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Salvador P, Pey J, Pérez N, Alastuey A, Querol X, Artíñano B. Estimating the probability of occurrence of African dust outbreaks over regions of the western Mediterranean basin from thermodynamic atmospheric parameters. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171307. [PMID: 38428593 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Desert dust is currently recognized as a health risk factor. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) is actively promoting the establishment of early warning systems for sand and dust storms. This study introduces a methodology to estimate the probability of African dust outbreaks occurring in eight different regions of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. In each region, a multilinear regression model was developed to calculate daily probabilities of dust events using three thermodynamic variables (geopotential thickness in the 1000-500 hPa layer, mean potential temperature between 925 and 700 hPa, and temperature anomalies at 850 hPa) as assessment parameters. All days with African dust transport over each study region were identified in the period 2001-2021 using a proven procedure. This information was then utilized to establish a functional relationship between the values of the thermodynamic parameters and the probability of African dust outbreaks occurring. The validation of this methodology involved comparing the daily probabilities of dust events generated by the models in 2001-2021 with the daily African dust contributions to PM10 regional background levels in each region. On average, daily dust contributions increased proportionally with the increase in daily probabilities, reaching zero for days with low probabilities. Furthermore, a well-defined seasonal evolution of probability values was observed in all regions, with the highest values in the summer months and the lowest in the winter period, ensuring the physical relevance of the models' results. Finally, upward trends were observed in all regions for the three thermodynamic parameters over 1940-2021. Thus, the probability of dust events development also increased in this period. It demonstrates that the aggravation of warm conditions in southern Europe in the last decades, have modified the frequency of North-African dust outbreaks over the western Mediterranean basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Salvador
- CIEMAT, Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jorge Pey
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE), CSIC, Av. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Noemí Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- CIEMAT, Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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2
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La Colla NS, Salvador P, Botté SE, Artíñano B. Air quality and characterization of synoptic circulation weather patterns in a South American city from Argentina. J Environ Manage 2024; 351:119722. [PMID: 38061092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
The potential cause-effect relationship between synoptic meteorological conditions and levels of criteria air pollutants, including CO, NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2, in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, was assessed for the period of 2018-2019. Daily back-trajectories and global meteorological data fields were employed to characterize the primary transport paths of air masses reaching the study site, and to identify the synoptic meteorological patterns responsible for these atmospheric circulations. Time series of surface-level meteorological parameters and midday mixing layer height were collected to examine the impact of the synoptic meteorological patterns on local meteorology. Furthermore, the NAAPS global aerosol model was utilized to identify days when contributions from long-range transport processes, such as dust and/or biomass burning smoke, impacted air quality. By applying this methodology, it was determined that the air masses coming from the N, NW and W regions significantly contributed to increased mean concentrations of coarse particles in this area through long-range transport events involving dust and smoke. Indeed, the high average levels of PM10 recorded in 2018-2019 (annual mean values of 47 and 52 μg/m3, respectively) represent the main air quality concern in Bahía Blanca. Moreover, PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 emissions should be reduced in order to meet recommended air quality guidelines. On the other hand, the results from this study suggest that the sources and meteorological processes leading to the increase in the concentrations of CO and SO2 have a local-regional origin, although these air pollutants did not reach high values probably as a consequence of the strong wind speed registered in this region during any synoptic meteorological pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia S La Colla
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO - CONICET/UNS), Bahía Blanca, 8000, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, 1425, Argentina; Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, 8000, Argentina.
| | - Pedro Salvador
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra E Botté
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO - CONICET/UNS), Bahía Blanca, 8000, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, 1425, Argentina; Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, 8000, Argentina
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Liu X, Hadiatullah H, Zhang X, Trechera P, Savadkoohi M, Garcia-Marlès M, Reche C, Pérez N, Beddows DCS, Salma I, Thén W, Kalkavouras P, Mihalopoulos N, Hueglin C, Green DC, Tremper AH, Chazeau B, Gille G, Marchand N, Niemi JV, Manninen HE, Portin H, Zikova N, Ondracek J, Norman M, Gerwig H, Bastian S, Merkel M, Weinhold K, Casans A, Casquero-Vera JA, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Artíñano B, Gini M, Diapouli E, Crumeyrolle S, Riffault V, Petit JE, Favez O, Putaud JP, Santos SMD, Timonen H, Aalto PP, Hussein T, Lampilahti J, Hopke PK, Wiedensohler A, Harrison RM, Petäjä T, Pandolfi M, Alastuey A, Querol X. Ambient air particulate total lung deposited surface area (LDSA) levels in urban Europe. Sci Total Environ 2023; 898:165466. [PMID: 37451445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to picture the phenomenology of urban ambient total lung deposited surface area (LDSA) (including head/throat (HA), tracheobronchial (TB), and alveolar (ALV) regions) based on multiple path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model during 2017-2019 period collected from urban background (UB, n = 15), traffic (TR, n = 6), suburban background (SUB, n = 4), and regional background (RB, n = 1) monitoring sites in Europe (25) and USA (1). Briefly, the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of the deposition of LDSA, including diel, weekly, and seasonal patterns, were analyzed. Then, the relationship between LDSA and other air quality metrics at each monitoring site was investigated. The result showed that the peak concentrations of LDSA at UB and TR sites are commonly observed in the morning (06:00-8:00 UTC) and late evening (19:00-22:00 UTC), coinciding with traffic rush hours, biomass burning, and atmospheric stagnation periods. The only LDSA night-time peaks are observed on weekends. Due to the variability of emission sources and meteorology, the seasonal variability of the LDSA concentration revealed significant differences (p = 0.01) between the four seasons at all monitoring sites. Meanwhile, the correlations of LDSA with other pollutant metrics suggested that Aitken and accumulation mode particles play a significant role in the total LDSA concentration. The results also indicated that the main proportion of total LDSA is attributed to the ALV fraction (50 %), followed by the TB (34 %) and HA (16 %). Overall, this study provides valuable information of LDSA as a predictor in epidemiological studies and for the first time presenting total LDSA in a variety of European urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiansheng Liu
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Xun Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Big Data Technology for Food Safety, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China; Hotan Normal College. Hotan 848000, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Pedro Trechera
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marjan Savadkoohi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering (EMIT), Manresa School of Engineering (EPSEM), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), 08242 Manresa, Spain
| | - Meritxell Garcia-Marlès
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Applied Physics-Meteorology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Reche
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noemí Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Imre Salma
- Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Wanda Thén
- Hevesy György Ph.D. School of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Panayiotis Kalkavouras
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikos Mihalopoulos
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christoph Hueglin
- Laboratory for Air Pollution and Environmental Technology, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - David C Green
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Anja H Tremper
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Benjamin Chazeau
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France; Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Grégory Gille
- AtmoSud, Regional Network for Air Quality Monitoring of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | | | - Jarkko V Niemi
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna E Manninen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Harri Portin
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nadezda Zikova
