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Air Pollution in Cities
Abstract
Air quality in cities is the result of a complex interaction between natural and anthropogenic environmental conditions. Air pollution in cities is a serious environmental problem – especially in the developing countries. The air pollution path of the urban atmosphere consists of emission and transmission of air pollutants resulting in the ambient air pollution. Each part of the path is influenced by different factors. Emissions from motor traffic are a very important source group throughout the world. During transmission, air pollutants are dispersed, diluted and subjected to photochemical reactions. Ambient air pollution shows temporal and spatial variability. As an example of the temporal variability of urban air pollutants caused by motor traffic, typical average annual, weekly and diurnal cycles of NO, NO2, O3 and Ox are presented for an official urban air-quality station in Stuttgart, southern Germany. They are supplemented by weekly and diurnal cycles of selected percentile values of NO, NO2, and O3. Time series of these air pollutants give information on their trends. Results are discussed with regard to air pollution conditions in other cities. Possibilities for the assessment of air pollution in cities are shown. In addition, a qualitative overview of the air quality of the world's megacities is given.
... Their analysis highlights the significant influence of urban morphology-such as building density, height, and surface materials-on the outdoor thermal environment [14]. For example, densely built areas with limited vegetation experience higher heat retention and reduced nighttime cooling, exacerbating the UHI effect [15]. ...
... UHIs not only elevate ground-level air temperatures but also intensify air quality issues by increasing the formation and concentration of pollutants. Common pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO x s), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide (CO) are emitted by vehicles, industrial activities, and residential heating systems [15]. The relationship between UHIs and air pollution is particularly critical because they frequently coexist, compounding their adverse effects on urban populations [16]. ...
This review analyzes the relationship between Urban Heat Island (UHI) microclimate parameters and poor air quality in urban environments, focusing on how temperature variations, wind dynamics, and urban morphology influence pollutant concentrations. Experimental studies and numerical simulations emphasize the necessity of pedestrian-level sensing combined with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to accurately capture spatial variations in UHI-related parameters. Ozone concentrations have been observed to increase by up to 4 ppbv, while PM2.5 levels rise by 1–2 µg/m³ in response to UHI effects. Additionally, ANSYS Fluent 2020.R1. simulations demonstrate a 0.93 °C error in temperature predictions and a 1.35 m/s error in wind speed estimations. These findings highlight the critical role of sustainable urban planning strategies in mitigating UHI effects and improving air quality in densely populated areas.
... There are studies proving that changes in the concentration of pollutants are cyclical and depend on a season, a day of week or time of a day [14], but such studies have not been carried out in Murmansk. ...
... At According to the existing studies [14] devoted to atmospheric air pollution in cities, the cycle of annual change in the concentration of pollutants is as follows: in winter, there is a peak of maximum pollution, which may be associated with low air temperatures, surface and raised inversions, air stagnation and so on. In the spring-summer period, the pollution level decreases until June-August, and then, increasing gradually they reach maximum values. ...
Recently mixed-up complex and large shopping and entertainment centers have started to appear beyond the Arctic Circle more often, therefore the impact of vehicles located in these areas on the ambient air of the city is of particular interest. The article is considering atmosphere air pollution in the area of open car-parks of such centers in Murmansk, located in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The article describes the characteristics of the two largest shopping and entertainment centers in the city, which have open car parks at their territory. There are pedestrian zones near the car parks, and the main flow of visitors is forced to pass through the territory to get to the shopping and entertainment center, being exposed to the influence of car emissions. Parallel measurements of NO2 and CO content in the ground layer of the atmosphere on the territory of open parking lots were carried out. It was found that the distribution of NO2 and CO on the territory of car parks is uneven and depends on the presence of traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, artificial unevenness, proximity to the road, year season and other factors. The measurements were taken during the coronavirus pandemic, when grocery stores in shopping and entertainment centers became the main places of people and vehicles congestion.
... The major air pollutants that are commonly present in the air we breathe daily include particulate matter like PM 10 and PM 2.5 , nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), surface ozone (O 3 ), methane (CH 4 ), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [1,2]. Air pollution is primarily caused by industrial activities, vehicle emissions, agricultural practices, and natural phenomena such as wildfires and volcanic eruptions [3]. ...
... Moreover, the daily and seasonal variations in O 3 are significantly influenced by changes in atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and the long-range transport of air mass [17][18][19]. Change in surface O 3 and meteorological factors have been extensively monitored in the urban area of the northern hemisphere, especially in North America and Europe [20][21][22]. With slight variation throughout the year, surface O 3 concentration has increased since the 19th century from about 10 ppbv at mid-latitudes over Europe and 5 ppbv in tropical regions [23]. ...
Ozone at ground level (O3) is an air pollutant that is formed from primary precursor gases like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It plays a significant role as a precursor to highly reactive hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which ultimately influence the lifespan of various gases in the atmosphere. The elevated surface O3 levels resulting from anthropogenic activities have detrimental effects on both human health and agricultural productivity. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the variations in surface O3 levels across various regions in the Indian subcontinent, focusing on both spatial and temporal changes. The study is based on an in-depth review of literature spanning the last thirty years in India. Based on the findings of the latest study, the spatial distribution of surface O3 indicates a rise of approximately 50–70 ppbv during the summer and pre-monsoon periods in the northern region and Indo-Gangetic Plain. Moreover, elevated levels of surface O3 (40–70 ppbv) are observed during the pre-monsoon/summer season in the western, southern, and peninsular Indian regions. The investigation also underscores the ground-based observations of diurnal and seasonal alterations in surface O3 levels at two separate sites (rural and urban) in Kannur district, located in southern India, over a duration of nine years starting from January 2016. The O3 concentration exhibits an increasing trend of 7.91% (rural site) and 5.41% (urban site), ascribed to the rise in vehicular and industrial operations. This review also presents a succinct summary of O3 fluctuations during solar eclipses and nocturnal firework displays in the subcontinent.
... Cities located in valleys often suffer from poor air quality, as the exchange of heat, moisture, and air pollutants in the urban atmospheric boundary layer (UABL) and with the surroundings is limited by terrain effects (e.g., Wanner and Hertig, 1984;Mayer, 1999;Steyn et al., 2013). This has been proven by different investigations. ...
... The observations were carried out in cities under different environmental conditions (Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart). Stuttgart is a well-known example of a city located in hilly terrain suffering from frequent air quality issues which are related to its complex topography (Mayer, 1999;Scherer et al., 2019a;Reuter and Kapp, 2021). At the same time, the area of Stuttgart is characterised by pronounced diurnal cycles of the meteorological and air-chemical parameters (Kiseleva et al., 2021;Zeeman et al., 2022;Samad et al., 2023). ...
... Air quality in cities is the result of a complex interaction between natural and anthropogenic environmental conditions. Air pollution in cities is a serious environmental problem especially in the developing countries (Mayer, 1999). ...
Air pollution in the Skopje agglomeration represents a decades-long, complex problem, which requires a profound approach. The expansion of the urban space, which has been especially intensified in the last decade, as well as other socio-economic factors in the capital, have led to an additional serious threat to the health of the population through air pollution. This paper aims to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of the Skopje agglomeration, which exert a great pressure on the environment, and are reflected with the greatest consequences on the air quality in the agglomeration. The location for the research was determined due to the fact that the largest population of residents from the Republic of North Macedonia is concentrated in the Skopje agglomeration and it has high concentrations of air pollutants from all types of pollution sources and pollutants, where the concentration of the population and industrial facilities cause a threat to the quality of the basic components of the environment.
... Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to individuals, public health, ecosystem, and economies [1][2][3][4]. ...
The examination of the primary climatic indicators, air temperature and rainfall, at the Drobeta Turnu Severin meteorological station for the period 2011-2022, allowed for the identification of increasing or declining trends. The entire study was developed using three different time frames of analysis: monthly, seasonal, and annual. The results indicate the specificities for each climate parameter on each of the three-time scales. The yearly trends for mean temperature are primarily increasing, while the annual trends for rainfall are generally decreasing. Because of the fluctuation of meteorological elements, air pollution has varying characteristics based on the geographical and topographical qualities of the urban region. This study's findings help to understand the seasonality of the overall air quality and the interaction between meteorological conditions and air contaminants. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was used to assess air quality. The AQI revealed that the air quality in Drobeta Turnu Severin is normal.
... Air pollution has become one of the major environmental problems hindering the healthy development of cities [1]. With the rapid development of industry and the acceleration of urbanization, a large number of toxic and hazardous substances are discharged into the atmosphere through industrial emissions, fossil fuel combustion, transportation, and other channels, causing air quality to gradually deteriorate [2,3]. Atmospheric dust deposition settles on the ground by gravity under natural circumstances. ...
