Analysis of air quality indicators at children’s playgrounds Abstract The importance of controlling carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter emissions, which are closely linked to a number of harmful effects on human health, is reflected in the potential of global warming, taking into account that CO2, VOCs, and particulate pollution representing indicators of air quality. The aim of this research is to identify three important indicators of air pollution in urban children’s playgrounds near the center of Novi Sad, Serbia. Measurement of the pollutant concentration, and the significant parameters of temperature and relative humidity, was carried out on three children’s playgrounds. The intention was to detect any variations in air quality at the children’s playground over time by measuring the concentration of the pollutants using MANOVA and ANOVA. Our findings indicate that air quality changes to a large extent depending on the factors studied. It is evident that the air quality depends largely on the time of day when the measurements were made. A significant increase in the concentration of pollutants was observed in the second and third time interval due to rising temperatures during the day.

Determining toxic metal concentration changes in landscaping plants based on some factors Abstract Toxic metals are one of the most culpable air pollutants. They do not dissolve naturally. Rather, they tend to be bioaccumulative, and some of them have toxic or carcinogenic effects even at low measures. Therefore, the ability to measure and monitor toxic metal concentrations in the air is vital in fighting pollution. To achieve this, bioindicators are widely used due to their efficiency and global availability. Bioindicators are plants that accumulate some of the toxic metals found in the soil or air. This study aims to determine the differences in toxic metal concentrations depending on plant species, plant organelles, and traffic density in certain landscaping plants grown in Kastamonu town center. The results showed that the elements subjected to the study varied significantly between the different species. The highest accumulation values of such metals were obtained in cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), and the lowest values of all metals were found in the European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Based on our observations in this study, we determined that the most suitable species used as biomonitor is the cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera). We noticed that the concentrations of the metals differed significantly according to the species. The biggest difference recorded was five times more in Ni metal concentration. The concentrations of the studied elements were also varied depending on organelles and on traffic density, which will be discussed in detail in this paper.

Air quality modelling using long short-term memory (LSTM) over NCT-Delhi, India Abstract Nowadays, monitoring and prediction of air quality parameters are becoming significantly important research topics in the context of increasing urbanization and industrialization. Therefore, efficient modelling of air quality parameters is essential because such an approach would enable to identify the existing and forthcoming implication of air pollution. In recent years, sharp rise in air pollution levels in Indian National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT-Delhi) has made it the most polluted city of the world. Machine learning approaches are considered as an efficient and cost-effective method to model the air quality parameters and are widely used. However, current methods fail to incorporate long-term dependencies arising due to complex interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors. The present study is mainly aimed at predicting O3, PM2.5, NOx, and CO concentrations at a location in NCT-Delhi using the long short-term memory (LSTM) approach, which is considered as more efficient over other deep learning methods. Factors and parameters such as vehicular emissions, meteorological conditions, traffic data, and pollutant levels are employed in five different combinations. Performance evaluation of LSTM algorithms for hourly concentration prediction is carried out during 2008–2010, and it is found that LSTM models efficiently deal with the complexities and is immensely effective in ambient air quality forecasting. This paper can be considered as a significant motivation for carrying research on urban air pollution using latest LSTMs and helping the government and policymakers a better forecasting methodology for planning measures to curb ill impacts of degrading air quality.

Dispersion modeling of gaseous and particulate matter emissions from aircraft activity at Chania Airport, Greece Abstract Aircraft emissions from Landing and Take-Off (LTO) cycles at Chania airport (Crete), Greece were estimated for the year 2016 adopting the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) methodology and using daily data from air traffic. The AERMOD Gaussian dispersion model was elaborated to determine the ground-level concentrations of air pollutants emitted from the aircraft engines. Emissions of CO, NOx as NO2, SO2, CO2, PM2.5 mass, and particle number from aircraft engines were evaluated and ground-level concentrations of these pollutants were determined. The aircraft emissions were mainly derived from the ground-level parts of the LTO cycle. The AERMOD model referring to the 1-h average concentrations has revealed that there were 20 exceedances of NO2 concentrations above the value of 200 μg/m3; two more than the regulated threshold described in the European Union Directive 2008/50/EC.. The exceedances were calculated mostly during the summer period which coincides with the touristic period. High number concentrations of particles were also simulated close to the airport with yearly average values close to 10,000 particles per cm3 at the airport area. Contrary, the contribution from aircraft LTO cycles to the ground-level concentration of CO, SO2, and PM2.5 mass was below the air quality threshold values.

Indoor air pollution with benzene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide in schools in Osijek, Croatia Abstract Exposure to air pollution and poor indoor air quality is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, especially in schoolchildren. This paper presents results of the pilot study of the formaldehyde, benzene, and nitrogen dioxide measurements in classrooms and at outdoor sites in two schools in Osijek, Croatia, carried out by the Institute of Public Health for the Osijek-Baranya County and WHO. Concentrations of formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide in classrooms (formaldehyde average weekly concentration = 8.48 μg/m3, SD = 2.33; NO2 average weekly concentration = 11.12 μg/m3, SD = 2.49) were below the WHO guideline values for indoor air. The concentration of benzene in indoor air in one school (0.44 μg/m3) was similar to the level of this chemical in ambient air (0.65 μg/m3) while the data for another school (1.63 μg/m3) suggested the presence of indoor sources of benzene. The highest concentration of formaldehyde was observed in a room where mold, dampness, and condensation contamination were visible. School power plants and road traffic affected higher values of indoor air NO2 concentration.

