Effects Of Atmospheric Pollution Research Articles

Dynamic Surveillance System for Contamination Accidents in Chemical Industry Park Based on Internet of Things

In recent years, the frequently occurring contamination accidents in the chemical industry parks in China has posed great threats to the healthy development of the national economy and social stability. For this purpose, this paper conceives a set of dynamic surveillance system against such accidents, which, on the premise of rapidity, simplicity, and reliability principles, revamps and redesign the HYSPLIT air pollution model for the interface, architecture, and functions, wholly integrates with air pollution diffusion model, numerical meteorology forecasting model, and the Geographic Information System (GIS). With the business operation mode, this system can effectively warn against the “uncertainty” of atmospheric pollution events in the chemical industry park, timely access the information about whether any pollutant exceeds allowable limits when an accident occurs. In the response to the emergency accident, it enables quantitative analysis and visual expression on chemical pollutant concentration limits, development trends and health risks, so as to provide an effective business and information support for decision commanders.

PO-002 Relationship between Air Pollution and College Students' Stamina

Objective To find out whether the air quality in the long growing areas of adolescents affects their cardiorespiratory function through experiments.
 Methods Through the classified statistics of the habitation of the students at H university，and the related statistics of the physical fitness test scores in the first and last year of college (men's 1000 meters run, the women's 800-meter run and vital capacity) and the average index of air pollution.
 Results 1.There are positive correlation between pollution index of key cities all over the country and vital capacity of freshman in the region, but after four years living under a common environment, correlation of female lung capacity level and regional air pollution index disappears, while the correlation enhances of boys. 2. Senior students’ vital capacity results are improved; 3.There is no obvious relation between the endurance performance of freshman and senior and regional pollution index. 
 Conclusions 1 Air pollution and lung capacity are positively correlated, more exercise can weaken the effect of atmospheric pollution on lung. 2 After four years of urban life where the atmospheric pollution index is low, lung function can get some improvement. 3 Superimposed effects of smoking and air pollution is more severe to the lungs, last longer and less reversible .

Short-term exposure to air pollution might exacerbate autoimmune diseases

Background: Mortality and cardiorespiratory diseases are well-documented effects of atmospheric pollutants. Because epigenetic mechanisms are identified as interaction factors between environmental exposures and gene expression, as well as pathogenic factors of impaired immune tolerance, it seems relevant to study autoimmune diseases in relation to air pollution. Methods: To study whether daily increases of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are associated with exacerbations of autoimmune diseases, a total of 23,898 residents of Rome (Italy) who were diagnosed in 2003–2014 with Hashimoto thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis were enrolled. Exacerbations were defined as subsequent hospitalizations for the initial disease or its complications, or a different autoimmune disease, and as dose increases or time reductions between drug prescriptions for autoimmune diseases. Data were analyzed for 2006–2014. Daily concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 in Rome were available from a fixed monitoring network, during 2006–2014. A time-stratified case-crossover study was carried out. Results: All air pollutants were associated with more frequent changes than usual in treatment for all autoimmune diseases; the greatest increases in risk were observed for PM2.5 (10 μg/m3 increase) in thyroiditis (3.31% [2.21%, 4.2%]), lupus (3.55% [0.70%, 6.49%]), arthritis (4.93% [2.11%, 7.83%]), and psoriasis (4.04% [0.21%, 8.01%]). No associations were observed for hospitalizations for all studied diseases, whereas changes toward lower corticosteroids’ dose in multiple sclerosis and less effective corticosteroids’ forms in psoriasis were observed. Conclusions: PM2.5 and NO2 might exacerbate autoimmune diseases. As detected with treatment changes especially in younger patients.

