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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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Mannucci PM. Air pollution, cardiovascular disease, and urban greening: an ecological blueprint. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2023; 30:1608-1611. [PMID: 37070466 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
A number of studies and systematic reviews indicate that exposure to greenness reduces of all-cause, non accidental mortality, particularly from cardiopulmonary and cancer causes. There is also some evidence that green space residence may be associated with improved pregnancy and birth outcomes, and with better school performances in children. Furthermore, because at least one third of the premature deaths are globally attributable to exposure to air pollution due household agents, particularly in fragile populations living in low-income countries (i.e., children, older and deprived people, pregnant women), that houseplants are an effective and economic mean for cleaning indoor air and thus reducing volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and others. On the whole more prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the mechanisms linking air pollution, greenness and health outcomes, although the multiple and interacting mechanisms depicted in this article are all biologically plausible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Via Pace 9, Milan 20122, Italy
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Li X, Wang P, Wang W, Zhang H, Shi S, Xue T, Lin J, Zhang Y, Liu M, Chen R, Kan H, Meng X. Mortality burden due to ambient nitrogen dioxide pollution in China: Application of high-resolution models. Environ Int 2023; 176:107967. [PMID: 37244002 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large gap exists between the latest Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG 2021) and Chinese air quality standards for NO2. Assessing whether and to what extent air quality standards for NO2 should be tightened in China requires a comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics of population exposure to ambient NO2 and related health risks, which have not been studied to date. OBJECTIVE We predicted ground NO2 concentrations with high resolution in mainland China, explored exposure characteristics to NO2 pollution, and assessed the mortality burden attributable to NO2 exposure. METHODS Daily NO2 concentrations in 2019 were predicted at 1-km spatial resolution in mainland China using random forest models incorporating multiple predictors. From these high-resolution predictions, we explored the spatiotemporal distribution of NO2, population and area percentages with NO2 exposure exceeding criterion levels, and premature deaths attributable to long- and short-term NO2 exposure in China. RESULTS The cross-validation R2and root mean squared error of the NO2 predicting model were 0.80 and 7.78 μg/m3, respectively,at the daily level in 2019.The percentage of people (population number) with annual NO2 exposure over 40 μg/m3 in mainland China in 2019 was 10.40 % (145,605,200), and it reached 99.68 % (1,395,569,840) with the AQG guideline value of 10 μg/m3. NO2 levels and population exposure risk were elevated in urban areas than in rural. Long- and short-term exposures to NO2 were associated with 285,036 and 121,263 non-accidental deaths, respectively, in China in 2019. Tightening standards in steps gradually would increase the potential health benefit. CONCLUSION In China, NO2 pollution is associated with significant mortality burden. Spatial disparities exist in NO2 pollution and exposure risks. China's current air quality standards may no longer objectively reflect the severity of NO2 pollution and exposure risk. Tightening the national standards for NO2 is needed and will lead to significant health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Li
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200302, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200302, China
| | - Hongliang Zhang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Su Shi
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200302, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Jintai Lin
- Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Mengyao Liu
- Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200302, China
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200302, China
| | - Xia Meng
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200302, China; Shanghai Typhoon Institute/CMA, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health, Shanghai 200030, China.
