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Hughes F, Parsons L, Levy JH, Shindell D, Alhanti B, Ohnuma T, Kasibhatla P, Montgomery H, Krishnamoorthy V. Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Acute Illness. Anesthesiology 2024; 141:779-789. [PMID: 39105660 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000005115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Climate change increases wildfire smoke exposure. Inhaled smoke causes inflammation, oxidative stress, and coagulation, which exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory disease while worsening obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fintan Hughes
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Luke Parsons
- Global Science, Nature Conservancy and Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jerrold H Levy
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Surgery (Cardiothoracic), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Drew Shindell
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Brooke Alhanti
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tetsu Ohnuma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Prasad Kasibhatla
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Hugh Montgomery
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vijay Krishnamoorthy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
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2
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Zhao Z, Lin Z, Li F, Rogers BM. Influence of atmospheric teleconnections on interannual variability of Arctic-boreal fires. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156550. [PMID: 35688252 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156550] [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: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fires across the Arctic-boreal zone (ABZ) play an important role in the boreal forest succession, permafrost thaw, and the regional and global carbon cycle and climate. These fires occur mainly in summer with large interannual variability. Previous studies primarily focused on the impacts of local surface climate and tropical El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This study, for the first time, comprehensively investigates the influence of summer leading large-scale atmospheric teleconnection patterns in the Northern Hemisphere extra-tropics on interannual variability of ABZ fires. We use correlation and regression analysis of 1997-2019 multiple satellite-based products of burned area and observed/reanalyzed climate data. Results show that eight leading teleconnection patterns significantly affect 63 ± 2 % of burned areas across the ABZ. Western North America is affected by the East Pacific/North Pacific pattern (EP/NP) and the West Pacific pattern (WP); boreal Europe by the Scandinavia pattern (SCA); eastern North America, western and central Siberia, and southeastern Siberia by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO); and eastern Siberia /Russian Far East by the East Atlantic pattern (EA). NAO/EA induces lower-tropospheric drier northwesterly/northerly airflow passing through the east of boreal North America/Eurasia, which decreases surface relative humidity. Other teleconnections trigger a high-pressure anomaly, forcing downward motion that suppresses cloud formation and increases solar radiation reaching the ground to warm the surface air as well as brings drier air downward to reduce surface relative humidity. The drier and/or warmer surface air can decrease fuel wetness and thus increase burned area. Our study highlights the important role of the extra-tropical teleconnection patterns on ABZ fires, which is much stronger than ENSO that was thought to control interannual variability of global fires. It also establishes a theoretical foundation for ABZ fire prediction based on extra-tropical teleconnections, and has the potential to facilitate ABZ fire prediction and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongda Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Li
- International Center for Climate and Environment Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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3
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De Marco A, Sicard P, Feng Z, Agathokleous E, Alonso R, Araminiene V, Augustatis A, Badea O, Beasley JC, Branquinho C, Bruckman VJ, Collalti A, David‐Schwartz R, Domingos M, Du E, Garcia Gomez H, Hashimoto S, Hoshika Y, Jakovljevic T, McNulty S, Oksanen E, Omidi Khaniabadi Y, Prescher A, Saitanis CJ, Sase H, Schmitz A, Voigt G, Watanabe M, Wood MD, Kozlov MV, Paoletti E. Strategic roadmap to assess forest vulnerability under air pollution and climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:5062-5085. [PMID: 35642454 PMCID: PMC9541114 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Although it is an integral part of global change, most of the research addressing the effects of climate change on forests have overlooked the role of environmental pollution. Similarly, most studies investigating the effects of air pollutants on forests have generally neglected the impacts of climate change. We review the current knowledge on combined air pollution and climate change effects on global forest ecosystems and identify several key research priorities as a roadmap for the future. Specifically, we recommend (1) the establishment of much denser array of monitoring sites, particularly in the South Hemisphere; (2) further integration of ground and satellite monitoring; (3) generation of flux-based standards and critical levels taking into account the sensitivity of dominant forest tree species; (4) long-term monitoring of N, S, P cycles and base cations deposition together at global scale; (5) intensification of experimental studies, addressing the combined effects of different abiotic factors on forests by assuring a better representation of taxonomic and functional diversity across the ~73,000 tree species on Earth; (6) more experimental focus on phenomics and genomics; (7) improved knowledge on key processes regulating the dynamics of radionuclides in forest systems; and (8) development of models integrating air pollution and climate change data from long-term monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhaozhong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agro‐Meteorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied MeteorologyNanjing University of Information Science & TechnologyNanjingChina
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Key Laboratory of Agro‐Meteorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied MeteorologyNanjing University of Information Science & TechnologyNanjingChina
| | - Rocio Alonso
- Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMATMadridSpain
| | - Valda Araminiene
- Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and ForestryKaunasLithuania
| | - Algirdas Augustatis
- Faculty of Forest Sciences and EcologyVytautas Magnus UniversityKaunasLithuania
| | - Ovidiu Badea
- “Marin Drăcea” National Institute for Research and Development in ForestryVoluntariRomania
- Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering“Transilvania” UniversityBraşovRomania
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAikenSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Cristina Branquinho
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Viktor J. Bruckman
- Commission for Interdisciplinary Ecological StudiesAustrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | | | - Marisa Domingos
- Instituto de BotanicaNucleo de Pesquisa em EcologiaSao PauloBrazil
| | - Enzai Du
- Faculty of Geographical ScienceBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | | | - Shoji Hashimoto
