Reduce Air Pollution Research Articles

Agroecological problems of territorial communities in the Carpathian region and ways to solve them

The article examines the theoretical and practical issues of ecological situation problems, which are connected with the implementation of administrativeterritorial reform and decentralization reform in the country, which is accompanied by the unification of territorial communities and the organization of land territory, which consists in the social relations of landowners and land users, the assessment of real land use structures and optimal use of land resources. It is suggested that the united territorial communities adjust the ratio between destabilizing and stabilizing agricultural lands and bring the use of land resources closer to ecologically balanced development of nature management. The reasons for the problems of ecological situations are revealed and, after analyzing in detail the relationship between destabilizing and stabilizing agricultural lands, ways to solve them are proposed. It has been determined that reducing air pollution requires the joint efforts of governments, industry, the public and every individual. Due to the global nature of the problem, international cooperation and sharing of best practices also play a key role in finding effective solutions. Solutions to environmental problems are proposed, including reducing emissions, implementing and strictly enforcing environmental standards for industrial enterprises and vehicles, improving the efficiency of energy use and switching to cleaner fuels; development of public transport: encouraging the use of public transport, cycle paths and pedestrian zones to reduce the number of private cars on the roads; support for clean technologies; investing in the development and implementation of clean technologies, such as renewable energy sources (solar and wind energy), which reduce dependence on fossil fuels: urban greening; expanding green space in urban areas to absorb carbon and reduce air temperature. Trees and plants also help filter pollutants from the air.

Are Low Emission Zones Truly Embraced by the Public?

Rapid urbanization and car-centric mobility solutions have resulted in the degradation of environmental urban quality, impacting people’s health and well-being and city economies and harming urban ecosystems. Faced with the need to tackle traffic pollution, more than 300 low emission zones (LEZs) have been implemented, causing some social controversy. Nonetheless, researchers have focused their studies on evaluating LEZ efficacy towards urban congestion and air pollutants reduction, health and well-being improvement. This study presents a literature review of what is known about acceptability and acceptance of the population regarding the implementation of LEZs, along with the main issues, best practices, and suggestions to promote a better perception and mobility behavior change. Based on research conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, only 36 of 540 peer-reviewed articles on LEZs address public attitudes. Among the main findings, the following stand out: the existing gap in environmental urban quality approaches between countries, namely the Global North; the existence of few studies that evaluate perceptions before and after LEZ implementation; the lack of LEZ studies that consider noise and biodiversity, seeking a broader approach to this measure; and the importance of developing a support package measures that involves affected stakeholders and are adapted to each city’s characteristics.

Potential and health impact assessment of air pollutant emission reduction: a case study of China

Potential and health impact assessment of air pollutant emission reduction: a case study of China

Public Health Impacts of Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution in Libya from 1990 to 2019: An Analysis of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study.

Air pollution is recognized as a critical global health risk, yet there has been no comprehensive assessment of its impact on public health in Libya until now. This study evaluates the burden of disease associated with ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) in Libya, drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. By integrating satellite-based estimates, chemical transport models, and ground-level measurements, PM2.5 exposure and its effects on mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across the different sexes and all age groups from 1990 to 2019 are estimated. Our findings reveal that the annual population-weighted mean PM2.5 concentration in Libya was 38.6 μg/m3 in 2019, marking a 3% increase since 1990. In the same year, PM2.5 was responsible for approximately 3368 deaths, accounting for 11% of all annual deaths in the country. Moreover, a total of 107,207 DALYs were attributable to PM2.5, with ischemic heart disease being the leading cause, representing 46% of these DALYs. The analysis also highlights a significant burden of years of life lost (YLLs) at 89,113 and years lived with disability (YLDs) at 18,094, due to PM2.5. Given the substantial health risks associated with air pollution, particularly from ambient particulate matter, Libyan authorities must implement effective policies aimed at reducing air pollution to enhance healthcare outcomes and preventive services.