International prevalence of fragrance sensitivity Abstract Emissions and exposures from fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, have been associated with health problems and societal impacts. This study investigates effects of fragranced consumer products on the general population in four countries: United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Nationally representative population surveys (n = 1137; 1098; 1100; 1100) found that, across the four countries, 32.2% of adults (34.7%, 33.0%, 27.8%, 33.1% respectively) report fragrance sensitivity; that is, adverse health effects from fragranced consumer products. For instance, 17.4% report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers, and 15.7% from being in a room cleaned with scented products. Commonly reported health problems include respiratory difficulties (16.7%), mucosal symptoms (13.2%), migraine headaches (12.6%), skin rashes (9.1%), and asthma attacks (7.0%). For 9.5% of the population, the severity of health effects can be considered disabling. Further, 9.0% of the population have lost workdays or lost a job, in the past year, due to illness from fragranced product exposure in the workplace. Personal estimated costs due to these lost workdays and lost jobs, across the four countries in one year, exceed $146 billion (USD). A majority of people across the countries would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and professionals, hotels, and airplanes were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. The study highlights a concern for public health and societal well-being, as well as an approach to reduce risks and costs: reduce exposure to fragranced products.

Exposure to indoor-outdoor particulate matter and associated trace elements within childcare facilities Abstract Children’s exposure to trace elements through indoor and outdoor pollutants could be a risk to their health. Here, we investigated the concentrations of particulate matter (PM), and PM trace elements existed in indoor and outdoor environments of childcare facilities. The coefficient of determination (R2) was calculated to evaluate the relation between PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments, and I/O ratios for PM were investigated in hallway and indoors during summer and winter seasons. We performed the factor analysis to identify the sources of trace elements in indoor PM2.5. For all childcare facilities, PM2.5 concentrations correlated well with PM10 concentrations in both indoor and outdoor environments, and their slopes are similar. In indoor-outdoor PM concentrations, the higher I/O ratios were presented in winter season, and there were significant differences between hallway and indoors in PM concentrations: childcare C (residential) for PM10 and childcare A (residential) and B (near roadway) for PM10. The factor analysis (FA) results indicated that indoor PM2.5 concentrations were contributed by outdoor pollutant sources, and the variance (%) of trace elements existed in PM2.5 determined by factors 1, 2, and 3 showed over 85%. Thus, these sources are the most significant outdoor pollutants and are sourced from re-suspended soil dust and motor vehicle emissions. More importantly, trace elements (Zn and Ni) included in PM2.5 could not be removed by an air purifier and could lead to potential pollutants in indoors of a childcare facility.

Pollution characteristics, sources, and risk assessment of heavy metals and perfluorinated compounds in PM 2.5 in the major industrial city of northern Xinjiang, China Abstract At present, research on PM2.5 has focused on eastern and central China; little attention has been given to Xinjiang, the most northwestern part of China. Ten kinds of heavy metals (HMs) and 12 kinds of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in atmospheric PM2.5are detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. Principal component analysis and risk assessment methods are used to study HMs and PFCs and explore their pollution levels and health risks. Results show that HMs and PFCs are prevalent in atmospheric PM2.5 of Shihezi and Urumqi. The spatial distributions of HMs and PFCs in four sampling sites are development zone (B1) = industrial park (A1) > factory (A3) > school (A2) and A1 > A3 > B1 > A2, respectively. In the four sampling sites, copper, lead, zinc, and cadmium (Cd) contents are relatively high. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the most prevalent PFCs. Risk assessment results show that PFCs in the atmosphere will not harm residents, but the Cd and nickel (Ni) in HMs are harmful to humans, especially Cd, which has both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. These findings indicate that the carcinogenic risk of HMs and PFCs in children is higher than in adults. In addition, HMs and PFCs may cause joint toxicity.

Springtime warming and biomass burning causing ozone episodes in South and Southwest China Abstract A detailed analysis of springtime ozone outbreaks in South/Southwest China is presented in this paper, providing an insight into a regional photochemical and climate problem. A major ozone episode in 2013 was the first ever in April and the worst in Hong Kong up to 2018, measuring a peak ozone concentration of 293 μg m−3. This multi-day, ozone pollution was evidenced by similar conditions in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and an even more severe episode in Kunming (Yunnan) in Southwest China. Concurrently, widespread air temperature composite anomalies of up to about + 4°K were observed in the region, particularly during 6Z (14:00 local time). The global annual geopotential height anomaly implied increased atmospheric stability and inhibited dispersion—consistent with global warming impacts for the region. Backward trajectories, satellite observations, and transport model simulations characterized the biomass burning sources. Results indicated that activities in Indochina, South and Southwest China, and Africa were the main sources in South China while those in Burma dominated Southwest China. The close succession of outbreaks from west to east (Kunming, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong) suggests an eastward transport of ozone and precursors.

Investigating the non-linear relationship between urbanization and CO 2 emissions: An empirical analysis Abstract This study analyzes the non-linear relationship between urbanization and CO2 emissions over the period 1971 to 2014 in Indonesia. The findings unveil an inverted U-shaped relationship between urbanization and CO2 emissions. Urbanization increases CO2emissions, but after achieving a certain level, it negatively impacts emissions. Economic growth and energy intensity increase CO2 emissions, while trade openness has no significant effect on CO2 emissions. Further, we have validated the robustness of results by using the ecological carbon footprint as a proxy of environmental degradation. The results of the causality test show unidirectional causality running from economic growth to emissions and energy intensity, and feedback effect between urbanization and emissions. Finally, several policy measures are proposed to improve the environment without reducing the urbanization level.