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, v.v.i. Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Rozvojova, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Ondracek
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, v.v.i. Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Rozvojova, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Norman
- Environment and Health Administration, SLB-analys, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Holger Gerwig
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Susanne Bastian
- Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG), Dresden, Germany
| | - Maik Merkel
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kay Weinhold
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andrea Casans
- Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Andrés Casquero-Vera
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - Maria Gini
- ENRACT, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Science & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR Demokritos, 15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Diapouli
- ENRACT, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Science & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR Demokritos, 15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Suzanne Crumeyrolle
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8518 Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA), Lille, France
| | - Véronique Riffault
- IMT Nord Europe, Institut Mines-Télécom, Université de Lille, Centre for Energy and Environment, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Eudes Petit
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA/Orme des Merisiers, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Favez
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Parc Technologique Alata BP2, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | | | | | - Hilkka Timonen
- Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pasi P Aalto
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tareq Hussein
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Finland; Environmental and Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, School of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Janne Lampilahti
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Roy M Harrison
- Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tuukka Petäjä
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Marco Pandolfi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
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Alonso-Blanco E, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Díaz-Ramiro E, Fernández J, Coz E, Yagüe C, Román-Cascón C, Narros A, Borge R, Artíñano B. Real-Time Measurements of Indoor-Outdoor Exchange of Gaseous and Particulate Atmospheric Pollutants in an Urban Area. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:6823. [PMID: 37835093 PMCID: PMC10572255 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, causing millions of deaths and deleterious health effects worldwide, especially in urban areas where citizens are exposed to high ambient levels of pollutants, also influencing indoor air quality (IAQ). Many sources of indoor air are fairly obvious and well known, but the contribution of outside sources to indoor air still leads to significant uncertainties, in particular the influence that environmental variables have on outdoor/indoor pollutant exchange mechanisms. This is a critical aspect to consider in IAQ studies. In this respect, an experimental study was performed at a public site such as a university classroom during a non-academic period in Madrid city. This includes two field campaigns, in summer (2021) and winter (2020), where instruments for measuring gases and particle air pollutants simultaneously measured outdoor and indoor real-time concentrations. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic variations in the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios in terms of ambient outdoor conditions (meteorology, turbulence and air quality) and indoor features (human presence or natural ventilation). The results show that the I/O ratio is pollutant-dependent. In this sense, the infiltration capacity is higher for gaseous compounds, and in the case of particles, it depends on the particle size, with a higher infiltration capacity for smaller particles (
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Alonso-Blanco
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Francisco Javier Gómez-Moreno
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Elías Díaz-Ramiro
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Javier Fernández
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Esther Coz
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Carlos Yagüe
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Carlos Román-Cascón
- Department of Applied Physics, Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, INMAR, CEIMAR, University of Cadiz, 11519 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain;
| | - Adolfo Narros
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain; (A.N.); (R.B.)
| | - Rafael Borge
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain; (A.N.); (R.B.)
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
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Fernández-Pampillón J, Palacios M, Núñez L, Pujadas M, Artíñano B. Potential ambient NO 2 abatement by applying photocatalytic materials in a Spanish city and analysis of short-term effect on human mortality. Environ Pollut 2023; 323:121203. [PMID: 36738878 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Road traffic is the main contributor to NO2 emissions in many European cities, causing that the current limit values for the protection of human health are exceeded. The use of photocatalytic compounds that incorporate titanium dioxide (TiO2) is frequently proposed as abatement technology but its depolluting effectiveness on a real scale is still being investigated. In this work, the potential removal capacity of NO2 that selected TiO2-based materials would have if they were implemented in a street in the municipality of Alcobendas (Community of Madrid, Spain) has been evaluated. The number of avoided NO2-related deaths over the locality across the period 2001-2019 have been inferred. Moreover, the saving associated with the estimated removal of ambient NO2 due to the use of photocatalytic materials and costs generated by their acquisition and implementation in the selected urban environment were briefly studied. Attributable mortality due to NO2 concentrations for Alcobendas has been estimated in 289 deaths, being 9241 the total deaths due to natural cause. This presents a monthly variation associated with the evolution of both mortality due to natural causes and the average concentrations of NO2. The reduction in mortality via the hypothetical implantation of photocatalytic materials throughout the municipality, assuming ideal conditions for their optimal performance, would be a maximum of 3%. In addition, a saving of €5708 yr-1 km-2 related to NOx damage costs of transport was obtained. A total cost of k€4750.5 km-2 was associated to the purchase of photocatalytic materials and their application to all surfaces in that area. This technology has a big elimination potential in controlled conditions but a low reduction of ambient NO2 is provided when implemented in real outdoor urban scenarios. Its use can be recommended incorporated into engineering designs and applications, complementing other abatement measures, to reduce NO2 mortality in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Fernández-Pampillón
- Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain; The National Distance Education University (UNED), Madrid, 28232, Spain
| | - Magdalena Palacios
- Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Lourdes Núñez
- Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Manuel Pujadas
- Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
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Fermo P, Artíñano B, De Gennaro G, Pantaleo AM, Parente A, Battaglia F, Colicino E, Di Tanna G, Goncalves da Silva Junior A, Pereira IG, Garcia GS, Garcia Goncalves LM, Comite V, Miani A. Improving indoor air quality through an air purifier able to reduce aerosol particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Experimental results. Environ Res 2021; 197:111131. [PMID: 33865819 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The adverse effects of fine particulate matter (PM) and many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on human health are well known. Fine particles are, in fact, those most capable of penetrating in depth into the respiratory system. People spend most of their time indoors where concentrations of some pollutants are sometimes higher than outdoors. Therefore, there is the need to ensure a healthy indoor environment and for this purpose the use of an air purifier can be a valuable aid especially now since it was demonstrated that indoor air quality has a high impact on spreading of viral infections such as that due to SARS-COVID19. In this study, we tested a commercial system that can be used as an air purifier. In particular it was verified its efficiency in reducing concentrations of PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm), PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm), PM1 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 1 μm), and particles number in the range 0.3 μm-10 μm. Furthermore, its capacity in reducing VOCs concentration was also checked. PM measurements were carried out by means of a portable optical particle counter (OPC) instrument simulating the working conditions typical of a household environment. In particular we showed that the tested air purifier significantly reduced both PM10 and PM2.5 by 16.8 and 7.25 times respectively that corresponds to a reduction of about 90% and 80%. A clear reduction of VOCs concentrations was also observed since a decrease of over 50% of these gaseous substances was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fermo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy; Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy.
