scholarly journals Quantifying Uncertainties of Ground‐Level Ozone Within WRF‐Chem Simulations in the Mid‐Atlantic Region of the United States as a Response to Variability

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1100-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Thomas ◽  
Amy K. Huff ◽  
Xiao‐Ming Hu ◽  
Fuqing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Atlantic Region ◽  
Ground Level Ozone

Coal

2020 ◽  
pp. 81-119
Author(s):  
Paul F. Meier
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Coal Combustion ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pulverized Coal ◽  
Ground Level Ozone ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Residential Heating ◽  
Coal Technology

Coal has two main energy applications, with about 90% used for electricity generation and 10% used for commercial and residential heating. In terms of electricity generation in the United States, coal is responsible for about 28%, a significant decrease from 53% twenty years earlier when it was the leading energy for producing electricity. There are two primary commercial methods for generating electricity from coal including pulverized coal combustion and fluidized bed coal combustion. To safely burn coal, sulfur, nitrogen, and heavy metals are removed at the electric plant. The sequestering of sulfur and nitrogen are important steps for limiting acid rain and ground level ozone. To generate electricity, the United States has about 360 coal plants with about 790 generators, of which greater than 90% use pulverized coal technology. Most coal is transported by rail.

scholarly journals Ontario Medical Association Position Paper on Health Effects of Ground-Level Ozone, Acid Aerosols and Particulate Matter

1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 367-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
BT Boadway ◽  
J MacPhail ◽  
C Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Sulphur Dioxide ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ground Level Ozone ◽  
Emission Limits

This review of the evidence of the health effects of air pollutants focuses on research conducted in Ontario. Seven key Ontario studies are cited. These findings are highly significant for people living in the Great Lakes basin (and particularly the Windsor-Quebec corridor), where high levels of certain air pollutants (eg, ground-level ozone and ultra-fine particles) occur more frequently than in other parts of Canada. The issue is a serious one, requiring an integrated and comprehensive approach by many stakeholders, including the active involvement of organized medicine. It is important that the health effects of these air pollutants are understood. Governments must act to reduce emission levels through statue and regulation bolstered by noncompliance penalties.The findings of research have included the following: in a Toronto study, a 2% to 4% excess of respiratory deaths were attributable to pollutant levels; children living in rural Ontario communities with the highest levels of airborne acids were significantly more likely to report at least one episode of bronchitis, as well as to show decreases in lung function; and have been linked to increases in pollutants, emergency room visits and hospitalizations in Ontario.Every Ontarian is affected by air pollutants, although he or she may be unaware of the asymptomatic effects such as lung and bronchial inflammation. This health problem is preventable; while physicians know of the adverse health impacts of air pollution and they are concerned, individually they now focus on the treatment of symptoms. The major recommendations of the report are as follows:* Enactment of more stringent sulphur and nitrogen oxide emission limits, including a provincewide sulphur dioxide reduction of 75% from current cap levels, and the maximum allowable nitrogen oxides emission limits of 6000 tonnes annually from Ontario Hydro.* New transportation sector emission limits that should include California-level standards for light and heavy duty vehicles, reductions from off-road engines, an expanded vehicle inspection and maintenance program, and tougher standards for sulphur-in-fuel content.* Petitioning the United States Environmental Protection Agency administrator under Section 115 of the United States Clear Air Act to require reductions in the American emission of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which damage the health of Canadian residents and their environment.* Physician advice to patients about the risks of smog exposure, physician support for more health effects research on air pollution, and physician promotion of the development of air pollution-related health education materials.The recommendations discussed in this paper will, if acted upon, lead to a significant reduction in the overall burden of illness from air pollutants, especially in children and the elderly. These recommendations have been selected from a review of recommendations made by various authorities, and are those that the OMA feels a particular responsibility to support.

scholarly journals Climate-driven ground-level ozone extreme in the fall over the Southeast United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (36) ◽  
pp. 10025-10030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzhong Zhang ◽  
Yuhang Wang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Weather Condition ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Ground Level Ozone ◽  
Ozone Concentrations ◽  
Ozone Precursor

Ground-level ozone is adverse to human and vegetation health. High ground-level ozone concentrations usually occur over the United States in the summer, often referred to as the ozone season. However, observed monthly mean ozone concentrations in the southeastern United States were higher in October than July in 2010. The October ozone average in 2010 reached that of July in the past three decades (1980–2010). Our analysis shows that this extreme October ozone in 2010 over the Southeast is due in part to a dry and warm weather condition, which enhances photochemical production, air stagnation, and fire emissions. Observational evidence and modeling analysis also indicate that another significant contributor is enhanced emissions of biogenic isoprene, a major ozone precursor, from water-stressed plants under a dry and warm condition. The latter finding is corroborated by recent laboratory and field studies. This climate-induced biogenic control also explains the puzzling fact that the two extremes of high October ozone both occurred in the 2000s when anthropogenic emissions were lower than the 1980s and 1990s, in contrast to the observed decreasing trend of July ozone in the region. The occurrences of a drying and warming fall, projected by climate models, will likely lead to more active photochemistry, enhanced biogenic isoprene and fire emissions, an extension of the ozone season from summer to fall, and an increase of secondary organic aerosols in the Southeast, posing challenges to regional air quality management.

