Cross-border Air Pollution Research Articles

Transboundary vegetation fire smoke and expressed sentiment: Evidence from Twitter

This paper examines the impact of transboundary vegetation fire smoke on the real-time sentiment of Twitter users in Southeast Asia, including countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. We leverage the exogenous variation in wind directions for identification. We find that an increase in upwind fires by one standard deviation reduces the sentiment score by 0.5 percent of a standard deviation (after netting out the impact of unobserved local socioeconomic factors). During peak fire seasons, our estimate translates into sentiment damages comparable to the average Sunday-to-Monday sentiment drop. The adverse sentiment impact exhibits significant variation across countries and intensifies with factors such as the number of upwind fires, income levels, proximity to fires, and limited adaptability on weekdays. We show that cross-boundary air pollution is the primary channel, with smoke from neighboring countries exerting a greater impact on sentiment than domestically produced smoke. These findings underscore the psychosocial costs and geopolitical tensions associated with cross-border air pollution spillovers.

The Efforts of the Royal Thai Domestic Bureaucracy in an Effort to Protest against the Haze/Smog from Indonesia

This study aims to explain three determinant factors in influencing a country in making policies, especially the kingdom of Thailand. The three determinants of the considerations above have an interconnected role in influencing every consideration of policy makers to make decisions. Where in the domestic context, which consists of domestic politics, economic and military forces play a role together with the international context in shaping the direction of foreign policy. So that these three considerations do not stand separately because they influence each other in the policy-making process. The existence of deforestation and fires in Indonesia has caused significant problems. Because deforestation and forest fires are directly transboundary haze which makes Indonesia a smoke haze contributing country in the Southeast Asian region. Therefore, in relation to forest fires in Indonesia which have become an environmental issue, the Indonesian government also has a responsibility towards cross-border air pollution. Where in terms of international law, state responsibility is an obligation that must be carried out by a country to other countries. So that the Indonesian government in this case has responsibility for cross-border air pollution that occurs in Southeast Asia. The Indonesian government has also ratified ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary haze pollution (AATHP). Therefore, the Indonesian government is trying to solve this problem in a sustainable manner.

The Impact of Long-Range Transport of Biomass Burning Emissions in Southeast Asia on Southern China

The long-range transport of biomass burning pollutants from Southeast Asia has a significant impact on air quality in China. In this study, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) fire data and aerosol optical depth (AOD) products and the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) carbon monoxide (CO) data were used to analyze the impact of air pollution caused by biomass burning in Southeast Asia on southern China. Results showed that Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi were deeply affected by biomass burning emissions from March to April during 2016–2020. Comparing the data for fires on the Indochinese Peninsula and southern provinces of China, it is obvious that the contribution of pollutants emitted by local biomass burning in China to air pollution is only a small possibility. The distribution of CO showed that the overall emissions increased greatly from March to April, and there was an obvious transmission process. In addition, the MODIS AOD in areas close to the national boundary of China is at a high level (>0.6), and the AOD in the southwest of Guangxi province and the southeast of Yunnan Province is above 0.8. Combined with a typical air pollution event in southern China, the UVAI combined with wind direction and other meteorological data showed that the pollutants were transferred from the Indochinese Peninsula to southern China under the southwest monsoon. The PM2.5 data from ground-based measurements and backward tracking were used to verify the pollutant source of the pollution event, and it was concluded that the degree of pollution in Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces was related to the distance from the Indochinese Peninsula. Results indicate that it is necessary to carry out in-depth research on the impact of cross-border air pollution transport on domestic air quality as soon as possible and to actively cooperate with foreign countries to carry out pollution source research and control.