Assessment and forecast of the ecological situation in St. Petersburg in terms of air pollution and public health indicators

Changes in the ecological situation over the last 35 years, corresponding to the period of economic transformations in Russia, were considered using the data of state statistics on atmospheric air pollution and morbidity of the population in St. Petersburg. Two stages of changes in anthropogenic impact on the environment were highlighted. During the first stage (1993–2008) the total volume of pollutant emissions in the atmospheric air decreased threefold due to the decline in industrial production in the city. The second stage (from the beginning of 2009) is characterized by an increase in the total amount of emissions more than twofold, caused by a significant growth the role of vehicles as a polluter of the air. During the period under review, the incidence of the population has increased significantly too. This manifested itself especially clearly in the period 2005–2009 when the primary incidence of the population in St. Petersburg increased by 1,4 times. During the period under review, there were significant changes in the incidence of the population in the districts of St. Petersburg. It was demonstrated that in the industrial Kolpinsky and in the Tsentralny districts the primary morbidity of the child population rose sharply in the late 1990s and, according to this indicator, these districts moved from the 10th and 11th places to the first places in the city. Based on the results of the non-carcinogenic health risks assessment associated with the inhalation of priority pollutants into the body, it was concluded that the greatest incidence of the population among the administrative districts of the city could be expected in the Tsentralny district, and the Kolpinsky district will move to the sixth place on this indicator. The lowest risk of development of non-carcinogenic effects during the combined effect of atmospheric pollutants is in the Petrodvortsovy district. It is pointed out the need to take measures to reduce the man-caused (transport) load on the urban environment in districts with high rates of non-carcinogenic health risks. The adoption of priority measures in the Tsentralny District of St. Petersburg is justified.

Evaluation of vehicular pollution using the TRAD-MCN mutagenic bioassay with Tradescantia pallida (Commelinaceae)

Biomonitoring is one of the tools used to assess the mutagenic potential of the atmosphere. In this study, the mutagenicity of Tradescantia pallida, a species of plant largely present in urban environments, was investigated. The objectives of this study was to estimate the mutagenic potential of vehicular flow through the TRAD-MCN bioassay in cities located at different altitudes in the southwest mesoregion of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, to infer possible abiotic agents that may contribute to the effects of atmospheric pollutants, and finally to map the cities with greater risks to the health of the local population. To achieve these objectives, the Tradescantia-micronucleus test was performed on young buds of T. pallida collected between August 2015 and August 2016 in nine cities of Mato Grosso do Sul. These buds were exposed to traffic flows of various intensities. The data collected consisted of measurements of meteorological parameters and vehicular traffic counts for each city. The variables considered were: mean ambient temperature; micronuclei frequency; vehicular flow; altitude; relative humidity; pluviosity. The application of the Trad-MCN bioassay, with the consideration of environmental variables and altitudes, and the use of the Kernel interpolation technique, allowed us to map the areas with significant pollution risks to the population. The highest frequency of exposure to mutagens occurred in the cities with the highest vehicular traffic intensity. The average ambient temperature failed to show a linear association with the frequency of the micronuclei in the samples analyzed (r = 0.11ns). A positive correlation was observed between micronuclei frequency and vehicular flow, (r = 0.67; p ≤ 0.001%) and between micronuclei frequency and altitude (r = 0.24; p ≤ 0.05). A negative correlation was found between relative humidity and micronuclei frequency (r = −0.19; p ≤ 0.05%). Thus, higher micronuclei frequency tended to be present in locations with low relative humidity and high altitudes and vehicular flow.

