Pollution In Urban Areas Research Articles

Impacts of pilot carbon emission trading policies on urban environmental pollution: Evidence from China

The trading of carbon emissions is a crucial regulatory method to address environmental pollution issues. This study takes China's carbon emission trading pilot policy established in 2013 as a quasi-natural experiment and uses the DID model to empirically test the urban panel data from 2006 to 2019. The results show that the carbon emission trading pilot policy can effectively reduce urban environmental pollution, and this effect is more noticeable in mid-western cities, northern cities, cities with fewer resources, and large-scale cities. In addition, to address the urban environmental pollution problem through this policy, the government is encouraged to raise its environmental protection awareness and put more effort into the innovation of technology. In general, this study uses carbon emission trading policies from China to confirm that market-based incentive environmental regulation tools can effectively reduce environmental pollution in urban areas. These findings can provide more theoretical support and empirical evidence for the government to use mechanisms of the market to effectively solve pollution problems, improve ecological environment quality, and accelerate the realization of green economy.

Characteristics and distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from motorcycles in Hanoi, Vietnam

Motorcycles contribute to the notable emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants in urban areas. These vehicles are the most widely used means of road transportation in Vietnam. This study is the first to use the EMISENS model in combination with the IVE modelling system to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from motorcycles at tier 3 in IPCC guideline. There are more than 8700 motorcycles circulating on the roads in Hanoi per hour. With the characteristics of motorcycles compiled, the average age of motorcycles is around 11 years, and each vehicle travels an average of 16.4 km per day with an average start-up frequency of 3.46. The emission factors of greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4 when running (erunning) were 72.55 and 0.24 grams per km, respectively. The emission factors for CO2, CH4 and N2O during vehicle start-up (estart-up) were 6.96, 0.53 and 0.0009 grams per start-up, respectively. Inventory emission data from 2021-2023 reveal that that motorcycles in Hanoi emitted nearly 4.6 mil tons of CO2e per year. Emission distribution is concentrated in inner-city districts and some residential areas at the intersections with provincial roads, national highways, and industrial parks.

Non-invasive methodology for the ecotoxicological sampling of anatids in urban and peri-urban areas

Urban waterbirds serve as crucial bioindicators for evaluating environmental pollution in urban areas, necessitating a focus on tailored non-invasive ecotoxicological biomonitoring methods. This paper adopts a multidisciplinary perspective to underscore the pivotal role of biomonitoring in gauging environmental quality and identifying threats. Emphasizing the versatility and ease of sampling urban birds, we highlight their correlation with human exposure to pollutants, alongside the significant role of wetlands, particularly Ramsar sites, in conservation endeavors and as habitats for migratory birds. Additionally, the paper delves into the relevance of urban birds in monitoring pollutants, showcasing their efficacy in reflecting urbanization or pollution gradients. Proposed non-invasive biomonitoring techniques, including feather and feces analysis, offer practical means to assess heavy metal, microplastics, and other pollutant concentrations without harming the avian species. A comprehensive methodology proposal for waterbird sampling, encompassing pre-sampling activities, basic and specialized laboratory characterization, and data collection in a Central Mexican Ramsar site, is detailed as examples and experiences into these considerations. Concluding insights underscore the impact of emerging pollutants, such as microplastics, on waterbird health and nutritional status, advocating for multivariate statistical analysis to elucidate correlations between morphological characteristics, elemental composition, and pollutant presence.