Rapid urbanization and associated transportation play a crucial role in the distribution of heavy metals in road dust, leading to serious environmental and health concerns. This study explored the concentration and spatial variability of metals, including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), in road dust across six urban zones in Guangdong Province (parks, educational, residential, commercial, traffic, and industrial areas). The study also evaluated the bioavailability of these metals to determine their carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health impacts. The findings revealed significant variations in metal levels, with commercial zones having the highest concentrations of Zn 1316.1 ± 381.6 mg/kg), Cu (426.1 ± 136.7 mg/kg), and Cd (1.29 ± 0.08 mg/kg) due to the deposition of traffic emissions. The bioaccessibility of Pb, Zn, and Cd was found to be higher in the gastric phase, suggesting increased absorption potential when ingested. Children were at a significantly higher non-carcinogenic risk compared to adults, facing more than double the exposure. While the carcinogenic risk from Pb was low but notable, Cd presented minimal risk. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions, including stricter emission regulations and public health strategies, to mitigate the risks of heavy metal exposure in urban areas.
... Street ventilation is a highly discussed topic as it significantly affects inhabitants' health and social well-being [1,2]. On the one hand, pollution in cities is an increasing hazard that must be addressed [3]. Several factors, such as high urbanisation and expanding cities, have led to an increase in pollutant sources, including motorised traffic and industrial or domestic chimneys [4]. ...
Air pollution in urban street canyons presents a serious health risk, especially in densely populated areas. While previous research has explored airflow characteristics in these canyons, it often lacks detailed data on pollutant dispersion and the effects of wind speed on airflow patterns and vortex formation. This study uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to deliver quantitative measurements of pollutant dispersion rates and qualitative insights into airflow patterns across various street canyon morphologies. The analysis examines a range of aspect ratios (ARs), from wide (AR = 0.75) to narrow (AR = 4.5), and different wind speeds to evaluate their effects on pollutant dispersion. Findings indicate that purging flow rates decline as the AR increases, with a more pronounced decrease at lower AR values. In narrower streets, airflow patterns are particularly sensitive to wind velocity, leading to unexpected vortices that hinder effective pollutant dispersion. By incorporating these insights into urban design strategies, cities can enhance street ventilation, thereby reducing pollutant concentrations and improving public health. This study also tests a specific street layout in Seville to predict pollutant accumulation under various conditions, assessing health risks based on World Health Organization guidelines. Ultimately, this research aids in developing healthier, more sustainable urban environments.
... In studies on urban expansion and the evaluation of changes in LULC, modern RS methods and GIS integration are effective tools for spatial analysis of the data [29,30]. By using RS data to monitor the urbanization of land cover in Ethiopia [27,31,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. Similarly, wetlands loss has increased twofold in the last 20 years based on RS data [15,[41][42][43][44]. ...
Global population growth and uncontrolled are creating threats to agricultural land. To address urbanization, proactive planning is required. Land use and land cover (LULC) classification maps for 2002–2022 were analyzed using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) in Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan. Idrisi's Cellular Automata (CA)–Markov model was used to predict future scenarios. The results showed that urbanization was rapidly accelerated in large LULC changes that were unpredictable. In particular, the urbanized area increased by 234.7 km² (91 %) from 22.83 km² in 2002 to 257.53 km² in 2022, with a reduction of 656.05 km² (52 %), from 1252.52 km² in 2002 to 596.47 km² in 2022, of agriculture land. About 17.05 km² of land was lost to urbanization; however, a large portion of CA 251.75 km² was absorbed due to careless urban growth. The CA-Markov projection revealed that from 2022 to 2042, agriculture will experience the largest net change, losing about −226.09 km² of land. However, the projected results showed that the urban class will be expanded up to 450.23 km² and will gain approximately 192.7 km² in 2042. The overall findings show that it is possible to manage outcomes quantitatively and control haphazard and unplanned urban sprawl by putting forward a comprehensive master plan.
... While urban areas provide numerous economic opportunities, diverse cultures, and social amenities, they also present significant environmental challenges, with air pollution being a primary concern. One of the leading causes of air quality issues is the rapid growth of urban populations, often accompanied by land use changes resulting from the expansion of urban areas [63] [12]. Moreover, it is widely recognised that the prevalence of convenient disposable plastic has led to a worldwide problem of plastic pollution, with significant environmental and health effects [2] [18]. ...
Air pollution is a severe problem affecting cities worldwide, with significant environmental and public health implications. Air quality has become challenging as cities grow rapidly with far-reaching socioeconomic consequences. This paper aims to provide a bibliographic review of existing literature on the economic impacts of air pollution in urban areas. The review includes studies that measure health costs, labour productivity impacts, household consumption, stock market performance, and tourism. The findings show that air pollution results in significant economic burdens, such as increased healthcare costs due to pollution-related illnesses and productivity losses. Additionally, it negatively affects household consumption, stock market valuation, and tourism revenue.
... Today, hydrogen is widely utilized in petroleum refining and ammonia production, while also being explored as an alternative fuel. These characteristics highlight hydrogen's potential as a sustainable solution for green energy production (Bennoua, Le Duigou, Quéméré, & Dautremont, 2015;Mayer, 1999). Table 1 presents the fundamental properties of hydrogen alongside those of various alternative fuels. ...
... The growing population can be a very important factor in air pollution, especially in large cities, such that with increases in population, economic development, and urbanization, the consumption and transportation of energy grow as well [13,14]. The population growth in Kabul from 2000 to 2023 has seen a steady increase. ...
Air pollution is a vital concern for developing countries, and the growing concentration of air pollutants in Kabul—the most polluted city in Afghanistan—has raised concerns about the health of its citizens. This study examines Kabul’s ambient air quality from a socio-economic and environmental perspective, primarily focusing on some crucial parameters, such as the Air Quality Index (AQI), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5), and carbon monoxide (CO). Using multiple regression analysis modeling in R and data from satellite imagery, air quality monitoring stations, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this study demonstrates a strong relationship between air quality and urban green spaces, population growth, vehicle count, temperature, and electricity availability. Key results indicate that increasing urban green areas improves air quality, but that population growth and heat make air pollution worse. This study suggests that airborne pollutants could be reduced through efficient emissions management, green energy sources, and urban planning. These observations provide policymakers and urban planners with practical recommendations to enhance Kabul’s air quality and general public health.
... Understanding the time trend of each pollutant will give us a general view of each pollutant's evolutionary process and help us effectively detrend the time series so as to draw the real correlations [38]. It's natural to start from the intraday patterns due to the fact that the pollutants may be significantly influenced by diurnally cyclical temperature and illumination changes [39,40]. These intraday patterns showed in a daily periodical phenomenon have been found pervasive in natural sciences such as temperature variability [41,42], rainfall perception [43] and social sciences such as market trading activities [44][45][46], human mobilities [47]. ...
As a huge threat to the public health, China's air pollution has attracted extensive attention and continues to grow in tandem with the economy. Although the real-time air quality report can be utilized to update our knowledge on air quality, questions about how pollutants evolve across time and how pollutants are spatially correlated still remain a puzzle. In view of this point, we adopt the PMFG network method to analyze the six pollutants' hourly data in 350 Chinese cities in an attempt to find out how these pollutants are correlated temporally and spatially. In terms of time dimension, the results indicate that, except for O, the pollutants have a common feature of the strong intraday patterns of which the daily variations are composed of two contraction periods and two expansion periods. Besides, all the time series of the six pollutants possess strong long-term correlations, and this temporal memory effect helps to explain why smoggy days are always followed by one after another. In terms of space dimension, the correlation structure shows that O is characterized by the highest spatial connections. The PMFGs reveal the relationship between this spatial correlation and provincial administrative divisions by filtering the hierarchical structure in the correlation matrix and refining the cliques as the tinny spatial clusters. Finally, we check the stability of the correlation structure and conclude that, except for PM and O, the other pollutants have an overall stable correlation, and all pollutants have a slight trend to become more divergent in space. These results not only enhance our understanding of the air pollutants' evolutionary process, but also shed lights on the application of complex network methods into geographic issues.
... They are obtained from 66 different monitoring stations in Taiwan, for a span of 10 years (from 2006 to 2015) and the median of the PM 2.5 values is slightly above 37 µgm −3 . The reader is also referred to the earlier study by Mayer (1999) who discussed how the air quality is deteriorating in different cities across the world. All in all, there is a growing demand to identify the main factors that contribute to the air pollution. ...
It is of utmost importance to have a clear understanding of the status of air pollution and to provide forecasts and insights about the air quality to the general public and researchers in environmental studies. Previous studies of spatio-temporal models showed that even a short-term exposure to high concentrations of atmospheric fine particulate matters can be hazardous to the health of ordinary people. In this study, we develop a spatio-temporal model with space-time interaction for air pollution data. The proposed model uses a parametric space-time interaction component along with the spatial and temporal components in the mean structure, and introduces a random-effects component specified in the form of zero-mean spatio-temporal processes. For application, we analyze the air pollution data (PM2.5) from 66 monitoring stations across Taiwan.
