Brick Kiln Emissions Research Articles

Toxicological Impact of Brick Kiln Emissions on the Liver of Brick Kiln Workers and Residents

Pakistan is the third-largest brick-producing nation in South Asia, behind China and India. In Pakistan, there are over 20,000 brick kilns and 1.8 million brick kiln employees, 50% of them are in Punjab. Brick kilns in rural Punjabi communities like district Narowal still use antiquated methods and are subject to bad laws, which has a negative impact on people's health. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Narowal district from January 2021 to January 2022 to examine the toxicological effects of brick kiln emissions on the liver. The participants were divided into three groups based on their demographic profiles in order to examine the relationship between appropriate liver function indices, such as ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin, and demographic factors like age, BMI, smoking index, and length of employment among exposed (residents and workers) and control groups. The outcome demonstrated that exposed workers and residents had mean ALT (p, 0.001), AST (p, 0.001), and ALP (p, 0.002) levels that were considerably higher than reference values. Bilirubin, a measure of the liver, remained negligible. Blood chemistry tests cannot establish the presence of liver disorders. Therefore, molecular-based follow-up investigations are required to assess the health concerns related to emissions from brick kilns.

Effects of Surkh-Rod District Brick Kilns Emissions on Human Health

Effects of Surkh-Rod District Brick Kilns Emissions on Human Health

Impact of Brick Kiln Emissions on Atmospheric Quality in Chohatta Bazar, Akola District

Impact of Brick Kiln Emissions on Atmospheric Quality in Chohatta Bazar, Akola District

Aerosol Mass Spectral Profiles from NAMaSTE Field-Sampled South Asian Combustion Sources.

Unit mass resolution mass spectral profiles of nonrefractory submicron aerosol were retrieved from undersampled atmospheric emission sources common to South Asia using a "mini" aerosol mass spectrometer. Emission sources including wood- and dung-fueled cookstoves, agricultural residue burning, garbage burning, engine exhaust, and coal-fired brick kilns were sampled during the 2015 Nepal Ambient Monitoring and Source Testing Experiment (NAMaSTE) campaign. High-resolution peak fitting estimates of the mass spectra were used to characterize ions found within each source profile and help identify mass spectral signatures unique to aerosol emissions from the investigated source types. The first aerosol mass spectral profiles of dung burning, charcoal burning, garbage burning, and brick kilns are provided in this work. The online aerosol mass spectra show that organics were generally the dominant component of the nonrefractory aerosol. However, inorganic aerosol components including ammonium and chloride were significant in dung- and charcoal-fired cookstove emissions and sulfate compounds were major components of the coal-fired brick kiln emissions. Organic mass spectra from both the charcoal burning and zigzag brick kiln were dominated by nitrogen-containing ions thought to be from the electron ionization of amines and amides contained in the emissions. The mixed garbage burning emissions profiles were dominated by plastic combustion with very low fractions of organic markers associated with biomass burning. The plastic burning emissions were associated with enhanced organic signal at mass-to-charge (m/z) 104 and m/z 166, which could be useful fragment ion indicators for garbage burning in ambient aerosol profiles. Finally, a framework for the identification of emission sources using the unit mass resolution organic mass fractions at m/z 55 (f 55), m/z 57 (f 57), and m/z 60 (f 60) is proposed in this work. Plotting the ratio of f 55 to f 57 versus f 60 is found to be effective for the identification of emissions by the fuel type and even useful in separating emissions of similar source types. Although the sample size was limited, these results give further context to the aerosol and gas-phase emission factors presented in other NAMaSTE works and provide a critical reference for future aerosol composition measurements in South Asia.

Impact of brick kiln emissions on soil quality: A case study of Ashulia brick kiln cluster, Bangladesh

