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Howlett-Downing C, Boman J, Molnár P, Shirinde J, Wichmann J. Health risk assessment of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2023; 58:342-358. [PMID: 36960711 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2023.2186653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to outdoor air pollutants poses a risk for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic respiratory disease outcomes. A standardized health risk assessment (US EPA) utilizes air quality data, body mass and breathing rates to determine potential risk. This health risk assessment study assesses the hazard quotient (HQ) for total PM2.5 and trace elemental constituents (Br, Cl, K, Ni, S, Si, Ti and U) exposure in Pretoria, South Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline (5 µg m-3) and the yearly South African National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) (20 µg m-3) were the references dosages for total PM2.5. A total of 350 days was sampled in Pretoria, South Africa. The mean total PM2.5 concentration during the 34-month study period was 23.2 µg m-3 (0.7-139 µg m-3). The HQ for total PM2.5 was 1.17, 3.47 and 3.78 for adults, children and infants. Non-carcinogenic risks for trace elements K, Cl, S and Si were above 1 for adults. Seasonally, Si was the highest during autumn for adults (1.9) and during spring for S (5.5). The HQ values for K and Cl were highest during winter. The exposure to Ni posed a risk for cancer throughout the year and for As during winters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantelle Howlett-Downing
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa
| | - Johan Boman
- Atmospheric Science Division, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Peter Molnár
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Joyce Shirinde
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa
| | - Janine Wichmann
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa
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Aslam R, Sharif F, Baqar M, Nizami AS. Association of human cohorts exposed to blood and urinary biomarkers of PAHs with adult asthma in a South Asian metropolitan city. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:35945-35957. [PMID: 36538227 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24445-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are a major global problem that causes the greatest impact on urban settings and have been linked to bronchial asthma in both children and adults in Pakistan. The association between exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and asthma in the adult population is less clear. The current study aimed to assess the clinico-chemical parameters and blood levels of naphthalene phenanthrene, pyrene, and 1,2-benzanthracene and urinary levels of 1-OH pyrene and 1-OH phenanthrene as well as asthma-related biomarkers immunoglobulin E (IgE), resistin, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of oxidative stress and other hematologic parameters in adults and their relationship with bronchial asthma. The GC/MS analysis showed higher mean concentrations of blood PAHs in asthma respondents (4.48 ± 1.34, 3.46 ± 1.04, 0.10 ± 0.03, and 0.29 ± 0.09) (ng/mL) as compared to controls (3.07 ± 0.92, 1.71 ± 0.51, 0.06 ± 0.02, and 0.11 ± 0.03) (ng/mL), with p = .006, p = .001, p = .050, and p = .001. Similarly, urinary levels of 1-OHpyr and 1-OHphe were significantly increased in adults with bronchial asthma (0.54 ± 0.16; 0.13 ± 0.04) (μmol/mol-Cr) than in controls (0.30 ± 0.09; 0.05 ± 0.02) (μmol/mol-Cr), with p = .002 and p = .0001, respectively, with a significant positive correlation to asthma severity. The asthma-related biomarkers IgE, resistin, and SOD were significantly higher (p 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.0001) in people with asthma than in control persons. The findings showed that higher blood and urine PAHs levels were linked to higher asthma risk in adults and significant interaction with participants who smoked, had allergies, had a family history of asthma, and were exposed to dust. The current study's findings will be useful to local regulatory agencies in Lahore in terms of managing exposure and advocating efforts to minimize PAH pollution and manage health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Aslam
- Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC), Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
| | - Faiza Sharif
- Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC), Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC), Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
| | - Abdul-Sattar Nizami
- Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC), Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
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Gupta T, Rajeev P, Rajput R. Emerging Major Role of Organic Aerosols in Explaining the Occurrence, Frequency, and Magnitude of Haze and Fog Episodes during Wintertime in the Indo Gangetic Plain. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:1575-1584. [PMID: 35071853 PMCID: PMC8771687 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Aerosols are an important part of Earth's atmosphere. They can absorb, scatter, or reflect the incoming solar radiation, which results in heating or cooling of Earth, thus impacting its climate. It affects the health of exposed human population adversely, reduces visibility, disturbs environmental systems, and causes material damage. This study summarizes the research carried out to understand the role of aerosol load and its physicochemical characteristics on occurrence, frequency, and magnitude of haze and fog events during wintertime within the Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP) in the past decade. For most species, the highest concentration was measured during foggy events at night-time over the winter season. A few species such as water-soluble organic and inorganic carbon (WSOC and WSIC), K+, SO4 2-, and NO3 -, owing to their hygroscopic nature, were efficiently scavenged, resulting in their lower concentration within the