Air pollution and control: Past, present and future

The quality of air is closely related to everyone’s life. However, due to the intense industrialization and urbanization, air pollution has affected or is affecting the health of the public. Since the notorious London smog and the Los Angeles photochemical smog events, the air pollution has been developing rapidly in recent years in some developing countries such as China and India. The essence of air pollution hazard is the impact of air pollutants on human health and environment. In view of the fragmentation of the research and one-sided knowledge of someone on air pollution and control, this paper is documented to review the whole status of technology development in this research field, to clarify the formation and elimination mechanism of air pollution, to correctly understand the hazard of air pollution and to promote the precise management of air pollution control. The research of the air pollution hazard is essentially the study of the effect of atmospheric pollution on human health and environment. The past, present and future status of air pollution and its control will be reviewed in this paper from the perspective of physical, chemical and biological process which are be modeling using mathematical technique, coding and programing. Meanwhile, the history, present and existing problems on atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, emission inventory, atmospheric environment monitoring, meteorological field forecast, air quality forecast, source apportionment and tracing source, the impact of air pollution on human health, and atmospheric pollution control are well summarized. From the classical analytical methods developed in the middle of the last century such as the Gaussian method to the numerical methods generally used so far, the physical processes of transmission, diffusion and sedimentation of pollutant are described and solved. The chemical processes represented by the London smog incident mainly sulfur compounds, by Los Angeles photochemical smog mainly O3 and nitrogenous compounds, and by Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei fog-haze pollution mainly mixture of nitrogen- containing compounds and sulfur-based compounds have made breakthrough progresses, and the chemical mechanism are basically clear. A series of biological effects will be occurred when the pollutants are inhaled. The chemical composition of air pollutants will have oxidative stress reactions, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, causing inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer and birth defects. At present, the research on the physical process is relatively mature, and the accuracy and effective days of weather forecast are increasing and extending gradually. However, the two-way feedback mechanism of meteorology and atmospheric pollution is still a difficult issue. The understanding of the main chemical processes is basically clear, but a large number of unknown reaction mechanisms need to be further explored, especially the chemical mechanism of the explosive growth of PM2.5. Cognition of biological processes is still preliminary, which are based primarily on statistical analysis but lack a theoretical basis and are needed to be further explored. The theoretical framework, as well as core issues of air pollution hazard identification and control, are be put forward and pointed out based on the theories, techniques, methods and standards of inversion and generation of emission sources, particle toxicity identification, chemical process assimilation, health risk prediction and early warning, synchronization source apportionment of predicting results, and dynamic optimal control are not yet mature, which are the main focus for future development, due to the extremely complicated and staggered influence as well as constraints on physical process, chemical process, biological process as well as mathematical description and computer calculation principle of air pollution and prevention. If the toxicity of pollutants is directly related to health risks, which may provide more direct, effective and scientific technological support for air pollution emergency optimal control as well as the optimal issues of industrial, energy structure adjustment and heavy pollution sources layout, it will play a fundamental role to meet the objective needs of identifying accurately pollution sources, achieving targeted management and promoting ecological civilization construction.

Relationship between air pollution and the number of pneumonia hospitalization in a children's hospital in Changsha

To explore the relationship between air pollution and the number of pneumonia hospitalization in a children's hospital in Changsha. Methods: Children who have been in this hospital for the treatment of pneumonia between December 2013 and December 2015 were enrolled in this study. Based on daily meteorological data and air pollution data from December 2013 to December 2015 in Changsha, we constructed a generalized additive model to analyze the relationship between air pollution and the number of pneumonia hospitalization. Results: During the research, the average concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded the Grade II national standards for air quality. The average concentration of SO2 exceeded the Grade I national standards. The change of all the 3 main air pollution indexes showed strong statistical relationship with the change of the number of pneumonia hospitalization (P<0.05), among which, the impact of SO2 ranked number 1, followed by PM2.5 and PM10. Effect of atmospheric pollution on the number of pneumonia boys was basically same as that in the total pneumonia children (P<0.05). The effect on girls showed no statistical relationship in both models (P>0.05). Conclusion: The concentrations of SO2, PM2.5 and PM10 are positively correlated with pneumonia hospitalization number of children, and their effect on boys is more obvious than that in the girls.

Elucidative analysis and sequencing of two respiratory health monitoring methods to study the impact of varying atmospheric composition on human health

Atmospheric composition of ambient air consists of different gases in definite proportion that affect the earth's climate and its ecological system. Due to varied anthropogenic reasons, this composition is changed, which ultimately have an impact on the health of living beings. For survival, the human respiratory system is one of the sensitive systems, which is easily and closely affected by the change in atmospheric composition of an external environment. Many studies have been conducted to quantify the effects of atmospheric pollution on human health by using different approaches. This article presents different scenario of studies conducted to evaluate the effects on different human groups. Differences between the studies conducted using spirometry and survey methods are presented in this article to extract a better sequence between these two methodologies. Many studies have been conducted to measure the respiratory status by evaluating the respiratory symptoms and hospital admissions. Limited numbers of studies are found with repeated spirometry on the same subjects for long duration to nullify the error arising due to decrease in efforts by the same subjects during manoeuvre of pulmonary function tests. Present study reveals the importance of methodological sequencing in order to obtain more authentic and reliable results. This study suggests that impacts of deteriorating atmospheric composition on human health can be more significantly studied if spirometry is done after survey analysis. The article also proposes that efficiency and authenticity of surveys involving health impacts will increase, if medical data information of patients is saved in hospitals in a proper format.

