DAMPAK POLUSI PARTIKEL DEBU DAN GAS KENDARAAN BERMOTOR PADA VOLUME DAN KAPASITAS PARU

The increasing number of vehicles which increase air pollution has negative impacts on global health, especially that of lung problems. Nowadays, people’s mobility is fast and variable, needing better and more environmentally friendly transportation, without neglecting the socio-economic aspect. These are the reasons to develop better and more environmentally related transportation facilities. By understanding air pollution mechanisms, and kinds of particles and pollutants from vehicles, we will appreciate and pay more attention to our environment, especially in urban areas. Collaboration among health and government related departments has to be improved to regulate the use of inner city vehicles, so that it can decrease lung problems. Key words: air pollution, transportation, dust particles, urban environment. Abstrak: Bertambahnya jumlah kendaraan bermotor seiring dengan bertambahnya polusi udara, dan menimbulkan masalah global, yang berdampak negatif antara lain masalah kesehatan paru. Mobilitas manusia semakin beragam sehingga diperlukan dukungan sistem transportasi yang makin baik pula serta akrab lingkungan, tanpa mengabaikan segi sosio-ekonomi. Oleh karena itu sistem transportasi ini perlu dikembangkan menjadi sistem transportasi yang berkelanjutan. Diharapkan dengan mengetahui batasan polusi udara, jenis, serta dampak partikel debu dan gas kendaraan bermotor bagi kesehatan manusia akan membuat kita lebih mencintai dan memperhatikan lingkugan hidup kita, khususnya sekitar perkotaan. Perana kerjasama lintas sektoral untuk mengatasi polusi partikel debu dan gas buangan perlu ditingkatkan Pengaturan kendaraan layak beroperasi akan menekan mening-katnya kasus infeksi atau gangguan saluran napas. Kata kunci: polusi udara, transportasi, partikel debu, lingkungan perkotaan.

Effect of Coal Smoke Pollution on the Biomass and Chlorophyll Pigments of Brassica juncea

The effect of coal smoke pollution on the biomass and chlorophyll pigments of Brassica juncea were studied at 0.5, 2, 4, 6 and 20 km distance leeward from a thermal power plant complex. The root, shoot and total biomass and chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were significantly reduced up to a distance of 4 km from the source of pollution. The data indicates that the degree of response increased with decreasing distance from the source of pollution in comparison to the reference site ‘c' situated at 20 km. Biomass and chlorophyll pigments showed a significant and positive relationship with the distance from the source. Key words: Air pollution, Brassica juncea, biomass, chlorophyll. doi: 10.3126/eco.v15i0.1935 ECOPRINT 15: 1-6, 2008

Elemental Enrichment And Its Attribution To Natural And Anthropogenic Sources In Fine And Coarse Aerosols Of Kuala Lumpur

A total of 139 collocated samples of fine and coarse atmospheric aerosols collected from July 1988 to December 1990 in Kuala Lumpur were analysed for their elemental composition,and for their assoctated concentrations in the sampled air. Nine elements i.e As, Br, Co, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb and Zn, were found to be strongly attributed to anthropogenic sources. Their elemental enrichment factors in fine and coarse size fraction were more than 17 times higher than those found in the crustal rock. Whilst, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, and V could be attributed to both anthropogenic and soil related aerosols. Both Al and Cl were exclusively originated from soil and marine in all size fractions respectively. Key Words: Air pollution, aerosol, trace elements, enrichment factors

Predictability of the combined effects of sulphur dioxide and nitrate on the green-algal lichen Ramalina farinacea