interstitial aerosol during fog episodes. Oligomerization with hydroxy and carbonyl functional groups during AFP (activating fog period) and DFP (dissipating fog period), respectively, accompanied by acidic aerosol (having catalytic ability) and high aerosol liquid water content conditions was found to be significant. Whereas the fragmentation process was dominant along with functionalization of -RCOOH or carbonyl (aldehyde/ketone) and -RCOOH moieties during FP (fog period) and PoFP (post-fog period), respectively. Transition metals play an important role in aqueous production of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) especially during the night-time. Crustal sources had the highest scavenging efficiency along with WSOC playing an important role in nucleation scavenging. Fine droplets had a higher concentration of species with a larger fraction of highly oxidized organic matter (OM) as compared to coarse or medium size droplets. Also, a new approach to calculate absorption by black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) was proposed, which found the water-soluble brown carbon (WSBrC) absorption value in aerosol to be up to 1.8 times higher than that measured in their corresponding aqueous extracts. Organic aerosol plays a vital role in facilitating fog formation and is responsible for the longer residence time in the ambient atmosphere. Ammonia plays an important role in stabilizing organic aerosol and aids to this recurring haze-fog-haze cycle that is dominant during wintertime in the IGP. Therefore, controlling the major anthropogenic sources of organic aerosol and ammonia should be our top priority in this part of the world.
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Hassan A, Ilyas SZ, Jalil A, Ullah Z. Monetization of the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:21204-21211. [PMID: 33403638 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12205-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Fossil fuels account for more than 80% of the world's energy consumption. Constituents of the atmosphere have changed perceptibly due to the increased use of fossil fuels. Therefore, many researchers have tried to relate their effect on society. In Pakistan, fossil fuel consumption and its CO2-based emission factor have been significantly correlated to economic growth. However, it needs further attention to study the adverse effects of fossil fuels. This study is an attempt to assess the cost of fossil fuels to society. Damages caused by fossil fuels are evaluated for the years of 2005-2009, using local pollution factors based on CO2 emission. Results show that the market price of fossil fuels increases after adding up the cost of damage caused by the final use of the fuel. People pay a huge amount of PKR 133 billion per year for taxes, health services, insurance premiums, and low living standards. Accordingly, it is suggested that we must shift from fossil fuels to other alternative clean types of energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ather Hassan
- Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, H-8, Pakistan.
| | - Syed Zafar Ilyas
- Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, H-8, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Jalil
- Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, H-8, Pakistan
| | - Zahid Ullah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, H-8, Pakistan
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Altshuler SL, Zhang Q, Kleinman MT, Garcia-Menendez F, Moore CTT, Hough ML, Stevenson ED, Chow JC, Jaffe DA, Watson JG. Wildfire and prescribed burning impacts on air quality in the United States. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2020; 70:961-970. [PMID: 32845818 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1813217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California , Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael T Kleinman
- Environmental Toxicology and Air Pollution Health Effects Laboratory in the Department of Community and Environmental Medicine, University of California , Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Fernando Garcia-Menendez
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Charles Thomas Tom Moore
- Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), Western States Air Resources Council , Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Merlyn L Hough
- Lane Regional Air Protection Agency , Springfield-Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Eric D Stevenson
- Meteorology and Measurement, Bay Area Air Quality Management District , San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Judith C Chow
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute , Reno, NV, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel A Jaffe
- Atmospheric Chemistry, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John G Watson
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute , Reno, NV, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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Li X, Kuang XM, Yan C, Ma S, Paulson SE, Zhu T, Zhang Y, Zheng M. Oxidative Potential by PM 2.5 in the North China Plain: Generation of Hydroxyl Radical. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:512-520. [PMID: 30500188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Adverse health effects of ambient PM2.5 ( dp < 2.5 μm) can be associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), among which hydroxyl radical (•OH) is the most reactive. However, •OH generated by PM2.5 has not been quantified and studied in the North China Plain (NCP), which has suffered from heavy air pollution in recent years. In this study, PM2.5 samples were collected at an urban site (Beijing) and a suburban site (Wangdu), extracted in a cell-free surrogate lung fluid (SLF), and •OH generated in the extracts were quantified. The results show that more •OH is produced on heavily polluted days than that on clean days (2.0 and 1.6 times higher in Beijing and Wangdu, respectively). The production of •OH per unit mass (ng/μg·PM2.5) decreases with the increase of ambient PM2.5 concentration because SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ dominate the increased PM2.5, while these secondary inorganic components do not contribute to the generation of •OH. Trace metals (e.g., Fe, Cu, Se) and carbonaceous species (organic carbon and elemental carbon) correlate well with the •OH production, indicating that particles from combustion sources including coal combustion, vehicle exhaust, and industry contribute more to •OH generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Li
