Air Pollution Conditions Research Articles

Decomposition pattern of lignin in forest litters and soils

Abstract To characterize the degree of alteration of the lignin molecule during biodegradation, CuO oxidation has been used in litters and soils. Condensed lignin structures are not attacked by the relatively‐mild alkaline CuO oxidation, for this reason the oxidation degradation with CuO is considered a specific method for the characterization of intact lignin structures in forest litters and soils. In this paper we examine two natural lignins, one from a gymnosperm litter, the other from angiosperm litter and from respective soils under air pollution conditions. The sum of phenolic CuO oxidation products gives an overall pattern of lignin decomposition. The degree of alteration of remnant lignin is described by the acid‐to‐aldehyde ratio (AC:A1) of syringyl and vanillyl units (S:V) for angiosperm lignin. The air pollution conditions do not influenced the degree of lignin degradation.

The urban climate as a parameter for urban development

The city of Hannoversch-Münden made an effort to include ecological data in their urban development plan. As one part of it, a meteorological investigation was carried out in order to give background information for future development of industry, tourism and the residential areas. As some aspects of these developments are conflicting, the climatological investigation should help in finding solutions, so that planners are able to judge the effect of one or other development plan. Climatic measurements were carried out during one year on a very small scale to consider local circumstances. So a typical wind distribution could be seen in relation to the topographical situation and urban structure, including local circulation systems. The connection between air pollution and climatological conditions showed quite clearly where the pollution comes from. From that study, proposals were derived which discussed the location of industrial areas, residential areas and recreation areas.

Distribution in forest soils of carbonaceous particles from fossil fuel combustion

Spherical carbonaceous particles, generated by oil and coal combustion, were observed in samples of forest soil (A-horizon) collected from 164 sites distributed over an area of 55 430 km2 in N. Sweden. From 0.2 to 400 × 106 carbonaceous spheres m−2 of ground surface were found with a geographical distribution pattern which is consistent with the regional air pollution conditions.

The Role of Water Stress in Tree Growth

Urban trees often are subjected to soil and atmospheric stresses that reduce growth and vigor, increase susceptibility to insects and diseases, and cause premature death. Environmental stresses occasionally injure trees directly, as by freezing, but most injury is caused indirectly by inhibiting essential physiological processes. Water stress is particularly important because it is so frequent and affects so many processes. The injury caused by water stress can be reduced through prevention of stress by irrigation, postponement by development of extensive root systems and control of transpiration, and by selection of trees with a high tolerance of dehydration. More attention should be given to selection of species and individuals with high tolerance of the more destructive stresses such as water deficit, air pollution, and unfavorable soil conditions. This will require the cooperative efforts of arborists, physiologists, and tree breeders.

Exponential dichotomies and transversal homoclinic points

In January 2013, the real-time hourly average concentrations of six pollutants (CO, NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2) based on data from air quality monitoring stations in major Chinese cities were released to the public. That report provided a good opportunity to publicise nationwide temporal and spatial pollution characteristics. Although several studies systematically investigated the temporal and spatial trends of pollutant concentrations, the relation between air pollution and multi-scale meteorological conditions and their spatial variations on a nationwide scale remain unclear. This study analysed the air pollution characteristics and their relation to multi-scale meteorological conditions during 2014–2015 in 31 provincial capital cities in China. The annual average concentrations of six pollutants for 31 provincial capital cities were 1.2 mg m−3, 42.4 μg m−3, 49.0 μg m−3, 109.8 μg m−3, 63.7 μg m−3, and 32.6 μg m−3 in 2014. The annual average concentrations decreased 5.3%, 4.9%, 11.4%, 12.0% and 21.5% for CO, NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2, respectively, but increased 7.4% for O3 in 2015. The highest rate of a major pollutant over China was PM2.5 followed by PM10, O3, NO2, SO2 and CO. Meteorological conditions were the primary factor determining day-to-day variations in pollutant concentrations, explaining more than 70% of the variance of daily average pollutant concentrations over China. Meteorological conditions in 2015 were more adverse for pollutant dispersion than in 2014, indicating that the improvement in air quality was caused by emission controls.

