Impact of Vehicle Fleet Modernization on the Traffic-Originated Air Pollution in an Urban Area—A Case Study

The main subject of this paper is an analysis of the influence of changes in the air pollution caused by road traffic, due to its modernization, on the air quality in Warsaw conurbation, Poland. Using the Calpuff model, simulations of the yearly averaged concentrations of NOx, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 were performed, together with an assessment of the population exposure to individual pollutions. Source apportionment analysis indicates that traffic is the main source of NOx and CO concentrations in the city atmosphere. Utilizing the Euro norms emission standards, a scenario of vehicle emission abatement is formulated based on the assumed general vehicle fleet modernization and transition to Euro 6 emission standards. Computer simulations show a reduction in NOx concentrations attributed to emission mitigation of passenger cars, trucks and vans, and public transport buses, respectively. On the other hand, improving air quality in terms of CO concentrations depends almost exclusively on gasoline vehicle modernization. The implementation of the considered scenario causes an adequate reduction in the population exposure and related health effects. In particular, implementation of the scenario discussed results in a 47% reduction (compared with the baseline value) in the attributable yearly deaths related to NOx pollution. In spite of a substantial contribution of vehicle traffic to the overall PM pollution, modernization of the fuel combustion causes only minor final effects because the dominant share of PM pollution in Warsaw originates from the municipal sector and the transboundary inflow.

Levels and Influencing Factors of Heavy Metals in Human Hairs from Five Provinces in China

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in 150 human hairs samples collected from five provinces in China to investigate heavy metal exposure levels and influencing factors. The gender, age, diet and lifestyle habits of the volunteers were investigated through questionnaires to analyze their effects on hair element concentrations. Metal concentrations in hair were 1.62 μg/g (Mn), 0.99 μg/g (Co), 0.22 μg/g (Cd) and 8.49 μg/g (Pb), which were low compared with those reported in mine contaminated areas. Cd concentration was higher in females than males, Pb concentration was lower in the elder group and the younger group. No difference of Cd and Co concentrations among rice consumers and/or wheat consumers was found. Pb concentration in rice consumers were higher than those in rice and/or wheat consumers. Fish consumption were a factor affecting hair Cd and Pb levels, while smoking was not one main pathway of hair Cd and Pb exposure.

Paleo-oceanographic and -climatic reconstruction in the Southwest Pacific [ODP Site 1123] during MIS 11

