Chemical Characterization of Acid Fog and Rain in Northern Japan Using Back Trajectory and Oblique Rotational Factor Analysis

Fog/cloud and rain water were collected at the mountainside of Hachimantai range in northern Japan and rain water was also collected at Akita City in order to investigate the air pollutant scavenging mechanism. The concentrations of various ions in these samples were analyzed, and the fog drop size and the wind direction were measured at each fog event. The fog at Hachimantai range had a very high total ion concentration, and was considerably acidified by non sea salt (nss-) SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^?, compared with the rain at Akita and all sites in Hachimantai range. Using the oblique rotational factor analysis, three factors were extracted as the air pollutants; A: (NH₄)₂SO₄+H₂SO₄, B: sea salts+HNO₃+H₂SO₄, C: NH₄NO₃+OH^?. These salts are well-known as the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Combining the factor analysis with the 72h back trajectory at 850hPa level, the contribution of Factor A was closely connected to the long-range transportation of anthropogenic or natural aerosol in air masses of continental origin.     

Towards a Science-Based Integrated Ozone-Fine Particle Control Strategy

Epidemiology studies relating health effects to ambient levels of ozone and fine particles have led to the modification of standards in the United States for these pollutants (substitution of an 8-h standard for ozone at 80 ppbv, and addition of 24-h and annual standards for fine particles). The interrelationships of these pollutants in the atmosphere suggest the need for an integrated, science-based strategy for their control. Secondary ozone formation has been controlled through emission controls on VOC and NO_x precursors. Fine particles are secondary products largely resulting from the oxidation of precursors (SO₂, NO_x, and VOCs). The key intermediates in both types of secondary process are free radical species and the photochemically labile compounds that produce them in the atmosphere. However, due to the complex and nonlinear nature of the processes, reductions in precursors may lead to unexpected changes in ozone and fine particle formation rates. For example, reduction in NO_x emissions may reduce ozone and nitric acid levels, but lead also to increased rates of sulfate formation in clouds and increased ammonia availability for neutralization of acidic sulfate aerosols. Reductions of SO₂ may reduce aerosol sulfate levels in the summer, but have no effect in other seasons. Reductions in VOCs may reduce ozone levels in urban core areas, but not elsewhere. An integrated, regionally and seasonally specific, emission reduction strategy is needed to cost-effectively reduce both ozone and fine particle levels.     

SO2 Transformation in controlled atmosphere leading to the production of aerosol particles

The photochemical transformation of SO₂ and the generation of aerosol particles are investigated in a variety of atmospheres, with and without initial aerosols, in clean and polluted air, and with various pollutants. The pollutants in addition to the SO₂ include O₃, NO, NO₂ and water vapor in a variety of combinations. The most striking finding is, that only with the combination of SO₂, NO₂, and H₂O is the aerosol particle production large.     

A novel method to evaluate the phytotoxic potential of low ozone concentrations using poplar cuttings

Six-week-old rooted cuttings of Populus nigra L. ‘LOENEN’ and Populus maximowiczii Henri X Populus nigra L. ‘ROCHESTER’, differing in their phenomenological sensitivity to O₃, were submitted to low concentrations of O₃, NO_x, and SO₂. Exposure was performed in open top-chambers from 25.5. until 6.7.1988. Comparing the response of the two poplars by 77 biochemical criteria the macroscopic O₃- sensitivity of ‘LOENEN’ was clearly reflected in changes of the pool sizes of the different nonstructural carbohydrates, polyols, and phenolics of the leaf-lamina, petiole, shoot-axis, and roots. In contrast, both varieties revealed the same response to NO_x/SO₂-mixtures. It can be concluded that ‘LOENEN’ together with ‘ROCHESTER’-poplars as controls, are an appropriate system to specifically indicate O₃ in a mixture of air pollutants.     

Approaching Cumulative Effects through Air Pollution Modelling

The research presented here represents a segment of a cumulative impact assessment of resource development in northeastern British Columbia. It considers point and area source emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides (SO₂ and NO _x , respectively), over a 2,156-km² area. With the exception of open burning, all emissions are from Upstream Oil and Gas (UOG) sector sources (SO₂, n?=?103; NO _x , n?=?250; area, n?=?25). AERMOD View? was used to estimate the maximum potential concentration and deposition of these pollutants over 1-h, 3-h, 24-h, and annual averaging periods. Results are compared with various thresholds and limits from the policy and scientific literature to assess the potential cumulative effects of these pollutants. Of the thresholds employed, exceedances of the 1-h and 24-h NO _x concentrations and the annual SO₂ concentration are predicted. There were no predicted exceedances of annual deposition thresholds (i.e., ??Critical Loads??). Maximum predicted concentrations vary between compounds and are related to boundary layer stability, elevation, and distance from sources. Comparison with nearby monitoring data indicated that predicted concentrations were reasonable and that AERMOD provides a useful tool for approaching the potential cumulative impacts of air pollution from multiple sources. While the accuracy of Gaussian-based annual deposition estimates is questioned, model enhancements that could extend the application to more comprehensive assessments are suggested. Lastly, the implications of predicted threshold violations for forest ecosystems and local forest-dependent First Nations communities are discussed.     