Synergistic Reduction in Air Pollutants and Health Benefits under China's Dual-Carbon Policy.

Synergistic Reduction in Air Pollutants and Health Benefits under China's Dual-Carbon Policy.

Qualitative and quantitative simulation of best management practices (BMPs) for contaminated megasite remediation using the SiteWise™ tool

Remediation activities, particularly in megasites, may induce substantial secondary environmental impacts that must be addressed for green and sustainable remediation (GSR) practices. Only limited studies are available quantitatively assessing the environmental footprint and environmental benefits of implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) in megasite remediation. This study used the SiteWise™ tool, a quantitative environmental footprint assessment for scenario simulation and benefit quantification of BMPs, on a contaminated megasite in Hebei Province, China. We observed a considerable environmental footprint and energy from the remediation. Taking the final implementation alternative (Alt 1) as an example, which is characterized by combining multiple remediation techniques, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reached 113,474 t, the energy used was 2,082,841 million metric British thermal units (MMBTU), and other air pollutant emissions (NOx, SOx, and PM10) amounted to 856 t. Further BMP analyses highlighted the benefits of substituting the conventional solidification/stabilization agent with willow woodchip-based biochar, which could reduce GHG emissions by 50,806 t and energy used by 926,648 MMBTU. The overall environmental benefits of implementing all applicable BMPs in the remediation were significant, with a 66.85%, 50.15%, and 56.05% reduction in GHG emissions, energy used, and other air pollutants, respectively. Our study provides insights into quantifying the environmental footprint and exploring emission reduction pathways for contaminated megasite remediation. It also offers a feasible path for quantifying the environmental benefits of BMPs, promoting the development of GSR of contaminated sites.

Risk/benefit trade-off of habitual physical activity and air pollution on mortality: A large-scale prospective analysis in the UK Biobank

BackgroundPrevious observational studies have indicated associations of physical activity (PA) and air pollution with mortality. A few studies have evaluated air pollution and PA interactions for health. Still, the trade-off between the harmful effects of air pollution exposure and the protective effects of PA remains controversial and unclear. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the joint association of air pollution and PA with mortality risks. MethodsThis prospective cohort study included 322,092 participants from 2006 to 2010 and followed up to 2021 in the UK Biobank study. The concentrations of air pollutants (2006–2010), including particulate matter (PM) with diameters <=2.5 mm (PM2.5), <=10 mm (PM10), and between 2.5 and 10 mm (PM2.5–10), and nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx) were obtained. Information on PA measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (2006–2010) and wrist-worn accelerometer (2013–2015) were collected. All-cause and cause-specific mortalities were recorded. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the associations of air pollution exposure and PA with mortality risks. The additive and multiplicative interactions were also examined. ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 11.83 years, 16629 deaths were recorded. Compared with participants reporting low PA, higher PA was negatively associated with all-cause [hazard ratio (HR), 0.74; 95% CI, 0.71–0.78], cancer (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80–0.90), CVD (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71–0.87), and respiratory disease-specific mortality (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.44–0.60). Exposure to PM2.5 (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00–1.09) and NOx (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.10) was connected with increased all-cause mortality risk, and significant PM2.5-associated elevated risks for CVD mortality and NOx-associated elevated risks for respiratory disease mortality were observed. No obvious interaction between PA and PM2.5 or NOx exposure was detected. ConclusionsOur study provides additional evidence that higher PA and lower air pollutant levels are independently connected with reduced mortality risk. The benefits of PA are not significantly affected by long-term air pollution exposure, indicating PA can be recommended to prevent mortality regardless of air pollution levels. Our findings highlight the importance of public health policies and interventions facilitating PA and reducing air pollution in reducing mortality risks and maximizing health benefits. Future investigation is urgently needed to identify these findings in areas with severe air pollution conditions.