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Kesavachandran CN, Prathish KP, Sakhre S, Ajay SV, Rahul CM. Proposed city-specific interim targets for India based on WHO air quality guidelines 2021. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:30802-30807. [PMID: 35357646 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19591-3] [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: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization has proposed the ambient air quality guidelines 2021. The uniqueness of the guidelines of the World Health Organization - air quality guidelines 2021 - is the inclusion of interim targets. Higher levels of air pollutants including PM2.5 for ambient air in India were recorded in recent times, and its association with respiratory and cardiovascular health risks was evidenced in the recent literature. To achieve the ambient air quality standards in India as per the World Health Organization - air quality guidelines, there is a need for interim targets in the future National Ambient Air Quality Standards to be proposed in India. These interim targets may be proposed for non-attainment/attainment cities based on the PM2.5 concentration levels to achieve a realistic target of recommended levels in a graded manner and thereby minimize air pollution in the specific location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrasekharan Nair Kesavachandran
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Govt of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
| | - Krishna Pillai Prathish
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Govt of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Saurabh Sakhre
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Govt of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sundaresan Vasanthi Ajay
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Govt of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Chirackal Muraleedharan Rahul
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Govt of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
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Meng X, Wang W, Shi S, Zhu S, Wang P, Chen R, Xiao Q, Xue T, Geng G, Zhang Q, Kan H, Zhang H. Evaluating the spatiotemporal ozone characteristics with high-resolution predictions in mainland China, 2013-2019. Environ Pollut 2022; 299:118865. [PMID: 35063542 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Evaluating ozone levels at high resolutions and accuracy is crucial for understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of ozone distribution and assessing ozone exposure levels in epidemiological studies. The national models with high spatiotemporal resolutions to predict ground ozone concentrations are limited in China so far. In this study, we aimed to develop a random forest model by combining ground ozone measurements from fixed stations, ozone simulations from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system, meteorological parameters, population density, road length, and elevation to predict ground maximum daily 8-h average (MDA8) ozone concentrations at a daily level and 1 km × 1 km spatial resolution. The model cross-validation R2 and root mean squared error (RMSE) were 0.80 and 20.93 μg/m3 at daily level in 2013-2019, respectively. CMAQ ozone simulations and near-surface temperature played vital roles in predicting ozone concentrations among all predictors. The population-weighted median concentrations of predicted MDA8 ozone were 89.34 μg/m3 in mainland China in 2013, and reached 100.96 μg/m3 in 2019. However, the long-term temporal variations among regions were heterogeneous. Central and Eastern China, as well as the Southeast Coastal Area, suffered higher ozone pollution and higher increased rates of ozone concentrations from 2013 to 2019. The seasonal pattern of ozone pollution varied spatially. The peak-season ozone pollution with the highest 6-month ozone concentrations occurred in different months among regions, with more than half domain in April-September. The predictions showed that not only the annual mean concentrations but also the percentages of grid-days with MDA8 ozone concentrations higher than 100/160 μg/m3 have been increasing in the past few years in China; meanwhile, majority areas in mainland China suffered peak-season ozone concentrations higher than the air quality guidelines launched by the World Health Organization in September 2021. The proposed model and ozone predictions with high spatiotemporal resolution and full coverage could provide health studies with flexible choices to evaluate ozone exposure levels at multiple spatiotemporal scales in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Meng
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Su Shi
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shengqiang Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qingyang Xiao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health /Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guannan Geng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the Ministry of Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hongliang Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Evangelopoulos D, Perez-Velasco R, Walton H, Gumy S, Williams M, Kelly FJ, Künzli N. The role of burden of disease assessment in tracking progress towards achieving WHO global air quality guidelines. Int J Public Health 2020; 65:1455-1465. [PMID: 33057794 PMCID: PMC7588380 DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01479-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES More than 90% of the global population live in areas exceeding the PM2.5 air quality guidelines (AQGs). We provide an overview of the ambient PM2.5-related burden of disease (BoD) studies along with scenario analysis in the framework of the WHO AQG update on the estimated reduction in the BoD if AQGs were achieved globally. METHODS We reviewed the literature for large-scale studies for the BoD attributed to ambient PM2.5. Moreover, we used the latest WHO statistics to calculate the BoD at current levels and the scenarios of aligning with interim targets and AQG levels. RESULTS The most recent BoD studies (2010 onwards) share a similar methodology, but there are differences in the input data which affect the estimates for attributable deaths (2.9-8.9 million deaths annually). Moreover, we found that if AQGs were achieved, the estimated BoD would be reduced by up to 50% in total deaths worldwide. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the BoD across countries, especially in those that do not align with the AQGs, is essential in order to inform actions to reduce air pollution globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Evangelopoulos
- Environmental Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Unit: Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Perez-Velasco
- European Centre for Environment and Health, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - Heather Walton
- Environmental Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Unit: Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Gumy
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Martin Williams
- Environmental Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frank J. Kelly
