Editorial

4 pages, 161 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue Editorial: Air Pollution Estimation

by Liudmila P. Golobokova

Atmosphere 2021, 12(6), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12060655 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1355

The key objectives at the current stage of humankind’s development are the processes of atmospheric air protection [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

10 pages, 2541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Snow Cover as an Indicator of Dust Pollution in the Area of Exploitation of Rock Materials in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains

by Mirosław Szwed and Rafał Kozłowski

Atmosphere 2022, 13(3), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13030409 - 02 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2079

Abstract

Snow cover in environmental monitoring is a valuable resource for information on sources of air pollutants and the level of air pollution. Research in areas of intense industrial pressure without systematic air quality control is of particular importance in this aspect. This is [...] Read more.

Snow cover in environmental monitoring is a valuable resource for information on sources of air pollutants and the level of air pollution. Research in areas of intense industrial pressure without systematic air quality control is of particular importance in this aspect. This is the case in the vicinity of Łagów (an urban–rural municipality) in the eastern part of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (southern Poland), where rock mining fields have been created over a large area. Limestone, marly limestone and dolomite are mined in this area. The carbonate dust accumulated during the two-week deposition significantly altered the physicochemical and chemical properties of the snow cover. An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer-time-of-flight (ICP-MS-TOF), Dionex 3000 ion chromatograph and Hach HQ2200 water quality meter were used for chemical analyses. The pH, electric conductivity (EC), major ions and selected heavy metals (HM) were determined in water samples obtained after snow melt in two measurement campaigns. The comparative analysis performed showed an increase in pH, EC, Cl, Ca, NO₃, SO₄ and heavy metals in samples from the two-week old cover (second series) compared to fresh snow (first series). The conducted research indicates a potential hazard for the inhabitants of Łagów due to respirable dusts released into the atmosphere during extraction, processing and transport of rock materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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20 pages, 11582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Particle Size Analysis of African Dust Haze over the Last 20 Years: A Focus on the Extreme Event of June 2020

by Lovely Euphrasie-Clotilde, Thomas Plocoste and France-Nor Brute

Atmosphere 2021, 12(4), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12040502 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2922

Abstract

Over the last decades, the impact of mineral dust from African deserts on human health and climate has been of great interest to the scientific community. In this paper, the climatological analysis of dusty events of the past 20 years in the Caribbean [...] Read more.

Over the last decades, the impact of mineral dust from African deserts on human health and climate has been of great interest to the scientific community. In this paper, the climatological analysis of dusty events of the past 20 years in the Caribbean area has been performed using a particulate approach. The focus is made on June 2020 extreme event dubbed “Godzilla”. To carry out this study, different types of data were used (ground-based, satellites, model, and soundings) on several sites in the Caribbean islands. First, the magnitude of June 2020 event was clearly highlighted using satellite imagery. During the peak of this event, the value of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μ

μ

m (

P M 10

) reached a value 9 times greater than the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization in one day. Thereafter, the

P M 10

, the aerosol optical depth, and the volume particle size distribution analyses exhibited their maximum values for June 2020. We also highlighted the exceptional characteristics of the Saharan air layer in terms of thickness and wind speed for this period. Finally, our results showed that the more the proportion of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μ

μ

m (

P M 2.5

) in

P M 10

increases, the more the influence of sea salt aerosols is significant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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20 pages, 2935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Submicron Aerosol and Black Carbon in the Troposphere of Southwestern Siberia (1997–2018)

by Mikhail Panchenko, Elena Yausheva, Dmitry Chernov, Valerii Kozlov, Valery Makarov, Svetlana Popova and Vladimir Shmargunov

Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030351 - 08 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1632

Abstract

Based on the multiyear measurements in the surface atmospheric layer (from five stations) and regular flights of aircraft laboratory over the background region of Southwestern Siberia, the compositions of mass concentrations of submicron aerosol and absorbing substances (soot and black carbon) are analyzed. [...] Read more.

Based on the multiyear measurements in the surface atmospheric layer (from five stations) and regular flights of aircraft laboratory over the background region of Southwestern Siberia, the compositions of mass concentrations of submicron aerosol and absorbing substances (soot and black carbon) are analyzed. The annual average concentrations of submicron aerosol and black carbon were found to be maximal in 1997, 2012, and 2016, when the largest numbers of wildfires occurred across the entire territory of Siberia. No significant, unidirectional trend of interannual variations in the concentration of submicron particles was observed, while the concentration of absorbing substance reliably decreased by 1.5% each year. To estimate the effect of urban pollutants, mass concentrations of aerosol and absorbing substance in the surface layer at the Aerosol Station (in the suburban region of Tomsk) were compared to those at the Fonovaya Observatory (in the background region). It was shown that the largest contribution of anthropogenic sources in the suburban region was observed in the winter season, while minimal difference was observed in the warm period of the year. The seasonal behavior of the concentrations of elemental carbon at three stations in Novosibirsk Oblast almost completely matched the dynamics of the variations in the black carbon concentration in the atmosphere of Tomsk Oblast. Data of aircraft sensing in the troposphere of the background region of Southwestern Siberia (2000–2018) were used to determine the average values of the vertical distribution of the submicron aerosol and black carbon concentrations in the altitude range of 0.5–7 km for each season. It was found that at altitudes of 0.5–7 km, there were no unidirectional trends in submicron aerosol; however, there was an increase of black carbon concentration at all altitudes with a positive trend of 5.3 ± 2.2% per year at an altitude of 1.5 km, significant at a p-value = 0.05. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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21 pages, 1842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Quality and Industrial Emissions in the Cities of Kazakhstan

by Daulet Assanov, Valeryi Zapasnyi and Aiymgul Kerimray

Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030314 - 28 Feb 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6000

Abstract

Industrial emissions are of major concern, especially in developing countries. Hence, there is a need for studies that investigate the trends in industrial emissions in these countries. The purpose of this study is to discuss trends in industrial emissions in Kazakhstan and the [...] Read more.

Industrial emissions are of major concern, especially in developing countries. Hence, there is a need for studies that investigate the trends in industrial emissions in these countries. The purpose of this study is to discuss trends in industrial emissions in Kazakhstan and the air pollution level in its industrial cities. Data on emission limit values from the permitting documents of twenty-one power plants and nine metallurgical enterprises of Kazakhstan were analyzed. Eight cities (out of fourteen) had a “high” level of atmospheric air pollution according to the Air Pollution Index in 2019. Most of the considered enterprises increased their emission limit values compared to the previous permitting period. In some cities there is a lack of monitoring stations, indicating the need for improving the spatial coverage of the air quality monitoring network in the industrial cities of Kazakhstan. The location of industrial plants far outside the cities could reduce the exposure of the urban population to air pollution. Kazakhstan urgently needs to adopt stringent emissions standards for coal-fired power plants and heavy industrial plants. The national air quality standards and definitions of air pollutants need to be updated based on the latest scientific knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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19 pages, 20163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Dynamically Constrained Interpolation Methodology in Simulating National-Scale Spatial Distribution of PM_2.5 Concentrations in China

by Ning Li, Junli Xu and Xianqing Lv

Atmosphere 2021, 12(2), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12020272 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2340

Abstract

Numerous studies have revealed that the sparse spatiotemporal distributions of ground-level PM_2.5 measurements affect the accuracy of PM_2.5 simulation, especially in large geographical regions. However, the high precision and stability of ground-level PM_2.5 measurements make their role irreplaceable in PM [...] Read more.