<p>Marine Isotope Stage 11 [424 to 374 ka] is unique compared to most other recent Quaternary interglacial periods due to its duration and orbital geometry, both of which have previously been cited as evidence that MIS 11 may be a suitable analogue to project future climate. This study aims to evaluate this prolonged warm period at a key site in the sparsely studied Southwest Pacific Ocean at Ocean Drilling Program [ODP] 1123. This cored site, situated at 3290 m water depth on the northern flank of the Chatham Rise, straddles the northern limit of the modern Subtropical Front, 1100 km east of New Zealand, where sediments record strong subtropical and subpolar signals over interglacial to glacial cycles. Two species of planktonic foraminifera were analysed, Globigerinoides ruber and Globigerina bulloides [Gs. ruber and Gg. bulloides], for trace elements and size-normalised test weights [SNW; Gg. bulloides only] in order to reconstruct ocean temperature, chemistry, structure and circulation during MIS 11. Gg. bulloides was found to have anomalously low SNW [~50% compared to modern specimens] implying either [i] poor calcification environment due to low CO₃⁻² concentrations, or [ii] post-mortem alteration either in the deep water column or ocean floor environment. Traditional dissolution proxies for ODP 1123 do not indicate significant dissolution during MIS 11. Nevertheless, the inception of modern carbonate platforms and reefs at this time leads to the hypothesis that CO₃⁻² concentrations in the surface ocean were low due to a shifting in the locus of carbonate production, and this is a potential cause, amongst other possibilities, of the low SNW in Gg. bulloides. However, calcification in a low CO₃⁻² concentration ocean does not appear to have significantly affected the geochemical proxies utilised in this study [Mg/Ca-derived paleo-ocean temperatures, δ¹⁸O and micro-nutrients Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios as water-mass tracers] based on comparison with a similar study on younger sediments in the same core. The temperature difference between Gs. ruber and Gg. bulloides is the same as the modern temperature difference at ODP 1123, implying that Gs.ruber was also not markedly affected by either low CO₃⁻² concentrations during calcification or post-mortem dissolution. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is utalised to measure in situ trace element ratios [Mg, Al, Ca, Mn, Zn and Sr/Ca], and reconstruct the thermal structure of the ocean’s upper 200 m. The main findings are [i] a well stratified upper ocean in warm periods punctuated by well mixed waters in cooler and presumably windier conditions; [ii] an invigorated South Pacific Gyre during the prolonged MIS 11 interglacial, resulting in a greater inflow of subtropical water to ODP 1123 as evinced by Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios and supported by elevated subtropical foramiferal assemblages; [iii] paleo-ocean temperatures that indicate the mean MIS 11 sea surface temperature optimum was ca. 2°C warmer than present; and [iv] a spike in productivity is identified by elevated Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios at ca. 400 ka, coinciding with a spike in eutrophic species abundance, indicating a period of significantly enhanced subtropical water influence. Records from other New Zealand sites reveal MIS 11 as a prolonged [up to 40 kyr] interglacial period, following a rapid and pronounced 10°C warming from the MIS 12 glacial. Deglaciation occurred 13 kyr earlier than the global benthic record. This rise was punctuated by an Antarctic Cold Reversal-like cooling confirming episodic sub-polar influences at the site. Some differences between the orbital configurations of MIS 1 and 11, particularly at the precessional scale, coupled with apparently unusual ocean chemistry [e.g., low CO₃⁻²] during MIS 11, suggest that MIS 11 may not be an ideal analogue for the Holocene.</p>

Paleo-oceanographic and -climatic reconstruction in the Southwest Pacific [ODP Site 1123] during MIS 11

<p>Marine Isotope Stage 11 [424 to 374 ka] is unique compared to most other recent Quaternary interglacial periods due to its duration and orbital geometry, both of which have previously been cited as evidence that MIS 11 may be a suitable analogue to project future climate. This study aims to evaluate this prolonged warm period at a key site in the sparsely studied Southwest Pacific Ocean at Ocean Drilling Program [ODP] 1123. This cored site, situated at 3290 m water depth on the northern flank of the Chatham Rise, straddles the northern limit of the modern Subtropical Front, 1100 km east of New Zealand, where sediments record strong subtropical and subpolar signals over interglacial to glacial cycles. Two species of planktonic foraminifera were analysed, Globigerinoides ruber and Globigerina bulloides [Gs. ruber and Gg. bulloides], for trace elements and size-normalised test weights [SNW; Gg. bulloides only] in order to reconstruct ocean temperature, chemistry, structure and circulation during MIS 11. Gg. bulloides was found to have anomalously low SNW [~50% compared to modern specimens] implying either [i] poor calcification environment due to low CO₃⁻² concentrations, or [ii] post-mortem alteration either in the deep water column or ocean floor environment. Traditional dissolution proxies for ODP 1123 do not indicate significant dissolution during MIS 11. Nevertheless, the inception of modern carbonate platforms and reefs at this time leads to the hypothesis that CO₃⁻² concentrations in the surface ocean were low due to a shifting in the locus of carbonate production, and this is a potential cause, amongst other possibilities, of the low SNW in Gg. bulloides. However, calcification in a low CO₃⁻² concentration ocean does not appear to have significantly affected the geochemical proxies utilised in this study [Mg/Ca-derived paleo-ocean temperatures, δ¹⁸O and micro-nutrients Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios as water-mass tracers] based on comparison with a similar study on younger sediments in the same core. The temperature difference between Gs. ruber and Gg. bulloides is the same as the modern temperature difference at ODP 1123, implying that Gs.ruber was also not markedly affected by either low CO₃⁻² concentrations during calcification or post-mortem dissolution. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is utalised to measure in situ trace element ratios [Mg, Al, Ca, Mn, Zn and Sr/Ca], and reconstruct the thermal structure of the ocean’s upper 200 m. The main findings are [i] a well stratified upper ocean in warm periods punctuated by well mixed waters in cooler and presumably windier conditions; [ii] an invigorated South Pacific Gyre during the prolonged MIS 11 interglacial, resulting in a greater inflow of subtropical water to ODP 1123 as evinced by Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios and supported by elevated subtropical foramiferal assemblages; [iii] paleo-ocean temperatures that indicate the mean MIS 11 sea surface temperature optimum was ca. 2°C warmer than present; and [iv] a spike in productivity is identified by elevated Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios at ca. 400 ka, coinciding with a spike in eutrophic species abundance, indicating a period of significantly enhanced subtropical water influence. Records from other New Zealand sites reveal MIS 11 as a prolonged [up to 40 kyr] interglacial period, following a rapid and pronounced 10°C warming from the MIS 12 glacial. Deglaciation occurred 13 kyr earlier than the global benthic record. This rise was punctuated by an Antarctic Cold Reversal-like cooling confirming episodic sub-polar influences at the site. Some differences between the orbital configurations of MIS 1 and 11, particularly at the precessional scale, coupled with apparently unusual ocean chemistry [e.g., low CO₃⁻²] during MIS 11, suggest that MIS 11 may not be an ideal analogue for the Holocene.</p>

