Pilot Operation of Vehicle Rating System in Seoul’s Green Transportation Zone and the Reduction of Particulate Matter and Air Pollution Levels

In Taiwan country Annan, Chiayi, Giran, and Puzi cities are facing a serious fine particulate matter (PM2.5) issue. To date the impressive advance has been made toward understanding the PM2.5 issue, counting special temporal characterization, driving variables and well-being impacted. However, notable research as has been done on the interaction of the content between the selected cities of Taiwan country for particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration. In this paper, we purposed a visualization technique based on this principle of the visualization, cross-correlation method and also the time-series concentration with particulate matter (PM2.5) for different cities in Taiwan. The visualization also shows that the correlation between the different meteorological factors as well as the different air pollution pollutants for particular cities in Taiwan. This visualization approach helps to determine the concentration of the air pollution levels in different cities and also determine the Pearson correlation, r values of selected cities are Annan, Puzi, Giran, and Wugu.

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Novel Coronavirus: How Atmospheric Particulate Affects Our Environment and Health

Challenges ◽

10.3390/challe11010006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Luigi Sanità di Toppi ◽

Lorenzo Sanità di Toppi ◽

Erika Bellini

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽

The Novel ◽

Atmospheric Particulate ◽

Po Valley ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Prompt Action

It is well-known that atmospheric pollution, first and foremost the particulate matter (PM), causes serious diseases in humans. China’s metropolises and Italy’s Po Valley have in fact achieved a concerning degree of notoriety thanks to runaway air pollution problems. The spread of viral respiratory diseases is facilitated in polluted environments, an example of which is the respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. In this opinion paper, we consider the possible relationship between air pollution, primarily airborne PM10–2.5, and the spread of the novel coronavirus in Northern Italy. If it is true that the novel coronavirus remains active from some hours to several days on various surfaces, it is logical to postulate that the same can occur when it is adsorbed or absorbed by the atmospheric particulate matter, which may also help carry the virus into the human respiratory system. As the Earth presents us with a very high bill to pay, governments and other authorities need to take prompt action to counter excessive pollution levels, both in Italy and in other countries.

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Effects of AIR pollution on cardiopuLmonary disEaSe in urban and peri-urban reSidents in Beijing: protocol for the AIRLESS study

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-20-15775-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (24) ◽

pp. 15775-15792

Author(s):

Yiqun Han ◽

Wu Chen ◽

Lia Chatzidiakou ◽

Anika Krause ◽

Li Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Large Scale ◽

Personal Exposure ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Urban Residents ◽

Cardiopulmonary Disease ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Large Scale Field

Abstract. Beijing, as a representative megacity in China, is experiencing some of the most severe air pollution episodes in the world, and its fast urbanization has led to substantial urban and peri-urban disparities in both health status and air quality. Uncertainties remain regarding the possible causal links between individual air pollutants and health outcomes, with spatial comparative investigations of these links lacking, particularly in developing megacities. In light of this challenge, Effects of AIR pollution on cardiopuLmonary disEaSe in urban and peri-urban reSidents in Beijing (AIRLESS) was initiated, with the aim of addressing the complex issue of relating multi-pollutant exposure to cardiopulmonary outcomes. This paper presents the novel methodological framework employed in the project, namely (1) the deployment of two panel studies from established cohorts in urban and peri-urban Beijing, with different exposure settings regarding pollution levels and diverse sources; (2) the collection of detailed measurements and biomarkers of participants from a nested case (hypertensive) and control (healthy) study setting; (3) the assessment of indoor and personal exposure to multiple gaseous pollutants and particulate matter at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution with validated novel sensor technologies; (4) the assessment of ambient air pollution levels in a large-scale field campaign, particularly the chemical composition of particulate matter. Preliminary results showed that there is a large difference between ambient and personal air pollution levels, and the differences varied between seasons and locations. These large differences were reflected on the different health responses between the two panels.