There are more than 7000 active brick kilns in Bangladesh to meet the country's growing demand for building materials. The country's brick kiln industry employs more than 1.0 million people and contributes around 1.0% to the national economy. A substantial number of the country's brick kilns are located in the Greater Dhaka Region. Urban air pollution has become a great concern in this region due to the stack emissions during the brick manufacturing period. Estimation revealed that around 1.80 million tons of carbon dioxide, 302,200 tons of carbon monoxide, 23,300 tons of particulate matters, 15,500 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 6000 tons of black carbon are emitted to manufacture 3.50 billion bricks annually. In previous research contributions, the effect of air pollution from the brick kiln operation in this region has been addressed. However, no past study has assessed the effect of heavy metals released from brick kiln emissions during their production period on the adjacent soil environment of this region. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine heavy metal concentrations in the top soils and their adverse effects on the soil quality from active brick kilns, situated in the Ashulia region of Greater Dhaka. The soil sampling within the vicinity of the studied three brick kilns was performed at different radial distances ranging from 0 to 400 m during the brick production period. The concentration level of the analyzed heavy metal contents from the 15 sampling locations was found in the following order, iron > magnesium > calcium > manganese > zinc > nickel > chromium > copper > arsenic > lead > cadmium. The concentration level of cadmium (mean 2.82 mg.kg−1) resulted to be very high than its threshold limit (1.40 mg.kg−1) in the majority of the sampling locations. A significantly high level of soil pollution was evaluated within the study area through the applied pollution evaluation indices. The study findings indicate prospective damage to the studied soil environment and ecological settings of Ashulia, due to the emissions from the brick kilns which require suggested emission control and soil remediation actions, and implementation of eco-brick manufacturing technologies without further delay.

Winter and Wildfire Season Optical Characterization of Black and Brown Carbon in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez Airshed

Black (EBC) and Brown (BrC) Carbon are ubiquitous constituents of atmospheric particulate matter that affect people’s health, disrupt ecosystems, and modulate local and global climate. Tracking the local deposition and sources of these aerosol particles is essential to better understanding their multidimensional environmental impact. The main goal of the current study is to measure the absorption coefficient (Babs) of particles within the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) of the El Paso (US)–Ciudad Juárez (Mexico) airshed and assess the contribution of black and brown carbon particles to the optical absorption. Measurements were taken during a summer, wildfire, and winter season to evaluate the optical properties of BC and non-volatile BrC. The winter season presented a variation from the background Babs in the late evening hours (3:00 PM to midnight) due to an increase in biomass burning driven by lower temperatures. The wildfire season presents the greatest variation in the Babs from the background absorption due to EBC- and BrC-rich smoke plumes arriving at this region from the US West seasonal wildfires. It was found that the international bridges’ vehicular traffic, waiting time to cross back and forth between both cities, added to other local anthropogenic activities, such as brick kiln emissions in Ciudad Juarez, have created a background of air pollution in this region. These pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen and nitric oxides, coarse and fine particulate matter dominated by BC and BrC. The absorption coefficients due to EBC and BrC of this background constitute what we have called a baseline EBC and BrC. Aided by two photoacoustic Extinctiometers (PAX), operating at 405 nm and 870 nm wavelengths, connected to a 340 °C thermal denuder to remove volatile organics, the optical properties were documented and evaluated to identify the impact of long-range transported emissions from western wildfires. The Single Scattering Albedo and the Absorption Ångstrom exponent were calculated for the winter and summer season. The Angstrom exponent showed a decrease during the wildfire events due to the aging process. The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh Smoke model, HRRR, and the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model, HYSPLIT, were used to estimate the sources of the particles. In addition, a Vaisala Ceilometer was employed to study the vertical profile of particulate matter within the planetary boundary layer.

Apportionment of heavy metals in a soil-water-plant system via brick kiln emissions in heavily industrialized city of Pakistan.

One of the major environmental problems is the fast accumulation of brick kiln emissions near the peripheries of almost all urban centers. An enormous quantity of substandard coal, wood, rubber tires, or saw wood is used as fuel in these brick kilns, creating environmental pollution through carbon and heavy metals present in the emissions. The present study was designed to determine the distribution pattern of heavy metals in a soil-water-plant system under the influence of brick kiln emissions. Ash, soil (0-15cm), water, and plant samples were collected from the adjacent areas of the brick kilns. Geo-accumulation index and contamination factors were used to assess the toxicity of metals to soil and plants. It was found that the concentrations of Cd in water, soil, coal, and plant samples were found in the range of 0.004-0.024mg L-1, 0.02-0.66, 0.002-0.042, and 0.06 to 0.07mgkg-1, respectively, while Pb concentration was found within the range of 0-0.08mg L-1, 0.30-8.60, 0.011-0, and 0.01-0.08mgkg-1 in water, soil, and plant samples, respectively. The concentration of Cd in brick kilns ash was in the range of 0-0.04mgkg-1 while Pb was found within the range of 0.01-0.05mgkg-1 for ash. Geo-accumulation index and contamination factor values for Cd were found higher suggesting proper pollution prevention measures to be implemented. Based on the results, it was concluded that Cd concentrations in soil, plants, and water samples were higher in the subject area due to brick kiln emissions and higher Cd concentrations in the fuel material.