302 Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Gain in Beef Heifers: Effects on Fetal Trace Mineral Reserves at Day 83 of Gestation

Thirty-five crossbred Angus heifers (body weight = 359.5 &gt;± 7.1 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design to evaluate the effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation [VMSUP; supplemented (VTM) vs. unsupplemented (NoVTM)] and rate of gain [GAIN; low gain (LG), 0.28 kg/d vs. moderate gain (MG), 0.79 kg/d] during the first 83 d of gestation on trace mineral concentrations in fetal liver, muscle, and allantoic (ALF) and amniotic (AMF) fluids. The VTM treatment (113 g supplement•heifer-1•d-1) was initiated a minimum 71 d before breeding. At breeding, heifers were either maintained on the basal diet (LG) or received the MG diet by adding a protein/energy supplement to the basal diet. On d 83 of gestation, samples of fetal liver, muscle, ALF, and AMF were collected and analyzed for trace mineral concentrations. In fetal liver, Se, Cu, Mn, and Co concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.04) for VTM than NoVTM, while Mo and Co greater (P ≤ 0.04) for LG than MG. In fetal muscle, VTM increased (P ≤ 0.02) concentrations of Se and Zn, whereas LG increased (P &lt; 0.01) Zn. In ALF, Mo concentrations were affected (P = 0.03) by a VMSUP × GAIN interaction, with VTM-MG greater than NoVTM-MG; while VTM increased (P &lt; 0.01) concentrations of Se and Co. Trace mineral concentrations were not affected (P ≥ 0.13) in AMF. In conclusion, VTM increased fetal liver Se, Cu, Mn, and Co concentrations; fetal muscle Se and Zn; and ALF Se and Co; while LG increased fetal liver Mo and Co concentrations and fetal muscle Zn. Our results confirm that managerial decisions associated with vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain can alter fetal reserves of trace elements during early pregnancy.

