Composition Of Atmospheric Air Research Articles

Assessing the impacts of climate variables on long-term air quality trends in Peninsular Malaysia

Climate change is thought to influence the composition of atmospheric air, but little is known about the direct relationship between these variables, especially in a hot tropical climate like that of Malaysia. This work summarizes and analyzes the climate state and air quality of Peninsular Malaysia based on selected ground-based observations of the temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction and concentrations of PM10, O3, CO, NO2, and SO2 over the last 20 years (2000–2019). The relationship between the climate state and air quality is analyzed using the Pearson correlation and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) methods is employed to predict the degree of change in the future air quality under different warming scenarios. It is found that the Peninsular Malaysia mainly experienced strong precipitation in the central and mountainous regions, while air pollutants are primarily concentrated in densely populated areas. Throughout the period of study (interannual, monthly, and diurnal time series analyses), Peninsular Malaysia became warmer and drier, with a significant increase in temperature (+4.2 %), decrease in the relative humidity (−4.5 %), and greater fluctuation in precipitation amount. The pollution conditions have worsened; there has been an increase in the PM10 (+16.4 %), O3 (+39.5 %), and NO2 (+2.1 %) concentration over the last 20 years. However, the amount of SO2 (−53.6 %) and CO (−20.6 %) decreased significantly. The analysis of the monthly variation shows a strong bimodality of the PM10 and O3 concentrations that corresponds to the monsoon transition. Intensive diurnal fluctuations and correlations are observed for all the variables in this study. According to the CCA, the air quality factors are strongly correlated with meteorological factors; in particular, the CO, O3, and PM10 concentrations interact strongly with the air temperature. These findings show that the future air quality in Peninsular Malaysia has high possibility to deteriorate under warming condition.

Modelling the atmospheric dispersion of ammonia in an industrial area in northern Greece

Air pollution is one of the greatest challenges for ecosystems globally, as it adversely affects not only human health, but also water resources, land, animals and plants. The composition of atmospheric air is changing due to urbanization, industry, land surface alteration, climate change and global population increase. Studying the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants is a crucial issue for better urban, regional and global predictions of air quality. Dispersion models have proven a valuable tool in estimating the concentration of air pollutants produced by industrial facilities, as well as predicting future concentrations under specific scenarios (e.g., changes in emission sources or emission rates). The objective of this research was to examine a number of hypothetical industrial accident scenarios, including the local spread of ammonia from an industrial zone located 5 km east of the coastal city of Kavala in northern Greece. For that, the Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling System 5 (ADMS-5) was used as a safety and emergency planning tool, in order to model instantaneous releases (puffs) of ammonia and to investigate changes in ground-level concentration. To determine the structure of the atmospheric boundary layer, seven different meteorological conditions which correspond to the Pasquill-Gifford stability categories A-G were considered. The maximum ground-level concentration (1400 - 2400 μg/m3) occurred in slightly stable and moderately stable conditions (categories E and F) very close to the source, while in extremely stable conditions (category G) the puff remained stagnant for over 600 s after release. The lowest ground-level concentration (300 μg/m3) occurred with slightly unstable conditions (category C). The obtained results can be used for safety and emergency planning reasons and highlight the importance of atmospheric stability on the fate of accidental industrial releases.

Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Air in Nemoral Scots Pine Forests and Submountainous Beech Forests: The Potential Region for the Introduction of Forest Therapy

Studies show that forests are one of the main recreational destinations. This can be explained by their beneficial effects on the health of their visitors, which can be attributed to compounds from the terpene group. The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition of air in the interiors of Nemoral Scots pine forests and submountainous beech forests, with the determination of compounds of the terpene group. Samples of organic compounds present in the air were collected with the use of Tenax TA sorbent tubes. The process of separation, identification, and determination of the extracted organic compounds was carried out with the use of the gas chromatography technique integrated with a flame ionization detector. Additional identification of the extracted compounds was carried out with the use of GC coupled with mass spectrometry. The most abundant group of compounds was the aliphatic hydrocarbons, both saturated (linear and branched) and unsaturated (terpenes). Carbonyl compounds were also found in the collected samples, but they constituted no more than 10% of all compounds present on the chromatograms. The concentrations of terpenes and terpenoids in the forest atmosphere varied from 10 to 74 µg·m-3, representing on average 33% of the total volatile organic compounds.