A regional scale model for the calculation of episodic concentrations and depositions of acidifying components

An eulerian long-range transport model for the calculation of concentrations of SO₂, SO₄, NO _x , and NO₃ and wet and dry depositions of SO _x (sum of SO₂ and SO₄) and NO _y (sum of NO, NO₂ and NO₃) over Europe is presented. The model is developed in such a way that only routinely available, analyzed or prognostic meteorological fields are required as input data. In this way it is possible to obtain a forecast of the air quality during smog episodes. For evaluation of smog episodes the model provides a way to estimate the contributions of different sources and the effect of emission scenarios. The model has been evaluated for four winter and three summer episodes. The modeled concentrations of SO₂ and SO, are in agreement with the available measurements. A less good agreement is found for NO₂ and NO _x (sum of NO and NO₂) concentrations. For these components the model tends to underpredict the measured values.     

Manganese contamination in Montreal in relation with traffic density

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organic derivative of manganese used as an additive in unleaded gasoline in Canada since 1977. Moreover, Canada is the only country in the world to have authorized the replacement of lead alkyls by MMT in gasoline. The purpose of the present study is to assess the importance of air contamination by Mn in relation to other air pollutants (gaseous and particulates), meteorological variables and traffic density. The concentration of both the gaseous (O₃, CO, NO, NO₂, SO₂) and the particulate pollutants (Mn, Pb, NO^? ₃, SO^?? ₄, TSP) had been measured by the Montreal Urban Community in 1990 at seven sampling stations located in high traffic and low traffic density areas. Data on the meteorological conditions during that same period were also used. Non-parametric correlation, ANOVA and discriminant analyses were used to compare gaseous and particulate pollutants found between both levels of traffic density. In almost 50% of the daily air samples measured in 1990, the Mn concentrations are higher than the urban background level estimated at 0.04 μg m^?3 and the variations of Mn concentrations are significantly correlated in time with traffic density. Moreover, Mn and TSP discriminate the best high and low traffic density areas. No significant differences have been observed between Pb, O₃ and SO₂ concentrations in both areas. These results should not be interpreted in terms of potential health effects since it is presently impossible to determine the fate of the Mn in the environment and its importance in terms of human exposure.     

Fog and Precipitation Chemistry at Mt. Rokko in Kobe, April 1997-March 1998

Fog water and precipitation were collected and analyzed to study fog and precipitation chemistry. The research was carried out through one year from April 1997 to March 1998 at Mt. Rokko in Kobe. Higher fog occurrence and larger volume of fog water were observed in summer, corresponding to the trend of seasonal variation in precipitation amount. The annual mean pH value of fog water (3.80) was lower by ca. one pH unit than that of precipitation (4.74). The concentration of chemical species in fog water was ca. 7 times that in precipitation. The highest anion and cation concentrations were SO₄ ^2? and NH₄ ⁺ in fog water and Cl^? and Na⁺ in precipitation, although the Cl^?/Na⁺ equivalent ratio in both fog water and precipitation was almost the same value as that in sea water. It is considered that in the longest fog event, NH₄ ⁺ and nss-SO₄ ^2? in fog water mainly scavenged as (NH₄)₂SO₄, mainly derived from (NH₄)₂SO₄ (aerosol) in the atmosphere, NH₃ was scavenged at the growing stage, and SO₂ was also scavenged after the mature stage. NO₃ ^? in this fog event was mainly absorbed as HNO₃.     

