Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melanie S. Hammer, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Erin E. McDuffie, Alexei Lyapustin, Andrew M. Sayer, N. Christina Hsu, Robert C. Levy, Michael J. Garay, Olga V. Kalashnikova, Ralph A. Kahn
Summary: The study examines the effects of lockdown measures on PM2.5 concentrations during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding significant reductions in China and slight changes in Europe and North America. These changes are attributed to a combination of meteorological conditions and emission reductions, primarily from transportation sources. Regional differences in the sensitivity of PM2.5 to emission sources are demonstrated in this work.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abosede S. Alli, Sierra N. Clark, Allison Hughes, James Nimo, Josephine Bedford-Moses, Solomon Baah, Jiayuan Wang, Jose Vallarino, Ernest Agyemang, Benjamin Barratt, Andrew Beddows, Frank Kelly, George Owusu, Jill Baumgartner, Michael Brauer, Majid Ezzati, Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Raphael E. Arku
Summary: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanization, with air pollution emerging as a major concern in growing cities, especially in Accra, Ghana. The study found that commercial, business, and industrial areas have the highest levels of PM2.5 pollution, with concentrations 2-4 times higher than WHO guidelines. Additionally, PM2.5 levels peak during the dry dusty Harmattan period, and have decreased by 50% compared to measurements in 2006-2007. Effective policies are needed to reduce pollution levels and protect public health in urban areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nur 'atiah Zaini, Ali Najah Ahmed, Lee Woen Ean, Ming Fai Chow, Marlinda Abdul Malek
Summary: Accurate air pollution forecasting is crucial for urban planning and health risk management. This study utilizes hybrid deep learning models to forecast PM2.5 concentration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and improves prediction accuracy through analyzing neighboring station data and optimizing model parameters.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin Bowe, Andrew K. Gibson, Yan Xie, Yan Yan, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Ziyad Al-Aly
Summary: The study found a correlation between PM2.5 and the risks of weight gain and obesity, especially at PM2.5 concentrations below the national standard. Results were consistent across different sensitivity analyses, suggesting that PM2.5 air pollution may contribute to obesity and weight gain.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nelson Gouveia, Josiah L. Kephart, Iryna Dronova, Leslie McClure, Jose Tapia Granados, Ricardo Morales Betancourt, Andrea Cortinez O'Ryan, Jose Luis Texcalac-Sangrador, Kevin Martinez-Folgar, Daniel Rodriguez, Ana Diez-Roux
Summary: The study found that a significant proportion of the population in Latin American cities live in areas with air pollution levels above WHO standards. Larger cities, higher GDP, higher motorization rate, and congestion tend to have higher PM2.5 levels. On the other hand, areas with higher population density tend to have lower levels of PM2.5.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Aaron van Donkelaar, Melanie S. Hammer, Liam Bindle, Michael Brauer, Jeffery R. Brook, Michael J. Garay, N. Christina Hsu, Olga Kalashnikova, Ralph A. Kahn, Colin Lee, Robert C. Levy, Alexei Lyapustin, Andrew M. Sayer, Randall Martin
Summary: This study developed a methodology for monthly PM2.5 estimates and uncertainties using satellite retrievals, chemical transport modeling, and ground-based measurements. Findings show higher winter PM2.5 concentrations in many densely populated regions, with South Asia and East Asia having particularly high levels, although East Asia showed a decreasing trend in PM2.5 concentrations over the period studied.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ying-Ying Meng, Yu Yu, Mohammad Z. Al-Hamdan, Miriam E. Marlier, Joseph L. Wilkins, Diane Garcia-Gonzales, Xiao Chen, Michael Jerrett
Summary: This study investigated the impact of short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) on work loss due to sickness. The findings showed a positive association between short-term ambient PM2.5 exposure and work loss, which was stronger among individuals with higher exposure to wildfire smoke. This suggests the need for further strengthening of PM2.5 standards in California to protect public health.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Leen Rasking, Kenneth Vanbrabant, Hannelore Bove, Michelle Plusquin, Katrien De Vusser, Harry A. Roels, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: This review summarizes the relevant knowledge on the effects of ambient PM2.5 on kidney function in adults. Most studies showed that PM2.5 exposure worsened kidney outcomes, but contradictory results were also found. The included studies have limitations, and further investigations are needed to determine the extent of PM2.5's adverse effects on the kidney.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amy McCarron, Sean Semple, Christine F. Braban, Colin Gillespie, Vivien Swanson, Heather D. Price
Summary: This study investigates the acute effects of personal exposure to PM2.5 on self-reported asthma-related health. The results show individual exposure to PM2.5 varies across microenvironments and is associated with asthma symptoms. However, there is no significant association between exposure and reliever inhaler use.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xue Qiao, Lu Liu, Chun Yang, Yanping Yuan, Mengyuan Zhang, Hao Guo, Ya Tang, Qi Ying, Shengqiang Zhu, Hongliang Zhang
