Reduce Air Pollution Research Articles

The Practice of Enterprise Risk Management and Sustainable Performance in Jordan

The primary objective of any organization is to minimize risks and losses while optimizing values, revenues and returns. Therefore, risk management, which is often referred to as risk identification, likelihood of occurrence, and impact on the business, is essential. Recent corporate catastrophes have brought to light how inadequately corporations handle risks. In reaction to these challenges, organizations have shifted from separate and personalized procedures to a more comprehensive and integrated enterprise risk management (ERM) perspective in their risk management strategies. To address these new global sustainable challenges which include hunger, poverty, high unemployment, climate change, and related issues, businesses should place a strong priority on environmental preservation and social responsibility. Jordan is one of the countries dealing with several issues related to sustainability. The sustainable performance of Jordanian firms deserves further attention. Managers in Jordanian industrial businesses must keep a close eye on how the company's environmental environment is being improved to reduce air pollution, the usage of hazardous materials, and other difficulties. Therefore, companies in Jordan must adopt strategies that will allow them to face this issue to improve their social, environmental, and economic performance. Jordan's manufacturing and service industries should be at the forefront of a comprehensive approach to risk management and board monitoring, given the growing concerns regarding the environment, society, and economy. Since ERM is a relatively new concept, its implementation in Jordanian industrial and service companies is still in its early stages. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive research regarding the ERM in Jordan.

Robots, firm relocation, and air pollution: unveiling the unintended spatial spillover effects of emerging technology

Amidst the global upsurge in industrial robot deployment, there remains a notable gap in our understanding of their environmental impact. This paper explores how the introduction of industrial robots has changed air quality at both the local and neighborhood levels in China. Using the Spatial Durbin Model, we investigate the regional spillovers of PM 2.5 concentration and the diffusion of this innovative technology. Our findings reveal that the rise of robots significantly reduces air pollution in the local area, while exacerbating it in neighboring regions. This contrast is mainly because pollution-intensive industries are more inclined to relocate to neighboring regions than their cleaner counterparts, after the local use of robots increases. Throughout the process, internal costs rather than external costs dominate firms’ relocation decisions. This study provides novel insights into the complex environmental externalities associated with the spread of industrial robots and highlights the critical issue of growing environmental inequality in the era of emerging technologies.

Cancer control co-benefits of the climate-related provisions in the American Inflation Reduction Act.

The American Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 contains climate-related provisions that may have noteworthy implications for cancer control and prevention. This commentary assesses the potential co-benefits of the IRA for cancer control efforts, specifically policies and programs to reduce carcinogen exposure via air quality monitoring and air pollution reduction. Allocations through the IRA for air quality improvement, paired with its environmental justice provisions, hold promise for advancing cancer prevention by targeting resources to communities most susceptible to environmental hazards. Moreover, climate resilience measures dictated by the IRA are crucial for oncology professionals grappling with the dual challenges of climate change and cancer care. Climate-driven extreme weather events can exacerbate carcinogen exposure and disrupt access to cancer care, underscoring the need for resilient health-care infrastructure. The IRA's provisions for clean energy incentives and infrastructure upgrades offer oncology care institutions opportunities to mitigate emissions and bolster resilience against climate-related disruptions, ultimately improving cancer outcomes. Climate-related initiatives funded by the IRA present a unique and timely avenue to advance equitable cancer control efforts. This commentary underscores the critical intersection between climate resilience policy and oncology care, highlighting the potential to promote a healthier and more resilient future for all.

The influence of road traffic and industrial plant-induced air pollution on the physical, mechanical, chemical and morphological properties of the black pine wood

Road traffic pollution and industrial plant-induced pollution affect negatively the development of forest trees. How forest trees are affected by their growing environment is important for sustainable environment. The study aimed to investigate the physical, mechanical, chemical, and morphological properties of the Pinus nigra (black pine) tree which grows under different conditions. Tree samples were chosen from three different lands where were inside the forest (O), near the roadside (Y), and near the factory (F). It was studied whether there were any significant differences among the “O”, “Y” and “F” in terms of their wood properties such as physical, mechanical, chemical, and morphological. As a result, the “O” samples demonstrated more regular annual ring structure. On the other hand, it was observed that the “Y” samples had longer and wider tracheid cells. In addition, “Y” samples had better mechanical strength than “O” and “F”. Environmental pollution caused the presence of some different elements (chlorine and iron) in “Y” and “F”. As a result, it was determined that the trees growing near the roadside or near industrial plants have significant differences from forest trees which are far away from pollutions. It is possible to say that Pinus nigra (black pine) is resistant to environmental stress. For this reason, it can be recommended to use it as a barrier to reduce air pollution on the roadsides.