Evolution of ozone-precursor sensitivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China under the backdrop of climate change

China is facing the dual challenges of worsening ozone (O3) pollution and climate change. Better understanding the cause of O3 pollution and its response to climate change is crucial for developing an effective O3 control strategy in the coming years. In this study, a localized three-dimensional numerical modeling system was applied to investigate the long-term evolution of ozone-precursor sensitivity (OPS) over the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) during September 2030, 2040 and 2050 under different climate scenarios, including four Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP), the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and carbon neutrality (NEU). RCP emissions were corrected both temporally and spatially by bounding with the actual emissions in 2020 to reduce the uncertainty of future emission estimation. The atmospheric oxidative capacity-based HO2/OH indicator was used to quantify the variations of OPS. The percentage of NOx-limited area over the GBA will increase by 9.8%, 14.8% and 16.9% under RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 in 2050, comparing with those in 2020. NOx-limited area under NEU showed a greater increase by 23.1%, as a result of larger reduction degree of NOx than VOCs. This highlights that deep NOx emission reduction, mostly driven by the structural adjustments in industry, energy, and transportation under the “2060 carbon neutrality” strategy, will accelerate OPS transition into NOx-limited and ensure the gradual improvement of O3 pollution. NOx emission control in some urban areas still in the VOCs-limited OPS in 2050 under NEU, e.g., Guangzhou and Hong Kong, need to be strengthened to speed up O3 mitigation. The findings of this study would improve our understanding on the long-term trends of OPS in the GBA under the backdrop of climate change, and provide guidance for the synergistic reduction of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in the future.

Plant diversity and its use in Javanese urban home garden: An ethnobotanical study in Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Darmastuti SA, Nazar IA, Setyawan AD. 2024. Plant diversity and its use in Javanese urban home garden: An ethnobotanical study in Central Java, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 7: 32-42. Urbanization makes the spread of botanical knowledge increasingly widespread. Ethnobotanical knowledge brought by village communities can be applied in urban areas. The implementation of Proklim (Climate Village Program) by the Indonesian Government strengthens the development of environmentally friendly cities that are able to adapt and overcome climate change and are sustainable by paying attention to the balance of social, economic, and environmental aspects. Currently, communities and home gardens have responded to various driving factors, such as the environmental movement and urban sustainability, and are more focused on providing healthy local food and community development. The objectives of this study were to find out the medicinal and food plants found in the home gardens and community gardens of ProKlim RW 16 Banjarsari Village, Banjarsari Sub-district, Surakarta City, Central Java, Indonesia and the influence felt by the community and knowing the existence of ProKlim RW 16 to support the 13th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate action. The method used is descriptive quantitative, which is conducted through observation, interviews, and questionnaires. Data from observations and interviews were calculated using the formula of Use Value, Relative Frequency of Citation, Informant Consensus Factor, and Fidelity Level. Meanwhile, questionnaire data is calculated using the Likert Scale calculations. The research results show 56 species that residents often use for medicinal and food plants. The most widely used medicinal plant is lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf), and the most widely used food plant is chili (Capsicum frutescens L.). Based on Likert Scale calculations, the adaptation indicator states that 90.25% of respondents agree that food plants grown by themselves are fresher and healthier. Meanwhile, on the mitigation indicator, 93.39% of respondents agreed that the more plants planted could reduce air pollution and lower the earth's temperature.

Does air pollution motivate organisations to adopt environmental management accounting practices? Evidence from South Africa

This paper identifies the extent of air pollution in motivating companies to implement environmental management accounting (EMA) practices in 67 mining and cement companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), South Africa, from 2012 to 2021. Pooled ordinary least squares regression is applied to analyse the data. EMA is proxied by environmental training, environmental audits and energy efficiency, while air pollution is measured based on the air quality index (AQI). The results show that air pollution is essential for companies to adopt EMA practices. This means that when air quality declines within a company’s locality, a company proactively adopts EMA practices. This suggests that air pollution is a key basis of companies' adoption of EMA, as predicted by the legitimacy theory. The study includes three control variables: size, return on assets (ROA) and number of years listed on JSE. Two control variables, namely Size and ROA, portray a positive and significant effect on adopting EMA from air pollution. This portrays that a financially stable company tends to submit to air pollution and use EMA to counter the pollution. In contrast, as the number of years increases for companies listed on JSE, EMA will likely be adopted less to reduce air pollution.