Chemistry of Fog Water Collected in the Mt. Rokko Area (Kobe City, Japan) between April 1997 and March 2001

Fog chemistry was studied for four years (April 1997–March 2001) at Mt. Rokko (altitude 931 m) in Kobe, Japan. A collection of samples was obtained at a mountainous site close to a highly industrialized area. The samples were collected by an active string-fog collector. The summer fog was dense and frequent. The geography of Mt. Rokko is linked to the seasonality of the occurrence and the thickness of the fog. Among the meteorological parameters, the relative humidity was important for the occurrence of fog. The correlation of the concentrations of the components in fog water indicated that (NH₄)₂SO₄ and/or NH₄HSO₄ were involved in the process of the formation of fog drops in the atmosphere. The concentration of the components decreased with an increase in the liquid water content (LWC) of the fog, and the seasonal variation of the concentration of some components depended on the seasonal variation of the LWC. The equivalent ratio of NO₃ ^? to non-sea salt (nss?) SO₄ ^2? was considerably larger than that in precipitation. Ammonium ion accounted for the largest percentage of cations, which indicates that NH₄ ⁺ was an important counter cation for NO₃ ^? and nss-SO₄ ^2?. A unique fog event in which the air pollutants seemed to be scavenged stoichiometrically was sometimes observed. The methodology used for collecting fog water at 60 mL intervals provided detailed information.     

Bench Scale Evaluation of a Chemo-biochemical Process for Desulphurization of Gaseous Streams Containing Hydrogen Sulphide

Gases and suspended particulate matter are sampled and measured in situ at different sites within the city of Madrid to determinethe air pollution in the city. Lead concentrations in air are also determined. The information needed to assess levels of contaminants is obtained combining several analytical techniques,which provide real time concentration data of particles andgases. Particulate matter (PM), SO₂, CO, O₃, NO_x,NO₂, CH₄, total hydrocarbons and Pb were measured. Concentrations of pollutants are averaged over periods of hours,days, months and years. Variations of contaminant concentrationsin the last years are presented. Spatial and temporal distribution follows that of the traffic, the main source of pollution in Madrid City. Some specific measurements were carriedout to understand the influence of traffic emissions at themeasured site. Further, all measured concentrations never exceeded the European Union Directives.     

Effects of air pollution on the searching behaviour of an insect parasitoid

To assess the impact of air pollutants on the population dynamics of herbivores, the effects of pollutants on their natural enemies including predators, parasites, and pathogens must be evaluated in addition to direct effects and indirect effects mediated via the host plant. Insect parasitoids are an important group of such natural enemies providing many examples of partial or complete biological control of pest species. This study examined the effects of air pollutants (ozone (O₃), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)) on the searching behaviour of insect parasitoids. A series of experiments comprising short-term, closed chamber fumigations of O₃, SO₂, and NO₂ (100 nl l^?1) of the braconid parasitoid (Asobara tabida) and aggregated distributions of its host larvae (Drosophila subobscura) was set up. Analysis of chamber results showed that the proportion of hosts parasitised and the searching efficiency of the parasitoids were both significantly reduced with O₃ fumigation, but not with NO₂ or SO₂ fumigations. O₃ fumigation reduced percentage parasitism by approximately 10%. Parasitoids were able to avoid patches with no hosts, both in filtered air controls and when exposed to pollutants. However in the O₃ and NO₂ treatments they appeared less able to discriminate between different host densities, suggesting that pollutants may interfere with the olfactory responses of the parasitoids. These results indicate the potential for air pollutants, particularly O₃, to negatively influence the searching behaviour of parasitoids, and hence reduce the efficiency of natural enemy control of many pest species.     

Investigating the Real Air Pollution Exchange at Urban Sites Based on Time Variation of Columnar Content of the Components

As a new approach, urban air pollution was characterised by the variation of columnar content of the pollutants. Columnar content (CC) was estimated as the product of the pollutant??s mixing ratio and the mixing height. Mixing ratio data of the Metropolitan Air Quality Monitoring Network of Budapest were used, whilst mixing height was calculated by the meteorological AERMET model code. Time variation of CC refers to the real pollution exchange in the atmosphere that allows direct investigation of the emissions as well as post-emission modifications of the pollutants (such as chemical degradation or production). The diurnal urban CO cycle was found to be determined by two or three main influx peaks according to the traffic pattern of the site. The diurnal variation of NO _x level was found to be driven by traffic emission as well. Variant ratios of NO _x to CO influxes obtained for the different locations of the city range from 0.12 to 0.23, probably according to the vehicle composition of the traffic. The daily balance of photochemical production, chemical degradation and deposition of ozone yielded negative or positive depending on the location. Negative balances imply that the polluted urban atmosphere is a net ozone neutraliser source. Entrainment from the free troposphere yielded the major contributor to the diurnal ozone level at each site. The diurnal urban PM₁₀ cycle was found to be determined by traffic emission during the morning and evening rush hours whilst secondary aerosol formation around noon. In the evening, high PM₁₀ level rise was observed due to direct traffic emission as well as rapid conversion of the fine aerosol fraction to the coarse fraction.     

