scholarly journals Effect of Green Space Environment on Air Pollutants PM2.5, PM10, CO, O3, and Incidence and Mortality of SARS-CoV-2 in Highly Green and Less-Green Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13151
Author(s):  
Sultan Ayoub Meo ◽  
Faris Jamal Almutairi ◽  
Abdulelah Adnan Abukhalaf ◽  
Adnan Mahmood Usmani
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Environmental Performance Index ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Health Organization

Worldwide, over half of the global population is living in urban areas. The metropolitan areas are highly populated and environmentally non-green regions on the planet. In green space regions, plants, grass, and green vegetation prevent soil erosion, absorb air pollutants, provide fresh and clean air, and minimize the burden of diseases. Presently, the entire world is facing a turmoil situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the effect of the green space environment on air pollutants particulate matter PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), incidence and mortality of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in environmentally highly green and less-green countries. We randomly selected 17 countries based on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) data. The 60% of the EPI score is based on seven categories: “biodiversity and habitat, ecosystem, fisheries, climate change, pollution emissions, agriculture, and water resources”. However, 40% of the score is based on four categories: “air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals, and waste management”. The air pollutants and SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths were recorded from 25 January 2020, to 11 July 2021. The air pollutants “PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3” were recorded from the metrological websites, Air Quality Index-AQI, 2021. The COVID-19 daily cases and deaths were obtained from the World Health Organization. The result reveals that air pollutants mean values for PM2.5 110.73 ± 1.09 vs. 31.35 ± 0.29; PM10 80.43 ± 1.11 vs. 17.78 ± 0.15; CO 7.92 ± 0.14 vs. 2.35 ± 0.03 were significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) in environmentally highly green space countries compared to less-green countries. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 cases 15,713.61 ± 702.42 vs. 3445.59 ± 108.09; and deaths 297.56 ± 11.27 vs. 72.54 ± 2.61 were also significantly decreased in highly green countries compared to less-green countries. The green environment positively impacts human wellbeing. The policymakers must implement policies to keep the living areas, surroundings, towns, and cities clean and green to minimize air pollution and combat the present pandemic of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Long-Term Assessment of Air Quality and Identification of Aerosol Sources at Setúbal, Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (15) ◽  
pp. 5447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Viana Silva ◽  
Cristina M. Oliveira ◽  
Nuno Canha ◽  
Ana Isabel Miranda ◽  
Susana Marta Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Urban Traffic ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
Health Organization

Understanding air pollution in urban areas is crucial to identify mitigation actions that may improve air quality and, consequently, minimize human exposure to air pollutants and their impact. This study aimed to assess the temporal evolution of the air quality in the city of Setúbal (Portugal) during a time period of 10 years (2003–2012), by evaluating seasonal trends of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO, NO2 and NOx) measured in nine monitoring stations. In order to identify emission sources of particulate matter, PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 were characterized in two different areas (urban traffic and industrial) in winter and summer and, afterwards, source apportionment was performed by means of Positive Matrix Factorization. Overall, the air quality has been improving over the years with a decreasing trend of air pollutant concentration, with the exception of O3. Despite this improvement, levels of PM10, O3 and nitrogen oxides still do not fully comply with the requirements of European legislation, as well as with the guideline values of the World Health Organization (WHO). The main anthropogenic sources contributing to local PM levels were traffic, industry and wood burning, which should be addressed by specific mitigation measures in order to minimize their impact on the local air quality.

scholarly journals Assessment of Air Pollution Aggravation during Straw Burning in Hubei, Central China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhu ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Nan Chen ◽  
Jihong Quan
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Central China ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pollution Level ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Regional Air Quality ◽  
Straw Burning ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Hourly Distribution

Crop straw burning frequently occurs in Central China, where agriculture is highly productive. We carried out a two-month observation on straw burning in Hubei Province from September 1 to October 31, 2015 to track the variations of air pollutants and comprehensively quantify their influence on regional air quality. Results showed that the concentration of suspended particles (particles smaller than 2.5 or 10 µm, i.e., PM2.5/PM10) and gas pollutants including ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) was significantly enhanced with the increasing number of fire spots. The average daily concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 and O3 during the intensive burning period (from October 12 to 25) exceeded the daily limits published by the World Health Organization (WHO) by 101.8, 72.7 and 59.1 μg/m3, respectively. In the hourly distribution of pollutant concentration, PM10, PM2.5, O3, SO2, NO2 and CO were 63.49%, 46.29%, 65.56%, 64.40%, 48.57% and 13.49% higher during burning periods than during non-burning periods. Statistical results based on the air quality index (AQI) indicated that biomass burning was the key factor for the deterioration of local air quality, with a contribution ratio exceeding 41%. Additionally, the pollutants were more spatially homogeneous during the burning period than during the non-burning period. Straw burning not only worsened the local air quality but also raised the pollution level of surrounding regions due to the transport of air mass.

scholarly journals Air Inequality: Global Divergence in Urban Fine Particulate Matter Trends

