Effects of ventilation and air temperature on pollution levels in underground car parks

The relationship between the levels of CO and airborne Pb was evaluated against conditions of traffic flow, ambient air temperature and the ventilation rates in 3 underground car parks. During the study period significant variations were noted in the levels of the pollutants in each of the car parks which frequently exceeded the proposed Malaysian Air Quality Standard of 0.7 μg m^?3Pb and 9 μg L^?1 (8 hr average) CO for indoor environs. High correlation coefficient values were obtained between the levels of CO and traffic flow and Pb and traffic flow. High traffic flow also increased the mean air temperature inside the car parks. Reductions in the ventilation rates in the car parks caused an almost two-fold increase in the level of CO and vice versa. A simple mathematical model depicting the CO concentrations in relation to other parameters was formulated.     

An investigation of blood lead content and atmospheric lead levels in Bangkok

Experiments were conducted during a 5 mo period (September 1975 to January 1976) to determine the Pb concentrations in Bangkok streets and blood Pb levels of Bangkok's population. A total of 185 air samples and 222 blood samples was collected and analyzed. Street Pb levels are in the range of 6.16 to 22.48 μg m^?3 and blood Pb levels are in the range of 1 to 34 μg (100 g)^?1 of whole blood, with an average value of 12.3 μg (100 g)P^?1. The effects of various parameters on air and blood Pb levels are discussed in this paper. Air Pb levels are found to be closely related to traffic volume and proximity to the roads. Blood Pb levels are found to increase progressively with age, reaching a saturation value at about 40 yr of age. The average time spent daily on roads by the people and the distance of their residence/workplace from the main road are found to be major parameters, affecting the blood Pb levels. There is no evidence to show that blood and air Pb levels are directly related, at the present ambient exposure levels.     

Seasonal and Diurnal Concentrations of Ambient Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde in Bangkok

The concentration level of carbonyl compounds in Bangkok ambient air were measured in five roadside sites and five residential sites during July 2007 to April 2008. About 250 samples were collected and ten carbonyls were identified. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the most abundant carbonyl compounds found in Bangkok ambient air. The ambient concentration of formaldehyde at the roadside areas in Bangkok during July 2007 to April 2008 ranged from 5.14 to 17.2 ??g/m³ (average 11.53 ??g/m³) while, the ambient concentrations of formaldehyde in residential areas in Bangkok during the same period ranged from 3.06 to 19.9 ??g/m³ (average 9.65 ??g/m³). The concentrations of acetaldehyde in roadside areas ranged from 1.59 to 7.95 ??g/m³ (average 3.51 ??g/m³) while at the residential areas the concentrations of acetaldehyde during the same period ranged from 1.07 to 8.05 ??g/m³ (average 3.11 ??g/m³). Other compounds showed low concentration. The concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were low during the rainy season due to rain washout since these compounds are water soluble. The concentrations were high during the cold season due to stable conditions during these months. The concentrations slightly decreased during the summer due to photochemical reactions and photolysis under extreme temperature. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde showed good correlation during 17:00 P.M. to 05:00 A.M. due to absence of solar radiation that may enhance photochemical reactions and mobile sources may be the sources of emission in the environment. It was also found that the concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were low during the night time.     

A Preliminary Investigation of Ozone Concentrations on the Lizard Peninsula Cornwall,U.K. using Continuous Monitoring and Diffusion Tubes

The Lizard Peninsula is an isolated area of unique and sensitive ecology and the occurrence of damaging ozone concentrations over the peninsula in spring challenges the successful sustainable management of the area. Ozone concentrations over Goonhilly Downs on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall were measured in spring 2002 using continuous monitoring and spatial mapping (diffusion tubes). Data obtained using a continuous ozone monitor (1/03/02 to 31/03/02) showed that the AOT40 5-day values were in a range from 2 to 800 μg m^-3 hr (AOT40 is the sum of the differences between the measured hourly ozone concentration (μg m^-3) and 80 μg m^-3 (when the concentration exceeds 80 μg m^-3) for the hours when global radiation exceeds 50 Wm^-2). Contour mapping of ozone concentrations measured with diffusion tubes suggested that over a 2 km² sampling area significant microscale variations were occurring with ozone concentrations ranging between 48–129 μg m^-3 for one two-week period and 62–210 μg m^-3 for the other.Unusually high diurnal variations in ozone concentrations were also observed at Goonhilly. It is thought that temperature inversions caused the entrapment of ozone at the surface level.     