Seasonal variability of chlorophyll content and the changes of the acidity and buffer capacity in the needles of Larix decidua and Larix leptolepis grown in different air pollution conditions

The needles of Larix decidua Mili. and Larix leptolepis showed different pattern of seasonal chlorophyll variability, the level of pigments in L. decidua was more influenced by zinc-plant emissions than that in L. leptolepis . The concentrations of chlorophyll a and b and their changes were markedly different from those estimated for the non-deciduous species. The seasonal variability of acidity of aqueous homogenates of the consdered larch needles appeared to be less characterisitic for the species and also for the pollution influence than the changes in buffer capacity.

水島臨海工業地帯における大気汚染と気象条件について

水島臨海工業地帯における大気汚染と気象条件について

Injury to Sweet Corn Inbreds and Hybrids by Air Pollutants in the Field and by Ozone Treatments in the Greenhouse

AbstractFive inbreds of Zea mays L. and three of their F1 hybrids were grown in the field under natural summer air pollution conditions in 1971. During the following fall, four of the inbreds and two hybrids were grown in greenhouses and received controlled ozone treatments. The cultivars showed highly significant differences in injury under field conditions, but much smaller differences in the greenhouse tests. In the field, four inbreds were relatively resistant; the fifth was highly susceptible. The three hybrids showed some correlation with the resistance of their parents. In the greenhouse, with repeated dosages of ozone, all tested inbreds showed substantial damage when 4 to 7 weeks old, but at flowering the field‐susceptible inbred was the most severely damaged. The hybrids also showed severe damage as young plants, while at flowering their damage from greenhouse treatments was related to their field susceptibility. Injury symptoms in the field were typical of the ozone injury in the greenhouse. In all cultivars, young leaves were less injured than fully mature leaves.

NOAA tests sounds as air pollution monitoring technique

Scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are testing a system designed for observing and forecasting air pollution conditions through the use of sound. A special instrument called an acoustic echo sounder enables them to see with unprecedented accuracy the height and undulations of the atmospheric inversion, a region of cold air topped by a warm layer that traps and concentrates pollutants.These data together with conventional meteorological methods, enables local authorities to improve their air pollution control warnings and decisions.

Bioenvironmental technology

The Florida Institute of Technology is implementing a program leading to a Master's Degree in Bioenvironmental Technology.The program was initiated by the Oceanography and Space Technology departments of F.I.T. in response to recognition by the faculty that the environmental problems confronting public life and industrial development call for persons trained in areas not delineated by the boundaries of classical disciplines, it is intended in this new program to accept people from several disciplines: physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Research will form an integral part of the program; this will initially be based on the contract for river surveying that is currently growing into a full‐Hedged estuary and environment study. Efforts to expand the research facilities are underway through collaboration with various local and national agencies. It is anticipated that graduates will be prepared for employment in governmental agencies and industrial organizations concerned with water and air pollution, environmental health, and ecological conditions.

Guiding Principles for State Air Pollution Legislation

THE AIR SUpplY of our communities Thas been shown to be limited in its capacity to serve as a receptor for air-borne waste products. We now recognize it as a limited resource, and it is now known that abuse of our air supply can have harmful effects on health, comfort, and property. Air pollution control efforts, therefore, are now beginning to be based on the premise that no one has the right to use the atmosphere as a receptor of wastes in a manner which will adversely affect the health, comfort, or property of others. It is recognized too that economic, social, and technical factors are concerned in air pollution control efforts and must be considered in the application of controls and in the appropriate modification of such controls. Since the end of World War II, the increasing interest in the conservation of our air resource has been reflected to some extent by the development of state legislation. Within the last decade, more than 20 states have modified or adopted new legislation on air pollution, and a total of 28 states now have such legislation. Legislative activity at the local level has also increased during this period, and at the national level, Congress has enacted legislation providing for the Public Health Service program of research and technical assistance in air pollution.' It is generally accepted that responsibility for administration of a program for the prevention and abatement of air pollution should be at that level of government capable of dealing with the problem in its entirety. While this may indicate the desirability of air pollution control programs at a local or regional level, due consideration should also be given to the role of the state. It is essential that jurisdictional boundaries be established coincidental with natural geographical and topographical features which may affect air pollution conditions in any local area. The goal of air pollution legislation should be to maintain a reasonable degree of purity of our air resouirces consistent with: