scholarly journals Air Quality Strategies and Technologies: A Rapid Review of the International Evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Quarmby ◽  
Georgina Santos ◽  
Megan Mathias
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Vehicle Purchase

Poor air quality is a pressing policy issue that spans public health and environmental portfolios, and governments worldwide are investing in a wide array of measures to address it. This paper is a rapid review of the evidence behind air quality strategies and technologies. It was conducted according to the principles of a systematic review, and includes both academic and “grey” literature sources. It focuses on road transport in urban areas, because air pollution tends to be worse in cities, and the main source is fossil fuel vehicles. It draws on the environmental science and policy literature to provide interdisciplinary insight into the most effective air quality policy measures. The most promising initiatives include active travel infrastructure, roadside barriers, low emission zones, and low speed limits. Technologies which remove pollution from the air largely remain unproven, especially at the scale needed to make a significant impact. The combinations of policies from three cities which rank highly for air quality are reviewed; one important finding is that policies are most effective when they are a part of a mutually reinforcing suite of measures. Policies consistent across the cities studied are good public transport coverage, a good cycle network, and financial incentives for electric vehicle purchase.

scholarly journals Eco-driving: behavioural pattern change in Polish passenger vehicle drivers

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 01009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Oskar Czechowski ◽  
Aneta Oniszczuk-Jastrząbek ◽  
Tomasz Czuba
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Behavioural Pattern ◽  
Passenger Vehicle ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Pattern Change ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Reduce Emissions

In Poland, as in the rest of Europe, air quality depends primarily on emissions from municipal, domestic and road transport sources. The problems of appropriate air quality are especially important within urban areas due to numerous sources of emissions being concentrated in relatively small spaces in both large cities and small/medium-sized towns. Due to the steadily increasing share of urban population in the overall number of population, the issue of providing clean air will over the years become a more significant problem for human health, and therefore a stronger incentive to intensify research. The key challenge faced by a modern society is, therefore, to limit harmful substance emissions in order to minimise the contribution of transport to pollution and health hazards. Increasingly stringent emission standards are being imposed on car manufacturers; on the other hand, scant regard is paid to the issue of drivers, i.e. how they can help reduce emissions and protect their life and health by applying eco-driving rules.

scholarly journals Urban Air Quality Guidance Based on Measures Categorization in Road Transport

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-267
Author(s):  
Beti Angelevska ◽  
Vaska Atanasova ◽  
Igor Andreevski
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Urban Air Quality ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Pollution Levels

Air pollution is a cause for serious concerns in urban areas in Republic of North Macedonia. Intensive development of road transport increases the main air pollutants’ concentrations - particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, whose monitored values are continuously exceeding the limit. The main disadvantage of the national plans and annual reports is the absence of comprehensive and categorized list of reduction/mitigation measures for road transport impacts on air quality. Analyzing the current air pollution problem and road transport contribution this paper provides the needed and detailed categorization of short-to-long term reduction/mitigation measures consisting of five subcategories. Based on measure categorization, a guiding frame for urban air quality is designed, intended for further support and assistance for local authorities in the process of air pollution control. Designed with integrated activities, the air quality guidance enables them to select suitable measures to manage road transport pollution and to evaluate their effects estimating the changes in air pollution levels. Hence, the guidance can be used for thorough planning of air quality issues caused by road transport and for policy making. Contributing for urban air quality improvement the guidance is a first step towards the implementation of air pollution management in urban areas. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091651 Full Text: PDF

Auta, emise a klima: právní nástroje environmentální regulace

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Vodička
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Low Emission ◽  
Exhaust Fumes ◽  
Zero Emission ◽  
Charging Stations

The publication focuses on a topic that cannot be described as a traditional legal topic in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, in times of climate change and the general need to shift to zero-emission transportation and sustainable development, this topic is very much needed. The publication provides a general framework of type approval legislation of new vehicles of the EU and national legal system, emphasizing test cycles such as WLTP and RDE. The monograph analyses Euro emission norms which define thresholds for polluting substances from exhaust fumes, and at the same time analyses union legal regulation of CO2 emissions from new vehicles. To fully develop zero-emission transportation, it is necessary to have sufficient corresponding infrastructure (e.g., charging stations). This publication focuses on legislation concerning alternative infrastructure and selected alternative fuels. It also analyses specific legal instruments (direct and indirect), which could be used as tools for developing zero-emission transportation and improving air quality, especially in urban areas. State aid and other financial incentives that can promote zero emission transport development are analysed within indirect legal instruments. Direct legal instruments such as air quality plans, action plans, and low emission zones (which are also compared to their German counterparts) are also analysed. These instruments are analysed with respect to their role in the development of alternative infrastructure and alternative vehicles .

Improving the Protection of Children Against Air Pollution Threats in Romania � The RokidAIR Project Approach and Future Perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 841-846
Author(s):  
Hai-Ying Liu ◽  
Daniel Dunea ◽  
Mihaela Oprea ◽  
Tom Savu ◽  
Stefania Iordache
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Quality Maps

This paper presents the approach used to develop the information chain required to reach the objectives of the EEA Grants� RokidAIR project in two Romanian cities i.e., Targoviste and Ploiesti. It describes the PM2.5 monitoring infrastructure and architecture to the web-based GIS platform, the early warning system and the decision support system, and finally, the linking of air pollution to health effects in children. In addition, it shows the analysis performance of the designed system to process the collected time series from various data sources using the benzene concentrations monitored in Ploiesti. Moreover, this paper suggests that biomarkers, mobile technologies, and Citizens� Observatories are potential perspectives to improve data coverage by the provision of near-real-time air quality maps, and provide personal exposure and health assessment results, enabling the citizens� engagement and behavioural change. This paper also addresses new fields in nature-based solutions to improve air quality, and studies on air pollution and its mental health effects in the urban areas of Romania.