Airborne lead pollution in Metropolitan Taipei (Republic of China)

To examine the spatial variation of airborne lead in Taipei, a field study was conducted during the summer and fall of 1991. Samples were collected 2–4 times daily at several sites for the determination of airborne lead. Results indicate that the average of air lead concentration of Taipei city is 0.70±0.39 μg/m³ and eighty-eight percent of particles are smaller than 10 pm. From high to low polluted area, the fine particle concentrations are 0.83, 0.51, 0.29 μg/m³ The lead concentration of particulates < 10 μm on 2nd, 7th, and 14th floors of a building are 0.75, 0.60, 0.55 μg/m³, and appears to be little difference among vertical dispersions. The air lead concentrations (da < 10 μm) on roadside, side walk and covered walk way from the vehicle emission source of a main road are 0.83, 0.78, 0.87 μg/m³ the highest is on the covered walk way. For lead concentrations (da < 10 μm) on the main street, side street and alley of an area are 0.34, 0.37, 0.35 μg/m³ the result indicates lead concentrations on these pathways are not significantly different.     

Seasonal Evolution of Levels of Gaseous Pollutants in an Urban Area (Ciudad Real) in Central-Southern Spain: A Doas Study

Long term continuous monitoring measurements of urban atmospheric concentrations of O₃, NO₂, NO, and SO₂ were performed for the first time in Ciudad Real, a city in central-southern Spain. The measurements were carried out using the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technique, with a commercial system (OPSIS, Lund-Sweden), covering the summer and winter seasons (from 21st July 2000 to 23rd March 2001). Mean levels of O₃, NO₂ and SO₂ monitored during this period were: 27 μg m^?3, 50 μg m^?3 and 7 μg m^?3 respectively. The highest hourly averaged value of O₃ (160 μg m^?3) was measured during the summer period, while NO₂ was enhanced in wintertime (highest values 90 μg m^?3). In the coldest period, when central heating installations were operating, SO₂ showed maximum levels of 20 μg m^?3. The daily, weekly and seasonal analysis of the data shows that photochemical air pollution dominates in this urban atmosphere and is strongly influenced by levels of motor traffic and domestic heating system emissions. These measurements were compared with other studies in Spain and Europe. Also, the long path averaged DOAS measurements were compared with in situ observations made in Ciudad Real, from 23rd August 2000 to 25th September 2000, using a mobile air pollution control station. All gas concentrations reported in this paper are below the WHO guidelines and the different thresholds introduced by the European Environmental Legislation.     

Pollution sources and spreading of sulphur dioxide in the North-Eastern Estonia

The greatest sources of atmospheric emissions of SO₂ in Estonia are caused by power plants (TP) which use oil shale. Since 1990 the amount of SO ₂ discharges has continuously decreased due to fall in production of electric energy, and it was from TP as follows: in 1990–1991 about 180–200 thousand tons, in 1992 about 140 and in 1993–1994 about 100 thousand tons. In 1990 the annual mean emission intensity of SO ₂ from all North-East (NE) Estonian pollution sources was fixed to be about 6.kg/s, with a maximum of 9.5–11 kg/s in winter period. In 1992–1993 the corresponding values were 3.5–4.6 and 5.1–6.8 kg/s. The single maximum concentrations (MC, per 30 min.) of SO ₂ in the overground air layer would be in the ranges 25–450 μg/m ³ depending on emission intensity and wind parameters. The annual mean concentrations are below 25 μg/m ³ on the main territory, but may be up to 50–75 μg/m ³ near the power plants. In Kohtla-Järve town the annual mean values of 15.8–19.1 μg/m ³ and MC values of 271–442 μg/m ³ were fixed during 1991–1994 by automatic air monitoring system. Many arable lands, forest areas and wild-life preserves are subjected to relatively high sulphur precipitation loads, exceeding 0.5 g S/m² per year, of which the role of emissions from local sources is about 60–95%. On the basis of air pollution concentration maps, the landscape of NE Estonia is classified into zones of high, moderate and low pollution level.     

