Interaction between ozone and airborne particulate matter in office air

This study investigated the hypotheses that humans are affected by air pollution caused by ozone and house dust, that the effect of simultaneous exposure to ozone and dust in the air is larger than the effect of these two pollutants individually, and that the effects can be measured as release of cytokines and changes of the respiratory function. Experimental exposures of eight atopic but otherwise healthy subjects were performed in a climate chamber under controlled conditions. The three controlled exposures were about 75 microg/m3 total suspended particulate matter, 0.3 p.p.m. ozone, and the combination of these. The exposure duration was 3 h. The outcome measures were interleukins and cells in nasal lavages (NAL), respiratory function, bronchial metacholine responsiveness, rhinometry symptoms and general well-being in a questionnaire and time course of general irritation on a visual analogue scale. Indications of interactions between exposure types were demonstrated for peak expiratory flow (PEF) (P<0.05) and for discomfort symptoms (P<0.03). Non-significant interactions were found for the concentration of interleukin-8 in NAL. The combined exposure was found to cause significantly more effects than either ozone exposures or dust exposures. This is interpreted as indications of a potentiation caused by the combined exposures to dust and ozone. The findings in this study are based on a limited number of subjects and thus should not be over-interpreted. However, they support the hypothesis that ozone at relatively high concentrations interacts with dust exposures to cause decrements in PEF and increase in discomfort measures. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: If confirmed at lower ozone and dust concentrations this finding could help to explain many problems with indoor air quality reported in offices throughout the world.     

Transport of exhaled particulate matter in airborne infection isolation rooms

The goal of this research was to examine the characteristics of the spatial velocity and concentration profiles which might result in health care workers’ exposure to a pathogenic agent in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR). Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed for this purpose. This investigation expanded on the work of Huang and Tsao [The influence of air motion on bacteria removal in negative pressure isolation rooms. HVAC & R Research 2005; 11: 563–85], who studied how ventilation conditions impact dispersion of pathogenic nuclei in an AIIR by investigating the airflow conditions impacting dispersion of infectious agents in the AIIR. The work included a careful quality assurance study of the computed airflow, and final simulations were performed on a fine tetrahedral mesh with approximately 1.3×10⁶ cells. The 1 μm diameter particles were released from a 0.001225 m² area representing the nose and mouth. Two cases were investigated during the current study: continuous exhalation of pathogen-laden air from the patient and expulsion of pathogenic particles by a single cough or sneeze. Slow decay of particle concentration in the AIIR during the single cough/sneeze simulation and tendency for particle accumulation near the AIIR walls observed in the continuous breathing simulation suggest that unintended exposures are possible despite the ventilation system. Based on these findings, it is recommended that extra care be taken to assure proper functionality of personal protective equipment used in an AIIR.     

Platinum and rhodium distribution in airborne particulate matter and road dust

In this work the platinum and rhodium content in the atmosphere of Madrid was monitored for 1 year at seven different sites. Samples were taken with medium volume PM-10 collectors (< 10 microm) for 48 h and analysed by ICP-MS. The Pt and Rh content was dependent on the sampling site, ranging from < 0.1 to 57.1 and < 0.2 to 12.2 pg m(-3) with a medium value of 12.8 and 3.3 pg m(-3), respectively. These results show that the Pt and Rh content in airborne samples depends on the traffic density per day and also on medium driving speed. Road dust < 63 microm was analysed at the same time and at the same location. The Pt and Rh content at the six sites analysed was in the 31-2252 and 11-182 ng g(-1) range with an average of 317 and 74 ng g(-1), respectively. The average Pt/Rh ratio obtained was 4.3. similar to that obtained for airborne particles (4.0), and agrees with that of the more commonly used gasoline car catalyst [J.J. Mooney, Encyclopaedia of Chemical Technology (1996) 982]. Platinum distribution as a function of particle size in airborne particulate matter was also studied, by sampling with two high-volume sample collectors, a five-stage WRAC (from 10 to 65.3 microm and total) and a seven-stages PM-10) cascade impactor (from 9 to < 0.39 microm). Platinum is associated with a wide range of particle diameters. Due to the ultratrace level of Pt in airborne samples, its distribution in the atmosphere could not be considered as homogeneous. No trend could be established in Pt distribution in the different fractions, except that in most cases the highest value of Pt was obtained in the < 0.39-microm fraction. The Pt content was usually high in airborne samples when the Pb, Ce, Zr and Hf content was also high, thus confirming that the source of these pollutants is from traffic.     