- Department of Forest SoilsForestry and Forest Products Research InstituteTsukubaJapan
| | | | | | | | - Elina Oksanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Yusef Omidi Khaniabadi
- Department of Environmental Health EngineeringIndustrial Medial and Health, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO)AhvazIran
| | | | - Costas J. Saitanis
- Lab of Ecology and Environmental ScienceAgricultural University of AthensAthensGreece
| | - Hiroyuki Sase
- Ecological Impact Research DepartmentAsia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP)NiigataJapan
| | - Andreas Schmitz
- State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection of North Rhine‐WestphaliaRecklinghausenGermany
| | | | - Makoto Watanabe
- Institute of AgricultureTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT)FuchuJapan
| | - Michael D. Wood
- School of Science, Engineering and EnvironmentUniversity of SalfordSalfordUK
| | | | - Elena Paoletti
- Department of Forest SoilsForestry and Forest Products Research InstituteTsukubaJapan
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4
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Horb EC, Wentworth GR, Makar PA, Liggio J, Hayden K, Boutzis EI, Beausoleil DL, Hazewinkel RO, Mahaffey AC, Sayanda D, Wyatt F, Dubé MG. A decadal synthesis of atmospheric emissions, ambient air quality, and deposition in the oil sands region. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:333-360. [PMID: 34676977 PMCID: PMC9299045 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This review is part of a series synthesizing peer-reviewed literature from the past decade on environmental monitoring in the oil sands region (OSR) of northeastern Alberta. It focuses on atmospheric emissions, air quality, and deposition in and downwind of the OSR. Most published monitoring and research activities were concentrated in the surface-mineable region in the Athabasca OSR. Substantial progress has been made in understanding oil sands (OS)-related emission sources using multiple approaches: airborne measurements, satellite measurements, source emission testing, deterministic modeling, and source apportionment modeling. These approaches generally yield consistent results, indicating OS-related sources are regional contributors to nearly all air pollutants. Most pollutants exhibit enhanced air concentrations within ~20 km of surface-mining activities, with some enhanced >100 km downwind. Some pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides) undergo transformations as they are transported through the atmosphere. Deposition rates of OS-related substances primarily emitted as fugitive dust are enhanced within ~30 km of surface-mining activities, whereas gaseous and fine particulate emissions have a more diffuse deposition enhancement pattern extending hundreds of kilometers downwind. In general, air quality guidelines are not exceeded, although these single-pollutant thresholds are not comprehensive indicators of air quality. Odor events have occurred in communities near OS industrial activities, although it can be difficult to attribute events to specific pollutants or sources. Nitrogen, sulfur, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), and base cations from OS sources occur in the environment, but explicit and deleterious responses of organisms to these pollutants are not as apparent across all study environments; details of biological monitoring are discussed further in other papers in this special series. However, modeling of critical load exceedances suggests that, at continued emission levels, ecological change may occur in future. Knowledge gaps and recommendations for future work to address these gaps are also presented. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:333-360. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C. Horb
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Gregory R. Wentworth
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Present address: Environmental Protection BranchEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Paul A. Makar
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | | | | | - Ashley C. Mahaffey
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Diogo Sayanda
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
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5
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Smythe KK, Cooke CA, Drevnick PE, Cornett RJ, Blais JM. Tracking historical sources of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in dated lake sediment cores near in-situ bitumen operations of Cold Lake, Alberta. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 294:118567. [PMID: 34838713 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118567] [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: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Most bitumen in the Alberta oil sands (Canada) is extracted by thermal in-situ recovery. Despite the widespread use of in-situ bitumen extraction, little information is available on the release of petroleum hydrocarbons by this method to adjacent land and water. Here we analyzed the composition and abundance of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in 11 radiometrically-dated lake sediment cores collected near in-situ operations at Cold Lake Alberta to assess potential petroleum contamination sources to surrounding lakes over the past century. Like open-pit mining areas, alkylated PACs in Cold Lake sediments were elevated compared to unsubstituted parent PACs and increased coeval with the onset of bitumen extraction in the area. Diagnostic ratios and pyrogenic indices showed that PAC sources to these lake sediments were dominantly pyrogenic, likely from historic forest fires, however they shifted to more petrogenic sources coeval with expanding oil sands extraction at Cold Lake. PACs in sediment from regional lakes are weakly correlated to their proximity to in-situ oil wells, once corrected for lake area. These results suggest that in-situ operations, via diesel-fueled vehicular emissions and the combustion of natural gas for steam generation, are a source of PACs to nearby lakes, but PACs did not exceed Canadian sediment quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten K Smythe
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Colin A Cooke
- Environment & Parks, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Paul E Drevnick
- Environment & Parks, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert J Cornett
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jules M Blais
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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6
