Assessing the Impact of Advected African Dust on Air Quality and Health in the Eastern United States

Large quantities of African dust are carried into the southeastern United States each summer with concentrations typically in the range of 10 to 100?µg m^?3. Because approximately one-third to one-half of the dust mass is in the size range under 2.5?µm diameter, the advection of African dust has implications for the EPA's newly implemented standard for PM_2.5 particulate matter and for the assessment of human health effects. It will be difficult to assess the impact of African dust events on air quality because they occur during the summer (maximum in July) when photochemical pollution events are frequent and intense in the eastern United States. Indeed, the presence of dust could affect the evolution of photochemical dust events. In order to assess the role of African dust in air quality in the United States, it will be necessary to develop a set of diagnostic indicators; it appears that dust mineralogy and elemental composition might be useful for this purpose. Various satellite products can be used to characterize the spatial coverage of dust events and, when coupled with meteorological tools, to predict impact regions.     

Seasonal Variation in Schools’ Indoor Air Environments and Health Symptoms among Students in an Eastern Mediterranean Climate

The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms highly affects the health and productivity of students. This article aims to clarify seasonal variation in indoor environment and sick building syndromes (SBS) symptoms in an Eastern Mediterranean climate. A series of field measurements were conducted during the fall and winter seasons from October 2011 to March 2012 in 12 naturally ventilated schools located in the Gaza Strip. Data on environmental perception and health symptoms were obtained from 724 students by using a validated questionnaire. The results showed that indoor PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations were 426.3 ± 187.6 μg/m³ and 126.6 ± 94.8 μg/m³, respectively. The CO₂ concentrations and ventilation rate widely exceeded their reference values during the winter season. The prevalence rates of general symptoms were relatively high at baseline assessment in the fall season and increased significantly during follow-up in the winter season. Significant increases in disease symptoms such as mucosal irritation and pre-existing asthma symptoms among students could be related to poor indoor air quality. Five distinct groups of SBS symptoms from factor analysis of students’ related symptoms were significantly correlated with PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, CO₂, ventilation rate, and indoor temperature. As vulnerable children, this situation negatively affects their school performance and health.     

Is the Current Fine Particulate Standard Protective of Public Health?

The new annual PM_2.5 standard will be the most difficult particulate matter (PM) standard to satisfy. At issue is whether the extant health evidence supports the rationale for this standard being the controlling standard. Indeed the key issue is whether this standard will result in the most cost-effective way to protect public health. This paper examines the health literature and concludes that the evidence for the annual PM_2.5 standard is weak. The bulk of the health evidence is related to daily exposures to PM₁₀ and larger particle sizes, and there is no rational way to decide upon the correct level for this standard. It is unclear whether the most restrictive PM_2.5 standard will be protective of public health. Clearly research is needed to determine the correct PM metric, averaging time, and level for a standard. To date such research has been limited.     

基于城市绿地滞尘模型的上海市绿色空间滞留PM2.5功能评估

绿色空间对大气颗粒物有一定吸收滞留作用,是改善空气环境质量与维护城市生态安全的重要区域。该文基于高分2号卫星影像识别2017年上海市绿色空间,并利用城市绿地滞尘模型,结合上海市降水、风速等气象数据与空气质量监测数据,评估了绿色空间滞留PM_2.5功能及其差异。结果表明:2017年上海市绿色空间面积3354 km²,可滞留PM_2.5 3533 t,约合单位面积滞留PM_2.5 10.5 kg hm^-2 a^-1。从绿色空间类型来看,林地滞留PM_2.5能力最强,可达20.2 kg hm^-2 a^-1,远高于草地9.1 kg hm^-2 a^-1和农田8.7 kg hm^-2 a^-1的滞留能力。从季节差异来看,绿色空间夏季滞留PM_2.5能力最高,然后依次为秋季、春季和冬季。从植被分布格局来看,林草地和农...     

降雨对北方城市5种典型城市绿化树种叶面滞尘的影响

城市树木和森林植被净化大气颗粒污染物的功能受到了广泛的重视,但由于受多种植被特征与环境因素的影响,定量评价城市植被净化大气颗粒污染物功能非常困难。研究了不同降雨条件下大叶黄杨、银杏、栾树、五角枫、杜仲5种我国北方城市绿化典型树种叶面滞尘量的变化特征。在选定的样树冠层分上、中、下3层和东、南、西、北4个方向,采集成熟叶片,采用刷洗样本叶表,抽取水样及分级抽滤并烘干称重的方法,测定这5种树种降雨后12d(夏季累积滞尘量)、14mm降雨后(小雨)、29mm降雨后(中雨)以及室内模拟降雨30mm/h(15mm雨量)后叶片表面不同粒径大气颗粒污染物的滞留量。研究结果表明:降雨对不同粒径颗粒物去除能力有较大差异,除银杏以外,PM10以上颗粒物更容易去除;小雨对颗粒物的冲刷能力有限;中雨可以冲刷掉50%以上总颗粒物;室内模拟强降雨可以冲刷掉90%以上颗粒物,随着降雨增大,各粒径颗粒物随之冲刷量增加;同时叶表结构对抗冲刷能力有显著影响,革质叶片更容易滞尘及冲刷,绒毛结构滞尘能力较低,抗冲刷能力较强;北方大叶黄杨具有综合去除空气中颗粒物优势(小雨TSP冲刷量为(775.06±33.99)mg/m~2),银杏具有去除细颗粒物优势(中雨PM_(2.5)冲刷量为(426.55±40.83.99)mg/m~2)。     

Heavy Metal Content in PM2.5 Air Samples Collected in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey,México

The air PM_2.5 concentration and its heavy metal content (Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, As) were measured in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey, Méxicoin Mexico, an area that is characterized by both very active and diverse industrial activity and intense highway traffic and industrial activity. The 24-h PM_2.5 samples were collected in two different zones during a 1-year-long measurement program (February 2008–February 2009). The year PM_2.5 average was above 15 μg/m³ exceeding Mexican and international standards. The difference of PM_2.5 in each zone was not statistically significant. The greatest metal content was for iron, followed by lead, manganese, nickel and arsenic. The difference in metal content for Pb, Mn, and As was statistically significant.     