Biomass Burning Greatly Enhances the Concentration of Fine Carbonaceous Aerosols at an Urban Area in Upper Northern Thailand: Evidence From the Radiocarbon‐Based Source Apportionment on Size‐Resolved Aerosols

AbstractTo study the role of biomass burning (BB) in air pollution at upper‐northern Thailand, the source apportionment of size‐resolved carbonaceous aerosols from Chiang Mai was carried out based on the radiocarbon (14C) analysis. The fraction of modern carbon (F14C) was generally decreased with particle size increasing and with the highest and lowest values of 0.90 ± 0.04 and 0.61 ± 0.04, respectively. Elemental carbon, regardless of emission sources, and BB‐derived organic carbon (OCbb) showed unimodal size distribution patterns with peaks at 0.43–0.65 μm. Fossil‐fuel derived‐OC (OCf) displayed a bimodal mode with the major peak at 2.1–10 μm, and the minor one at 0.43–0.65 μm. The biogenic secondary organic aerosols (BSOA) showed a typical fine‐mode unimodal size distribution pattern during the high BB (HBB) season, and a bimodal mode during the low BB season. The BSOA concentration increased by 189% ± 80% due to the interaction with open BB plums during HBB season, which was quantified by a 14C‐involved random forest model. Besides, the concentration of biogenic primary organic aerosols also showed a significant increment during the HBB season, especially in sub‐microns. Our results highlight the critical importance of controlling open fires to reduce air pollutants and the potential exposure risk.

Policy Assessment for Energy Transition to Zero- and Low-Emission Technologies in Pickup Trucks: Evidence from Mexico

The transport sector is under scrutiny because of its significant greenhouse gas emissions. Essential strategies, particularly the adoption of zero- and low-emission vehicles powered by electricity, are crucial for mitigating emissions in road transport. Pickups, which are integral to Mexico’s fleet, contribute to such emissions. Thus, implementing effective policies targeting pickups is vital for reducing air pollution and aligning with Mexico’s decarbonization objectives. This paper presents a simulation model based on system dynamics to represent the adoption process of zero- and low-emission vehicles, with a focus on pickups and utilizing data from the Mexican case. Three policy evaluation scenarios are proposed based on the simulation model: business as usual; disincentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles; and incentives for unconventional vehicles. One of the most significant findings from this study is that even in a scenario with a greater number of vehicles in circulation, if the technology is fully electric, the environmental impact in terms of emissions is lower. Additionally, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis spanning a wide spectrum is undertaken through an extensive computational process, yielding multiple policy scenarios. The analysis indicates that to achieve a maximal reduction in the country’s emissions, promoting solely hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is advisable, whereas internal combustion engines, vehicular natural gas, and battery electric vehicles should be discouraged.

Aerosol-PM2.5 Dynamics: In-situ and satellite observations under the influence of regional crop residue burning in post-monsoon over Delhi-NCR, India