Utilization and Experimental Use of Stainless Steel Metal Scrap Machinery Waste, St-40 Iron, Copper and Aluminum to Reduce Co, Hc, Co2 Elements in Vehicle Exhaust

Air pollution due to motor vehicle exhaust emissions is increased. Polluted air harms human health dan the environment. Consequently, it is essential to make a sustained effort to reduce air pollution. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of adding aluminum scrap to the exhaust system of a motor vehicle on gas emissions composition. The motor vehicle exhaust system was modified to accommodate aluminum scrap placement. A gas analyzer was utilized to observe exhaust gas composition, such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide. Aluminum scrap with different masses was wrapped around the exhaust's inner tube in 50 gr, 70 gr and 90 gr. The engine speed was maintained at 500 rpm throughout the testing process. It was found that the temperature of the outer exhaust tube is in a range of 40 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. The results revealed that the most appropriate amount of aluminum scrap was 90 gr n to reduce carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide in an exhausts gas. The surprising outcome was 76.78 % of carbon monoxide content declined, and furthermore hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide content were deteriorated by 61.63% and 78.37%, respectively.

Emission calibrated traffic model for environmental-sensitive decision making in Sri Lanka: Review

Air pollution from road transportation is a growing concern in urban areas, particularly in Sri Lanka, where vehicle emissions account for a significant portion of air pollutants. The increase in the number of vehicles on the road and the resulting traffic congestion exacerbate this problem. Therefore, accurate prediction of emissions and air quality related to road traffic is essential for informed decision-making in traffic planning and management. While Sri Lanka has made progress in developing driving cycles and traffic flow simulations tailored to its unique context, there remains a gap in calibrating these models with local emission values, which are influenced by specific driver behaviours and operational modes. An emission-calibrated traffic model specific to the Sri Lankan context can integrate both traffic-related and environmental factors, providing a comprehensive tool for analyzing the impact of traffic management strategies on emissions and air quality. By addressing the discrepancies between global manufacturer data and local conditions, this model can enable more environmentally friendly decisions in urban transportation planning, contributing to the reduction of air pollution. The study identifies, through a comprehensive review, the need for an emission-calibrated traffic model to address the unique challenges posed by Sri Lanka's evolving traffic landscape. While traffic modelling has made strides in Sri Lanka, this study identifies a significant research gap in modelling the emissions generated by these traffic models, especially considering the unique characteristics of the region's roads and vehicles. Further, the paper concludes that an emission-calibrated traffic model specifically tailored to the Sri Lankan context is essential to guide environmentally friendly traffic planning decisions and bridge the gap between traffic data and its environmental consequences.

Accelerating zero emission truck adoption in urban applications: Beijing analysis and recommendations

With the complete phase out of national new energy vehicle purchase subsidies, Chinese cities need to explore more policy instruments to simulate the adoption new energy trucks (NETs). The study takes Beijing as an example and aims to address: how Chinese cities can craft policies to further promote NETs, considering different NET models operating in divergent duty cycles by different sizes of operators would have different obstacles with vehicle technologies and costs, to achieve its carbon and air pollutant emission reduction goal, while maintaining the livelihood of small and medium carrier in the freight industry. Based on NET technical performance analysis and surveys WRI conducted on carriers in Beijing, we analyze the technological readiness of NETs and the gaps in total costs of ownership (TCOs) between NETs and ICE trucks for each duty cycle category. The study further identifies the policies that are effective to fill the current (2022—2024) technological and cost gaps of NETs, based on literature review and quantitative analysis.

Projecting non-communicable diseases attributable to air pollution in the climate change era: a systematic review

ObjectivesClimate change is a major global issue with significant consequences, including effects on air quality and human well-being. This review investigated the projection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to air...

The effect of education expenditure on air pollution: Evidence from China

Education expenditure is essential in mitigating air pollution, but the relationship between education expenditure and air pollution lacks in-depth discussion. Utilizing data at the county level in China during 2007–2021, this study estimates the effect of education expenditure from local governments on air pollution. Our findings demonstrate that education expenditure significantly and negatively affects air pollution, which remains robust after addressing endogeneity. The mechanism analysis presents that education expenditure reduces air pollution through the composition, technique, and income effects. The heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of education expenditure exhibits marked regional heterogeneity. Specifically, the role of education expenditure is significant in strong regulation, key, eastern, and central regions. By considering interaction terms, we identify the moderating effects of human capital, economic development, infrastructure construction, and public service for education expenditure. The cost-benefit analysis emphasizes that education expenditure improves social welfare. Our findings can inspire local governments to place more emphasis on air quality and public education expenditure.