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Centre for Energy, Environment and Technologies (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy; Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Parente
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | | | - Gianluca Di Tanna
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Valeria Comite
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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7
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Linillos-Pradillo B, Rancan L, Ramiro ED, Vara E, Artíñano B, Arias J. Determination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different particulate matter size fractions of outdoor air samples in Madrid during the lockdown. Environ Res 2021; 195:110863. [PMID: 33609549 PMCID: PMC7888991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies described the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor air particulate matter (PM) in urban areas of northern Italy and USA. The city of Madrid was heavily affected by COVID-19 during March-June 2020. Also, this city usually displays high concentrations of PM under several atmospheric situations. This is mandatory to assess the presence of viral RNA in PM, as an indicator of epidemic recurrence. Our study was aimed at investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in outdoor air samples (on PM10, PM2.5 and PM1). METHODS Six samples of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were collected between the May 4th and 22nd 2020 in Madrid, on quartz fiber filters by using MCV high volume samplers (30 m3 h-1 flow) with three inlets (Digitel DHA-80) for sampling PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. RNA extraction and amplification was performed according to the protocol recently set by Setti et al.2020c in Italy. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (N1, N2, and RP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. RESULTS After RNA extraction and expression measurements of N1, N2 and RP genes from all the collected filters, no presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed. Control tests to exclude false positive results were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSIONS No presence of SARS-CoV-2 in quartz fiber filters samplers for PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 fractions was observed in our study carried out in Madrid during the month of May 2020. Nevertheless, the absence of viral genomes could be due to different factors including: limited social interactions and economic activities resulting in reduced circulation of the coronavirus, lower daily PM concentration in outdoor air, as well as to meteorological stability and higher temperature that characterize spring season. Further research should be carried out during winter, in presence of higher viral circulation and daily PM exceedances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Linillos-Pradillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lisa Rancan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Elías Díaz Ramiro
- Department of Environment - Atmospheric Pollution Caracterization Unit, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Vara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Department of Environment - Atmospheric Pollution Caracterization Unit, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Arias
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
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Salvador P, Pandolfi M, Tobías A, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Molero F, Barreiro M, Pérez N, Revuelta MA, Marco IM, Querol X, Artíñano B. Impact of mixing layer height variations on air pollutant concentrations and health in a European urban area: Madrid (Spain), a case study. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020; 27:41702-41716. [PMID: 32696403 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10146-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of local high-pollution episodes in densely populated urban areas, which have huge fleets of vehicles, is currently one of the most worrying problems associated with air pollution worldwide. Such episodes are produced under specific meteorological conditions, which favour the sudden increase of levels of air pollutants. This study has investigated the influence of the mixing layer height (MLH) on the concentration levels of atmospheric pollutants and daily mortality in Madrid, Spain, during the period 2011-2014. It may help to understand the causes and impact of local high-pollution episodes. MLH at midday over Madrid was daily estimated from meteorological radio soundings. Then, days with different MLH over this urban area were characterized by meteorological parameters registered at different levels of an instrumented tower and by composite sea level pressure maps, representing the associated synoptic meteorological scenarios. Next, statistically significant associations between MLH and levels of PM10, PM2.5, NO, NO2, CO and ultra-fine particles number concentrations registered at representative monitoring stations were evaluated. Finally, associations between all-natural cause daily mortality in Madrid, MLH, and air pollutants were estimated using conditional Poisson regression models. The reduction of MLH to values below 482 m above-ground level under strong atmospheric stagnation conditions was accompanied by a statistically significant increase in levels of NO, NO2, CO, PM2.5 and ultra-fine particle number concentrations at urban-traffic and suburban monitoring sites. The decrease of the MLH was also associated to a linear increase of the daily number of exceedances of the UE NO2 hourly limit value (200 μg/m3) and levels of air pollutants at hotspot urban-traffic monitoring stations. Also, a statistically significant association of the MLH with all-natural cause daily mortality was obtained. When the MLH increased by 830 m, the risk of mortality decreased by 2.5% the same day and by 3.3% the next day, when African dust episodic days were excluded. They were also higher in absolute terms than the increases in risk of mortality that were determined for the exposition to any other air pollutant. Our results suggest that when the prediction models foresee values of MLH below 482 m above-ground level in Madrid, the evolution of high-contamination episodes will be very favourable. Therefore, short-term policy measures will have to be implemented to reduce NO, NO2, CO, PM2.5 and ultra-fine particle emissions from anthropogenic sources in this southern European urban location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Salvador
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marco Pandolfi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aurelio Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Gómez-Moreno
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Molero
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos Barreiro
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Martínez Marco
- Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), c. Leonardo Prieto Castro 8, 28071, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Pérez Pastor R, Salvador P, García Alonso S, Alastuey A, García Dos Santos S, Querol X, Artíñano B. Characterization of organic aerosol at a rural site influenced by olive waste biomass burning. Chemosphere 2020; 248:125896. [PMID: 32006840 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.125896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biomass burning is a major air pollution problem all around the world. However, the identification and quantification of its contribution to ambient aerosol levels is a difficult task due to the generalized lack of observations of molecular markers. This paper presents the results of a yearlong study of organic constituents of the atmospheric aerosol at a rural site in southern Spain (Villanueva del Arzobispo, Jaén). Sampling was performed for PM10 and PM2.5, and a total of 116 and 115 samples, respectively, were collected and analyzed by GC/MS, quantifying 77 organic compounds. Higher levels of organic pollutants were recorded from November to March, coinciding with the cold season when domestic combustion is a common practice in rural areas. This jointly with adverse meteorological conditions, e.g. strong atmospheric stability, produced severe pollution episodes with high PMx ambient levels. High daily concentrations of tracers were reached, up to 26 ng m-3 for B(a)P and 6065 ng m-3 for levoglucosan in PM2.5, supporting that biomass burning is a major source of pollution at rural areas. A multivariate statistical study based on factor and cluster analysis, was applied to the data set with the aim to distinguish sources of organic compounds. The main resulting sources were related with biomass combustion, secondary organic aerosol (SOA), biogenic emissions, lubricating oil and soil organic components. A preliminary organic source profile for olive wastes burning was evaluated, based on cluster results, showing anhydrosacharides and xylitol are the main emitted compounds, accounting for more than 85% of the quantified compounds. Other source compounds were fatty acids, diacids, aliphatics, sugars, sugar alcohols, PAHs and quinones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Pérez Pastor
- Technology Department, Chemistry Division, CIEMAT. Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pedro Salvador
- Environment Department, Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana García Alonso
- Technology Department, Chemistry Division, CIEMAT. Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Saúl García Dos Santos
- Department of Atmospheric Pollution, National Centre for Environmental Health ISCIII, Ctra de Majadahonda a Pozuelo km 2, 28220, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Environment Department, Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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10
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López V, Salvador P, Artíñano B, Gomez-Moreno FJ, Fernández J, Molero F. Influence of the origin of the air mass on the background levels of atmospheric particulate matter and secondary inorganic compounds in the Madrid air basin. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:30426-30443. [PMID: 31440972 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06205-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study has assessed the influence of the origin of air mass on levels of particulate matter (PM10) and chemical composition (SO42- and NO3-) in the air basin of Madrid. A data set of back-trajectories of air mass arriving to this area of study from 15 June 15 2009 to 8 July 2011 has been analyzed. Firstly, the cluster analysis statistical method has been used to group the back-trajectories into 5 sets according to the angle, direction, and speed of the air mass. Afterwards, the synoptic meteorological scenarios associated with each cluster were obtained and interpreted. Subsequently, an analysis was made on the influence of these clusters on the surface levels of particulate pollutants recorded in a regional background station ("El Atazar"), as well as in two urban background stations ("Casa de Campo" and "CIEMAT"). Finally, potential source areas of PM10, SO42-, and NO3- that contributed to the increase in their background levels in the Madrid air basin were detected by analyzing residence times of trajectories. Transport of mineral desert dust is probably the main cause of the increase of regional and urban background levels of PM10 in the Madrid air basin. In the case of SO42-, relatively high levels were registered, associated with air mass coming from Southern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. In these regions, strong emissions of SO42- are produced due to industrial combustion and maritime traffic. Otherwise, relatively high levels of NO3- were registered during meteorological situations defined by a low baric gradient in the Iberian Peninsula. This meteorological pattern favors the accumulation of emissions from local and regional sources. Besides, the main urban centers of northeastern Europe and industrial areas located in the north African coast were also identified as potential source areas of NO3-. The statistical analysis of the back-trajectories by different methods and the comparison of the results obtained with observational data confirmed that numerous industrial areas in Europe and North Africa, as well as natural ones, such as deserts, had an influence on the regional and urban background levels of mass and chemical composition of particulate matter in the Madrid air basin, under the development of specific synoptic meteorological situations. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vega López
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pedro Salvador
- Department of Environment, Edf. 23. CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Department of Environment, Edf. 23. CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Javier Fernández
- Department of Environment, Edf. 23. CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Molero
- Department of Environment, Edf. 23. CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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11
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Gómez-Moreno FJ, Artíñano B, Ramiro ED, Barreiro M, Núñez L, Coz E, Dimitroulopoulou C, Vardoulakis S, Yagüe C, Maqueda G, Sastre M, Román-Cascón C, Santamaría JM, Borge R. Urban vegetation and particle air pollution: Experimental campaigns in a traffic hotspot. Environ Pollut 2019; 247:195-205. [PMID: 30677664 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This work presents the main results of two experimental campaigns carried out in summer and winter seasons in a complex pollution hotspot near a large park, El Retiro, in Madrid (Spain). These campaigns were aimed at understanding the microscale spatio-temporal variation of ambient concentration levels in areas with high pollution values to obtain data to validate models on the effect of urban trees on particulate matter concentrations. Two different measuring approaches have been used. The first one was static, with instruments continuously characterizing the meteorological variables and the particulate matter concentration outside and inside the park. During the summer campaign, the particulate matter concentration was clearly influenced by a Saharan dust outbreak during the period 23 June to 10 July 2016, when most of the particulate matter was in the fraction PM2.5-10. During the winter campaign, the mass concentrations were related to the meteorological conditions and the high atmospheric stability. The second approach was a dynamic case with mobile measurements by portable instruments. During the summer campaign, a DustTrak instrument was used to measure PM10 and PM2.5 in different transects close to and inside the park at different distances from the traffic lane. It was observed a decrease in the concentrations up to 25% at 20 m and 50% at 200 m. High PM10 values were linked to dust resuspension caused by recreational activities and to a Saharan dust outbreak. The highest PM values were measured at the Independencia square, an area with many bus stops and high traffic density. During the winter campaign, three microaethalometers were used for Black Carbon measurement. Both pollutants also showed a reduction in their concentrations when moving towards inside the park. For PM10 and PM2.5, reductions up to 50% were observed, while for BC this reduction was smaller, about 20%.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - B Artíñano
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, E-28040, Spain
| | - E Díaz Ramiro
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, E-28040, Spain
| | - M Barreiro
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, E-28040, Spain
| | - L Núñez
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, E-28040, Spain
| | - E Coz
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, E-28040, Spain
| | - C Dimitroulopoulou
- Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Dept, CRCE, Public Health England, Chilton, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - S Vardoulakis
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP, UK
| | - C Yagüe