- SKL-ESPC and BIC-ESAT, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Xiaobi M Kuang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences , University of California at Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
| | - Caiqing Yan
- SKL-ESPC and BIC-ESAT, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Shexia Ma
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences , Ministry of Environmental Protection , Guangzhou 510655 , China
| | - Suzanne E Paulson
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences , University of California at Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
| | - Tong Zhu
- SKL-ESPC and BIC-ESAT, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Yuanhang Zhang
- SKL-ESPC and BIC-ESAT, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Mei Zheng
- SKL-ESPC and BIC-ESAT, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
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Schifman LA, Prues A, Gilkey K, Shuster WD. Realizing the opportunities of black carbon in urban soils: Implications for water quality management with green infrastructure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 644:1027-1035. [PMID: 30743816 PMCID: PMC6392050 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Soils and associated microbial processes regulate the carbon cycle and provide a sink for atmospheric black carbon (BC). Particularly in urban areas, present and accumulated soil BC may act as an effective sorbent of anthropogenic contaminants in green spaces. We characterized carbon concentrations that have accumulated in urban soils (organic carbon, BC, and inorganic C) and determined soil physical attributes (soil texture, hydraulic conductivity) from urban soil assessments (surface and sub-surface horizons) carried out in eleven cities in the United States. We used both ordinary least squares and non-parametric classification and regression tree (CART) methods to discern trends in soil BC concentrations with regard to soil, landscape, and emission characteristics. We found that for all cities, regional traffic density and vegetation were good predictors of soil BC concentration. Additionally, the thickness of the top soil horizon explained additional variation in sub-surface BC concentrations. Sites with coincident BC stocks and favorable infiltration rate were discussed as per their potential for improving water quality in multifunctional green infrastructure installations. In the broader sense, the high sorption capacity of existing, accumulated soil BC can contribute to regulation of contaminant cycling in urban areas and may enhance the overall value of urban soils in terms of ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Schifman
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA; Departments of Biology and Earth & Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - A Prues
- Pegasus Technical Services, U.S. EPA, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - K Gilkey
- Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, 1600 Gest St, Cincinnati, OH 45204, USA
| | - W D Shuster
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
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Chow JC, Watson JG, Green MC, Wang X, Chen LWA, Trimble DL, Cropper PM, Kohl SD, Gronstal SB. Separation of brown carbon from black carbon for IMPROVE and Chemical Speciation Network PM 2.5 samples. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2018; 68:494-510. [PMID: 29341854 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2018.1426653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The replacement of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) model 2001 with model 2015 thermal/optical analyzers (TOAs) results in continuity of the long-term organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) database, and it adds optical information with no additional carbon analysis effort. The value of multiwavelength light attenuation is that light absorption due to black carbon (BC) can be separated from that of brown carbon (BrC), with subsequent attribution to known sources such as biomass burning and secondary organic aerosols. There is evidence of filter loading effects for the 25% of all samples with the highest EC concentrations based on the ratio of light attenuation to EC. Loading corrections similar to those used for the seven-wavelength aethalometer need to be investigated. On average, nonurban Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) samples show higher BrC fractions of short-wavelength absorption than urban Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) samples, owing to greater influence from biomass burning and aged aerosols, as well as to higher primary BC contributions from engine exhaust at urban sites. Sequential samples taken during an Everglades National Park wildfire demonstrate the evolution from flaming to smoldering combustion, with the BrC fraction increasing as smoldering begins to dominate the fire event. IMPLICATIONS The inclusion of seven wavelengths in thermal/optical carbon analysis of speciated PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) samples allows contributions from biomass burning and secondary organic aerosols to be estimated. This separation is useful for evaluating control strategy effectiveness, identifying exceptional events, and determining natural visibility conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith C Chow
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
- b State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG) , Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - John G Watson