A CFD-BASED AIR QUALITY DISPERSION MODELING FOR URBAN AREAS USING OPENFOAM

Abstract. Air pollution in urban areas posed a significant threat to public health and environmental sustainability. This research addressed the urgent need for accurate air quality monitoring systems in urban environments, focusing on the University of the Philippines-Diliman as the study area. The study used 3D modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate and assess air quality dispersion in the urban setting of the Campus. The research objectives included: (a) developing a 3D model of the Campus using LiDAR and geospatial techniques, (b) modeling the three-dimensional PM2.5 dispersion in the area using CFD, and (c) validating the effectiveness of the CFD-based PM2.5 dispersion model using on-ground air quality monitoring data. The LiDAR and GIS datasets, including Digital Terrain Models, Digital Surface Models, orthophotos, building footprints, and road networks, were utilized to create the 3D campus model. Meteorological data (wind speed, direction, cloudiness, solar irradiation), and emission parameters (pollutant sources and concentrations) were integrated into the model for CFD simulations. SimFlow, an OpenFOAM-based software, facilitated the dispersion modeling process. The study's results revealed the impact of urban factors on PM2.5 dispersion, highlighting challenges in areas with restricted air movement due to buildings and narrow streets. Discrepancies between model predictions and on-ground measurements suggested the influence of unaccounted local factors. Nevertheless, the model demonstrated its utility in capturing general PM2.5 trends. In conclusion, the combination of 3D modeling and CFD simulation proved to be a robust approach for urban air quality monitoring. While improvements were needed to address local influences, this research provided a foundation for better air quality comprehension and urban management, essential for achieving sustainable cities and climate action goals.

Removal and fate of microplastics in permeable pavements: An experimental layer-by-layer analysis

The increasing prevalence of microplastics (MP) in urban environments has raised concerns over their negative effects on ecosystems and human health. Stormwater runoff, and road dust and sediment, act as major vectors of these pollutants into natural water bodies. Sustainable urban drainage systems, such as permeable pavements, are considered as potential tools to retain particulate pollutants. This research evaluates at laboratory scale the efficiency of permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) and porous concrete pavements (PCP) for controlling microplastics, including tire wear particles (TWP) which constitute a large fraction of microplastics in urban environments, simulating surface pollution accumulation and Mediterranean rainfall conditions. Microplastic levels in road dust and sediments and stormwater runoff inputs were 4762 ± 974 MP/kg (dry weight) and 23.90 ± 17.40 MP/L. In infiltrated effluents, microplastic levels ranged from 2.20 ± 0.61 to 5.17 ± 1.05 MP/L; while tire wear particle levels ranged between 0.28 ± 0.28 and 3.30 ± 0.89 TWP/L. Distribution of microplastics within the layers of PICP and PCP were also studied and quantified. Microplastics tend to accumulate on the pavements surface and in geotextile layers, allowing microplastic retention efficiencies from 89 % to 99.6 %. Small sized (< 0.1 mm) fragment shaped microplastics are the most common in effluent samples. The results indicate that permeable pavements are a powerful tool to capture microplastics and tire wear particles, especially by surface and geotextile layers. The study aims to shed light on the complex mobilisation mechanisms of microplastics, providing valuable insights for addressing the growing environmental concern of microplastic pollution in urban areas.

Assessing Pollution Sources and Impacts in Gbarnga: A Case Study of Barwror and Kortu Quarters

The rapid urbanization and industrialization of Gbarnga have brought forth significant environmental challenges, including pollution. This study, titled "Assessing Pollution Sources and Impacts in Gbarnga: A Case Study of Barwror and Kortu Quarters," aims to investigate public awareness and participation in pollution reduction initiatives within these communities. The background of the study encompasses the pressing need to address pollution in urban areas like Gbarnga, where industrial activities and urbanization have intensified environmental pressures. Previous research has highlighted the detrimental effects of pollution on public health, ecosystem integrity, and overall well-being, emphasizing the urgency of proactive measures to mitigate pollution levels. The objectives of this research include assessing the level of public awareness regarding environmental regulations and policies aimed at pollution reduction, as well as gauging community willingness to participate in pollution reduction initiatives. Additionally, the study seeks to identify factors influencing public engagement in environmental actions and to provide recommendations for enhancing community involvement in pollution mitigation efforts. The findings reveal a significant gap in public awareness of environmental regulations and policies, with just over half of the population informed about such initiatives. However, there exists a strong willingness among community members to actively engage in pollution reduction initiatives, with over 97% expressing readiness to participate. Further statistical analysis indicates a moderate level of public awareness regarding pollution-related issues, underscoring the need for targeted educational campaigns and enhanced communication strategies. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of strengthening communication channels, launching educational campaigns, fostering inclusive community engagement, encouraging community-research partnerships, and integrating public awareness initiatives into environmental policy frameworks. These recommendations aim to empower communities to actively participate in pollution reduction efforts, ultimately contributing to the attainment of sustainable environmental goals in Gbarnga and similar urban settings.