Manganese and lead in children's blood and airborne particulate matter in Durban, South Africa

Despite the toxicity and widespread use of manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) as additives to motor fuels and for other purposes, information regarding human exposure in Africa is very limited. This study investigates the environmental exposures of Mn and Pb in Durban, South Africa, a region that has utilized both metals in gasoline. Airborne metals were sampled as PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ at three sites, and blood samples were obtained from a population-based sample of 408 school children attending seven schools. In PM_2.5, Mn and Pb concentrations averaged 17 ± 27 ng m^− 3 and 77 ± 91 ng m^− 3, respectively; Mn concentrations in PM₁₀ were higher (49 ± 44 ng m^− 3). In blood, Mn concentrations averaged 10.1 ± 3.4 μg L^− 1 and 8% of children exceeded 15 μg L^− 1, the normal range. Mn concentrations fit a lognormal distribution. Heavier and Indian children had elevated levels. Pb in blood averaged 5.3 ± 2.1 μg dL^− 1, and 3.4% of children exceeded 10 μg dL^− 1, the guideline level. Pb levels were best fit by a mixed (extreme value) distribution, and boys and children living in industrialized areas of Durban had elevated levels. Although airborne Mn and Pb concentrations were correlated, blood levels were not. A trend analysis shows dramatic decreases of Pb levels in air and children's blood in South Africa, although a sizable fraction of children still exceeds guideline levels. The study's findings suggest that while vehicle exhaust may contribute to exposures of both metals, other sources currently dominate Pb exposures.     

Seasonal variation of thallium, lead, and chromium concentrations in airborne particulate matter collected in an urban area

In November 1985 a research program started, with the aim to evaluate seasonal variations in the concentrations of organic and inorganic pollutants in the atmosphere of Genoa. The program provided for the collection of samples of airborne particulate in five different areas with distinct urban characteristics. First results for chromium, lead, and thallium concentrations in an industrial and in an urban area are reported. Lead showed the highest concentration at both locations (geometric mean: 1.037 and 0.476 microgram/m3, respectively) and appeared to be little affected by seasonal variation. Private traffic was confirmed as the main source of this pollutant. Chromium and thallium geometric mean concentrations were 0.006 and 0.014 microgram/m3 in site A and 0.017 and 0.015 microgram/m3 in site B, respectively. In the urban location a good negative linear correlation was found between chromium and thallium concentration and mean ambient temperature; the domestic heating plants were suspected as important emission sources of these two compounds.     

Exposure of children to airborne particulate matter of different size fractions during indoor physical education at school

Although moderate regular aerobic exercise is recommended for good health, adverse health consequences may be incurred by people who exercise in areas with high ambient pollution, such as in the centres of large cities with dense traffic. The exposure of children during exercise is of special concern because of their higher sensitivity to air pollutants. The size-segregated mass concentration of particulate matter was measured in a naturally ventilated elementary school gym during eight campaigns, seven to ten days long, from November 2005 through August 2006 in a central part of Prague (Czech Republic). The air was sampled using a five-stage cascade impactor. The indoor concentrations of PM_2.5 recorded in the gym exceeded the WHO recommended 24-hour limit of 25 μg m⁻³ in 50% of the days measured. The average 24-h concentrations of PM_2.5 (24.03 μg m⁻³) in the studied school room did not differ much from those obtained from the nearest fixed site monitor (25.47 μg m⁻³) and the indoor and ambient concentrations were closely correlated (correlation coefficient 0.91), suggesting a high outdoor-to-indoor penetration rate. The coarse indoor fraction concentration (PM_2.5–10) was associated with the number of exercising pupils (correlation coefficient 0.77), indicating that human activity is its main source. Considering the high pulmonary ventilation rate of exercising children and high outdoor particulate matter concentrations, the levels of both coarse and fine aerosols may represent a potential health risk for sensitive individuals during their physical education performed in naturally ventilated gyms in urban areas with high traffic intensity.     

Monitoring children's personal exposure to airborne particulate matter in London, UK--method development and study design.

The paper outlines the methodology selected for identifying the personal exposure of children to airborne particulate matter in a UK urban environment.     