Volatile-Mediated Interactions between Cabbage Plants in the Field and the Impact of Ozone Pollution.

Plants constitutively release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but qualitatively and quantitatively alter their emission of VOCs in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. The blend of VOCs emitted reflects the physiological status of the plant. Plants may be exposed to the VOC blend emitted by their near neighbors and gain information that allows them to adjust their own defenses. These plant-plant interactions may potentially be exploited to protect crops from pests, but they can be disturbed by abiotic factors making the process sensitive to environmental perturbation. Despite numerous studies describing plant-plant interactions, relatively few have been conducted with agriculturally significant cultivated plant varieties under field conditions. Here we studied plant-plant interactions in a conspecific association of Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) and show that undamaged plants exposed to neighbors damaged by the herbivore Pieris brassicae are primed for stronger volatile emissions upon subsequent herbivore attack. We conducted a field study in an ozone free-air concentration enrichment (FACE) facility with ambient and elevated ozone levels and found that elevated tropospheric ozone significantly alters the priming of VOCs in receiver plants. We conclude that plant-plant interactions may prime defensive attributes of receiver plants under field conditions, but are impaired by ozone pollution. Therefore, when planning the manipulation of plant-plant interactions for agricultural purposes, the potential effects of atmospheric pollutants should be considered.

Toxicological effects of particulate matter (PM2.5) on rats: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant alterations, lipid damage, and ABC transporter activity

Previous studies have demonstrated the harmful effects of atmospheric pollutants on cardiac systems because of the presence of particulate matter (PM), a complex mixture of numerous substances including trace metals. In this study, the toxicity of PM2.5 from two regions, rural (PM2.5 level of 8.5 ± 4.0 μg m−3) and industrial (PM2.5 level of 14.4 ± 4.1 μg m−3) in Brazil, was investigated through in vivo experiments in rats. Metal accumulation and biochemical responses were evaluated after rats were exposed to three different concentrations of PM2.5 in saline extract (10× dilution, 5× dilution, and concentrated). The experimental data showed the bioaccumulation of diverse trace metals in the hearts of groups exposed to PM2.5 from both regions. Furthermore, mobilization of the antioxidant defenses and an increase in lipid peroxidation of the cardiac tissue was observed in response to the industrial and rural area PM2.5. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was increased in groups exposed to the 5× and concentrated rural PM2.5. Additionally, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter activity in the cardiac tissue exposed to PM2.5 was reduced in response to the 5× dilution of the rural and industrial region PM2.5. Histological analysis showed a decrease in the percentage of cardiac cells in the heart at all tested concentrations. The results indicate that exposure to different concentrations of PM2.5 from both sources causes biochemical and histological changes in the heart with consequent damage to biological structures; these factors can favor the development of cardiac diseases.

Atmospheric pollution and menstrual cycle.

Introduction: A small number of studies have suggested possible effects of atmospheric pollutants on fecundity (a couple’s ability to conceive) and male fecundity parameters. However, female fecund...

