The influence of the COVID-19 first wave on the European ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 112-133
Author(s):  
V.V. Krivosheev ◽  
◽  
A.I. Stoliarov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Initial Point ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Air Contamination ◽  
Human Lungs ◽  
European Part Of Russia ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

The results of analytical studies are presented, which show that restrictive measures for reduction of SARS-CoV-2 propagation speed and the incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the territory of Western Europe and the Russian Federation have led to a significant reduction of anthropogenic load on the natural environment and a considerable improvement of environmental conditions for the main types of contaminants. At the same time there is a dramatic growth of total ozone in the troposphere during the period of restrictions almost for all studied territories. It is revealed that after finishing the restrictive measures the level of air contamination reached its initial point: by September in Western Europe and by October in the European part of Russia. The calculations demonstrated that poor air quality aggravates the consequences of COVID-19, and a significant contribution is made by the PM2.5 concentration of fine solid particles, which can penetrate deeper into the human lungs and exacerbate the course of respiratory diseases. Keywords: COVID-19, ecology, tropospheric conditions, satellite information, morbidity level and air quality

The influence of the COVID-19 first wave on the European ecosystem

2021 ◽  
pp. 112-133
Author(s):  
V.V. Krivosheev ◽  
◽  
A.I. Stoliarov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Initial Point ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Air Contamination ◽  
Human Lungs ◽  
European Part Of Russia ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

Hydrometeorological Research and Forecasting, 2021, no. 4 (382), pp. 112-133. The results of analytical studies are presented, which show that restrictive measures for reduction of SARS-CoV-2 propagation speed and the incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the territory of Western Europe and the Russian Federation have led to a significant reduction of anthropogenic load on the natural environment and a considerable improvement of environmental conditions for the main types of contaminants. At the same time there is a dramatic growth of total ozone in the troposphere during the period of restrictions almost for all studied territories. It is revealed that after finishing the restrictive measures the level of air contamination reached its initial point: by September in Western Europe and by October in the European part of Russia. The calculations demonstrated that poor air quality aggravates the consequences of COVID-19, and a significant contribution is made by the PM2.5 concentration of fine solid particles, which can penetrate deeper into the human lungs and exacerbate the course of respiratory diseases. Keywords: COVID-19, ecology, tropospheric conditions, satellite information, morbidity level and air quality

Comparison of two air sampling methods to monitor operating room air quality and assessment of air quality in two operating rooms with different ventilation systems in the national hospital of Sri Lanka

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshokey Tshokey ◽  
Pranitha Somaratne ◽  
Suneth Agampodi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Surgical Site Infections ◽  
National Hospital ◽  
Air Contamination ◽  
Acceptable Method ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Laminar Air Flow

Air contamination in the operating room (OR) is an important contributor for surgical site infections. Air quality should be assessed during microbiological commissioning of new ORs and as required thereafter. Despite many modern methods of sampling air, developing countries mostly depended on conventional methods. This was studied in two ORs of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) with different ventilation system; a conventional ventilation (CV) and a laminar air flow (LAF). Both ORs were sampled simultaneously by two different methods, the settle plate and sampler when empty and during use for a defined time period. Laboratory work was done in the Medical Research Institute. The two methods of sampling showed moderate but highly significant correlation. The OR with CV was significantly more contaminated than LAF when empty as well as during use by both methods. Overall, the difference in contamination was more significant when sampled by the sampler. Differences in contamination in empty and in-use ORs were significant in both ORs, but significance is less in LAF rooms. The consistent and significant correlation between settle plate and sampler showed that the settle plate is an acceptable method. The LAF theatre showed less contamination while empty and during use as expected. Air contamination differences were more significant when sampled with sampler indicating that it is a more sensitive method. Both CV and LAF ORs of the NHSL did not meet the contamination standards for empty theatres but met the standards for in-use indicating that the theatre etiquette was acceptable.