HEALTH IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

HEALTH IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Effect of Brick kilns emissions on land, water, agriculture production, socio-economic and livelihood status: A Review

Rapid growth in population leads to urbanization resulting in considerable land use, land covers changes, and creates a sequence of environmental and food security problems. Due to speedy urbanization the agricultural lands has been converted into no-agricultural activity such as brick production. Brick kilns required larger areas for brick production and it removes agriculturally productive topsoil rich in clay, soil organic matter content and others important soil nutrient that is viable for agricultural growth. In addition to the removal of fertile top soil, brick kilns making process also emits harmful gases into the atmosphere. This harmful gaseous emission from brick kilns impacts the available natural resources and livelihood nearby it. Its emission results in decreased land and plant productivity, lowered ground water levels, and particularly leads to air pollution. It was found that neighbouring areas of brick kilns has low organic matter content and soil nutrients, and high soil electrical conductivity and low pH. It also changes the chemical and biological characteristics of soil and water. A change in physical, chemical and biological parameters of soil and water leads to reduce cultivated areas, and finally reduces agricultural production and productivity. It also directly impacts the food production system and could threaten the livelihood of present and future generations by degrading agricultural soil and consequently also eroding the economic basis of farmers.

Impacts of brick kiln emission on agricultural soil around brick kiln areas

The study attempted to assess the impacts of the brick kilns emissions on the farm soil in and around the kiln areas. A total of 72 representative farm soil samples were collected from 12 selected brick kiln clusters in Rajshahi and Gazipur Districts of Bangladesh, covering two years (September 2015 to August 2017). The collected samples were analyzed using standard methods. The pH and organic matter content in the farm soil samples were found to be very low. The farm soil parameters such as pH, organic matter, and soil texture were found in critical conditions. Among all of the heavy metals, only Cr exceeded the permissible standard of some soil samples. The concentration of Cr ion varied from 9.50 to 52.77 and 16.54 to 70.13 ppm in Rajshahi and Gazipur Districts, respectively indicated the chance of metal contamination in plants. The study results showed that the values of contamination factor (Cif) and ecological risk factor (Eir) in the selected farm soil of Rajshahi and Gazipur Districts existed in the order of Cd > As > Cr > Pb > Zn and Cd > As > Pb > Cr > Zn, respectively. The study results also showed that the pollution load index and risk index values were lower than 1 and 150, respectively, at all sampling locations indicating lower pollution and risk from heavy metals in the areas. The study observed that continuous brick production over the periods degraded topsoil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity.

Impact of South Asian brick kiln emission mitigation strategies on select pollutants and near-term Arctic temperature responses

The brick kiln industrial sector in South Asia accounts for large amounts of short-lived climate forcer (SLCF) emissions, namely black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and sulfur dioxide (SO2; the precursor to atmospheric sulfate [SO4]). These SLCFs are air pollutants and have important impacts on both human health and the Arctic, a region currently experiencing more than double the rate of warming relative to the global average. Using previously derived Arctic equilibrium temperature response factors, we estimate the contribution to Arctic temperature impacts from previously reported emissions of BC, OC, and SO2 from four prevalent South Asian brick kiln types (Bull’s Trench [BTK], Down Draught [DDK], Vertical Shaft [VSBK], and Zig-zag). Net annual BC (115 gigagrams [Gg]), OC (17 Gg), and SO2 (350 Gg) baseline emissions from all four South Asian kiln types resulted in 3.36 milliKelvin (mK) of Arctic surface warming. Given these baseline emissions and Arctic temperature responses, we estimate the current and maximum potential emission and temperature mitigation considering two kiln type conversions. Assuming no change in brick production, baseline emissions have been reduced by 17% when considering current BTK to Zig-zag conversions and have the potential to decrease by 82% given a 100% future conversion rate. This results in a 25% and 119% reduction in Arctic warming, respectively. Replacing DDKs with VSBKs increases baseline SLCF emissions by 28% based on current conversions and has the potential to increase by 131%. This conversion still reduces baseline warming by 31% and 149%, respectively. These results show that brick kiln conversions can have different impacts on local air quality and Arctic climate. When considering brick kiln emissions mitigation options, regional and/or local policy action should consider several factors, including local air quality, worker health and safety, cost, quality of bricks, as well as global climate impacts.

