Air Pollution In Large Cities Research Articles

A Review on the Effects of Thermal Inversions and Electromagnetic Fields on Cell Cultures and Wireless Communications

Thermal inversions, typical in the winter season, consist of cold air at the Earth’s surface being trapped under a layer of warmer air. Such an effect keeps normal convective overturning of the atmosphere from penetrating through. This phenomenon highly increases the toxicity of the atmosphere, while modifying its dielectric constant, resulting in major implications in terms of public health and wireless communications. Indeed, air pollution in large cities (related, in most cases, to particulate matter that consists of different chemical components, which can have warming or cooling effects) is primarily caused by chemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. Appropriate usage of array antennas allows the effective tracking of changes in humidity (e.g., coated Yagi-Uda antennas, which do not interfere with 5G) and in the dielectric constant (e.g., optimized quasi-Yagi-Uda antennas, yielding to accurate measurements of sulfides and black carbon concentration). Remarkably, important health effects come from the combined action of electromagnetic fields with fine and coarse black carbon particles. The appearance of ducts, which are caused by thermal inversions, provokes the creation of super-refractive regions in the troposphere as well, which result in the anomalous propagation of wireless communications.

Machine Learning Models for Predicting Air Pollution

Abstract: The air quality monitoring system collects data of pollutants from different location to maintain optimum air quality. In the current situation, it is the critical concern,. The introduction of hazardous gases into the atmosphere from industrial sources, vehicle emissions, etc. pollutes the air. Today, the amount of air pollution in large cities has surpassed the governmentset air quality index value and reached dangerous levels. It has a significant effect on a human health. The prediction of air pollution can be done by the Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. Machine Learning (ML) combines statistics and computer science to maximize the prediction power. ML is used in order to calculate the Air Quality Index. Various sensors and an Arduino Uno microcontroller are utilized to collect the dataset. Then by using K- Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm, the air quality is predicted.

Aerosol pollution of the Moscow megacity by polyaromatic hydrocarbons: Seasonal variability and toxicological risks

Research on air pollution in large cities by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is one of the priority tasks for assessing air quality and environmental risks to public health. The chemical composition of aerosols sampled in spring (2018), 2019, and winter (2019–2020) at the Aerosol Complex of Moscow State University, located on the background territory of the Moscow Megacity, is analyzed. Sixteen priority PAH compounds were identified using gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The median value of the total concentration of the 16 PAHs (Σ16PAH) increases from the spring season (1.43 ng/m3) to the fall season (1.68 ng/m3) and then to the winter season (2.47 ng/m3). Based on the diagnostic relationships of PAHs, the dominant contribution of transport, industrial enterprises, and the heating system to the total emissions was determined. Pollution roses indicate the location of sources of maximum concentrations of low-, medium-, and high-molecular PAHs. Pollution episodes are distinguished: in the spring of 2018 under the influence of the transport of smoke plumes of agricultural fires and in the fall of 2019 as a result of petrogenic emissions and an increase in biomass burning in the residential sector around Moscow. In the winter and fall seasons, the highest values of carcinogenic (0.45 and 0.42) and mutagenic (0.58 and 0.55) equivalents for benzo(a)pyrene were recorded in comparison with the spring season (0.26 and 0.38). The lifetime risk of developing lung cancer, calculated from the data for three seasons, is 0.5 cases per one million people.

Characteristics of forecasting meteorological conditions of air pollution over Odesa