Air Pollution Monitoring in Delhi City by Using Lichen Transplant Technique

Air pollution biomonitoring was first time done in Delhi by using lichen transplanted technique (LTT). Lichens are biomonitoring indicator and effect of atmospheric pollutants on physiological integrity was examined. Samples made of epiphytic foliose lichen Pyxinecocoes(Sw.) Nyl. were actively transplanted at five different sites in Delhi (bus-stop, residential area, commercial area, industrials area and highways) for monitoring the quantitative estimation of heavy meatls (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn) contained in the lichen thallus at vertical positions and also potential quantum yield of photosystem II (fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm), change in the concentration of pigmentation and chlorophyll degradation ratio. The highest concentration is of Iron (Fe) in all the sites and the lowest concentration is of Cadmium (Cd) in all the sites. Two metals Arsenic (As) and Chromium (Cr) were not detected (N.D) in any of the sites in the present study. Rain also interrupted the transplantedperiod. Bus-stop and highways are most polluted as compared to residential, commercial area. It was also evident from this study that vehicular emission played a significant role in the releasing of elements as pollutants in the surrounding environment.

Sources of chemical species in rainwater during monsoon and non-monsoonal periods over two mega cities in India and dominant source region of secondary aerosols

Samples of rainwater (RW) were collected to characterize the chemistry and sources in two representative megacities at Pune (Southwest) and Delhi (Northern) India from 2011 to 2014 across two seasons: monsoon (MN) and non-monsoon (NMN). Collected RW samples were analyzed for major chemical constituents (F−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), pH and conductivity. In addition, bicarbonate (HCO3−) was also estimated. The mean pH values of the RW were >6 at Pune and <6 at Delhi and 4% and 26% were acidic, respectively. The mean sum of all measured ionic species in Pune and Delhi was 304.7 and 536.4 μeq/l, respectively, indicating that significant atmospheric pollution effects in these Indian mega cities. Both the Ca2+ and SO42− were the dominant ions, accounting for 43% (Pune) and 54% (Delhi) of the total ions. The sum of measured ions during the NMN period was greater than the NM period by a factor of 1.5 for Pune (278.4: NM and 412.1: NMN μeq/l) and a factor of about 2.5 for Delhi (406 and 1037.7 μeq/l). The contributions of SO42− and NO3− to the RW acidity were ∼40% and 60%, respectively, at Pune and correspondingly, 36% and 64% at Delhi. The concentrations of secondary aerosols (SO42−and NO3−) were higher by a factor of two and three when the air masses were transported to Pune from the continental side. At Delhi, the concentrations of SO42−, NO3−, Ca2+, and Mg2+ were significantly higher when the air masses arrive from Punjab, Haryana, and Pakistan indicating the greater atmospheric pollution over the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Positive matrix factorization was applied to the source apportionment of the deposition fluxes of these ions. Three factors were obtained for Pune and four for Delhi. The sources at Pune were secondary aerosols from fossil fuel combustion, soil dust, and marine, whereas, at Delhi, the sources were soil, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, and industrial chlorine.

Air Pollution Monitoring in Delhi City by Using Lichen Transplant Technique

&lt;p&gt;Air pollution biomonitoring was first time done in Delhi by using lichen transplanted technique (LTT). Lichens are biomonitoring&lt;br /&gt;indicator and effect of atmospheric pollutants on physiological integrity was examined. Samples made of epiphytic foliose lichen&lt;br /&gt;Pyxinecocoes(Sw.) Nyl. were actively transplanted at five different sites in Delhi (bus-stop, residential area, commercial area, industrials&lt;br /&gt;area and highways) for monitoring the quantitative estimation of heavy meatls (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn) contained in the lichen&lt;br /&gt;thallus at vertical positions and also potential quantum yield of photosystem II (fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm), change in the concentration of&lt;br /&gt;pigmentation and chlorophyll degradation ratio. The highest concentration is of Iron (Fe) in all the sites and the lowest concentration is of&lt;br /&gt;Cadmium (Cd) in all the sites. Two metals Arsenic (As) and Chromium (Cr) were not detected (N.D) in any of the sites in the present study.&lt;br /&gt;Rain also interrupted the transplantedperiod. Bus-stop and highways are most polluted as compared to residential, commercial area. It was&lt;br /&gt;also evident from this study that vehicular emission played a significant role in the releasing of elements as pollutants in the surrounding&lt;br /&gt;environment.&lt;br /&gt;Key words: Lichens, Heavy metals, Biomonitoring, LichenTransplant Technique&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;DOI: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a id="pub-id::doi" href="http://dx.doi.org/10.21756/cba.v1i1.11018"&gt;http://dx.doi.org/10.21756/cba.v1i1.11018&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Complex Physiological Response of Norway Spruce to Atmospheric Pollution - Decreased Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Unchanged Tree Biomass Increment.