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Schneider SR, Lee K, Santos G, Abbatt JPD. Air Quality Data Approach for Defining Wildfire Influence: Impacts on PM 2.5, NO 2, CO, and O 3 in Western Canadian Cities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13709-13717. [PMID: 34609856 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As the climate warms, it is recognized that wildfires are increasing in size and frequency. The negative effects of wildfires on air quality are well documented, especially on commonly monitored atmospheric pollutants such as PM2.5, NO2, CO, and O3. However, it is not clear how frequently wildfires influence urban air quality and the size of that influence relative to traffic and industrial pollutants. To understand the impact of wildfires on air quality, we have established an automated method to identify wildfire-influenced ambient air measurements. The trajectory-fire interception method (TFIM) compares hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) back-trajectories from an air quality monitoring station to satellite imagery of fire "hot-spots" to determine the number of trajectory-fire interceptions that occur. From the number of interceptions and local PM2.5 measurements, we have defined a wildfire-influenced period to occur if the interception count is ≥20. TFIM wildfire identification compares favorably with Environment and Climate Change Canada's smoke forecast, FireWork, and with the BlueSky trajectory-based forecast. Using TFIM, we studied the impact of wildfire-influenced periods on PM2.5, NO2, CO, and O3 from 2001 to 2019 in Western Canadian urban areas. We show that wildfire-influenced periods have elevated concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, and CO but not O3. We show that a decreasing urban baseline of CO and NO2 over time results in a relatively greater impact of wildfires on these pollutants, which emphasizes the changing relative importance of wildfires on air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, M5S 3H6 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristyn Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, M5S 3H6 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Guadalupe Santos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, M5S 3H6 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan P D Abbatt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, M5S 3H6 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Naclerio R, Ansotegui IJ, Bousquet J, Canonica GW, D'Amato G, Rosario N, Pawankar R, Peden D, Bergmann KC, Bielory L, Caraballo L, Cecchi L, Cepeda SAM, Chong Neto HJ, Galán C, Gonzalez Diaz SN, Idriss S, Popov T, Ramon GD, Ridolo E, Rottem M, Songnuan W, Rouadi P. International expert consensus on the management of allergic rhinitis (AR) aggravated by air pollutants: Impact of air pollution on patients with AR: Current knowledge and future strategies. World Allergy Organ J 2020; 13:100106. [PMID: 32256939 PMCID: PMC7132263 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Allergic rhinitis affects the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. Air pollution not only causes morbidity, but nearly 3 million people per year die from unhealthy indoor air exposure. Furthermore, allergic rhinitis and air pollution interact. This report summarizes the discussion of an International Expert Consensus on the management of allergic rhinitis aggravated by air pollution. The report begins with a review of indoor and outdoor air pollutants followed by epidemiologic evidence showing the impact of air pollution and climate change on the upper airway and allergic rhinitis. Mechanisms, particularly oxidative stress, potentially explaining the interactions between air pollution and allergic rhinitis are discussed. Treatment for the management of allergic rhinitis aggravated by air pollution primarily involves treating allergic rhinitis by guidelines and reducing exposure to pollutants. Fexofenadine a non-sedating oral antihistamine improves AR symptoms aggravated by air pollution. However, more efficacy studies on other pharmacological therapy of coexisting AR and air pollution are currently lacking.
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Key Words
- AER, Allergic eosinophilic rhinitis
- AP, Activator protein
- AR, Allergic rhinitis
- ARE, Antioxidant response element
- Air pollutants
- Air pollution
- Allergic rhinitis
- Antioxidant enzymes
- CFS, Chronic fatigue syndrome
- CO, Carbon monoxide
- COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Climate change
- DAMP, Damage-associated molecular patterns
- DEP, Diesel exhaust particles
- ECAT, Elemental carbon attributable to traffic
- ECP, Eosinophil cationic protein
- GSH-Px, Glutathione peroxidase
- HDM, House dust mites
- HEPA, High efficiency particulate air
- HO, Hemeoxygenase
- HVAC, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- IAP, Indoor air pollution
- IAQ, Indoor air quality
- INS, Intranasal steroids
- Indoor air quality
- LDH, Lactate dehydrogenase
- MCP, Monocyte chemotactic protein
- MSQPCR, Mold specific quantitative PCR
- NAR, Non allergic rhinitis
- NF-κβ, Nuclear factor kappa β
- NO2, Nitrogen dioxide
- NOx, Nitric oxides
- Nrf2, Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor
- O3, Ozone
- OAP, Outdoor air pollution
- Occupational rhinitis
- Oxidative stress
- PAMP, Pathogen-associated molecular patterns
- PM, Particulate matter
- PON, Paraoxonase
- RNS, Reactive nitrosative species
- ROS, Reactive oxygen species
- SO2, Sulphur dioxide
- SOD, Superoxide dismutase
- TLR, Toll like receptor
- TNF, Tumor necrosis factor
- TOS, Total oxidative status
- TRAP, Traffic related air pollutants
- UFP, Ultra-fine particles
- VOCs, Volatile organic compound
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jean Bousquet
- INSERM U 1168, VIMA: Ageing and Chronic Diseases Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif, France
- University Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
- Allergy-Centre-Charité, Charité–Universita¨tsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Gennaro D'Amato
- Division of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, High Specialty Hospital A. Cardarelli, Napoli, Italy; School of Specialization in Respiratory Diseases University Federico II Naples, Italy
| | - Nelson Rosario
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine Division, Complexo Hospital de Clinicas, UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Ruby Pawankar
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - David Peden
- UNC Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology; Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Dpt. of Pediatrics UNS School of Medicine, USA
| | | | - Leonard Bielory
- Medicine & Ophthalmology Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Luis Caraballo
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
| | - Lorenzo Cecchi
- Centre de Bioclimatology, University de Florence, Florence, Italy
- SOS Allergy and Immunology, Prato - USL Toscana Centro, Italy
| | - S. Alfonso M. Cepeda
- Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | | | - Carmen Galán
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of Córdoba, Spain
| | | | - Samar Idriss
- Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Eye and Ear University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Todor Popov
- Alexander's University Hospital Clinic of Allergy & Asthma, Bulgaria
| | - German D. Ramon
- Alergia e Inmunología, Hospital Italiano Regional del Sur, Bahía Blanca-Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Erminia Ridolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Università; di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Menachem Rottem
- Allergy Asthma and Immunology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Wisuwat Songnuan
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Philip Rouadi
- Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Eye and Ear University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
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Jung TS. Bats in the changing boreal forest: response to a megafire by endangered little brown bats ( Myotis lucifugus). ECOSCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1687084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S. Jung
- Department of Environment, Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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9