scholarly journals The Synergistic Effect of PM2.5 and CO2 Concentrations on Occupant Satisfaction and Work Productivity in a Meeting Room

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4109
Author(s):  
Jindong Wu ◽  
Jiantao Weng ◽  
Bing Xia ◽  
Yujie Zhao ◽  
Qiuji Song
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Meeting Room ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Occupant Satisfaction ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

High indoor air quality is crucial for the health of human beings. The purpose of this work is to analyze the synergistic effect of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on occupant satisfaction and work productivity. This study carried out a real-scale experiments in a meeting room with exposures of up to one hour. Indoor environment parameters, including air temperature, relative humidity, illuminance, and noise level, were controlled at a reasonable level. Twenty-nine young participants were participated in the experiments. Four mental tasks were conducted to quantitatively evaluate the work productivity of occupants and a questionnaire was used to access participants’ satisfaction. The Spearman correlation analysis and two-way analysis of variance were applied. It was found that the overall performance declined by 1% for every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration. Moreover, for every 10% increase in dissatisfaction with air quality, productivity performance decreased by 1.1% or more. It should be noted that a high CO2 concentration (800 ppm) has a stronger negative effect on occupant satisfaction towards air quality than PM2.5 concentration in a non-ventilated room. In order to obtain optimal occupant satisfaction and work productivity, low concentrations of PM2.5 (<50 μg/m3) and CO2 (<700 ppm) are recommended.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of SOx, NOx, and Primary Particulate Matter Control Strategies in the Improvement of Ambient PM Concentration in Taiwan

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 460
Author(s):  
Jiun-Horng Tsai ◽  
Ming-Ye Lee ◽  
Hung-Lung Chiang
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Clean Air Act ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Control Plan ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) measurement was employed for evaluating the effectiveness of fine particulate matter control strategies in Taiwan. There are three scenarios as follows: (I) the 2014 baseline year emission, (II) 2020 emissions reduced via the Clean Air Act (CAA), and (III) other emissions reduced stringently via the Clean Air Act. Based on the Taiwan Emission Data System (TEDs) 8.1, established in 2014, the emission of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) was 73.5 thousand tons y−1, that of SOx was 121.3 thousand tons y−1, and that of NOx was 404.4 thousand tons y−1 in Taiwan. The CMAQ model simulation indicated that the PM2.5 concentration was 21.9 μg m−3. This could be underestimated by 24% in comparison with data from the ambient air quality monitoring stations of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (TEPA). The results of the simulation of the PM2.5 concentration showed high PM2.5 concentrations in central and southwestern Taiwan, especially in Taichung and Kaohsiung. Compared to scenario I, the average annual concentrations of PM2.5 for scenario II and scenario III showed reductions of 20.1% and 28.8%, respectively. From the results derived from the simulation, it can be seen that control of NOx emissions may improve daily airborne PM2.5 concentrations in Taiwan significantly and control of directly emitted PM2.5 emissions may improve airborne PM2.5 concentrations each month. Nevertheless, the results reveal that the preliminary control plan could not achievethe air quality standard. Therefore, the efficacy and effectiveness of the control measures must be considered to better reduce emissions in the future.

scholarly journals Can Public Spaces Effectively Be Used as Cleaner Indoor Air Shelters during Extreme Smoke Events?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4085
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Wheeler ◽  
Ryan W. Allen ◽  
Kerryn Lawrence ◽  
Christopher T. Roulston ◽  
Jennifer Powell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Public Building ◽  
Central Air Conditioning ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