Atmospheric pollution critically affects forest ecosystems around the world by directly impacting the assimilation apparatus of trees and indirectly by altering soil conditions, which subsequently also leads to changes in carbon cycling. To evaluate the extent of the physiological effect of moderate level sulfate and reactive nitrogen acidic deposition, we performed a retrospective dendrochronological analysis of several physiological parameters derived from periodic measurements of carbon stable isotope composition (13C discrimination, intercellular CO2 concentration and intrinsic water use efficiency) and annual diameter increments (tree biomass increment, its inter-annual variability and correlation with temperature, cloud cover, precipitation and Palmer drought severity index). The analysis was performed in two mountain Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands of the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic, central Europe), where moderate levels of pollution peaked in the 1970s and 1980s and no evident impact on tree growth or link to mortality has been reported. The significant influence of pollution on trees was expressed most sensitively by a 1.88‰ reduction of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C). The effects of atmospheric pollution interacted with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature. As a result, we observed no change in intercellular CO2 concentrations (Ci), an abrupt increase in water use efficiency (iWUE) and no change in biomass increment, which could also partly result from changes in carbon partitioning (e.g., from below- to above-ground). The biomass increment was significantly related to Δ13C on an individual tree level, but the relationship was lost during the pollution period. We suggest that this was caused by a shift from the dominant influence of the photosynthetic rate to stomatal conductance on Δ13C during the pollution period. Using biomass increment-climate correlation analyses, we did not identify any clear pollution-related change in water stress or photosynthetic limitation (since biomass increment did not become more sensitive to drought/precipitation or temperature/cloud cover, respectively). Therefore, we conclude that the direct effect of moderate pollution on stomatal conductance was likely the main driver of the observed physiological changes. This mechanism probably caused weakening of the spruce trees and increased sensitivity to other stressors.

Contrasted spatial and long-term trends in precipitation chemistry and deposition fluxes at rural stations in France

The long-distance effect of atmospheric pollution on ecosystems has led to the conclusion of international agreements to regulate atmospheric emissions and monitor their impact. This study investigated variations in atmospheric deposition chemistry in France using data gathered from three different monitoring networks (37 stations) over the period from 1995 to 2007. Despite some methodological differences (e.g. type of collector, frequency of sampling and analysis), converging results were found in spatial variations, seasonal patterns and temporal trends. With regard to spatial variations, the mean annual pH in particular ranged from 4.9 in the north-east to 5.8 in the south-east. This gradient was related to the concentration of NO3− and non-sea-salt SO42− (maximum volume-weighted mean of 38 and 31 μeq l−1 respectively) and of acid-neutralising compounds such as non-sea-salt Ca2+ and NH4+. In terms of seasonal variations, winter and autumn pH were linked to lower acidity neutralisation than during the warm season. The temporal trends in atmospheric deposition varied depending on the chemical species and site location. The most significant and widespread trend was the decrease in non-sea-salt SO42− concentrations (significant at 65% of the stations). At the same time, many stations showed an increasing trend in annual pH (+0.3 on average for 16 stations). These two trends are probably due to the reduction in SO2 emissions that has been imposed in Europe since the 1980s. Temporal trends in inorganic N concentrations were rather moderate and not consistent with the trends reported in emission estimates. Despite the reduction in NOx emissions, NO3− concentrations in atmospheric deposition remained mostly unchanged or even increased at three stations (+0.43 μeq l−1 yr−1 on average). In contrast NH4+ concentrations in atmospheric deposition decreased at several stations located in western and northern areas, while the estimates of NH3 emissions remained fairly stable. The decrease in non-sea-salt SO42− and NH4+ concentrations was mainly due to a decrease in summer values and can in part be related to a dilution process since the precipitation amount showed an increasing trend during the summer. Furthermore, increasing trends in NO3− concentrations in the spring and, to a lesser extent, in NH4+ concentrations suggested that other atmospheric physicochemical processes should also be taken into account.