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Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneity and Socioeconomic Driving Factors of PM2.5 in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and Its Surrounding Areas

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12101324 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 1324

Author(s):

Ju Wang ◽

Ran Li ◽

Kexin Xue ◽

Chunsheng Fang

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Shandong Province ◽

Temporal Heterogeneity ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Surrounding Areas ◽

Pm2.5 Concentration

Due to rapid urbanization and socio-economic development, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution has drawn very wide concern, especially in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, as well as in its surrounding areas. Different socio-economic developments shape the unique characteristics of each city, which may contribute to the spatial heterogeneity of pollution levels. Based on ground fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitoring data and socioeconomic panel data from 2015 to 2019, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and its surrounding provinces, were selected as a case study area to explore the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of PM2.5 pollution, and the driving effect of socioeconomic factors on local air pollution. The spatio-temporal heterogeneity analysis showed that PM2.5 concentration in the study area expressed a downward trend from 2015 to 2019. Specifically, the concentration in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and Henan Province had decreased, but in Shanxi Province and Shandong Province, the concentration showed an inverted U-shaped and U-shaped variation trend, respectively. From the perspective of spatial distribution, PM2.5 concentrations in the study area had an obvious spatial positive correlation, with agglomeration characteristics of “high–high” and “low–low”. The high-value area was mainly distributed in the junction area of Henan, Shandong, and Hebei Provinces, which had been gradually moving to the southwest. The low values were mainly concentrated in the northern parts of Shanxi and Hebei Provinces, and the eastern part of Shandong Province. The results of the spatial lag model showed that Total Population (POP), Proportion of Urban Population (UP), Output of Second Industry (SI), and Roads Density (RD) had positive driving effects on PM2.5 concentration, which were opposite of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition, the spatial spillover effect of the PM2.5 concentrations in surrounding areas has a positive driving effect on local pollution levels. Although the PM2.5 levels in the study area have been decreasing, air pollution is still a serious problem. In the future, studies on the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of PM2.5 caused by unbalanced social development will help to better understand the interaction between urban development and environmental stress. These findings can contribute to the development of effective policies to mitigate and reduce PM2.5 pollutions from a socio-economic perspective.

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Health-Based Approach to Determine Alert and Information Thresholds for Particulate Matter Air Pollution

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031345 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1345

Author(s):

Łukasz Adamkiewicz ◽

Katarzyna Maciejewska ◽

Krzysztof Skotak ◽

Michal Krzyzanowski ◽

Artur Badyda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Air Quality ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Health Impact ◽

Pm10 Concentration ◽

Case Scenario ◽

Potential Health ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Guideline Value

In this study Health Impact Assessment (HIA) methods were used to evaluate potential health benefits related to keeping air pollution levels in Poland under certain threshold concentrations. Impacts of daily mean particulate matter (PM)10 levels on hospital admissions due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were considered. Relative risk coefficients were adopted from WHO HRAPIE project. The analyses covered period from 2015 to 2017, and were limited to the heating season (1st and 4th quarter of the year), when the highest PM10 concentrations occur. The national total number of hospital admissions attributed to PM10 concentration exceeding WHO daily Air Quality Guideline value of 50 µg/m3 was calculated for each of the 46 air quality zones established in Poland. We found that the reduction of the attributable hospital admissions by 75% or 50% of that expected for the “best case scenario”, with no days with PM10 concentration exceeding 50 µg/m3 would require avoidance of exceedance by the daily mean PM10 concentration of 64 µg/m3 and 83 µg/m3, respectively. These concentrations were proposed as the information and alert thresholds, respectively. The alert thresholds were exceeded on 2 and 38 days per year in the least and the most polluted zones, respectively. Exceedances of the information thresholds occurred on 6 and 66 days in these zones.