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Jiang X, Enki Yoo EH. Modeling Wildland Fire-Specific PM 2.5 Concentrations for Uncertainty-Aware Health Impact Assessments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:11828-11839. [PMID: 31533425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire is a major emission source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which has serious adverse health effects. Most fire-related health studies have estimated human exposures to PM2.5 using ground observations, which have limited spatial/temporal coverage and could not separate PM2.5 emanating from wildland fires from other sources. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model has the potential to fill the gaps left by ground observations and estimate wildland fire-specific PM2.5 concentrations, although the issues around systematic bias in CMAQ models remain to be resolved. To address these problems, we developed a two-step calibration strategy under the consideration of prediction uncertainties. In a case study of the eastern U.S. in 2014, we evaluated the calibration performance using three cross-validation methods, which consistently indicated that the prediction accuracy was improved with an R2 of 0.47-0.64. In a health impact study based on the wildland fire-specific PM2.5 predictions, we identified regions with excess respiratory hospital admissions due to wildland fire events and quantified the estimation uncertainty propagated from multiple components in health impact function. We concluded that the proposed calibration strategy could provide reliable wildland fire-specific PM2.5 predictions and health burden estimates to support policy development for reducing fire-related risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Jiang
- Department of Geography , University at Buffalo-The State University of New York , Buffalo , New York 14261 , United States
| | - Eun-Hye Enki Yoo
- Department of Geography , University at Buffalo-The State University of New York , Buffalo , New York 14261 , United States
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10
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Foster KR, Davidson C, Tanna RN, Spink D. Introduction to the virtual special issue monitoring ecological responses to air quality and atmospheric deposition in the Athabasca Oil Sands region the wood Buffalo environmental Association's Forest health monitoring program. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 686:345-359. [PMID: 31181521 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The expansion of oil sands resource development in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region in the early 1990's led to concerns regarding the potential ecological and health effects of increased emissions and deposition of acidic substances. Conditions attached to a 1994 approval for an oil sands facility expansion led to the creation of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, and its Terrestrial Environmental Effects Monitoring committee. This multi-stakeholder body was tasked with development and operation of an environmental (forest health) monitoring program for the detection of ecological responses to atmospheric emissions and deposition. Initially focused on acid deposition monitoring, jack pine forest, growing on sandy soils with limited acid buffering capacity, was selected as the receptor system. An initial set of 10 monitoring locations was established using the Canadian Acid Rain Network Early Warning System methodology (since increased to 27, with three lost to development). Ecological monitoring is on a 6-year cycle, with concurrent measures of soil, needle and lichen chemistry, and tree and understory condition, together with ongoing measurements of air quality and atmospheric deposition. Because jack pine forest edges facing the emissions sources were expected to be more exposed to acidic emissions, evaluation of stand edge monitoring locations began in 2008. Monitoring of a targeted suite of indicators began in 2012 at 25 jack pine stand edge monitoring sites. This special issue presents the results derived from biophysical sampling campaigns (1998 to 2013), coupled with ongoing ambient atmospheric, deposition and epiphytic lichen monitoring (data through 2017) and source apportionment studies, as well as papers contributed by others engaged in regional research and monitoring programs. The Forest Health Monitoring Program provides data supportive of regulatory and stakeholder evaluations of environmental quality, and is adaptive to new needs, extreme environmental events and technological development while providing continuity of monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rajiv Neal Tanna
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - David Spink
- Pravid Environmental Inc., St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
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Hodshire AL, Akherati A, Alvarado MJ, Brown-Steiner B, Jathar SH, Jimenez JL, Kreidenweis SM, Lonsdale CR, Onasch TB, Ortega AM, Pierce JR. Aging Effects on Biomass Burning Aerosol Mass and Composition: A Critical Review of Field and Laboratory Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:10007-10022. [PMID: 31365241 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Biomass burning is a major source of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) with impacts on health, climate, and air quality. The particles and vapors within biomass burning plumes undergo chemical and physical aging as they are transported downwind. Field measurements of the evolution of PM with plume age range from net decreases to net increases, with most showing little to no change. In contrast, laboratory studies tend to show significant mass increases on average. On the other hand, similar effects of aging on the average PM composition (e.g., oxygen-to-carbon ratio) are reported for lab and field studies. Currently, there is no consensus on the mechanisms that lead to these observed similarities and differences. This review summarizes available observations of aging-related biomass burning aerosol mass concentrations and composition markers, and discusses four broad hypotheses to explain variability within and between field and laboratory campaigns: (1) variability in emissions and chemistry, (2) differences in dilution/entrainment, (3) losses in chambers and lines, and (4) differences in the timing of the initial measurement, the baseline from which changes are estimated. We conclude with a concise set of research needs for advancing our understanding of the aging of biomass burning aerosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Hodshire
- Department of Atmospheric Science , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Ali Akherati
- Department of Mechanical Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Matthew J Alvarado
- Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. , Lexington , Massachusetts 02421 , United States
| | - Benjamin Brown-Steiner
- Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. , Lexington , Massachusetts 02421 , United States
| | - Shantanu H Jathar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Jose L Jimenez
- Dept. of Chemistry and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Sonia M Kreidenweis
- Department of Atmospheric Science , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Chantelle R Lonsdale
- Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. , Lexington , Massachusetts 02421 , United States
| | - Timothy B Onasch
- Aerodyne Research Inc. , Billerica , Massachusetts 01821 , United States
| | - Amber M Ortega
- Dept. Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Jeffrey R Pierce
- Department of Atmospheric Science , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