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - G Maqueda
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Sastre
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Román-Cascón
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - J M Santamaría
- LICA, Department of Chemistry, University of Navarra, E-31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - R Borge
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), E-28006, Madrid, Spain
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12
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Borge R, Artíñano B, Yagüe C, Gomez-Moreno FJ, Saiz-Lopez A, Sastre M, Narros A, García-Nieto D, Benavent N, Maqueda G, Barreiro M, de Andrés JM, Cristóbal Á. Corrigendum to "Application of a short term air quality action plan in Madrid (Spain) under a high-pollution episode - Part I: Diagnostic and analysis from observations" [Sci. Total Environ. 635C (2018) 1561-1574]. Sci Total Environ 2018; 637-638:1626. [PMID: 29807662 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Borge
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Carlos Yagüe
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Mariano Sastre
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo Narros
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - David García-Nieto
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain; Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Nuria Benavent
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain; Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Gregorio Maqueda
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan Manuel de Andrés
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángeles Cristóbal
- General Directorate of Sustainability and Environmental Control, Madrid City Council, 28045 Madrid, Spain
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13
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Borge R, Artíñano B, Yagüe C, Gomez-Moreno FJ, Saiz-Lopez A, Sastre M, Narros A, García-Nieto D, Benavent N, Maqueda G, Barreiro M, de Andrés JM, Cristóbal Á. Application of a short term air quality action plan in Madrid (Spain) under a high-pollution episode - Part I: Diagnostic and analysis from observations. Sci Total Environ 2018; 635:1561-1573. [PMID: 29605235 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Exceedances of NO2 hourly limit value (200 μg·m-3) imply the need to implement short term action plans to avoid adverse effects on human health in urban areas. The Madrid City Council applied the stage 3 of the NO2 protocol during a high-pollution episode under stable meteorological conditions on December 2016 for the first time. This included road traffic access restrictions to the city centre (50% of conventional private vehicles based on plate numbers). In this contribution we analyse different meteorological and air quality observations, including non-standard parameters (such as number of ultrafine particles and remote sensing techniques MAXDOAS) for a better understanding of the effectivity of short-term emission abatement measures under real conditions and to identify options to improve the NO2 protocol in the future. According to our results, the inversion base height computed from vertical temperature soundings is a meaningful index to anticipate very unfavourable conditions and trigger the actions included in the protocol. The analysis of the concentration levels of the main pollutants from the Madrid air quality monitoring network indicate that only stage 3 of the protocol had a significant effect on NO2 maximum concentrations. The restrictions applied may have prevented NO2 concentrations to further increase in the city centre (up to 15%) although pollution levels in the city outskirts, outside the area directly affected by the traffic restrictions, remained unchanged or may have been slightly increased. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to estimate more precisely the effect of the measures taken and to assess potential trade-offs. Our results suggest that emissions play an important role also under very strong stability conditions although drastic measures are needed to achieve a significant impact. This highlights the importance of an appropriate timing for short-term actions and the need of permanent abatement measures related to air quality plans and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Borge
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Carlos Yagüe
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Mariano Sastre
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo Narros
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - David García-Nieto
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Nuria Benavent
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Gregorio Maqueda
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, University Complutense of Madrid, Faculty of Physical Sciences, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan Manuel de Andrés
- Environmental Modelling Laboratory, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángeles Cristóbal
- General Directorate of Sustainability and Environmental Control. Madrid City Council, 28045 Madrid, Spain
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14
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Barbas B, de la Torre A, Sanz P, Navarro I, Artíñano B, Martínez MA. Corrigendum to "Gas/particle partitioning and particle size distribution of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in urban ambient air" [Sci. Total Environ. 624 (2018) 170-179]. Sci Total Environ 2018; 634:695. [PMID: 29649713 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- B Barbas
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - A de la Torre
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - P Sanz
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - I Navarro
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - B Artíñano
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Martínez
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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15
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de la Torre A, Barbas B, Sanz P, Navarro I, Artíñano B, Martínez MA. Traditional and novel halogenated flame retardants in urban ambient air: Gas-particle partitioning, size distribution and health implications. Sci Total Environ 2018; 630:154-163. [PMID: 29477113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Urban ambient air samples, including gas-phase (PUF), total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 airborne particle fractions were collected to evaluate gas-particle partitioning and size particle distribution of traditional and novel halogenated flame retardants. Simultaneously, passive air samplers (PAS) were deployed in the same location. Analytes included 33 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl (BB-153), hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), dechloranes (Dec 602, 603, 604, 605 or Dechorane plus (DP)) and chlordane plus (CP). Clausius-Clapeyron equation, gas-particle partition coefficient (Kp), fraction partitioned onto particles (φ) and human respiratory risk assessment were used to evaluate local or long-distance transport sources, gas-particle partitioning sorption mechanisms, and implications for health, respectively. PBDEs were the FR with the highest levels (13.9pgm-3, median TSP+PUF), followed by DP (1.56pgm-3), mirex (0.78pgm-3), PBEB (0.05pgm-3), and BB-153 (0.04pgm-3). PBDE congener pattern in particulate matter was dominated by BDE-209, while the contribution of more volatile congeners, BDE-28, -47, -99, and -100 was higher in gas-phase. Congener contribution increases with particle size and bromination degree, being BDE-47 mostly bounded to particles≤PM1, BDE-99 to > PM1 and BDE-209 to > PM2.5. No significant differences were found for PBDE and DP concentrations obtained with passive and active samplers, demonstrating the ability of the formers to collect particulate material. Deposition efficiencies and fluxes on inhaled PBDEs and DP in human respiratory tract were calculated. Contribution in respiratory track was dominated by head airway (2.16 and 0.26pgh-1, for PBDE and DP), followed by tracheobronchial (0.12 and 0.02pgh-1) and alveoli (0.01-0.002pgh-1) regions. Finally, hazard quotient values on inhalation were proposed (6.3×10-7 and 1.1×10-8 for PBDEs and DP), reflecting a low cancer risk through inhalation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A de la Torre