Nitrogen oxides,regional transport,and ozone air quality: Results of a regional-scale model for the midwestern United States

An overview of the role of NO _x in the formation of rural O₃, regional transport and its potential impact on urban air quality is presented. An analysis of a specific O₃ excursion in southeast Michigan (8-2-90) is performed based on a combined urban and regional-scale model. The regional component of the model represents transport and photochemistry from sources as far away as Texas. Results suggest that rural O₃ and regional transport sensitive to NO _x emissions and relatively insensitive to changes in volatile organic carbon (VOC) emissions. This differs from the situation in urban areas, where O₃ is sensitive to both NO _x and VOC. Regional transport and upwind NO _x emissions have a significant impact on peak O₃ in Detroit. Implications for urban and regional-scale abatement strategies are discussed.     

A Modeling Study of the Impact of a Power Plant on Ground-Level Ozone in Relation to its Location: Southwestern Spain as a Case Study

The impact of atmospheric industrial emissions on secondary pollutant formation depends on many factors; one of the most important being the environmental setting in which the industry is located. The environmental setting affects an industry’s impact on ozone levels through both the air mass dispersion (a function of topography and wind patterns) and the emissions of organic volatile compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) in the area. This model-based study shows how the sensitivity of surface ozone changes with the choice of source location. For the analysis, seven points distributed along the Tinto–Guadalquivir Basin (in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula) were selected. This area is characterized by the close proximity of natural environments and crop fields to cities, roads, and industrial areas with high NO _x emissions. Natural VOC emissions represent more than 60% of the total non-methane volatile organic compounds emitted in the study area. The results reveal that the largest increases in ozone levels are produced when the industry is located both far away from NO _x emission sources and near to biogenic VOC emissions. Furthermore, the highest increases over the hourly and 8-hourly maximums, as well as the highest accumulated daily values, are found in areas characterized by high VOC/NO _x emission ratios and NO _x sensitivity. The study of the recurrent meteorological patterns along with the distribution of chemical indicators of the O₃–NO _x –VOC sensitivity allows the determination of the industry’s geographical impact on ozone levels. This information enables air quality managers to decide the future location of an industry minimizing its impact on smog levels.     

Modeling study of SO x and NO x transport during the January 1985 SMOG episode

For the January 1985 smog episode concentrations of SO₂, sulphate (SO₄), NO _x (sum of NO and NO₂) and nitrate (NO₃) have been calculated for north-western Europe by means of an atmospheric transport model. The unfavorable dispersion conditions (moderate to low wind speeds, a low mixing height and a strong inversion) and a reduced dry deposition over the snow-covered or frozen soil, in combination with increased space heating emissions due to the exceptionally cold weather, gave rise to high ground level concentrations. In order to study the effectiveness of control measures during this type of episodes, calculations were made for various emission scenarios. The results were evaluated for four receptor areas, two areas relatively close to the major sources (The Netherlands and the Black Forest) and two more remote areas (Scotland and the SW coast of Sweden, near Gothenburg).     

A Computational Approach Based on GIS Technology for the Development of an Anthropogenic Emission Inventory of Gaseous Pollutants in Greece

This paper describes a computational system developed for the compilation of an anthropogenic emission inventory of gaseous pollutants for Greece. The inventory was developed using a geographical information system integrated with SQL programming language to provide high temporal gridded emission fields for CO, NO₂, NO, SO₂, NH₃ and 23 non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) species for the reference year 2003. Activity and statistical data from national sources were used for the quantification of emissions from the road transport, the other mobile sources and machinery sectors and from range activities using top-down or bottom-up methodologies. Annual emission data from existing national and European emission databases were also used. The emission data were spatially and temporally disaggregated using source-specific spatiotemporal indicators. On national scale, the road transport sector produces about 60% of the annual CO and NMVOC total emissions, with gasoline vehicles being the main CO and NMVOC emissions source. The road transport is responsible for approximately half of the higher alkanes and for more than half of the ethene and toluene emissions. The maritime sector accounts for about 40% of the annual total NO_x emissions, most of which are emitted by the international shipping subsector, whilst SO₂ is emitted mainly by the energy sector. The evaluation of the emissions inventory suggests that it provides a good representation of the amounts of gaseous pollutants emitted on national scale and a good characterisation of the relative composition of CO and NO_x emission in the large urban centres.     