The increasing air pollution in the urban atmosphere is adversely impacts the environment, climate and human health. The alarming degradation of air quality, atmospheric conditions, economy and human life due to air pollution needs significant in-depth studies to ascertain causes, contributions and impacts for developing and implementing an effective policy to combat these issues. This work lies in its multifaceted approach towards comprehensive understanding and mitigating severe pollution episodes in Delhi and its surrounding areas. We investigated the aerosol dynamics in the post-monsoon season (PMS) from 2019 to 2022 under the influence of both crop residue burning and meteorological conditions. The study involves a broad spectrum of factors, including PM2.5 concentrations, active fire events, and meteorological parameters, shedding light on previously unexplored studies. The average AOD550 (0.79) and PM2.5 concentration (140.12 μg/m³) were the highest in 2019. PM2.5 was higher from mid-October to mid-November each year, exceeding the WHO guideline of 15 μg/m³ (24 h) by 27–34 times, signifying a public health emergency. A moderate to strong correlation between PM2.5 and AOD was found (r = 0.65) in 2021. The hotspot region accounts for almost 50% (2019), 47.51% (2020), 57.91% (2021) and 36.61% (2022) of the total fire events. A statistically significant negative non-linear correlation (r) was observed between wind speed (WS) and both AOD and PM2.5 concentration, influencing air quality over the region. HYSPLIT model and Windrose result show the movement of air masses predominated from the North and North-West direction during PMS. This study suggest to promotes strategies such as alternative waste management, encouraging modern agricultural practices in hot-spot regions, and enforcing strict emission norms for industries and vehicles to reducing air pollution and its detrimental effects on public health in the region and also highlights the need for future possibilities of research to attract the global attention.

COVID-19 Lockdown Air Pollution Reduction: Did It Impact the Number of COPD Hospitalizations?

COVID-19 Lockdown Air Pollution Reduction: Did It Impact the Number of COPD Hospitalizations?

Assessing the Additional Benefits of Thailand’s Approaches to Reduce Motor Vehicle Emissions

Air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs) represent major challenges in our era, contributing to climate change and global health issues. These problems arise from a variety of well-known sources, including motor vehicles. Almost all nations, Thailand included, have formulated and implemented policies to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the requirements and commitments of the Paris Agreement. The evaluation of specific air pollutants and GHG emissions originating from road vehicles utilises the Thailand database, referencing the year 2019. Data intersections from 2019 to 2022 are grounded in actual data collected from relevant departments in Thailand, while projections for 2023–2030 are forecasted based on the baseline year. The secondary database used in the International Vehicle Emission model is adjusted according to real-world driving data to accurately reflect country-specific emission factors. Dynamic emission factors for specific air pollutants and GHGs are evaluated and integrated with the average Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) for each vehicle category. The Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario is then examined, based on existing policies aimed at reducing air pollutants and GHG emissions in Thailand’s transport sector. These policies include strategies for the adoption of electric vehicles and the promotion of public transport to reduce VKT. Under the BAU scenario, the overall number of road vehicles in Thailand, including passenger cars, motorcycles, pickups, vans, trucks, and buses, is expected to increase by approximately 6.58% by 2030, leading to a rise in specific air pollutants and GHG emissions compared to the 2019 baseline. However, by adhering to Thailand’s strategies and transitioning to new electric passenger cars and buses, greenhouse gas emissions and specific air pollutants from the road transport sector will be significantly reduced.

Reducing air pollution does not necessarily reduce related adults' mortality burden: Variations in 177 countries with different economic levels

Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is associated with increased mortality. However, reducing air pollution concentrations does not necessarily reduce the related burden of deaths. Here, we aim to estimate the variations in PM2.5-related mortality due to contributions from key factors – PM2.5 concentration, population exposure, and healthcare levels – for 177 countries from 2000 to 2018 at the 1-km grid scale according to the Global Mortality Exposure Model (GEMM) model. We find that global reductions in PM2.5-related deaths mainly come from high and upper-middle income countries, where lowered air pollutant concentration and better healthcare can offset mortality burdens caused by increasing exposed populations. Changes in population exposure to PM2.5 contribute the most (54 %) to change in global related deaths over the examined period, followed by changes in healthcare (−42 %) and pollution concentrations (4 %). The impacts vary across countries and regions within them due to other drivers, which are significantly influenced by development status. Policies aiming at reducing PM2.5 associated health risks need to account for country-specific balances of these key socioeconomic drivers.

