scholarly journals Exploring the Air Pollution Control Direction of Two Typical Cities, Beijing and Wuhan, from the Air Pollution under Emergency Responses during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Tsan Qin
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Preventive Action ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Pollutant Migration ◽  
Control Direction

: During the period of COVID-19, the Chinese government implemented a series of actions to prevent the spread of the virus. It is noticed that these preventive actions have generated positive effects on air pollution in Wuhan and Beijing. And, due to the differences in city functions, geographic locations, meteorological conditions, and preventive action details between the two cities, noticeable difference is observed on how they reduced air pollution. This unfortunate incident has become a social sample for studying the industrial and livelihood activities impact on air pollution, otherwise would be highly impossible. This paper starts from observing data from NASA's real-time fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and NO2, and comparing the air pollution in this special time domain with previous years. It is discovered that both PM2.5 and NO2 have been reduced in Wuhan, while only NO2 has significant reduction in Beijing, during the COVID-19 responses. This suggests that the human activity suppression by the COVID-19 control yields different effects on different pollutants and in different cities. Possible reasons for such effects are analysed by considering the public health control levels as well as the pollutant migration, industrial activities, and the weather conditions.

scholarly journals Decoupling Analysis between Economic Growth and Air Pollution in Key Regions of Air Pollution Control in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6600
Author(s):  
Jing Li ◽  
Lipeng Hou ◽  
Lin Wang ◽  
Lina Tang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
No2 Pollution

The Chinese government has implemented a number of environmental policies to promote the continuous improvement of air quality while considering economic development. Scientific assessment of the impact of environmental policies on the relationship between air pollution and economic growth can provide a scientific basis for promoting the coordinated development of these two factors. This paper uses the Tapio decoupling theory to analyze the relationship between regional economic growth and air pollution in key regions of air pollution control in China—namely, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and surrounding areas (BTHS), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Pearl River Delta (PRD)—based on data of GDP and the concentrations of SO2, PM10, and NO2 for 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2019. The results show that the SO2, PM10, and NO2 pollution in the key regions show strong and weak decoupling. The findings additionally indicate that government policies have played a significant role in improving the decoupling between air pollution and economic development. The decoupling between economic growth and SO2 and PM10 pollution in the BTHS, YRD, and PRD is better than that in other regions, while the decoupling between economic growth and NO2 pollution has not improved significantly in these regions. To improve the relationship between economic growth and air pollution, we suggest that the governments of China and other developing countries should further optimize and adjust the structure of industry, energy, and transportation; apply more stringent targets and measures in areas of serious air pollution; and strengthen mobile vehicle pollution control.

scholarly journals Atmospheric conditions affecting the transmission of COVID-19 virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1487
Author(s):  
Purva Shoor ◽  
Gagan Deep Kaur ◽  
Amanjot Kaur Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Low Humidity

The physical environment plays an important role in the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19. Atmospheric conditions associated to diseases like influenza, adenovirus infections, parainfluenza, common cold viruses and so on. But we are still lacking in evidence to support the influence of meteorological conditions in spreading COVID-19. We have discussed air pollution, smoking, low air temperature, and proximity to equator, low humidity and air velocity as contributing factors in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through this narrative synthesis. Bio-aerosol or ultra-fine particulate matter seems to be the most promising mode of transmission of COVID-19. Other methods are direct contact and droplet infection. Air pollution control can prevent priming of respiratory system which shall further protect from pulmonary infections. Air sanitization and humidifiers can be considered to modify the indoor air and prevent contracting infection at workplaces, schools and other gatherings.

scholarly journals Effect of FOXO3 and Air Pollution on Cognitive Function: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Older Adults in China from 2000 to 2014

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S Ji ◽  
Linxin Liu ◽  
Yi Zeng ◽  
Lijing L Yan
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Mmse Score ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Human Longevity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Minor Alleles

Abstract Forkhead Box O 3 (FOXO3) genotype is strongly associated with human longevity and may be protective against neurodegeneration. Air pollution is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. We aimed to study the individual and combined effects of FOXO3 and air pollution on cognitive function in a large prospective cohort with up to 14 years of follow-up. We measured cognitive function and impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We used tagging SNPs rs2253310, rs2802292, and rs4946936 to identify the FOXO3 gene, of which roughly half of the population had the longevity associated polymorphism. We matched annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations within 1 km^2 grid. We conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using multivariable linear and logistic regression models and generalized estimating equation. At baseline, carriers of the longevity associated homozygous minor alleles of FOXO3 SNPs had a higher MMSE score than the carriers of homozygous major alleles. In the longitudinal follow-up, carriers of FOXO3 homozygous minor alleles had lower odds of cognitive impairment compared to non-carriers. Higher PM2.5 was associated with a lower MMSE score and higher odds of cognitive impairment. The positive effects of FOXO3 were the strongest in females, older people, and residents in areas with lower air pollution.