... Canlıların hayatta kalabilmesi açısından en birinci faktör olan hava; atmosferi oluşturan gazların karışımı olarak tanımlanmaktadır [2]. Kentsel hava kalitesi, doğal ve antropojenik çevre koşulları arasındaki karmaşık etkileşimin sonucu olarak ifade edilmektedir [3]. Hava kirliliği ise atmosferdeki kirleticilerin bileşiminde ve varlığında insan sağlığını ve çevre dengesini bozacak değişiklikleri ifade etmektedir [4]. ...
Dünya genelinde artan taşıt sayısı ile ulaşım kaynaklı hava kirlilikleri çok ciddi seviyelere gelmiştir. Bu durumu önlemek için gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan birçok ülkede ulaşım sistemlerinin daha verimli kullanıldığı sürdürülebilir ulaşım türlerine yönelimler başlamıştır. Sürdürülebilir ulaşım sistemlerinde, otomobile dayalı ulaşım sistemleri yerine çok modlu ulaşım sistemleri esas alınarak daha çevreci, güvenilir ve verimli ulaşım olanakları sağlanabilmektedir. Yapılan bu çalışmada da Erzurum İlinde yer alan ve Tortum Yolu olarak ifade edilen yol kesiminde çok modlu bir ulaşım altyapısının oluşturulması gerektiği ve bu doğrultuda hava kirliliğinin önemli ölçüde azaltılabileceği belirlenmiştir. Bu doğrultuda da yapılan saha çalışmaları, incelemeler ve SketchUp ve Lumion Pro 12.5 programlarıyla yapılan modellemeler sonucunda mevcut yol ağı için alternatif bir yol ağı tasarımı yapılmıştır. Modellenen yol ağı için de hava kirlilik değerleri hesaplandığında mevcut duruma göre yaklaşık %24 azalma olacağı öngörülmüştür. Bu sonuçlar Ülkemizin temiz hava eylem planı hedeflerine ulaşılması için önemli rol oynayacaktır.
... Air pollution is a serious matter of concern in big or densely populated cities. Generally, road traffic is a dominant source of air pollutants like NO x , ultrafine, and black carbon (BC) particles [1]. Although not all these pollutants are regulated, their health effects are clearly recognized [2][3][4], so they must be monitored. ...
Monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is critical because children spend most of their daytime inside. One of the main air pollutant sources in urban areas is road traffic, which greatly influences air quality. Thus, this study addresses, in depth, the linkages of meteorology, ambient air pollution, and indoor activities with IAQ in a traffic-influenced school situated south of Madrid. The measurement period was from 22 November to 21 December 2017. Simultaneous measurements of indoor and outdoor PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 mass concentrations, ultrafine particle number concentration (PNC) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) were analyzed under different meteorological conditions. PNC and eBC outdoor concentrations and their temporal trend were similar among the sampling points, with all sites being influenced in the same way by traffic emissions. Strong correlations were found between indoor and outdoor concentrations, indicating that indoor pollution levels were significantly affected by outdoor sources. Especially, PNC and eBC had the same indoor/outdoor (I/O) trend, but indoor concentrations were lower. The time delay in indoor vs. outdoor concentrations varied between 0.5 and 2 h, depending on wind speed. Significant differences were found between different meteorological conditions (ANOVA p-values < 2.14 × 10⁻⁶). Atmospheric stability periods led to an increase in indoor and outdoor pollutant levels. However, the highest I/O ratios were found during atmospheric instability, especially for eBC (an average of 1.2). This might be related to rapid changes in the outdoor air concentrations induced by meteorology. Significant variations were observed in indoor PM10 concentrations during classroom occupancy (up to 230 µg m⁻³) vs. non-occupancy (up to 19 µg m⁻³) days, finding levels higher than outdoor ones. This was attributed to the scholarly activities in the classroom. Conversely, PNC and eBC concentrations only increased when the windows of the classroom were open. These findings have helped to establish practical recommendations and measures for improving the IAQ in this school and those of similar characteristics.
... The state environmental protection agency, LUBW (Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Württemberg), attributes 58 % of the annual mean PM 10 at their monitoring station "Am Neckartor" in downtown Stuttgart to road traffic (45 % abrasion, 7 % exhaust, 6 % secondary formation), 8 % to small and medium-sized combustion sources, and 27 % to the regional background (Leiber et al., 2016). Mayer (1999) showed the temporal variability of urban air pollutants (NO, NO 2 , O 3 , and O x (sum of NO 2 and O 3 )) caused by motor traffic in Stuttgart based on more than 10 years of recorded data, with higher NO concentrations in winter and higher O x concentrations in summer. Kiseleva et al. (2021) investigated nocturnal atmospheric conditions and their impact on air pollutant concentrations in the city of Stuttgart, focusing on the connection between atmospheric conditions and air pollutants using radiosonde, wind lidar, and microwave radiometer data and data from near-surface meteorological and air quality observations and turbulence evaluations for PALM-4U conducted later (Kiseleva et al., 2024). ...
Aerosol distributions are of great relevance for air quality, especially for cities like Stuttgart, which has limited air exchange due to its location in a basin. We collected a comprehensive set of data from remote sensing and in situ methods including radiosondes for the urban background of downtown Stuttgart to determine the impact of boundary layer mixing processes on local air quality and to evaluate the simulation results of the high-resolution large eddy simulation (LES) model PALM-4U at 10 m grid spacing. Stagnant meteorological conditions caused accumulation of aerosols, and chemical composition analysis shows that ammonium nitrate (37 ± 9 %) and organic aerosol (OA; 34 ± 9 %) dominated during this winter study. Case studies show that clouds during previous nights can weaken temperature inversion and accelerate boundary layer mixing after sunrise by up to 3 h. This is important for ground-level aerosol dilution during the morning rush hour. Furthermore, our observations validate results of the LES model PALM-4U in terms of boundary layer heights and aerosol mixing for 48 h. The simulated aerosol concentrations follow the trend of our observations but are still underestimated by a factor of 4.5 ± 2.1 due to missing secondary aerosol formation processes and uncertainties of emissions and boundary conditions in the model. This paper firstly evaluates the PALM-4U model performance in simulating aerosol spatio-temporal distributions, which can help to improve the LES model and to better understand sources and sinks for air pollution as well as the role of horizontal and vertical transport.
... Atmospheric aerosols negatively affect visibility (Watson, 2002), human health (Pope et al., 2002;Laden et al., 2006;Beelen et al., 2014), and urban air quality (Fenger, 1999;Mayer, 1999) on local and regional scales. Aerosols also provide the largest uncertainties for global radiation balance and climate change (Lohmann and Feichter, 2005;Forster et al., 2007;Penner et al., 2011;Myhre et al., 2013). ...
Source apportionment studies have struggled to quantitatively link secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) to their precursor sources due largely to instrument limitations. For example, aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) provides quantitative measurements of the total SOA fraction but lacks the chemical resolution to resolve most SOA sources. In contrast, instruments based on soft ionisation techniques, such as extractive electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (EESI, e.g. the EESI time-of-flight mass spectrometer, EESI-TOF), have demonstrated the resolution to identify specific SOA sources but provide only a semi-quantitative apportionment due to uncertainties in the dependence of instrument sensitivity on molecular identity. We address this challenge by presenting a method for positive matrix factorisation (PMF) analysis on a single dataset which includes measurements from both AMS and EESI-TOF instruments, denoted “combined PMF” (cPMF). Because each factor profile includes both AMS and EESI-TOF components, the cPMF analysis maintains the source resolution capability of the EESI-TOF while also providing quantitative factor mass concentrations. Therefore, the bulk EESI-TOF sensitivity to each factor can also be directly determined from the analysis. We present metrics for ensuring that both instruments are well represented in the solution, a method for optionally constraining the profiles of factors that are detectable by one or both instruments, and a protocol for uncertainty analysis.
As a proof of concept, the cPMF analysis was applied to summer and winter measurements in Zurich, Switzerland. Factors related to biogenic and wood-burning-derived SOAs are quantified, as well as POA sources such as wood burning, cigarette smoke, cooking, and traffic. The retrieved EESI-TOF factor-dependent sensitivities are consistent with both laboratory measurements of SOA from model precursors and bulk sensitivity parameterisations based on ion chemical formulae. The cPMF analysis shows that, with the standalone EESI-TOF PMF, in which factor-dependent sensitivities are not accounted for, some factors are significantly under- or overestimated. For example, when factor-dependent sensitivities are not considered in the winter dataset, the SOA fraction is underestimated by ∼25 % due to the high EESI-TOF sensitivity to components of primary biomass burning such as levoglucosan. In the summer dataset, where both SOA and total OA are dominated by monoterpene oxidation products, the uncorrected EESI-TOF underestimates the fraction of daytime SOA relative to nighttime SOA (in which organonitrates and less oxygenated CxHyOz molecules are enhanced). Although applied here to an AMS and EESI-TOF pairing, cPMF is suitable for the general case of a multi-instrument dataset, thereby providing a framework for exploiting semi-quantitative, high-resolution instrumentation for quantitative source apportionment.