Study of occupational exposure to brick kiln emissions on heavy metal burden, biochemical profile, cortisol level and reproductive health risks among female workers at Rawat, Pakistan.

The present study was planned to understand the heavy metal burden and its possible actions in blood of occupational females working at brick kilns at Rawat, Pakistan. A total of 232 women were included in the study, of which 114 presented control subjects. Apart from collection of demographic data, fertility indicators and body mass index (BMI), blood was collected from subjects that was later used for the determination of heavy metal concentrations using atomic absorption spectroscopy and haematological profile. Blood was centrifuged and plasma was obtained and stored at - 20° to study biochemical variables (sodium dismutase, peroxidase, reactive oxygen species, thiobarbituric acid reactive species, protein estimation), lipid profile and cortisol concentrations among the two groups. Analysis of heavy metal in blood showed elevated levels of cadmium (3.09 ± 0.01μg/dl), chromium (4.20 ± 0.02μg/dl) and nickel (5.59 ± 0.03μg/dl) in worker's group as compared with control. Increased platelet count; decreased antioxidant enzyme and increased oxidants level; increased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG); decreased total protein and high-density lipoprotein (HDL); and increased cortisol levels were evident among workers as compared with the control group. The study concluded that occupational workers experience increased heavy metals burden in blood and, therefore, pose a risk to human health by causing reduction in antioxidant enzymes concentrationand increase in stress conditions.

Heavy Metals (Pb and Ni) Pollution as Affected by the Brick Kilns Emissions

Heavy Metals (Pb and Ni) Pollution as Affected by the Brick Kilns Emissions

Nepal Ambient Monitoring and Source Testing Experiment (NAMaSTE): emissions of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide from vehicles and brick kilns and their impacts on air quality in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Abstract. Air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues in the Kathmandu Valley, where the capital city of Nepal is located. We estimated emissions from two of the major source types in the valley (vehicles and brick kilns) and analyzed the corresponding impacts on regional air quality. First, we estimated the on-road vehicle emissions in the valley using the International Vehicle Emissions (IVE) model with local emissions factors and the latest available data for vehicle registration. We also identified the locations of the brick kilns in the Kathmandu Valley and developed an emissions inventory for these kilns using emissions factors measured during the Nepal Ambient Monitoring and Source Testing Experiment (NAMaSTE) field campaign in April 2015. Our results indicate that the commonly used global emissions inventory, the Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution (HTAP_v2.2), underestimates particulate matter emissions from vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley by a factor greater than 100. HTAP_v2.2 does not include the brick sector and we found that our sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions estimates from brick kilns are comparable to 70 % of the total SO2 emissions considered in HTAP_v2.2. Next, we simulated air quality using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) for April 2015 based on three different emissions scenarios: HTAP only, HTAP with updated vehicle emissions, and HTAP with both updated vehicle and brick kilns emissions. Comparisons between simulated results and observations indicate that the model underestimates observed surface elemental carbon (EC) and SO2 concentrations under all emissions scenarios. However, our updated estimates of vehicle emissions significantly reduced model bias for EC, while updated emissions from brick kilns improved model performance in simulating SO2. These results highlight the importance of improving local emissions estimates for air quality modeling. We further find that model overestimation of surface wind leads to underestimated air pollutant concentrations in the Kathmandu Valley. Future work should focus on improving local emissions estimates for other major and underrepresented sources (e.g., crop residue burning and garbage burning) with a high spatial resolution, as well as the model's boundary-layer representation, to capture strong spatial gradients of air pollutant concentrations.

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF BLACK SMOKE ORIGINATE FROM KILNS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

In recent years, rural industries have developed unexpectedly leading to augmented pollution and consequently affected human health, agriculture, horticulture as well as forestry. Transportation, urbanization and brick kilns playing an important role in the devastation of the environment and also cause global warming. Used different kinds of materials as fuel like wood, oil, saw dust and coal to burn the brick kilns. Many harmful and dangerous gases produced such as Oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon, Sulphur, Carbon monoxide and particulate matters. These emissions from brick kilns damage the environment and also hazardous for human health. This study provides the basic information to understand the issues and highlight their impacts on the natural environment, food production and human health arising from the brick kilns emissions.