Mechanism of Response of Alveolar Macrophages in Wistar Rats to the Composition of Atmospheric Suspensions

Atmospheric air quality is a crucial factor in the health of human populations. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is one of the most dangerous components polluting urban air. The aim of the present article is to study the effect of model suspensions (MS) of SPM that are characteristic of the composition of atmospheric air at locations with various anthropogenic loads on redox processes in alveolar macrophages (AM). Atmospheric air sampling was carried out in the breathing zone according to the method developed by one of the authors. AM were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of experimental animals. The MS of SPM were prepared in accordance with the actual air pollution: MS No. 1 corresponded to an area with a low man-made load, and MS No. 2 corresponded to an area with a high man-made load. Load tests with model suspensions were carried out for 2 days. Parameters of oxidant processes and antioxidant system (AOS) were determined in cells and culture media. The proportion of the influence of the qualitative and dispersed composition of MS and the indicator of intra-system tension were calculated based on correlation dependencies. The atmospheric air with a high man-made load was dominated by particles up to 10 µm, whereas air with an insignificant man-made load contained SPM of more than 10 µm in size. Unidirectional changes were observed due to an exposure to both model suspensions, but the most pronounced oxidative modifications of lipids, proteins and genetic structures were caused by the exposure to MS No. 2. When exposed to MS No. 1, the AOS maintained the redox balance at the physiological level, localizing the resulting destruction inside the cells. MS No. 2 caused the redox balance to shift towards oxidants, potentiating the generalization of the destruction process. An increase in the content or a longer stress-inducing effect of PM2.5 causes a depletion in the reserve capacity of the AOS and the transition of destruction processes to the systemic level, which contributes to the development of the preconditions for environmentally dependent pathology.

DETERMINATION OF THE PATTERN OF DUST AND AIR FLOW MOVEMENT IN VORTEX MECHANISM

At present, the problem of air pollution is a serious environmental problem that negatively affects the living conditions and health of people. The composition of atmospheric air in large industrial and urban agglomerations depends on the type of production and the level of its technology. A promising method of improving dust collectors is the creation of dust collectors, where the principles of operation of several devices are implemented.

Assessment of the Impact of Motor Transport on the Ecological State of Atmospheric Air of Urbanized Areas

The article reflects the results of studies on assessing the impact of pollutants entering the atmospheric air from vehicles on the ecological state of the urban environment, analyzes the distribution of emissions of the main pollutants in the context of data for the North Caucasian Federal District and considers the dynamics of the qualitative composition of atmospheric air using the example of the city of Stavropol. As a result of analyzing the data for 2014-2019 in the district, a decrease in the intake of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, volatile organic compounds into the atmospheric air from vehicles was found, an increase in carbon content was noted. The study of pollutants included in the daily monitoring program and the intensity of vehicles showed the maximum presence of oxides of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon at 14:00, an increase in gas content at 20:00 indicating the accumulation of harmful substances in the atmosphere during the day and negative impact on the ecological situation of the city.

Contamination of the intake air of internal combustion engines of motor vehicles

The paper presents the composition of atmospheric air as a mixture of gases that make up the solid and variable components, and the definitions of air pollutants are referenced. Gaseous and solid pollutants (dust) of the atmospheric air have been defined. Dusts were divided according to various criteria and their properties were given. Exemplary courses of immission of the fraction of solid particles are given, indicating a strong dependence of the immission on the seasons, days of the week and day and night. The sources and characteristics of artificial and natural pollutants in the atmospheric air are presented. It has been shown that the main sources of anthropogenic pollution in addition to industry and the automotive industry. Cars are a source of gaseous and particulate pollutants PM, and they also emit pollution from brake and clutch lining wear, as well as from tire and road wear. The main sources of natural air pollution were discussed, including volcanic eruptions, fires in landfills, forests, steppes and sand storms, as well as mineral dust (road dust) carried from the ground by vehicles. The properties of road dust are discussed: chemical and fractional composition, density, dust concentration in the air. It has been shown that the two basic components of the dust, silica and corundum, whose share in dust reaches 95%, also have the highest hardness, which may have a decisive influence on the wear of engine components. Various valuesof dust concentration in the air were presented depending on the type and condition of the ground and the conditions of use of vehicles. Keywords: mechanical engineering, internal combustion engines, air pollution sources, road dust

