Article
Environmental Sciences
Niloofar Shoari, Sean Beevers, Michael Brauer, Marta Blangiardo
Summary: This study introduces a tool to assess the exposure of urban environment features around schools in Greater London and categorizes and compares the exposure profiles of schools. The research reveals spatial clustering patterns among different exposure clusters and highlights socioeconomic and ethnic disparities.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James D. East, Erwan Monier, Fernando G-Menendez
Summary: Climate change can worsen air pollution, but the uncertainties in the impact on air quality have not been systematically evaluated. This study compares uncertainties using a coupled modeling framework and finds that climate-related uncertainties are comparable at mid-century, making it difficult to distinguish the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on ozone and particulate matter pollution. Although greenhouse gas emissions scenarios eventually become the dominant uncertainty, all sources of uncertainty remain significant through the end of the century.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Minghao Qiu, Nathan Ratledge, Ines M. L. Azevedo, Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Marshall Burke
Summary: The western United States has been experiencing severe drought, which is predicted to worsen in the future. This drought has significant impacts on the region's hydropower-dependent electricity systems, resulting in increased fossil fuel generation and greenhouse gas emissions. These drought-induced emissions have detectable impacts on local air quality, leading to health hazards. The costs of excess mortality and GHG emissions from drought-induced fossil generation are estimated to be 1.2 to 2.5 times higher than the reported economic costs from lost hydro production and increased demand. It suggests that more ambitious measures are needed to mitigate the emissions and health burden from the electricity sector during drought.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
M. Omar Nawaz, Daven K. Henze, Nicolas J. Huneeus, Mauricio Osses, Nicolas Alamos, Mariel A. Opazo, Laura Gallardo
Summary: The population of Santiago, Chile, is facing air pollution issues primarily due to anthropogenic emissions and geographic and meteorological factors. Despite improvements in air quality in recent years, the future of air pollution in Santiago remains uncertain due to population growth and increased vehicle use. Mitigation efforts can be supported by studying the sources and impacts of air pollution. This study uses a chemical transport model and adjoint calculations to characterize the relationship between pollution exposure and health impacts, identifying anthropogenic emissions as the main contributors.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter N. Neitlich, Shanti Berryman, Linda H. Geiser, Anaka Mines, Alyssa E. Shiel
Summary: This study assessed the effects of metal-enriched road dusts on the diversity and community structure of lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants in dwarf-shrub tundra within Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR) in northwest Alaska. The results showed that lichen species richness was highly correlated to distance from the haul road, while bryophytes and vascular plants had less response to distance and heavy metals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
I-Chun Tsai, Chen-Ying Lee, Shih-Chun Candice Lung, Chih-Wen Su
Summary: Recent years have seen an increase in surveillance cameras installed in the Greater Taipei Area in Taiwan, providing valuable traffic data that can be used to enhance roadway-based emissions inventories. Analysis of the data revealed sedans as the most common vehicles in the area, with faster traffic flow speeds observed on weekends and higher traffic volumes during weekday peak hours. The incorporation of real-time traffic data into the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model improved its performance, particularly in predicting carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Alessandro Avenali, Giuseppe Catalano, Mirko Giagnorio, Giorgio Matteucci
Summary: This paper analyzes the economic and environmental performances of alternative bus powertrains in different urban contexts in the U.S. It utilizes real-world data from 256 transport operators to develop a life cycle cost model for bus technologies, and includes scenario and sensitivity analysis. The results show that electric buses are cost-competitive in congested cities, but face barriers in towns and suburban areas with longer and faster bus routes.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Beiyao Xu, Tijian Wang, Danyang Ma, Rong Song, Ming Zhang, Libo Gao, Shu Li, Bingliang Zhuang, Mengmeng Li, Min Xie
Summary: China is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 and reducing emissions to mitigate air pollution. However, this may lead to higher air temperatures in certain regions. Regional emission reduction is the main factor affecting future air quality, while global climate change is the primary driver of future increases in air temperature.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sudip Chakraborty, Bin Guan, Duane E. Waliser, Arlindo M. da Silva, Sophie Uluatam, Peter Hess
Summary: Despite gaps in our knowledge on aerosol long-range transport, this study develops a global algorithm to detect aerosol atmospheric rivers (AARs), showing their significant contributions to global aerosol transport pathways and their impact on regional air quality conditions.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Le Quyen Luu, Eleonora Riva Sanseverino, Maurizio Cellura, Hoai-Nam Nguyen, Hoai-Phuong Tran, Hong Anh Nguyen
Summary: This study shows that battery electric buses and hydrogen buses are better options in terms of energy consumption, GHG emissions, and air quality impacts compared to conventional buses in Vietnam, with replacing conventional buses with e-buses resulting in a 50% reduction in energy consumption and an improvement in air quality impacts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leandro Garcia, Rob Johnson, Alex Johnson, Ali Abbas, Rahul Goel, Lambed Tatah, James Damsere-Derry, Elvis Kyere-Gyeabour, Marko Tainio, Thiago H. de Sa, James Woodcock