Air Pollution Modelling for a Proposed Limestone Quarry

Predictions of the air pollution impact of a proposed opencastlimestone quarry have been made using meteorological data, information on various quarrying activities and their associatedemission factors, baseline air quality and a validated modelconditions. Results have indicated that the haul routes and ore processing plant are the major sources of suspended particulatematter (SPM) emissions. The emission rates of other air pollutants are insignificant. It has been predicted that 24-hraverage SPM concentrations due to quarrying activities would be around 360 μg m^-3 in the work zone and less than 130 μg m^-3 beyond the site boundary. The total 24-hr average SPM concentration beyond the site boundary would be below 500 μg m^-3, which is the national air qualitystandard for SPM in an industrial area. Therefore, the impact of opencast extraction on the local air quality would be acceptable. However, implementation of a green belt comprisingof various tree species which will act as a dust attenuator of40 m width around the site boundary, along with efficient control measures at source, would effectively mitigate and minimize pollution impacts from the quarry. The effectivenessof the green belt around the quarry site has been assessed and a sensitivity analysis has been carried out for different parameters, namely, tree height, width of green belt, and distance of receptor from the source. The technique for designing a green belt around a quarry site has also been described.     

A Cost-Effective Methodology for Spatial Concentration Distributions of Urban Air Pollutants

A methodology to determine economically the spatial concentration distribution of the air pollutants of carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) and traffic rates (TR) is described. It involves the immediate transfer of samples from field to analysers for measurement and a subsequent statistical treatment. The proposed methodology has been applied in Patras using 5 and 50-l Teflon air sample bags, sampling at least 12 to 36-l actual volumes within a 20-min time interval. Totally, 221 pairs of 5-l and 112 single 50-l samples were randomly picked in morning rush hours of working days from 64 locations of a 40.0-km² area during a winter period, when peaks of primary air pollutants usually occur due to high traffic rates and systematic inversions. Measurements were used to statistically calculate spatial average levels approximating 1-h mean concentrations with acceptable mean probable errors less than 25 % for indicative random sampling. The 1-h levels were strongly correlated to the corresponding traffic rates. Iso-concentration diagrams indicated possible zones susceptible to high pollution levels and helped to check the location appropriateness of the existing monitoring stations for (a) fixed urban-background measurements at the Vas. Georgiou A’ Sq., which was ideal, and (b) fixed traffic-oriented measurements, which should be relocated to the Ipsilon Alonion Sq. In addition, data helped to determine other points where indicative measurements should be performed. Data could be very useful for the Patras air quality assessment in conjunction with model predictions and/or objective estimation methods.     

Soil Air Permeability and Carbon Dioxide Flux Measurements from the Soil Surface

Abstract

Air permeability has been recognized as an index of soil structure and used in attempts to characterize soil pore geometry. The importance of increased carbon dioxide in soil to agriculture comes from the direct effects of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on root respiration of agricultural crops. In this study, the soil air permeability and CO₂ flux values were obtained using two different apparatuses built and designed to measure air permeability and CO₂ flux. Air permeability was obtained in clay soil using two different aggregate sizes. The average values obtained were 9.55×10^?8 and 1.78×10^?7 cm² for the <2-mm and 2- to 5-mm fractions, respectively. Carbon dioxide flux from the soil surface of no‐till and bare plots under winter conditions was measured using another apparatus. The average CO₂ flux for the no‐till plot was 2.88 g/m²‐day and for the bare plot was 1.31 g/m²‐day. These values were within the range of values obtained from other studies.     