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Landis MS, Studabaker WB, Pancras JP, Graney JR, White EM, Edgerton ES. Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse particulate matter polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at the Bertha Ganter-Fort McKay community site in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 666:540-558. [PMID: 30802668 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive filter-based particulate matter polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source apportionment study was conducted at the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association Bertha Ganter-Fort McKay (BGFM) community monitoring station from 2014 to 2015 to quantify ambient concentrations and identify major sources. The BGFM station is located in close proximity to several surface oil sands production facilities and was previously found to be impacted by their air emissions. 24-hour integrated PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 samples were collected on a 1-in-3-day schedule yielding 108 complete organic/inorganic filter sets for source apportionment modeling. During the study period PM2.5 averaged 8.6 ± 11.8 μg m-3 (mean ± standard deviation), and PM10-2.5 averaged 8.5 ± 9.5 μg m-3. Wind regression analysis indicated that the oil sands production facilities were significant sources of PM2.5 mass and black carbon (BC), and that wildland fires were a significant source of the highest PM2.5 (>10 μg m-3) and BC events. A six-factor positive matrix factorization (PMF) model solution explained 95% of the measured PM2.5 and 78% of the measured ΣPAH. Five sources significantly contributed to PM2.5 including: Biomass Combustion (3.57 μg m-3; 40%); Fugitive Dust (1.86 μg m-3; 28%); Upgrader Stack Emissions (1.44 μg m-3; 21%); Petrogenic PAH (1.20 μg m-3; 18%); and Transported Aerosol (0.43 μg m-3 and 6%). However, the analysis indicated that only the pyrogenic PAH source factor significantly contributed (78%) to the measured ΣPAH. A five-factor PMF model dominated by fugitive dust sources explained 98% of PM10-2.5 mass and 86% of the ΣPAH. The predominant sources of PM10-2.5 mass were (i) Haul Road Dust (4.82 μg m-3; 53%), (ii) Mixed Fugitive Dust (2.89 μg m-3; 32%), (iii) Fugitive Oil Sand (0.88 μg m-3; 10%), Mobile Sources (0.23 μg m-3; 2%), and Organic Aerosol (0.06 μg m-3; 1%). Only the Organic Aerosol source significantly contributed (86%) to the measured ΣPAH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joseph R Graney
- Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
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13
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Reid CE, Maestas MM. Wildfire smoke exposure under climate change: impact on respiratory health of affected communities. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2019; 25:179-187. [PMID: 30461534 PMCID: PMC6743728 DOI: 10.1097/mcp.0000000000000552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we describe the current status of the literature regarding respiratory health related to wildfire smoke exposure, anticipated future impacts under a changing climate, and strategies to reduce respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke. RECENT FINDINGS Recent findings confirm associations between wildfire smoke exposure and respiratory health outcomes, with the clearest evidence for exacerbations of asthma. Although previous evidence showed a clear association between wildfire smoke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, findings from recent studies are more mixed. Current evidence in support of an association between respiratory infections and wildfire smoke exposure is also mixed. Only one study has investigated long-term respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke, and few studies have estimated future health impacts of wildfires under likely climate change scenarios. SUMMARY Wildfire activity has been increasing over the past several decades and is likely to continue to do so as climate change progresses, which, combined with a growing population, means that population exposure to and respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke is likely to grow in the future. More research is needed to understand which population subgroups are most vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure and the long-term respiratory health impacts of these high pollution events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa May Maestas
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Earth Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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14
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Landis MS, Studabaker WB, Patrick Pancras J, Graney JR, Puckett K, White EM, Edgerton ES. Source apportionment of an epiphytic lichen biomonitor to elucidate the sources and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 654:1241-1257. [PMID: 30841398 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The sources and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) atmospheric deposition in the boreal forests surrounding bitumen production operations in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada were investigated as part of a 2014 passive in-situ bioindicator source apportionment study. Epiphytic lichen species Hypogymnia physodes samples (n = 127) were collected within a 150 km radius of the main surface oil sand production operations and analyzed for total sulfur, total nitrogen, forty-three elements, twenty-two PAHs, ten groups of C1-C2-alkyl PAHs and dibenzothiophenes (polycyclic aromatic compounds; PACs), five C1- and C2-alkyldibenzothiophenes, and retene. The ΣPAH + PAC in H. physodes ranged from 54 to 2778 ng g-1 with a median concentration of 317 ng g-1. Source apportionment modeling found an eight-factor solution that explained 99% of the measured ΣPAH + PAC lichen concentrations from four anthropogenic oil sands production sources (Petroleum Coke, Haul Road Dust, Stack Emissions, Raw Oil Sand), two local/regional sources (Biomass Combustion, Mobile Source), and two lichen biogeochemical factors. Petroleum Coke and Raw Oil Sand dust were identified as the major contributing sources of ΣPAH + PAC in the AOSR. These two sources accounted for 63% (43.2 μg g-1) of ΣPAH + PAC deposition to the entire study domain. Of this overall 43.2 μg g-1 contribution, approximately 90% (39.9 μg g-1) ΣPAH + PAC was deposited within 25 km of the closest oil sand production facility. Regional sources (Biomass Combustion and Mobile Sources) accounted for 19% of ΣPAH + PAC deposition to the entire study domain, of which 46% was deposited near-field to oil sand production operations. Source identification was improved over a prior lichen-based study in the AOSR through incorporation of PAH and PAC analytes in addition to inorganic analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joseph R Graney
- Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
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15
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Droppo IG, di Cenzo P, Power J, Jaskot C, Chambers PA, Alexander AC, Kirk J, Muir D. Temporal and spatial trends in riverine suspended sediment and associated polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) within the Athabasca oil sands region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 626:1382-1393. [PMID: 29898545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bitumen-bearing suspended sediment (SS) eroded from the McMurray Formation (MF) are fine grained (silts and clays) and coated with natural hydrophobic oils. This results in poor settling and long range transport of associated contaminants. There was a longitudinal increase in polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC) concentrations for rivers that erode the MF from upstream to downstream regardless of time-of-year, while loads were substantially increased during high flow periods when the erosive forces are the greatest and the overland flow contribution is high. Within the MF, variation in PAC contributions is seen by the Ells River having higher loads than the Steepbank River. Using the Ells and Steepbank as examples, double plot PACs ratios suggest that the PAC concentrations and signatures vary spatially within the MF but that the weathering processes may be the same. Plots of the various homologs of PACs generally illustrated a normal distribution which suggests petrogenic origins. However, several PAC ratios suggested that both the parent material and the SS are pyrogenic in nature. While it is likely that some level of atmospheric deposition (anthropogenic or from forest fire) is incorporated into the SS of the rivers, it is likely to be limited relative to the proportion of naturally eroded MF sediments. Additional analysis will be needed to distinguish the relative risk of both anthropogenic (e.g., industrial operations) and natural sources (bitumen deposits, forest fire) of PACs to the SS and to long-range depositional environments, as they may have potential aquatic ecological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian G Droppo
