scholarly journals Impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis of Delta State Nigeria: a comparative survey of environment health effects

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 283
Author(s):  
Omatseye Alero Akuirene ◽  
Josiah O. Adjene ◽  
Nkemdilim I. Obi ◽  
Ezekiel Uba Nwose
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Gas Flaring ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Directional Change ◽  
Evaluation Of Data ◽  
Toxicity Indices ◽  
The Impact

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis, relative to other communities of Delta is of interest. This study assessed the environmental impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis of Delta State. The objective of this study is to study the comparative assessment of the environmental impacts of gas flaring on five communities of unequal distance from gas flaring site.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Questionnaire survey was used to evaluate three research questions that included the level of knowledge in the survey communities regarding health impact of gas flaring; prevalence level of assessed health conditions in Ubeji metropolis relative to communities farther from or nearer to Warri gas flaring site; and perceived impact of gas flaring on air quality indicated by health and environmental toxicity indices.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Descriptive evaluation of data shows Ubeji appears to have the highest proportion of persons suffering respiratory problems, but the figure for family members is less than some other communities. The respondents nearer flaring site show more awareness compared to those farther away. Critical evaluation showed no directional change in prevalence of disease linked to gas flaring. There is linear relationship between ‘distance to gas flare site’ and ‘toxic impact on air quality’.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This report submits further data to the discourse that, on the basis of nearness to gas flaring site, there is significant difference between communities experience of environmental and health impact.</p><p> </p>

The use of temporal factors for improved CO2 emissions accounting in buildings

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barny Evans ◽  
Sabbir Sidat
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Electrical Grid ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Emissions Factor ◽  
Single Number ◽  
The Impact

This paper is an investigation into the issues around how we calculate CO2 emissions in the built environment. At present, in Building Regulations and GHG Protocol calculations used for buildings and corporate CO2 emissions calculations, it is standard to use a single number for the CO2 emission factor of each source. This paper considers how energy demand, particularly electricity at different times of the day, season and even year can differ in terms of its CO2 emissions. This paper models three different building types (retail, office and home) using standard software to estimate a profile of energy demand. It then considers how CO2 emissions calculations differ between using the single standard emissions factor and using an hourly emissions factor based on real electrical grid generation over a year. The paper also examines the impact of considering lifetime emissions factors rather than one-year factors using UK government projections. The results show that there is a significant difference to the analysis of benefit in terms of CO2 emissions from different measures – both intra- and inter-year – due to the varying CO2 emissions intensity, even when they deliver the same amount of net energy saving. Other factors not considered in this paper, such as impact on peak generation and air quality, are likely to be important when considering whole-system impacts. In line with this, it is recommended that moves are made to incorporate intra- and inter-year emissions factor changes in methodologies for calculating CO2 emissions. (This is particularly important as demand side response and energy storage, although generally accepted as important in the decarbonisation of the energy system at present will show as an increase in CO2 emissions when using a single number.) Further work quantifying the impact on air quality and peak generation capacity should also be considered. Practical application: This paper aims to help practitioners to understand the performance gap between how systems need to be designed in order to meet regulations compared to how buildings perform in reality – both today and in the future. In particular, it considers the use of ‘real-time’ carbon factors in order to attain long-term CO2 reductions. This methodology enables decision makers to understand the impacts of different energy reduction technologies, considering each of their unique characteristics and usage profiles. If implemented, the result is a simple-to-use dataset which can be embedded into the software packages already available onto the market which mirrors the complexity of the electricity grid that is under-represented through the use of a static carbon figure.

scholarly journals Avoided Mortality Associated with Improved Air Quality from an Increase in Renewable Energy in the Spanish Transport Sector: Use of Biofuels and the Adoption of the Electric Car

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1603
Author(s):  
Ana R. Gamarra ◽  
Yolanda Lechón ◽  
Marta G. Vivanco ◽  
Mark Richard Theobald ◽  
Carmen Lago ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Population Exposure ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Premature Deaths ◽  
Electric Car ◽  
The Impact