Development of Measures to Reduce Air Pollutants As Much As Possible

The papers include contemporary ecological challenges, steps taken to reduce artificial pollution, and environmental issues relating to the atmosphere's circulation through natural and artificial processes. A major threat to world health, air pollution can have a range of negative consequences on the environment, such as haze, eutrophication, acid rain, and harm to animals. The combustion of fossil fuels for energy production and transportation is the main cause of air pollution. The effects of air pollution on human health are significant, with millions of people affected by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reproductive and central nervous system dysfunctions, and cancer. The articles emphasize the importance of reducing air pollution through various measures, such as improving energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy sources, reducing emissions from transportation, and implementing policies and regulations to control air pollution. The articles also highlight the need for public awareness and a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the problem of air pollution and its impact on climate change and public health.

Environmental co-benefits of climate mitigation: Evidence from clean development mechanism projects in China

The carbon reduction effects of climate mitigation have received much attention, but less attention has been paid to the co-benefits of climate mitigation such as air pollution reduction and related health impacts. This oversight may have led to an underestimation of the broader welfare effects of climate mitigation and thus hindering its progress in implementation. This paper investigates the co-benefits of climate mitigation through focusing on the pollution reduction effects of the implementation of the clean development mechanism (CDM), which is an important climate mitigation mechanism to enhance north-south climate cooperation. Using a unique firm-level dataset with data on China's CDM projects from 1998 to 2012, we show that the CDM implementation reduced sulfur dioxide emissions. Mechanism analyses show that the CDM implementation alleviated firms' financing constraints and promoted fossil energy savings, thereby reducing emissions of air pollutants that usually coexist with greenhouse gases in burning fossil fuels. We also find that the CDM didn't bring about the expected technological progress. These results highlight environmental co-benefits of climate mitigation and provide important implications for international climate cooperation

AIR POLLUTION SOURCES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

This paper provides an overview of the various sources of air pollution and their impact on the environment and human health, distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic (man-made) sources. The study assessed the environmental impact of these sources – the overall level of air pollution, taking into account the predominant anthropo-genic source, such as emissions from vehicles and industrial activities. The important role of geographic information systems (GIS) in monitoring air pollution, performing spatial data analysis, and identifying pollution hotspots is emphasized. This method proposes to analyze the impact of the air quality result on public health and the environment. The main focus of the study is on the predominant pollutants in the atmosphere such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The object of the study was the Old Town of the city of Vilnius. A calculation model was created in the MatLab environment to determine the pollution. The results reveal trends in environmental indicators. In the Old Town, decreasing pollution levels of PM10 and CO are observed, and NO2 remained relatively constant from 2020 the month of January until 2022 December. The primary importance of environmental monitoring depends on government regulation, technological advancements, and public participation to effectively reduce air pollution and protect the environment.

Design and Development of Automated Solar Grass Trimmer with Charge Control Circuit

The focus of this paper is the design and development of an automatic solar grass trimmer prototype, emphasizing high operational efficiency with renewable energy as the primary power source. This solar-based device not only contributes to reduced air pollution but also aligns with environmental sustainability objectives. The prototype features a charge control circuit and is powered by a rechargeable 12V battery. To address low battery levels, a solar panel is employed for automatic recharging. A DC-DC buck converter is integrated to step down the higher voltage from the solar panel to match the battery requirements. Safety features, such as a current limiter and overcharge protection circuits, have been incorporated into the design. The paper provides a detailed discussion on the conceptual design of the solar grass trimmer, including the placement of sensors and motors. Additionally, the cutting motor force analysis and total weight calculation of the prototype are presented.The solar charge control circuit, along with details on the current limiter and overcharge protection circuit, is thoroughly explored. Successful development of the prototype is reported, and the battery charging circuits are analyzed using a Bench PSU and solar panel. The paper includes plots of voltage, current, and power generated by the solar panel under various weather conditions. A comparison between Bench PSU and solar panel power is also provided. This research contributes to the advancement of automated solar-powered devices, offering sustainable solutions for environmentally friendly grass trimming.

Quantifying US air pollution policy: How political and regional factors influence pollutant mitigation.