- Environmental Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Unit: Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nino Künzli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Ferreira J, Lopes D, Rafael S, Relvas H, Almeida SM, Miranda AI. Modelling air quality levels of regulated metals: limitations and challenges. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020; 27:33916-33928. [PMID: 32557059 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09645-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Toxic metals as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) exist in the atmosphere as particulate matter components. Their concentration levels in the European Union (EU) are regulated by European legislation, which sets target and limit values as annual means, and by the World Health Organization (WHO) that defines guidelines and reference values for those metal elements. Modelling tools are recommended to support air quality assessment regarding the toxic metals; however, few studies have been performed and those assessments rely on discrete measurements or field campaigns. This study aims to evaluate the capability of air quality modelling tools to verify the legislation compliance concerning the atmospheric levels of toxic elements and to identify the main challenges and limitations of using a modelling assessment approach for regulatory purposes, as a complement to monitoring. The CAMx air quality model was adapted and applied over Porto and Lisbon urban regions in Portugal at 5 × 5-km2 and 1 × 1-km2 horizontal resolution for the year 2015, and the results were analysed and compared with the few measurements available in three locations. The comparison between modelled and measured data revealed an overestimation of the model, although annual averages are much lower than the regulated standards. The comparison of the 5-km and 1-km resolutions' results indicates that a higher resolution does not necessarily imply a better performance, pointing out uncertainties in emissions and the need to better describe the magnitude and spatial allocation of toxic metal emissions. This work highlighted that an increase of the spatial and temporal coverage of monitoring sites would allow to improve the model design, contribute to a better knowledge on toxic metals atmospheric emission sources and to increase the capacity of models to simulate atmospheric particulate species of health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ferreira
- Department of Environment and Planning & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Diogo Lopes
- Department of Environment and Planning & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sandra Rafael
- Department of Environment and Planning & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Hélder Relvas
- Department of Environment and Planning & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Susana Marta Almeida
- Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering & C2TN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Miranda
- Department of Environment and Planning & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Beloconi A, Vounatsou P. Bayesian geostatistical modelling of high-resolution NO 2 exposure in Europe combining data from monitors, satellites and chemical transport models. Environ Int 2020; 138:105578. [PMID: 32179313 PMCID: PMC7152800 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Bayesian geostatistical regression (GR) models estimate air pollution exposure at high spatial resolution, quantify the prediction uncertainty and provide probabilistic inference on the exceedance of air quality thresholds. However, due to high computational burden, previous GR models have provided gridded ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations at smaller areas of investigation. Here, we applied these models to estimate yearly averaged NO2 concentrations at 1 km2 spatial resolution across 44 European countries, integrating information from in situ monitoring stations, satellites and chemical transport model (CTM) simulations. The tropospheric values of NO2 derived from the ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) onboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Aura satellite were converted to near ground NO2 concentration proxies using simulations from the 3-D global CTM (GEOS-Chem) at 0.5° × 0.625°spatial resolution and surface-to-column NO2 ratios. Simulations from the Ensemble of regional CTMs at spatial resolution of 0.1° × 0.1°were extracted from the Copernicus atmosphere monitoring service (CAMS). The contribution of these covariates to the predictive capability of geostatistical models was for the first time evaluated here through a rigorous model selection procedure along with additional continental high-resolution satellite-derived products, including novel data from the pan-European Copernicus land monitoring service (CLMS). The results have shown that the conversion of columnar NO2 values to surface quasi-observations yielded models with slightly better predictive ability and lower uncertainty. Nonetheless, the use of higher resolution CAMS-Ensemble simulations as covariates in GR models granted the most accurate surface NO2 estimates, showing that, in 2016, 16.17 (95% C.I. 6.34-29.96) million people in Europe, representing 2.97% (95% C.I. 1.16% - 5.50%) of the total population, were exposed to levels above the EU directive and WHO air quality guidelines threshold for NO2. Our estimates are readily available to policy makers and scientists assessing the burden of disease attributable to NO2 in 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Beloconi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Penelope Vounatsou
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland
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Elmes M, Gasparon M. Sampling and single particle analysis for the chemical characterisation of fine atmospheric particulates: A review. J Environ Manage 2017; 202:137-150. [PMID: 28732276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.06.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [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: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
To better understand the potential environmental and human health impacts of fine airborne particulate matter (APM), detailed physical and chemical characterisation is required. The only means to accurately distinguish between the multiple compositions in APM is by single particle analysis. A variety of methods and instruments are available, which range from filter-based sample collection for off-line laboratory analysis to on-line instruments that detect the airborne particles and generate size distribution and chemical data in real time. There are many reasons for sampling particulates in the ambient atmosphere and as a consequence, different measurement strategies and sampling devices are used depending on the scientific objectives and subsequent analytical techniques. This review is designed as a guide to some of the techniques available for the sampling and subsequent chemical analysis of individual inorganic particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Elmes
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Massimo Gasparon
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia; National Institute of Science and Technology on Mineral Resources, Water and Biodiversity (INCT-Acqua), Brazil.