This paper assesses the health impact, in terms of the reduction of premature deaths associated with changes in air pollutant exposure, resulting from double-aim strategies for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants from the transport sector for the year 2030 in Spain. The impact on air quality of selected measures for reducing emissions from the transport sector (increased penetration of biofuel and electric car use) was assessed by air quality modeling. The estimation of population exposure to NO2, particulate matter (PM) and O3 allows for estimation of associated mortality and external costs in comparison with the baseline scenario with no measures. The results show that the penetration of the electric vehicle provided the largest benefits, even when the emissions due to the additional electricity demand were considered.

scholarly journals Emissions from Irish domestic fireplaces and their impact on indoor air quality when used as supplementary heating source

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Airborne Particle ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Heating Source ◽  
Open Fire ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

A field study on the impact of fireplace on the indoor air quality was carried out between 2004 and 2006, where two main contaminants, CO and particulate matters, were investigated in twenty seven randomly selected Irish houses. The results show that while the physical environment has been improved by increasing the room air and radiant temperature, indoor air quality is significantly decreased when fireplace is used as additional heating source to the central heating. The operation of fireplace increased transient concentrations of CO and airborne particle to several times higher than the normal house average level. Statistical analysis showed significant difference of the average PM10 concentration between house groups with and without using fireplace. However fireplace did not demonstrate a significant influence on average CO level from our samples. When comparisons were made between houses with various emission sources, i.e. fireplace, smoking and open fire gas cooking, and houses free of the above sources, smoking and open fire gas cookers were proved to be other major sources of particles and CO. Particularly when they exist at the same time with fireplace, significant elevation of CO and airborne particle levels is observed in analysis. Cumulative probability analysis in some houses revealed high percentage of time exceeding health guidelines which indicated the potential health risk in these houses. Mass balance equation was employed to estimate particle emission rates from fireplace, namely 0.66 mg min-1 (PM10) and 0.20 mg min-1 (PM2.5) respectively in terms of mass concentration. Emission rates on particle numbers were also estimated despite the relatively smaller sample. Gas fuel fireplaces tended to emit fewer particles both in mass and in number comparing to fireplaces using solid fuels.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Health among Malay Preschool Children in Selangor

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Azwani Mohd Nor Rawi ◽  
Juliana Jalaludin ◽  
Poh Choo Chua
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Lung Function Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Significant Difference

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has been the object of several studies due to its adverse health effects on children.Methods. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay children in Balakong (2 studied preschools) and Bangi (2 comparative preschools), Selangor, with the aims of determining IAQ and its association with respiratory health. 61 and 50 children aged 5-6 years were selected as studied and comparative groups. A questionnaire was used to obtain an exposure history and respiratory symptoms. Lung function test was carried out. IAQ parameters obtained include indoor concentration of particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, air velocity (AV), and relative humidity.Results. There was a significant difference between IAQ in studied and comparative preschools for all parameters measured(P<0.001)except for CO2and AV. Studied preschools had higher PM and CO concentration. FVC, FEV1, FVC% and FEV1% predicted values were significantly lower among studied group. Exposures to PM, VOCs, and CO were associated with wheezing.Conclusion. The finding concluded that exposures to poor IAQ might increase the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory problems among study respondents.

scholarly journals The Summer 2019–2020 Wildfires in East Coast Australia and Their Impacts on Air Quality and Health in New South Wales, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3538
Author(s):  
Hiep Duc Nguyen ◽  
Merched Azzi ◽  
Stephen White ◽  
David Salter ◽  
Toan Trieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
East Coast ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Exposed Population ◽  
The Impact

