Global Pollution Control Research Articles

Analysis of variation characteristics, transport paths, and influencing factors of atmospheric NO2 pollution in Western Europe.

Climate change and air pollution are one of the global environmental problems. It is significant to grasp the air pollution situation of Western Europe in recent 10 years for its or the global pollution control. Based on the OMI tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column density data, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, variation trend, transmission path, and influencing factors of NO2 in 15 countries in Western Europe from 2011 to 2022 are discussed in this paper. Meanwhile, the annual average spatial and temporal distribution in 2023 is predicted by the random forest (RF) model. The results showed that (1) the 12-year spatial distribution map showed an increasing trend from southwest to northeast, with the border area of the Netherlands and Germany and Milan as two high-value areas, and the overall trend over time was that the high-concentration area gradually shrank, the low-concentration area gradually expanded, and the annual average concentration gradually decreased. (2) The inter-month trend presents a "U" shape, with the mean NO2 pollution ranking in winter > autumn > spring > summer. (3) Natural factors are one of the reasons affecting NO2; for instance, NO2 pollution has a strong positive correlation with the lifted index, relative humidity, and wind speed and a moderately strong negative correlation with precipitable water and air temperature. (4) Exogenous atmospheric transport is another important factor affecting the change of NO2 pollution in Western Europe. The HYSPLIT model is used to analyze the backward trajectory of Milan, Italy, and Nijmegen, Netherlands, in the four seasons of 2022. Both are mainly influenced by westerly airflows, and therefore, the transport effect in the atmosphere brings air pollutants from westerly regions in the atmosphere.

Differentiated emission control strategy based on comprehensive evaluation of multi-media pollution: Case of mercury emission control

In order to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impact of multi-media mercury pollution under differentiated emission control strategies in China, a literature review and case studies were carried out. Increased human exposure to methylmercury was assessed through the dietary intake of residents in areas surrounding a typical coal-fired power plant and a zinc (Zn) smelter, located either on acid soil with paddy growth in southern China, or on alkaline soil with wheat growth in northern China. Combined with knowledge on speciated mercury in flue gas and the fate of mercury in the wastewater or solid waste of the typical emitters applying different air pollution control devices, a simplified model was developed by estimating the incremental daily intake of methylmercury from both local and global pollution. Results indicated that air pollution control for coal-fired power plants and Zn smelters can greatly reduce health risks from mercury pollution, mainly through a reduction in global methylmercury exposure, but could unfortunately induce local methylmercury exposure by transferring more mercury from flue gas to wastewater or solid waste, then contaminating surrounding soil, and thus increasing dietary intake via crops. Therefore, tightening air emission control is conducive to reducing the comprehensive health risk, while the environmental equity between local and global pollution control should be fully considered. Rice in the south tends to have higher bioconcentration factors than wheat in the north, implying the great importance of strengthening local pollution control in the south, especially for Zn smelters with higher contribution to local pollution.

Enhanced nutrient removal from mixed black water by a microbial ultra-low weak electrical stimulated anaerobic-two stage anoxic/aerobic process

Efficient nutrient removal from mixed black water is under challenge in the context of global pollution control and circular economy. The anaerobic-anorexic-aerobic process is a widely used biological nutrient removal technology for wastewater treatment, yet its denitrification capacity is limited by the low biodegradable organics to nitrogen (C/N) ratio due to prior degradation of mixed black water. We have previously proved that weak electrical of 0.2 V could stimulate microbial denitrification of black water using an external electrical supply to ensure voltage stability. To reduce the dependence on additional electrical and to ensure a stable voltage output, we built a microbial fuel cell (MFC) and a microbial electrolytic cell (MEC) embedded in the anaerobic-two stage anoxic/aerobic (A-(A/O)2) system in this study, where the MFC degrades organic matter and generates electricity first. Then, the electroactive bacteria in the MEC catalyze denitrification at low carbon levels, which is affected by microbial ultra-low weak electrical stimulation (MUlWES) generated by MFC. Results showed that the removal rates of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were up to 91.3% and 98.3% respectively at a stimulation voltage of 0.1 V. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed the formation of aromatic proteins and an increase in tightly bound-extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS), suggesting the involvement of these compounds in electron transfer. Community analysis disclosed the activation of autotrophic denitrifying bacteria and the inhibition of most heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria.

Plastic pollution load Model based on Stepwise regression Analytic hierarchy process

This paper focuses on plastic pollution, which is the key problem in national environmental problems. With the increasing influence of plastic pollution, in order to measure the impact of plastic pollution, reasonable intervention measures are put forward, and environmental load rate model is established. In this paper, the stepwise regression method is used to estimate the maximum pollution level that can be achieved in the world from the aspects of population density, vegetation cover, industrial level and economic level, so as to provide reference for global pollution control.

Will the role of intercontinental transport change in a changing climate?