A Study on a Health Impact Assessment and Healthcare Cost Calculation of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Residents under PM2.5 and O3 Pollution

Excessive fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) are invisible killers affecting our wellbeing and safety, which cause great harm to people’s health, cause serious healthcare and economic losses, and affect the sustainable development of the social economy. The effective evaluation of the impact of pollutants on the human body, the associated costs, and the reduction of regional compound air pollution is an important research direction. Taking Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) as the research area, this study constructs a comprehensive model for measuring the healthcare costs of PM2.5 and O3 using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) as its basis. First, this study establishes a health impact assessment model and calculates the number of people affected by PM2.5 and O3 exposure using the health impact function in the BTH region. Then, the willingness to pay (WTP) and cost of illness (COI) methods are used to estimate the healthcare costs inflicted by the two pollutants upon residents from 2018 to 2021. The calculation results show that the total healthcare costs caused by PM2.5 and O3 pollution in BTH accounted for 1%, 0.7%, 0.5%, and 0.3% of the regional GDP in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Based on the research results, to further reduce these high healthcare costs, we propose policy suggestions for PM2.5 and O3 control in the BTH region.

Air pollution control and carbon reduction policies: Assessing effectiveness in alleviating PM2.5-associated mortality in China

To confront the challenges posed by air pollution and climate change, China has undertaken significant initiatives to develop strategies that address both issues concurrently. However, the health benefits of these initiatives have not been clearly articulated. In this study, the dynamic changes in health impacts under air pollution and carbon reduction actions in China are evaluated by employing the latest concentration–response models and projected PM2.5 concentrations under future scenarios. From 2020 to 2060, the enforcement of clean air and climate mitigation policies is expected to increase the percentage of the population living with PM2.5 concentrations meeting the 10 μg/m3 standard by 79 %. Without the implementation of relevant mitigation measures, PM2.5-associated deaths are projected to double due to an aging population. In comparison to the 2060 reference scenario, the joint implementation of clean air and carbon neutrality measures is expected to reduce nationwide PM2.5-associated mortality by 62 %, equivalent to 2.15 (95 % CI: 1.80–2.48) million deaths. Stringent pollution controls are crucial for reducing PM2.5-associated deaths before 2030, after which carbon neutrality actions become increasingly significant from 2030 to 2060. The challenges of mitigating future PM2.5-associated deaths vary greatly across regions, showing a critical response to pollution control and carbon reduction. The research proves the effectiveness of China's future air pollution control and carbon reduction policies in mitigating PM2.5-associated deaths.

Can ecological compensation reduce air pollution? New evidence from resource-based cities in China

ABSTRACT China has made great efforts to establish an ecological compensation mechanism, but there lacks empirical evidence on whether this scheme effectively reduces air pollution. To test the effectiveness of air quality ecological compensation (AQEC) on air pollution control, this study considers 114 resource-based cities in China and uses a multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) model for empirical analysis. The finding shows that the AQEC policy significantly reduces the concentration of air pollutants by promoting air pollution prevention and local authority enthusiasm for pollution abatement, resulting in an average annual decrease in PM2.5 concentrations of approximately 3.9 µg/m3 in the pilot cities. The AQEC policy of resource-based cities in eastern and northern China, and those with less financial pressure have greater inhibitory effects on air pollution. The study recommends establishing long-term protection mechanisms and implementing differentiated policies focused on green technological innovation and financial autonomy.

Does Internet Use Affect Air Pollution? Evidence from OECD Countries

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the use of the internet, which has an important place in information and communication, and air pollution (Carbon Dioxide Emissions-CO2). In this context, the relationship between the variables for the 1994-2019 period in 28 OECD countries selected was tested with the help of a panel data analysis with Fourier functions (Fourier unit root test, panel Fourier cointegration test and panel Fourier causality test). The results of the analysis show that internet use reduces air pollution, while economic growth increases air pollution. The results of the Panel Fourier Granger Causality test revealed a bidirectional causality relationship between internet use and air pollution and a unidirectional causality relationship from air pollution to economic growth throughout the panel. The analysis results present a policy proposal to the governments of OECD countries that they can reduce air pollution by investing in information and communication technologies (ICT) in their economic growth processes.