The interactive effects of SO2 and NO3− on the green-algal lichen Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach. were investigated using the degree of chlorophyll phaeophytinization and ultrastructural damage to the Trebouxia photobiont. Thalli were submitted to several factorial design experiments in which they were exposed to mean SO2 concentrations ranging from 118 to 140 nmol∙mol−1 plus or minus aqueous solutions of NO3− at either 50 or 1000 μmol∙L−1, for 6–14 days. Interactive effects of SO2 and NO3− were synergistic when the effects of each individual pollutant were slight. However, this pattern reverted to additive effects, and sequentially to antagonistic effects as the detrimental impact of SO2 alone became more severe. Despite this transition, neutralization of the damaging impact of SO2 by simultaneous treatment with NO3− was not observed. The results show that interactions between SO2 and NO3− were variable, but predictable on the basis of the expected effects following exposure to each pollutant alone. The coincidence of this empirical pattern with those observed in previous studies suggests involvement of unspecific causes. The wider ecological significance of interactions between SO2 and NO3− is discussed in the light of other findings with respect to the effects of air pollution on lichens in the field. Key words: air pollution, sulphur dioxide, nitrate, interactive effects, lichens, pigments, ultrastructure.

Increasing job opportunities in a subregion for region-wide fuel conservation and air-quality improvement

Presently, there is much interest in defining urban development patterns for reducing energy consumption in transportation and in improving air quality. This research examined the effects of improving job opportunities in a subregion on region-wide transportation fuel consumption and emissions. A research framework, consisting of travel simulation models, and energy and emissions factors, was developed for testing land use – transportation scenarios. The travel simulation modelling framework consisted of the four-step approach, including the calibration of trip distribution and modal split models. Fuel consumption and emissions were estimated by using vehicle kilometres of travel. The city of Kanata within the Regional Municipality of Ottawa – Carleton, Canada, was used as a case study. Five scenarios illustrating possible future employment schemes were developed. Vehicle kilometres, fuel, and emissions for both automobile and public transit were estimated for year 2011 scenarios. The results are presented as totals for both the overall National Capital Area and for the subregion, Kanata. From these results, it is concluded that providing more job opportunities and enhancing the job to housing ratio in a satellite city could reduce fuel consumption and emissions from a regional perspective. Key words: air pollution, emissions, fuel consumption, land use, transportation modelling, simulation.

Effects of industrial pollutants on ectomycorrhizal relationships in temperate forests

A conspicuous decline of macromycetes, especially in ectomycorrhizal species, has been described in the last decade in various parts of temperate Europe. It has been argued that changes in population of these fungi can be attributed to direct or indirect effects of air pollution. In view of the fact that in central Europe these changes preceded a visual damaging of forest or even its decline, it seems that many ectomycorrhizal fungi are very suitable bioindicators of the disturbance of forest ectotrophic stability. Defined stages of this disturbance can be linked directly to particular phases of impoverishment of ectomycorrhizal mycocoenoses and of enrichment of lignicolous mycocoenoses. These conclusions have been obtained from long-term research in permanent plots (1000–2500 m2) in spruce and recently also in oak and beech forests in the Czech Republic, but it seems that they are valid generally, at least in temperate forests. The analyses of proper mycorrhizae from the same plots confirmed data obtained from fruiting bodies. Both the percentage of ectomycorrhizal species and the ratio of active mycorrhizae are highly sensitive to some outer impact to forest ecosystems (air pollution, acidification, fertilization); their decrease is in negative correlation to the strong defoliation of trees and can be used for the prediction of next development in locality, at least in comparable stands, i.e., in the case of similar density of active mycorrhizae and analogous water stress. Key words: air pollution, ectomycorrhizae, ectomycorrhizal fungi, temperate forests, forest stability.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF CROTON BONPLANDIANUM BAILL. TO AIR POLLUTION

The air pollution stress around the thermal power plant lead to the significant reduction in size and biomass of root and shoot, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic area of Croton bonplandianum. The resulting stresses of air pollution and reduced foliage further affected the over all morphology and physiology of the plant. Root biomass and chlorophyll a showed maximum reduction than any other selected parameters studied in the stressed area. Chlorophyll a was found to be four and half times more sensitive to air pollutants than carotenoids. Key words: Air pollution; Thermal power plant; Morphology and physiology; C. bonplandianumDOI: 10.3126/eco.v17i0.4103Ecoprint An International Journal of Ecology Vol. 17, 2010 Page: 35-41 Uploaded date: 29 December, 2010