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM AN ALKALINE SALINE SOIL CULTIVATED WITH MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) AND AMENDED WITH ANAEROBICALLY DIGESTED COW MANURE: A GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT

Sludge derived from cow manure anaerobically digested to produce biogas (methane; CH₄) was applied to maize (Zea mays L.) cultivated in a nutrient-low, alkaline, saline soil with electrolytic conductivity 9.4 dS m^?1 and pH 9.3. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission increased 3.1 times when sludge was applied to soil, 1.6 times when cultivated with maize and 3.5 times in sludge-amended maize cultivated soil compared to the unamended uncultivated soil (1.51 mg C kg^?1 soil day^?1). Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from unamended soil was -0.0004 μg nitrogen (N) kg^?1 soil day^?1 and similar from soil cultivated with maize (0.27 μg N kg^?1 soil day^?1). Application of sludge increased the N₂O emission to 4.59 μg N kg^?1 soil day^?1, but cultivating this soil reduced it to 2.42 μg N kg^?1 soil day^?1. It was found that application of anaerobic digested cow manure stimulated maize development in an alkaline saline soil and increased emissions of CO₂ and N₂O.     

The emission of carbon dioxide from soils of the Pasvik nature reserve in the Kola Subarctic

The emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from podzols (Albic Podzols (Arenic)) and the factors controlling its spatiotemporal variability in the forest ecosystems of the Pasvik Reserve in the Kola Subarctic are characterized. Relatively favorable climatic conditions beyond the polar circle in summer are responsible for intensive soil respiration. The type of forest affects the emission of CO₂ from the soil surface. The lowest rate of the CO₂ emission is typical of the soils under lichen pine forest (105–220 mg C/(m² h) or 180 g C/m² during the summertime). Higher rates are observed for the soils under green moss pine (170–385 mg C/(m² h) or 360 g C/m² during the summertime) and birch (190–410 mg C/(m² h) or 470 g C/m² during the summertime) forests. This may related to a higher contribution of root respiration (44, 88, and 67%, respectively). Soil respiration and the contribution of root respiration to it increase with an increase in the canopy density; mass of small roots; microbial biomass; depth of the stony layer; soil moistening; and the contents of available carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds. At the same time, they decrease with an increase in the portion of lichens in the ground cover. The seasonal dynamics are characterized by the CO₂ emission maximums in the summer and fall and minimum in the spring. The daily dynamics are smoothed under conditions of the polar day.     

Carbon emission from the soil surface in a mature blueberry pine forest of the middle taiga (Republic of Komi)

Data on the input of plant falloff and organic matter decomposition on the surface of the peaty podzolic-gleyic humus-illuvial (Gleyic Podzol) soil under a mature blueberry pine forest in the middle taiga are presented. The fractional composition of the falloff was determined, and constants of decomposition for its components were calculated. The carbon flux to the atmosphere due to the mineralization of plant residues is estimated at 251 g/m². A close positive correlation (r = 0.71; P < 0.05) was found between the carbon dioxide emission measured using a gas analyzer and the soil temperature at the depth of 10 cm. The CO₂ emission for a growing period calculated from the data on its dependence on soil temperature in different years varied from 243 to 313 g C/m² and was related to weather conditions.     