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Apte ◽  
Sarah Seraj ◽  
Sarah Chambliss ◽  
Melanie Hammer ◽  
Veronica Southerland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Key Policy ◽  
Health Organization

<p>Fine particle air pollution (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) is the largest global environmental risk factor for ill-health and is implicated in >7% of all human deaths. Improved air quality is a key policy goal for cities, yet in-situ PM<sub>2.5</sub> measurements are missing for >50% of the world’s urban population. Here, we apply satellite remote sensing to develop a 21-year time series of ground-level PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for the 4231 urban areas with populations >100,000 (2.9 billion people) from 1998 -2018. Globally, we find the most polluted cities are generally small (<1 million population) and lack PM<sub>2.5 </sub>monitors. Since 1998, we observe a growing divide in urban air quality between cities in lower and higher-income regions, with the PM<sub>2.5</sub> disparity increasing by >50% (from 25 to 39 µg m<sup>-3</sup>) between the highest- and lowest income quartiles of world cities. Within Asia, a sharp divergence is underway, with sustained PM<sub>2.5</sub> increases in South Asian cities (+48%) contrasted against dramatic improvements in Chinese cities (-40% since 2011). While 85% of the world’s urban population experiences PM<sub>2.5</sub> higher than World Health Organization guidelines, urban PM<sub>2.5</sub><sup> </sup>concentrations are tightly linked to regional conditions, suggesting that city-level efforts alone may be insufficient to address this major health threat.<b></b></p>

scholarly journals Implications of portable gasoline electricity generators on residential indoor air quality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adinife Patrick Azodo ◽  
Idama Omokaro ◽  
Tochukwu Canice Mezue
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Ogun State ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction: Toxic gases emitted from electricity generating plants used for energy production process diffuse in the environment thereby causing environmental air pollution. The effect of the installation and usage of portable gasoline electricity generating plants at the balcony of different households on the indoor air quality was assessed in this study. Materials and methods: The data collected were the air quality chemical composition variables which include carbon-dioxide, formaldehyde, total volatile organic compounds, coarse (PM10), and fine (PM2.5) particulate matters at the indoor of the households in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun state, Nigeria. Physical measurement techniques used for the data collection was through the instrumentation design of two air quality testers, models WP6910 and ZN-202S. The indoor air quality assessment followed the generator nighttime usage routine between the hours of 6:30 – 10:00 pm at a measurement height of 1.3 m and the center in the living rooms of the residences assessed. Results: The analysis of the data obtained showed that the mean values for each of the air quality parameters obtained during generator usages were significantly higher when compared to the indoor air quality parameters before generator usages at p<0.05. The air pollutant levels before and during generator usages were within the established safe standard air quality limit by the world health organization. Conclusion: However, for the installation of a portable electricity generator at the residents’ balcony, it is recommended that the generators should be adapted with an emission reduction device for the exhaust composition amelioration to avoid possible accumulation effect over time.

scholarly journals Air Inequality: Global Divergence in Urban Fine Particulate Matter Trends

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Apte ◽  
Sarah Seraj ◽  
Sarah Chambliss ◽  
Melanie Hammer ◽  
Veronica Southerland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Key Policy ◽  
Health Organization

<p>Fine particle air pollution (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) is the largest global environmental risk factor for ill-health and is implicated in >7% of all human deaths. Improved air quality is a key policy goal for cities, yet in-situ PM<sub>2.5</sub> measurements are missing for >50% of the world’s urban population. Here, we apply satellite remote sensing to develop a 21-year time series of ground-level PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for the 4231 urban areas with populations >100,000 (2.9 billion people) from 1998 -2018. Globally, we find the most polluted cities are generally small (<1 million population) and lack PM<sub>2.5 </sub>monitors. Since 1998, we observe a growing divide in urban air quality between cities in lower and higher-income regions, with the PM<sub>2.5</sub> disparity increasing by >50% (from 25 to 39 µg m<sup>-3</sup>) between the highest- and lowest income quartiles of world cities. Within Asia, a sharp divergence is underway, with sustained PM<sub>2.5</sub> increases in South Asian cities (+48%) contrasted against dramatic improvements in Chinese cities (-40% since 2011). While 85% of the world’s urban population experiences PM<sub>2.5</sub> higher than World Health Organization guidelines, urban PM<sub>2.5</sub><sup> </sup>concentrations are tightly linked to regional conditions, suggesting that city-level efforts alone may be insufficient to address this major health threat.<b></b></p>

scholarly journals The air of Europe: where are we going?