Carbonaceous characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter in Hong Kong

In recent years, worldwide concern over global warming has been expressed. It has been reported that domestic wastewater and its treatment processes are sources of CH4 and N2O, designated as greenhouse gases, the reduction of which was noted to be extremely important at the Third Conference of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (Conference Of the Parties; COP3). Here we report a study of a field that has been unexplored until now: analytical evaluation of the properties of the emission of CH4 and N2O and methods of restricting their emission in soil-trench wastewater treatment processes, the use of which is spreading, mainly in developing nations. The results have provided the following information. A field fact-finding survey has confirmed that soil trenches emit 9.3-13.9 g CH4 m(-3) and 8.2-12.2 gN2O m(-3) in Japan, and 3.0-4.5 g CH4 m(-3) and 3.3-5.0 g N2O m(-3) in China. The emission properties widely vary according to the structure of the treatment system. The conversion ratio for nitrogen in the wastewater influent to N2O by a soil trench is between 2 and a maximum of 8%, and ranges from a few- to several 10-fold as much as that with the activated sludge method, suggesting that this can be a large source of N2O emission. It has also clearly been shown that the aerobic-anaerobic state inside the treatment system is closely related to its CH4 and N2O emission characteristics. By performing ventilation to maintain the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) near the trench at an aerobic condition of +200 mV or more, the quantities of CH4 and N2O emitted can be reduced by as much as 50% from the levels without this ventilation, and that this can make a large contribution.     

Carbonaceous characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter in Hong Kong

To determine the characteristic of carbonaceous species in atmospheric particles in Hong Kong, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples were collected using high volume (hi-vol.) air samplers from November 2000 to February 2001. The organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were analyzed by the selective thermal manganese dioxide oxidation (TMO) method. The ratios of PM_2.5/PM₁₀ mass ratios were 0.61, 0.78 and 0.53 for particulate matter collected at PolyU station (PolyU, near a major traffic corridor), Kwun Tong station (KT, mixed residential/commercial/industrial) and the Hok Tsui background station (HT), respectively. These results indicate that the PM_2.5 concentrations constitute the majority of the PM₁₀ concentrations, especially in urban and industrial areas of Hong Kong. The average concentrations at the three sites ranged from 73.11 to 83.52 μg/m³ for PM₁₀ and from 42.37 to 57.38 μg/m³ for PM_2.5. The highest daily mass concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 125.89 μg/m³ and 116.89 μg/m³ at KT, respectively. The correlation between PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 was high at KT and HT (r>0.9, P<0.01). This means that the sources of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 may be the same at both sites. The highest mean concentration of OC (12.02 μg/m³) and EC (6.86 μg/m³) in PM₁₀ was found at the PolyU among the three sites. For PM_2.5, the highest mean concentration of OC (10.16 μg/m³) was at KT while the highest mean concentration of EC (7.95 μg/m³) was at PolyU. However, the background concentrations at HT were higher than another background area, Kosan, Korea. Transportation of pollutants from the Asian continent may be responsible for the elevations of EC+OC at the remote site. More than 74% of the EC and more than 79% of the OC were found in the PM_2.5 fraction at the three sampling locations. At PolyU station, PM_2.5 consisted of 18.18% OC and 11.16% EC while 17.70% OC and 8.81% EC were found in KT station. Thus OC and EC are major constituents of aerosols in Hong Kong. OC/EC ratios for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were less than 2 at PolyU and KT stations while the ratio exceeded 3 at HT background station. This indicates that OC measured in the urban area may be emitted directly as a primary aerosol.     

室内颗粒物的来源和特点研究

分析了国内外在室内颗粒物的来源和室内外颗粒源对室内颗粒物浓度的影响方面的研究进展。指出了目前研究中存在的问题,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

Chemical characterization of indoor and outdoor fine particulate matter in an occupied apartment in Rome,Italy

The daily concentration and chemical composition of PM_2.5 was determined in indoor and outdoor 24‐h samples simultaneously collected for a total of 5 weeks during a winter and a summer period in an apartment sited in Rome, Italy. The use of a specifically developed very quiet sampler (<35 dB) allowed the execution of the study while the family living in the apartment led its normal life. The indoor concentration of PM_2.5 showed a small seasonal variation, while outdoor values were much higher during the winter study. Outdoor sources were found to contribute significantly to indoor PM concentration especially during the summer, when the apartment was naturally ventilated by opening the windows. During the winter the infiltration of outdoor PM components was lower and mostly regulated by the particle dimensions. Organics displayed In/Out ratios higher than unity during both periods; their indoor production increased significantly during the weekends, where the family stayed mostly at home. PM components were grouped into macrosources (soil, sea, secondary inorganics, traffic, organics). During the summer the main contributions to outdoor PM_2.5 came from soil (30%), secondary inorganics (29%) and organics (22%). Organics dominated both indoor PM_2.5 during the summer (60%) and outdoor and indoor PM_2.5 during the winter (51% and 66%, respectively).     