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Monitoring and Forecasting Air Pollution Levels by Exploiting Satellite, Ground-Based, and Synoptic Data, Elaborated with Regression Models

Advances in Meteorology ◽

10.1155/2017/2954010 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Silas Michaelides ◽

Dimitris Paronis ◽

Adrianos Retalis ◽

Filippos Tymvios

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Aerosol Optical Depth ◽

Optical Depth ◽

Regression Models ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Synoptic Conditions

This paper presents some of the results of a project that aimed at the design and implementation of a system for the spatial mapping and forecasting the temporal evolution of air pollution from dust transport from the Sahara Desert into the eastern Mediterranean and secondarily from anthropogenic sources, focusing over Cyprus. Monitoring air pollution (aerosols) in near real-time is accomplished by using spaceborne and in situ platforms. The results of the development of a system for forecasting pollution levels in terms of particulate matter concentrations are presented. The aim of the present study is to utilize the recorded PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) ground measurements, Aerosol Optical Depth retrievals from satellite, and the prevailing synoptic conditions established by Artificial Neural Networks, in order to develop regression models that will be able to predict the spatial and temporal variability of PM10 in Cyprus. The core of the forecasting system comprises an appropriately designed neural classification system which clusters synoptic maps, Aerosol Optical Depth data from the Aqua satellite, and ground measurements of particulate matter. By exploiting the above resources, statistical models for forecasting pollution levels were developed.

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Using Bayesian time-stratified case-crossover models to examine associations between air pollution and “asthma seasons” in a low air pollution environment

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0260264 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0260264

Author(s):

Matthew Bozigar ◽

Andrew B. Lawson ◽

John L. Pearce ◽

Erik R. Svendsen ◽

John E. Vena

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

South Carolina ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Health Effects ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

The United States ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Case Crossover ◽

Ed Visits

Many areas of the United States have air pollution levels typically below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory limits. Most health effects studies of air pollution use meteorological (e.g., warm/cool) or astronomical (e.g., solstice/equinox) definitions of seasons despite evidence suggesting temporally-misaligned intra-annual periods of relative asthma burden (i.e., “asthma seasons”). We introduce asthma seasons to elucidate whether air pollutants are associated with seasonal differences in asthma emergency department (ED) visits in a low air pollution environment. Within a Bayesian time-stratified case-crossover framework, we quantify seasonal associations between highly resolved estimates of six criteria air pollutants, two weather variables, and asthma ED visits among 66,092 children ages 5–19 living in South Carolina (SC) census tracts from 2005 to 2014. Results show that coarse particulates (particulate matter <10 μm and >2.5 μm: PM10-2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) may contribute to asthma ED visits across years, but are particularly implicated in the highest-burden fall asthma season. Fine particulate matter (<2.5 μm: PM2.5) is only associated in the lowest-burden summer asthma season. Relatively cool and dry conditions in the summer asthma season and increased temperatures in the spring and fall asthma seasons are associated with increased ED visit odds. Few significant associations in the medium-burden winter and medium-high-burden spring asthma seasons suggest other ED visit drivers (e.g., viral infections) for each, respectively. Across rural and urban areas characterized by generally low air pollution levels, there are acute health effects associated with particulate matter, but only in the summer and fall asthma seasons and differing by PM size.

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The Effects of Traffic Air Pollution in and around Schools on Executive Function and Academic Performance in Children: A Rapid Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19020749 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 749

Author(s):

Nicola Gartland ◽

Halah E. Aljofi ◽

Kimberly Dienes ◽

Luke Aaron Munford ◽

Anna L. Theakston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Developmental Trajectory ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Indoor And Outdoor

This review summarises the extant literature investigating the relation between traffic-related air pollution levels in and around schools and executive functioning in primary-school-aged children. An electronic search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, and Education Literature Datasets databases (February 2020). Review articles were also searched, and forwards and backwards searches of identified studies were performed. Included papers were assessed for quality. We included 9 separate studies (published in 13 papers). Findings suggest that indoor and outdoor particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) negatively influences executive function and academic achievement and that indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) adversely affects working memory. Evidence for the effects of particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less (PM10) is limited but suggests potential wide-ranging negative effects on attention, reasoning, and academic test scores. Air pollution in and around schools influences executive function and appears to impede the developmental trajectory of working memory. Further research is required to establish the extent of these effects, reproducibility, consequences for future attainment, and place within the wider context of cognitive development.

