Air Pollution Load Research Articles

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis Of Oil Of Menthaarvensis Grown At Sites Varying With Vehicular Traffic Loads In Lucknow City, India

The demand of the essential oil of mint species; widely used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, is growing throughout the world. Owing its significance, it was felt important to know the changes in chemical characteristics of the oil, if any, for economic value when the crop of Mentha is grown near highways, railway tracks or areas having heavy traffic loads. To assess the effect of vehicular emissions on menthol (mint oil), transfer experiment study was conducted. Firstly, within the municipal premises of Lucknow city, five sites (Road stretches) were identified based on survey of Lucknow city and the available data on air pollution loads. Sites were selected which were differing from each other significantly in terms of the number of vehicles (source of pollution) plying on them but were quite similar to each other in other eco-physiological factors. On the select sites equal number of potted Menthaarvensis plants of the same age, height and vigour of saccham variety obtained from CSIR-CIMAP was kept to get exposed to auto-exhaust pollutants for one year. Irrigation regime at all sites was kept uniform to avoid the influence of any other variable other than vehicular emissions. An analysis of hydro-distillated essential oil of Menthaarvensis variety Sascham under FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) revealed some qualitative changes in the organic-compounds of the oil from plants grown at sites of Lucknow city loaded with high vehicular load (auto-exhaust pollutants) over plants kept under relatively pollution free site. Several indicator bands that are pertained to functional groups represent chemical components or metabolic products. The quantity of the peppermint oil extracted from plants of site having highest traffic loads, in turn maximum ambient pollutants (NO2, SO2, O3, SPM & RSPM) was also found less as compared to plants grown in less polluted site. International Journal of Environment, Volume-2, Issue-1, Sep-Nov 2013, Pages 16-25 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v2i1.9204

Emissions of two phthalate esters and BDE 209 to indoor air and their impact on urban air quality

Estimated emissions of decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE 209) and the two phthalate esters diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) to indoor air in the Stockholm conurbation, Sweden were used to assess the contribution of chemical outflows from the indoor environment to urban outdoor air pollution for these substances, by applying the recently developed Stockholm MUltimedia URban fate (SMURF) model. Emission rates of DINP from PVC materials were measured and published emission rates of DEHP were adapted to Swedish conditions. These were used as input to the model, as well as recently reported estimates of BDE 209 emissions to indoor air in Stockholm. Model predicted concentrations were compared to empirical monitoring data obtained from the literature and from additional measurements of phthalates in ventilation outlets and urban air performed in the current study. The predicted concentrations of the phthalates DINP and DEHP in indoor air and dust were within a factor of 1.5–10 of the measured concentrations. For BDE 209, predicted indoor concentrations were within the measured ranges, but measured concentrations showed a much larger variability. An adjusted emission scenario to better fit observed concentrations indoors was employed for DEHP and final outcomes resulted in estimated indoor emissions of 250 (50–1250), 2.9 (0.58–15), and 0.068 (0.014–0.34) kg year−1 for DEHP, DINP and BDE 209. These emissions could not explain the observed concentrations in urban air of the phthalates, suggesting an underestimation of background inflow or existence of additional sources in the outdoor environment. For BDE 209, the assessment indicates that the Stockholm indoor environment contributes about 25% to the air pollution load in inflowing background air, but additional monitoring data in urban air are needed to confirm this conclusion.

The health and nutritional status of Norway spruce stands in the Krušné hory Mts. 15 years subsequent to the extreme winter of 1995/96

Since 1994, the nutritional status and the air pollution load have been evaluated on 20 research plots, located in young Norway spruce stands in the ridge area of the Krušné hory Mts. The most recent acute damage to the spruce stands, in the winter of 1995/96, was connected with a long-lasting inversion situation in the eastern area of the Krušné hory Mts. Today, the health status of the spruce stands, expressed in terms of the crown defoliation, has recovered and is comparable to that found in other regions of the Czech Republic. The sulphur and fluorine content of the needles has decreased significantly. The long-term negative effect of acid deposition that contributes to the degradation of forest soils remains an important part of stressors acting on forest ecosystems in the region. In recent years, nitrogen and sulphur concentrations in the needles have increased slightly again. A long-term tendency towards a decrease in the phosphorus, calcium and potassium content of the needles was detected.   

