Article
Environmental Sciences
James East, Juan Sebastian Montealegre, Jorge E. Pachon, Fernando Garcia-Menendez
Summary: Poor air quality disproportionately affects cities in low- and middle-income countries. In Bogota, Colombia, fine particulate matter levels regularly exceed air quality guidelines, with resuspended dust from unpaved roads identified as the largest local source of PM2.5. Mitigation strategies targeting key sectors, such as road dust, vehicles, and industrial activities, can help prevent projected increases in concentrations and improve air quality in the city.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Coelho, J. Ferreira, V. Rodrigues, M. Lopes
Summary: Air pollution has become a major threat to human health, with acute episodes increasing in many cities worldwide. This study used source apportionment modelling to quantify the contributions of different emission sources to air pollution in six European urban areas. The results showed that road transport is the main contributor to NO2 concentrations, while transboundary transport plays a major role in PM concentrations.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guangqiang Zhou, Zhongqi Yu, Yuanhao Qu
Summary: The study found that local emissions have a significant impact on PM2.5 concentration in the Yangtze River Delta region, while mutual inner-regional transport among provinces also plays a role. Controlling local emissions and reducing inter-provincial transport can effectively reduce the rate of PM2.5 pollution.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shweta Yadav, Sachchida N. Tripathi, Maheswar Rupakheti
Summary: This review provides an overview of particulate matter (PM) pollution in India and the current status of source apportionment (SA) studies. The findings reveal that only a small number of studies have accurately analyzed the contributions from different sources of PM. The majority of studies focus on the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) and the Indo-Gangetic plain, with PM10 and PM2.5 being the most studied size fractions. The review also discusses the steps and techniques involved in SA and proposes recommendations for future research on robust SA studies.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jenna R. Krall, Karlin D. Moore, Charlotte Joannidis, Yi-Ching Lee, Anna Z. Pollack, Michelle McCombs, Jonathan Thornburg, Sivaraman Balachandran
Summary: This study investigates the association between commuter characteristics and exposure to traffic-related fine particulate matter air pollution (tr-PM2.5). The findings suggest that commuters traveling during rush hour have higher exposure levels, indicating the need for specific mitigation strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hector Jorquera, Ana Maria Villalobos
Summary: Air quality modeling is commonly used to study gaseous pollution around industrial areas. This study proposes a new methodology, FUSTA, which combines fuzzy clustering with standard AQM to apportion industrial gaseous emissions sources. The methodology is applied in a central Chilean industrial zone to identify major sources of ambient SO2 and episodes associated with emissions from a copper smelter.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chunshui Lin, Ru-Jin Huang, Jing Duan, Haobin Zhong, Wei Xu, Yunfei Wu, Renjian Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the emissions of refractory black carbon (rBC) from burning joss paper during the Hanyi Festival in northwest China. The results show that the burning of joss paper is a major contributor to atmospheric rBC mass, surpassing other sources such as traffic, crop residue, and coal combustion. Additionally, the uncontrolled burning of joss paper during the festival can worsen overall air quality and pose a risk to public health.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tomasz Gonet, Barbara A. Maher, Jana Kukutschova
Summary: The study found that vehicle brake wear is the main source of airborne magnetite in the roadside environment in the UK, accounting for 68%-85%. In comparison, diesel and petrol engine emissions account for 7%-12% and 2%-4% respectively, while background dust contributes around 6%-10%. The high magnetite content in vehicle brake wear may pose potential risks to human cardiovascular and neurological health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Sijie Ge, Sujing Wang, Qiang Xu, Thomas Ho
Summary: This study quantitatively characterized ozone pollution in the BPA area of Texas and found that local emission sources play a major role in local high ozone events, with contributions also coming from surrounding regions. Elevated point emissions and on-road emissions were identified as major anthropogenic sources for local ozone formations.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chunshui Lin, Darius Ceburnis, Colin O'Dowd, Jurgita Ovadnevaite
Summary: This study found that residential heating and long-range transport alternately influence the aerosol concentrations in the coastal city, requiring different mitigation strategies in different seasons.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Erika P. Blanco-Donado, Ismael L. Schneider, Paulo Artaxo, Jesus Lozano-Osorio, Luana Portz, Marcos L. S. Oliveira
Summary: This study measured the black carbon (BC) concentration in the industrialized urban area of Barranquilla, Colombia, using both mobile and ambient monitoring. The results showed that vehicle traffic emissions were the primary source of BC, although biomass burning also had an influence. The concentration of BC was most affected by vehicle emissions and traffic congestion caused by road and transport infrastructure.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiwei Li, Yunfei Wu, Lihong Ren, Wan Wang, Jun Tao, Yuanguang Gao, Gang Li, Xiaoyang Yang, Zhiwei Han, Renjian Zhang