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - B Barbas
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - P Sanz
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - I Navarro
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - B Artíñano
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Martínez
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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16
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Barbas B, de la Torre A, Sanz P, Navarro I, Artíñano B, Martínez MA. Gas/particle partitioning and particle size distribution of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in urban ambient air. Sci Total Environ 2018; 624:170-179. [PMID: 29248706 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Urban ambient air samples, including gas-phase (PUF), total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 airborne particle fractions were collected to evaluate gas-particle partitioning and size particle distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Clausius-Clapeyron equation, regressions of logKp vs logPL and logKOA, and human respiratory risk assessment were used to evaluate local or long-distance transport sources, gas-particle partitioning sorption mechanisms, and implications for health. Total ambient air levels (gas phase+particulate phase) of TPCBs and TPCDD/Fs, were 437 and 0.07pgm-3 (median), respectively. Levels of PCDD/F in the gas phase (0.004-0.14pgm-3, range) were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those found in the particulate phase (0.02-0.34pgm-3). The concentrations of PCDD/Fs were higher in winter. In contrast, PCBs were mainly associated to the gas phase, and displayed maximum levels in warm seasons, probably due to an increase in evaporation rates, supported by significant and strong positive dependence on temperature observed for several congeners. No significant differences in PCDD/Fs and PCBs concentrations were detected between the different particle size fractions considered (TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1), reflecting that these chemicals are mainly bounded to PM1. The toxic content of samples was also evaluated. Total toxicity (PUF+TSP) attributable to dl-PCBs (13.4fg-TEQ05 m-3, median) was higher than those reported for PCDD/Fs (6.26fg-TEQ05 m-3). The inhalation risk assessment concluded that the inhalation of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs pose a low cancer risk in the studied area.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Barbas
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A de la Torre
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - P Sanz
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - I Navarro
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - B Artíñano
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Martínez
- Group of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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17
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Artíñano B, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Díaz E, Amato F, Pandolfi M, Alonso-Blanco E, Coz E, García-Alonso S, Becerril-Valle M, Querol X, Alastuey A, van Drooge BL. Outdoor and indoor particle characterization from a large and uncontrolled combustion of a tire landfill. Sci Total Environ 2017; 593-594:543-551. [PMID: 28360004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A large and uncontrolled fire of a tire landfill started in Seseña (Toledo, Spain) on May 13, 2016. An experimental deployment was immediately launched in the area for measuring regulated and non-standard air quality parameters to assess the potential impact of the plume at local and regional levels. Outdoor and indoor measurements of different parameters were carried out at a near school, approximately 700m downwind the burning tires. Real time measurements of ambient black carbon (BC) and total number particle concentrations were identified as good tracers of the smoke plume. Simultaneous peaks allowed us to characterize situations of the plume impact on the site. Outdoor total particle number concentrations reached in these occasions 3.8×105particlescm-3 (on a 10min resolution) whereas the indoor concentration was one order of magnitude lower. BC mass concentrations in ambient air were in the range of 2 to 7μgm-3, whereas concentrations<2μgm-3 were measured indoor. Indoor and outdoor deposited inhalable dust was sampled and chemically characterized. Both indoor and outdoor dust was enriched in tire components (Zn, sulfate) and PAHs associated to the tire combustion process. Infiltration processes have been documented for BC and particle number concentrations causing increases in indoor concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Artíñano
- CIEMAT, Environment Department, Associated Unit to CSIC on Atmospheric Pollution, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain.
| | - F J Gómez-Moreno
- CIEMAT, Environment Department, Associated Unit to CSIC on Atmospheric Pollution, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Díaz
- CIEMAT, Environment Department, Associated Unit to CSIC on Atmospheric Pollution, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Amato
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Pandolfi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Alonso-Blanco
- CIEMAT, Environment Department, Associated Unit to CSIC on Atmospheric Pollution, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Coz
- CIEMAT, Environment Department, Associated Unit to CSIC on Atmospheric Pollution, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain
| | - S García-Alonso
- CIEMAT, Technology Department, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Becerril-Valle
- CIEMAT, Environment Department, Associated Unit to CSIC on Atmospheric Pollution, Avenida Complutense 40, Madrid, Spain
| | - X Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - B L van Drooge
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Alonso R, Vivanco MG, González-Fernández I, Bermejo V, Palomino I, Garrido JL, Elvira S, Salvador P, Artíñano B. Modelling the influence of peri-urban trees in the air quality of Madrid region (Spain). Environ Pollut 2011; 159:2138-2147. [PMID: 21269745 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2010] [Revised: 11/26/2010] [Accepted: 12/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone (O(3)) is considered one of the most important air pollutants affecting human health. The role of peri-urban vegetation in modifying O(3) concentrations has been analyzed in the Madrid region (Spain) using the V200603par-rc1 version of the CHIMERE air quality model. The 3.7 version of the MM5 meteorological model was used to provide meteorological input data to the CHIMERE. The emissions were derived from the EMEP database for 2003. Land use data and the stomatal conductance model included in CHIMERE were modified according to the latest information available for the study area. Two cases were considered for the period April-September 2003: (1) actual land use and (2) a fictitious scenario where El Pardo peri-urban forest was converted to bare-soil. The results show that El Pardo forest constitutes a sink of O(3) since removing this green area increased O(3) levels over the modified area and over down-wind surrounding areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Alonso
- Atmospheric Pollution Division CIEMAT, Avda., Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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19