... Samples 3, 4, and 5 showed two fluorophores, in which both 3 and 5 showed identical fluorophores at Ex/Em = 270-290/340-355 nm (peak T) and Ex/Em = 225-245/330-370 nm (peak T uv ) ( Figure S2). Fluorophore peaks A and C indicate fulvic acid (humic substance) or hydrophilic DOM in the river water that might originate from industrial activities and sewage pollution (Mayer, 1999;Niloy et al., 2021a). On the other hand, peaks T and T uv indicate the presence of protein substances in urban industrial river water that might originate from anthropogenic sources (Haque et al., 2020;Niloy et al., 2022b). ...
This study aims to identify continuous water quality changes and identify fluorescence properties from urban rivers to marine zones. Various types of natural and anthropogenic sources derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) have been identified in this study. These include soil‐derived DOM, plant remnants, and soluble particles produced when organic material partially decomposes and is released by microorganisms, such as bacteria, algae, and plants. DOM was characterized using a three‐dimensional excitation–emission matrix (3DEEM), parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), and water quality parameters from the Buriganga River, Dhaka to Patenga Seaport, Chittagong, along with the Shitalakshya River, a small portion of the Padma River, and the Meghna River. To better understand the data analysis, the study area was divided into three central regions: urban industrial rivers, industrial estuarine rivers, and marine zones. In the urban industrial river, 3DEEM and PARAFAC identified five fluorophores (peaks: A, C, M, T, and T uv ) with five components: detergent‐like, fulvic‐like, tryptophan or protein‐like, fulvic‐like (C‐type), and protein‐like, which might originate from the industrial activities and sewage pollution. In the industrial estuarine river zone, three fluorophores have been identified (peaks: A, C, T uv ) with two known components, namely, fulvic acid (A‐type) and fulvic acid (C‐type), with an unknown photoproduct at Ex/Em = 295/368 (peak T uv ). Components in the industrial river zone may originate from terrestrial sources, indicating vegetation along the river. In the marine zone, four fluorophores have been identified (peaks: T uv , A, T, C) with two components, that is, protein‐ or tryptophan‐like and humic acid‐like from coral origin. The intensities of both fulvic‐like and protein‐like substances were high in urban industrial river water owing to industrial activity and sewage pollution. SUVA 254 suggests high aromaticity in all three regions, whereas the optical properties suggest that terrestrial and microbial components are present in the urban industrial and estuarine rivers. This further indicates that urban industrial river water quality is highly polluted. The lowest degradation potential index (DPI) in the marine zone might result from the presence of the highest number of dissolved solids in the water, and the highest DPI of industrial estuarine rivers explains the comparatively high presence of terrestrial‐derived humic (A)‐ and humic (C)‐like components in the ratio to the unknown photoproduct of mid‐wavelength.
Practitioner Points
This study's uniqueness is a 220‐km cruise from an urban river to a coastal seaport to analyze fluorescence properties.
The study found that most water parameters were within the DoE standards, except for DO, which was consistently low.
3DEEM‐PARAFAC identified five fluorophores linked to detergent, fulvic, and protein‐like substances from sewage and industrial sources.
Our study concludes that microbial and terrestrial sources dominate dissolved organic matter in urban, estuarine, and marine regions.
... In addition to its effects on human health, these pollutants can also be a serious hazard to monuments and artwork, particularly those located in city centers (Samet, 2000). PM, SO 2 , CO, O 3 , nitrogen oxides (NO X ), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the major air pollutants in cities (Mayer 1999). Various factors influence air quality in big cities, including meteorological conditions, topography, urban morphology, and socioeconomic factors, (Liang, 2020). ...
In urban settings, a significant issue revolves around poor air quality, characterized by elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) and diverse pollutants (CO and NO2) detrimental to both human health and the global environment. Consequently, there exists an immediate imperative to mitigate air pollution through the adoption of a spectrum of short and long-term strategies. This study examines different factors that influence air quality in Skopje, North Macedonia, focusing on the impact of meteorological parameters, the implementation of policy measures as waste burning ban, the impact of green infrastructure as well as the effects of measures against COVID-19 spread. To analyze the impact of these factors, the data analysis spans various periods: pre-COVID-19 lockdown restrictions (with emphasis on 2018), the lockdown period (2020), and subsequent years (2021 and 2022) as life gradually returns to normal. Additionally, it evaluates the effects of meteorological parameters such as wind speed, relative humidity, and temperature on air quality and their impact on particulate matter reduction, Furthermore, the paper establishes a significant correlation between the most common types of particulate matter, namely those with diameters of 10 µm or less (PM10) and 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5). Our statistical analyses unveil significant correlations between the collected data, confirming a negative correlation between PM and higher air temperatures/wind speed. Furthermore, the investigation highlights elevated pollutant concentrations during nighttime hours. Notably, the study identifies positive outcomes associated with reduced traffic and decreased use of fossil fuels for heating during winter months, as evidenced by the acquired data.
Graphical abstract
... Many people move to cities to improve their quality of life in terms of infrastructure, jobs, education, and other factors (economic growth and social development) [1,3,4]. Urbanization, however, can also generate many issues, and among those issues are environmental (ecological) aspects, such as air quality degradation (air pollution) and increases in thermal discomfort, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions [5][6][7]. ...
Urban heat island (UHI) and thermal comfort conditions are among the impacts of urbanization, which have been extensively studied in most cities around the world. However, the comprehensive studies in Indonesia in the context of urbanization is still lacking. This study aimed to classify land use and land cover (LULC) and analyse urban growth and its effects on surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) and urban thermal conditions as well as contributing factors to SUHI intensity (SUHII) using remote sensing in the western part of Java Island and three focused urban areas: the Jakarta metropolitan area (JMA), the Bandung and Cimahi Municipalities (BC), and the Sukabumi Municipality (SKB). Landsat imagery from three years was used: 2000, 2009, and 2019. Three types of daytime SUHII were quantified, namely the SUHII of urban central area and two SUHIIs of urban sprawl area. In the last two decades, urban areas have grown by more than twice in JMA and SKB and nearly 1.5 times in BC. Along with the growth of the three cities, the SUHII in the urban central area has almost reached a magnitude of 6 °C in the last decade. Rates of land surface temperature change of the unchanged urban pixels have magnitudes of 0.25, 0.15, and 0.14 °C/year in JMA, SKB, and BC, respectively. The urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) and discomfort index (DI) showed that the strongest SUHI effect was most prevalent in urban pixels and the regions were mostly in the very hot and hot categories. Anthropogenic heat flux and urban ratio have positive contributions to SUHII variation, while vegetation and water ratios are negative contributors to SUHII variation. For each city, the contributing factors have a unique magnitude that can be used to evaluate SUHII mitigation options.
... Various environmental monitoring sensors for air, (1) soil, (2) water, (3) and marine (4) pollutions are required to address diverse environmental issues. Since these different environmental factors are closely interrelated, comprehensive and systematic management measures are necessary. ...
... (H. Mayer 1999). ...
In 2023, it was declared that the Bangladesh at the first place and then Pakistan, after which the most polluted country is India at the third place. Polluted air is becoming a very considerate issue all over the world. This study is all about comparing the air quality of two metro cities, Lucknow and Kanpur during (November 2022- October,2023) buy monitoring and assessment of few selective basic AQI air pollutants namely Particulate Matter (PM10) , Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and also AQI of Lucknow and Kanpur at 5 representative locations categorized as residential, commercial and industrial areas. Residential area in Lucknow (Mahanagar and Aliganj) and in Kanpur (Kidwai Nagar and Shastri Nagar), Commercial areas in Lucknow (Hazarat Ganj and Ansal T.C.) and in Kanpur (Zareeb Chauki and Ramadevi), Industrial area Talkatora in Lucknow and Panki in Kanpur have been taken under consideration. The result found that 24 hours concentration of PM10 were in the range of 76.40 to 261.19 µg/m3 in Lucknow and 74.68 to 400.67 µg/m3 in Kanpur with an average of 174.34 and 160.36 µg/m3, respectively. The average value of PM10 was above as per the guideline of WHO and permissible limit prescribed by NAAQ in both the cities. Similarly, 24 hours average concentration of SO2 was below the prescribed level of NAAQ in Lucknow and Kanpur which was in the range of 5.33 to 12.70 µg/m3 in Lucknow and 2.00 to 9.53 µg/m3 in Kanpur with an average of 8.71 and 7.19 µg/m3, respectively. The 24 hours average concentration of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was below prescribed level of NAAQ in Lucknow and Kanpur. In Lucknow it was in the range of 13.83 to 48.01 µg/m3 and in Kanpur 21.45 to 64.02 µg/m3 with an average of 29.45 and 50.14 µg/m3, respectively. The 24 hours AQI was reported in the range of 76 to 211 in Lucknow and 75 to 363 in Kanpur with an average of 150.84 and 142.76 respectively which is greater moderate to severe by NAAQ and WHO guideline throughout the year. Ultimately, this entire study is related to human health because polluted air gives rise to various hazardous diseases such as asthma cancer, premature death cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract diseases etc.