Anticipation of Air Pollution Density Patterns Affected by Wind Velocity Based on Fourier Transform Spectrometer Across the Silk Road Countries by Using EcoBeltSat—A 6U CubeSat

EcoBeltSat is a 6U nanosatellite (CubeSat) able to offer access on space for scientists to determine the effects of cross-border air pollution flux, and acquire a more precise understanding of climate change and global warming for the Belt and Road countries. The objective of this CubeSat mission is demonstrated by the use of an onboard atmospheric spectrometer as the first payload. Therefore, a second payload is suggested to estimate and localize renewable energy sources in these countries. The aim of this mission is achieved based on Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS), which is used for wind velocity measurement around the globe by using Cubesats. This data can offer confidence to the investors in the sector of renewable energy projects, for example, wind farms, solar power plants, and other systems. In this article, the association of air pollution measurements by the spectrometer and the wind velocity measurements by FTS instrument is proposed to give an innovative idea and the opportunity for a spaceborne predictive pollution map which avoid the actual implementation of billions of sensors implanted on the ground around the world.

Tindakan Pencegahan Pembakaran Hutan dalam Perspektif ASEAN Community

Artikel ini bertujuan untuk memaparkan tentang nilai-nilai ASEAN Community dalam pencegahan pembakaran hutan dan lahan melalui ASEAN Agreement Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), dan Implementasi AATHP di Indonesia. Hal ini disebabkan karena Persoalan Kebakaran hutan dan Lahan merupakan salah satu isu utama di kawasan ASEAN, dan dampaknya menimbulkan pencemaran udara lintas batas negara yang mengakibatkan terganggunya hubungan diplomatik diantara Negara Anggota ASEAN. Padahal negara Anggota ASEAN bersepakat untuk mewujudkan ASEAN Community. Oleh karena itu, dengan menerapkan metode penelitian hukum yuridis normatif, tulisan ini hendak menjelajahi beberapa hal, yaitu pertama; bagaimana nilai-nilai nilai-nilai ASEAN Community dalam pencegahan pembakaran hutan dan lahan melalui AATHP, Kedua, bagaimana implementasi AATHP di Indonesia. Artikel ini menemukan bahwa nilai-nilai ASEAN Community telah tertuang dalam setiap pasal yang diatur dalam AATHP guna pencegahan kebakaran hutan dan lahan yang terjadi pada kawasan ASEAN, Kedua, Indonesia telah meratifikasi AATHP dan membuat produk hukum yang dapat menjangkau para pelaku pembakaran hutan dan lahan. Hal ini ditandai dengan disahkannya UU Perlindungan dan Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup, UU Kehutanan, UU Perkebunan, dan UU Pencegahan dan Pemberantasan Perusakan Hutan. Selain itu, di Provinsi Jambi, juga membentuk Peraturan Daerah Provinsi Jambi Nomor 2 Tahun 2016 tentang Pencegahan Dan Pengendalian Kebakaran Hutan Dan Lahan.

Microplastics in glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for the long-range transport of microplastics

Microplastics are globally prevalent on a large scale in various marine and terrestrial environments, including Arctic snow and precipitation in protected areas of the United Sates. However, reports of microplastics from glaciers are rare, especially for the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is widely known as the world's Third Pole and Asian Water Tower. Adjacent to human settlements in South Asia, East China, and Central Asia, the TP features regular cross-border air pollution (e.g., black carbon and mercury), which can affect its vulnerable and pristine environments. In previous studies, abundant microplastics have been reported from Tibetan rivers/lakes water and sediments, and surface soils. We detected microplastics in glacier surface snow on the TP, which were isolated from the impact of human activities, indicating that microplastics can be transported over long distances. This evidence is expected to be significant for understanding the atmospheric transport of microplastics to the TP, and provides a global perspective on the microplastic cycle.