Formulation of the problem. The level of atmospheric air pollution in large cities is influenced by a number of factors, among which the most important are the emissions of pollutants into the air, the characteristics of the sources of admixtures, the landscape features, synoptic and meteorological conditions (Vystavnaya, Zubkovych 2014). The influence of the latter is associated with the scattering, washing out and transformation of harmful substances in the atmosphere, as well as the significant variability of their concentrations in space and time. The characteristics of the wind regime (wind direction and velocity), temperature inversions, and formation of low-troposphere currents are among the meteorological factors that most influence the concentrations of contaminants in the layer of atmosphere near the surface (Ivus 2017), (Agayar 2018) Shevchenko 2020). The purpose of the article is to develop and improve methods of forecasting meteorological conditions of atmospheric pollution over industrial areas of Odesa, as well as characterize the variability of meteorological values over the Northwest Black Sea. Methods. the data of four-time observations (01, 07, 13, 19 hours) for the main pollutants on the network of eight stationary posts for the February, April, July and October of 2011 are used as the initial materials. The catalog of typical synoptic processes over the territory of Ukraine for the period of 2011-2015 is compiled at the Department of Meteorology and Climatology of the OSENU. To clarify specific synoptic situations, synoptic maps of all levels (ground-level, AT-925, AT-850, AT-700 and AT-500) from the archive of the ARMSin (‘automatic forecaster workstation’- program for processing synoptic maps that is applied in Ukraine. Results. 1. CO concentrations in the city of Odesa increase with distance from the coastal strip in to the depth of land with maximum values in places with high traffic load, regardless of the season; 2. Absence of industrial facilities and meteorological conditions contribute to the low level of air pollution around post N 8. Exceedance of the maximum allowable concentrations of carbon monoxide is observed in 6 out of 8 observation posts; 3. Favorable conditions for the accumulation of admixtures are formed in peripheral processes with low-gradient pressure fields, in front parts of cyclones and in low-motion and small cyclones with the same air mass; 4. Temperature inversions almost always accompanied the accumulation of harmful admixtures in the ground layer of air above Odesa. Scientific novelty and practical significance. In this article we have analyzed influence of meteorological conditions on the level of atmospheric air pollution in Odesa region. For these purposes the more nuanced-based method of forecasting was adapted. We have demonstrated that its use has efficiency at the present time for improvement of operative prognostic units work for the Northwest Black Sea region. Such conclusions may be identified as a result of empirical findings.

Assessment of the NOх integral emission from the St.Petersburg megacity by means of mobile DOAS measurements combined with dispersion modelling

Megacities are strong sources of environmental pollution. Accurate estimates of the corresponding emissions are important to assess environmental impact and to ensure reliable operation of numerical atmospheric models. One of the most important factors of air pollution in large cities and industrial centers is anthropogenic emission of nitrogen oxides, NOx (= NO + NO2). St. Petersburg is the second largest industrial city in Russia and one of the largest northern megacities in the world. This study aims to experimentally derive the total NOx emission from the metropolitan area of St. Petersburg, based on data from mobile DOAS measurements of NO2 amount. We use data from a series of mobile experiments performed around the city in March and April 2019 and combine them with NO2 field calculations based on HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) simulations. As an initial approximation to a priori information on the spatial distribution of NOx emission sources in the St. Petersburg area, we consider ODIAC (Open-source Data Inventory for Anthropogenic CO2) data. Based on fitting the HYSPLIT simulation results to our mobile DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) measurements, and applying some assumptions about the daily, weekly and seasonal cycles of urban anthropogenic pollution, we obtained an experimental estimate of total NOx emissions of 77 ± 27 kilotons in 2019. Moreover, we managed to obtain an estimate of the contribution of urban thermal power plants to the total NOx emissions, which amounting to ∼28%.

REDUCING THE POLLUTION OF THE AIRSPACE OF THE CITY'S MAIN HIGHWAY AREAS

The article deals with problems of air pollution in large cities and how to solve them. In Europe, road transport produces nearly half of NOx emissions, which ensures urban air quality. Analysis of reference data has revealed scientists' active interest in reducing air pollution in large cities. However, since the objects of territorial planning continue to develop dangerously, one can speak of the absence of a sufficiently compelling concept of architectural and urban planning to ensure the environmental safety of the air basin of urban areas. Therefore, we propose to consider the object of the research and protection as systemic integrity of three entities: areas near trunk roads, air basins, and population. The paper presents an ER model of the research object and determines the main parameters of each entity, their interrelationships, and the action area. We propose an engineering and planning solution for installing special units to remove the most dangerous admixtures of nitrogen oxides and dust from the air basin near the city trunk roads through ozonation and absorption. The basis of the proposed treatment plant is a scrubber with combined processes of wet dust collection and ozonation characterized by high efficiency in removing fine dust and nitrogen oxides. The work presents a process flow diagram of purification and determines the operating conditions of the equipment. To substantiate the unit's operational safety in an emergency with ozone emission, we have simulated the process of ozone dispersion in the surrounding areas.