Generating multi-proxy Holocene palaeoenvironmental records from blanket peatlands

Ombrotrophic peatlands have provided important archives for understanding Holocene palaeoenvironmental change. However, records are predominantly from raised bogs due to potential issues regarding preservation of proxy indicators, record length and low temporal resolution in other peat types including blanket bogs. By carrying out peat depth and stratigraphy surveys we demonstrate how blanket peatlands can provide archives capable of providing records that are not reliant on single proxies, as has been often the case in the past, and can provide good resolution records. A record containing humification, testate amoebae and plant macrofossils was derived for the last 3000 years with accumulation rates as high as 8yrscm−1 providing favourable temporal resolution, particularly over the last 1500 years. Major changes in proxy indicators reflecting potential changes in water-table depth were often coherent with changes in climate. Human activity also had a major impact on the peatland throughout the record especially in the last 100 years where the influence of wildfire and managed burning, together with an effect of atmospheric pollution, fundamentally changed the state of the peatland.

Concentrations of PM₂.₅₋₁₀ and PM₂.₅ and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil.

This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM2.5-10, PM2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM2.5-10 was 9.1 µg m(-3), with a range of 2.2 µg m(-3) to 15.4 µg m(-3) and the mean concentration of PM2.5 was 4.7 µg m(-3), with a range of 1.9 µg m(-3) to 8.2 µg m(-3). Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environment's supportive capacity and environmental quality.

Current content of selected pollutants in moss, humus, soil and bark and long-term radial growth of pine trees in the Mezaparks forest in Riga.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of various indicators in the assessment of environmental pollution and to determine the response of pine to changes of pollution levels. Mezaparks is a part of Riga that has been subject to various long-term effects of atmospheric pollution and, in particular, historically from a large superphosphate factory. To determine the spatial distribution of pollution, moss, pine bark and soil O and B horizons were used as sorbents in this study, as well as the additional annual increment of pine trees. The current spatial distribution of pollution is best shown by heavy metal accumulation in mosses and the long-term accumulation of P2O5 pollution by the soil O horizon. The methodological problems of using these sorbents were explored in the study. Environmental pollution and its changes could be associated with the tree growth ring annual additional increment of Mezaparks pine forest stands. The additional increment increased after the closing of the Riga superphosphate factory.

Influence of weather and atmospheric pollution on physical activity in patients with COPD.

RationaleInformation concerning how climate and atmospheric pollutants affects physical activity in COPD patients is lacking and might be valuable in determining when physical activity should be encouraged.MethodsSeventy-three stable COPD patients recorded on daily diary cards worsening of respiratory symptoms, peak expiratory flow rate, hours spent outside the home and the number of steps taken per day. Pedometry data was recorded on 16,478 days, an average of 267 days per patient (range 29-658). Daily data for atmospheric PM10 and ozone (O3) were obtained for Bloomsbury Square, Central London from the Air Quality Information Archive databases. Daily weather data were obtained for London Heathrow from the British Atmospheric Data Archive.ResultsColder weather below 22.5 °C, reduced daily step count by 43.3 steps day per°C (95 % CI 2.14 to 84.4; p = 0.039) and activity was lower on rainy than dry days (p = 0.002) and on overcast compared to sunny days (p < 0.001). Daily step count was 434 steps per day lower on Sunday than Saturday (p < 0.001) and 353 steps per day lower on Saturday than Friday (p < 0.001). After allowance for these effects, higher O3 levels decreased activity during the whole week (-8 steps/ug/m3; p = 0.005) and at weekends (-7.8 steps/ug/m3; p = 0.032). Whilst, during the week PM10 reduced activity (p = 0.018) but not during the weekend.ConclusionsInactivity of COPD patients is greatest on cold, wet and overcast days and at the weekends. This study also provides evidence of an independent effect of atmospheric pollution at high levels.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0229-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.