Strengthening Properties and Wear Resistance of the Cu-xNi-yCo-Cr-Si Alloy by Varying Ni/Co and Zr Addition

This work examines the effect of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) concentrations on wear resistance behavior of Cu-xNi-yCo-Cr-Si (x = 8−9 wt%, y = 1−2 wt%) and the zirconium (Zr) addition, in order to obtain an alloy with similar or better properties than the C17510 alloy. In this study, hardness and wear resistance mechanism behavior were associated with the microstructure evolution of these alloys with different aging strengthening conditions. Different heat treatments (HT) were applied to three alloys Cu-8Ni-2Co-1.6Cr-2Si wt% (L1), Cu-8.5Ni-1.5Co-1.6Cr-2Si wt% (L2) and Cu-9Ni-1Co-1.6Cr-2Si-0.18Fe-0.3Zr wt% (L3), the properties obtained were compared with C17510 alloy. Specimens were characterized by different metallographic techniques; the microstructural characterization was made with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and revealed regions of dendritic morphologies. The solidification sequence is primary Cu dendrites and some phases in the interdendritic regions. The solution heat treatment decreased (ST) the Hardness Rockwell B (HRB) and wear rate resistance, and there was an increase with the first aging heat treatment (HT1) for each alloy. The most outstanding combination of properties was found for Cu-8.5Ni-1.5Co-1.6Cr-2Si wt% alloy (L2C3) with 100 ± 1 HRB and specific wear rate resistance of 1.2 × 10−4 mm3/Nm, after the first aging heat treatment.

Air quality in Finland according to air quality measurements and satellite observations

In this report the current air quality in Finland has been assessed with air quality measurement data and satellite observations. The assessment of ambient air concentrations included following air impurities: NO2, NOx, PM10, PM2,5, SO2, CO, O3, benzo(a)pyrene, benzene, Pb, As, Cd ja Ni. For these pollutants air quality assessment thresholds are given in air quality legislation (2008/50/EY, 2004/107/EY). Assessment has been performed for air quality zones. The main data set included air quality measurements performed in Finland during 2015–2019. Satellite observations were used as an objective assessment tool in analysis of the spatial variation of NO2 and CO concentrations. Air quality measurements show that air quality has improved in Finland in many respects. Especially the need to monitor NO2 and PM10 with continuous measurements has decreased. Growing understanding of national benzo(a)pyrene concentrations has increased the monitoring needs. Efforts to decrease ozone levels still requires international actions. SO2, CO, benzene and heavy metal concentrations are on a low level in Finland outside industrial areas and other assessment methods than continuous monitoring can be used, and the number of continuous monitoring sites has already decreased. Satellite-based concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide as well as their spatial variation in Finland were analyzed using observations from the TROPOsperic Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). The analysis of CO over Finland was carried out for the first time in this project. Results show that overall annual CO concentrations over Finland are low and spatial variability is small. Also, NO2 concentrations over Finland are rather low, but spatial patterns are more clearly visible. The highest NO2 concentrations are observed over the largest cities. By establishing a relationship between ground-based and satellite total column concentrations, surface concentrations of NO2 and CO were estimated from the satellite data for the zones. The satellite-based estimate for annual NO2 surface concentration over Helsinki metropolitan area is 28 μg/m3, and for the rest of Finland mostly between 10–15 μg/m3. For CO the differences between monitoring areas are small, with estimates varying between 160–164 μg/m3 or in other words about 0,16 mg/m3.

Assessment and Monitoring of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Concentrations in High Traffic Areas (HTA) of Maiduguri Metropolitan of Borno State, Nigeria

The research investigated the carbon monoxide concentrations in heavy traffic areas of Maiduguri metropolitan between three weeks has been performed. Maiduguri City is located at latitudes 11 42N and 12 00 N and longitudes 12.54 and 13 14 E and has a land area of 543 km2 in the Northern-Eastern region of Nigeria. The high concentration of Carbon monoxide (CO) pollutants in high traffics area of Post office of Maiduguri city. The high traffic area (HTA) was selected for the research and the concentration of Carbon monoxide was monitored and measured, monitoring and measurement were planned daily between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for three weeks. The average result obtained was the highest point of 36 ppm and lowest point of 12 ppm in the three weeks, the highest point is above both WHO and FEPA points of 25 ppm and 30 ppm, respectively.