Association between source-specific particulate matter air pollution and hs-CRP – role of fresh local traffic and industrial emissions

Background Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) air pollution and high traffic load at residence have been shown to induce systemic inflammation. So far epidemiological investigations on inflammatory markers have concentrated on effects of total PM2.5 and PM10, a mixture of pollutants originating from different sources. Little is known about source-specific PM and inflammation. Aims To investigate the association of source-specific (local traffic and industry) fine PM and hs-CRP, a widely used marker for systemic inflammation and an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Methods We used longitudinal data from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study,a prospective population-based German cohort of 4814 participants aged 45 to 75 years at baseline (2000-2003).We estimated individual 365-day mean exposure to local traffic- and industry-specific fine PM at participant’s residence by suppression of sources within a chemistry transport model. A linear mixed model with a random participant intercept was used to estimate associations of source-specific PM and log-transformed hs-CRP, controlling for age, sex, education, BMI, LDL/HDL, smoking habits, season and humidity. Results Analyzing 8,215 observations in 4,672 participants we observed positive associations between total PM2.5 and hs-CRP with a 2.83 % (95%-CI: 1.41 to 4.27 %) increase in hs-CRP level per 1 µg/m3 increase in total PM2.5. For traffic-specific PM2.5 we saw a 20.00 % (95%-CI: 9.36 to 31.34 %) increase, while the effect of industry-specific PM2.5 could not be separated from total PM due to high correlation (0.9). Results for PM10 were similar. Conclusions Our results suggest that local traffic-specific PM is more closely associated with systemic inflammation than total PM. Further investigations are needed to distinguish properly between total and industry-specific PM. Grant information: This study was funded by the German Research Council (DFG; JO 170/8-1, HO 3314/2-1).

Traffic induced emission estimates and trends (2000–2005) in megacity Delhi

Transport sector emission inventory for megacity Delhi has been developed for the period 2000–2005 to quantify vehicular emissions and evaluate the effect of relevant policy reforms on total emissions of various air pollutants like CO2, CO, HC, NOx, TSP, SO2, Pb and VOC’s over the years to assist in future policy formulations. Emission factor and vehicle utilization factor based approach as recommended by IPCC (2006) have been used for estimating emissions. CO level were found to increase continuously during the study period, other pollutants like CO2, TSP, NOx and SO2 declined in the initial years, which clearly seem to be the result of stricter emission norms and compressed natural gas conversion of public transport. The levels of NOx and TSP did not show appreciable rise during the study period, which is an indicator of CNG effectiveness as an alternative fuel. However, two-wheelers population were found to be a major contributor towards the air pollution load.

Morpho-Anatomical Characteristics of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Trees Leaf as Bio-indicator of Cement Dust Air Pollution in Libya

Comparisons were made between the anatomical and morphological changes in olive tree leaves from a site with relatively clean air (Al-Khadra area), and two sites (al-Khums and Zelatin) near to cement factories in the area east to Tripoli, Libya. Olive tree leaves exhibited marked variations in their morphological and anatomical characteristics, in relations to variations in the site cement dust air pollution load. Under high pollution load, leaf visible injuries were recorded. In addition, stomata appeared in higher density and smaller size than those of control. The anatomical characteristics of olive leaf including cuticle, epidermis, palisade tissue, mesophyll tissue, and elements of vascular cylinder (xylem and phloem) reflected the deteriorate effects of cement dust air pollutants, the subject which recommend their using as bio indicators.