The 2019–2020 summer wildfire event on the east coast of Australia was a series of major wildfires occurring from November 2019 to end of January 2020 across the states of Queensland, New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and South Australia. The wildfires were unprecedent in scope and the extensive character of the wildfires caused smoke pollutants to be transported not only to New Zealand, but also across the Pacific Ocean to South America. At the peak of the wildfires, smoke plumes were injected into the stratosphere at a height of up to 25 km and hence transported across the globe. The meteorological and air quality Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model is used together with the air quality monitoring data collected during the bushfire period and remote sensing data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellites to determine the extent of the wildfires, the pollutant transport and their impacts on air quality and health of the exposed population in NSW. The results showed that the WRF-Chem model using Fire Emission Inventory (FINN) from National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to simulate the dispersion and transport of pollutants from wildfires predicted the daily concentration of PM2.5 having the correlation (R2) and index of agreement (IOA) from 0.6 to 0.75 and 0.61 to 0.86, respectively, when compared with the ground-based data. The impact on health endpoints such as mortality and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases hospitalizations across the modelling domain was then estimated. The estimated health impact on each of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census districts (SA4) of New South Wales was calculated based on epidemiological assumptions of the impact function and incidence rate data from the 2016 ABS and NSW Department of Health statistical health records. Summing up all SA4 census district results over NSW, we estimated that there were 247 (CI: 89, 409) premature deaths, 437 (CI: 81, 984) cardiovascular diseases hospitalizations and 1535 (CI: 493, 2087) respiratory diseases hospitalizations in NSW over the period from 1 November 2019 to 8 January 2020. The results are comparable with a previous study based only on observation data, but the results in this study provide much more spatially and temporally detailed data with regard to the health impact from the summer 2019–2020 wildfires.

scholarly journals A Review of the Environmental Impact of Gas Flaring on the Physiochemical Properties of Water, Soil and Air Quality in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 35-52
Author(s):  
Adeoye Ademola Elijah
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Delta Region ◽  
Physiochemical Properties ◽  
Gas Flaring ◽  
Physiochemical Parameters ◽  
Niger Delta Region ◽  
The Impact

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is of great socio-economic importance due to its huge crude oil reserves. However, the process of exploration has been of great detrimental effect on the physiochemical properties of the soil, water and air quality in the region and has caused several public health issues. This review article is focused on readdressing the extent of the impact of one of the processes, gas flaring on the environment, using some physiochemical parameters of rain water, soil and air quality in some selected communities in the Niger Delta region based on series of previous researches. The results show that gas flaring has negatively impacted the physical and chemical properties soil, water and air components of the environment, most especially impacting areas very close to the flaring site. Also, recommendations were made as to how the flaring of gas can be reduced to a very minimal level as well as how these gases can be utilized making it more economical than the flaring process which is a very good case for further research.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Air Quality Index by Spatial Analysis Depending on Vehicle Traffic during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Turkey

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5729
Author(s):  
Kadir Diler Alemdar ◽  
Ömer Kaya ◽  
Antonino Canale ◽  
Muhammed Yasin Çodur ◽  
Tiziana Campisi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Traffic Density ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Turkish Government ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
The Impact

As in other countries of the world, the Turkish government is implementing many preventive partial and total lockdown practices against the virus’s infectious effect. When the first virus case has been detected, the public authorities have taken some restriction to reduce people and traffic mobility, which has also turned into some positive affect in air quality. To this end, the paper aims to examine how this pandemic affects traffic mobility and air quality in Istanbul. The pandemic does not only have a human health impact. This study also investigates the social and environmental effects. In our analysis, we observe, visualize, compare and discuss the impact of the post- and pre-lockdown on Istanbul’s traffic mobility and air quality. To do so, a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach is proposed. Various spatial analyses are performed in GIS with the statistical data used; thus, the environmental effects of the pandemic can be better observed. We test the hypothesis that this has reduced traffic mobility and improved air quality using traffic density cluster set and air monitoring stations (five air pollutant parameters) data for five months. The results shows that there are positive changes in terms of both traffic mobility and air quality, especially in April–May. PM10, SO2, CO, NO2 and NOx parameter values improved by 21.21%, 16.55%, 18.82%, 28.62% and 39.99%, respectively. In addition, there was a 7% increase in the average traffic speed. In order for the changes to be permanent, it is recommended to integrate e-mobility and sharing systems into the current transportation network.

scholarly journals The Summer 2019-2020 Wildfires in East Coast Australia and Their Impacts on Air Quality and Health in New South Wales, Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiep Duc Nguyen ◽  
Merched Azzi ◽  
Stephen White ◽  
David Salter ◽  
Toan Trieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
East Coast ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Exposed Population ◽  
The Impact