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Effects of meteorological variables and holidays on the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO in Tehran (2014-2018)

Journal of Air Pollution and Health ◽

10.18502/japh.v4i1.599 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mostafa Hadei ◽

Maryam Yarahmadi ◽

Ahmad Jonidi Jafari ◽

Mohsen Farhadi ◽

Seyed Saeed Hashemi Nazari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Air Quality ◽

Pollution Control ◽

Meteorological Parameters ◽

Air Pollution Control ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Criteria Air Pollutants ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Autumn And Winter

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO in Tehran during March 2014-March 2018, and evaluate the effects of holidays and meteorological parameters on the air pollution levels. Materials and methods: Hourly concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO in different air quality monitors of Tehran were acquired. The data from each air quality monitored were validated, and only high-quality monitors were included in this study. Results: The 4-year averages of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO concen-trations were 88.74 (µg/m3), 31.02 (µg/m3), 34.87 (ppb), 71.01 (ppb), 20.04 (ppb), and 3.78 (ppm), respectively. Higher concentrations of PM10 and O3 were observed during summer. In case of PM2.5 and CO, autumn and winter concentrations were higher than those in springer and summer. Lower concen-trations of PM10 and NO2 in Fridays were observed comparing to other days of week. Ozone had high concentrations in Fridays as the weekend in Iran. Except for O3, all of the pollutants had higher concentrations in the working days, comparing to those in any type of vacation days. Concentrations of all pollutants rather that SO2 and O3 in Nowruz holidays were statistically lower than those in the working days. By controlling for the effects of meteorologi-cal variables, our results showed that the air pollution control policies and ac-tions have been not effective for particulate matter. Conclusion: These results determines the time periods in which the concen-trations of criteria air pollutants are high. This can be very useful for an-nouncing alarms for citizens, and designing the air pollution control plans. In addition, more effective actions should be designed and implemented for reducing ambient levels of particulate matter.

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The relative importance of impacts from climate change vs. emissions change on air pollution levels in the 21st century

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-13-3569-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 3569-3585 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

G. B. Hedegaard ◽

J. H. Christensen ◽

J. Brandt

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

The Arctic ◽

Anthropogenic Emissions ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Emission Changes ◽

Future Air Pollution ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Abstract. So far several studies have analysed the impacts of climate change on future air pollution levels. Significant changes due to impacts of climate change have been made clear. Nevertheless, these changes are not yet included in national, regional or global air pollution reduction strategies. The changes in future air pollution levels are caused by both impacts from climate change and anthropogenic emission changes, the importance of which needs to be quantified and compared. In this study we use the Danish Eulerian Hemispheric Model (DEHM) driven by meteorological input data from the coupled Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model ECHAM5/MPI-OM and forced with the newly developed RCP4.5 emissions. The relative importance of the climate signal and the signal from changes in anthropogenic emissions on the future ozone, black carbon (BC), total particulate matter with a diameter below 2.5 μm (total PM2.5 including BC, primary organic carbon (OC), mineral dust and secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA)) and total nitrogen (including NHx + NOy) has been determined. For ozone, the impacts of anthropogenic emissions dominate, though a climate penalty is found in the Arctic region and northwestern Europe, where the signal from climate change dampens the effect from the projected emission reductions of anthropogenic ozone precursors. The investigated particles are even more dominated by the impacts from emission changes. For black carbon the emission signal dominates slightly at high latitudes, with an increase up to an order of magnitude larger, close to the emission sources in temperate and subtropical areas. Including all particulate matter with a diameter below 2.5 μm (total PM2.5) enhances the dominance from emissions change. In contrast, total nitrogen (NHx + NOy) in parts of the Arctic and at low latitudes is dominated by impacts of climate change.

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