Air Pollution Control Research Articles

Enhanced Marine VOC Emissions Driven by Terrestrial Nutrient Inputs and Their Impact on Urban Air Quality in Coastal Regions.

Global ocean significantly contributes to atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs), yet the characteristics, drivers, and impacts of marine VOC emissions on coastal air quality remain poorly understood due to limited marine-terrestrial data integration. Therefore, we conducted a study in the East China Sea─a region with high VOC emission potential─and a nearby coastal city in the Yangtze River Delta─a background receptor site. Seawater VOC emissions showed marked spatial variability, with alkenes forming an important component. Terrestrial inorganic nutrient inputs boosted marine primary productivity, elevating VOC concentrations and emissions. Interestingly, in the coastal city, severe photochemical pollution occurred when air masses originated predominantly from the sea. Although maritime air masses contained fewer VOCs, emissions from high-productivity seawater and shipping increased reactive alkene levels. Additionally, higher temperatures, stronger solar radiation, and reduced NO titration effects over the sea facilitated ozone formation. By integrating marine-terrestrial observations, this study underscores the impact of pollutant emissions from high-productivity seas on coastal air quality, particularly through secondary formation during long-range transport. The link between coastal seawater eutrophication and air photochemical pollution emphasizes the need for coordinated air and water pollution control in coastal cities. These findings may apply to other similar coastal environments worldwide.

Hospital admissions attributable to reduced air pollution due to clean-air policies in China.

The Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) is considered to be the most stringent air pollution control policy in China implemented since 2013. This policy is a milestone in China to mitigate serious air pollution. However, health benefits attributable to reduced fine-particulate air pollution after the implementation of the APPCAP have not been quantitatively estimated on a PM2.5 constituent-specific and morbidity cause-specific basis. Here we conducted a nationwide case-crossover study based on hospital admission records in 292 Chinese cities during 2013-2017. Compared with 2013, the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) in 2017 decreased by 28.61% and 20.35%, respectively. As a result, the average relative reductions in annual attributable fractions of nine major cause-specific hospital admissions associated with PM2.5 and BC were 30.00% and 21.14%, respectively, among which annual attributable fraction for depression showed the largest reduction. Nationally, cities with higher reductions in PM2.5 and BC were found to have higher absolute reductions in annual hospital admission attributable fractions associated with PM2.5 and BC, and geographic inequality in health benefits still existed. Our study highlights the substantial wide-ranging health benefits of reduced PM2.5 and BC levels following the nationwide implementation of the APPCAP in China.

Towards compliance with the 2021 WHO air quality guidelines: A comparative analysis of PM2.5 trends in australia and china.

Towards compliance with the 2021 WHO air quality guidelines: A comparative analysis of PM2.5 trends in australia and china.

Long-term low-level ozone exposure and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic levels: A prospective cohort study from Southwest China.

Long-term low-level ozone exposure and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic levels: A prospective cohort study from Southwest China.

Global, regional, and national epidemiology of ischemic heart disease among individuals aged 55 and above from 1990 to 2021: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe findings of the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study can offer valuable insights for the development of screening and prevention strategies targeting ischemic heart disease (IHD). We aim to investigate trends in IHD incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), while exploring associated risk factors for IHD-associated death from 1990 to 2021.MethodsThe cross-sectional study utilized data from the GBD 2021, covering 204 countries and regions. The analysis included individuals aged 55 and above. We analyzed the trends in IHD incidence, all cause and cause-specific deaths, DALYs, and corresponding estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) from 1990 to 2021. These indicators were further stratified by geographical region, country, age group, gender, and sociodemographic index (SDI).ResultsThe global incidence rate, mortality rate, and DALYs rate for individuals aged 55 and above with IHD have shown a decreasing trend. However, the number of incident cases, death cases, and DALYs has been increasing from 1990 to 2021. Both the high-middle and high SDI regions exhibit a significant decline in these rates from 1990 to 2021. However, the low SDI, low-middle SDI, and middle SDI regions show less noticeable changes. The region with low-middle SDI experiences the largest increase in mortality rate (EAPC: 0.38; 95%CI, 0.33–0.44) and DALYs rate (EAPC: 0.17; 95%CI, 0.12–0.22). The region with middle SDI experiences the largest increase in incidence rate (EAPC: 0.37; 95%CI, 0.27–0.46). Regionally, East Asia exhibits the greatest increase in incidence rate (EAPC: 0.94; 95% CI, 0.79–1.10), mortality rate (EAPC: 1.68; 95% CI, 1.40–1.94), and DALYs rate (EAPC: 0.94; 95% CI, 0.69–1.20). Among the 12 risk factors associated with mortality from IHD, high systolic blood pressure, dietary risks, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, and air pollution are identified as the primary contributors to global mortality.ConclusionsThis study reveals that in high SDI regions, the incidence, mortality, and DALYs rate of IHD are declining. Conversely, in low to middle SDI regions, the disease burden of IHD is increasing. It highlights global inequality in IHD burden. Recommendations include early screening, risk management, and strengthening primary care, especially in middle and low SDI regions. Countries should also invest in environmental governance and air pollution control. Future research should focus on evaluating the effects of health policies in different countries, exploring the impact of socio-economic and cultural factors on the burden of IHD, and developing big data-based prediction models to optimize resource allocation and intervention strategies.