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El-Sharkawy MF, Sebiany AM. Environmental Protection Procedures in Improving Air Quality in the University of Dammam Campuses. Saudi J Med Med Sci 2017; 5:130-135. [PMID: 30787770 PMCID: PMC6298360 DOI: 10.4103/1658-631x.204873] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Campuses of the University of Dammam (UOD) have several sources of air pollution that can adversely affect human health, welfare and the overall efficiency of the educational process. AIMS This study was aiming to assess the role of environmental protection procedures in UOD and evaluate their impact on improving the air quality inside its campuses. SETTINGS AND DESIGN In both the new and old campuses, three different sites were selected to assess air quality level. METHODS Five air pollutants, in addition to environmental noise, were measured at all selected sites. These pollutants included particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The data were compared to pollutant levels, in the same locations, that were measured during a previous 6-year period, starting from 2008. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Results of this research were statistically analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 16, SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). RESULTS The highest mean ± standard deviation of PM10 (124.5 ± 25.0 μg/m3), CO (1.9 ± 0.7 ppm), VOCs (0.12 ± 0.09 ppm), NO2 (0.039 ± 0.022 ppm), SO2 (0.036 ± 0.047 ppm) and environmental noise (71.8 ± 4.1 dB) were found in the old UOD campus. Levels of all pollutants, except environmental noise, during the morning period were higher than those in the afternoon period. In addition, the level of the five air pollutants gradually reduced from 2008 to 2013, and reached to lower than their air quality guidelines. CONCLUSIONS The administrative policies and management procedures of UOD had a positive effect on the level of ambient air quality and reflect the presence of a healthy and safe educational environment inside its campus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Fathy El-Sharkawy
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Dammam, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Mohamed Sebiany
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Lai HK, Hedley AJ, Thach TQ, Wong CM. A method to derive the relationship between the annual and short-term air quality limits--analysis using the WHO Air Quality Guidelines for health protection. Environ Int 2013; 59:86-91. [PMID: 23792417 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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: 03/04/2013] [Revised: 04/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) were launched in 2006, but gaps remain in evidence on health impacts and relationships between short-term and annual AQG needed for health protection. We tested whether relationships between WHO short-term and annual AQG for particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are concordant worldwide and derived the annual limits for sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) based on the short-term AQG. We obtained air pollutant data over seven years (2004-2010) in seven cities from Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe. Based on probability distribution concept using maximum as the short-term limit and arithmetic mean as the annual limit, we developed a new method to derive limit value one from another in each paired limits for each pollutant with capability to account for allowable exceedances. We averaged the limit derived each year for each city, then used meta-analysis to pool the limit values in all cities. Pooled mean short-term limit for NO2 (140.5μg/m(3) [130.6-150.4]) was significantly lower than the WHO AQG of 200μg/m(3) while for PM10 (46.4μg/m(3) [95CI:42.1-50.7]) and PM2.5 (28.6μg/m(3) [24.5-32.6]) were not significantly different from the WHO AQG of 50 and 25μg/m(3) respectively. Pooled mean annual limits for SO2 and O3 were 4.6μg/m(3) [3.7-5.5] and 27.0μg/m(3) [21.7-32.2] respectively. Results were robust in various sensitivity analyses. The distribution relationships between the current WHO short-term and annual AQG are supported by empirical data from seven cities for PM10 and PM2.5, but not for NO2. The short-term AQG for NO2 should be lowered for concordance with the selected annual AQG for health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hak-Kan Lai
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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