Carbon dioxide,methane, and nitrous oxide fluxes in soil catena across the right bank of the Oka River (Moscow oblast)

The flux rates of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the soils on autonomous, transitional, transitional-accumulative, and accumulative positions of a catena on the Oka River’s right bank (Moscow oblast) were assessed using the chamber method. The lowest rate of C-CO₂ emission (18.8–29.8 mg/m² per hour) was found for the gray forest soil in the autonomous position, and the highest rate (52.4–66.1 mg/m² per hour) was found for the alluvial meadow soil of the accumulative landscape. In the summer, the uptake of methane from the atmosphere exceeded its release from the soil at all the points of the catena (9–38 μg/m² per hour). The highest rate of the C-CH₄ uptake was observed for the soil in the transitional position. In the fall, the soils in the autonomous, transitional, and transitional-accumulative positions served as a sink of C-CH₄, and the soil of the accumulative position was a source of methane emission. The rate of the N-N₂O emission from the catena soils increased when going from the autonomous position to the accumulative one (0.41–11.2 μg/m² per hour). The spatial variation of the C-CO₂, C-CH₄, and N-N₂O fluxes within the catena was 33, 172, and 138%, respectively. The upper (0- to 10-cm) soil layer made the major contribution to the emission of carbon dioxide. This soil layer was characterized by its C-CH₄ uptake, and the emission of methane was typical for the deeper (0- to 20-cm) layer. The layers deeper than 10 and 20 cm emitted more N-N₂O than the surface layer.     

Spatial and Temporal Ozone Pattern Concentrations in a NW Region of Spain

Measurements of ozone were carried out at two different sites in the area surrounding a thermal power plant located in the Northwest of Spain during 1993–1995. The concentration of O₃ in the ambient air varied from 6 to 257 μg m^-3 exhibiting a wide temporal, seasonal and spatial variation. On a few occasions 1-hr ozone concentration was more than 180 μg m^-3, which represents the maximum 1-hr limit of ozone in ambient air as prescribed by the European Commission.     

Mulching Affects Soil Properties and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Long‐Term No‐Till and Plough‐Till Systems in Alfisol of Central Ohio

Agricultural activities emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) and contribute to global warming. Intensive plough tillage (PT), use of agricultural chemicals and the burning of crop residues are major farm activities emitting GHGs. Intensive PT also degrades soil properties by reducing soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. In this scenario, adoption of no‐till (NT) systems offers a pragmatic option to improve soil properties and reduce GHG emission. We evaluated the impacts of tillage systems (NT and PT) and wheat residue mulch on soil properties and GHG emission. This experiment was started in 1989 on a Crosby silt loam soil at Waterman Farm, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Mulching reduced soil bulk density and improved total soil porosity. More total carbon (16.16 g kg⁻¹), SOC (8.36 mg L⁻¹) and soil microbial biomass carbon (152 µg g⁻¹) were recorded in soil under NT than PT. Mulch application also decreased soil temperature (0–5 cm) and penetration resistance (0–60 cm). Adoption of long‐term NT reduced the GHG emission. Average fluxes of GHGs under NT were 1.84 g CO₂‐C m⁻² day⁻¹ for carbon dioxide, 0.07 mg CH₄‐C m⁻² day⁻¹ for methane and 0.73 mg N₂O‐N m⁻² day⁻¹ for nitrous oxide compared with 2.05 g CO₂‐C m⁻² day⁻¹, 0.74 mg CH₄‐C m⁻² day⁻¹ and 1.41 mg N₂O‐N m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively, for PT. Emission of nitrous oxide was substantially increased by mulch application. In conclusion, long‐term NT reduced the GHG emission by improving the soil properties. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

机动车燃用生物质气化气的行驶与排放特性

分别以生物质空气气化气和富氧气化气作为机动车燃料,从行驶和排放特性2个方面进行了试验研究。结果表明：相同条件下,燃用生物质空气气化气行驶里程是富氧气化气的1/3,燃用生物质富氧气化气的行驶里程是天然气的1/3;燃料（气体组分）变化对机动车尾气中一氧化碳排放影响较小,过量空气系数对一氧化碳的排放量具有决定性作用;以生物质空气气化气作为发动机燃料时,碳氢化合物排放量较低,以生物质富氧气化气作为发动机燃料时,碳氢化合物排放量较高,但排放趋势相似;燃料（气体组分）变化对氮氧化物排放起决定性作用;而温度是影响热力型氮氧化物排放的主导因素。生物质气化气是一种清洁、可再生的代用燃料。     