During extreme air pollution events, such as bushfires, public health agencies often recommend that vulnerable individuals visit a nearby public building with central air conditioning to reduce their exposure to smoke. However, there is limited evidence that these “cleaner indoor air shelters” reduce exposure or health risks. We quantified the impact of a “cleaner indoor air shelter” in a public library in Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia when concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were elevated during a local peat fire and nearby bushfires. Specifically, we evaluated the air quality improvements with central air conditioning only and with the use of portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air cleaners. We measured PM2.5 from August 2019 until February 2020 by deploying pairs of low-cost PM2.5 sensors (i) inside the main library, (ii) in a smaller media room inside the library, (iii) outside the library, and (iv) co-located with regulatory monitors located in the town. We operated two HEPA cleaners in the media room from August until October 2019. We quantified the infiltration efficiency of outdoor PM2.5 concentrations, defined as the fraction of the outdoor PM2.5 concentration that penetrates indoors and remains suspended, as well as the additional effect of HEPA cleaners on PM2.5 concentrations. The infiltration efficiency of outdoor PM2.5 into the air-conditioned main library was 30%, meaning that compared to the PM2.5 concentration outdoors, the concentrations of outdoor-generated PM2.5 indoors were reduced by 70%. In the media room, when the HEPA cleaners were operating, PM2.5 concentrations were reduced further with a PM2.5 infiltration efficiency of 17%. A carefully selected air-conditioned public building could be used as a cleaner indoor air shelter during episodes of elevated smoke emissions. Further improvements in indoor air quality within the building can be achieved by operating appropriately sized HEPA cleaners.

scholarly journals Effect of Air Quality on the Risk of Emergency Room Visits in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Liang ◽  
Xiaonan He ◽  
Xin Du ◽  
Xiaoxia Liu ◽  
Changsheng Ma
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Emergency Room ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Emergency Room Visits ◽  
Monsoon Climate ◽  
Climate Region ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Increase In Risk ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

Background: We investigated the effect of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter &lt;2.5 μm (PM2.5) and meteorological conditions on the risk of emergency room visits in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Beijing, which is considered as a monsoon climate region.Methods: In this case-crossover design study, medical records from patients with AF who visited the Critical Care Center in the Emergency Department of Anzhen Hospital from January 2011 through December 2014 and air quality and meteorological data of Beijing during the same period were collected and analyzed using Cox regression and time-series autocorrelation analyses.Results: A total of 8,241 patients were included. When the average PM2.5 concentration was &gt;430 μg/m3, the risk of emergency room visits for patients with uncomplicated AF, AF combined with cardiac insufficiency, and AF combined with rheumatic heart disease increased by 12, 12, and 40%, respectively. When the average PM2.5 concentration was &gt;420 μg/m3, patients with AF combined with diabetes mellitus had a 75% increased risk of emergency room visits, which was the largest increase in risk among all types of patients with AF. When the average PM2.5 concentration was &gt;390 μg/m3, patients with AF combined with acute coronary syndrome had an approximately 30% increased risk of emergency room visits, which was the highest and fastest increase in risk among all types of patients with AF. The risk of emergency room visits for patients with AF was positively correlated with air quality as the time lag proceeded, with an autocorrelation coefficient of 0.223 between the risk of emergency room visits and air quality in patients with AF on day 6 of the time lag.Conclusion: Exposure to certain concentrations of PM2.5 in a monsoon climate region significantly increased the risk of emergency room visits in patients with AF.

Economic Analysis of Residents’ Health Potential Benefits from PM2.5 Reduction Caused by New Ambient Air Quality Standard in Beijing

2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 3371-3375
Author(s):  
Xiu Teng Wang ◽  
Ya Jing Zhang ◽  
Ling Xu ◽  
Ling Lin ◽  
Dong Feng Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Ambient Air Quality Standard ◽  
First Time ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

PM2.5 pollution causes great health hazards, which will finally result in much economic loss. In China, it is first time to take PM2.5 as a general limitation factor in the revised version of "Ambient Air Quality Standard". In this work, we take Beijing as investigation objective, choose five kinds of typical health impacts, and make rough economic estimation of the potential benefits from the decrease of PM2.5 concentration through the epidemic-doses model in a quantitative point of view. Assuming the PM2.5 pollution is controlled well and satisfies the requirement of Grade 2 and 1 of new standard, 1681 and 2269 million Yuan will be saved in Beijing considering only health aspects. So it is necessary to take PM2.5 into the new ambient air quality standard as a general indicator, which is overall beneficial for environment and economy.