Assessment of seasonal variations in particulate matter accumulation and elemental composition in urban tree species

Outdoor air pollution in urban areas, especially particulate matter (PM), is harmful to human health. Urban trees and shrubs provide crucial ecosystem services such as air pollution mitigation by acting as natural filters. However, urban greenery comprises a particular biodiversity, and different plant species vary in their capacity to accumulate PM. Twenty-two plant species were analyzed and selected according to their leaf traits, the different fractions of PM accumulated on the leaves (large - PML, coarse - PMC, and fine - PMF) and their chemical composition. The study was conducted in four city zones: urban traffic (UT), urban background (UB), industrial (IND), and rural (RUR), comparing winter (W) and summer (S) seasons. The average PM levels in the air and accumulated on the leaves were higher in W than in S season. During both seasons, the highest PM accumulated on the leaves was recorded at the UT zone. Nine species were selected as the most suitable for accumulating PML, seven as the most efficient for accumulating PMC, and six for accumulating PMF. The leaf area and leaf roundness were correlated negatively with PM accumulation. The evergreen species L. nobilis was indicated as suitable for dealing with air pollution based on PM10 and PM2.5 values recorded in the air. Regarding the PM element and metal composition, L. nobilis, Photinia x fraseri, Olea europaea, Quercus ilex and Nerium oleander were selected as species with notable elements and metal accumulation. In summary, the study identified species with higher PM accumulation capacity and assessed the seasonal PM accumulation patterns in different city zones, providing insights into the species interactions with PM and their potential for monitoring and coping with air pollution.

Design and validation of a new asphalt mixture to reduce road traffic noise pollution in urban areas

The aim of this paper is to design a novel asphalt mixture capable of reducing tyre/pavement interaction noise for urban roads at speeds around 50 km/h. To this end, various mechanical and functional tests were carried out both in the laboratory and on a real road in the city of Florence. The asphalt mixture developed improves the noise reduction properties without compromising its mechanical performance or neglecting its rolling and skid resistance. To this end, various mechanical tests were carried out in the laboratory, including water sensitivity or wheel tracking tests, as well as functional tests relating to texture, flow resistance and sound absorption. Full-scale measurements were carried out using the CPX method. The result of the study was a novel asphalt mixture that reduced noise by 3 dB compared to a conventional road.

Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Inventory Analysis of Near-Road Traffic Pollution in Urban Areas