Summary: Improving the transportation patterns in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, particularly reducing private car and motorcycle trips in favor of public transportation, is beneficial for population health. Addressing urban road safety issues should be a top priority to ensure the safety of walking and cycling.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liang Ma, Daniel J. Graham, Marc E. J. Stettler
Summary: The study evaluates the impact of the Jubilee Line Extension on air quality in London, finding that both short and long-term effects were relatively small, with only some sites showing detectable changes. The overall city-wide effect was insignificant, indicating that public transport provision alone is not an effective strategy to improve air quality.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abdul-Lateef Balogun, Abdulwaheed Tella
Summary: This study investigates the impact of climatic variables on ozone concentration in Malaysia and finds a strong positive correlation between temperature and ozone concentration. Wind speed also shows a moderate to strong correlation, while relative humidity exhibits a negative correlation. Machine learning algorithms, particularly random forest, demonstrate high predictive performances in assessing ozone concentration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren Ferguson, Jonathon Taylor, Phil Symonds, Michael Davies, Sani Dimitroulopoulou
Summary: Exposure to air pollution can have negative health impacts on children, and this exposure may vary by socio-economic status (SES). A model estimating personal exposure to PM2.5 for 1.3 million children in the Greater London region shows differences in exposure levels across socio-economic groups, with lower-income households generally having higher exposures. However, approximately 57% of London's school-aged population, across all income groups, still exceeded the guideline limits set by the World Health Organisation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing residential indoor sources of PM2.5 in order to reduce personal exposure for school children in London.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
H. Y. Bai, P. Liu, M. Justo Alonso, H. M. Mathisen
Summary: This study reviewed the application of heat recovery technologies in residential buildings in cold climates, with a focus on their impact on energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The study compared different technologies and frosting control strategies, and addressed the effects of heat recovery on indoor air quality. The results provide important guidance for future research and application in improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality in residential buildings.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steve H. L. Yim, T. Huang, Jason M. W. Ho, Amy S. M. Lam, Sarah T. Y. Yau, Thomas W. H. Yuen, G. H. Dong, Kelvin K. F. Tsoi, Joseph J. Y. Sung
Summary: This study found that the global decrease in LSCC incidence is associated with reduced smoking rates, while the increase in LADC incidence may be attributed to air pollution, with different particulate species having varying effects on LADC incidence in different continents.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tao Huang, Yannian Zhu, Daniel Rosenfeld, Yuanjian Yang, David H. Y. Lam, W. H. Leung, Harry F. Lee, Jack C. H. Cheng, Steve H. L. Yim
Summary: The regime dependence of aerosol-cloud interaction has been explored through idealized cloud-resolving models and observations. The activation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) is limited by particle numbers in clean conditions, while updraft velocities play a crucial role in polluted regimes. Warm rain suppression is significantly enhanced over inland areas. These findings are supported by satellite retrievals and LiDAR observations.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Guicai Ning, David A. Wardle, Steve Hung Lam Yim
Summary: This study evaluates ozone suppression in China and projects future ozone using hybrid models. The findings highlight the increasing severity of ozone suppression in future high-emission scenarios, emphasizing the importance of incorporating ozone suppression into chemical transport models.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hong Qiu, Xin-Yi Niu, Jun-Ji Cao, Hong-Mei Xu, Shun Xiao, Ning-Ning Zhang, Xi Xia, Zhen-Xing Shen, Yu Huang, Gabriel Ngar-Cheung Lau, Steve Hung-Lam Yim, Kin-Fai Ho
Summary: The study demonstrated that the intervention of an outdoor solar assisted large-scale cleaning system (SALSCS) and decreased ambient air pollution exposure result in lower burden of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in older adults.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
John S. Bulmer, Arthur W. N. Sloan, Michael Glerum, Jennifer Carpena-Nunez, Robert Waelder, Jefford Humes, Adam M. Boies, Matteo Pasquali, Rahul Rao, Benji Maruyama
Summary: This study explores various parameters of the FC-CVD reactor and successfully controls the diameter of SWCNTs. The research finds that oxidative influences result in smaller CNT diameters, while increasing temperature leads to larger diameters.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steve Hung Lam Yim, Tao Huang
Summary: Past studies have focused on ground-level air quality, but this study utilized the 3DREAMS system to provide vertical profiles of aerosols in the upper atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) of a high-density city in Asia. The results show opposite diurnal profiles of aerosols between ground-level and upper ABL, and significant spatial variations in aerosol distribution at different locations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiao Zhang, Michael De Volder, Wenbin Zhou, Liron Issman, Xiaojun Wei, Adarsh Kaniyoor, Jeronimo Terrones Portas, Fiona Smail, Zibo Wang, Yanchun Wang, Huaping Liu, Weiya Zhou, James Elliott, Sishen Xie, Adam Boies
Summary: The mechanical and thermal properties of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) can reach their highest performances simultaneously through a double-drawing technique, which rearranges the constituent CNTs. These processed CNTFs are more versatile than comparable fibers.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Cyprien Jourdain, Jonathan P. R. Symonds, Adam M. Boies
Summary: This article discusses the importance of studying the structure of fractal-like aggregates in various fields and highlights the need for a simple and versatile tool to estimate aerosol properties and compare them to experimental results.
AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yingsheng Zheng, Chao Ren, Yuan Shi, Steve H. L. Yim, Derrick Y. F. Lai, Yong Xu, Can Fang, Wenjie Li
Summary: In this study, night-time mobile measurements were employed to monitor the variation of urban heat island in Hong Kong. The results revealed that sky view factor, street length, and pervious surface fraction were the most explanatory variables of local UHI intensity. The findings suggest that an optimal design of urban morphology is crucial for mitigating heat island effect and climate adaptation.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liron Issman, Matan Alper, Sean Howard, Christian Karch, Shuki Yeshurun, Martin Pick, Adam Boies
Summary: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by electronic devices is disruptive and harmful. Lightweight and flexible electromagnetic shielding materials (ESMs) are important for replacing metallic ones. The development of a high-efficiency ESM made of self-standing CNT mat with excellent shielding effectiveness is reported in this study.
Article
Environmental Sciences
David P. O'Loughlin, Molly J. Haugen, Jason Day, Andrew S. Brown, Emma C. Braysher, Nick Molden, Anne E. Willis, Marion MacFarlane, Adam M. Boies
Summary: The purpose of this study was to identify a characteristic elemental tyre fingerprint for source apportionment calculations. Zinc is currently used as a tracer for tyre wear, but there are issues with this approach. The study analyzed 25 elements in tyre rubber tread and provided data on new tyres currently in use in Europe, which is relevant for assessing tyre wear particles in urban areas.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yeonguk Son, Hyungyeon Cha, Taeyong Lee, Yujin Kim, Adam Boies, Jaephil Cho, Michael De Volder
Summary: Small coin cell batteries are commonly used for testing lithium-ion batteries in academia due to their convenience and low material requirement. However, the differences in format between coin cells and pouch or cylindrical cells used in industry are often overlooked, leading to discrepancies in cell performance. This article compares different-sized coin cells and pouch cells with identical electrode materials and conditions, and demonstrates substantial battery impedance variations depending on the cell format. The impedance differences have significant impacts on battery rate performance and lifetime, highlighting the importance of considering cell formats in research and predicting improvements.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maurits E. Houck, Alexander S. Groombridge, Michael F. L. De Volder, Adam M. Boies
Summary: Niobium-based Wadsley-Roth materials enable ultra-fast charging rates beyond 20C, posing challenges for battery parameterization and modeling. This work develops a protocol to tackle these challenges and unveils the rate dependency of lithium intercalation diffusion coefficient. It also extends the modeling method to predict the ultrahigh rate performance of commercial-scale pouch cells based on lab-scale coin cell data.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chen Sun, Kunfeng Zhao, Adam Boies, Shuning Xiao, Zhiguo Yi
Summary: A highly active and stable NiO nanocrystalline decorated on ZnO-CoNi solid solution catalyst is reported, which achieves 88% photocatalytic conversion of methane to CO2 and H2O under ambient conditions. The excellent performance of the catalyst originates from the high mobility of surface lattice oxygen of supported NiO nanocrystallines driven by the photogenerated electrons and internal electric field of ZnO-CoNi solid solution. Moreover, even at high methane concentrations up to 5000 ppm, the methane conversion of the catalyst remains above 37%, showing promise for methane elimination applications near large methane emission sources.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Dimitrios Bousiotis, David C. S. Beddows, Ajit Singh, Molly Haugen, Sebastian Diez, Pete M. Edwards, Adam Boies, Roy M. Harrison, Francis D. Pope
Summary: Knowledge of air pollution sources is essential for policymaking and mitigation efforts. This study applied a PMF analysis using data from low-cost sensors to identify pollution sources at a site in Birmingham, UK. The results were confirmed by data from regulatory-grade instruments, highlighting the potential of using low-cost sensor data for atmospheric applications and source apportionment.
ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
(2022)