Climatic isotope signals in tree rings masked by air pollution: A case study conducted along the Mont Blanc Tunnel access road (Western Alps, Italy)

Three sites at about 1400 m a.s.l., were chosen for this study along the Mt. Blanc Motorway in Italy. Chronologies of stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ18O, δ15N), total N concentration and ring width of Larix decidua Mill. were analyzed to observe changes in growth and climatic signals in tree rings after significant changes in air pollution emissions occurred locally over time. The tunnel opened in 1968 and was closed for three years from March 1999 to March 2002. The obtained series from the three sites (Close = C, High = H and Far = F from the highway) for the analyzed periods, 1950–1970 (only sites H and F) and 1985–2008 (all sites), did not show any particular long-term change except site H that showed significant changes in δ18O (enrichment), δ15N (depletion) and total N (increase). δ13C values at site C were enriched in the first year of the tunnel closure (1999), showing an opposite trend in δ13C at site C, in comparison to the two control sites H and F, which cannot be explained by climatic factors. Since no great differences in δ18O were recorded in 1999, this enrichment in δ13C could be related to an enhancement in photosynthetic rate during periods of low air pollution loads. Opposite to δ15N, total N concentration shows a generally good correlation between sites, and site F was measured as the most N enriched. In a correlation analysis performed on the two study periods between the climatic parameters and ring width, we did not find any clear relationships, whereas for the series of stable isotopes and total N, we found the strongest and most significant relationships only between δ13C and summer (June to August) temperature (positive correlations) and precipitation (negative correlations) at sites H and F. These same relationships at site C were, instead, mostly insignificant, indicating an alteration of the climatic signal recorded in the δ13C chronology, caused by direct exposure to the high level of air pollution at this site. Given that site C is more affected by pollution with respect to the other two sites (whereas the same climatic conditions influence tree growth at all sites), the lack of a climatic signal in the δ13C chronology at this site can be ascribed to air pollution. Few other long-term changes were recorded by tree rings (e.g. at site H), indicating that trees probably record better the pollution events or the worsening of the environmental conditions rather than a lack of pollution for a relatively short time period in a polluted environment.

English

  The Ota industrial estate being one of the largest in the southwestern Nigerian, contributes significantly to its socio-economic development. This study is design to generate the much needed industrial emission data for efficient environmental monitoring and compliance. The industrial pollution projection survey (IPPS) and rapid pollution inventory survey (RPIS) models developed by the World Bank were used for the estimation of pollution loads. The results showed that a total of 6970 tons/yr of air pollutants (SO2, NO2, CO, VOC and PM), 10800 tons/yr of wastewater pollutants (BOD and TSS) and 1090 tons/yr of toxic pollution (air, land and water) were released into the environment from the industrial estate. Carbon monoxide accounted for the highest air pollution load representing 57.5%. About 64.0% of the total pollution load of the industrial estate was contributed by industries in the basic metal, iron, steel and fabricated metal works sector. There is need for industrial emission monitoring and enforcement for pollution control and abatement. Similarly, efficient and environmentally friendly waste management practices should be adopted within the confines of this all-important industrial estate.   Key words: Industrial pollution projection survey (IPPS), rapid pollution inventory survey (RPIS), models, industrial estate, industrial emission, carbon monoxide

Estimation of pollution load from an industrial estate, south-western Nigeria

The Ota industrial estate being one of the largest in the southwestern Nigerian, contributes significantly to its socio-economic development. This study is design to generate the much needed industrial emission data for efficient environmental monitoring and compliance. The industrial pollution projection survey (IPPS) and rapid pollution inventory survey (RPIS) models developed by the World Bank were used for the estimation of pollution loads. The results showed that a total of 6970 tons/yr of air pollutants (SO 2 , NO 2 , CO, VOC and PM), 10800 tons/yr of wastewater pollutants (BOD and TSS) and 1090 tons/yr of toxic pollution (air, land and water) were released into the environment from the industrial estate. Carbon monoxide accounted for the highest air pollution load representing 57.5%. About 64.0% of the total pollution load of the industrial estate was contributed by industries in the basic metal, iron, steel and fabricated metal works sector. There is need for industrial emission monitoring and enforcement for pollution control and abatement. Similarly, efficient and environmentally friendly waste management practices should be adopted within the confines of this all-important industrial estate. Key words : Industrial pollution projection survey (IPPS), rapid pollution inventory survey (RPIS), models, industrial estate, industrial emission, carbon monoxide.