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality in Moscow

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

ВЕБ-КАРТОГРАФУВАННЯ ЯКОСТІ ЖИТТЯ НАСЕЛЕННЯ М. ЛЬВІВ ЗА ПОКАЗНИКОМ ЕКОЛОГІЧНОГО ЗАБРУДНЕННЯ АТМОСФЕРНОГО ПОВІТРЯ

The condition and composition of atmospheric air are influenced by two main factors: the introduction of pollutants into the atmosphere through various sources and harmful physical effects on it. The latter includes radiation, sound vibrations, noise, and so on. These and other factors disrupt the optimal state of the air, which negatively affects human health, the condition and development of animals and plants. The main sources of pollutants in the air of Lviv are: dust – vehicles, woodworking and building materials industry; sulfur dioxide – industrial enterprises, carbon monoxide – vehicles, thermal power plants; nitrogen dioxide – heat power companies; formaldehyde – motor transport, woodworking industry. Today, emissions from mobile sources are the biggest air pollutants in the city. The chemical composition of emissions from mobile sources of pollution is characterized by the predominance of carbon monoxide (up to 74%), nitrogen compounds and hydrocarbons (12% and 11%, respectively). Today the state of atmospheric air in large cities of Ukraine and, in particular, in the city of Lviv is at an unsatisfactory level. The main problems in this area are the progressive nature of the negative impact on the ecological state of the environment and human health. As there is currently no interactive cartographic material that can visualize the problem of environmental pollution, the main purpose of this work was to create an interactive web map of the quality of life of the population of Lviv in terms of air pollution. To achieve this goal, we collected and systematized geospatial statistical cartographic materials on the ecological state of the air in Lviv. The necessary software for the development of an interactive map of air pollution has been identified and its possibilities have been studied. An algorithm for loading geospatial data into the created web resource has been developed. A template of applications for creating web maps of air pollution in Lviv was selected according to the indicators of the I and II quarters of 2020, which were measured at 30 intersections of the city. Thus, two interactive web maps of air pollution in Lviv were developed in the environment "Google My Maps" and "ArcGIS Online".

Phenol monitoring in the air of the city residential part

In order to monitor the chemical composition of atmospheric air in cities located in the zone of petrochemical enterprises influence, automatic atmospheric air monitoring stations (AAAMS) are being established. The concentration of phenol and methanol in the air of the residential part of the city is recorded at AAAMSs. In the industrial zone air, the methanol content is measured at the source of pollution. Processing the numerical series of the measured concentrations values using the cross-correlation function allows you to get the time lag of the contaminated gas cloud moving from the source of emission to the city. Models have been developed for changes in concentration of phenol in the air of the residential area using the factor regression method, taking into account the concentration of the analyzed compounds, the time lag from the source of pollution to the living area and weather conditions: - air temperature and humidity, wind direction and speed.

Factors and Objectives of Sustainable Development at the Implementation of Digital Technologies and Automated Systems in the Mining Industry

Mining inevitably violates the natural environment. The consequences of its functioning for the environment are diverse at different stages of the life of the enterprise. During mineral exploration, environmental damage is generally negligible, localized, and can be relatively easily repaired. Subsequent initial work, both with open pit and underground mining methods, has a more significant impact on the environment, but still less significant than with the development itself. During extraction and enrichment, the main production process, the most noticeable consequences are violation of land resources, pollution by wastewater, changes in hydraulic regime and composition of atmospheric air. The key factor, of course, is not how much land is used for any particular activity, but whether this use can be compatible with maintaining environmental integrity.