Assessing the health impacts attributable to PM2.5 and ozone pollution in 338 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2020

China has effectively reduced the fine particulate (PM2.5) pollution from 2015 to 2020. Ozone pollution and related health impacts have become severe contemporaneously. The coordinated control of PM2.5 and ozone is becoming a new issue for China's air pollution control. This study quantitatively assessed the health impacts attributed to PM2.5 and ozone pollution in 338 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2020 and estimated the possible health benefits from achieving dual concentration targets during 2021–2025. Results show PM2.5 caused a total health impact of 2.45 × 107 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2020. All-cause and respiratory ozone-related health impact in 2020 was 1.04 × 107 DALYs and 1.56 × 106 DALYs. Between 2015 and 2020, the PM2.5-related health impacts decreased by 14.97%, while those ozone-related increased by 94.61% and 96.54% for all-cause and respiratory. Cities in the North China Plain have suffered higher health impacts attributable to PM2.5 and ozone pollution, indicating that the two-pollutant coordinated control is primarily needed. By achieving aggressive concentration target (decreasing 10%) between 2020 and 2025, China will reduce the PM2.5-related health impacts in 338 cities by 1.56 × 106 DALYs (improving 6.37%). By achieving general target (decreasing 10% or within the Interim target-1 of World Health Organization), the PM2.5-related health benefit will be 7.98 × 105 DALYs (improving 3.25%). The deteriorating ozone health risks will also be improved. Controlling air pollution in large cities and regional center cities can achieve remarkable health benefits. Due to the inter-region, inter-province, and inter-city difference of health impacts, targeted and differentiated pollution prevention and control need to be implemented.

ASSESSMENT OF THE TECHNOGENIC IMPACT OF STATIONARY SOURCES OF POLLUTION ON THE CONDITION OF THE AIR POOL OF THE KYIV AGGLOMERATION

The aim of the article is to assess the impact of stationary sources of pollution of the Kyiv agglomeration on the state of its air basin. Atmospheric air pollution is known to be one of the leading elements in assessing the quality of human habitat because it has a detrimental effect on human health. The object of the study is the state of the atmospheric air of the agglomeration. The subject of the study is air pollution by stationary sources, identification of major pollutants, assessment of their man-made load on the air by emissions, by types of harmful substances, taking into account their danger by the values of maximum permissible daily concentrations and hazard class. Scientific and methodological support of monitoring tasks, comprehensive assessment of air pollution of agglomerations, both cities and their rural areas, is becoming increasingly important, especially where there are powerful stationary sources of air pollution. In the course of the research the enterprises – the main air pollutants of the agglomeration were identified, their emissions by types of harmful impurities were analyzed. The calculation of indicators of the hazard category of enterprises (HCE) on the volume of emissions, taking into account the values of the maximum allowable average daily concentrations and the hazard class of pollutants. To conduct a comprehensive assessment of man-made impact on the air, the calculation of the hazard indicator of the emission structure (HES) is proposed and their calculation is performed for certain enterprises. According to the proposed methodological approach, the values of aggregate indicators of man-caused load (MCLI) for stationary sources of pollution by numerical values of their HCE and HES are obtained. They comprehensively reflect the load on the air both due to emissions and due to the danger of harmful substances. Important measures to reduce volumes and improve the risk of emissions of harmful substances at enterprises are also indicated. Undoubtedly, promising methods are the study of air pollution in large cities and agglomerations, which are based on the use of geographic information technologies.