Effect of air and noise pollution on species diversity and population density of forest birds at Lalpahari, West Bengal, India

The Rajmahal-type quality stones for building purposes are found abundantly in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India, where stone mining and crushing have become the main industrial activity. Although crusher dust is injurious to health, demand for crushed stone is ever-increasing as a result of rapid infrastructural growth in the country. Most of the crusher units at Rampurhat are situated along the roadways adjacent to forest under Tumboni Beat of Rampurhat Range of Birbhum Forest Division. Excessive load of air pollution in this area has led to degradation of this forest. The status of the ambient air and noise level was evaluated. The effect of air and noise pollution on abundance and variability of birds in this forest have been compared to an almost non-polluted forest of the same bio-geographic zone. Both species diversity and population density of birds were found to decrease in the polluted forest, especially in the areas adjacent to crushers. For comparing the pollution status of two different forest sites and for establishing whether the density of birds have any correlation between the sites, the Student's t-test and the chi-square test were applied respectively. Most of the results proved to be significant.

Changes in the air pollution load in the Jizera Mts.: effects on the health status and mineral nutrition of the young Norway spruce stands

The article evaluates changes in the forest health status and nutrition, caused by the historical development of the air pollution load, in the Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) stands in the Jizera Mts. The Jizera Mts. are located in northern Bohemia, on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland close to western Saxony (Zittau). The 19 research plots selected on the plateau within the forest sites of the young Norway spruce stands were installed in 1991. Since 1993 the defoliation of the tree crown has been assessed every year; sampling of needles for nutrient analyses has also been undertaken annually. Soil samples were taken in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2009. Long-term investigation confirmed that the health condition of the trees, evidenced by crown defoliation, is influenced by a combination of various stress factors. To define the relationship between the crown defoliation, nutrients and stress element contents, a linear regression model was proposed. The model for the current year needles demonstrates that the defoliation of the spruce crowns in the Jizera Mts. is a function of the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium sulphur and fluorine concentration. The crown defoliation of the spruce stands is increasing with the decrease in the nitrogen and magnesium concentrations and the increase in the sulphur and fluorine concentrations in the needles. The unbalanced nutrition in the Jizera Mts. is affected by the ongoing nitrogen deposition to the forest ecosystem. This is manifested as a disturbed N:P and N:Mg ratios in the needles. Acidification of the soil environment and the phosphorus and magnesium deficiency may be limiting factors to the forest’s nutrition in the future. The optimal range of N:Mg ratio (8–30) is relatively wide for the Jizera Mts. The upper optimal limit for the young spruce stands in the Jizera Mts. should be decreased to 25. The comparison of the element concentration in the needles and mineral soil confirmed the nutritional threat and the deterioration in the condition of the spruce stands in the Jizera Mts.

Decrease in air pollution load in urban environment of Bratislava (Slovakia) inferred from accumulation of metal elements in lichens

The study illustrates the response of epiphytic lichens to changing atmospheric conditions in Central Europe, where the emission of air pollutants has significantly decreased from 1990, in the area in and around Bratislava City. Variation in concentrations of seven metal elements (Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the thalli of Evernia prunastri, Hypogymnia physodes and Parmelia sulcata is assessed. Samples of these species were exposed in lichen bags in 39 sites throughout the territory of the city (more than 300 km(2)) during the period December 2006-February 2007. The samples were analyzed by AAS for metal element contents prior to and after exposure. The decrease in air pollution (for all studied elements by more than 90%) corresponded to a decrease in the accumulation of elements in lichen thalli, e.g. the contents of Pb decreased by 69% and of Cd by 34% on average. The results show also variations in accumulation between with different lichen species. The background values of metal element contents in thalli of H. physodes growing in situ were measured in semi-natural sites in Slovakia. It is suggested that these can be used as a reference in large-scale monitoring studies in Central Europe. Analysis of compatible data from the current study, and the study performed at the end of 1990s shows a significant decrease of metal elements in the air pollution load.