Prediction of PM2.5 concentration based on the similarity in air quality monitoring network

2018 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-di He ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Wei-li Wang ◽  
Zhan-yong Wang ◽  
Yu Xue
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

Potensi Penyebaran Covid-19 di Objek Wisata Indoor Sumatera Barat Berdasarkan Kualitas Fisik Udara Studi Kasus: Lubang Japang dan Istano Basa Pagaruyung

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Resti Ayu Lestari ◽  
Rinda Andhita Regia ◽  
Hafifatul Auliya Rahmy ◽  
Vezy Hidayatifa Thayyibah ◽  
Nadya Fadhillah Febrinaldi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Interview Methods ◽  
West Sumatra ◽  
Research Objects ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting indoor tourism in West Sumatra. The spread of a virus through could be influenced by indoor air quality. This study aims to analyze the potensial spread of Covid-19 in the indoor tourism in West Sumatra based on the physical indoor air quality, including PM2.5 concentration, temperature, humidity, and light intensity. The research objects were Lubang Japang Bukittinggi and Istano Basa Pagaruyung. The research was conducted by using sampling and interview methods. The data obtained were compared to Permenkes No. 1077/Menkes/Per/V/2011 and the suitable environmental conditions for the virus. The results showed that the temperature values in tourist objects were below the standards used. The temperature value in the research objects ranged from 20oC to 30oC. The humidity, light intensity, and PM2.5 concentration values were outside the ranges stipulated by regulations. Lubang Japang humidity was: 75.97 - 94.76 Rh; Istano Basa Pagaruyung: 65.83 - 67.16 Rh. Lubang Japang light intensity was: 0.4 - 4.0 Lux; Istano Basa Pagaruyung: 28 - 38 Lux. The concentration of PM2.5 at Lubang Japang: 187.45 µg / Nm3; Istano Basa Pagaruyung: 77.29 µg / Nm3. Based on this research, the humidity and the PM2.5 concentration of the research objects have the potential to spread the Covid-19.

scholarly journals Air Quality Variation in Wuhan, Daegu, and Tokyo during the Explosive Outbreak of COVID-19 and Its Health Effects

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 4119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Jin Ma ◽  
Gong-Unn Kang
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Allergic Airway Inflammation ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Air Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The City ◽  
Quality Variation ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

This study was designed to assess the variation of the air quality actually measured from the air pollution monitoring stations (AQMS) in three cities (Wuhan, Daegu, and Tokyo), in Asian countries experiencing the explosive outbreak of COVID-19, in a short period of time. In addition, we made a new attempt to calculate the reduced DosePM2.5 (μg) at the bronchiolar (Br.) and alveolar-interstitial (AI) regions of the 10-year-old children after the city lockdown/self-reflection of each city. A comparison of the average PM2.5 of a month before and after the lockdown (Wuhan) and self-reflection (Daegu and Tokyo) clearly shows that the PM2.5 concentration was decreased by 29.9, 20.9, and 3.6% in Wuhan, Daegu and Tokyo, respectively. Wuhan, Daegu and Tokyo also recorded 53.2, 19.0, and 10.4% falls of NO2 concentration, respectively. Wuhan, which had the largest decrease of PM2.5 concentration due to COVID-19, also marked the largest reduced DosePM2.5 10-year-old children (μg) (3660 μg at Br. and 6222 μg at AI), followed by Daegu (445 μg at Br. and 1287 μg at AI), and Tokyo (18 μg at Br. and 52 μg at AI), over two months after the city lockdown/self-reflection. Our results suggest that the city lockdown/self-reflection had the effect of lowering the concentration of PM2.5, resulting in an extension of the period it took to the acute allergic airway inflammation (AAI) for the 10-year-old children.

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