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Viana M, Postigo C, Querol X, Alastuey A, López de Alda MJ, Barceló D, Artíñano B, López-Mahia P, García Gacio D, Cots N. Cocaine and other illicit drugs in airborne particulates in urban environments: a reflection of social conduct and population size. Environ Pollut 2011; 159:1241-1247. [PMID: 21330024 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 01/25/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Levels of cocaine and other psychoactive substances in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were determined in urban environments representing distinct social behaviours with regard to drug abuse: night-life, university and residential areas. Three cities (with population>1 million and <0.3 million inhabitants) were selected. Mean daily levels of drugs in PM were 11-336 pg/m3 for cocaine, 23-34 pg/m3 for cannabinoids, and 5-90 pg/m3 for heroin. The highest levels were recorded on weekends, with factors with respect to weekdays of 1-3 for cocaine, 1-2 for cannabinoids and 1.1-1.7 for heroin. Higher levels were detected in the night-life areas, pointing towards consumption and trafficking as major emission sources, and possibly ruling out drug manufacture. The similarities in temporal trends at all sites suggested a city-scale transport of psychoactive substances. Correlations were detected between cocaine and amphetamine consumption (r2=0.98), and between heroin and cannabinoids (r2>0.82).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Viana
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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20
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Salvador P, Artíñano B, Viana M, Querol X, Alastuey A, González-Fernández I, Alonso R. Spatial and temporal variations in PM10 and PM2.5 across Madrid metropolitan area in 1999–2008. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.proenv.2011.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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21
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Viana M, Salvador P, Artíñano B, Querol X, Alastuey A, Pey J, Latz AJ, Cabañas M, Moreno T, García dos Santos S, Herce MD, Diez Hernández P, Romero García D, Fernández-Patier R. Assessing the performance of methods to detect and quantify African dust in airborne particulates. Environ Sci Technol 2010; 44:8814-8820. [PMID: 21049991 DOI: 10.1021/es1022625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
African dust (AD) contributions to particulate matter (PM) levels may be reported by Member States to the European Commission during justification of exceedances of the daily limit value (DLV). However, the detection and subsequent quantification of the AD contribution to PM levels is complex, and only two measurement-based methods are available in the literature: the Spanish-Portuguese reference method (SPR), and the Tel Aviv University method (TAU). In the present study, both methods were assessed. The SPR method was more conservative in the detection of episodes (71 days identified as AD by SPR, vs 81 by TAU), as it is less affected by interferences with local dust sources. The mean annual contribution of AD was lower with the TAU method than with SPR (2.7 vs 3.5 ± 1.5 μg/m(3)). The SPR and TAU AD time series were correlated with daily aluminum levels (a known tracer of AD), as well as with an AD source identified by the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model. Higher r(2) values were obtained with the SPR method than with TAU in both cases (r(2) = 0.72 vs 0.56, y = 0.05x vs y = 0.06x with aluminum levels; r(2)=0.79 vs 0.43, y = 0.8x vs y = 0.4x with the PMF source). We conclude that the SPR method is more adequate from an EU policy perspective (justification of DLV exceedances) due to the fact that it is more conservative than the TAU method. Based on our results, the TAU method requires adaptation of the thresholds in the algorithm to refine detection of low-impact episodes and avoid misclassification of local events as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Viana
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
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22
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Viana M, Querol X, Alastuey A, Postigo C, de Alda MJL, Barceló D, Artíñano B. Drugs of abuse in airborne particulates in urban environments. Environ Int 2010; 36:527-534. [PMID: 20447692 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2010] [Revised: 04/06/2010] [Accepted: 04/08/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The presence of cocaine, heroin, cannabinoids and amphetamines, among other drugs of abuse, was detected in airborne particulates in urban environments in Spain. The levels of these compounds were determined at air quality monitoring sites by the application of a novel and specifically targeted analytical methodology, by which mean daily concentrations of cocaine (204-480 pg/m(3), up to one order of magnitude higher than in Italy and Portugal), cannabinoids (THC, 27-44 pg/m(3)), amphetamine (1.4-2.3 pg/m(3)) and heroin (9-143 pg/m(3)) were determined in the atmosphere. Results allowed detecting common temporal consumption patterns between cocaine and cannabis (with week-end maxima), but markedly distinct consumer groups. Personal exposure to the levels of all the drugs detected may be considered negligible, posing no harm for human health. Given the worldwide scarcity of data on drug levels in atmospheric particulates, we present this methodology as a fast, economic and reliable tool to obtain high quality data for the monitoring of drug abuse and drug dealing in cities. Applications include the detection of changes in drug consumption trends, the mapping of drug consumption and/or dealing areas in cities, and the identification of new emerging drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Viana
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
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23
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Coz E, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Casuccio GS, Artíñano B. Variations on morphology and elemental composition of mineral dust particles from local, regional, and long-range transport meteorological scenarios. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009jd012796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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24
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Salvador P, Artíñano B, Querol X, Alastuey A. A combined analysis of backward trajectories and aerosol chemistry to characterise long-range transport episodes of particulate matter: the Madrid air basin, a case study. Sci Total Environ 2008; 390:495-506. [PMID: 18045660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2007] [Revised: 10/22/2007] [Accepted: 10/29/2007] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
This study has investigated the influence of synoptic weather patterns and long-range transport episodes on the concentration levels of airborne particulate matter (TSP, PM10 and PM2.5) and some major ions (SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+)) at a background rural station in central Spain. Air mass back-trajectories arriving at the site in 1999-2005 have been analysed by statistical methods. First, cluster analysis was used to group trajectories into 8 clusters depending on their direction and speed. Meteorological scenarios associated to each cluster have been obtained and interpreted. Then, the incidence of different air mass transport patterns on particle concentrations and composition recorded at this station was evaluated. This evaluation included PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations and chemical composition data, obtained at three representative sites of the Madrid air basin during sampling campaigns carried out in the course of the 1999-2005 period. Finally, a residence time analysis of trajectories was also performed to detect remote sources and transport pathways. Significantly elevated concentrations of TSP and PM10 were observed for Northern African flows as a consequence of the transport of mineral dust. Significant inter-cluster differences were also observed for PM2.5 and secondary inorganic compounds, with the highest concentrations associated with low baric gradient situations and Southern European flows. The residence time analysis confirmed that current TSP and PM10 concentrations in central Spain are likely to be influenced significantly by long-range transport of desert dust from different desert regions in North Africa. Furthermore, emissions from continental Europe with a high time of residence in the western and central areas of the Mediterranean basin, seem to significantly influence PM2.5 and secondary inorganic aerosol concentrations in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Salvador