Summary: The study shows that PM2.5 concentrations in the Central North China Plain have decreased in recent years, mainly due to emission control measures. In particular, PM2.5 in autumn and winter is mainly composed of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium, with secondary aerosols being a significant component of PM2.5.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raj Singh, Baerbel Sinha, Haseeb Hakkim, Vinayak Sinha
Summary: Paddy-residue burning during October-November in north-west India contributes to poor air quality due to the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study provides a quantitative analysis of the different sources of VOCs and pollutants in the region. The results show that solid fuel usage, traffic, and biomass burning are the primary sources of pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhifang Li, Yun Zhu, Shuxiao Wang, Jia Xing, Bin Zhao, Shicheng Long, Minhui Li, Wenwei Yang, Ruolin Huang, Ying Chen
Summary: Identifying the contribution of emission sources to PM2.5 formation is crucial for an effective pollution control policy. A comparative analysis of PM2.5 source contributions in the Pearl River Delta region of China shows that both the Response Surface Model (RSM) and Particulate Source Apportionment Technology (PSAT) can reasonably predict the contribution of primary PM2.5 emission sources due to their linear nature. However, for secondary PM2.5 formed by nonlinear reactions, PSAT has limitations in quantifying the contribution of PM2.5 precursors, while RSM better addresses the nonlinear relationship among precursors.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sanjeev Dasari, August Andersson, Maria E. Popa, Thomas Rockmann, Henry Holmstrand, Krishnakant Budhavant, Orjan Gustafsson
Summary: South Asian air pollution, particularly carbon monoxide, is a major concern for climate and air quality. Research indicates that combustion emissions are the primary source of CO in South Asia during winter, which is significantly higher than the global average.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Ciarlantini, Mara Madaleno, Margarita Robaina, Alexandra Monteiro, Celeste Eusebio, Maria Joao Carneiro, Carla Gama
Summary: The present study explores the relationship between tourism growth and air pollution in five important European tourism destinations. The research focuses on a regional level and takes into account critical pollutants in terms of urban air pollution. The findings suggest that the tourism-induced Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis is not validated for any of the countries. Additionally, differences in the impacts of international and domestic tourists on air pollution are found.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra Monteiro, Sara Basart, Stelios Kazadzis, Athanasios Votzis, Antonis Gkikas, Sophie Vandenbussche, Aurelio Tobias, Carla Gama, Carlos Perez Garcia-Pando, Enric Terradellas, George Notas, Nick Middleton, Jonilda Kushta, Vassilis Amiridis, Kostas Lagouvardos, Panagiotis Kosmopoulos, Vasiliki Kotroni, Maria Kanakidou, Nikos Mihalopoulos, Nikos Kalivitis, Pavla Dagsson-Waldhauserova, Hesham El-Askary, Klaus Sievers, T. Giannaros, Lucia Mona, Marcus Hirtl, Paul Skomorowski, Slobodan Nickovic, Athanasios Votsis, Timo H. Virtanen, Theodoros Christoudias, Biagio Di Mauro, Serena Trippetta, Stanislav Kutuzov, Outi Meinander
Summary: In late March 2018, an intense African dust event, known as the Minoan Red event, affected the Eastern Mediterranean region, particularly the Greek island of Crete. This event had multi-sectoral impacts on meteorology, agriculture, transport, energy, society, and emergency response systems. It resulted in increased emergency responses, hospital visits for respiratory diseases, disruptions in aircraft traffic, and reduced solar energy production. The estimated cost of the direct and indirect effects of the dust event is between 3.4 and 3.8 million EUR for Crete. Mitigating dust impacts relies on accurate dust forecasting and early warning systems for social awareness.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
E. Pisoni, P. Thunis, A. De Meij, J. Wilson, B. Bessagnet, M. Crippa, D. Guizzardi, C. A. Belis, R. Van Dingenen
Summary: The EU is taking ambitious policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and aims to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030. These policies have positive side-effects on air quality and additional measures are in place to reduce emissions of air pollutants and improve air quality. Through a modelling study, it is clear that EU policies can bring significant health and economic benefits in terms of morbidity and mortality indicators.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. A. Russo, S. Rafael, D. Lopes, P. Quinteiro, A. Monteiro
Summary: Carbon neutrality, sustainable development, and reducing environmental impact are the top priorities for future measures. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges globally but can offer insights to achieve these goals. This study focuses on the impact of the pandemic on energy, environment, and costs, using Mainland Portugal as a case study for analysis. The findings show that most sectors experienced a reduction in energy consumption, emissions, carbon footprint, and related costs in 2020. However, the Domestic sector saw an increase in electricity consumption, emissions, and carbon footprint. The integrated analysis in this study is crucial for identifying pathways towards a post-pandemic world that emphasizes sustainability, including new concepts of mobility and workplace, as well as increased investment in energy performance and renewable sources.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Vania Gaio, Rita Roquette, Alexandra Monteiro, Joana Ferreira, Carlos Matias Dias, Baltazar Nunes
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effect of short-term PM10 exposure on diastolic and systolic blood pressure values of the Portuguese population. The results showed no significant association between PM10 exposure and blood pressure values.
REVISTA PORTUGUESA DE CARDIOLOGIA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Femke Bouma, Nicole A. H. Janssen, Joost Wesseling, Sjoerd van Ratingen, Maciek Strak, Jules Kerckhoffs, Ulrike Gehring, Wouter Hendricx, Kees de Hoogh, Roel Vermeulen, Gerard Hoek
Summary: This study investigated the associations between long-term exposure to ultrafine particles and natural and cause-specific mortality in the Netherlands. The results showed that long-term exposure to ultrafine particles was associated with increased respiratory disease and lung cancer mortality, but a weaker association with cardiovascular disease mortality.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. A. Russo, D. Carvalho, N. Martins, A. Monteiro
Summary: The impact of climate change on wind and solar resources for renewable electricity production was assessed, showing significant changes in wind speed and solar radiation during different seasons. These changes may pose a threat to the stability of future renewable electricity production.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Daniel Graca, Johnny Reis, Carla Gama, Alexandra Monteiro, Vera Rodrigues, Micael Rebelo, Carlos Borrego, Myriam Lopes, Ana Isabel Miranda
Summary: As part of the Aveiro STEAM City project, an air quality monitoring network was established in Aveiro, Portugal, to assess the spatial and temporal patterns of air quality using sensors. The network consisted of nine sensor stations and two meteorological stations located throughout the city. Analysis of one-year data revealed variations in air quality for all pollutants and stations, with specific areas associated with high traffic showing more frequent episodes of medium, poor, and bad air quality. Daily patterns differed significantly between affected and non-affected traffic sites, especially for PM and NO2 pollutants. Weekly profiles showed variations between weekdays and weekends, with NO2 levels reduced at traffic sites during weekends but higher PM10 levels in specific areas during winter weekends due to residential combustion sources.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Celeste Eusebio, Vitor Rodrigues, Maria Joao Carneiro, Mara Madaleno, Margarita Robaina, Alexandra Monteiro
Summary: This study conducted a survey in Portugal and found that visitors can be classified into three clusters based on their self-reported pro-environmental behaviors: eco-transportation seekers, environmentally committed visitors, and environmentally insensitive visitors. These clusters differ in pro-environmental behaviors at home, environmental attitudes, perception of destination air quality, perception of the impact of air quality on health, as well as sociodemographic and travel characteristics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Vitor Rodrigues, Celeste Eusebio, Maria Joao Carneiro, Mara Madaleno, Margarita Robaina, Carla Gama, Alexandra Monteiro
Summary: Air pollution is a challenging environmental issue that greatly impacts people's lifestyles worldwide. It directly leads to millions of respiratory illnesses and premature deaths each year. This study examines the influence of air pollution on the travel behavior of individuals with respiratory diseases, utilizing questionnaires and interviews. The findings demonstrate that visitors with these illnesses place importance on air quality and take measures to mitigate the effects of air pollution at their destinations. The study contributes to the tourism literature by exploring how air quality affects visitors with respiratory illnesses and provides practical implications for the tourism industry.
TOURISM REVIEW INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruben W. Verweij, Enrico Pisoni, Addo van Pul, Philippe Thunis, Eric van der Swaluw
Summary: We propose a fast method for calculating the effects of ammonia emission reduction scenarios using the EMEP4NL model and the SHERPA tool, which provide similar results in terms of reduced nitrogen. The SHERPA tool is computationally efficient and can be used for policy making and predicting the effects of local emission reduction measures.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marita Voogt, Peter Zandveld, Hans Erbrink, Danielle van Dinther, Pim van den Bulk, Gerard Kos, Marcus Blom, Dave de Jonge, Harald Helmink, Jennes Meydam, Jaap Visser, Jan Middel, Gerard Hoek, Sjoerd van Ratingen, Joost Wesseling, Nicole AH. Janssen
Summary: In recent years, it has been found that aircraft emissions are a major source of ultrafine particles around airports, but the health effects of long-term exposure to these particles are still unknown. This study assessed the applicability of the dispersion model STACKS+ in evaluating long-term exposure to aviation-related ultrafine particles. By comparing modeled and measured particle number concentrations (PNC) at multiple locations near Schiphol Airport, the contribution of aviation to PNC was estimated and scaling factors and uncertainty estimates were obtained. The results showed a strong correlation between the model and measurement results, indicating the robustness of the approach.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Nazzari, Lucia Cagliero, Serena Grumi, Enrico Pisoni, Giulia Mallucci, Roberto Bergamaschi, Julia Maccarini, Roberto Giorda, Livio Provenzi
Summary: Antenatal exposures to maternal stress and PM2.5 can affect the developmental outcomes of infants. This study investigated the independent and interactive influence of maternal stress and PM2.5 on DNA methylation levels in the SLC6A4 gene in newborns. Higher levels of SLC6A4 DNAm were found in newborns born to mothers with higher levels of PRS and greater PM2.5 exposure, especially during the second trimester of pregnancy.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudio A. Belis, Rita Van Dingenen
Summary: The study used the TM5-FASST tool to examine the impact of abatement policies on O3 and PM2.5 exposure and associated mortality. It found that O3 exposure within the UNECE area is more sensitive to measures outside the UNECE region than PM2.5 exposure, although the latter leads to higher mortality. The analysis also confirmed that abatement measures in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement can lead to significant co-benefits between air quality and climate policies.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)