Size Distributions of PAHs in Ambient Air Particles of Two Areas of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The size distribution of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in particulate aerosol in two different areas of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was investigated in May 2002. One of the study areas (Bravo Murillo) was under the influence of heavy traffic and the other (Pedro Lezcano) under that of small-scale industries of various nature. The average concentration of total suspended particulates (TSP) at Bravo Murillo (35.2 μg m^-3) was roughly one-half that at Pedro Lezcano (73.6 μg m^-3); the former, however, exhibited a higher PAH content (sum of PAHs: 6.6 ± 1.8 versus 5.1 ± 3.9 ng m^-3). The aerosol size partition of total PAHs at Bravo Murillo, with a unimodal peaking at 0.08—0.3 μm, was completely different from that at Pedro Lezcano, where accumulation observed in the 3.8—7.4 μm range suggests the ageing of particles occurred, with PAHs have redistributed according to surface extension of particles.     

Evaluation of useful plants for the treatment of polluted pond water with low N and P concentrations

Eutrophication of ponds for agricultural use has begun to adversely affect rice production and the residential living environment in Japan. Cultivation of useful terrestrial and aquatic plant species in plant-bed filter ditches enables to treat domestic wastewater in addition to resource recycling and amenity functions. We evaluated the ability of several plant species, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), hanana (Brassica campestris L. var.), African marigold (Tages erecta L.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.), and reed (Phragmites communis Trin.), to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from polluted pond water whose N and P concentrations were much lower than those in domestic wastewater. Artificial pond water containing 2.5 mg L^-1 of N and 0.5 mg L^-1 of P was supplied to ditches at a loading rate of 1.1 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.21 g m^-2 d^-1 for P. Italian ryegrass, papyrus, or kenaf in ditches removed N and P more effectively than other plants. The average removal rate of Italian ryegrass in ditches was 0.62 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.10 g m^-2 d^-1 for P, that of papyrus 0.81 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.15 g m^-2 d^-1 for P, and that of kenaf 0.73 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.11 g m^-2 d^-1 for P. The influence of N and P concentrations on the removal rates of Italian ryegrass, papyrus, and kenaf was studied. Concentrations at a removal rate of zero were 0.2–0.3 mg L^-1 for N and 0.01–0.03 mg L^-l for P. At low concentrations, the plant removal rates increased sharply with the rise in the concentration. When N concentrations exceeded 0.3–0.6 mg L^-1 and P concentrations 0.10–0.45 mg L^-1, the removal rates were high and less affected by the concentration. It was considered that these plant species could be used most efficiently at the concentrations where removal rates are less restricted.     

Aerosols Emitted from a Livestock Farm in Southern Germany

We studied the atmospheric aerosol of a farm directly on farm, downwind, and in the background with the aim to characterize the aerosol source of livestock farming physically and chemically. The farm hosted chicken, cattle and pig.The farm was found to be a source of primary and secondary particles. Super-μm particles of various types were emitted from the stables and adjacent facilities related to farming activities. On farm elevated concentrations of ammonia, particulate ammonium and nitrate were observed. The significant emission of condensation nuclei and large, 2 μm-sized particles (droplets) was observed under humid conditions in plumes which most likely originated from open manure pits at least in one case. It is suggested that this aerosol mode consisted of ammonium haze droplets formed by saturation of advected air with ammonia within a few minutes. In one night, a mass uptake of Δm > 5.4 μg m^-3 in the super-μm mode was observed along with a loss of Δm = —1.0 μg m^-3 in the sub-μm mode based on differential sampling upwind and downwind of the farm. The particulate matter mass median diameter was correspondingly shifted from 1.32 to 3.39 μm. About one third of the mass increase was due to organic carbon. Furthermore, differential sampling showed particulate calcium and nitrate/nitric acid to be emitted from the farm, too. The study encourages to systematically characterize the aerosol emitted from livestock raising in future studies of similar kind.