Complex evaluation of the modern atmospheric air of city ecosystems

The results of studies of the chemical composition of atmospheric air showed that the concentration of ammonia (0.2520 mg/m3), nitrogen dioxide (0.3942 mg/m3) and hydrogen sulfide (0.0269 mg/m3) exceeded the MPC requirements. The seasonal dynamics of the spread of aerogenic pollutants revealed a decrease in NO, NO2, H2S, SO2from winter to the spring-summer season. However, the content of such pollutants as NH3, CO and dust increased significantly in summer to 0.0816, 3.7140 and 0.0289 mg/m3respectively. During bio-indication of 363 trees only 4 species of the 16 studied ones were characterized as healthy (K<1.5). The overall level of attenuation was 2.16 (“weakened forest”). Evaluation of the fluctuating asymmetry showed high resistance of the maple (Acer Platanoides) to environmental pollution (the level of asymmetry in the transport zone was 0.039 against 0.077–0.078 in the silver birch (Betula pendula) and the fragrant poplar (Populus suaveolens). The high level of anthropogenic pollution in the transport zones of the city adversely affected roadside biotopes. It has been proven that roadside phytocenosis is significantly sparse and the population density drops sharply by 50–100 %, compared to cleaner functional areas. The results of lichenoid indication showed that in most of the sites studied, the air was highly polluted (pollution class 1) and the concentration of SO2was 0.10–0.30 mg/m3.

Obtaining and using data of operational monitoring of atmospheric air

In order to control the chemical composition of atmospheric air in cities located in the zone of influence of petrochemical enterprises, automatic atmospheric air monitoring stations (ASKAV) are installed. For the effective use of experimental data, the authors of the article developed a data collection system with ASKAV, in which the air control in residential quarters and the gas mixture at the source of organized emissions are synchronized. The analysis of data on the concentration of pollutants in the atmospheric air of the Sterlitamak obtained from ASKAV, on the basis of which a list of marker substances for enterprises of the city was compiled. Priority sources of air pollution with marker substances during a different wind regime were identified. The authors developed models for changing the concentration of marker substances in the air using the method of factor regression. Based on the results of the cross-correlation function, the time of movement of the contaminated gas cloud from the source of emission to the residential area of the city is obtained. Conclusions are made about the effectiveness of the developed air monitoring system and the field of application of the acquired models.

The study of indoor concentrations of organic compounds in school classrooms and accumulated blood xenobiotic levels in children

The analysis of multicomponent chemical composition of atmospheric air and the air of residential and public premises, including school indoor air, is an urgent task of modern hygienic studies devoted to environmental quality and risk assessment of adverse health effects of dangerous chemicals. The priority sources of air pollution inside classrooms are finishing materials (linoleum, wallpaper, varnishes, paints, etc.) and emissions of monomers from furniture made of chipboards processed with polymer resins. The article demonstrates the results of screening tests establishing the levels of airborne toxic organic compounds (phenol, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) both inside and outside educational premises affected by various environmental exposures (conditional areas of observation and comparison). To assess the chemical body burden, blood levels of certain chemicals were measured in schoolchildren dwelling in the observation (study) and comparison (control) areas. Blood tests were accompanied by indoor and outdoor air monitoring in the educational establishments. We examined the total of 424 children including 231 students from primary, secondary and high schools of the city of Perm (observation area) and 193 schoolchildren of grades 1–11 living in the town of Kungur (comparison area). We established that the average daily concentrations of phenol and formaldehyde in indoor air in Perm were 2.4 and 5.6 times higher (р < 0.05) than those in Kungur. Outdoor concentrations of phenol and formaldehyde in Perm were 2.6 and 3.7 times higher than those in Kungur. The analysis of blood levels of certain organic compounds in the primary, secondary and high school children in Perm showed significantly higher concentrations of phenol, benzene, and toluene (p < 0.05) (1.5, 1.1, and 1.2 times, respectively). The average blood concentration of formaldehyde in the study group was 1.3 times higher (p < 0.05) than that in children of the comparison area. No significant differences between the comparison and observation groups (p < 0.05) were found in blood levels of xylene and ethylbenzene. Children’s blood concentrations of the identified organic compounds indicate the presence of external sources of exposure to these toxicants.

Оцінка впливу розвитку автомобілізації на стан атмосферного повітря Херсонської урбоекосистеми

Оцінка впливу розвитку автомобілізації на стан атмосферного повітря Херсонської урбоекосистеми

ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНА КОНЦЕПЦІЯ ЖИВОГО. НОВИЙ ПІДХІД У БОРОТЬБІ З РАКОМ

New approach to the problem of struggle with malignant tumors based on the suggested by the authors energetic concept of living matter considering a human organism as an open non-self-organizing biological system that is the part of organism of a higher level of organization - Biosphere, and that is under full control of geophysical factors - first of all electromagnetic field of the Earth and composition of atmospheric air is set forth. The mentioned factors fatefully determine length of life - specific and individual - of any living organism, including human being. On the basis of the set forth approach a new means of prevention and removal from the human organism of malignant tumors was suggested.