Vehicle emissions belong to the category of near-surface sources, occur close to human activity areas, and pose a greater threat to human health than other anthropogenic pollution sources. Furthermore, the study of the spatiotemporal characteristics of near-road traffic pollution is of great significance to urban and regional ambient air quality management, and is also an important basis for vehicle emission inventories, as well as the assessment of ambient air impact. Most previous studies have analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of hydrocarbons (HCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in urban vehicle emissions over a certain time, without considering the synergistic effect of mobile source particulate matter, NOx, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, we analyze the composition of vehicles with different emission standards from road mobile sources in Anqing City, China. National category III and IV vehicles are the main contribution sources of various pollutants, accounting for more than 60% of emissions. Although national category I and II vehicles accounted for less than 1% of the total number of vehicles, their contribution to emissions cannot be ignored, especially for CO and HCs, the contribution of which from such vehicles can reach about 7%. This is mainly due to the low level of pollution control arising from the larger emission factor and greater age of these vehicles. Furthermore, eliminating old cars and increasing the proportion of national category VI vehicles can effectively reduce vehicle pollutant emissions. In terms of the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, highways around urban areas are also the main sources of heavy vehicles, and the emission intensity of these pollutants is also higher on national roads and highways surrounding urban areas. In addition, the presence of m/p-xylene and toluene solvent-using species is detected, which indicates that petrol vehicle emissions, LPG and petrol volatilization, and solvent-using sources contribute significantly to ozone formation in the ozone pollution process. Comparing weekdays and non-weekdays, the PM2.5 peaks on non-weekdays are significantly higher than those on weekdays, and there is no “weekend effect”, which indicates that traffic emissions have little influence on PM2.5 emissions, and may be related to energy use and industrial pollution. Overall, this study strengthens the understanding of the relationship between emissions, traffic volumes, and vehicle types on spatial and temporal scales, and emphasizes the need for further investigation and comprehensive measures to mitigate pollution from these emissions.

Contribution of different land use catchments on the microplastic pollution in detention basin sediments

The assessment of microplastic (MP) pollution in urban areas is essential considering its abundance in freshwater, particularly due to urban wet weather discharge. The precise sources of MPs must be identified to better understand its characteristics. This study examines the relationship between MP pollution in detention basin sediments and land use in the investigated catchments. The study of stormwater management infrastructure, mainly in detention basins, has enabled the quantification of MP abundance in sediments conveyed by stormwater in urban areas. Sediment sampling was conducted in ten detention basins and one combined sewer overflow (CSO) structure in the Lyon metropolitan area, France. These basins correspond to stormwater outlets of representative urban catchment areas. MP extraction involves densimetric separation and organic matter degradation. MPs were then characterized using micro-Fourier infrared spectroscopy and siMPle software. This protocol identified MPs between 50 and 500 μm in the study sites. This study highlights the high abundance in the collected sediment samples, ranging from 2,525 to 1,218,82 MP kg−1 by dry weight sediment. The MPs found have a median size around 115 μm, making them very small MPs that are mainly composed of polypropylene followed by polyethylene and polystyrene or polyethylene terephthalate. The abundance of MPs in sediments is associated with the land use type. Catchments in predominantly industrial and commercial zones were more significantly polluted with MPs compared with those in predominantly agricultural or heterogeneous zones. Finally, statistical analyses revealed links between sedimentary and urban parameters and MPs concentrations. Several recommendations are given for future research, notably concerning the analyzing of stormwater sediments to understand the sources of MP pollution.

Impact on urban river water quality and pollution control of water environmental management projects based on SMS-Mike21 coupled simulation

To explore the impact of expanding Nanyang Sewage Purification Center (NSPC) on the main sewage discharge area of Bai River, we constructed a 2D hydrodynamic-water quality model based on surface water modeling system (SMS) and Mike21. Simulating three sewage discharge conditions in wet, normal, and dry season, we evaluated three indicators (COD, NH3-N, and BOD5) by the single-factor pollution index and provided recommendations for water environment management. The results showed that, maximum absolute error of water level was 0.08 m, percentage bias coefficient of COD, NH3-N and BOD5 were 19.3%, 16.2% and 23.1%, indicating the SMS and Mike21 coupling model was applicable; water quality of the assessment section were upgraded from the original class IV, V, V (Condition 1) to class IV, III, II (Condition 2) and class IV, III, III (Condition 3) in the wet, normal and dry season, indicating that NSPC's expansion had improved the water quality of the assessment section; as the primary pollutant, BOD5 concentration in the downstream was lower than the upstream, which was due to the dilution effect of river. Therefore, on the basis of expanding NSPC, we recommend to remediation of BOD5 by physical, chemical, and biological methods. This study broadens new ideas for the application of Mike21, and provide a reference for the prevention and improvement of river water pollution in urban areas.