Air pollution control in the United States has evolved into a comprehensive policy system spanning from the federal to the state level over time. A unified quantitative analysis of policy intensity can shed light on the policy evolution across different levels, the influence of partisan and regional factors on policy, and the relationships with emissions of major pollutants. By harnessing the policy text of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at the federal level and State Implementation Plans (SIPs) at the state governments (1955-2020), we deployed a Natural Language Processing approach to define a policy intensity index to systematically quantify the US air policy landscape. Our findings highlight that the 1970 CAA amendment carries the most vigorous intensity as it established a holistic control system for the first time. Subsequent years witnessed a general trend of partisan polarization, eventually leading to a graduate convergence between red and blue states. Blue states demonstrated a closer alignment with federal directives and a superior efficacy in pollutant reduction. Regionally, the Northeast displays the highest overall policy intensity, and the West exhibits the highest coordination with the federal benchmarks, making these regions outperform others in air pollution control. Our study not only discusses policy implications for air pollutant reductions considering partisan and regional differences but also provides a novel measurement tool to quantify policies for assessing disparities and synergies.

The Influence of Fine Particulate Matter and Cold Weather on Emergency Room Interventions for Childhood Asthma.

(1) Background: Children are the most vulnerable to pollution due to their decreased stature, heightened respiratory rate, and frequent outdoor engagement. PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, and cold weather are associated with pediatric asthma. In this study, we investigated the nexus between air pollution, climate factors, and pediatric asthma emergency room visits (ERVs). (2) Method: Pediatric asthma ERV data for healthcare quality from the Taiwanese National Insurance in the Taipei area were obtained from 2015 to 2019. Air pollution and climate factor data were also collected. Poisson regression was employed to determine the relationships with relative risks (RRs). (3) Results: The incidence of pediatric asthma ERVs decreased, with a crude RR of 0.983 (95% CI: 0.98-0.986, p < 0.001). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) had an adjusted RR of 1.102 (95% CI: 1.037-1.172, p = 0.002) and a 7.7 µg/m3 increase, and air temperature had an adjusted RR of 0.813 (95% CI: 0.745-0.887, p < 0.001) comparing between the highest and lowest quarter air temperature associated with pediatric asthma ERVs. (4) Conclusions: This inquiry underscores the positive associations of PM2.5 and cold weather with pediatric asthma ERVs. The findings could guide the government to establish policies to reduce air pollution and promote children's health.

Exploring the green and low-carbon development pathway for an energy-intensive industrial park in China

Energy-intensive industrial parks (IPs) with the distinct characteristics of high energy consumption, substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and huge pollution, are facing enormous pressure to realize the synergistic mitigation of GHG and air pollutants. Exploring the green and low-carbon transformation of energy-intensive IPs is urgently required to achieve the dual strategies of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” and “Beautiful China”. Taking a typical energy-intensive industrial park (IP) in Henan Province—the Red Flag Cannel Industrial Park (RFCP) as the research object, an integrated evaluation framework including multi-objective optimization model alongside the synergistic mitigation potential of carbon and air pollutant emissions, was established in the energy-intensive IPs. Five scenarios were designed to quantify the GHG and air pollutant mitigation potential, while synergistic emission reduction control effects were evaluated under four measures of industrial structure adjustment, energy structure adjustment, energy efficiency improvement, and industrial symbiosis. The scenario analysis indicates that the integrated scenario (S4) shows the most significant emission reduction potential by 2030. Compared to the baseline scenario (S0), the GHG emission reduction is 11.66 Mt CO2eq (53% reduction rate), and the emission reduction rate of air pollutants ranges from 38% to 69% in S4. The findings indicate that industrial structure adjustment and energy structure adjustment are the primary measures for reducing GHG and air pollutants of IPs. Additionally, the evaluation of synergistic effect demonstrates that industrial structure adjustment shows the most significant synergistic effect on GHG and air pollutant by 2030. Finally, some policy recommendations regarding the transformation direction of energy-intensive IPs were proposed. This study will provide valuable references for the green and low-carbon development of energy-intensive IPs.

Clean heating and clean air: Evidence from the coal-to-gas program in China

Environmental degradation, especially air pollution, has been a prevalent problem in China in recent decades. Rather than focus on traditional regulatory policies aimed at enterprises engaged in production activities, this paper studies the effects of the clean heating policy targeting residents in China. Taking the coal-to-gas program as a quasi-natural experiment and using a city-level dataset of daily air quality, we study the effects of the clean heating policy implemented in Beijing and its surrounding areas on air quality with the difference-in-differences method. The results show that the clean heating policy significantly reduced air pollution in coal-to-gas cities, bringing improved economic welfare, with stronger effects in Beijing's neighboring cities. We find no evidence suggesting a decreasing policy effect over time. In addition, we find that increasing subsidies can further enhance the policy's effectiveness. We also test the spatial spillover effects of this policy and calculate its geographical boundary. Changing the energy structure in conjunction with regulating residential emissions is crucial to improving air quality.