How Have Emissions and Weather Patterns Contributed to Air Pollution in Lanzhou, China?

Air quality is predominantly influenced by two factors: emission sources and meteorological conditions. Understanding their relative contribution is essential for developing effective air pollution control strategies. Two rounds of lockdown measures in Lanzhou during the winter of 2021 and 2022 offered a valuable opportunity to reveal the impact of pollutant emissions and meteorological conditions on air pollution events. The reduction in emissions during the pandemic lockdown period (2021–2022) resulted in a 36.05% decrease in PM2.5 concentrations compared to the historical period of 2014–2020. Using ERA5 reanalysis meteorological data and principal component analysis, weather patterns were classified into three distinct types: favorable for pollutant accumulation (FPA), unfavorable for pollutant accumulation (NFP), and neutral condition (NTL). A comparative analysis of pollutant concentrations, frequency, and duration of each weather type during the lockdown and historical periods revealed that weather types had a minimal impact on pollutant levels, with emissions serving as the dominant factor. Nevertheless, the occurrence of FPA was often linked to severe pollution events, suggesting a positive feedback loop between severe pollution and FPA weather type. This indicated that FPA can lead to severe pollution events and more severe pollution may be associated with prolonged FPA durations. These findings suggest that identifying FPA weather patterns can significantly inform the implementation of air pollution control measures to mitigate air pollution levels.

Characteristics of Spatiotemporal Differentiation and Spillover Effects of Land Use Coupled with PM2.5 Concentration from the Perspective of Ecological Synergy—A Case Study of the Huaihe River Ecological Economic Belt

Under the rapid urbanization process, PM2.5 pollution has become an increasingly critical issue. Changes in land-use types will inevitably affect PM2.5 concentration. Meanwhile, the problem of imbalance and inadequacy of regional development remains prominent. This study took the Huaihe River Ecological Economic Belt as the research object, integrating the spatial econometric model with the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) models, to investigate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and spillover effect of the association between PM2.5 concentration and land use from 1998 to 2021. The main findings are as follows: (1) PM2.5 concentration in the study area from 1998 to 2021 showed an upward and then a downward trend, taking 2013 as a turning point, with respective magnitudes of 50.4% and 42.1%; (2) land use exerts a significant spillover effect on PM2.5 pollution. Except for grassland and cropland, the direct effect of each land type on PM2.5 pollution exceeds its indirect effect; (3) the influence of land use on PM2.5 pollution exhibits significant spatiotemporal variations. The impact coefficient of forests remains relatively consistent across the entire region, whereas that of cropland, water bodies, and impervious surfaces varies markedly across different regions, particularly in the northeastern and southern cities of the study area. The results of this study may give new ideas for collective governance and joint environmental remediation in different cities and probably provide some basis for the formulation of air pollution control policies and urban land planning.

Ultrasound-Induced Construction of CuxCo3−xO4/Attapulgite for Catalytic Degradation of Toluene

With the increasing demand for air pollution control, the development of efficient and stable catalysts to degrade hazardous VOCs such as toluene has become particularly important. Herein, various copper-doped attapulgite-supported cobalt oxide spinel composites (CuxCo3−xO4/ATP) were synthesized using an ultrasonic-assisted precipitation method. The results showed that the abundant Si-OH groups on the surface of ATP played a crucial role in anchoring Co, and the instantaneous high-energy input of ultrasonication facilitated the formation of Si-O-Co bonds in Co3O4/ATP. The doping of Cu ions induced the expansion of the Co3O4 lattice, resulting in a significant number of oxygen vacancies. The ultrasound-induced synthesized Cu0.1Co2.9O4/ATP catalyst exhibited the best catalytic oxidation performance, achieving a 99% toluene degradation rate at 300 °C under a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 10,000 mL·g−1 h−1 and initial toluene concentration of 1000 ppm, along with high stability during 12 h of continuous running. This work presents a new strategy for the cost-effective catalytic elimination of VOCs.

