scholarly journals Toward Environmental Justice in Civic Science: Youth Performance and Experience Measuring Air Pollution Using Moss as a Bio-Indicator in Industrial-Adjacent Neighborhoods

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7278
Author(s):  
Monika M. Derrien ◽  
Christopher Zuidema ◽  
Sarah Jovan ◽  
Amanda Bidwell ◽  
Weston Brinkley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Career Interests ◽  
Twelfth Grade ◽  
Action Model ◽  
Collaborative Context ◽  
Civic Science

This article reports on an interdisciplinary evaluation of the pilot phase of a community-driven civic science project. The project investigates the distribution of heavy metals in air pollution using moss growing on street trees as a bio-indicator in two industrial-adjacent neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington (USA). One goal of the ongoing project is to meaningfully engage local urban youths (eighth to twelfth grade) in the scientific process as civic scientists, and teach them about environmental health, environmental justice, and urban forestry concepts in a place-based, urban-oriented environmental research project. We describe the collaborative context in which our project developed, evaluate the quality of youth-collected data through analysis of replicate samples, and assess participants’ learning, career interests, and overall appraisal of the pilot. Our results indicate that youth scientists collected usable samples (with acceptable precision among repeated samples), learned project content (with statistically significant increases in scores of test-style survey questions; p = 0.002), and appraised their engagement favorably (with 69% of participants reporting they liked the project). We observed few changes in career interests, however. We discuss our intention to use these preliminary insights to further our community-driven education, research, and action model to address environmental injustices.

Urban Vegetation and Air Pollution Mitigation: Some Issues from India

2016 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 1650001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avni ANAMIKA ◽  
Chaudhry PRADEEP
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Urban Vegetation ◽  
Urban Greenery ◽  
Pollution Removal ◽  
Future Management

Urban greenery generates significant ecosystem services and contributes to improving environmental quality, quality of life, and sustainable urban development. Research on various aspects of urban forestry such as carbon sequestration, removing air pollutants, reducing noise, providing recreational amenity benefits is in infancy stage in India. This paper reviews some significant studies in the field of air pollution removal by urban vegetation in developed and developing countries including India. Some issues related to development and research in the field of urban greenery and future management strategies to be adopted in India have been discussed in the paper.

VALORIZATION OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF SOUTH SERBIA FROM THE AIR QUALITY ASPECT

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1329-1333
Author(s):  
Miodrag Šmelcerović
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Sources Of Pollution

The protection of the environment and people’s health from negative influences of the pollution of air as a medium of the environment requires constant observing of the air quality in accordance with international standards, the analysis of emission and imission of polluting matters in the air, and their connection with the sources of pollution. Having in mind the series of laws and delegated legislations which define the field of air pollution, it is necessary to closely observe these long-term processes, discovering cause-and-effect relationships between the activities of anthropogenic sources of emission of polluting matters and the level of air degradation. The relevant evaluation of the air quality of a certain area can be conducted if the level of concentration of polluting matters characteristic for the pollution sources of this area is observed in a longer period of time. The data obtained by the observation of the air pollution are the basis for creation of the recovery program of a certain area. Vranje is a town in South Serbia where there is a bigger number of anthropogenic pollution sources that can significantly diminish the air quality. The cause-and-effect relationship of the anthropogenic sources of pollution is conducted related to the analysis of systematized data which are in the relevant data base of the authorized institution The Institute of Public Health Vranje, for the time period between the year of 2012. and 2017. By the analysis of data of imission concentrations of typical polluting matters, the dominant polluting matters were determined on the territory of the town of Vranje, the ones that are the causers of the biggest air pollution and the risk for people’s health. Analysis of the concentration of soot, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides indicates their presence in the air of Vranje town area in concentrations that do not exceed the permitted limit values annually. The greatest pollution is caused by the soot content in the air, especially in the winter period when the highest number of days with the values above the limit was registered. By perceiving the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, it is clear that the concentration of polluting matters can be decreased only by establishing control over anthropogenic sources of pollution, and thus it can be contributed to the improvement of the air quality of this urban environment.