Математичний аналіз забруднення атмосферного повітря на території України з використанням даних з відкритих джерел

In recent decades, the global climate change determined as the increase in average annual air temperature, melting glaciers, increased evaporation of water and salinity of rivers, lakes, ponds, changes in the habitat of aquatic, groundwater and terrestrial animals, and human health and life expectancy, has been accepted as a fact. Because the countries of the world are closely linked by borders of air and water, any local pollution is transferred with the flow of air, surface and groundwater to other countries, lands and continents. Environmental assessment and forecasts for the coming years and decades are based on continuous monitoring data from meteorological, climatic, chemical and biochemical stations, laboratories and research groups. The result of these efforts is an online database with open access, which allows to visualize the monitoring results and process the data with new mathematical methods to obtain reliable indicators of the state of pollution. The article analyzes the state of air pollution in large cities in Ukraine on the basis of data processing from open sources. Indicators such as concentrations of gases CO, SO2, NO, NO2, chemicals C6H6O, CH2O, NH3, HF, HCl, C, as well as solid particles PM10, PM2.5, which are produced in industrial cycles using imperfect (obsolete) means, energy production, combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in car engines, etc are analyzed. Statistically significant relationships between pairs of the above parameters were obtained both on daily dependencies from open sources (time series) and on averaged data for each month, each city, and the country as a whole. It is shown that at the national level the city has statistically significant relationships between NO2 and NO, CH2O, С and СО.These dependencies differ in different cities and vary depending on the season (i.e. meteorological indicators). Thus, each city has its own dynamic statistical vector of dependencies between the content of measured substances, which indicates the sources of pollution in the form of enterprises, thermal power plants, road traffic and so on. Comparative data of PM2.5 pollution on the territory of Ukraine in comparison with neighboring countries are given. The need to create a common database with a single list of major pollutants, data processing methods, statistical indices and evaluation criteria is discussed.

Predicting the Olea pollen concentration with a machine learning algorithm ensemble.

Air pollution in large cities produces numerous diseases and even millions of deaths annually according to the World Health Organization. Pollen exposure is related to allergic diseases, which makes its prediction a valuable tool to assess the risk level to aeroallergens. However, airborne pollen concentrations are difficult to predict due to the inherent complexity of the relationships among both biotic and environmental variables. In this work, a stochastic approach based on supervised machine learning algorithms was performed to forecast the daily Olea pollen concentrations in the Community of Madrid, central Spain, from 1993 to 2018. Firstly, individual Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were applied to predict the day of the year (DOY) when the peak of the pollen season occurs, resulting the estimated average peak date 149.1 ± 9.3 and 150.1 ± 10.8 DOY for LightGBM and ANN, respectively, close to the observed value (148.8 ± 9.8). Secondly, the daily pollen concentrations during the entire pollen season have been calculated using an ensemble of two-step GAM followed by LightGBM and ANN. The results of the prediction of daily pollen concentrations showed a coefficient of determination (r2) above 0.75 (goodness of the model following cross-validation). The predictors included in the ensemble models were meteorological variables, phenological metrics, specific site-characteristics, and preceding pollen concentrations. The models are state-of-the-art in machine learning and their potential has been shown to be used and deployed to understand and to predict the pollen risk levels during the main olive pollen season.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality in Moscow

The results of an analysis of changes in the atmospheric air quality in Moscow during the lockdown period and the decline in business activity caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic are presented. The observed changes in urban air pollution represent a unique experiment to assess the impact of various anthropogenic influences on the composition of atmospheric air. The influence of weather factors and transport activity on the level of pollution in the spring of 2020 is considered. The level of the main pollutants in the atmosphere decreased by 30–50% during the period of lockdown, and a different type of changes was revealed near highways and in residential areas. This article discusses the possibilities and difficulties of using a “unique experiment” on a sharp decrease in traffic intensity in large cities to determine the contribution of various branches of the urban economy (transport, energy, industry, waste processing) to the total air pollution in large cities.