- Environment Department, Edf. 23. CIEMAT. Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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25
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Minguillón MC, Querol X, Alastuey A, Monfort E, Mantilla E, Sanz MJ, Sanz F, Roig A, Renau A, Felis C, Miró JV, Artíñano B. PM10 speciation and determination of air quality target levels. A case study in a highly industrialized area of Spain. Sci Total Environ 2007; 372:382-96. [PMID: 17141297 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2006] [Revised: 10/09/2006] [Accepted: 10/13/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The paper shows how PM speciation studies allow the evaluation of the strategies to be followed to diminish PM pollution in highly industrialized areas with a large number of potential pollution sources. Evolution of levels and speciation of PM10 in the ceramic producing area of Castelló (East Spain) was studied from April 2002 until December 2005. PM10 levels were measured at one rural (Borriana-rural), two suburban (Almassora and Onda) and three urban (Borriana-urban, L'Alcora and Vila-real) sites, all influenced by the ceramics industry. Average PM10 levels varied between 27 and 36 microg/m3 for the study period. Evaluation of 1996-2005 PM data from Onda shows a clear decrease of PM levels since the beginning of 2002. Summer peak levels and winter minima occurred at both rural and suburban sites, whereas urban sites had no clear seasonal trend, with high PM10 episodes being due variously to local, regional, and African dust intrusion events. PM10 chemical analysis at four of the sites showed the dominant constituent to be mineral matter, exceeding by 5-12 microg/m3 the usual ranges of annual mineral loadings in PM10 at comparable Spanish urban or regional background sites with no industrial influence. Given current PM10 loadings, we recommend a lowering target of 3-5 microg/m3 of the annual mean at the urban sites, which should be achievable given available emission abatement techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Minguillón
- Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
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26
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Artíñano B, Salvador P, Alonso DG, Querol X, Alastuey A. Influence of traffic on the PM10 and PM2.5 urban aerosol fractions in Madrid (Spain). Sci Total Environ 2004; 334-335:111-23. [PMID: 15504497 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2004] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
A preliminary assessment carried out in Madrid demonstrates the difficulty of compliance with the new European PM(10) tolerances. Daily and annual limiting values would be exceeded at almost all the network stations under the terms of the directive's second stage. An experimental study, based on the chemical characterisation of the PM(10) and PM(2.5) fractions sampled at a representative urban site, provides the major mass contents of these two fractions. These are mainly related to two different particle sources: combustion processes including traffic emissions and mineral-origin particles. Nonmineral carbon is the major component of particulate matter in this region, mostly in the PM(2.5) fraction, increasing its contribution in wintertime. The second largest component identified in the PM(10) mass, is associated with crustal origin particles and is more relevant in summer, whereas the second largest contributor to PM(2.5) is secondary particles. In general, PM(10) and PM(2.5) concentrations show good agreement with traffic-related pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and CO, being time-correlated in winter pollution episodes. PM(1) and PM(2.5) have been simultaneous and continuously measured indicating road transport as the main source of these finer fractions. Mineral contribution has been mainly identified in the coarser particles associated with dust resuspension and some long-range transport events of Saharan dust, although they are also present in the finer PM(2.5) fraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Artíñano
- Environment Department, CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 22, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
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27
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Querol X, Alastuey A, Rodríguez S, Viana MM, Artíñano B, Salvador P, Mantilla E, García do Santos S, Fernandez Patier R, de La Rosa J, Sanchez de la Campa A, Menéndez M, Gil JJ. Levels of particulate matter in rural, urban and industrial sites in Spain. Sci Total Environ 2004; 334-335:359-376. [PMID: 15504522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This paper summarises the results of a series of studies on the interpretation of time series of levels of total suspended particles (TSP) and particulate matter (PM, <10 microm) in six regions of Spain in the period 1996-2000. In addition to the local pollution events, high PM10 episodes are recorded during African dust outbreaks, regional atmospheric recirculation events (mainly in spring to autumn), and to a lesser extent, under the influence of European and Mediterranean long range transported air masses. The lowest PM10 levels are usually recorded under Atlantic air mass advective conditions. All these regional and large-scale processes account for the relatively high PM10 levels recorded in regional background stations in Spain. Thus, the PM10 levels recorded at EMEP (Cooperative Program for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe) regional background stations between March 2001 and March 2002 are very close to the annual limit value proposed for 2010 by the EU Air Quality Directive 1999/30/CE. Chemical data obtained for the different monitoring stations during 2001 show a high mineral load in PM10 for most of the study sites in Spain. Furthermore, a high marine aerosol load is evidenced in the Canary Islands. These mineral and marine loads are lower when considering PM2.5, but a relatively high proportion (8-21%) of mineral dust is still present.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Querol
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra del CSIC, C/Luis Solé y Sabaris s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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28
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Artíñano B, Salvador P, Alonso DG, Querol X, Alastuey A. Anthropogenic and natural influence on the PM(10) and PM(2.5) aerosol in Madrid (Spain). Analysis of high concentration episodes. Environ Pollut 2003; 125:453-465. [PMID: 12826423 DOI: 10.1016/s0269-7491(03)00078-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Non-mineral carbon is the main component of PM10 and PM2.5 at an urban roadside site in Madrid accounting for more than 50% of the total bulk mass in winter pollution episodes. In these cases a 70-80% of the particle mass is anthropogenic. Particles of crustal/mineral origin contribute significantly to the observed PM10 concentrations, especially in spring and summer. They have also been found in the PM2.5 fraction although secondary particles are the next most important contributor in this size. Long-range transport particle episodes of Saharan dust significantly contribute to exceedence of the new daily limiting PM10 value in the urban network and at nearby rural background stations. This type of long-range transport event also influences PM2.5 concentrations. The crustal contribution can account for up to 67 and 53% of the PM10 and PM2.5 bulk mass in such cases.
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29
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