Summary: The study suggests that significant emission reductions are required to meet Chinese and WHO pollution standards, compared to the governmental targets. It also emphasizes the importance of reducing both SCB and non-SCB emissions to achieve the desired pollution targets.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Junhui Wu, Yaohua Tian, Yao Wu, Zijing Wang, Yiqun Wu, Tao Wu, Xueying Qin, Mengying Wang, Xiaowen Wang, Jiating Wang, Yonghua Hu
Summary: The study revealed a significant association between PM2.5 levels and outpatient visits for venous thromboembolism in Beijing, with a more pronounced relationship observed during the warm season. Adjusting for temperature at various time lags should be considered when investigating seasonal associations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kevin J. Sullivan, Xinhui Ran, Fan Wu, Chung-Chou H. Chang, Ravi Sharma, Erin Jacobsen, Sarah Berman, Beth E. Snitz, Akira Sekikawa, Evelyn O. Talbott, Mary Ganguli
Summary: This study examined the association between ambient PM2.5 levels and the risk of incident MCI and dementia in an older population, finding that higher estimated PM2.5 levels were associated with increased risk of both conditions, particularly with longer-term exposure.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kohei Hasegawa, Teruomi Tsukahara, Tetsuo Nomiyama
Summary: There is limited research on the relationship between low levels of daily fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and morbidity or mortality in non-western countries, especially at PM2.5 concentrations below 15 μg/m3, the latest WHO AQG value. This study in Japan found that even at low concentrations, an increase in PM2.5 was associated with an increase in cardiorespiratory hospital admissions. The findings suggest that the current WHO guideline value may be insufficient for protecting public health.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rashmi Choudhary, Amit Agarwal
Summary: Incorporating high spatiotemporal resolution improves prediction accuracy. This study identifies the most suitable spatial resolution using hexagonal tessellations. A hybrid deep-learning-based prediction model is developed and compared for different grid sizes. The results show that the 3 km grid performs best in terms of data aggregation and prediction accuracy. Future work can include mobile monitoring data to further enhance the models' accuracy.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chung-Shin Yuan, Ching-Shu Lai, Yu-Lun Tseng, Ping-Chi Hsu, Chieh-Mo Lin, Fu-Jen Cheng
Summary: The study showed that exposure to PM2.5 induced inflammatory signaling and cytokines upregulation in the liver, as well as increased cell proliferation signals. Different exposure groups exhibited distinct biological effects on liver inflammation and cell proliferation.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Aikaterini Liangou, Kalliopi Florou, Magda Psichoudaki, Evangelia Kostenidou, Epameinondas Tsiligiannis, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: A method for measuring the water solubility distribution of atmospheric organic aerosols was presented. The method involved extracting organic aerosols collected on filters using different amounts of water and measuring the corresponding water-soluble organic carbon concentration. The results showed that approximately 60% of the analyzed urban organic aerosols had water solubility higher than 0.6 g L-1.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shayak Sengupta, Sumil K. Thakrar, Kirat Singh, Rahul Tongia, Jason D. Hill, Ines M. L. Azevedo, Peter J. Adams
Summary: India's coal-heavy electricity system is a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Our study analyzes the differences in air pollution mortality and the effects of various policies on electricity sector operations in different states of India. We find that coal-dependent states in the east suffer the most from PM2.5 mortality, while renewable energy states in the west and south have shifted their burden to the east through coal generation.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andreas Aktypis, Christos Kaltsonoudis, Ksakousti Skyllakou, Angeliki Matrali, Christina N. Vasilakopoulou, Kalliopi Florou, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: Two field campaigns were conducted in Patras to measure nucleation frequency. Surprisingly, only 12% of the available measurement days had new particle formation events. However, nucleation mode particles with average diameters of 20-40 nm appeared on 31% of the days. These particles did not grow and were not associated with emissions close to the measurement site, indicating they formed several hours earlier in a different area and were transported to Patras.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Konstantinos Dimitriou, Iasonas Stavroulas, Georgios Grivas, Charalampos Chatzidiakos, Georgios Kosmopoulos, Andreas Kazantzidis, Konstantinos Kourtidis, Athanasios Karagioras, Nikolaos Hatzianastassiou, Spyros N. Pandis, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Evangelos Gerasopoulos
Summary: Measurements of PM2.5 concentrations in five major Greek cities were conducted using low-cost sensor-based monitors. The study examined the factors influencing the spatiotemporal variability of PM2.5 levels, including local meteorological parameters and air mass residence time models.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Brian M. Gentry, Allen L. Robinson, Peter J. Adams
Summary: People of color bear disproportionate health impacts of air pollution, making air quality a critical issue of environmental justice. A high-resolution reduced-complexity model (EASIUR-HR) is developed to evaluate the disproportionate impacts of ground-level primary PM2.5 emissions. The model reveals that low-resolution models underestimate the local spatial variation of air pollution exposure and the contribution of these emissions to national inequality.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Clark, Marco Springmann, Mike Rayner, Peter Scarborough, Jason Hill, David Tilman, Jennie I. Macdiarmid, Jessica Fanzo, Lauren Bandy, Richard A. Harrington
