?

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 277-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corbett Grainger ◽  
Andrew Schreiber
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Ambient Pollution

In the United States, ambient air quality is regulated through National Ambient Air Quality standards (NAAQS). Enforcement of these standards is delegated to state and sub-state regulators who are also tasked with designing their own monitoring networks for ambient pollution. Past work has found evidence consistent with strategic behavior: local regulators strategically avoid pollution hotspots when siting monitors. This paper assesses whether income and race have historically played a role in monitor siting decisions.

scholarly journals Air quality at bus stop microenvironments in a Metro Vancouver urban and suburban area

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Nielsen ◽  
BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽  
Bobby Sidhu
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
The Other ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Bus Stop ◽  
Metro Vancouver

  BACKGROUND Those commuters waiting in small-scale transportation microenvironments, such as bus stops, can be exposed to levels of pollution higher than what is registered by ambient air quality monitoring stations. In addition, historically, those commuting in urban areas experience greater exposure to air pollutants than those commuting in suburban or rural areas, due to the nature of the environment. Little quantitative research has been conducted in the Metro Vancouver area regarding air quality in small scale transportation microenvironments. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the differences in commuter exposure during AM Peak and PM Peak periods between an urban (Vancouver) and suburban (Ladner) bus stop. Furthermore, results were to be compared to the Metro Vancouver 24 hour rolling average objective as well as nearby Lower Fraser Valley (LFV) Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network stations. METHODS The author measured particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter), using the DustTrakTM Aerosol Monitor 8520 between January 6, 2014 and January 21, 2014 on 12 weekdays, from 6:30am to 7:00am and 5:00pm to 5:30pm, at Stop #55165 Northbound Harvest Dr at Ladner Trunk Rd in Ladner, BC and from Stop #50043 Burrard Stn Bay1 in Vancouver, BC. In addition, meteorological conditions, traffic density, bus volume, and other observations were taken during sampling periods. RESULTS The author found that average PM2.5 exposures were highest during the morning in Ladner (μ=34.38667μg/m3) and lowest during the morning in Vancouver (μ=13.44 μg/m3). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between Vancouver AM and the other groups (Ladner AM, Ladner PM [μ=28.07778 μg/m3], and Vancouver PM [μ=30.16667 μg/m3]), but the other groups were not significantly different from each other. Furthermore, the author found that the Vancouver AM average (μ=13.44 μg/m3) was below the Metro Vancouver 24 hour rolling average (25μg/m3) while all other groups (Ladner AM, Ladner PM, and Vancouver PM) exceeded this average. Lastly, when comparing all groups to the AM and PM hourly averages of their respective LFV Air Quality Monitoring Network stations (Ladner AM and PM vs. Tsawwassen AM and PM and Vancouver AM and PM vs. Kitsalano AM and PM), the author found that all groups averages exceeded the hourly averages of their respective stations. CONCLUSION Commuters’ peak hour exposures were significantly influenced by different microenvironments and were found to be higher than the ambient PM2.5 levels registered by the respective LFV Air Quality Monitoring Network stations. In order to address this, Metro Vancouver should implement personal exposure assessments, especially near roadways, to obtain actual levels of exposure to pollutants, such as PM2.5, by their residents. In this way, acute and chronic health outcome risks to air pollution can be better understood.  

scholarly journals Ambient Air Quality and General Health Outcomes in Nigde (Turkey) between 2011 and 2017

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ertan Kara ◽  
Hasan Göksel Özdilek ◽  
Emine Erman Kara ◽  
Fatih Balcı ◽  
Burcu Mestav
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Ambient Air Quality

Background: We aimed to provide information for health practitioners and other related people about the association between ambient air quality and adverse health outcomes in the general population of Nigde, a central Turkish city, within the context of current health data epidemiological evidence. Methods: The present study highlights the connection between health problems and time series of particulate matter (PM10) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) in Nigde, Turkey between 2011 and 2017. Significant morbidity is linked to ambient air pollution, resulting in a significant economic cost to society. Results: We found that the required funds to treat cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease triggered by ambient air pollution in Nigde, exceed 9 million US dollars per year, even when only the city center is taken into account. Conclusion: As Turkish cities grow and urban population density increases, air pollution issues need to be given priority in order to protect the health of the public and support sustainable development for future generations. It is recommended that particulate matter concentration in this urban center should be significantly reduced to minimize health problems.

scholarly journals Ambient air quality data reported at Sasol Secunda monitoring stations during COVID-19 lockdown – Mpumalanga, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Venter ◽  
Sandra De Vos
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Monitoring Stations

