A Complex Network Method in Criticality Evaluation of Air Quality Standards

In recent years, poor air quality has brought serious threats to public health and sustainable development. The air quality standard is an effective prerequisite to ensure the quality of the air. The citation relationships between air quality standards at a certain time point, which reflect technological development and knowledge transition, form a complex network. In this study, an integrated multi-criteria decision making method is proposed to measure the criticality of standards based on a dynamic citation network model. In particular, the Entropy Weight (EW) method is used to set the weights of each node measurement to avoid subjectiveness, while the TOPSIS method is employed to measure the criticality for each air quality standard. A case study based on the data of 444 of China’s national air quality standards reveals that the complex network method facilitates the identification of critical standards effectively. In addition, we found that there exist some structural problems in China’s air quality standard system: the connectivity between standards is insufficient; critical standards are lacking; and the critical standards change over time following the issue of national policies. Finally, policy suggestions are recommended on strengthening inter-standard citation, attaching importance to the revision of critical standards, and the dynamics of critical standards.

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Tougher Targets for China’s Clean Air Cities? Implications from Air Quality Assessment in Shenzhen

10.20944/preprints201810.0101.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dian Huang ◽

Qinglan Li ◽

Guangxin Li ◽

Xiaoxue Wang ◽

Liqun Sun

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Air Quality ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Quality Standard ◽

World Health ◽

Air Quality Standards ◽

Air Quality Improvement ◽

Clean Air

Shenzhen is China’s top ten clean air city and the cleanest air megacity. Even so, epidemiologic studies have shown ambient air pollution had significant adverse impacts on human health in this less polluted city. In this study, the concentrations of six criteria air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO) from 2014 to 2017 were analyzed and compared to thresholds of both national and international air quality standards. The results showed concentrations of all air pollutants were below target values of current national air quality standard, but levels of particulate matter (PM) and O3 were still much higher than the recommended levels by the World Health Organization. Within national air quality standards, the number of over-limit days was rare with few variations between highly polluted and low pollution areas. The air quality improvement was slowing down recently. Our results suggest annual and daily thresholds for PM are too loose for air quality improvement in Shenzhen. Hence, we call for evaluation and establishment of tougher air quality standard.

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Application of Electron Optics to Characterization of Particulate Pollutants

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010009508x ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 364-365

Author(s):

J. B. Moran ◽

J. L. Miller

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Hazardous Substances ◽

Fuel Additives ◽

Ambient Air Quality ◽

Air Quality Standards ◽

Emission Standards ◽

Stationary Sources ◽

Ambient Air Quality Standards

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 provide the basis for a dramatic change in Federal air quality programs. The Act establishes new standards for motor vehicles and requires EPA to establish national ambient air quality standards, standards of performance for new stationary sources of pollution, and standards for stationary sources emitting hazardous substances. Further, it establishes procedures which allow states to set emission standards for existing sources in order to achieve national ambient air quality standards. The Act also permits the Administrator of EPA to register fuels and fuel additives and to regulate the use of motor vehicle fuels or fuel additives which pose a hazard to public health or welfare.National air quality standards for particulate matter have been established. Asbestos, mercury, and beryllium have been designated as hazardous air pollutants for which Federal emission standards have been proposed.

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