Robust Environmental Sensing Using UAVs

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ahmed Boubrima ◽  
Edward W. Knightly
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Gas Sensors ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Mission Planning ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Compound Pollution ◽  
Planning Algorithm

In this article, we first investigate the quality of aerial air pollution measurements and characterize the main error sources of drone-mounted gas sensors. To that end, we build ASTRO+, an aerial-ground pollution monitoring platform, and use it to collect a comprehensive dataset of both aerial and reference air pollution measurements. We show that the dynamic airflow caused by drones affects temperature and humidity levels of the ambient air, which then affect the measurement quality of gas sensors. Then, in the second part of this article, we leverage the effects of weather conditions on pollution measurements’ quality in order to design an unmanned aerial vehicle mission planning algorithm that adapts the trajectory of the drones while taking into account the quality of aerial measurements. We evaluate our mission planning approach based on a Volatile Organic Compound pollution dataset and show a high-performance improvement that is maintained even when pollution dynamics are high.

An Environmental Justice Analysis of British Air Quality

2003 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 909-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Mitchell ◽  
Danny Dorling
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Car Ownership ◽  
National Study ◽  
Environmental Injustice ◽  
The Usa ◽  
History Of

This paper presents the results of the first national study of air quality in Britain to consider the implications of its distribution across over ten thousand local communities in terms of potential environmental injustice. We consider the recent history of the environmental justice debate in Britain, Europe, and the USA and, in the light of this, estimate how one aspect of air pollution, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, affects different population groups differentially across Britain. We also estimate the extent to which people living in each community in Britain contribute towards this pollution, with the aid of information on the characteristics of the vehicles they own. We find that, although community NO x emission and ambient NO2 concentration are strongly related, the communities that have access to fewest cars tend to suffer from the highest levels of air pollution, whereas those in which car ownership is greatest enjoy the cleanest air. Pollution is most concentrated in areas where young children and their parents are more likely to live and least concentrated in areas to which the elderly tend to migrate. Those communities that are most polluted and which also emit the least pollution tend to be amongst the poorest in Britain. There is therefore evidence of environmental injustice in the distribution and production of poor air quality in Britain. However, the spatial distribution of those who produce and receive most of that pollution have to be considered simultaneously to see this injustice clearly.

scholarly journals Contribution of Local and Transboundary Air Pollution to the Urban Air Quality of Fukuoka, Japan

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 431
Author(s):  
Ayako Yoshino ◽  
Akinori Takami ◽  
Keiichiro Hara ◽  
Chiharu Nishita-Hara ◽  
Masahiko Hayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Gaseous Species ◽  
Transboundary Air Pollution ◽  
Local Air Pollution ◽  
The City

Transboundary air pollution (TAP) and local air pollution (LAP) influence the air quality of urban areas. Fukuoka, located on the west side of Japan and affected by TAP from the Asian continent, is a unique example for understanding the contribution of LAP and TAP. Gaseous species and particulate matter (PM) were measured for approximately three weeks in Fukuoka in the winter of 2018. We classified two distinctive periods, LAP and TAP, based on wind speed. The classification was supported by variations in the concentration of gaseous species and by backward trajectories. Most air pollutants, including NOx and PM, were high in the LAP period and low in the TAP period. However, ozone was the exception. Therefore, our findings suggest that reducing local emissions is necessary. Ozone was higher in the TAP period, and the variation in ozone concentration was relatively small, indicating that ozone was produced outside of the city and transported to Fukuoka. Thus, air pollutants must also be reduced at a regional scale, including in China.

scholarly journals Towards Smart City: Influence of Air Pollution on the Local Community of the Zabrze City in Surveys and Field Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 845-850
Author(s):  
Jolanta Ignac-Nowicka
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Toxic Gases ◽  
Accumulation Of Pollutants ◽  
The City

Abstract The results of the conducted pilot research indicated the basic local problems of the residents of Zabrze city. The purpose of the next research was to answer the question: how to improve the quality of life of residents in a city with significant air pollution. Activities aimed at this goal are inscribed in the idea of "smart city". The article presents the results of pilot measurements of air pollution with toxic gases in the Zabrze city in the Silesian agglomeration (Poland). Field studies at selected locations in the city concerned measurements of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The aim of these studies was to identify areas of the city with significant air pollution with toxic gases in order to plan further detailed research. Made measurements showed the appearance of the local problem of accumulation of pollutants in several areas of the city. The results obtained were compared with surveys conducted among residents of the Zabrze city. The aim of the survey was to examine the respondents' awareness of: the location of areas with noticeable air pollution and health problems resulting from air pollution in the place of residence. The article also presents a plan of possible actions for the city of Zabrze within the framework of the "smart city" idea to improve the quality of life of the local city community in conditions of increased emission of gas pollution in the city.