Climate Ethics

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Gardiner ◽  
Simon Caney ◽  
Dale Jamieson ◽  
Henry Shue
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Justice ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Human Dimensions ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
General Reference ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Climate Ethics ◽  
Climate Economics ◽  
Intergenerational Ethics

This collection gathers a set of seminal papers from the emerging area of ethics and climate change. Topics covered include human rights, international justice, intergenerational ethics, individual responsibility, climate economics, and the ethics of geoengineering. Climate Ethics is intended to serve as a source book for general reference, and for university courses that include a focus on the human dimensions of climate change. It should be of broad interest to all those concerned with global justice, environmental science and policy, and the future of humanity.

scholarly journals The fragranced products phenomenon: air quality and health, science and policy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Steinemann
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Abstract Fragrance is used in consumer products around the world. However, fragrance has been associated with adverse effects on indoor and outdoor air quality and human health. Questions arise, such as the following: Why does fragrance in products pose problems? What are sources of emissions and exposures? What are health and societal effects? What are possible solutions? This paper examines the issue of fragranced consumer products and its science and policy dimensions, with a focus on the implications for air quality and human health. Results include new findings and new questions for future research directions.

scholarly journals Electric Mobility in Cities: The Case of Vienna

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
Amela Ajanovic ◽  
Marina Siebenhofer ◽  
Reinhard Haas
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Future Development ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Electric Mobility ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
The Future ◽  
Historical Developments

Environmental problems such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are especially challenging in urban areas. Electric mobility in different forms may be a solution. While in recent years a major focus was put on private electric vehicles, e-mobility in public transport is already a very well-established and mature technology with a long history. The core objective of this paper is to analyze the economics of e-mobility in the Austrian capital of Vienna and the corresponding impact on the environment. In this paper, the historical developments, policy framework and scenarios for the future development of mobility in Vienna up to 2030 are presented. A major result shows that in an ambitious scenario for the deployment of battery electric vehicles, the total energy demand in road transport can be reduced by about 60% in 2030 compared to 2018. The major conclusion is that the policies, especially subsidies and emission-free zones will have the largest impact on the future development of private and public e-mobility in Vienna. Regarding the environmental performance, the most important is to ensure that a very high share of electricity used for electric mobility is generated from renewable energy sources.

scholarly journals Measuring frailty in younger populations: a rapid review of evidence

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e047051
Author(s):  
Gemma F Spiers ◽  
Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga ◽  
Alex Hall ◽  
Fiona Beyer ◽  
Elisabeth Boulton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Frailty Index ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesFrailty is typically assessed in older populations. Identifying frailty in adults aged under 60 years may also have value, if it supports the delivery of timely care. We sought to identify how frailty is measured in younger populations, including evidence of the impact on patient outcomes and care.DesignA rapid review of primary studies was conducted.Data sourcesFour databases, three sources of grey literature and reference lists of systematic reviews were searched in March 2020.Eligibility criteriaEligible studies measured frailty in populations aged under 60 years using experimental or observational designs, published after 2000 in English.Data extraction and synthesisRecords were screened against review criteria. Study data were extracted with 20% of records checked for accuracy by a second researcher. Data were synthesised using a narrative approach.ResultsWe identified 268 studies that measured frailty in samples that included people aged under 60 years. Of these, 85 studies reported evidence about measure validity. No measures were identified that were designed and validated to identify frailty exclusively in younger groups. However, in populations that included people aged over and under 60 years, cumulative deficit frailty indices, phenotype measures, the FRAIL Scale, the Liver Frailty Index and the Short Physical Performance Battery all demonstrated predictive validity for mortality and/or hospital admission. Evidence of criterion validity was rare. The extent to which measures possess validity across the younger adult age (18–59 years) spectrum was unclear. There was no evidence about the impact of measuring frailty in younger populations on patient outcomes and care.ConclusionsLimited evidence suggests that frailty measures have predictive validity in younger populations. Further research is needed to clarify the validity of measures across the adult age spectrum, and explore the utility of measuring frailty in younger groups.

scholarly journals Morpho-Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Roadside Trees as Potential Tools for Biomonitoring of Air Quality and Environmental Health in Urban Areas

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Ha Na You ◽  
Myeong Ja Kwak ◽  
Sun Mi Je ◽  
Jong Kyu Lee ◽  
Yea Ji Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Lipid Peroxide ◽  
Platanus Occidentalis ◽  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Species Specific

Environmental pollution is an important issue in metropolitan areas, and roadside trees are directly affected by various sources of pollution to which they exhibit numerous responses. The aim of the present study was to identify morpho-physio-biochemical attributes of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba L.) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) growing under two different air quality conditions (roadside with high air pollution, RH and roadside with low air pollution, RL) and to assess the possibility of using their physiological and biochemical parameters as biomonitoring tools in urban areas. The results showed that the photosynthetic rate, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiencies, and photochromic contents were generally low in RH in both G. biloba and P. occidentalis. However, water-use efficiency and leaf temperature showed high values in RH trees. Among biochemical parameters, in G. biloba, the lipid peroxide content was higher in RH than in RL trees, but in P. occidentalis, this content was lower in RH than in RL trees. In both species, physiological activities were low in trees planted in areas with high levels of air pollution, whereas their biochemical and morphological variables showed different responses to air pollution. Thus, we concluded that it is possible to determine species-specific physiological variables affected by regional differences of air pollution in urban areas, and these findings may be helpful for monitoring air quality and environmental health using trees.

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