Determining of risk areas due to exposure to heavy metals in the Toluca Valley using epiphytic mosses as a biomonitor

The work aim is to identify the risk areas by exposure to Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the Metropolitan Zone of Toluca Valley (MZTV) using the mosses Fabriona cilaris and Leskea angustata as a biomonitors, geostatistical interpolation and multi-criteria evaluation by analytical hierarchy process. The results from the estimation of the enrichment factors (EF) showed that Pb is the heavy metal with the highest values, followed by the Zn, Cu and Cr. The EF obtained for all heavy metals show that there is a moderate to high anthropogenic enrichment. The above indicates that in the MZTV there are emission sources that contribute (significantly) in the amount of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn accumulated in the biomonitor. Combustion processes, vehicle emissions, biomass burning, brick kiln emissions, agricultural and livestock activities, manufacturing industry and re-deposition by the action of the wind, were identified as the main heavy metals sources in the MZTV. Risk maps showed the high and medium risk areas are located in sites with poor urban vegetation coverage and close to highways and industrial parks. Low risk areas are located in sites with high urban vegetation coverage. The method used for identifying risk areas is a rapid and low-cost evaluation tool can allow local government environmental agencies to define public policies on air pollution control.

Role of Laws to Control Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment in Bangladesh: Scope of Alternative Bricks

In Bangladesh, clay bricks are extensively used as building construction material. Rapid urbanization in the country has spurred the brick production of 8.6 billion each year. Larger part of brick fields have been set up illicitly, near human homes, schools, colleges, medicinal services offices, disregarding the current laws in this regard. Top soil of agricultural land is collected for producing bricks. As a result our country is losing hectares of precious topsoil each year. In Bangladesh, around 12,000 brick kilns are in operation. A kiln produces averagely 8,500 bricks using 1,000 cubic feet of topsoil. Tons of forest wood is burned to produce bricks every year. Brick kilns emissions consist of carbon-dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM) including black carbon (BC), sulphur-dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO), thereby causing air pollution. Brick kilns around Dhaka are responsible for up to 58 percent of all the fine-particulate air pollution in the capital.
 Unabated growth and running of brick kilns reveals the fact that the law enforcement mechanism is not functioning properly. Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI), has come up with various alternatives of bricks, rarely used in any private or public buildings. This study concentrates on the roles of existing laws to control brick manufacturing and kiln establishment in Bangladesh and also scope of Alternative Bricks (ABs) in Bangladesh.

Black carbon, organic carbon, and co-pollutant emissions and energy efficiency from artisanal brick production in Mexico

Abstract. In many parts of the developing world and economies in transition, small-scale traditional brick kilns are a notorious source of urban air pollution. Many are both energy inefficient and burn highly polluting fuels that emit significant levels of black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC) and other atmospheric pollutants into local communities, resulting in severe health and environmental impacts. However, only a very limited number of studies are available on the emission characteristics of brick kilns; thus, there is a need to characterize their gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emission factors to better assess their overall contribution to emissions inventories and to quantify their ecological, human health, and climate impacts. In this study, the fuel-, energy-, and brick-based emissions factors and time-based emission ratios of BC, OC, inorganic PM components, CO, SO2, CH4, NOx, and selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from three artisanal brick kilns with different designs in Mexico were quantified using the tracer ratio sampling technique. Simultaneous measurements of PM components, CO, and CO2 were also obtained using a sampling probe technique. Additional measurements included the internal temperature of the brick kilns, mechanical resistance of bricks produced, and characteristics of fuels employed. Average fuel-based BC emission factors ranged from 0.15 to 0.58 g (kg fuel)−1, whereas BC∕OC mass ratios ranged from 0.9 to 5.2, depending on the kiln type. The results show that both techniques capture similar temporal profiles of the brick kiln emissions and produce comparable emission factors. A more integrated inter-comparison of the brick kilns' performances was obtained by simultaneously assessing emissions factors, energy efficiency, fuel consumption, and the quality of the bricks produced.

Seasonal and diurnal variations in methane and carbon dioxide in the Kathmandu Valley in the foothills of the central Himalayas