... Parameters such as wind speed and direction, temperature, or relative humidity can change the process of pollutant dispersion, deposition mechanisms, and the formation of atmospheric particles and thus influence the concentration of air pollutants in a region . Rapid urbanization and the existence of UHI has been observed in Accra, the capital city of Ghana , and are among the key driving force of poor air quality (Mayer, 1999) and are known to exacerbate the effects of air pollutants in urban areas . Again, the annual reported PM 2.5 mean concentration in Ghana in 2016 was 31.1 μg/m 3 which exceeded the recommended standard level of 10 μg/m 3 (World Health Organization, 2016). ...
... En las ciudades densamente pobladas, las emisiones de Material Particulado (PM por sus siglas en inglés) hacia la atmósfera se originan principalmente a causa del flujo vehicular (UNICEF, 2020). Mayer (1999) indica que los niveles de contaminación en el aire de las ciudades aumentan por la combinación entre el incremento de la población y los cambios del uso del suelo para aumentar áreas urbanas. Así también, Rojas (2007) sostiene que uno de los aspectos determinantes en la calidad de vida de un centro urbano, es la calidad de aire que los pobladores respiran y Pérez (2017) reafirma que la existencia de PM en el aire afecta directamente en la salud de los seres humanos, animales e incluso plantas. ...
Revista ESPAMCIENCIA 15(1):21-28 DOI: https://doi.org/10.512 60/revista_espamcien cia.v15i1.458 Resumen La presente investigación se centra en conocer la influencia del flujo vehicular en las horas pico con respecto a las concentraciones a nivel del suelo de material particulado con 10 y 2,5 micras de diámetro (PM10 y PM2,5) en la zona norte del sector La Pradera II, Guayaquil-Ecuador. Para registrar el flujo vehicular se empleó el método de conteo manual y para medir las concentraciones de PM10 y PM2,5 se utilizó un monitor de calidad de aire marca Dylos modelo DC1700; esto se llevó a cabo en tres días de la semana (martes, jueves y domingo) durante cuatro semanas, en siete puntos y en dos jornadas horarias (diurna y nocturna). Se calcularon los promedios a los valores obtenidos para representarlos en series temporales, histogramas, test de normalidad y correlación de Spearman. Los resultados mostraron que, en muchos casos no se observan correlaciones significativas, especialmente en la jornada diurna, donde en ocasiones, las concentraciones de PM10 y PM2,5 no son directamente proporcionales al número de vehículos. Mientras que en la jornada nocturna existen correlaciones que varían entre positivas débiles y moderadas, indicando que los aumentos en las concentraciones de PM10 y PM2,5 se asocian a incrementos leves y moderados del número de vehículos. Gran parte de estas variaciones son atribuidas al dinamismo que poseen las partículas ante factores no contemplados en este estudio, tales como: meteorológicos, de diseño urbano y características propias de cada vehículo. Abstract The present investigation focuses on knowing the influence of vehicular flow during peak hours with respect to ground-level concentrations of particulate matter with 10 and 2.5 microns in diameter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the northern area of the sector. La Pradera II, Guayaquil-Ecuador. To record the vehicle flow, the manual counting method was used and to measure the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5, a Dylos air quality monitor model DC1700 was used; this was carried out on three days of the week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) for four weeks, at seven points and in two time shifts (day and night). The averages were calculated from the values obtained to represent them in time series, histograms, normality test and Spearman correlation. The results showed that, in many cases, no significant correlations are observed, especially during the daytime, where sometimes the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are not directly proportional to the number of vehicles. While at night there are correlations that vary between weak and moderate positive, indicating that increases in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are associated with slight and moderate increases in the number of vehicles. A large part of these variations are attributed to the dynamism that the particles possess due to factors not contemplated in this study, such as: meteorological, urban design and characteristics of each vehicle.
... So far haze-fog incidents are still an environmental issue of great concern in developing countries, continuing despite temporary abatement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Haze-fog not only commonly leads to extremely low visibility (Fu & Chen, 2017;Yang et al., 2015) but may also cause a series of disruptions in people's daily lives, public safety, human health, and ecosystems (Cao et al., 2012;Mayer, 1999;Sun & Zhou, 2017;Wang et al., 2015;Zheng, Pozzer, et al., 2015). Severe haze-fog events, characterized by lasting for a long time, high particle concentration, and extensive spatial coverage, have occurred frequently over the past few decades in China (Chen & Wang, 2015;Fu & Chen, 2017). ...
An extreme haze‐fog event occurred during October 20–22, 2013, in Harbin, Northeast China, which lasted for nearly 60 h with local visibility as low as 20 m. However, causes of the extreme haze‐fog formation remain unclear. Through the analysis of in situ data and objective weather circulation classification, it is revealed that high pollutant emissions from biomass burning played a very important role in the extreme event. Stable weather conditions under the circulation type 8 (CT8), marked by weak high‐pressure control, strong inversion (6.55°C), shallow boundary layer depth (<300 m), and high relative humidity (>90%), aided in the accumulation of pollutants and hygroscopic aerosol growth. All of these factors collectively contributed to the extreme haze‐fog formation. The insights derived from this study can improve the predictability of extreme haze‐fog events, and indicate that pollution emissions should be tightly controlled in the adverse meteorological circulation type in Northeast China.
Air Pollution poses signi cant environmental and health challenges, particularly in South Asia, including Bangladesh, over the past two decades. Therefore, this study examines the spatiotemporal variability of aerosols (PM 2.5 , PM 10) and gaseous pollutants (CO, CO 2 , CH 4 , NO 2 , and SO 2) during December 2021 and January 2022 in Dhaka (a major city in Bangladesh) using ground-based Aeroqual S500 data. Additionally, Pearson correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Hierarchy Cluster Analysis (HCA) were conducted to identify the main sources of aerosols and gaseous pollutants. From the spatiotemporal study, the highest pollutant concentrations were observed in Gulisthan (CO: 2.7"ppm), Abdullahpur (NO 2 : 6.1"ppm, PM 10 : 390"µg/m 3), Gabtoli (PM 2.5 :232"µg/m 3). Statistical analyses including Pearson correlations, PCA and HCA indicate that motor vehicle emissions, road tra c dust, and industrial activities are the primary sources of air pollution in Dhaka City. Calculated Air Quality Index (AQI) values ranged from 193 to 282 indicating unhealthy air quality levels. This study highlights the strong connection between poor air quality and health impacts including respiratory and cardiovascular illness exacerbated by elevated levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Dhaka City, showing the severity of air pollution there. These ndings underscore the urgent need for mitigation measures and e ective air pollution control strategies. Policymakers, urban planners, and environmental agencies can leverage these insights to prioritize air pollution control measures, protecting public health and minimizing ecosystem damage. By addressing the root causes of air pollution, Dhaka can signi cantly enhance the well-being of its residents and reduce the burden of air"pollution-related diseases.
Despite significant advances in knowledge about the spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), the accurate determination them in urban areas remains a challenge due to multiple sources. We investigated concentrations and spatial patterns for six PTEs, namely Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and As in the top layer of urban and peri-urban soils. The study was conducted on the territory of the Ufa city (Russia), with a population of more than 1 million people and an area of more than 700 km². For these purposes, a total of 250 soil samples were collected at 0–20 cm depth. Random Forest algorithm, in combination with environmental and anthropogenic variables, was applied for the spatial prediction of PTEs. The covariates were represented by distance from river, topographic attributes, remote sensing data, geology and soil properties, distance from highways and railroads, their density, distance from combined heat and power, and refineries. Results showed that Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and As contents ranged from 1 to 98.1 mg/kg, 1.5 to 360 mg/kg, 1.7 to 110 mg/kg, 1 to 336 mg/kg, 0.2 to 1 mg/kg, and 0.1 to 7.4 mg/kg, respectively. The average values of elements did not exceed the maximum and approximate permissible concentrations (MPC, APC). Terrain and anthropogenic-related covariates were estimated as the most important predictors. The generated maps revealed geographic trends and hotspot concentrations of Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn. Our findings and generated maps can provide useful information for future digital soil mapping of PTEs in urban areas.