Abstract. Intercontinental transport of atmospheric pollution (ITAP) can offset the impact of local emission control efforts, impact human and ecosystem health, and play a role in climate forcing. This study aims to determine the role of ITAP caused by East Asian anthropogenic emissions (EAAEs) under current and future emission and climate scenarios. The contribution from EAAEs is determined using a "brute force method" in which results from simulations with and without EAAEs are compared. ITAP from East Asia is enhanced in the future due to faster wind speeds aloft and a stronger low pressure center near eastern Russia that facilitate enhanced westerly export in the free troposphere and stronger southerly transport near the surface, increased gaseous precursor emissions, and increased temperatures. As a result, the contribution of ozone (O3) generated by EAAEs to the global average O3 mixing ratio increases by ~0.8 ppb from 1.2 ppb in 2001 to 2.0 ppb in 2050. The contribution of PM2.5 generated by EAAEs to the global PM2.5 level increases by ~0.07 μg m−3 from 0.32 μg m−3 in 2001 to 0.39 μg m−3 in 2050, despite a non-homogenous response in PM2.5 resulting from cloud and radiative feedbacks. EAAEs can increase East Asian biogenic secondary organic aerosol by 10–81%, indicating that it is largely controllable. EAAEs also increase the deposition of nitrogen, black carbon, and mercury both locally and downwind, implying that they may play a role in climate feedbacks and ecosystem health of these regions. These results show that EAAEs have a large impact on global air quality and climate, especially on downwind regions. Such impacts may be enhanced under future climate and emission scenarios, demonstrating a need to synergize global pollution control and climate mitigation efforts.

U.S. Air Quality Management: Local, Regional and Global Approaches

The purpose of this article is to review approaches to air quality management (AQM) in the United States. To characterize AQM in the United States, four examples that addressed local, regional, and global scale air pollution are described. These examples include: (1) the Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) program, (2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) program, (3) “Cap & Trade” programs, and (4) U.S. global pollution control efforts. These four examples were chosen because each presents a different approach to AQM. This was not intended to be a comprehensive description of U.S. AQM programs, but rather representative of selected examples that highlight the themes of this program. Some general principles that are illustrated in the article and are considered important characteristics of U.S. AQM are: • Ensure open access to information and transparency in decision making. • Develop and sustain a well-trained workforce. • Facilitate training, networking, and technology transfer among air quality managers. • Integrate planning and coordination of efforts across jurisdictions (across federal, state, and local agencies). • Educate and encourage participation of stakeholders. • Balance of societal benefits and costs. • Apply innovative approaches, where possible. • Fund research to improve the scientific basis for problem identification and effective AQM strategy development.

The sensitivity of mussel-watch programmes to detect temporal trends in the bio-availability of metals. A case study of the Saronicos Gulf of Greece

Statistical power analysis has been used to determine the sensitivity of the mussel-watch programme in Hellenic seas, with particular focus placed on the data obtained for metal content in mussels from the Saronicos Gulf during the period 1985-1997. Sample collection was carried out quarterly. Soft tissues of 60-100 similarly sized mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were pooled into six composite samples and analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The study concludes that the resolution of monitoring programmes employed thus far is sufficiently high to detect temporal trends related to changes in contaminant levels caused either by drastic environmental control (such as those imposed on point-source pollutants) or by sudden increases in contaminant load. However, the detection of more subtle trends, which may be expected in the near future as a result of global pollution-control policies, is likely to require the adoption of much more sensitive programmes. In addition, the review of up-to-date knowledge on metal biology in mussels suggests that factors related to growth and reproduction should be taken into account to remarkably increase the resolution of mussel-watch programmes. Indicative maximum values for components of error to be complied with during routine monitoring are suggested.

Endogenous Coalition Formation in Global Pollution Control

We extend the work on coalition formation in global pollution control by allowing for multiple coalitions. Equilibrium coalitions are derived under different rules of the and compared with each other. We consider internal & external equilibria and equilibrium binding agreements in the cartel formation game, coalition-proof and strong Nash equilibria in the open-membership game and in the exclusive membership - and - games, subgame-perfect equilibria in the sequential move unanimity game and equilibria in the equilibrium binding agreement game. We show that farsightedness and exclusive membership leads to more concentrated coalition structure, implying lower global emissions and higher global welfare. Moreover, we evaluate the different coalition formation games with respect to their ability to explain existing international environmental agreements and with respect to their theoretical consistency.

Toward a positive theory of coalition formation and endogenous instrumental choice in global pollution control

The paper analyzes the coalition formation process in a global emission game with asymmetric countries where the number of signatories, the abatement target and the policy instrument are chosen simultaneously. Exemplarily, a uniform emission reduction quota and an effluent charge are considered. Stability is analyzed in a supergame framework by applying the concept of coalition-proofness. The analysis also considers the impact of impatient agents, restricted and simple punishment profiles. Two main results may be mentioned: First, paradoxically, IEAs achieve only little (if signed at all) if the externality problem is distinct. Second, our model helps to explain the frequent appearance of emission quotas in international pollution control despite the recommendations by economists to use market-based instruments like effluent charges.