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Peter di Cenzo
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jessica Power
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina Jaskot
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Alexa C Alexander
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Jane Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Derek Muir
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Estimated Excess Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Air Pollution above American Thoracic Society–recommended Standards, 2013–2015. American Thoracic Society and Marron Institute Report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018; 15:542-551. [DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201710-785eh] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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17
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Wentworth GR, Aklilu YA, Landis MS, Hsu YM. Impacts of a large boreal wildfire on ground level atmospheric concentrations of PAHs, VOCs and ozone. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2018; 178:19-30. [PMID: 29681759 PMCID: PMC5906807 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
During May 2016 a very large boreal wildfire burned throughout the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in central Canada, and in close proximity to an extensive air quality monitoring network. This study examines speciated 24-h integrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements collected every sixth day at four and seven sites, respectively, from May to August 2016. The sum of PAHs (ΣPAH) was on average 17 times higher in fire-influenced samples (852 ng m-3, n = 8), relative to non-fire influenced samples (50 ng m-3, n = 64). Diagnostic PAH ratios in fire-influenced samples were indicative of a biomass burning source, whereas ratios in June to August samples showed additional influence from petrogenic and fossil fuel combustion. The average increase in the sum of VOCs (ΣVOC) was minor by comparison: 63 ppbv for fire-influenced samples (n = 16) versus 46 ppbv for non-fire samples (n = 90). The samples collected on August 16th and 22nd had large ΣVOC concentrations at all sites (average of 123 ppbv) that were unrelated to wildfire emissions, and composed primarily of acetaldehyde and methanol suggesting a photochemically aged air mass. Normalized excess enhancement ratios (ERs) were calculated for 20 VOCs and 23 PAHs for three fire influenced samples, and the former were generally consistent with previous observations. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report ER measurements for a number of VOCs and PAHs in fresh North American boreal wildfire plumes. During May the aged wildfire plume intercepted the cities of Edmonton (∼380 km south) or Lethbridge (∼790 km south) on four separate occasions. No enhancement in ground-level ozone (O3) was observed in these aged plumes despite an assumed increase in O3 precursors. In the AOSR, the only daily-averaged VOCs which approached or exceeded the hourly Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAAQOs) were benzene (during the fire) and acetaldehyde (on August 16th and 22nd). Implications for local and regional air quality as well as suggestions for supplemental air monitoring during future boreal fires, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory R. Wentworth
- Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, 10th Floor 9888 Jasper Ave. NW, T5J 5C6, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Yayne-abeba Aklilu
- Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, 10th Floor 9888 Jasper Ave. NW, T5J 5C6, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew S. Landis
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, 27709, NC, USA
| | - Yu-Mei Hsu
- Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, 100-330 Thickwood Blvd., T9K 1Y1, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
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18
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Landis MS, Edgerton ES, White EM, Wentworth GR, Sullivan AP, Dillner AM. The impact of the 2016 Fort McMurray Horse River Wildfire on ambient air pollution levels in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 618:1665-1676. [PMID: 29102183 PMCID: PMC6084447 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
An unprecedented wildfire impacted the northern Alberta city of Fort McMurray in May 2016 causing a mandatory city wide evacuation and the loss of 2,400 homes and commercial structures. A two-hectare wildfire was discovered on May 1, grew to ~157,000ha by May 5, and continued to burn an estimated ~590,000ha by June 13. A comprehensive air monitoring network operated by the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) in and around Fort McMurray provided essential health-related real-time air quality data to firefighters during the emergency, and provided a rare opportunity to elucidate the impact of gaseous and particulate matter emissions on near-field communities and regional air pollution concentrations. The WBEA network recorded 188 fire-related exceedances of 1-hr and 24-hr Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives. Two air monitoring sites within Fort McMurray recorded mean/maximum 1-hr PM2.5 concentrations of 291/5229μgm-3 (AMS-6) and 293/3259μgm-3 (AMS-7) during fire impact periods. High correlations (r2=0.83-0.97) between biomass combustion related gases (carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), total hydrocarbons (THC), total reduced sulfur (TRS), ammonia) and PM2.5 were observed at the sites. Filter-based 24-hr integrated PM2.5 samples collected every 6 days showed maximum concentrations of 267μgm-3 (AMS-6) and 394μgm-3 (AMS-7). Normalized excess emission ratios relative to CO were 149.87±3.37μgm-3ppm-1 (PM2.5), 0.274±0.002ppmppm-1 (THC), 0.169±0.001ppmppm-1 (NMHC), 0.104±0.001ppmppm-1 (CH4), 0.694±0.007ppbppm-1 (TRS), 0.519±0.040ppbppm-1 (SO2), 0.412±0.045ppbppm-1 (NO), 1.968±0.053ppbppm-1 (NO2), and 2.337±0.077ppbppm-1 (NOX). A subset of PM2.5 filter samples was analyzed for trace elements, major ions, organic carbon, elemental carbon, and carbohydrates. Sample mass reconstruction and fire specific emission profiles are presented and discussed. Potential fire-related photometric ozone instrument positive interferences were observed and were positively correlated with NO and NMHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Landis
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | | | | | - Gregory R Wentworth