PM2.5对呼吸系统的影响及其作用机制的研究

现如今PM_2.5已成为我国主要的大气污染物,它会导致各种呼吸系统疾病的发生。PM_2.5是粒径小于2.5 μm的细颗粒物,可以携带多种有毒物质。PM_2.5与其他颗粒物相比,体积较小,表面积较大,更容易进入人体,对人体健康造成危害,其中呼吸系统首当其冲。许多流行病学证据表明PM_2.5与呼吸系统疾病密切相关,在体内和体外均证实了细颗粒物对呼吸系统的损伤。而PM_2.5对呼吸系统的毒性机制是国内外专家和学者研究的重点,主要包括氧化应激、炎性损伤、细胞内钙稳态失衡、免疫细胞功能不全和功能障碍、致突变性、微生态学改变、气道上皮防御功能缺陷等。本文综述了PM_2.5的定义、特征和对呼吸系统的影响及毒性机制。     

LATEX: A peculiar biological component in airborne particles?

In a study in the USA, latex allergens have beenidentified in airborne particles. Natural rubber(latex) is a product from the plant Heveabrasiliensis and is largely used in the tireindustry. In the vicinity of roads, latex can becomeairborne due to wear-off processes of tires.Sensitisation to latex has been increasing in the lastdecade; an important pathway for the sensitisation ismediated by the airways. It is not known, if thisconcerns mainly laboratory personnel or if this isalso an environmental problem.This study investigated the content of latex inairborne particles in the vicinity of a road withmoderate traffic, in comparison to a control site.Latex was determined in a competitive ELISA based onpolyclonal IgE antibodies. During spring and summer,collected airborne dust was analysed for the contentof protein and latex. Latex concentrations inPM₁₀ in the city were higher than at the controlsite. At both sites, latex levels were significantlylower in PM_2.5 than in PM₁₀.     

大气颗粒物(PM2.5、PM10)对地表景观结构的响应研究进展

颗粒物PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)是近年来我国大气首要污染物,威胁环境和人类健康。地表景观结构直接或间接影响PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)浓度,了解其影响过程和机理对于改善生态环境具有重要意义。系统总结了国内外关于PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)对地表景观结构响应的研究成果,指出研究中出现不确定性的可能影响因素,并对今后的发展方向进行展望。得出基本结论:(1)地表景观类型的构成及其格局显著影响大气颗粒物浓度,对PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)起到\"源\"和\"汇\"的作用。(2)地表景观结构引起局地气候变化并影响颗粒物的迁移转化,但其影响过程和机理复杂,研究结论并不明确。(3)颗粒物浓度和地表景观数据主要通过实际监测或遥感处理方法获得,但因为获取方法、监测点微观环境及遥感影像等因素影响,导致数据具有不确定性,加上时空尺度相对应的复杂性,大大限制了地表景观结构与PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)响应关系的研究进展,是未来要突破的难点。(4)PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)对地表景观结构响应的区域时空差异及过程,局地小气候变化对颗粒物浓度的影响过程和强度,主要景观类型尤其是水体、湿地景观对大气颗粒物浓度的影响过程、机理与贡献程度等是未来需要关注的方向。     

城市空气污染对周边区域空气质量的影响

京津冀地区是全球以PM_(2.5)为首要污染物的空气污染最严重的区域之一,并已严重制约区域发展。大区域尺度上(例全国尺度)开展城市与其周边区域的PM_(2.5)的研究通常直接比较二者的浓度差异,以定量地评估城市PM_(2.5)污染对周边区域的影响,但这种方法在小区域较难精细地刻画城市对周边区域的影响的方向性和距离性差异。利用京津冀地区13个城市2000年,2005年,2010年,2015年PM_(2.5)浓度和土地覆盖类型数据,以城市重心到城市边界的平均距离为基本距离,建立每个城市的一级(一倍基本距离)和二级(二倍基本距离)缓冲区,然后将缓冲区分成8个象限,以定量分析城市PM_(2.5)污染对周边区域影响的方向性和距离差异。结果发现:(1)2000—2015年,京津冀城市群各地级市与周边区域空气质量时空分布分为以下两种模式:第一种模式是城区浓度高,周边区域低;第二种模式是城区浓度低,周边区域高且浓度差异很小。(2)各地级市对周边区域影响程度和范围呈上升趋势,并且这种影响具体表现在距离性和方向性两方面:(1)大部分城市距离城区越远,受城市PM_(2.5)污染的潜在影响越大。(2)2000—2015年,除天津、廊坊、衡水和沧州,其余城市空气污染对周边影响的方向性特征差异显著。通过建立城市空气污染对周边区域定量化方法并在京津冀开展实证研究,拓展了城市空气污染对周边区域空气质量影响研究的方法体系,为定量地开展城市化的生态环境效应研究提供了方法和实证拓展。