Effects of the urban environmental conditions on the chlorophyll a fluorescence emission in transplants of three ecologically distinct lichens

The sensitivity of three foliose lichen species to urban environments with different air pollution loads and climatic conditions was tested using chlorophyll a fluorescence (Chl a F) PAM measurements. Transplants of Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr., Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale and Parmotrema perlatum (Huds.) M. Choisy collected in a pristine site of the Classic Karst (Trieste, NE Italy) were exposed for 12 weeks (August–December 2008) at that site (control, A), and in two urban sites with heavy traffic in Trieste (B) and Udine (C). Concentrations of the main gaseous pollutants were monitored by passive samplers in A (NO 2, O 3), and by pollution monitoring stations in B and C (NO X, NO 2, SO 2, O 3). In the laboratory, Kautsky curves were induced under standardized conditions at species-specific PPFD values before exposure, after 6 weeks and at the end of the exposure. Significant decrease in F v/ F m was only observed in P. perlatum transplants exposed in B, possibly as a consequence of the dry conditions of that site. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was negatively affected in all three species, although with different intensity, in both urban sites, but more intensively in C than in B. Chl a F data shows clearly that ( i) the decrease of NPQ was modulated by time exposure to NO X as well as by NO X concentration, and ( ii) the species response to pollutants was related to species ecology: X. parietina, which is more nitro- and xerophytic than the other two species, tolerated better the transplant environmental conditions, confirming recent floristic observations carried out in several urban areas of Central Europe.

The Sibyla model and development of beech forests affected by air pollution

AbstractThe paper deals with the health status, production and structure of autochthonous beech stands in the eastern part of the Krkonoše Mts. (Czech Republic). The region was affected by increased air pollution load due to long-range SO2 transmission from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. In 1980, five research plots were established in long unmanaged beech stands at an optimum stage. Tree coordinates and initial biometrical measurements were made in 1980 and repeated in 2005. The defoliation of individual trees was monitored every year (ICP Forests principles). The actual stand development is compared with the model development worked out by the Sibyla growth simulator in variants with a model of natural mortality and with entering a real mortality of trees. Differences between the stand characteristics of actual and simulated development of forest stands suggest some production losses. The reason to the losses can be seen in the long-term impact of air pollution in the first decade of monitoring and its after-effects on soil quality and worsening health condition of stands. The anticipated acceleration in the onset of the phase of stand disintegration under the influence of air pollution load was not demonstrated.

Influence of temperatures and precipitation on radial increment of Orlické hory Mts. spruce stands at altitudes over 800 m a.s.l.

Research on the influence of temperatures and precipitation on radial increment was carried out in spruce stands over ninety years old in the surroundings of Anenský vrch in the Orlické hory Mts. at altitudes over 800 m above sea level. To model diameter increment in dependence on climatic conditions, the standard tree-ring and correlation analysis together with the analysis of negative pointer years were used. The diameter increment has a statistically significant correlation with temperatures in July of each year in question. The growth of spruce is also affected to a statistically significant degree by precipitation in July of the previous year and by precipitation in February and March of the year in question. The standard tree-ring chronology shows an obvious decrease in radial increments starting at the beginning of the 1970s and ending at the end of the 1980s. The lowest increments were recorded for 1974, 1980, 1984 and 1986. These years with low increments were also confirmed by the analysis of negative pointer years. In the following period there is an increase in increments, with slight decreases in 1996 and 2000, which, however, according to the analysis of negative pointer years do not demonstrate any significant reduction of increments. Another decrease was recorded starting in 2003 and this lasted until the studied period, i.e. 2007. The current condition of spruce stands is certainly the result of more stressors but it appears that with the current air pollution load the climatic conditions are the factor determining the resulting effect of the synergic influence of the stressors on the stands.

A biomonitoring investigation of an oil refinery in Hungary based on mosses

In this study two moss species ( Tortula ruralis and Fontinalis antipyretica ) were used to indicate the relative levels of air and water pollution by ten heavy metals: Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Al, Fe and Pb at the territory of an oil refinery near to river Danube in Hungary. A period of one-month-long was studied in the summer of 2007. The elemental content of samples was determined by ICP-MS. Air pollution load of many heavy metals may originate from windswept soil dust or air depositing aerosols. The water biomonitoring did not indicate the increasing elemental load by the oil refinery.