Trends in alkanes and PAHs in airborne particulate matter from Oporto and Vienna: identification and comparison.

A total of 56 weekly samples from Oporto and 40 from Vienna were collected and analysed, for 23 n-alkanes and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), by GC-MS after extraction with a toluene/methanol mixture. Total and elemental carbon were in the same range of values for both sampling sites. Although parts of the spectrum of species in both sampling sites were constant over the sampling period there is no evidence for suggesting a universal tracer for alkanes. For both Oporto and Vienna, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified two PCs and in both cases the first PC contained only PAHs while the second contained only alkanes. This separation between alkanes and PAHs and the observation of an alternating pattern with higher concentrations of odd carbon numbered from C27 to C30 (natural emissions from biological origin) is believed to result from a separation between anthropogenic and biological contributions associated with the first and second PC, respectively.     

Influence of meteorological conditions and particulate matter on visual range impairment in Jinan, China

To understand the influence of aerosol particles and meteorological conditions on visual range in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, China, PM(2.5) and PM(10) samples were collected from November 2004 to September 2005. The mass concentrations of PM(2.5) and PM(10), concentrations of water-soluble ions in PM(2.5) and concentrations of black carbon (BC) in the atmosphere were analyzed. The decrease of visual range in Jinan results from the combined influence of PM(2.5), PM(10) and meteorological conditions. For the period studied, the average light extinction coefficient, b(ext), which was estimated from an equation developed by the IMPROVE network was 292 Mm(-1). Ammonium sulfate was the major contributor to visual range impairment, accounting for 41%, while ammonium nitrate, particulate organic matter (POM) and BC made comparable contributions accounting for 20%, 22% and 18%, respectively. This highlights the significance of secondary particles ((NH(4))(2)SO(4), NH(4)NO(3), POM) in visual range impairment in Jinan. The data from this study are also compared with the long-term variations of visual range in Jinan from 1961 to 2005.     

Characterization and exposure assessment of household fine particulate matter pollution in China

Household fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) pollution greatly impacts residents' health. To explore the current national situation of household PM_2.5 pollution in China, a study was conducted based on literature published from 1998 to 2018. After extracting data from the literature in conformity with the requirements, the nationwide household-weighted mean concentration of household PM_2.5 (HPL) was calculated. Subgroup analyses of spatial, geographic, and temporal differences were also done. The estimated overall HPL in China was 132.2 ± 117.7 μg/m³. HPL in the rural area (164.3 ± 104.5 μg/m³) was higher than that in the urban area (123.9 ± 122.3 μg/m³). For HPLs of indoor sampling sites, the kitchen was the highest, followed by the bedroom and living room. There were significant differences of geographic distributions. The HPLs in the South were higher than the North in four seasons. The inhaled dose of household PM_2.5 among school-age children differed from provinces with the highest dose up to 5.9 μg/(kg·d). Countermeasures should be carried out to reduce indoor pollution and safeguard health urgently.     

The contribution from distant dust sources to the atmospheric particulate matter loadings at XiAn, China during spring

Mass concentration data for PM(10) (particulate matter, PM, less than 10 mum) combined with an air mass back-trajectory clustering technique, a potential source contribution function (PSCF) model, and a concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) method were used to evaluate the transport pathways and sources of XiAn PM(10) in spring 2001 to 2003. Three dust source areas: "Northwesterly Sources," "Northerly Sources," and a "Loess Plateau Source" and an anthropogenic "Southerly Source" contributing to the high particulate matter concentrations at XiAn were identified using these methods. The CWT method provided more compelling information on dust sources than the PSCF model, but there are clear advantages to using multiple interpretive tools. A comparison of the major dust transport pathways shows differences for XiAn versus Beijing, with "Northwesterly Sources" more important for XiAn and arid and semi-arid regions in Mongolia more important for Beijing.     

Some analytical problems encountered for trace elements determination in the airborne particulate matter of urban and rural areas

The determination of trace elements (TE) in airborne particulate matter collected onto filters requires an accurate evaluation of the entire analytical procedure. Since many elements have to be determined at a few milligrams of air dust at nanogram levels, possible sources of error can arise from uncontrolled parameters such as blank of the filters, sample homogeneity, pre-analytical treatment, primary and comparator standards. These potential critical points are presented here and discussed on the basis of the experience developed in our laboratory in previous studies where several TE monitoring campaigns have been performed for air particulate matter collected in urban as well as in rural residential areas of north Italy. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ET-AAS) have been used for the investigation of more than 30 trace elements.     

