High Levels Of Particulate Pollution Research Articles

Particulate Levels Underneath Landscape Fire Smoke Plumes in the Sydney Region of Australia

Smoke pollution from landscape fires is a major health problem, but it is difficult to predict the impact of any particular fire. For example, smoke plumes can be mapped using remote sensing, but we do not know how the smoke is distributed in the air-column. Prescribed burning involves the deliberate introduction of smoke to human communities but the amount, composition, and distribution of the pollution may be different to wildfires. We examined whether mapped plumes produced high levels of particulate pollution (PM2.5) at permanent air quality monitors and factors that influenced those levels. We mapped 1237 plumes, all those observed in 17 years of MODIS imagery over New South Wales, Australia, but this was only ~20% of known fires. Prescribed burn plumes tended to occur over more populated areas than wildfires. Only 18% of wildfire plumes and 4% of prescribed burn plumes passed over a monitor (n = 115). A minority of plumes caused a detectable increase in PM2.5: prescribed burn plumes caused an air quality exceedance for 33% of observations in the daytime and 11% at night, wildfire plumes caused exceedances for 48% and 22% of observations in the day and night-time, respectively. Thus, most plumes remained aloft (did not reach the surface). Statistical modelling revealed that wind speed, temperature, and mixing height influenced whether a plume caused an exceedance, and there was a difference between prescribed and wild fires. In particular, in wind speeds below 1 kmhr−1, exceedance was almost certain in prescribed burns. This information will be useful for planning prescribed burning, preparing warnings, and improving our ability to predict smoke impacts.

Particulate matter removal by forest cover in Delhi

ABSTRACT Increasing levels of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere of megacities is a serious concern due to implications for human exposure and overall environmental quality. Delhi experiences extremely high levels of particulate pollution. The present study sheds light on the seasonal differences in PM removal from the atmosphere by the available forest cover and quantifies this for Delhi. Particulate matter data from 40 stations across Delhi along with leaf area index (LAI) derived from remotely sensed satellite images were used. PM removed in the wet summer period was found to be lower than for the dry winter period in a year. The results highlight an unusual schedule for foliage fall in Delhi, as substantiated by the calculated LAI during the wet summer season and dry winter season. Overall, the study quantitatively evaluates the PM removal potential of forest cover in Delhi and suggests a need for the careful selection of trees in afforestation programmes.

Solid fuel use is a major risk factor for acute coronary syndromes among rural women: a matched case control study

ObjectivesAlmost half of the world's population uses solid fuel for cooking, exposing women to high levels of particulate pollution in indoor air. The risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was assessed among rural women, according to their use of solid fuel. Study designMatched case control study. MethodsData were collected at a public tertiary care hospital in a rural district of Pakistan. Seventy-three women with ACS were compared with controls, individually matched for sex and age (±5 years), who were admitted to hospital for other reasons. Fuels used for cooking and exposures to potentially confounding variables were ascertained through a questionnaire administered at interview and measurement of height and weight. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). ResultsAfter adjustment for potential confounding factors, current use of solid fuel was strongly associated with ACS (OR 4.8, 95% CI: 1.5–14.8), and risk was lowest in women who had last used solid fuel more than 15 years earlier. The population attributable fraction for ACS in relation to current use of solid fuel was 49.0% (95% CI: 41.3%–57.4%). ConclusionsThese findings support the hypothesis that indoor air pollution from use of solid fuel is an important cause of ACS. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of case-control studies in rural populations of women to address this question, and is an encouragement to larger and statistically more powerful investigations.

Relationship between particulate matter exposure and atherogenic profile in “Ground Zero” workers as shown by dynamic contrast enhanced MR imaging

In this pilot study, we hypothesize that dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has the potential to evaluate differences in atherosclerosis profiles in patients subjected to high (initial dust cloud) and low (after 13 September 2001) particulate matter (PM) exposure. Exposure to PM may be associated with adverse health effects leading to increased morbidity. Law enforcement workers were exposed to high levels of particulate pollution after working at "Ground Zero" and may exhibit accelerated atherosclerosis. 31 subjects (28 male) with high (n = 19) or low (n = 12) exposure to PM underwent DCE-MRI. Demographics (age, gender, family history, hypertension, diabetes, BMI, and smoking status), biomarkers (lipid profiles, hs-CRP, BP) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) measures (left and right) were obtained from all subjects. Differences between the high and low exposures were compared using independent samples t test. Using linear forward stepwise regression with information criteria model, independent predictors of increased area under curve (AUC) from DCE-MRI were determined using all variables as input. Confidence interval of 95 % was used and variables with p > 0.1 were eliminated. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Subjects with high exposure (HE) had significantly higher DCE-MRI AUC uptake (increased neovascularization) compared to subjects with lower exposure (LE). (AUC: 2.65 ± 0.63 HE vs. 1.88 ± 0.69 LE, p = 0.016). Except for right leg ABI, none of the other parameters were significantly different between the two groups. Regression model indicated that only HE to PM, CRP > 3.0 and total cholesterol were independently associated with increased neovascularization (in decreasing order of importance, all p < 0.026). HE to PM may increase plaque neovascularization, and thereby potentially indicate worsening atherogenic profile of "Ground Zero" workers.