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Wilkins JL, Pouliot G, Foley K, Appel W, Pierce T. The impact of US wildland fires on ozone and particulate matter: a comparison of measurements and CMAQ model predictions from 2008 to 2012. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE 2018; 27:10.1071/wf18053. [PMID: 33424209 PMCID: PMC7788068 DOI: 10.1071/wf18053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire emissions are routinely estimated in the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Emissions Inventory, specifically for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and precursors to ozone (O3); however, there is a large amount of uncertainty in this sector. We employ a brute-force zero-out sensitivity method to estimate the impact of wildland fire emissions on air quality across the contiguous US using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modelling system. These simulations are designed to assess the importance of wildland fire emissions on CMAQ model performance and are not intended for regulatory assessments. CMAQ ver. 5.0.1 estimated that fires contributed 11% to the mean PM2.5 and less than 1% to the mean O3 concentrations during 2008-2012. Adding fires to CMAQ increases the number of 'grid-cell days' with PM2.5 above 35 μg m-3 by a factor of 4 and the number of grid-cell days with maximum daily 8-h average O3 above 70 ppb by 14%. Although CMAQ simulations of specific fires have improved with the latest model version (e.g. for the 2008 California wildfire episode, the correlation r = 0.82 with CMAQ ver. 5.0.1 v. r = 0.68 for CMAQ ver. 4.7.1), the model still exhibits a low bias at higher observed concentrations and a high bias at lower observed concentrations. Given the large impact of wildland fire emissions on simulated concentrations of elevated PM2.5 and O3, improvements are recommended on how these emissions are characterised and distributed vertically in the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L. Wilkins
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Computational Exposure Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
- Corresponding author.
| | - George Pouliot
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Computational Exposure Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kristen Foley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Computational Exposure Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Wyat Appel
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Computational Exposure Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Thomas Pierce
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Computational Exposure Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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Kaulfus AS, Nair U, Jaffe D, Christopher SA, Goodrick S. Biomass Burning Smoke Climatology of the United States: Implications for Particulate Matter Air Quality. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:11731-11741. [PMID: 28960063 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We utilize the NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke product for the period of 2005 to 2016 to develop climatology of smoke occurrence over the Continental United States (CONUS) region and to study the impact of wildland fires on particulate matter air quality at the surface. Our results indicate that smoke is most frequently found over the Great Plains and western states during the summer months. Other hotspots of smoke occurrence are found over state and national parks in the southeast during winter and spring, in the Gulf of Mexico southwards of the Texas and Louisiana coastline during spring season and along the Mississippi River Delta during the fall season. A substantial portion (20%) of the 24 h federal standard for particulate pollution exceedance events in the CONUS region occur when smoke is present. If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations continue to reduce anthropogenic emissions, wildland fire emissions will become the major contributor to particulate pollution and exceedance events. In this context, we show that HMS smoke product is a valuable tool for analysis of exceptional events caused by wildland fires and our results indicate that these tools can be valuable for policy and decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron S Kaulfus
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville , Huntsville, Alabama 35806, United States
| | - Udaysankar Nair
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville , Huntsville, Alabama 35806, United States
| | - Daniel Jaffe
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, University of Washington-Bothell , Bothell, Washington 98011-8246, United States
| | - Sundar A Christopher
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville , Huntsville, Alabama 35806, United States
| | - Scott Goodrick
- Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Forest Disturbance Science, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
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Schweizer D, Cisneros R, Traina S, Ghezzehei TA, Shaw G. Using National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter to assess regional wildland fire smoke and air quality management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2017; 201:345-356. [PMID: 28692834 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire is an important ecological process in the California Sierra Nevada. Personal accounts from pre-20th century describe a much smokier environment than present day. The policy of suppression beginning in the early 20th century and climate change are contributing to increased megafires. We use a single particulate monitoring site at the wildland urban interface to explore impacts from prescribed, managed, and full suppression wildland fires from 2006 to 2015 producing a contextual assessment of smoke impacts over time at the landscape level. Prescribed fire had little effect on local fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air quality with readings typical of similar non-fire times; hourly and daily good to moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5, maximum hourly concentrations 21-103 μg m-3, and mean concentrations between 7.7 and 13.2 μg m-3. Hourly and daily AQI was typically good or moderate during managed fires with 3 h and one day reaching unhealthy while the site remained below National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), with maximum hourly concentrations 27-244 μg m-3, and mean concentrations 6.7-11.7 μg m-3. The large high intensity fire in this area created the highest short term impacts (AQI unhealthy for 4 h and very unhealthy for 1 h), 11 unhealthy for sensitive days, and produced the only annual value (43.9 μg m-3) over the NAAQS 98th percentile for PM2.5 (35 μg m-3). Pinehurst remained below the federal standards for PM2.5 when wildland fire in the local area was managed to 7800 ha (8-22% of the historic burn area). Considering air quality impacts from smoke using the NAAQS at a landscape level over time can give land and air managers a metric for broader evaluation of smoke impacts particularly when assessing ecologically beneficial fire. Allowing managers to control the amount and timing of individual wildland fire emissions can help lessen large smoke impacts to public health from a megafire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Schweizer
- Environmental Systems Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Ricardo Cisneros
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Samuel Traina
- Office of Research, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Teamrat A Ghezzehei
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Glenn Shaw
- Department of Geological Engineering, Montana Tech of the University of Montana, 1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT, 59701, USA.