Time trends in coronary heart disease mortality attributed to outdoor PM2.5 in China: an age-period-cohort analysis using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

In China, coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant public health issue affecting the population's health. Evidence suggests that outdoor PM2.5 is a crucial environmental risk factor for CHD mortality. This study aims to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of CHD by analyzing the trend of CHD mortality attributed to outdoor PM2.5 in China from 1994 to 2019. Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. CHD mortality attributed to outdoor PM2.5 in China from 1994 to 2019 was extracted from the GBD Data tool. We used an age-period-cohort (APC) model based on the intrinsic estimator (IE) algorithm to decompose the age, period, and cohort effects related to CHD mortality attributed to outdoor PM2.5. From 1994 to 2019, the crude mortality rates (CMRs) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) of CHD attributed to outdoor PM2.5 in China showed an overall upward trend. The APC model analysis showed that the relative risk of CHD mortality attributed to outdoor PM2.5 increased exponentially with age, reaching 89.284 (95% CI: 48.669, 163.793) in the 90-95 age group. The period effect increased monotonically, with a relative risk of 3.699 (95% CI: 3.639, 3.760) in 2019. The cohort effect decreased monotonically, with the lowest relative risk of CHD mortality attributed to outdoor PM2.5 in residents born between 1990 and 1994, at 0.135 (95% CI: 0.031, 0.588). The older adult, a high-risk population, should receive more attention. In the future, continuous efforts should be made to strengthen environmental air pollution control and implement targeted health interventions to reduce the impact of outdoor PM2.5 on CHD mortality.

AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF AIR POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH IN MADURAI CITY

Air pollution is a wide-reaching problem and it is likely to influence the health of human populations is great. Human health is largely affected by the environmental. Death and human diseases are largely linked to air pollution patterns. This study was conducted with an objective to analyse the sources and effects of air that creates air pollution and to discuss the relationship between the air pollution and its effect on human health in Madurai city. The main sources of air pollution are industries, automobiles, coal combustion and electrical power plant. Major effects of air pollution include eye irritation, nose irritation, running nose, sore throat, coughing and wheezing. The empirical study is based on the sample survey of the city of Madurai. A total of 150 respondents were interviewed personally. The sample respondents a cross-section of different age groups, sex, educational levels, income levels of respondents and therefore it could be treated as a representative sample for such an exploratory study in Madurai city. The analysis has been carried out with the help of percentage method, chi-square test and Garrett’s ranking method. Generally, the suitable action will be taken to control air pollution. Public education appears to be the best method as suggested by the respondents. However, government and NGOs can play a significant role in this process. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, Pollutant, Human health, Effects

Synergies of air pollution control policies: A review.

Synergies of air pollution control policies: A review.

Association between particulate air pollution, physical activity, and the risk of osteoporosis in the UK Biobank.

Association between particulate air pollution, physical activity, and the risk of osteoporosis in the UK Biobank.

Research progress on red mud for carbon-containing air pollution control

Research progress on red mud for carbon-containing air pollution control

Underestimated industrial ammonia emission in China uncovered by material flow analysis.

Underestimated industrial ammonia emission in China uncovered by material flow analysis.

Defining air quality standards for pesticides through population exposure modeling.

Defining air quality standards for pesticides through population exposure modeling.

The environment effect and health benefit evaluation based on machine learning and prediction

PurposeTo maximize health synergistic benefits and provide a scientific foundation for enhancing air pollution control policies, this research proposed a causal inference framework with a decomposition ensemble prediction model for comprehensive policy assessment.Design/methodology/approachWe introduced the CD-OASVR-Ensemble-CC method, a policy assessment approach that combined machine learning-based decomposition ensemble prediction (CD-OASVR-Ensemble) with counterfactual contrast (CC) analysis. The CD-OASVR-Ensemble model incorporated support vector regression (SVR) optimized through swarm intelligent optimization algorithms (OA), complete ensemble empirical model decomposition of adaptive noise (CD) and a linear ensemble model (Ensemble). This approach was applied to analyze patterns in historical PM2.5 data and predict the future trend. The predicted PM2.5 served as a counterfactual trend, enabling an evaluation of the policy’s environmental and health effects.FindingsAnalysis of prediction errors confirmed the proposed CD-OASVR-Ensemble model’s accuracy and robustness in predicting PM2.5 levels. The findings indicated that the implementation of “Regulation 2019” led to a significant reduction in PM2.5 concentration, preventing an estimated 7,960 premature deaths and saving approximately 2,602.95 m yuan in health-related economic costs.Originality/valueThis study introduces an innovative framework for evaluating the environmental effect of policies, with a specific emphasis on health synergistic benefits.