A DFT Study of CO Hydrogenation on Graphene Oxide: Effects of Adding Mn on Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

The hydrogenation of carbon monoxide (CO) offers a promising avenue for reducing air pollution and promoting a cleaner environment. Moreover, by using suitable catalysts, CO can be transformed into valuable hydrocarbons. In this study, we elucidate the mechanistic aspects of the catalytic conversion of CO to hydrocarbons on the surface of manganese-doped graphene oxide (Mn-doped GO), where the GO surface includes one OH group next to one Mn adatom. To gain insight into this process, we have employed calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) to explore both the thermodynamic properties and reaction energy barriers. The Mn adatoms were found to significantly activate the catalyst surface by providing stronger adsorption geometries. Our study concentrated on two mechanisms for CO hydrogenation, resulting in either CH4 production via the reaction sequence CO → HCO → CH2O → CH2OH → CH2 → CH3 → CH4 or CH3OH formation through the CO → HCO → CH2O → CH2OH → CH3OH pathway. The results reveal that both products are likely to be formed on the Mn-doped GO surface on both thermodynamic grounds and considering the reaction energy barriers. Furthermore, the activation energies associated with each stage of the synthesis show that the conversion reactions of CH2 + OH → CH3 + O and CH2O + OH → CH2OH + O with energy barriers of 0.36 and 3.86 eV are the fastest and slowest reactions, respectively. The results also indicate that the reactions: CH2OH + OH → CH2 + O + H2O and CH2OH + OH → CH3OH + O are the most exothermic and endothermic reactions with reaction energies of −0.18 and 1.21 eV, respectively, in the catalytic pathways.

Addressing the asymmetry between central and local air protection policies: Insights from Poland

Purpose: This paper examines the asymmetry between the air protection policies of the central government and local authorities in Poland, using the city of Kraków as a case study. Methodology: The study employs a comparative method to contrast the Polish state's coal policy with the air protection efforts of the Kraków local government. A systems analysis approach is used to identify the causes and effects of the divergent policies. Results: The analysis reveals a lack of alignment between the central government's focus on maintaining coal extraction and the local government's efforts to reduce air pollution. Kraków authorities have taken significant measures to improve air quality, but face challenges due to insufficient support from the central government and neighboring municipalities. Theoretical contribution: The paper highlights the importance of policy symmetry and coordination between different levels of government in addressing complex environmental issues like air pollution. It contributes to understanding multi-level governance dynamics in the context of air protection. Practical implications: The findings underscore the need for a collaborative model of air protection policy that engages central authorities, local governments, private sector entities, and civil society. Establishing air protection councils at the voivodship, county and municipal levels is proposed as a mechanism to facilitate this coordination. Integrating air quality considerations into local governments' management control systems is also recommended.

Could environmental regulation effectively boost the synergy level of carbon emission reduction and air pollutants control? Evidence from industrial sector in China

In response to the pressure of combating climate change and enhancing air quality, China has tightened environmental regulations. In China, reducing carbon emissions and air pollutants together has become a critical target for environmental protection. However, no literature explores the impact of environmental regulation on the synergy level of reducing CO2 and air pollutants in the industrial sector. Therefore, this study explores whether environmental regulation could effectively boost the synergy level of carbon emission reduction and air pollutants control in China's industrial sector. We first construct an evaluation indicator system for synergistic emission reduction of CO2 and air pollutants (SO2, NOx, PM), then employs the coupled coordination model to evaluate the synergy level of emission reduction. Furthermore, we explore the impact pathway of environmental regulation on the synergy level of emission reduction. The results indicate that: (1) On the whole, the synergy level shows a slow upward trend, but remains insufficient from 2011 to 2020. (2) Overall, environmental regulation significantly boosts the synergy level of carbon emission reduction and air pollutants control. Regarding the impact pathway, industrial structure has a completely promoting effect, while technical progress exerts a suppressing effect. (3) In regions with higher economic development, environmental regulation has a greater positive influence on synergy level, and the suppressing effect of technical progress is weaker than in less developed regions. These findings could provide helpful references for policy making on synergistic emission reduction of industrial CO2 and air pollutants in China.