The content of total sulphur and sulphur forms in birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves in the air-polluted Krusne hory mountains

In leaves of birch (Betula pendula Roth), changes in the content of total sulphur and its inorganic and organic forms were determined in relation to the decreasing air-pollution load (SO2) in the air-polluted Krusne hory mountains and the Decin sandstone highlands in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Results have shown that birch is able to use considerable amounts of sulphur taken through leaves from air-pollution load. Birch responds fast to changes in air-pollution load by fall in the content of total and inorganic forms of sulphur in leaves.

Effects of site conditions on the occurrence of Acalitus rudis (Canestrini) and Eriophyes leionotus (Nalepa) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in Czech Republic

Phytophagous eriophyid mites Acalitus rudis (Canestrini) and Eriophyes leionotus (Nalepa) (Acarina, Eriophyidae) occurr in the area of the eastern Ore Mountains (northwest Czech Republic). Basedon the evaluation of site and climatic conditions, they prefer lower parts of crowns of birch stands aged over 40 years located at 500–700 m alt., the 5th forest vegetation zone (Abies-Fagus), 6th forest vegetation zone (Picea-Fagus) and 7th forest vegetation zone (Fagus-Picea) and their edaphic categories K (acidophila) and S (mesotrophica). The intensity of attack was affected mostly by the host standtraits. Climate of attacked stands was characterized by long-term precipitation amounts of 700–1000 mm and mean annual temperatures 4.5–6°C, even though climate influenced only occurrence of A.rudis. Effects of air pollution on the occurrence of Eriophyidae were not proved probably due to their low population density. Gradual increase in population density of E. leionotus can be related to the decline of the air pollution load in the area of investigation.

PAHs in Stockholm window films: Evaluation of the utility of window film content as indicator of PAHs in urban air

The thin organic film that builds up on the exterior surface of windows has been proposed as a ubiquitously available passive sampler for semi-volatile organic contaminants (SOCs) in urban air. Readily available school windows were sampled in Stockholm city centre and suburban locations in both winter and summer season to evaluate the putative usefulness of this matrix for assessing the integrated load of urban air pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The window-area normalised concentrations indicated more PAH contamination in the winter than in the summer in both the city centre and suburban locations, with highest concentrations in the city centre in the winter (∑PAH 43 451–467 ng m −2). However, normalising the PAH load to the amount of fatty window film, as measured by extractable organic matter (EOM), gave a more homogeneous picture with the EOM-normalised PAH load being inseparable both between summer and winter and between city centre and suburban locations. To evaluate the possibility of quantitatively employing urban window films as a means to provide predicted environmental concentrations of PAHs in air (PEC air), window film–air partition coefficients of PAHs were estimated using a set of coupled linear free energy relationships and physico-chemical properties of PAHs. Assuming dynamic equilibria between PAHs in air and dissolved in the window film, the obtained PEC air from the window films were consistently overestimating the urban vapour-phase PAH concentrations by factors 4–135. This discrepancy is quantitatively consistent with a strong and overwhelming association with black carbon aerosol particles accumulated in the window film. For SOCs that have a lower tendency to associate with black carbon, bulk window film concentrations may work better than for PAHs to estimate their vapour-phase concentrations in urban air.

Air pollution load and stand nutrition in the Forest District Jablunkov, part Nýdek

Concentrations of air pollutants measured by passive samplers, atmospheric deposition to forest ecosystems, soil water chemistry, nutrient content in the soil and foliage were all measured within a study of the causes of forest decline in Nýdek Forest Range, Jablunkov Forest District (Silesian Beskids). Declining Norway spruce stands are situated in a region of historically high air pollution load, mainly from the Třinec and Ostrava agglomeration. Air pollution significantly decreased in the second half of the 1990s. Forest soils showing the insufficiency of main nutrients remain today as the main factor affecting the forest vitality. The situation in the soil is subsequently reflected in the nutrition level of the assimilation tissues. Simultaneous effects of other stressors (e.g. biotic, meteorological ones) can support a sudden worsening of the stand health and cause serious damage.