Short-Term Relationship Between Air Pollution and Mortality from Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases in China, 2008–2020

Most existing epidemiological studies on the impact of air pollution on noncommunicable diseases have focused on urban areas, rather than nationwide studies that include rural areas. This study utilized a time-stratified case-crossover study that included deaths registered in the National Mortality Surveillance System from 2008 to 2020. Atmospheric particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated via the National Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the associations between short-term air pollution exposure and the risk of respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. There were increases in the risk of respiratory diseases (0.12%, 0.10%, 0.10%, 0.05%, and 0.40%) and CVDs (0.08%, 0.07%, 0.03%, 0.02%, and 0.22%) for each 10 μg/m3 increase in the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2, respectively, and for each 1 mg/m3 increase in the concentration of CO, which may be associated with the participants’ characteristics. The results of these national analyses indicate that ambient air pollutants are significantly associated with increased risks of respiratory disease and CVD death in both urban and rural areas, which is critical for air pollution control, especially in low- and middle-income areas.

Contribution and Mechanisms of BVOCs Emitted From a Typical Large Lake With Algal Bloom to O3 Levels in Lakeside Urban Areas

AbstractLakes near developed cities often experience algal blooms due to eutrophication, leading to odor and biogenic emissions that can potentially interfere with the formation of air pollutants such as O3 around these lakes. However, the impact and its pathways remain poorly understood. This study investigates the contributions of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions from Lake Taihu to O3 formation in surrounding regions using a numerical approach. Composite analysis, case studies, and process analysis reveal that BVOC emissions from Lake Taihu increase hourly near‐surface O3 concentrations, with a maximum rise of 25.5 μg m−3, improving model performance. The influence of lake BVOC emissions is large on the northwest side of Lake Taihu, primarily determined by the spatial emission patterns and dominant wind fields. The development of the planetary boundary layer, particularly the thermal internal boundary layer, and the enhanced lake breeze play important roles in increasing near‐surface O3 levels over land, whereas variations in temperature play a minor role. Vertical cross‐sections show that interactions between land‐lake breezes and background wind fields are critical for O3 transport, increasing surface concentrations in surrounding areas. Additionally, lake BVOC emissions intensify both daytime and nighttime gas‐phase chemical formation of O3, consuming nitrates and producing additional O3 within the lower troposphere. This study highlights the importance of local thermal circulations and lake BVOC emissions in O3 pollution, emphasizing the need for comprehensive air pollution control strategies in lakeside cities.

Health impact assessment on life expectancy gains ascribed to particulate matter reduction

How the shape characterization of the concentration-response relationships between particulate matter (PM) and all-cause mortality influences life expectancy (LE) gains remains unclear. Based on the Pearl River Cohort, the 2021 World Health Organization air quality guidelines, and an integrated comparative risk assessment framework, we identified sigmodal relationships between PM2.5, all-cause mortality, and LE reduction. A 10-unit increase in PM2.5 was associated with an excess mortality risk of 31.2% (95% uncertainty interval: 27.6–35.0%). Reducing PM2.5 to the guideline threshold of 5 μg/m3 could prevent 0.193 (0.175–0.212) million deaths, contributing to a 4.07–year (3.60–4.52) average LE gain. In contrast, PM2.5 reductions by 5.6% and 10% resulted in smaller LE gains of 0.33 (0.28–0.38) and 0.58 (0.49–0.67) years, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for the nonlinear relationship in air pollution control and provide essential incentives for tailoring sustainable plans to enhance population longevity.

A demographic optimization proximity model for air pollution exposure assessment

Air pollution poses a significant threat to human health. Effective and efficient assessing individual exposure intensity will provide a crucial reference to mitigate potential air pollution risk. Previous proximity models in scenario simulation method neglect the variations among individual absorption efficiency. In this study, we proposed a novel demographic optimization proximity model (DOPM) to quantified sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure risk under eight groups’ respiratory rates. In assessing exposure risk in Wuhan, one of the megacities in central China, we compared the capacity of DOPM and a classic proximity model on simulating exposure intensity, utilizing the near-Gaussian bi-square diffusion function and the filter optimal bandwidth. Subsequently, we utilized ordinary kriging (OK) interpolation to visualize the SO2 exposure risk map based on the simulation results of DOPM. We found that 9.5 km was the optimal bandwidth when near-Gaussian bi-square diffusion function utilized in proximity model. We also observed DOPM has stronger ability to simulate individual exposure intensity with a R-square of 0.44 when distinguished respiratory rate among receptors. These insights will aid public health researchers in assessing exposure risk across absorption efficiency and help local government officials devise more effective air pollution control strategies.