An Integrated Assessment Model for Fine Particulate Matter in Europe

Exposure to fine particles in the ambient air is recognized as a significant threat to human health. Two pathways contribute to the particle burden in the atmosphere: Fine particles originate from primary emissions, and secondary organic and inorganic particles are formed from the gas phase from the emissions of 'conventional' pollutants such as SO₂, NO_x, VOC and NH₃. Both types of particulate matter can be transported over long distances in the atmosphere. An integrated assessment model for particulate matter developed at IIASA addresses the relative importance of the different types of particulates, distinguishing primary and secondary particles and two size fractions. The model projects these emissions into the future and seeks cost-effective strategies for reducing health risks to population. The model integrates the control of primary emissions of fine particles with strategies to reduce the precursor emissions for the secondary aerosols. Preliminary results addressing the PM_2.5 fraction of both primary and secondary particulate matter indicate that in Europe the exposure to particulates will be significantly reduced as a side effect of the emission controls for conventional air pollutants (SO₂, NO_x, NH₃).     

The Effect of Air Pollution on Yield and Quality of Mung Bean Grown in Peri-Urban Areas of Varanasi

There is growing concern that air pollution may have adverse impacts on crops in developing countries, yet this has been little studied. This paper addresses this issue, for a major leguminous crop of the Indian sub continent, examining the effect of air pollution in and around an Indian city. A field study was conducted using a gradient approach to elucidate the impact of air pollutants on selected production characteristics of Vigna radiata L. cv. Malviya Jyoti (mung bean) plants grown from germination to maturity at locations with differing concentrations of air pollutants around peri-urban and rural areas of Varanasi. The 6 -h daily mean SO₂, NO₂ and O₃ concentrations varied from 8.05 to 32.2 ppb, 11.7 to 80.1 ppb and 9.7 to 58.5 ppb, respectively, between the sites. Microclimatic conditions did not vary significantly between the sites. Changes in plant performance at different sites were evaluated with reference to ambient air quality status. Reductions in biomass accumulation and seed yields were highest at the site experiencing highest concentrations of all three gaseous pollutants. The magnitude of response indicated that at peri-urban sites SO₂, NO₂ and O₃ were all contributing to these effects, whereas at rural sites NO₂ and O₃ combinations appeared to have more influence. The quality of seed was also found to be negatively influenced by the ambient levels of pollutants. It is concluded that the air pollution regime of Varanasi City causes a major threat to mung bean plants, both in terms of yield and crop quality, with serious implications for the nutrition of the urban poor.     

Effects of gaseous air pollutants on aphid performance on Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings

Aphids are frequently found on conifers, but mass outbreaks are seldom reported. On trees stressed by air pollutants the natural resistance can be broken and insect attack combined with pollution stress may promote plant damages. To evaluate effects of air pollution on conifer aphids Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings have been exposed to gaseous pollutants (O₃, SO₂ and NO₂) in growth chambers. The studied aphid species were Cinara pilicornis Hartig on Norway spruce, C. pinea (Mordv.) and Schizolachnus pineti Fabr. on Scots pine in SO₂ fumigations and S. pineti in O₃ and NO₂ fumigations. C. pilicornis nymphs had peaked dose response to SO₂ concentration. Both the first and third instar larvae of C. pilicornis showed highest mean relative growth rate (MRGR) at 100 ppb SO₂ concentration. MRGR of C. pinea peaked at 50 and 150 ppb SO₂ The response of S. pineti was more inconsistent During fumigation the peak MRGR of S. pineti was at 100 ppb and after exposure at 50 ppb SO₂. MRGR of S. pineti nymphs was not significantly affected during fumigation or after the end of fumigation experiment by 100 ppb O₃ or 100 ppb NO₂ or the mixtures. The results suggest that SO₂ affects more distinctively on aphid performance on conifers than O₃ or NO₂. Especially stem-feeding aphids on spruce can exploit physiological disturbance of host plant under pollution stress.     

Air pollution measurements at the boulder atmospheric observatory

Pollution episodes of three distinct types were detected at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory, which is a 300 m instrumented tower located in a rural area 25 km north of Denver and 20 km east of Boulder. Under stably stratified atmospheric conditions, usually at night or early morning, both power-plant-derived and general urban plumes were sampled. The powerplant plumes were characterized by SO₂ concentrations of 30 to 50 ppb in the plume centers, NO₂ maxima of 20 to 40 ppb on the plume edges, NO maxima of as much as 50 ppb in the plume centers, and the absence of O₃ from the plume centers. Light scattering (b _scat), principally due to coarse particles, was typically enhanced by 20 to 40%, relative to nominally clean air. The urban plumes typically contained NO₂ uniformly distributed throughout the affected air mass at 20 to 30 ppb, no detectable NO or SO₂, and O₃ present at concentrations less than half that in background air; b _scat was typically increased by a factor of 2 to 3. A third type of pollution episode, containing greatly increased concentrations of condensation nuclei, was observed during days when surface heating had apparently stimulated biological particle production. At these times the usual indicators of anthropogenic pollution were absent.