scholarly journals Building comparable synthetic health-related indicators of air quality in cities

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Aschan-Leygonie ◽  
S. Baudet-Michel
Keyword(s):  
2014 ◽  
pp. 925-944
Author(s):  
Paul T. J. Scheepers ◽  
Stef van Hout

2020 ◽  
Vol 213 (6) ◽  
pp. 280-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Borchers Arriagada ◽  
Andrew J Palmer ◽  
David MJS Bowman ◽  
Fay H Johnston

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (E) ◽  
pp. 395-404
Author(s):  
Adedeji O. Afolabi ◽  
Akpa Arome ◽  
Faith T. Akinbo

There are rising cases of building occupants with health-related challenges such as irritation, asthma, lung infections, headaches, and other allergies. These health conditions sometimes disappear once the occupants live such buildings which are referred to as sick building syndrome (SBS). With the high fatality rate associated with air pollution and Nigeria ranking 4th in the poorest air quality globally, the study assessed SBS from indoor pollution in residential and office spaces. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey research design and employed the use of an air quality detector to measure a 24-h mean measurement of air conditions within the study area. The study was carried out in Zaria, Kaduna State. Statistical tools such as graphs, mean score, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlation matrix were used to analyze the dataset. The study showed that the major symptoms associated with SBS from indoor pollution. The indoor conditions that may contribute to SBS in the residential and office spaces were mainly lighting conditions, headroom in the building, and position of windows. While the study reported that the presence of SBS from indoor pollution can lead to increased maintenance, dizziness, and depression/breakdown. The measurement of the indoor pollutants contributing to the SBS among residential and office space occupants showed that PM2.5 and PM10 were mostly above the average 24-h mean standard. The study suggested recommendations to improve indoor air quality and reduce syndromes associated with sick buildings.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 6971-7019
Author(s):  
X. Querol ◽  
A. Alastuey ◽  
M. Viana ◽  
T. Moreno ◽  
C. Reche ◽  
...  

Abstract. We interpret here the variability of levels of carbonaceous aerosols based on a 12-yr database from 78 monitoring stations across Spain especially compiled for this article. Data did not evidence any spatial trends of carbonaceous aerosols across the country. Conversely, results show marked differences in average concentrations from the cleanest, most remote sites (around 1 μg m−3 of non-mineral carbon (nmC), mostly made of organic carbon (OC), with very little elemental carbon (EC) 0.1 μg m−3; OC/EC = 12–15), to the highly polluted major cities (8–10 μg m−3 of nmC; 3–4 μg m−3 of EC; 4–5 μg m−3 of OC; OC/EC = 1–2). Thus, urban (and very specific industrial) pollution was found to markedly increase levels of carbonaceous aerosols in Spain, with much lower impact of biomass burning. Correlations between yearly averaged OC/EC and EC concentrations adjust very well to a potential equation (OC/EC = 3.37 EC−0.67 R2 = 0.94). A similar equation is obtained when including average concentrations obtained at other European sites (y = 3.61x−0.5, R2 = 0.78). A clear seasonal variability in OC and EC concentrations was detected. Both OC and EC concentrations were higher during winter at the traffic and urban sites, but OC increased during the warmer months at the rural sites. Hourly equivalent black carbon (EBC) concentrations at urban sites accurately depict road traffic contributions, varying with distance to road, traffic volume and density, mixing layer height and wind speed. Weekday urban rush-hour EBC peaks are mimicked by concentrations of primary gaseous emissions from road traffic, whereas a single midday peak is characteristic of remote and rural sites. Decreasing annual trends for carbonaceous aerosols were observed between 1999 and 2011 at a large number of stations, probably reflecting the impact of the EURO4 and EURO5 standards in reducing the diesel PM emissions. This has resulted in some cases in an increasing trend of NO2/OC+EC ratios, because these standards have been much less effective for the abatement of NOx exhaust emissions in passenger diesel cars. This study concludes that EC, EBC, and especially nmC and OC+EC are very good candidates for new air quality standards since they cover both emission impact and health related issues.


Author(s):  
Aikaterini Deliali ◽  
Sarah Esenther ◽  
Christine Frisard ◽  
Michael Bolduc ◽  
Derek Krevat ◽  
...  

Transportation projects can affect health through multiple pathways—for example, by degrading air quality or encouraging active transportation. There is a need to incorporate health considerations in transportation decision-making to achieve health-related community goals. This paper presents highway project scoring criteria that allow for capturing the impact of transportation projects on health. These scoring criteria are organized into five groups—air quality, accessibility, equity, physical activity, and safety—to capture the multiple pathways that transportation interacts with health. The focus of this study was on updating the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division project scoresheet to incorporate health-related criteria. Evidence base, standards, and data needs based on which each criterion is assessed, as well as limitations, are summarized for each of the proposed criteria. The paper concludes with a discussion on the outcomes of the proposed changes as well as the transferability potential of the proposed criteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 163 (3) ◽  
pp. 1501-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toon Vandyck ◽  
Kimon Keramidas ◽  
Stéphane Tchung-Ming ◽  
Matthias Weitzel ◽  
Rita Van Dingenen