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
- b State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG) , Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Mark C Green
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
| | - Xiaoliang Wang
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
| | - L-W Antony Chen
- c Department of Environmental and Occupational Health , University of Nevada , Las Vegas , NV , USA
| | - Dana L Trimble
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
| | - Paul M Cropper
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
| | - Steven D Kohl
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
| | - Steven B Gronstal
- a Division of Atmospheric Sciences , Desert Research Institute , Reno , NV , USA
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Isley CF, Nelson PF, Taylor MP, Stelcer E, Atanacio AJ, Cohen DD, Mani FS, Maata M. Reducing mortality risk by targeting specific air pollution sources: Suva, Fiji. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 612:450-461. [PMID: 28863376 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Health implications of air pollution vary dependent upon pollutant sources. This work determines the value, in terms of reduced mortality, of reducing ambient particulate matter (PM2.5: effective aerodynamic diameter 2.5μm or less) concentration due to different emission sources. Suva, a Pacific Island city with substantial input from combustion sources, is used as a case-study. Elemental concentration was determined, by ion beam analysis, for PM2.5 samples from Suva, spanning one year. Sources of PM2.5 have been quantified by positive matrix factorisation. A review of recent literature has been carried out to delineate the mortality risk associated with these sources. Risk factors have then been applied for Suva, to calculate the possible mortality reduction that may be achieved through reduction in pollutant levels. Higher risk ratios for black carbon and sulphur resulted in mortality predictions for PM2.5 from fossil fuel combustion, road vehicle emissions and waste burning that surpass predictions for these sources based on health risk of PM2.5 mass alone. Predicted mortality for Suva from fossil fuel smoke exceeds the national toll from road accidents in Fiji. The greatest benefit for Suva, in terms of reduced mortality, is likely to be accomplished by reducing emissions from fossil fuel combustion (diesel), vehicles and waste burning.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Isley
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - P F Nelson
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - M P Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - E Stelcer
- Centre for Accelerator Science, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia.
| | - A J Atanacio
- Centre for Accelerator Science, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia.
| | - D D Cohen
- Centre for Accelerator Science, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia.
| | - F S Mani
- Faculty of Science Technology and Environment, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
| | - M Maata
- Faculty of Science Technology and Environment, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
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Hidy GM, Mueller PK, Altshuler SL, Chow JC, Watson JG. Air quality measurements-From rubber bands to tapping the rainbow. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2017; 67:637-668. [PMID: 28333580 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2017.1308890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED It is axiomatic that good measurements are integral to good public policy for environmental protection. The generalized term for "measurements" includes sampling and quantitation, data integrity, documentation, network design, sponsorship, operations, archiving, and accessing for applications. Each of these components has evolved and advanced over the last 200 years as knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and physics has matured. Air quality was first detected by what people could see and smell in contaminated air. Gaseous pollutants were found to react with certain materials or chemicals, changing the color of dissolved reagents such that their light absorption at selected wavelengths could be related to both the pollutant chemistry and its concentration. Airborne particles have challenged the development of a variety of sensory devices and laboratory assays for characterization of their enormous range of physical and chemical properties. Advanced electronics made possible the sampling, concentration, and detection of gases and particles, both in situ and in laboratory analysis of collected samples. Accurate and precise measurements by these methods have made possible advanced air quality management practices that led to decreasing concentrations over time. New technologies are leading to smaller and cheaper measurement systems that can further expand and enhance current air pollution monitoring networks. IMPLICATIONS Ambient air quality measurement systems have a large influence on air quality management by determining compliance, tracking trends, elucidating pollutant transport and transformation, and relating concentrations to adverse effects. These systems consist of more than just instrumentation, and involve extensive support efforts for siting, maintenance, calibration, auditing, data validation, data management and access, and data interpretation. These requirements have largely been attained for criteria pollutants regulated by National Ambient Air Quality Standards, but they are rarely attained for nonroutine measurements and research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Judith C Chow
- d Desert Research Institute , Reno , Nevada , USA
- e State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG) , Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
| | - John G Watson
- d Desert Research Institute , Reno , Nevada , USA
- e State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG) , Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
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