Application of Natural Carbon Isotopes for Emission Source Apportionment of Carbonaceous Particulate Matter in Urban Atmosphere: A Case Study from Krakow, Southern Poland

Successful mitigation of air pollution in large cities requires information about the structure of emission sources and their contribution to total atmospheric load. The presented research demonstrates a possibility of application of isotope tracers for the estimation of contribution of different sources to the carbonaceous fraction of PM2.5 (Particulate Matter containing fraction below 2.5 μm) collected in the urban atmosphere of Krakow, Poland during the summer and winter seasons. Isotope mass balance approach was used to perform source apportionment analysis for those two seasons. The analysis showed that the dominant source of the carbonaceous fraction of PM2.5 in Krakow is coal burning during the winter season and biogenic emissions during the summer season. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the uncertainty of the percentage contribution of different sources to the overall carbon load of the analyzed PM2.5 fraction is in order of a few percent.

Ecogeographical Problems of Air Pollution in the Big Cities of Azerbaijan

In connection with the development of urbanization, the protection of cities and the environment, issues of restoring the ecological balance become an urgent issue. The scale and intensity of product development in Azerbaijan enhance the anthropogenic impact on the nature of the regions. Such an effect is manifested in the pollution of soils with industrial, household waste, chemical fertilizers, the burning of hydrocarbons, the emission of harmful substances in the water and vehicles into the environment. Like in the whole world and in Azerbaijan, such negative processes are no exception. In this regard, the environmental problems of cities and urban agglomerations around the world are in the focus of attention of specialists and scientists. The presented article considers environmental and geographic problems that arose as a result of air emissions in 8 cities of Azerbaijan. The historical properties of studying atmospheric pollution in cities are analyzed, ecogeographic methods for studying atmospheric pollution of cities are identified, environmental pollutants of large cities and the ecogeographic properties of their influence are considered. The ecological properties of the geographical condition, meteorological climatic conditions in air pollution, aerospace research in the study of atmospheric pollution in large cities and the effect of pollution on the health of the population of large cities are studied. The transport system of cities, their geography, and the effect of emissions of harmful, poisonous substances into the atmosphere by vehicles on public health were also noted. Based on the methods for predicting atmospheric air pollution in large cities and the non-linear regression technique, a mathematical model of ecogeographic forecasting of air pollution is applied. Comprehensive indicators and the level of air pollution in unfavorable conditions for urban agglomerations are determined.

MODERN TRENDS OF AIR PURIFICATION USING SKYSCRAPERS

The article highlights the problem of air pollution in large cities. Sources of pollution and the most common pollutants have been identified. Examples of leading countries with the dirtiest air are given. The estimated indicators for the risks of disease and mortality are considered. The main factors causing air pollution have been identified. Ways to solve this problem using modern technologies are proposed. Analyzed are modern facilities in which innovative methods of combating air pollution are applied, and their implementation in real and conceptual design. The conclusion is drawn on the need for an integrated approach to this topic, uniting the efforts of all countries.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE SYSTEM OF SOCIAL AND HYGIENIC MONITORING OF TERRITORIES OF LARGE CITIES

Analysis of the air pollution in large cities with heavy traffic allowed to establish a presence of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the air. By investigations there were established quantitative characteristics of the relations in the system “air pollution road by transport emissions - the morbidity rate in the children population”. Products of the deterioration of the road system and the exhaust gases were established to determine from 58 to 81% of diseases in children living in the zone of the exposure to roads with heavy traffic (more than 3,000 of cars/hour). From 16 to 23% of the diseases are caused by products of the deterioration of the road network, including 8 to 12% of heavy metal compounds. The assessment of air pollution in large cities by exhaust gases and products of wear and tear of the road transport sector is currently insufficient. Information should be taken into account in the organization of social-hygienic monitoring, medical care and assessment of health risk. There is the necessity of perfection of the system of socially-hygienic monitoring on the territories of cities through the organization of control of air pollution by metal compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Competition of electric vehicles with other means of road transport over the past 150 years: a survey

Automobiles as a new means of road transport had to compete with horses at the end of the 19th century. Automobiles won the competition because they were faster, cheaper to operate, and produced less pollution. The potential consumer had a choice between vehicles with electric, internal combustion or steam engines in the 1900s. Electric vehicles were considered as more reliable and cost effective. Mass production made gasoline vehicles affordable and easy-to-use. Electric vehicles lost the competition with them since 1910s. Air pollution in large cities has renewed the interest in electric vehicles at the end of the 20th century. Expressions for estimation of well to wheel energy efficiency of electric and gasoline vehicles in miles per gallon have been obtained. Electric vehicles are more well to wheel energy efficient than gasoline cars. Price-performance ratio for electric vehicles today is higher than it was in the 1900s.