The 2019-2020 summer wildfire event on the east coast of Australia was a series of major wildfires occurring from November 2019 to end of January 2020 across the states of Queensland, New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and South Australia. The wildfires were unprecedent in scope and the extensive extend of the wildfires has caused smoke pollutants transported not only to New Zealand but across the Pacific Ocean to South America. At the height of the wildfires, smoke plumes were injected into the stratosphere at height up to 25km and hence transported across the globe. Based on meteorological and air quality simulation using WRF-Chem model, air quality monitoring data collected during the bushfire period and remote sensing data from MODIS and CALIPSO satellites, the extend of the wildfires and the pollutant transport, and their impacts on air quality and health on exposed population in NSW can be analysed. The results showed that WRF-Chem model using Fire Emission Inventory from NCAR (FINN) predicts the dispersion and transport of pollutants and the predicted concentration of PM2.5 and other pollutants from wildfires reasonably well when compared with ground-based and satellite data. The impact on health endpoints such as mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases hospitalisation across the modelling domain is then estimated. The estimated health impact is comparable with previous study based only on observation data, but the results in this study provide much more detailed spatially and temporally with regards to the health impact from the 2019-2020 wildfire.

scholarly journals Comparison of Environmental and Occupational Health in Gas Flare Host Communities and those Farther from Gas Flare Sites

2021 ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
Nkemdilim I. Obi ◽  
Phillip T. Bwititi ◽  
Ezekiel U. Nwose
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Family Health History ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Gas Flaring ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Health History ◽  
Background Gas ◽  
The Impact

Background: Gas flaring occurs during crude oil extraction and can have adverse implications for the community’ health and the environment. Reports show that residents complain about ill-health e.g. insomnia due to heat generated during gas flaring. This article therefore compares the impact on health in gas flaring host and non-gas flaring host communities. Methodology: This research followed a mixed method approach of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Six questions were asked on occupation, residence, distance from the gas flare, social status in community, health status and family health history. Two questions assessed health status as well as family health history of participants and were semi-qualitative. All questions were adopted from a previously published report. Comparison of environmental and occupational data between host and neighbouring communities was done. Outcome: Nearness of residence to gas flare sites show increased frequency in the number of ill health issues in respondents and their families. The impact of gas flaring i.e. ill health is high in those near to the site and diabetes is more prevalent amongst other ill-health conditions surveyed. Multiple comparisons show that the group farthest from gas flare site have significantly least proportion of members who are stressed or suffering respiratory problems. Conclusion: Impact on health or wellbeing among members of gas flaring host communities are more severe when compared to those far. Government policies need to mitigate the adverse effects of gas flaring and the community needs to be educated on the impacts of gas flaring and how this can be minimised.

The Impact of Different Validation Datasets on Air Quality Modeling Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (25) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Khreis ◽  
Kees de Hoogh ◽  
Josias Zietsman ◽  
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Validation Dataset ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Pollution Modeling ◽  
The Impact

Many studies rely on air pollution modeling such as land use regression (LUR) or atmospheric dispersion (AD) modeling in epidemiological and health impact assessments. Generally, these models are only validated using one validation dataset and their estimates at select receptor points are generalized to larger areas. The primary objective of this paper was to explore the effect of different validation datasets on the validation of air quality models. The secondary objective was to explore the effect of the model estimates’ spatial resolution on the models’ validity at different locations. Annual NOx and NO2 were generated using a LUR and an AD model. These estimates were validated against four measurement datasets, once when estimates were made at the exact locations of the validation points and once when estimates were made at the centroid of the 100m×100m grid in which the validation point fell. The validation results varied substantially based on the model and validation dataset used. The LUR models’ R2 ranged between 21% and 58%, based on the validation dataset. The AD models’ R2 ranged between 13% and 56% based on the validation dataset and the use of constant or varying background NOx. The validation results based on model estimates at the exact validation site locations were much better than those based on a 100m×100m grid. This paper demonstrated the value of validating modeled air quality against various datasets and suggested that the spatial resolution of the models’ estimates has a significant influence on the validity at the application point.

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