Air pollution in urban environments is a complex, multidimensional issue that significantly impacts public health and people’s well-being. Previous studies have tended to focus on general public awareness in metropolitan urban areas. The novelty of this study lies in examining whether perceptions regarding air pollution and the urban environment differ based on specific demographic characteristics such as age and dwelling place in a provincial city of Greece. Thus, a quantitative cross-sectional research approach was employed, resulting in the collection of 659 valid questionnaires from residents in the wider area of Volos city. To analyze the data, one-way ANOVA was applied to reveal differences in perceptions of air pollution and its effects on urban well-being. The results indicate that perceptions vary by age, particularly concerning the effects of air pollution on the natural environment. Participants acknowledge that air pollution levels differ across cities of various sizes and recognize the adverse effects of pollution on the overall well-being of urban areas. Furthermore, our analysis reveals significant differences in perceptions between urban and rural residents. Particularly, people living in the city tend to report higher awareness of air pollution levels compared to those in the countryside, highlighting the need for targeted interventions tailored to specific communities. Overall, this study underscores the importance of understanding demographic influences on perceptions of air quality, which can inform policymaking and public health initiatives aimed at improving air quality and mitigating health risks in urban settings.
Purpose: The survey aims to identify current trends in the green marketing of the provincial Polish cities. The trend analysis will provide an understanding of how cities' authorities promote ecology, what activities and solutions are currently being implemented by them to promote cities from an environmental perspective. The purpose of the analysis is to examine whether the cities' ecological marketing contribute to reducing air pollution? Design/methodology/approach: The study will use content analysis, and trend analysis. Content analysis will identify elements of green marketing in ongoing projects of the provincial Polish cities. Trend analysis will answer the question of the relationship between green marketing and the level of city pollution. Findings: Considering that the EU Green Deal guidelines impose air pollution reduction targets on cities and countries, it can be hypothesized that cities should focus their activities on green marketing. It can be assumed that there is a positive (positive) relationship between the marketing activities implemented by the city and the decreasing level of air pollution. Originality/value: The article makes a significant contribution to the field of urban ecology and municipal marketing research. It combines two key issues: the marketing strategies used by cities to promote ecological activities and the analysis of PM10 air pollution trends. This two-pronged analysis allows for a comprehensive understanding of whether the marketing efforts undertaken have a real impact on improving air quality in Polish cities.
Air pollution caused by motor vehicles is harmful to public health. Managing the cause of this type of pollution is very difficult. Effective prediction and management of pollution can be attained only by computing air pollution. It is difficult to measure emissions directly, so it is estimated using a variety of models developed worldwide. The current study made an attempt to integrate the emission model COPERT with the traffic assignment model in CUBE software for predicting the traffic-related emissions of pollutants SO2, NO2 & PM2.5 in mixed traffic conditions by considering passenger car and light duty vehicles (LDVS), two-wheeler, auto and bus. The study also aimed to include fuel variables and meteorological variable humidity along with fleet composition, average speed and average monthly temperature as inputs. This would enable us to control the rising vehicular emission, by assessing current and future air quality and thereby implementing policy decisions.
Processing of data obtained using lidar technologies was carried out to identify the vertical variability of the distribution of aerosols in the atmospheric column by month. The results of 227 lidar measurements from 2014 to 2023 were processed in total. It has been established that the concentration and height of compacted aerosol layers begin to increase in spring time, reaches a maximum in July, and from October there is a visible decline in aerosol concentrations in the atmospheric air. It has been established that in the warm season the height of compacted aerosol layers reaches 1200–1800 m, while in the cold season it reaches only heights of 600–1100 m. It was concluded that fine aerosol predominates over the city, based on the calculated Angstrom parameter in the range from 1.95 to 2.91.
Книга адресована як дослідникам, які професійно займаються
проблемами охорони середовища і атмосфери, так і науковцям,
зацікавлених парадигмою інтелектуальних обчислень, що є
універсальними методами розв’язування широкого класу задач
моделювання й аналізу великих множин даних
Introduction: Assessing atmospheric changes is crucial as population density increases and countries industrialize to meet growing demands. Pakistan is listed among the countries with the most deteriorating air quality globally. Novelty Statement: This research investigates tropospheric NO₂ patterns in Pakistan from 2005 to 2022 using OMI data. It reveals seasonal variations and anthropogenic impacts, offering valuable insights for air quality policies in developing regions. Material and Methods: This study analyzed tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) patterns using data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and examined their relationship with meteorological parameters such as rainfall, wind speed, and temperature. The analysis focused on NO₂ pollution patterns at the district level in Pakistan from 2005 to 2022, including major urban centers like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Peshawar. Results and Discussion: An increasing trend in NO₂ concentrations was observed, with a rise of 9.028 x 10¹⁵molecules/cm²in winter. Summer values were lower, around 1.9 x 10¹⁵molecules/cm². A notable decrease in NO₂ concentrations occurred in the pre-monsoon months, except in Peshawar, where concentrations fell during spring. The study revealed varied patterns in NO₂ levels in relation to temperature, wind speed, and rainfall over the years. Industrial cities with heavy traffic, large populations, agricultural fires, and fossil fuel combustion exhibited high anthropogenic emission levels in the lower atmosphere. Conclusion: This study provides regulators with a deeper understanding of anthropogenic emission levels in major cities, helping to identify sources and develop effective air quality management strategies.
The expansion of urban areas, the acceleration of traffic, the acceleration of economic growth, and the excessive use of energy are all characteristics of industrialized nations that have contributed to the worsening of air pollution. The integrity of the natural world is compromised by all these elements, which have a domino effect on one another and work together to harm it. A major ecological problem is the regional effects of air pollution on various plant species. Unlike animal populations, plant populations are constantly (24/7) and directly exposed to the danger of pollution. Biochemical, physiological, morphological, and anatomical reactions are among the many ways in which these organisms take in, store, and process contaminants that land on their surfaces. This research aims to find out how two possible therapeutic plant species Catharanthus roseus L. and Ocimum sanctum L. react to different levels of air pollution (vehicular pollution) in terms of their morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacognosy.
The assessment of air pollution in urban areas utilizes satellite atmospheric dispersion models to gain an understanding of the spatiotemporal distribution of fine particulate matter concentrations. The primary objective is to analyze how pollutants disperse in different Moroccan cities, with a focus on fine particles emitted from various urban sources such as PM10 (particles with a diameter less than 10 µm) and PM2.5 (particles with a diameter less than 2.5 µm), sulfates, black carbon, and nitrates. Through loc Evaluation and MODELING OF AIR POLLUTION in the city of Casablanca, Moroccan modeling, we can study how these pollutants spread, providing a detailed insight into their concentrations in the urban environment. A crucial aspect of this study involves exploring the impact of air pollution on human health. By examining the links between atmospheric pollutant concentrations and health issues in heavily polluted urban areas, our research aims to identify potential risks to the population. This approach combines advanced models with epidemiological data to better understand the connection between urban air quality and public health. The results obtained through this research will contribute to enhancing our understanding of pollution sources in urban environments, facilitating the optimization of air quality management policies.
This study consists of three main sections. The first section delves into a performance analysis centered around modeling PM10, NOx, and CO emissions from a cement factory. It examines the effectiveness of various factors, including meteorological data, physics models, and air quality dispersion models, in producing accurate results for atmospheric simulations. The second section covers the dispersion direction and concentrations obtained by visualizing the dispersion maps. The third section covers an analysis of heavy metals emitted from the facility, taking into account potential risks in the region such as cancer, acute and chronic effects, and long-term respiratory risks. This study made use of meteorological models (WRF, AERMET, and CALMET), air quality dispersion models (AERMOD and CALPUFF), a health risk analysis model (HARP), and various sub-models (MMIF and CALWRF). Satellite meteorological data were obtained from NCEP and ERA, with the majority of meteorological data based on the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS)/Final Operational Global Analysis (FNL) from Global Tropospheric Analyses and Forecast Grids used for the WRF model. In the daily results, AERMOD showed the highest concentration values, but CALPUFF had greater concentrations throughout the annual period. The winter season had the highest concentrations of pollutants. Although there are differences among the physics models used in this research, the conclusions produced are consistent. Analysis of the data from the HARP model suggested that cancer risk levels exceeded the threshold of one person per million. However, the proportion of exceedance instances is rather small in comparison to the receptor points.
Formation of ozone in the boundary layer during photochemical pollution episodes gives rise to an ozone concentration ranging from 100 to, more than 400 ppb, with monthly averages showing a maximum in summer. The frequency of such episodes is controlled by meteorology and varies widely in place and time. There is, however, a general tendency for ozone concentrations to be lower in urban areas than in downwind rural areas, because in urban areas some ozone is removed by reaction with other pollutants, mostly nitric oxide. In polluted atmospheres these reactions constitute a major sink for ozone. Conversion rates of NOx range from about 1% per hour in winter to over 15% per hour during photochemical pollution episodes. Some NO2 is removed from the boundary layer by dry deposition, up to more than 50% of NO2 in Europe may be converted into peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), and the remainder into nitrates and some other peroxy nitrates. In the Netherlands PAN levels have been increasing by more than 10% annually over the last decade. Dry and wet deposition remove HNO3 and PAN. Some PAN decomposes into NO2 and peroxy radicals. This would suggest that the effect of anthropogenic NOx emissions are felt only on a regional scale, i.e. several hundreds of kilometres.