Application of airshed modelling to the implementation of the New Zealand National Environmental Standards for air quality

Christchurch is one of New Zealand's cities that suffers from high levels of particulate pollution due to the use of wood-burning heaters in the winter months. Frequent exceedences of the National Environmental Standards (NES) for ambient air quality of 50 μg m −3 occur for daily PM 10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less). The main objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of the emission reduction strategy implemented by Environment Canterbury (the local air quality management authority) for the city of Christchurch using an air pollution model called TAPM. This model is used with and without data assimilation to simulate the meteorology and particulate matter dispersion for 1–9 July, 2001, when a stagnant anticyclone dominated the region and led to a prolonged period of poor air quality (the NES was exceeded on every day). This period is again tested with the projected 2013 emission inventory to investigate the reduction in PM 10 concentrations due to predicted emission reductions. The last surveyed emission inventory for Christchurch was conducted in 2001, when particulate emissions for a ‘typical winter day’ were estimated to be 7145, 974, and 1001 tonnes per day from domestic, industrial, and transport sources, respectively. Emission inventories for 2013 – also for a ‘typical winter day’ – are based on policy implementation resulting in predicted 2013 particulate emission strengths of 998 (domestic), 1164 (industry), and 421 (transport) tonnes per day. Results show that the 2013 emission inventory will cause no exceedences at the location of the monitoring station in Christchurch. However, due to the complex wind regime and topography of the area, it is highly likely that the NES will be exceeded at locations away from the monitoring site, making Christchurch non-compliant with its objectives. This is particularly significant as the NES apply to the maximum concentration occurring anywhere in the polluted airshed.

High levels of particulate pollution in Chinese megacities | News Briefs: VOCs in groundwater ` EU targets waste batteries ` Pyrethroids pollute urban runoff ` Nanosponges go commercial ` Clarke Prize ` Bioenergy: Fuel of the future | DDT's legacy lasts for many decades | Drop in EU carbon prices baffles analysts | Tires and lead: A weighty issue |

Download Hi-Res ImageDownload to MS-PowerPointCite This:Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006, 40, 15, 4532-4539

Every Breath You Take? Environmental Justice and Air Pollution in Christchurch, New Zealand

In a number of environmental-justice studies it has been noted that the exposure to an array of air pollutants varies between different social groups. This inequality in exposure is one possible explanation for the variations in pollution-related health outcomes such as lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Previous environmental-justice studies that have focused upon air pollution have tended to be concerned with exposure to industrial and vehicle pollution and rely upon simple estimates of exposure, ignoring the complex interaction of emissions, topography, and meteorology that determine pollution levels in many urban areas. In this paper we use accurate and geographically detailed estimates of pollution calculated from an atmospheric dispersion model to examine issues of environmental justice related to air pollution sourced from domestic heating in Christchurch, New Zealand, a city with particularly high levels of particulate pollution during winter months. We consider whether there is a social gradient in exposure to air pollution in Christchurch by comparing estimates of particulate pollution for small areas across the city to a range of demographic and socioeconomic indicators including age, ethnicity, income, and deprivation. Furthermore, we examine whether there is a social gradient in exposure to extreme pollution episodes. We demonstrate that different social groups in the Christchurch population are exposed to different levels of both ambient air pollution and extreme air-pollution episodes. In particular, pollution is significantly higher among more disadvantaged communities. We also find evidence which suggests that the groups responsible for producing a large proportion of the pollution in Christchurch are not the same groups exposed to high levels of particulate air pollution.

Cardio-respiratory morbidity and long-term exposure to particulate air pollution

To explore the long-term influence of particulate air pollution on cardio-respiratory morbidity in the UK, a cross-sectional postal survey was conducted. Women were randomly selected from the electoral rolls of 11 wards in which Black Smoke measurements had been collected over at least 30 years. Our analyses included 1,166 women aged 45 years or older who had lived within 5 miles of their current address for at least 30 years. After adjustment for potential confounders there was no clear increase in prevalence of productive cough or medically diagnosed ischaemic heart disease with long-term residence in places with higher levels of particulate pollution. The prevalence of asthma was lower in wards with the highest Black Smoke measurements (prevalence ratio 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 – 1.0). Our findings provide no indication that prolonged residence in places with relatively high levels of particulate pollution causes an important increase in cardio-respiratory morbidity. This is in contrast to observations in US studies. In view of this discordance, there is a need for further evaluation of the long-term impact of particulate pollution on health in the UK.

Acute effects of bushfires on peak expiratory flow rates in children with wheeze: a time series analysis

ObjectivesTo determine the effects of the January 1994 Sydney bushfire on evening peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) in children with wheeze. MethodsChildren with a history of wheeze were enrolled in the longitudinal study and completed a daily asthma diary. We obtained daily air pollution, meteorological, pollen and alternaria data. We then used generalised estimating equation techniques to determine associations between the bushfire period and particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) and PEFR. ResultsThe maximum daily PM10 level peaked at 210 ug/m3, which was nearly seven times the usual PM10 level for the rest of January and February 1994. There was no significant association between mean PM10 and PEFR (beta-coefficient%-0.009, p=0.86). Children without bronchial hyper-reactivity had a significant negative association between PEFR and PM10 (beta-coefficient%-0.1029, p=0.03). The bushfire period was not significant in any of the models. ConclusionsWe did not find an association between the bushfire period or PM10 and evening PEFR, although in a subgroup of children without bronchial hyper-reactivity, a significant negative association was present between PM10 and evening PEFR. ImplicationsWe conclude that the high levels of particulate pollution caused by the Sydney bushfires did not lead to any clinically significant reductions in PEFR in symptomatic children. Our results have implications for community risk communication during future bushfires.