scholarly journals IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION SUPPORT FOR MONITORING AIR POLLUTION FROM VEHICLES (CASE STUDY OF ST. PETERSBURG)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-74
Author(s):  
V. N. Lozhkin ◽  
◽  
O. V. Lozhkina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Information Process ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Standard Limit ◽  
The City ◽  
Original Information

Introduction. St. Petersburg is the cultural and sea capital of Russia. The city is characterized by environmental problems typical for the largest cities in the world. It has a technical system for instrumental online monitoring and computational forecasting of air quality. Methods. The system maintains the information process by means of computational monitoring of its current and future state. Results. The paper describes methodological approaches to the generation of instrumental information about the structure and intensity of traffic flows in the urban road network and its digital transformation into GIS maps of air pollution in terms of pollutants standard limit values excess. Conclusion. The original information technology for air quality control was introduced at the regional level in the form of an official methodology and is used in environmental management activities.

scholarly journals Cause-and-effect relationships between air pollution and health conditions in population

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-234
Author(s):  
I. I. Berezin ◽  
Yu. Yu. Eliseev ◽  
A. K. Sergeev
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Bronchial Asthma ◽  
Respiratory System ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Industrial City ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
The Impact

Objectives to reveal cause-and-effect relationships in the system "air pollution morbidity of the population" in a large industrial city. Material and methods.The dynamics of the pollutants concentration, such as formaldehyde and benzopyrene, through the period of 20152017 was analyzed in relation to the indicators of the morbidity of the respiratory system in the population of Samara. In particular, the study focused on the ratio of allergic rhinitis and asthma cases and the concentration of the formaldehyde and benzopyrene. Results.The incidence of respiratory diseases and the general morbidity increased both among children (by 46.7%) and adults (by 11.4%). There was the causal correlation between the effect of benzopyrene on the development of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma in children(r = 0.57 and r = 0.76) and in adults (r = 0.45 and r = 0.51) in Samara. The significant differences between the level of the pollutants and the frequency of the respiratory system diseases were registered in children and adults in different areas of Samara. Discussion.As a result of the increase of the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of formaldehyde in atmospheric air, this pollutant has now ceased to be a priority. The revealed negative correlations point to the absence of an adverse effect of formaldehyde on the development of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma in both children and adults in Samara. Conclusion.According to the results of the study, the preventive measures aimed at reducing the impact of main air pollutants on the health of children and adults in Samara were suggested. Their implementation is possible by the immediate informing of the executive authorities to ensure they can make timely management decisions to improve the quality of the environment.

scholarly journals REAL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN THE SENSING CITY

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B2 ◽  
pp. 729-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Marek ◽  
M. Campbell ◽  
M. Epton ◽  
M. Storer ◽  
S. Kingham
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Actual Usage

The opportunity of an emerging smart city in post-disaster Christchurch has been explored as a way to improve the quality of life of people suffering Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is a progressive disease that affects respiratory function. It affects 1 in 15 New Zealanders and is the 4th largest cause of death, with significant costs to the health system. While, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD, long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust can also cause and exacerbate it. Currently, we do know little what happens to the patients with COPD after they leave a doctor’s care. By learning more about patients’ movements in space and time, we can better understand the impacts of both the environment and personal mobility on the disease. This research is studying patients with COPD by using GPS-enabled smartphones, combined with the data about their spatiotemporal movements and information about their actual usage of medication in near real-time. We measure environmental data in the city, including air pollution, humidity and temperature and how this may subsequently be associated with COPD symptoms. In addition to the existing air quality monitoring network, to improve the spatial scale of our analysis, we deployed a series of low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) air quality sensors as well. The study demonstrates how health devices, smartphones and IoT sensors are becoming a part of a new health data ecosystem and how their usage could provide information about high-risk health hotspots, which, in the longer term, could lead to improvement in the quality of life for patients with COPD.

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