Enhancing sustainable urban air transportation: Low-noise UAS flight planning using noise assessment simulator

Low-altitude flights of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), such as drones, can cause substantial noise pollution in urban areas. This study aims to tackle the crucial issue of noise in UAS flight planning and analyze the feasibility of implementing low-noise urban flights at a micro level. We employ a virtual flight simulator to accurately model the UAS noise impact in realistic flights and optimize the flight path via a heuristic algorithm accordingly. The flight noise assessment incorporates a sound source modeling technique for practical UAS models and an efficient Gaussian beam tracing method for outdoor noise propagation in realistic environments. Case studies for flight simulations are conducted in a representative resident community and metropolitan area to evaluate the noise impact resulting from different flight paths. By comparing our approach with benchmark shortest-distance paths, we validate its effectiveness in significantly reducing en-route noise exposure, encompassing both instantaneous and continuous noise levels. This method holds great potential for contributing to the planning and management of urban air transport systems. It effectively mitigates noise impact, promoting quieter and more environmentally friendly UAS operations and sustainable urban transportation.

Spatial air quality prediction in urban areas via message passing

Air pollution in urban areas poses a significant and pressing challenge for modern society. Unfortunately, the existing network of pollution detectors in many cities is limited in scope and fails to adequately cover the entire geographical area. Consequently, the implementation of spatial prediction algorithms becomes essential to generate high-resolution data. In this paper, we introduce two significant contributions: 1) We formalize the air pollution prediction problem as a Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) estimate within the framework of a Markov Random Field and 2) we propose a message-passing algorithm, which stands out as an efficient solution that surpasses the current state of the art. The experimental procedure has been carried out using the case study of the city of Barcelona, based on a dataset extracted from the BCN Open Data portal.

Urban–Rural Comparisons of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds and Ground-Level Ozone in Beijing

Ground-level ozone (O3) pollution has been a severe environmental and health problem for decades. The importance of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in the formation of tropospheric photochemistry O3 has been highlighted, especially in areas of rapid urbanization. We conducted simultaneous measurements of trace gases, including NO, NOX, O3, and BVOCs (i.e., isoprene and α-pinene), in the urban and rural forest areas of Beijing to determine the relationships between them. The results highlight the differences between the urban and rural forest areas of Beijing in terms of ambient air concentrations of BVOCs and O3, and the interrelationships between BVOCs, NOX, and ozone were quantified. Moreover, the isoprene concentration was found to be higher in the atmosphere of the urban site than of the rural site, which had higher α-pinene concentrations and higher O3 concentrations. The NOX concentration was higher at the urban site than at the rural site, and there was a significant exponential relationship between NOX and O3 at the urban site, indicating that the impact of NOx on O3 at the urban site was greater than that at the rural site. The O3 concentration increased with rising isoprene and α-pinene in both sites. In the case of substantially increased BVOC concentrations, declining NOX concentrations strongly promote the formation of O3. Consideration should be given to planting tree species with low-BVOC emissions, as they are crucial for mitigating O3 pollution in urban areas. Additionally, the relationships between BVOCs, NOX, and O3 should be considered in policymaking related to O3 control.

Fine-tuning the use of moss transplants to map pollution by Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in urban areas

Mosspheres are a kind of moss transplants which offer a novel approach for detecting atmospheric pollution using devitalized mosses, as they reflect the atmospheric deposition of certain elements and polycyclic hydrocarbons. However, due to the unique features of the mosspheres such as the low elemental concentrations in the cultured material, the data treatment needs to be different from that of conventional biomonitoring studies. In this article, our objectives are to identify the best parameter for expressing the levels of chemical elements accumulated by mosspheres, and to apply a recently developed method to assess the probability of pollution of each sample and of the study area. To do this, we used data from a study in which 81 mosspheres were exposed in a medium-sized city in southwestern Europe.Comparing different pollution indices, we selected the enrichment rate (ER) as the most useful, as it is resilient to fluctuations in the initial concentrations and takes into account the time factor, allowing for greater comparability among studies. Then, we determined that the statistical distribution of the ERs of most elements fitted a normal distribution, showing that most samples did not differ significantly from the background concentrations for these elements. On the other hand, for Ni, Pb and Zn there was a subpopulation of samples above background values. In these cases, we determined the probability of pollution of each sample. Finally, we used indicator kriging to calculate the probability of pollution across the study area, identifying the polluted areas, which for some elements match the distribution of the main industries and highways, indicating that this is a suitable protocol to map elemental pollution in urban areas.