Various local and international research has been published on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on ambient air quality. In most cases, a reduction in ambient NOx and PM concentrations have been observed with varying changes in ambient SO2 levels. Secunda, located in the Highveld Priority Area in Mpumalanga, South Africa is known for its large industrial facilities utilising coal as primary feedstock. The towns of Secunda and eMbalenhle provide the majority of the workforce to Sasol and has therefore been the focus of this study. The ambient air quality in the Secunda region was assessed due to the changes in human behaviour during lockdown, familiarity with the Sasol facility and the strategic locations of ambient air quality stations.Results show a clear decrease in ambient CO, NO2 and PM concentrations, especially during the first two weeks of lockdown. Only subtle changes were observed for ambient H2S and SO2 pollutant concentrations at the ambient monitoring stations. An increasing trend in all ambient species was observed towards the end and post lockdown, in contrast to declining ambient temperatures with the onset of winter. This is also contrary to the reduction in emissions from the factory that conducted annual maintenance in the month following lockdown (phase shutdown). This article concludes that human behaviour has a material local ambient impact on CO, NO2 and PM pollutant species, while H2S concentration profiles are more directly related to the industrial complex’s levels of activity. Ambient SO2 trends did not show a similar correlation with the facility’s activities (as H2S), but a stronger correlation was observed with the diverse local and regional sources in close proximity to Secunda and eMbalenhle. The influence of better dispersion especially on a local scale, brought about by more effective emission heights, is considered material. Moreover, meteorological factors, on local air quality, has been shown to be a material contributor to observed ambient air quality levels in the study domain

Experience in Organizing and Conducting Epidemiological Studies to Detect and Prove the Causal Relationship between Ambient Air Quality and Health Disorders in the Population of Industrially Contaminated Sites

2021 ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
NV Zaitseva ◽  
IG Zhdanova-Zaplesvichko ◽  
MA Zemlyanova ◽  
AN Perezhogin ◽  
DF Savinykh
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Health Damage ◽  
Health Disorders

Summary. Introduction: Within the framework of the Federal Clean Air Project, it is envisaged to implement comprehensive action plans aimed at reducing air pollution and increasing the level of public satisfaction with the environmental situation in a number of industrial centers of the Russian Federation with high and extremely high levels of ambient air pollution. Decree No. 1792 of the Russian Government of December 24, 2019 approved the requirements for compensatory measures aimed at improving ambient air quality, preventing and eliminating adverse health effects of environmental factors. To increase the validity and adequacy of the measures taken, it is necessary to elaborate method approaches for Rospotrebnadzor bodies to designing and conducting studies on establishing the association between air pollution and adverse health outcomes in the population living in industrially contaminated areas. The purpose of our work was to substantiate an algorithm of actions and to demonstrate its efficiency within epidemiological studies focused on establishing and proving the causal relationship between airborne chemicals and observed health consequences in the population. Materials and methods included a set of modern hygienic and epidemiological research methods, assessment of risk and its health damage, in-depth research, and modeling of cause and effect relationships. Results: We proposed approaches and conducted studies to establish the link between industrial air pollution and the diseases diagnosed in the exposed population. Conclusions: The suggested algorithm of actions tested in the city of Bratsk proved to be effective and helped identify risk-attributed health disorders; specify the pollutants requiring development or adjustment of measures to reduce their ambient emissions; clarify and expand the list of target organs and systems for prediction and monitoring; substantiate and fulfil managerial decisions and adequate targeted preventive measures based on health damage criteria.

scholarly journals Air of Uncertainty from pollution profiteers: Status of ambient air quality of sawmill industry in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morufu Raimi ◽  
Timothy Kayode Samson ◽  
Ajayi Bankole Sunday ◽  
Adio Zulkarnaini Olalekan ◽  
Odipe Oluwaseun Emmanuel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Direct Reading ◽  
Life Years

Abstract We can’t stop breathing, but we can do something about the quality of air that we breathe. Clean fresh air is indispensable ingredient for a good life quality. Individuals poses the right towards expecting that the breathed air will not harm people. Thus, fighting air pollution will not only improve health outcomes, productivity, and well-being, it’s also essential toward reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas as well as fighting climate change. For examples, a third of the global population is at risk from unhealthy of ambient air pollutants concentrations, with the loss of approximately 6.4 million healthy-life-years attributed specifically to chronic exposure to ambient particulate matter. Expert panels have consistently rated air pollution as a greater health hazard than water pollution. Pollution of air is the leading source of unexplained and undiagnosed diseases, besides have remained associated with a variety of serious human health risks, and in fact, a threshold has not been established under which these pollutants exert no adverse effects. This study evaluates ambient air quality at major sawmill sites in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. “Measurements of Air pollution were accurately carried out using direct reading, automatic in situ gas monitors; Hand held mobile multi-gas monitor with model AS8900 [Combustible (LEL), and Oxygen (O2)], BLATN with model BR – Smart Series air quality monitor (PM10, Formaldehyde) and air quality multimeter with model B SIDE EET100 (Dust (PM2.5), VOC, Temperature and Relative Humidity)”. The outcomes disclosed among others, the average concentrations of CO, O2 as well as other measured parameters for instance formaldehyde (HcHo) etc., they are also consistently low as well as within acceptable range in terms of National as well as Global monitoring standards for air quality indices. However, there are few exceptions for instance the average volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentrations, PM2.5, PM10 as well as Combustible (LEL) respectively, which are higher when compared to National and Global standards. This high figure is due to pollutant amount existing in the sawmills air environment resulting from input of influents from activities of the sawmill. However, as a result, air pollution in the city of Ilorin is found to be increasingly polluted and are of major health concern because of their synergistic action. Due to the high evidences and values, it can lead to a remarkable rise in over-all figure of hospital visits/ patients’ admissions with acute respiratory illnesses as soon as air pollutants level remained high. Hence, there is the need for an aggressive control of ambient air pollution.

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