Abstract. The SusKat-ABC (Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley–Atmospheric Brown Clouds) international air pollution measurement campaign was carried out from December 2012 to June 2013 in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal. The Kathmandu Valley is a bowl-shaped basin with a severe air pollution problem. This paper reports measurements of two major greenhouse gases (GHGs), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), along with the pollutant CO, that began during the campaign and were extended for 1 year at the SusKat-ABC supersite in Bode, a semi-urban location in the Kathmandu Valley. Simultaneous measurements were also made during 2015 in Bode and a nearby rural site (Chanban) ∼ 25 km (aerial distance) to the southwest of Bode on the other side of a tall ridge. The ambient mixing ratios of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, and carbon monoxide (CO) were measured with a cavity ring-down spectrometer (G2401; Picarro, USA) along with meteorological parameters for 1 year (March 2013–March 2014). These measurements are the first of their kind in the central Himalayan foothills. At Bode, the annual average mixing ratios of CO2 and CH4 were 419.3 (±6.0) ppm and 2.192 (±0.066) ppm, respectively. These values are higher than the levels observed at background sites such as Mauna Loa, USA (CO2: 396.8 ± 2.0 ppm, CH4: 1.831 ± 0.110 ppm) and Waliguan, China (CO2: 397.7 ± 3.6 ppm, CH4: 1.879 ± 0.009 ppm) during the same period and at other urban and semi-urban sites in the region, such as Ahmedabad and Shadnagar (India). They varied slightly across the seasons at Bode, with seasonal average CH4 mixing ratios of 2.157 (±0.230) ppm in the pre-monsoon season, 2.199 (±0.241) ppm in the monsoon, 2.210 (±0.200) ppm in the post-monsoon, and 2.214 (±0.209) ppm in the winter season. The average CO2 mixing ratios were 426.2 (±25.5) ppm in the pre-monsoon, 413.5 (±24.2) ppm in the monsoon, 417.3 (±23.1) ppm in the post-monsoon, and 421.9 (±20.3) ppm in the winter season. The maximum seasonal mean mixing ratio of CH4 in winter was only 0.057 ppm or 2.6 % higher than the seasonal minimum during the pre-monsoon period, while CO2 was 12.8 ppm or 3.1 % higher during the pre-monsoon period (seasonal maximum) than during the monsoon (seasonal minimum). On the other hand, the CO mixing ratio at Bode was 191 % higher during the winter than during the monsoon season. The enhancement in CO2 mixing ratios during the pre-monsoon season is associated with additional CO2 emissions from forest fires and agro-residue burning in northern South Asia in addition to local emissions in the Kathmandu Valley. Published CO∕CO2 ratios of different emission sources in Nepal and India were compared with the observed CO∕CO2 ratios in this study. This comparison suggested that the major sources in the Kathmandu Valley were residential cooking and vehicle exhaust in all seasons except winter. In winter, brick kiln emissions were a major source. Simultaneous measurements in Bode and Chanban (15 July–3 October 2015) revealed that the mixing ratios of CO2, CH4, and CO were 3.8, 12, and 64 % higher in Bode than Chanban. The Kathmandu Valley thus has significant emissions from local sources, which can also be attributed to its bowl-shaped geography that is conducive to pollution build-up. At Bode, all three gas species (CO2, CH4, and CO) showed strong diurnal patterns in their mixing ratios with a pronounced morning peak (ca. 08:00), a dip in the afternoon, and a gradual increase again through the night until the next morning. CH4 and CO at Chanban, however, did not show any noticeable diurnal variations. These measurements provide the first insights into the diurnal and seasonal variation in key greenhouse gases and air pollutants and their local and regional sources, which is important information for atmospheric research in the region.

Gaseous pollutants from brick kiln industry decreased the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Gaseous pollutant emissions from brick kiln industries deteriorate the current state of ambient air quality in Pakistan and worldwide. These gaseous pollutants affect the health of plants and may decrease plant growth and yield. A field experiment that was conducted to monitor the concentration of gaseous pollutants emitted mainly from brick kilns in the ambient air and associated impacts on the growth and physiological attributes of the two wheat (Triticum spp.) cultivars. Plants were grown at three sites, including control (Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, AARI), low pollution (LP) site (Small Estate Industry), and high pollution (HP) site (Sidar Bypass), of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Monitoring of ambient air pollution at experimental sites was carried out using the state-of-art ambient air analyzers. Plants were harvested after 120 days of germination and were analyzed for different growth attributes. Results showed that the hourly average concentration of gaseous air pollutants CO, NO2, SO2, and PM10 at HP site were significantly higher than the LP and control sites. Similarly, gaseous pollutants decreased plant height, straw and grain yield, photosynthesis and increased physical injury, and metal concentrations in the grains. However, wheat response toward gaseous pollutants did not differ between cultivars (Galaxy and 8173) studied. Overall, the results indicated that brick kiln emissions could reduce the performance of wheat grown in the soils around kilns and confirm the adverse impacts of pollutants on the growth, yield, and quality of the wheat.