Health impact ofenvironmental pollution and protective effect of masks in Japan

Background/Aim: The health effects of cross-border air pollution and Asian dust (AD) originating from drylands, such as the Gobi Desert and Taklamakan Desert, have been a concern in Asia. To overcome the global issue of air pollution, wearing masks is recommended. However, the protective effect of wearing masks are unclear. We assessed the health impact of air pollution and the protective effect of masks.Methods: We administered diary-style web-based questionnaires to 48 volunteers who lived in Yonago City in Japan between 2015 and 2016. The results were evaluated using a 4-level subjective symptom score (29 variables include respiratory, nasal, ocular, and skin symptoms), history of the disease, and preventive behaviors (e.g., mask use). Association between the symptom scores and analyzed components for AD, splash sea salt, sulfate aerosol, nitrate aerosol, Organic carbon, Black carbon were assessed using a linear mixed model. Data regarding climate (temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure) and environmental factors were used as covariates. Regarding symptom prevention measures, we measured particle leakage rates of participants’ masks. Results: The association between respiratory symptoms and sulfate aerosol was significant (P trend=0.013, odds ratio [OR] of the highest quartile [Q4] vs. the lowest[Q1]=1.34, 95% CI=1.10 to 1.65). The relationship between symptoms and sulfate aerosol was also significant in the mask-wearing groups. Even with N95 or virus filtration efficiency masks, the leakage rate was high, suggesting that fitting is more important in addition to mask filter quality.Conclusions: We found that exposure to air pollution increased the risk of adverse subjective symptoms. We also found that it is essential to wear a mask that fits the facial features without a gap between the face and mask.

Development of an Integrated Assessment Model at Provincial Level: GCAM-Korea

Integrated assessment modeling at a higher spatial scale is a prerequisite for deriving region-specific implications from the model. The Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) was chosen for GCAM-Korea, a detailed integrated assessment model (IAM) of Korea’s socioeconomic and energy systems. GCAM-Korea is developed based on GCAM-USA. Data for 16 provinces have been collected from various sources. Some data have been pre-processed to fit within the specific structure of GCAM-USA data. Other types of data were newly added through new structures. The model results were validated to be compatible with historical trends. It was found that provincial energy plans or policies could be compiled in detail using the proposed model while maintaining consistency with national level modeling results. The cross-border air pollution issue in Northeast Asia could also be addressed by combining GCAM-Korea and air quality models in the future.

The impact of environmental regulation on fetal health: Evidence from the shutdown of a coal-fired power plant located upwind of New Jersey

Our study examines a case where cross-border air pollution had not been effectively dealt with by a decentralized, state level policymaking, letting a coal-fired power plant located on the border between two states pollute the downwind state for years without being controlled. We find that the shutdown of the power plant, thanks to a landmark ruling by the federal government, reduces the likelihoods of having a low birth weight baby and having a preterm birth by 15 percent and 28 percent, respectively, in areas downwind of the power plant. The ruling marks the first-ever federal level regulation under the Clean Air Act that overrides state-level regulations and is directly imposed upon a single pollution source. Our empirical setting emphasizes the importance of such regulation in curbing environmental free riding induced by jurisdictional borders, where pollution cost-shifting can be aided by natural forces such as prevailing winds.

Assessment of the status of biogenic organic emissions and impacts on air quality in southern Africa

Air quality management in South Africa has traditionally focused on industrial, vehicular and domestic coal burning as emission sources of air pollution. Only recently through, research initiatives such as Southern African Fire-Atmosphere Research Initiative in 2000 (SAFARI 2000) and the Cross Border Air Pollution Impact Assessment Project, have the importance of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions been recognized in regional atmospheric chemistry and composition, particularly relating to surface ozone formation. These projects have identified significant gaps in the understanding of BVOC emissions in southern Africa.BVOC emissions are relatively well understood for southern African savanna and woodland plant species and landscapes. Considering that the region is home to more than 20 000 plant species, the most significant gap in the understanding of BVOC emissions is the acute lack of plant specific emission information. Equally important is an understanding of the unique local factors that control BVOC emissions.A project has been launched in South Africa to develop capacity and technologies to address the BVOC knowledge gaps. It focuses on measurement and modelling and aims to develop a cadre of skilled scientists in BVOC sampling techniques using leaf and branch enclosures, relaxed eddy accumulation and lidar techniques in conjunction with development and application of photochemical modelling.