Magnetic particle detection as a surface soil source pollution in urban areas: Implication from magnetic and geochemical analysis along the major port city in China

The global concern for the level and sources of urban surface soil pollution has been increasing. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of the environmental magnetic method in identifying the sources of urban surface soil pollution in Ningbo, a prominent city in China. To achieve this, magnetic and geochemical measurements were performed on surface soil samples collected from 114 designated sites， supplemented by polarizing microscope observations. The mass-specific magnetic susceptibility values (χlf) exhibited a wide range, spanning from 25.45 to 1903.85 × 10−8m3kg−1, with an average of 295.45 × 10−8m3kg−1. Notably, lower magnetite concentrations were identified in the urban center, contrasting with higher values observed in the peripheral industrial areas. The average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ca were much higher than the background values. Anthropogenic sources such as traffic emissions, construction dust, and industrial processes emerged as the predominant contributors to surface soil pollution in Ningbo. Fuzzy cluster analysis was employed to discern possible relationships between magnetic properties and pollution sources. The results indicated three categories of pollution. Cluster 1 is related to natural (lithogenic and pedogenic) magnetic mineral sources, and the samples contained abundant quartz or feldspar. Notably, these samples are largely unpolluted. Cluster 2 is associated with a combination of natural and anthropogenic sources. Cluster 3 is dominated by spherical magnetic particles formed by high-temperature combustion. In Cluster 3 topsoil samples, ascertained to be contaminated through magnetic analysis, a significant Spearman correlation was observed between magnetic parameters and Cu, Cr, and Fe. In conclusion, magnetic properties provide a swift and effective method for characterizing surface soil pollution in Ningbo, enabling the tracing of sources for trace metals in the surface soil.

Profile of Health Status in Relation to Working Pattern and Habits among Street Vendors in Bangalore City

Introduction: Street vendors are important informal self-employment group in the community and their health, nutritional and security status are affected because of weather conditions, pollution in urban area, mental stress and working hours. There is a lack of studies on health profile in street vendors in big cities. This study was conducted with as objective to know the socio demographic profile, health status in relation to their working pattern and habits among the street vendors. Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional and descriptive study. The data was collected by direct interviewing the subjects in their own language at their workplace in Bangalore city using pre tested semi open ended questionnaire. Sample size was determined based on the pilot study. The data included socio demographic, type of business, earning, working years, preexisting health status, body weight and height, habits etc. Subjects who were doing service or selling on mobile carts but not at fixed point and street vendors serving ready to eat foods were excluded. Body Mass Index was estimated as anthropometric nutritional status assessment. Data was analysed in SPSS software version. Results: The study subjects were 275 in the age group of 20 to 70 years and males accounted for 62.5 percentage. The proportion of subjects in the age of 41 years and above was 52.3%. Majority did not have formal schooling and common business was fruits and vegetables selling. Their working hours varying from 4 to 10, and doing business since 2 to 30 years with median of 20 years. The habit of smoking, tobacco chewing and alcohol was present in 30.2%, 14.5% and 14.2% the total. Overweight and obesity accounted for 78.9 % among the total where 19.8% and 25.2% were obese in males and females. The overall prevalence of Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and other conditions were 30.5%, 23.6% and 7.2% irrespective of their age, sex, type of business, working hours and habits. The prevalence ........