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eleni Karnezi, Liine Heikkinen, Markku Kulmala, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: Various parameterizations of organic aerosol (OA) formation and its subsequent evolution are evaluated using ground measurements collected during the 2013 PEGASOS field campaign. The performance of different chemical aging schemes is examined, considering biogenic and anthropogenic OA components. All schemes show satisfactory results and predict similar contributions of different OA sources and pathways. Biogenic secondary OA has the highest contribution, followed by anthropogenic secondary OA and oxidation of intermediate-volatility compounds. Primary OA and long-range transport also contribute to OA formation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christos Kaltsonoudis, Olga Zografou, Angeliki Matrali, Elias Panagiotopoulos, Alexandros Lekkas, Mariangela Kosmopoulou, Dimitris Papanastasiou, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: A new gas inlet port and ionization scheme have been developed and coupled to a high-resolution TOF MS for the detection and measurement of atmospheric VOCs and IVOCs. The instrument exhibits superior performance, with linear response to a wide range of organic compounds and detection limits as low as 1 ppt.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ioannis D. Apostolopoulos, George Fouskas, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: This study investigates different approaches for the field calibration of the low-cost air quality monitoring device ENSENSIA in Greece. The Random Forest algorithm exhibited the best performance in correcting O-3 and NO2, reducing mean error and improving R-2 values. The Long-Short Term Memory Network (LSTM) also showed good performance in correcting the measurements of the two pollutants.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brian T. Dinkelacker, Pablo Garcia Rivera, Julian D. Marshall, Peter J. Adams, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: Machine learning approaches were used to downscale coarse-resolution CTM predictions to high spatial resolutions, successfully predicting PM2.5 concentrations and source contributions in southwestern Pennsylvania in February and July 2017. The best performing model was a random forest model, which accurately reproduced PM2.5 concentrations for all components and sources.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Evangelia Siouti, Konstantinos Kilafis, Ioannis Kioutsioukis, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: Residential biomass burning is a major source of air pollution during winter in urban areas. However, predicting the corresponding particle emissions is difficult and models often struggle to reproduce observed particulate matter concentrations. This study combines measurements from PM sensors and a chemical transport model to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of biomass burning emissions in an urban area. The results show high emissions from biomass burning, with peak concentrations occurring at nighttime.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Archaeology
Angeliki Matrali, John K. Kodros, Maria Papathanasiou, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: Soiling of cultural heritage due to air pollution is a major challenge for the conservation community, and this study aims to understand the optical degradation of paintings exposed to particulate matter. The experiment shows that moderate ambient pollution can lead to perceptible color changes in less than a year, indicating the vulnerability of unprotected artwork.
JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Oladayo Oladeji, Mariana Saitas, Toriq Mustapha, Natalie M. M. Johnson, Weihsueh A. A. Chiu, Ivan Rusyn, Allen L. L. Robinson, Albert A. A. Presto
Summary: On February 3, 2023, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, OH, leading to temporary evacuation and controlled burn of some of the hazardous cargo. Residents reported health symptoms, and initial data from air monitoring indicated potential concern for air toxics. Mobile air monitoring conducted later showed that the levels of some chemicals were below risk levels, but acrolein levels were high and additional unique compounds were found, suggesting the need for further monitoring to characterize long-term exposure and risk levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Peter Scarborough, Michael Clark, Linda Cobiac, Keren Papier, Anika Knuppel, John Lynch, Richard Harrington, Tim Key, Marco Springmann
Summary: This study combines dietary data from 55,504 individuals with food-level data on environmental impact, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, eutrophication, and biodiversity. The results show a positive association between animal-based food consumption and environmental indicators. Vegans have lower environmental impacts compared to high meat-eaters, with at least 30% differences found for most indicators. These findings highlight the need to reduce animal-based food consumption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kalliopi Florou, John K. Kodros, Marco Paglione, Spiro Jorga, Stefania Squizzato, Mauro Masiol, Petro Uruci, Athanasios Nenes, Spyros N. Pandis
Summary: The combustion of pellets in residential heating stoves has increased globally, but it is expected to have a negative impact on air quality. This study focused on the atmospheric aging of pellet emissions, investigating the effects of night-time aging and relative humidity. The results showed that the organic aerosol in pellet emissions can chemically evolve under low photochemical activity, leading to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) under certain conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)