O2-CO2 diagram as a tool for comprehension of blood gas abnormalities

The O 2 -CO 2 diagram is an often neglected but very useful tool to understand the implications of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, which is a challenging concept not only to the undergraduate medical student but also to practicing clinicians. Here, we present a simplified description of the O2-CO2 diagram that was developed in all its elegance by Rahn and Fenn (6) and subsequently reviewed by others (2, 5). The O2-CO2 diagram plots PCO2 on the y-axis against PO2 on the x-axis. Any set of values of PO2 and PCO2, whether in atmospheric air, tracheal (inspired) air, alveolar air, mixed expired air, arterial blood, or venous blood, can be plotted on this diagram. It will be appreciated at the end of this discussion that 1) there are certain physical limits to what combinations of O2 and CO2 can exist in the alveolus and, therefore, the blood; and 2) even if arterial blood gases are the only available laboratory parameters, one can make reasonable assumptions about alveolar gas composition and assess if a patient has a pure ventilatory defect or a diffusion defect; however, it is difficult to assess mixed disorders without direct measurement of alveolar gas partial pressures. To begin, let us review the composition of atmospheric air, inspired air, and alveolar air (Fig. 1). Dry atmospheric air is composed of 21% O 2, with the rest N2 and negligible CO2. Therefore, PO2 in dry atmospheric air at sea level is 21% of the atmospheric pressure (Patm) of 760 mmHg, which is 159 mmHg. As air passes through the upper airways during inspiration, it is saturated with water vapor, the partial pressure of which at body temperature, pressure, saturated (BTPS) is 47 mmHg. The addition of water vapor dilutes inspired air, thereby reducing both the partial pressure of nitrogen and PO2 proportionally. The PO2 in inspired air is therefore 149 mmHg [21% of (760 47) mmHg] and is henceforth represented as PIO2 . While the inspired air in the conducting zone is composed of N2 ,O 2, and water vapor, a fourth gas, namely, CO2, is added to alveolar air. Since the alveoli are open to the atmosphere and during either phase of respiration alveolar pressure is only slightly different from Patm, it is safe to assume that alveolar pressure at all times is almost equal to Patm or the total pressure of inspired air (760 mmHg). The partial pressures of nitrogen (564 mmHg) and water vapor (47 mmHg) are almost the same in inspired and alveolar air. The remaining 149-mmHg pressure is due to O 2 alone in the inspired air (PI O2 ), whereas in the alveolus, the combined pressures of O 2 (PA O2 ) and CO 2 (PA CO2 ) must be close (but not necessarily equal 1 ) to 149 mmHg. Since O 2 diffuses out of the alveolus, it is obvious that removal of O2 and, therefore, reduction of its partial pressure compensates for the addition of CO2. The crude relationship is therefore as follows:

Measurement of end-tidal PCO2 and PO2.

This article describes the basic principles of the measurement of end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) in humans. The description includes definitions of the major parameters of breathing (e.g., the composition of atmospheric air, arterial and venous blood; metabolism; lung capacity; volumetric measures of tidal volume, minute volume, and respiration frequency; pH regulation and cerebral acidity; barometric pressure and the partial pressures of CO2 and O2), the basic anatomical features of breathing, the means by which gases are exchanged between the lungs and blood, the techniques used in the measurement of respiratory variables, and the interpretation of these measurements.

The helium content of atmospheric air

Figures are given for the helium content of air both on the earth’s surface and at heights up to 25 km. No variations exceeding the limits of the analytical error ( ± 0.2 %) have been found in air samples from all over the surface of the globe, and no significant changes have been observed in air up to 20 km. height; however, a small and varying surplus of helium averaging about 3 % above the normal helium content was present in samples from 20 to 25 km. height. It follows from these results that at least up to 25 km. height, gravitational separation of the constituents has no appreciable effect on the composition of atmospheric air.

On the densities of nitrogen, oxygen and argon, and on the composition of atmospheric air

On the densities of nitrogen, oxygen and argon, and on the composition of atmospheric air