Improved A-Star Search Algorithm for Probabilistic Air Pollution Detection Using UAVs.

Recently, air pollution problems in urban areas have become serious, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used to monitor air pollution because they can perform spatial movement. However, because air pollution sources are fluid, probabilistic search methods are required to identify a target through the probability of its existence. This study proposes an efficient algorithm to detect air pollution in urban areas using UAVs. An improved A-star algorithm that can efficiently perform searches based on a probabilistic search model using a UAV is designed. In particular, in the proposed improved A-star algorithm, several special weights are used to calculate the probability of target existence. For example, a heuristic weight based on the expected target, a weight based on data collected from the drone sensor, and a weight based on the prior information of obstacles presence are determined. The method and procedure for applying the proposed algorithm to the stochastic search environment of a drone are described. Finally, the superiority of the proposed improved A-star algorithm is demonstrated by comparing it with existing stochastic search algorithms through various practical simulations. The proposed method exhibited more than 45% better performance in terms of successful search rounds compared with existing methods.

Fine Scale Modeling for Potential Distribution of Dengue Fever in Tampan District, Indonesia

Larvisiding is one common way used to reduce mosquito density in breeding areas before metamorphosizing into adults. Despite numerous eradication efforts, the outcomes have not met expectations, leading to additional issues such as environmental pollution in urban areas. In the context of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), addressing the challenge of mitigating the endemic outbreak entails formulating an effective strategy through a vector eradication approach. Therefore, this study explored the spatial pattern of DHF and estimated the potential spread of outbreaks. A geographic information system approach, with nearest neighbor analysis and kernel density estimation (KDE), was used to generate information regarding the pattern and potential for transmission of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The results showed that in 2019, a random pattern was observed, while in 2020, a clustered pattern of virus spread occurred. Furthermore, in terms of the potential transmission, an exposed zone of 9.73 km² was identified in 2019, and this increased to 15.72 km² in 2020. In this study, several important actions were implemented with a spatial approach, enabling the detection and polarization of events. However, the limitations included not being comprehensive in addressing the hygiene, sanitation, drainage, and population density aspects.

AIR QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH: A REVIEW OF URBAN POLLUTION SOURCES AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Urbanization has led to unprecedented challenges in maintaining air quality, significantly impacting public health. This review delves into the diverse sources of urban pollution and explores effective mitigation measures to safeguard public well-being. The rising concentration of pollutants in urban areas, primarily attributed to industrial activities, vehicular emissions, and domestic energy consumption, poses a severe threat to the respiratory and cardiovascular health of urban populations. The review begins by examining the key sources of urban pollution, highlighting the complex interplay between anthropogenic activities and their cumulative impact on air quality. Industrial emissions, characterized by the release of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and hazardous chemicals, contribute significantly to urban air pollution. Likewise, the surge in vehicular traffic, fueled by rapid urbanization, introduces pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, further exacerbating the problem. To address these challenges, the review explores a spectrum of mitigation measures. Implementation of stringent emission standards for industries, adoption of cleaner technologies, and promotion of renewable energy sources emerge as critical strategies. Additionally, urban planning initiatives focusing on efficient public transportation systems, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and green spaces are examined as effective means to reduce vehicular emissions and enhance air quality. The review also underscores the importance of public awareness campaigns and community engagement in fostering a collective commitment to air quality improvement. Innovative technological solutions, such as air quality monitoring networks and real-time data analytics, are discussed as indispensable tools for informed decision-making and prompt intervention. This review synthesizes current knowledge on urban pollution sources and mitigation measures, emphasizing the urgent need for a multidimensional approach to protect public health. By comprehensively addressing the intricate web of pollution contributors and implementing proactive measures, urban environments can be transformed into healthier and sustainable spaces for all residents.&#x0D; Keywords: Air Quality, Public Health, Urban Pollution, Mitigation, Review.