Metal content of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves in relation to soil contamination and airborne particulate matter.

The global distribution of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber, sensu lato; Asteraceae), along with its ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, make this 'species' a particularly attractive candidate to evaluate for its value as a biological monitor of environmental metal contamination. To examine the metal content of dandelion leaves in relation to environmental metal levels, the concentrations of eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were analyzed in leaf and soil samples collected at 29 sites in the mid-western United States differentially impacted by pollution. Sites were chosen primarily to cover a range of annual mean 24-h airborne particulate matter < or = 10 microm (hereafter, PM10) exposure, with PM10 levels varying from those found in isolated rural areas to levels typical of the most industrialized urban locations in the mid-western United States. A positive. significant correlation was detected between soil concentrations of each metal and measures of PM10 at a site, signifying that airborne particulate matter is a good indicator of soil metal contamination. Leaf concentrations of four of the eight metals (Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn) examined were found to increase significantly as the soil levels of these metals increased, but the percentage of the total variation explained by the relationship in these cases was generally low. This latter finding, along with the lack of a significant relationship between leaf and soil concentrations for the four other metals, indicate that the factors affecting metal absorption from the soil by dandelions are complex and that, aside from soil metal concentrations, other soil, plant and/or other environmental factors affect metal uptake. There was also no evidence that leaf metal concentrations were positively correlated with PM10. In addition, the concentrations of some metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) were significantly higher in leaves collected in the fall compared to those collected at the same sites in the spring. These findings suggest that dandelions may not be a particularly effective tool for quantifying levels of environmental metal contamination, at least on the scale of pollution typifying industrialized urban areas of the mid-western United States.     

Measuring and modelling the airborne particulate matter mass concentration field in the street environment: model overview and evaluation.

This paper discusses the outline structure and preliminary evaluation of an emission-dispersion model for predicting the temporal and spatial distribution of vehicle-derived airborne particulate matter mass concentration in street canyons. The model is called Street Level Air Quality (SLAQ). SLAQ is semi-empirical, in that it uses not only results from field and wind tunnel experiments but also theory and models derived from multiple runs of numerical routines in order to simulate the basic physical processes within the street canyon. A combination of a plume model, for the direct contribution of vehicle exhaust, and a box model for the recirculating part of the pollutants in the street, is used to predict concentration for receptors within the canyon. Emission rates of vehicle-derived particulate matter are calculated within SLAQ, which serve as input to the dispersion module. Exhaust emission rates are scaled element by element along the street for each of the lanes according to the direction of traffic flow to account for modal operation of vehicles near signalised intersections. This refinement allows SLAQ to account for non-uniformity in along-canyon emission rates and to model a street that has several intersections along its length. Thermal turbulence due to environmental surface sensible heat and vehicle-generated heat is accounted for in the model. Other features of SLAQ include correction for the urban heat island effect, dry deposition, wet deposition, particle settling and estimation of wind direction standard deviation, when this latter data is not available. SLAQ has been evaluated in a street in Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom and correlation coefficient of 0.8 between the modelled and measured concentrations has been obtained.     

华东地区近地台风不同时距特性研究

基于2011年两次不同强度台风“米雷”和“梅花”影响下上海浦东国际机场附近沿海地区40m高测风塔获得的近地风实测数据,分析了不同时距下湍流度、阵风因子、峰值因子以及湍流积分尺度等风参数特性。研究表明：湍流度均值随时距的增大而减小且与Durst的研究结果一致,风速较小的“米雷”湍流度均值比风速较大的“梅花”的大;阵风因子均值在10m以上实测结果与美国规范ASCE/SEI 7-10曲线接近,而10 m高度处的实测值偏大;峰值因子均值随时距增大而减小,但受实测高度和风速变化的影响较小;台风“米雷”峰值因子均值在时距大于100 s后略大于“梅花”,但总体上与Durst的研究结果一致。在各时距下台风“米雷”纵向、横向和竖向湍流积分尺度均值比“梅花”的大,两次台风的纵向湍流尺度在10 m高度处1 min~1 h时距的变化范围分别为27~267 m和27~205 m,当时距足够大时横向积分尺度会大于纵向值。