However, the decomposition rate of PAN depends on temperature. At lower temperatures it is slow enough for PAN to be transported over very large distances away from its source.
We argue that transport of PAN, and therefore of NOx plus anthropogenic carbon monoxide, methane and less reactive hydrocarbons are responsible for the observed ozone increase in the troposphere in the northern hemisphere, and for the observed PAN and ozone maximum in spring (May) in the northern background (free) troposphere and at remote sites away from man-made pollution sources.
Exposure to elevated concentrations of ambient air pollutants causes adverse human health effects. Two modes or methods of study are generally relied on to quantify the relationships between pollutants and specific effects. These are: human clinical experiments and epidemiological (or community exposure) studies. (Animal toxicological studies can be used to indicate the existence of an effect, but not the rate of the effect in humans.) Each method has limitations as a basis for quantifying the level of adverse effects anticipated in a given human population as a result of exposure. Consequently, care must be taken in deciding which studies are appropriate for assessment of health impacts in a population. Some limitations are inherent in the method. Epidemiological studies, for example, depend on adequate community monitoring and the ability to associate a cohort with ambient data. Clinical studies often do not represent the complex mix of pollutants in the atmosphere. Consequently, construction of dose/exposure-response functions is challenging. Another common complication in quantifying expected health impacts of a pollutant mix is lack of adequate ambient monitoring data coupled with little or no knowledge of a population's time and activity profiles. This paper summarizes the difficulties inherent in constructing estimates of health effects in populationsliving in densely populated and polluted areas and suggests approaches to making initial limited estimates. An example of the level of effort required to conduct a sophisticated study, using relatively rich databases, is given based on work done in the Southern California region.
The synoptic climatology of ozone (O3) for S Ontario has shown that, over the 1976–1981 period, average summer O3 concentrations follow a relationship similar to that reported for event analysis during periods of high O3 concentration. Highest average concentrations, 36 parts per billion (ppb), occur with ‘back of the high’ situations while lowest average concentrations (20 ppb) occur with ‘front of the high’ situations.With similar weather events in the winter, the pattern is reversed with highest average O3 concentrations on the ‘front of the high’ (19 ppb) and lowest average concentrations on the ‘back of the high’ (13 ppb). Concentration of O3 in the ‘front of the high’ sector is due in part to the intrusion of O3 in the vicinity of storms from the stratosphere. The seasonal variation of average concentrations in these situations is low, ranging from 14 to 26 ppb.The very low average concentration during the winter and fall for the ‘back of the high’ situation may be the result of scavenging by NOx from the urban/industrial areas around the Great Lakes. During the spring and summer, solar energy and warm temperatures cause the photochemical production of O3 from NOx and HCs precursors. In the fall and winter, photochemical production of O3 is either very low or absent, and the NOx consume O3 rather than produce it. Thus, average O3 concentrations for winter ‘back of the high’ situations are one-third of those in the summer months.The synoptic climatology of events during the months from May to September with maximum O3 concentrations in excess of 80 ppb indicates that 78 % of these events occur under synoptic weather classes generally indicative of back or centre of the high situations.
Photochemical air pollution is still a serious environmental issue in Tokyo and Osaka areas. To clarify the past trend and present status of photochemical air pollution, the annual trends of daily maximum oxidant concentration covering Kanto (Tokyo and surrounding prefectures) and Kansai (Osaka and surrounding prefectures) areas were analyzed. Trends in the photochemical air pollution and NOx and VOC precursors showed identical characteristics both in Tokyo and Osaka areas. Trends in volatile organic hydrocarbons and NOx were analyzed; NOx is incresing and NMHC/NOx ratio is decreasing in the long term over both Kanto and Kansai areas, indicating an increase in ozone forming potential and a decrease in photochemical reactivity, which may be responsible for the air pollution patterns observed in the Tokyo and Osaka areas. The location of the daily maximum oxidant concentration has moved further from the emission areas.
In the frame of the APSIS project simulations of the dispersion of air pollutants over the Attica Peninsula are carried out for May 25, 1990. This day is characterized by clear sky conditions and a general flow from Northwest. Such conditions support the development of a sea breeze around the Peninsula, which is especially pronounced in the basin of Athens and the neighbouring coastal zone. The flow and turbulence fields are simulated with the the non hydrostatic model KAMM (Adrian and Fiedler, 1991). Based on these fields the dispersion of the air pollutants are calculated with the DRAIS model (Nester and Fiedler, 1992). The simpler chemical mechanism RADM1 was selected because only measurements of NO, NO
2, SO
2,CO and O
3 are available, which are well predicted by the RADM1 mechanism.
Hintergrund Benetzungsstörungen zählen zu den häufigsten Erkrankungen des äußeren Auges. Die symptomatische Therapie ist oftmals unzureichend, so dass die Patienten über subjektive Beschwerden und Beeinträchtigung ihrer Befindlichkeit klagen. Die Verträglichkeit des Substitutionsmittels spielt eine wichtige Rolle. Sie kann durch unkonservierte Präparate verbessert werden.
Methode In eine offene, multizentrische Prüfung von acht Wochen Dauer wurden 59 Patienten mit den klinischen Symptomen des „trockenen Auges” unterschiedlicher Ätiologie aufgenommen, die unter Therapie mit handelsüblichen Tränenersatzmitteln keine ausreichende Besserung der Symptomatik erzielten. Sie wurden mit einem neuen unkonservierten Polyvidonhaltigen Tränensubstitutionsmittel, dessen Zusammensetzung dem Elektrolytgehalt der natürlichen Tränenflüssigkeit angepaßt war, behandelt. Der therapeutische Effekt wurde durch Auswertung von subjektivem Beschwerdebild. Tränenfilmaufreiß-zeit (BUT), Schirmer-I-Tesl, Visus, Biomikroskopie und ärztliche Beurteilung des Therapieerfolges bewertet.
Ergebnisse Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die symptomatische Therapie mit dem neuen Tränenersatzmittel (Oculotect® fluid sine) die wichtigsten Kriterien Befindlichkeit und BUT im Vergleich zur unbefriedigenden Vorbehandlung signifikant besserte (t-Test, verbundene Stichproben, zweiseitig, Signifikanzniveau p < 0,05). Alle weiteren Befunde bestätigten die Verbesserung ebenfalls.
Schlußfolgerungen Bei einer für Augenarztpraxen typischen Patientengruppe mit Benetzungsstörungen und unzureichendem therapeutischen Effekt der Vorbehandlung ließen sich bei 4/5 der Patienten Befunde und Beschwerden durch Behandlung mit dem neuen unkonservierten Präparat deutlich bessern. Die Konservierungsmittelfreiheit trägt zur besseren Verträglichkeit der Tränensubstitution bei.
Summary
Background Diseases of the ocular surface very frequently seen are related to irregularities of wetting. Patients often have complaints and feeling of ill-health, although under symptomatic therapy. Tolerability of the tear substitutes plays a key role in these cases. It is improved with unpreserved medication.
Method 59 patients with ,dry eye condition' of various etiology were enrolled in an open multicentre study and treated 8 weeks with a new preservative-free tear substitute. All patients had a history of previous ineffective treatment with artificial tears. The product was formulated with polyvidone and electrolytes in a composition which resembles natural tears. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by ratings of patients' self assessment of their complaints, tear film break up time (BUT), Schirmer I test, visual acuity, biomicroscopic examination and physicians' assessment.
Results Based on the key criteria patients's self assessment and BUT, the new agent (Oculotect® fluid sine) improved symptoms and reduced discomfort significantly compared with the previous treatment (paired t test, two-sided, level of significance p < 0.05). The improved condition was confirmed by the other findings taken.
Conclusion In 4/5 of patients, as typically met in ophthalmologists' offices, whose complaints were insufficiently relieved by previously applied tear substitutes, treatment with the new preservative-free product resulted in a distinct improvement of their condition. The lack of preservatives contributed to better tolerability and acceptance of tear substitution.
This book is divided into the following chapters: the atmospheric boundary layer; atmospheric diffusion; pollutants and their properties; and environmental monitoring and impact.
Los Alamos National Laboratory and Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo are completing a joint study of options for improving air quality in Mexico City. We have modified a three-dimensional, prognostic, higher-order turbulence model for atmospheric circulation (HOTMAC) and a Monte Carlo dispersion and transport model (RAPTAD) to treat domains that include an urbanized area. We used the meteorological model to drive models which describe the photochemistry and air transport and dispersion. The photochemistry modeling is described in a separate paper. We tested the model against routine measurements and those of a major field program. During the field program, measurements included: (1) lidar measurements of aerosol transport and dispersion, (2) aircraft measurements of winds, turbulence, and chemical species aloft, (3) aircraft measurements of skin temperatures, and (4) Tethersonde measurements of winds and ozone. We modified the meteorological model to include provisions for time-varying synoptic-scale winds, adjustments for local wind effects, and detailed surface-coverage descriptions. We developed a new method to define mixing-layer heights based on model outputs. The meteorology and dispersion models were able to provide reasonable representations of the measurements and to define the sources of some of the major uncertainties in the model-measurement comparisons.