The Canada-US Environmental Relationship

Toxic substances in the Great Lakes are causing concerns for human health and have shown minimal improvement in the last decade. Degraded air quality in urban areas along the border leads to air pollution alerts. New species introduced in terrestrial and aquatic environments are creating significant ecosystem changes. All these problems spill across the Canada-US border, leading to potential disputes. However, at the present time there is an unexpectedly smooth, well-functioning, bilateral environmental relationship with virtually none of the acrimony that marked the Great Lakes pollution disputes of the 19703, the acid rain controversy of the 19805, or the Pacific Salmon conflict of the 19903. That does not, however, mean it is a time of significant environmental improvement.The long-standing North American concern for cross-border environmental issues makes sense when one looks even briefly at the shared geography of these two countries that leaves them environmentally exposed to one another. They share the world's longest international border (approximately 8,000 km when the Alaskan border with Yukon and British Columbia is included) and four sea boundaries. They also share the world's longest international fresh water boundary, which runs 2,700 km through the St. Lawrence River-Great Lakes region in eastern North America, a region that, for the most part, is heavily populated and industrialized. Indeed, most Canadians live within ioo km of this border. In the western part of the continent, numerous rivers cross, and several recross, the Canada-US boundary. The area drained by these rivers is heavily agricultural and thus the potential for disputes involving reduced water quality and quantity abound. Most air masses move across both countries from west to east, but depending on the season, pollutants might be transported from the northwest to the southeast (i.e., from Canada into the US) or from the southwest to the northeast (i.e., from the US into Canada). Because the old heavy industry of the US is located in the northeast, along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and because of the proximity of many Canadian smelters and power plants to the US border, opportunities for cross-border air pollution are also numerous. Urban areas, with their concentration of cars, also lead to cross-border air quality problems. It is no surprise then, that the two countries have been confronted with cross-border pollution for almost 100 years, beginning long before the modern environmental era of the 1970s.Both nations have a mutual stake in sustaining their economies and shared environment, with responsibility for its custody and maintenance that neither can fulfill without the other.1 While it is true that the quality of the environment in each country is somewhat dependent on actions of the other country, shared values of the citizens of both countries, which place high regard on environmental quality, should lead to generally harmonious relations. There are two major impediments to this rosy scenario. The first is when the benefits of an activity result in economic gain for one country while the environmental detriments mostly accrue in the other country. This leads to a case of divergence and the potential for international cooperation is greatly diminished. The acid rain dispute of the 19803 is perhaps a classic example of this. The second happens when a generally pro-environment philosophy of the citizenry is trumped by an administration that is not environmentally oriented or has other more pressing conflicting priorities. It can be argued that this latter case exists at this time in our history.In the United States, the administration of George W. Bush is clearly pro-business and is openly hostile to more governmental control of corporate pollution. The National Resources Defense Council in the US states that [t]his administration, in catering to industries that put America's health and natural heritage at risk, threatens to do more damage to our environmental protections than any other in U. …

Techniques to assess cross-border air pollution and application to a US-Mexico border region

A year-long assessment of cross-border air pollution was conducted in the eastmost section of the US-Mexico border region, known as the Lower Rio Grande Valley, in South Texas. Measurements were conducted on the US side and included fine particle mass (PM 2.5) and elemental composition, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and meteorology. Wind sector analyses of chemical tracers and diagnostic ratios, in addition to principal component analysis (PCA), were initially applied to assess cross-border and overall air shed influences. Linear-angular correlation statistics [Biometrika, 63, (1976), 403–405] and nonparametric multiple comparisons between wind sectors were computed with the particle element data using principal component scores from PCA to determine the direction of source classes. Findings suggest crustal particles and salts carried or stirred by sea breeze winds from a southerly and southeasterly direction from the Gulf of Mexico heavily influenced the elemental composition of the particulate samples. Pair-wise comparisons of wind directions for the principal component scores suggest possible oil combustion influences from utilities or boilers coming from the south and possible coal combustion influences from the north and northwest. The techniques discussed can provide a methodology to assess future ambient levels and cross-border influences in the Valley as conditions change.