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (146) ◽  
pp. 170024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Annesi-Maesano
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Standards And Guidelines ◽  
Low Exposure ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Air Quality Guidelines ◽  
Behaviour Changes

Air pollution constitutes one of the main threats to public health in Europe. Significant impacts on the health of Europeans in terms of morbidity and mortality have been observed, even in cases of low exposure and where pollutant levels are within limits set by the European Union (EU). The respiratory system is a primary target of the harmful effects of key air pollutants. Emissions of many air pollutants have decreased substantially over the past decades in Europe, resulting in diminished concentrations and improved air quality. However, in several European cities concentrations still exceed EU reference values and, more often, the stricter World Health Organization air quality guidelines for all regulated air pollutants (particles with 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameters of 10 and 2.5 µm, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), benzo[a]pyrene and ozone (O3)) except sulfur dioxide. In addition, current trends indicate that in the absence of substantial changes, particulate matter, NO2 and O3 will still exceed limits in 2020. Additional efforts must be made to comply with current standards and guidelines. These should include a more accurate and detailed monitoring of air pollutants, reduction of emissions and individual behaviour changes.

scholarly journals Five-Year Analysis of Air Pollution in Istanbul Including Also the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilüfer Aykaç ◽  
Pınar Pazarlı Bostan ◽  
Sabri Serhan Olcay ◽  
Berker Öztürk
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Nitrogen Oxide ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
World Health ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Public Data ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

INTRODUCTION: Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxide compounds are the main air pollutants. The purpose of this research is to analyze the five-year air quality of Istanbul and examine the effect of movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic on pollutants. METHODS: The public data of the National Air Quality Observation Network has been utilized. The research has been conducted based on the five-year daily averages of PM10, NO2, and NOx pollutants for Istanbul between 2016 - 2020. The data of stations which measured for 75% and more throughout the year has been used. The effect of lockdowns enforced due to COVID-19 was revealed by comparing data of pollutants from April and May of 2020 to the same period in 2019. RESULTS: There were 12 stations between 2016 – 2018, and 39 stations in 2019 and 2020 which measured particulate matter and nitrogen oxide compounds. Only 9 stations reached the standard of measuring pollution for 75% and more throughout the year. The PM10, NO2, and NOx levels measured by all the 9 stations between 2016 - 2020 are above the limit values set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The lockdowns in 2020 have not been helping improvements in air pollution issue. However, there have been regressions of 33.4%, 59.6%, and 52.6% in the overall average particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen dioxide concentrations during the lockdowns between 23-26 of April, 1-3 of May, and 23-26 of May, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The air pollution issue in Istanbul has not improved in a meaningful and significant manner for the last five years. There is a significant deficiency in measuring traffic pollution. It has been found that two days long lockdowns and physical movement restrictions due to COVID-19 have significantly contributed to a significant regression in the overall concentration of air pollutants.

scholarly journals Estimation of Pollutants’ Emission Rates and Associated Impact on Local Air Quality: A Case Study of Cottage Industry in Ibadan Metropolis

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-153
Author(s):  
H.A. Salami ◽  
J.O. Adegite ◽  
H.I. Olalekan ◽  
M.O. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
World Health ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Criteria Air Pollutants ◽  
Industrial Setting ◽  
Pollutants Emission ◽  
Health Organization

Major urban cities in the developing countries are faced with the peculiar problem of poor air quality, which has resulted into millions of untimely death as well as other adverse environmental impacts including climate change. To combat this negative trend, regular documentation of the emission rates and concentrations of the various air pollutants has been identified as a suitable means of designing a sound mitigation approach. Here, we estimated the emission rates of criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) generated from an industrial setting; as well as the associated environmental impact on local air quality, using emission inventory methodology and air dispersion model. In the study area, the energy consumption pattern was reported and the emission rates of associated gaseous pollutants were observed to range from 0.22 to 85500 kg/day. Similarly, the concentrations of major pollutants were observed to be within the thresholds stipulated by the World Health Organization.

scholarly journals Preliminary Assessment of Air Pollution Quality Levels of Lagos, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Olawale Abulude ◽  
Usha Damodharan ◽  
Sunday Acha ◽  
Ademola Adamu ◽  
Kikelomo Mabinuola Arifalo
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The World ◽  
Meteorological Influences ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract The low-cost sensors and IoT have come to the rescue due to the high cost and operational complexity of equipment and methodologies in environmental monitoring. They are relatively inexpensive and reliable. It is on this assumption that we have decided to use the World Air Quality satellite data supplied by air matters.com. This study is a 40-day preliminary work in which air quality (Air Quality Index (AQI), PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, SO2, and O3) and meteorological (temperature, humidity, and wind speed) parameters were monitored. The data collected was for five locations in Lagos State, Nigeria (Ojodu, Opebi, Ikeja, Maryland, and Eti-Osa). The data obtained were subjected to basic statistical analyses. The findings showed that the Opebi had the highest mean value of PM2.5 (69.28 µg/m3), PM10 (107.38 µg/m3), and CO (1392 µg/m3). The mean values of O3 are as follows: 32.52, 38.7, 36.2, 37.85, and 36.13µg/m3 for Ikeja, Maryland, Opebi, Ojodu, and Eti-Osa respectively. Opebi had the highest value (3179µg/m3), followed by Eti-Osa (2978µg/m3), and the lowest value in Maryland (1943µg/m3) among the CO reference locations. AQI of all locations presented the levels of contamination as 'Unhealthy for Vulnerable Groups'. The pollutants were much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. There were relationships between the parameters monitored and meteorological influences, and the effects of natural and man-made activities may be the sources of the elevated pollutants throughout the locations.

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