Observed ozone concentrations are valuable indicators of possible health and environmental impacts. However, they are also used to monitor changes and trends in the sources of ozone and of its precursors, and for this purpose the influence of meteorological variables is a confounding factor. This paper examines ozone concentrations and meteorology in the Chicago area. The data are described using least absolute deviations and local regression. The key relationships observed in these analyses are then used to construct a nonlinear regression model relating ozone to meteorology. The model can be used to estimate that part of the trend in ozone levels that cannot be accounted for by trends in meteorology, and to ‘adjust’ observed ozone concentrations for anomalous weather conditions.
The high concentration of NO2 in the Tokyo Metropolitan area was investigated by means of air quality monitoring station data analysis and two numerical models: a photochemical box model and a photochemical grid model. Based on monitoring data, the typical variation with time of NO, NO2 and O3 for days with high NO2 concentrations is presented. The application of the photochemical box and photochemical grid models successfully reproduced these variations when using typical emission intensities for NOx and NMHC from the Tokyo downtown area. Model results revealed that the high concentrations of NO2 in winter (exceeding the Japan environmental quality standard) mainly result from photochemical oxidation of NO to NO2.
The main objective of this paper is to present analytical models relating maximum pollutant concentrations in urban areas with meteorological and other variables. The analysis is based on measurements from Greater Athens Area and is restricted in only one pollutant of special interest, namely N02. The meteorological variables, used in analytical modeling for forecasting pollution concentrations, cover the most important atmospheric processes favoring pollution episodes. The selection of the variables was based both on extensive correlation analysis and on the existing knowledge from the scientific literature. The evaluation of the developed forecasting models showed that their degree of success is promising. The final model equations derived are simple and they can be used easily for operational forecasts from the air quality management authorities.
Urban air pollution is a major environmental problem in the developing countries of the world. WHO and UNEP created an air pollution monitoring network as part of the Global Environment Monitoring System. This network now covers over 50 cities in 35 developing and developed countries throughout the world. The analyses of the data reported by the network over the past 15–20 yr indicate that the lessons of the prior experiences in the developed countries (U.S.A., U.K.) have not been learned. A study of air pollution in 20 of the 24 megacities of the world (over 10 million people by year 2000) shows that ambient air pollution concentrations are at levels where serious health effects are reported. The expected rise of population in the next century, mainly in the developing countries with a lack of capital for air pollution control, means that there is a great potential that conditions will worsen in many more cities that will reach megacity status. This paper maps the potential for air pollution that cities will experience in the future unless control strategies are developed and implemented during the next several decades.
This article deals with the part of urban climatology which is of particular relevance to human beings. Presented first is a summary of all human biometerologically effective complexes, as well as other factors which are relevant to urban planning and which depend on atmospheric conditions in urban structures in a direct or indirect manner. Later, methods for human biometerologically significant assessment of thermal and air pollution components of the urban climate are discussed in detail, because these components can be strongly influenced by urban planning. The application of these methods is illustrated by some results of appropriate investigations in urban areas.
Ozone on an urban and regional scale } with special reference to the situation in the Netherlands Tropospheric Ozone
- R Guicherit
Guicherit, R., 1988. Ozone on an urban and regional scale } with special reference to the situation in the Netherlands. In: Isaksen, I.S.A. (Ed.), Tropospheric Ozone. Reidel Publ.
Principles of Air Pollution Met-eorology Urban air pollution in megacities of the world Atmospheric Environment 30 Human-biometeorologische Probleme des Stadtklimas Air pollution caused by motor-tra$c in urban spaces Analyse der Ozonkonzentrationen an Sonn-und Werktagen
- W Kuttler
- T J Lyons
- W D Scott
- D Mage
- G Ozolins
- P Peterson
- A Webster
- R Orthofer
- V Vandeveerd
- M H Gwynne
- J H Schmidt
- J Schmidt
Kuttler, W., 1996. Aspekte der Angewandten Stadtklimatologie. Geowissenschaften 14, 221}228. Lyons, T.J., Scott, W.D., 1990. Principles of Air Pollution Met-eorology. Belhaven Press, London. Mage, D., Ozolins, G., Peterson, P., Webster, A., Orthofer, R., Vandeveerd, V., Gwynne, M., 1996. Urban air pollution in megacities of the world. Atmospheric Environment 30, 681}686. Mayer, H., 1993. Urban bioclimatology. Experientia 49, 957}963. Mayer, H., 1996. Human-biometeorologische Probleme des Stadtklimas. Geowissenschaften 14, 233}239. Mayer, H., Haustein, Ch., 1994. Air pollution caused by motor-tra$c in urban spaces. Meteorol. Zeitschrift, N.F. 3, 138}142. Mayer, H., Schmidt, J., 1993. Analyse der Ozonkonzentrationen an Sonn-und Werktagen. Res. Rep., Meteorol. Inst. Univ. Freiburg. Mayer, H., Schmidt, J., 1994a. Trendanalyse von Immissions-zeitreihen in Baden-Wu K rttemberg und Bayern. Meteorol. Zeitschrift, N.F. 3, 116}121. Mayer, H., Schmidt, J., 1994b. Methoden zur Regionalisierung der NO -Immissionsdaten. Res. Rep., Meteorol. Inst. Univ. Freiburg. Nester, K., 1995. In#uence of sea breeze #ows on air pollution over the Attica peninsula. Atmospheric Environment 29, 3655}3670.
Chemical Principles of Environ-mental Pollution Air quality in the Russian Federation Ac-counting for meteorological e!ects in measuring urban ozone levels and trends
- B J Alloway
- D C Ayres
- P Royle
- J A Steiberg
- L J Yang
Alloway, B.J., Ayres, D.C., 1993. Chemical Principles of Environ-mental Pollution. Blackie Academic & Professional, London. Bezuglaya, E.Y., 1996. Air quality in the Russian Federation. WMO Bulletin 45, 132}135. Bloom"eld, P., Royle, J.A., Steiberg, L.J., Yang, Q., 1996. Ac-counting for meteorological e!ects in measuring urban ozone levels and trends. Atmospheric Environment 30, 3067}3077.
Overview of air pollution in European cities Umweltbun-desamt World Urabanization Prospects. The 1992 Revision City air quality trends } Analysis of the winter-time NO pollution in the Tokyo Metropolitan area
- R Sluyter
Sluyter, R., 1996. Overview of air pollution in European cities. WMO Bulletin 45, 123}128. UBA, 1998. Umweltdaten Deutschland 1998. Umweltbun-desamt. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin. UN, 1993. World Urabanization Prospects. The 1992 Revision. United Nations. UNEP/WHO, 1993. City air quality trends } Vol. 2. WHO PEP/93 26, UNE93 26P GEMS 93.A.2, Genf. Uno, I., Ohara, T., Wakamatsu, S., 1996. Analysis of the winter-time NO pollution in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. At-mospheric Environment 30, 703}713.
Aspekte der Angewandten Stadtklimatologie
- Kuttler
Kuttler, W., 1996. Aspekte der Angewandten Stadtklimatologie.
Geowissenschaften 14, 221}228.
Analyse der Ozonkonzentrationen an Sonn-und Werktagen
- H Mayer
- J Schmidt
Mayer, H., Schmidt, J., 1993. Analyse der Ozonkonzentrationen
an Sonn-und Werktagen. Res. Rep., Meteorol. Inst. Univ.
Freiburg.
Air quality in the Russian Federation
- Bezuglaya
Bezuglaya, E.Y., 1996. Air quality in the Russian Federation.
WMO Bulletin 45, 132}135.
Overview of air pollution in European cities
- Sluyter
Sluyter, R., 1996. Overview of air pollution in European cities.
WMO Bulletin 45, 123}128.
World Urabanization Prospects. The 1992 Revision
UN, 1993. World Urabanization Prospects. The 1992 Revision.
United Nations.
City air quality trends }
- Unep Who
UNEP/WHO, 1993. City air quality trends } Vol. 2. WHO
PEP/93 26, UNE93 26P GEMS 93.A.2, Genf.
Methoden zur Regionalisierung der NO2-Immissionsdaten
- H Mayer
- J Schmidt
Mayer, H., Schmidt, J., 1994b. Methoden zur Regionalisierung
der NO
-Immissionsdaten. Res. Rep., Meteorol. Inst.
Univ. Freiburg.
Ozone on an urban and regional scale – with special reference to the situation in the Netherlands
- Guicherit