AbstractThe overlap in sources of greenhouse gas and local air pollutant emissions creates scope for policy measures to limit global warming and improve air quality simultaneously. In a first step, we derive estimates for the air pollution mortality-related component of the social cost of atmospheric release for 6 pollutants and 56 regions in the world. Combining these estimates with emission inventory data highlights that sector contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution health impacts differ widely across regions. Next, simulations of future emission pathways consistent with the 2 °C and 1.5 °C targets illustrate that strengthening climate policy ambition raises the total value of air quality co-benefits despite lower marginal co-benefits per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions abated. Finally, we use results from a multi-model ensemble to quantify and compare the value of health-related ambient air quality co-benefits of climate policy across sectors and regions. On the global level, overall air quality co-benefits range from $8 to $40 per tonne of greenhouse gases abated in 2030, with median across models and scenarios of $18/tCO2e. These results mask strong differentiation across regions and sectors, with median co-benefits from mitigation in the residential and service sectors in India exceeding $500/tCO2e. By taking a sector- and region-specific perspective, the results presented here reveal promising channels to improve human health outcomes and to ratchet up greenhouse gas reduction efforts to bridge the gap between countries’ pledges and the global targets of the Paris Agreement.


Author(s):  
Avesahemad SN Husainy ◽  

Every coin has two sides. Likewise, as we are progressing towards the era of technology and industrialization; a lot of worst effects are arising as well. Along with the ecosystem, human health is suffering from some adverse issues because of pollution. We have heard about outdoor air pollution but indoor air pollution is even more harmful to human health. It is being observed that Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is getting worse day by day leading to many lung diseases, breathing issues, low birth rate, eye-related diseases, perinatal conditions, etc. Hence these issues have to be considered before getting too late. Indoor air quality varies from regions i.e. in the case of developed countries; cooling-heating appliances, electric devices, petroleum products, etc. are the major contributors to deplete IAQ. While in case of developing countries which have a huge number of rural areas; biomass open fires, traditional cooking systems with direct fire expose or indoor stove, etc. are the major factors behind damaged indoor air quality. Generally, children and aged persons spend most of their time inside the house. These people have low immunity hence they get easily affected by depleted IAQ and face many health-related issues. There is a long list of harmful pollutants like NOX, COX, SOX, organic matter, etc. that play a significant role in damaging air quality. A ventilation system is essential in offices, theatres, malls, homes, etc. but the occupant devices lower the air quality index. Likewise, green-house effects increase the percentage of COX which damages nature and human health as well. All these factors, parameters, adverse effects and solutions are studied in this paper.


Author(s):  
Hanns Moshammer ◽  
Peter Wallner

AbstractAs part of the European Public Health project IMCA II validity and practicability of “air pollution” as a respiratory health indicator were analyzed. The definitions of air quality as an indicator proposed by the WHO project ECOEHIS and by IMCA I were compared. The public availability of the necessary data was checked through access to web-based data-bases. Practicability and interpretation of the indicator were discussed with project partners and external experts. Air quality serves as a kind of benchmark for the good health-related environmental policy. In this sense, it is a relevant health indicator. Although air quality is not directly in the responsibility of health policy, its vital importance for the population’s health should not be neglected. In principle, data is available to calculate this IMCA indicator for any chosen area in Europe. The indicator is relevant and informative, but calculation and interpretation need input from local expert knowledge. The European health policy is well advised to take air quality into account. To that end, an interdisciplinary approach is warranted. The proposed definition of air quality as a (respiratory) health indicator is workable, but correct interpretation depends on expert and local knowledge.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsa Real ◽  
Florian Couvidat ◽  
Anthony Ung ◽  
Laure Malherbe ◽  
Blandine Raux ◽  
...  

Abstract. This paper describes a 16-year datasets of air pollution concentrations and air quality indicators over France. Using a kriging method that combines background measurements of air quality and modeling with the Chemistry Transport Model CHIMERE, hourly concentrations of NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 are produced with a spatial resolution about 4 kilometers. Regulatory indicators (annual average, SOMO35, AOT40 etc…) are also calculated from these hourly data. NO2 and O3 datasets cover the period 2000–2015, as well as PM10 annual data. PM10 hourly concentrations are not available from 2000 to 2007 due to known artefact in PM10 measurements. PM2.5 data are only available from 2009 because of the lack of measurement stations before. The overall dataset has been evaluated over all the years through a cross-validation process against background measurement stations (rural, sub-urban and urban), to account for the data fusion between measurement and models in the method. Results are very good for PM10, PM2.5 and O3. It shows an overestimation of NO2 concentrations in rural area, while background NO2 values in urban areas are well represented. Maps of the main indicators are shown over years and trends are calculated. Finally, country exposure and trends of three main health related indicators: yearly averaged PM2.5 NO2 and SOMO35 are calculated. The DOI link for the dataset is http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5043645 (Real et al., 2021). We hopethat the publication of this dataset in open access will facilitate further studies on the impacts of air pollution.


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