Utilizing Blockchain and Smart Contracts to Enable Audit 4.0: From the Perspective of Accountability Audit of Air Pollution Control in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Dai ◽  
Na He ◽  
Haizong Yu
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Smart Sensors ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Air Quality Data

ABSTRACT Industry 4.0 uses many technologies, such as smart sensors and IoT, to fundamentally improve manufacturing processes. These advanced tools can also be utilized by auditors for the purpose of achieving real-time auditing and monitoring, pushing the profession toward a new generation: “Audit 4.0.” Blockchains and smart contracts should be utilized to overcome new challenges in the transformation toward Audit 4.0. This paper explores the potential of blockchain and smart contracts to reengineer current audit procedures, thereby enabling Audit 4.0. First, this paper demonstrates a framework that summarizes where blockchain and smart contracts should be applied to help implement Audit 4.0. Then, it designs and implements a system to facilitate accountability audit for Chinese government officials regarding air pollution control. In this case, real air quality data are collected via crowdsourcing, verified and analyzed by blockchain and smart contracts to achieve a continuous audit of government officials' performance on air protection.

scholarly journals Air Pollution Control: An Analysis of China’s Industrial Off-Peak Production Policy through the Quasi-Natural Experiment Method

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4808
Author(s):  
Xindi Xu ◽  
Qinyun Wang ◽  
Haichao Hu ◽  
Xinjun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Marginal Cost ◽  
Shadow Price ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
The North ◽  
Production Policy ◽  
Triple Difference ◽  
The Difference

To reduce frequent heavy air pollution, the Chinese government suspends clinker production during the heating season in most areas of the North, which is known as the Clinker Off-peak Production Policy. The questions regarding such a repressive production policy for environmental purposes are whether this policy is effective in reducing pollutants and whether the marginal cost is high. To explore these policy effects, a quasi-experiment is designed, taking advantage of spatial-temporal variations in policy implementation. With the triple-difference method and environmental satellite data, the effect on air pollution is estimated to be −1900 μg/m2 (~2%) of SO2 and −3200 μg/m2 (~10%) of NO2. With daily price information and the difference-in-differences method, the market effect is estimated to be an approximately 10% increase in annual sale prices. The marginal cost estimated through a back-of-the-envelope analysis is 32 k RMB yuan/ton SO2 or NO2, which is 24.88 times the pollutant discharge fee but which better reflects the pollutant shadow price.

HOW CHINA ATTEMPTS TO VANQUISH AIR POLLUTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

2021 ◽  
pp. 101-111
Author(s):  
R. FENG ◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Energy Structure ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Low Emission ◽  
High Level

In February 2012 a war has been declared by the Chinese government against the nagging air pollution, which takes a mounting death toll annually. The three-pronged national-scale regulations of afforestation/silviculture, ultra-low emission, and energy structure reform have been carried out firmly by authorities, etching the determination of the nation to implement the WHO’s recommended interim target of air pollution control. Undeniably, preliminary battle against air pollution has achieved initial success. Eight years after the declaration air pollution has been controlled to an acceptable level, compellingly demonstrating the validity of current policy, even with continued reasons for skepticism and gaps in scientic knowledge. However, the accruing trend of tropospheric O3 in the surface air and high level of wintertime PM2.5 signify this en masse war is far from winning.

scholarly journals Impact of air pollution control measures and regional transport on carbonaceous aerosols in fine particulate matter in urban Beijing, China: insights gained from long-term measurement

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (13) ◽  
pp. 8569-8590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongsheng Ji ◽  
Wenkang Gao ◽  
Willy Maenhaut ◽  
Jun He ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Fine Particulate

Abstract. As major chemical components of airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5), organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) have vital impacts on air quality, climate change, and human health. Because OC and EC are closely associated with fuel combustion, it is helpful for the scientific community and policymakers assessing the efficacy of air pollution control measures to study the impact of control measures and regional transport on OC and EC levels. In this study, hourly mass concentrations of OC and EC associated with PM2.5 were semi-continuously measured from March 2013 to February 2018. The results showed that annual mean OC and EC concentrations declined from 14.0 to 7.7 µg m−3 and from 4.0 to 2.6 µg m−3, respectively, from March 2013 to February 2018. In combination with the data of OC and EC in previous studies, an obvious decreasing trend in OC and EC concentrations was found, which was caused by clean energy policies and effective air pollution control measures. However, no obvious change in the ratios of OC and EC to the PM2.5 mass (on average, 0.164 and 0.049, respectively) was recorded, suggesting that inorganic ions still contributed a lot to PM2.5. Based on the seasonal variations in OC and EC, it appeared that higher OC and EC concentrations were still observed in the winter months, with the exception of winter of 2017–2018. Traffic policies executed in Beijing resulted in nighttime peaks of OC and EC, caused by heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty diesel vehicles being permitted to operate from 00:00 to 06:00 (China standard time, UTC+8, for all times throughout the paper). In addition, the fact that there was no traffic restriction in weekends led to higher concentrations on weekends compared to weekdays. Significant correlations between OC and EC were observed throughout the study period, suggesting that OC and EC originated from common emission sources, such as exhaust of vehicles and fuel combustion. OC and EC levels increased with enhanced SO2, CO, and NOx concentrations while the O3 and OC levels were enhanced simultaneously when O3 concentrations were higher than 50 µg m−3. Non-parametric wind regression analysis was performed to examine the sources of OC and EC in the Beijing area. It was found that there were distinct hot spots in the northeast wind sector at wind speeds of approximately 0–6 km h−1, as well as diffuse signals in the southwestern wind sectors. Source areas further away from Beijing were assessed by potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis. A high-potential source area was precisely pinpointed, which was located in the northwestern and southern areas of Beijing in 2017 instead of solely in the southern areas of Beijing in 2013. This work shows that improvement of the air quality in Beijing benefits from strict control measures; however, joint prevention and control of regional air pollution in the regions is needed for further improving the air quality. The results provide a reference for controlling air pollution caused by rapid economic development in developing countries.

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