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Schlosser JS, Braun RA, Bradley T, Dadashazar H, MacDonald AB, Aldhaif AA, Aghdam MA, Mardi AH, Xian P, Sorooshian A. Analysis of aerosol composition data for western United States wildfires between 2005 and 2015: Dust emissions, chloride depletion, and most enhanced aerosol constituents. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. ATMOSPHERES : JGR 2017; 122:8951-8966. [PMID: 28955601 PMCID: PMC5611831 DOI: 10.1002/2017jd026547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This study examines major wildfires in the western United States between 2005 and 2015 to determine which species exhibit the highest percent change in mass concentration on day of peak fire influence relative to preceding nonfire days. Forty-one fires were examined using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) data set. Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) constituents exhibited the highest percent change increase. The sharpest enhancements were for the volatile (OC1) and semivolatile (OC2) OC fractions, suggestive of secondary organic aerosol formation during plume transport. Of the noncarbonaceous constituents, Cl, P, K, NO3-, and Zn levels exhibited the highest percent change. Dust was significantly enhanced in wildfire plumes, based on significant enhancements in fine soil components (i.e., Si, Ca, Al, Fe, and Ti) and PMcoarse (i.e., PM10-PM2.5). A case study emphasized how transport of wildfire plumes significantly impacted downwind states, with higher levels of fine soil and PMcoarse at the downwind state (Arizona) as compared to the source of the fires (California). A global model (Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System, NAAPS) did not capture the dust influence over California or Arizona during this case event because it is not designed to resolve dust dynamics in fires, which motivates improved treatment of such processes. Significant chloride depletion was observed on the peak EC day for almost a half of the fires examined. Size-resolved measurements during two specific fires at a coastal California site revealed significant chloride reductions for particle aerodynamic diameters between 1 and 10 μm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S Schlosser
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Rachel A Braun
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Trevor Bradley
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Hossein Dadashazar
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Alexander B MacDonald
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Abdulmonam A Aldhaif
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Mojtaba Azadi Aghdam
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Ali Hossein Mardi
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Peng Xian
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California, USA
| | - Armin Sorooshian
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Hsu YM, Bytnerowicz A, Fenn ME, Percy KE. Atmospheric dry deposition of sulfur and nitrogen in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:285-295. [PMID: 27295600 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Due to the potential ecological effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems from atmospheric deposition in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada, this study was implemented to estimate atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) inputs. Passive samplers were used to measure ambient concentrations of ammonia (NH3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric acid/nitrous acid (HNO3/HONO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the AOSR. Concentrations of NO2 and SO2 in winter were higher than those in summer, while seasonal differences of NH3 and HNO3/HONO showed an opposite trend, with higher values in summer. Concentrations of NH3, NO2 and SO2 were high close to the emission sources (oil sands operations and urban areas). NH3 concentrations were also elevated in the southern portion of the domain indicating possible agricultural and urban emission sources to the southwest. HNO3, an oxidation endpoint, showed wider ranges of concentrations and a larger spatial extent. Concentrations of NH3, NO2, HNO3/HONO and SO2 from passive measurements and their monthly deposition velocities calculated by a multi-layer inference model (MLM) were used to calculate dry deposition of N and S. NH3 contributed the largest fraction of deposited N across the network, ranging between 0.70-1.25kgNha(-1)yr(-1), HNO3/HONO deposition ranged between 0.30-0.90kgNha(-1)yr(-1), and NO2 deposition between 0.03-0.70kgNha(-1)yr(-1). During the modeled period, average dry deposition of the inorganic gaseous N species ranged between 1.03 and 2.85kgNha(-1)yr(-1) and SO4-S deposition ranged between 0.26 and 2.04kgha(-1)yr(-1). Comparisons with co-measured ion exchange resin throughfall data (8.51kgSha(-1)yr(-1)) indicate that modeled dry deposition combined with measured wet deposition (1.37kgSha(-1)yr(-1)) underestimated S deposition. Gas phase NH3 (71%) and HNO3 plus NO2 (79%) dry deposition fluxes dominated the total deposition of NH4-N and NO3-N, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Mei Hsu
- Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, #100-330 Thickwood Blvd., Fort McMurray, Alberta T9K 1Y1, Canada.
| | - Andrzej Bytnerowicz
- US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 4955 Canyon Crest Dr., Riverside, CA 92507, USA
| | - Mark E Fenn
- US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 4955 Canyon Crest Dr., Riverside, CA 92507, USA
| | - Kevin E Percy
- Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, #100-330 Thickwood Blvd., Fort McMurray, Alberta T9K 1Y1, Canada
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