Competition of electric vehicles with other means of road transport over the past 150 years: a survey

Automobiles as a new means of road transport had to compete with horses at the end of the 19th century. Automobiles won the competition because they were faster, cheaper to operate, and produced less pollution. The potential consumer had a choice between vehicles with electric, internal combustion or steam engines in the 1900s. Electric vehicles were considered as more reliable and cost effective. Mass production made gasoline vehicles affordable and easy-to-use. Electric vehicles lost the competition with them since 1910s. Air pollution in large cities has renewed the interest in electric vehicles at the end of the 20th century. Expressions for estimation of well to wheel energy efficiency of electric and gasoline vehicles in miles per gallon have been obtained. Electric vehicles are more well to wheel energy efficient than gasoline cars. Price-performance ratio for electric vehicles today is higher than it was in the 1900s.

STATISTICAL METHODS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF AIR POLLUTION OF JHANSI CITY, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Studies on air pollution in large cities of India showed that ambient air pollution concentrations are at such levels where serious health effects are possible. This paper presents overview on the status of air quality index (AQI) of Jhansi city by using multivariate statistical techniques. This base line data can help governmental and non-governmental organizations for the management of air pollution.

THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TAX TO REDUCE POLLUTANTS FROM CAR EXHAUSTS IN EGYPT - FIELD STUDY

environment in general and Egypt in particular suffer from great problems related to the environment and its pollution. report of the Ministry of Environment showed that car exhaust is one of the main sources of air pollution in large cities with high traffic density, especially in Greater Cairo, which suffers from traffic problems and congestion due to the increase in the number of vehicles on energy problem of air pollution is exacerbated by the exhaust of cars due to the aging of the fleet of cars in Egypt and the increase in age and survival in service despite the low efficiency of engines of these cars and increase their consumption of fuel compared to modern cars Thereby increasing their harmful emissions. The researcher discussed the theoretical aspect of the research to the problem of research and the increase in the volume of environmental pollutants produced by the industrial and technical changes that prevailed throughout the world, including Egypt, and increase the size of contaminants for car exhausts. research aims to activate the role of environmental taxes in the treatment of pollutants caused by car exhausts, And the construction of a proposed model and a mechanism for the enforcement of the environmental tax on cars in Egypt. study adopted the basic premise: The application of the environmental tax to pollutants caused by car exhausts has significant positive effects on the environmental level. Keywords: Environmental taxation; environmental regulation; pre-existing taxes; tax interactions; Government expenditure

Outdoor air pollution affects tuberculosis development based on geographical information system modeling

Background : Daily intake of air is 30 Ib as compared with 2-Ib of food and 4½ of water. Thereby, breathing-contaminated air is as harmful as drinking or eating contaminated water or food, respectively. Recent research has highlighted the extent of outdoor air pollution in large cities and warranted high-quality studies to clarify the magnitude of the problem. Here, we evaluated the possible association between tuberculosis (TB) development and exposure to outdoor air pollution in a metropolitan city of Tehran. Methods: Extraction and analysis of relevant data. Investigation performed on TB patients (n = 1167) that were residing in Tehran for the past 10 years. The average concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO), and particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5) and ≤ 10.0 (PM10) was measured from Tehran Air Quality Control Corporation (TAQCC). Patient and ecological informations were analyzed using geographical information system. Results: Based on TAQCC, Tehran had an average of 180–250 polluted days per year for the last 10 years. The high incidence of pulmonary TB (18 to 31/100,000) was detected in populations which were exposed to high concentration of CO (2.7 to 5.2 parts per million, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.10 to 1.90) and PM2.5(35 to 42μg/m3; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.80). The level of SO2,NO, and PM10was also high but not significantly related to TB (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The long-term exposure to PM2.5 and CO was positively associated with TB development.