scholarly journals An analysis of ozone damage to historical maize and soybean yields in the United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (46) ◽  
pp. 14390-14395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin M. McGrath ◽  
Amy M. Betzelberger ◽  
Shaowen Wang ◽  
Eric Shook ◽  
Xin-Guang Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Ground Level Ozone ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Actual Yield

Numerous controlled experiments find that elevated ground-level ozone concentrations ([O3]) damage crops and reduce yield. There have been no estimates of the actual yield losses in the field in the United States from [O3], even though such estimates would be valuable for projections of future food production and for cost–benefit analyses of reducing ground-level [O3]. Regression analysis of historical yield, climate, and [O3] data for the United States were used to determine the loss of production due to O3 for maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) from 1980 to 2011, showing that over that period production of rain-fed fields of soybean and maize were reduced by roughly 5% and 10%, respectively, costing approximately $9 billion annually. Maize, thought to be inherently resistant to O3, was at least as sensitive as soybean to O3 damage. Overcoming this yield loss with improved emission controls or more tolerant germplasm could substantially increase world food and feed supply at a time when a global yield jump is urgently needed.

scholarly journals Ambient air pollutants and their effect on COVID-19 mortality in the United States of America

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Samuel Liu ◽  
Meng Li
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nitrogen Dioxide ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
County Level ◽  
Ground Level Ozone ◽  
Ambient Air Pollutants

Objective. To examine the impact of four ambient air pollutants on the COVID-19 mortality rate in the United States of America. Methods. Using publicly accessible data collected by the United States Census Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies, county-level mortality rates were regressed on concentration values of ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Four confounder variables were included in the regression analysis: median household income, rate of hospital beds, population density, and days since first confirmed case. Results. Regression analysis showed that ground-level ozone is positively correlated with county-level mortality rates regardless of whether confounders are controlled for. Nitrogen dioxide is also shown to have a direct relationship with county-level mortality rates, except when all confounders are included in the analysis. Conclusions. High ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations contribute to a greater COVID-19 mortality rate. To limit further losses, it is important to reflect research findings in public policies. In the case of air pollution, environmental restrictions should be reinforced, and extra precautions should be taken as facilities start reopening.

scholarly journals Enteric Viruses and Pepper Mild Mottle Virus Show Significant Correlation in Select Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Waters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brienna L. Anderson-Coughlin ◽  
Shani Craighead ◽  
Alyssa Kelly ◽  
Samantha Gartley ◽  
Adam Vanore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Enteric Viruses ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mottle Virus ◽  
Pepper Mild Mottle Virus ◽  
Atlantic Region ◽  
Viral Pathogen

Enteric viruses (EV) are the largest contributors to foodborne illness and outbreaks globally. Their ability to persist in the environment, coupled with the challenges experienced in environmental monitoring create a critical aperture through which agricultural crops may become contaminated. This study involved a seventeen-month investigation of select human enteric viruses and viral indicators in non-traditional irrigation water sources, surface and reclaimed waters, in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Real-time quantitative PCR was used for detection of Aichi virus, hepatitis A virus, noroviruses GI and GII. Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), a common viral indicator of human fecal contamination, was also evaluated along with atmospheric (air and water temperature, cloud cover, and precipitation 24 h, 7 d and 14 d prior to sample collection) and physicochemical (dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity and turbidity) data to determine if there were any association between EV and measured parameters. EV were detected more frequently in reclaimed waters (32%, n=22) than in surface waters (4%, n=49) similar to PMMoV detection frequency in surface (33%, n=42) and reclaimed (67%, n=21) water. Our data show a significant correlation between EV and PMMoV (R2=0.628; p<0.05) detection in reclaimed water samples, but not in surface waters (R2=0.476; p=0.78). Water salinity significantly affected the detection of both EV and PMMoV (p<0.05) as demonstrated by logistic regression analyses. These results provide relevant insights into the extent and degree of association between human enteric (pathogenic) viruses and water quality data in Mid-Atlantic surface and reclaimed waters as potential sources for agricultural irrigation. IMPORTANCE Microbiological analysis of agricultural waters is fundamental to ensure microbial food safety. The highly variable nature of non-traditional sources of irrigation water are particularly difficult to test for the presence of viruses. Multiple characteristics influence viral persistence in a water source as well as affect the recovery and detection methods which are employed. Testing for a suite of viruses in water samples is often too costly and labor intensive, making identification of suitable indicators for viral pathogen contamination necessary. The results from this study address two critical data gaps: enteric virus prevalence in surface and reclaimed waters of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and subsequent evaluation of physicochemical and atmospheric parameters used to inform the potential for use of indicators of viral contamination.

State of the Estuaries in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States

1998 ◽  
pp. 269-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Paul ◽  
C. J. Strobel ◽  
B. D. Melzian ◽  
J. A. Kiddon ◽  
J. S. Latimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Atlantic Region
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document