Numerous studies have revealed that the sparse spatiotemporal distributions of ground-level PM_2.5 measurements affect the accuracy of PM_2.5 simulation, especially in large geographical regions. However, the high precision and stability of ground-level PM_2.5 measurements make their role irreplaceable in PM_2.5 simulations. This article applies a dynamically constrained interpolation methodology (DCIM) to evaluate sparse PM_2.5 measurements captured at scattered monitoring sites for national-scale PM_2.5 simulations and spatial distributions. The DCIM takes a PM_2.5 transport model as a dynamic constraint and provides the characteristics of the spatiotemporal variations of key model parameters using the adjoint method to improve the accuracy of PM_2.5 simulations. From the perspective of interpolation accuracy and effect, kriging interpolation and orthogonal polynomial fitting using Chebyshev basis functions (COPF), which have been proved to have high PM_2.5 simulation accuracy, were adopted to make a comparative assessment of DCIM performance and accuracy. Results of the cross validation confirm the feasibility of the DCIM. A comparison between the final interpolated values and observations show that the DCIM is better for national-scale simulations than kriging or COPF. Furthermore, the DCIM presents smoother spatially interpolated distributions of the PM_2.5 simulations with smaller simulation errors than the other two methods. Admittedly, the sparse PM_2.5 measurements in a highly polluted region have a certain degree of influence on the interpolated distribution accuracy and rationality. To some extent, adding the right amount of observations can improve the effectiveness of the DCIM around existing monitoring sites. Compared with the kriging interpolation and COPF, the results show that the DCIM used in this study would be more helpful for providing reasonable information for monitoring PM_2.5 pollution in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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14 pages, 5210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial-Temporal Variability of Small Gas Impurities over Lake Baikal during the Forest Fires in the Summer of 2019

by Galina Zhamsueva, Alexander Zayakhanov, Vadim Tcydypov, Ayuna Dementeva and Tumen Balzhanov

Atmosphere 2021, 12(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010020 - 25 Dec 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2081

Abstract

Lake Baikal—a unique ecosystem on a global scale—is undoubtedly of great interest for a comprehensive study of its ecosystem. In recent years, one of the most significant sources of atmospheric pollution in the Baikal region was the emission of smoke aerosol and trace [...] Read more.

Lake Baikal—a unique ecosystem on a global scale—is undoubtedly of great interest for a comprehensive study of its ecosystem. In recent years, one of the most significant sources of atmospheric pollution in the Baikal region was the emission of smoke aerosol and trace gases from forest fires, the number of which is increasing in the region. The transport and accumulation of aerosol and small gas impurities over water area of Lake Baikal is observed every summer due to forest fires occurring in the boreal forests of Siberia. The atmosphere above the lake covers a huge area (31,500 km²) and is still a little-studied object. This article presents the results of experimental studies of ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere over Lake Baikal, carried out on a research vessel during the boreal forest fires in Siberia in the summer of 2019. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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18 pages, 2432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rainwater Chemistry Reveals Air Pollution in a Karst Forest: Temporal Variations, Source Apportionment, and Implications for the Forest

by Jie Zeng and Guilin Han

Atmosphere 2020, 11(12), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11121315 - 04 Dec 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2832

Abstract

Temporal rainwater chemistry was used to reveal air pollution in the Maolan National Karst Forest Park (MNKFP), which is representative of the typical karst forest region of southwest China (SW China). The rainwater ions’ sources, variations, trends, and potential environmental effects were investigated [...] Read more.

Temporal rainwater chemistry was used to reveal air pollution in the Maolan National Karst Forest Park (MNKFP), which is representative of the typical karst forest region of southwest China (SW China). The rainwater ions’ sources, variations, trends, and potential environmental effects were investigated from 2007 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2014. Based on the analysis of the temporal ionic concentrations of rainwater in the MNKFP, significant variations of ions were observed, including in NH₄⁺ (9.7~266.6 μeq L⁻¹) and SO₄²⁻ (14.5~1396.4 μeq L⁻¹), which were mainly controlled by variations in the source and rainfall amount; a decreased trend of rainwater pH was also observed. Accordingly, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻ were regarded as the most dominant ions. Typical ionic ratios and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model-based source apportionment suggested that anthropogenic inputs (coal combustion, industrial, traffic, and agricultural emissions) contributed 51% of F⁻, 93% of NO₃⁻, 62% of SO₄²⁻, and 87% of NH₄⁺, while the natural sources (crustal dust and sea salt) were the main sources of Cl⁻ (74%), Na⁺ (82%), K⁺ (79%), Mg²⁺ (94%), and Ca²⁺ (93%). In combination with the reducing neutralization trend of temporal rainwater observed in the MNKFP and the potential effect of rainwater ion deposition on karst forests, more detailed monitoring of the rainfall-related deposition process is required for a better understanding of its potential environmental effects on the Earth’s surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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21 pages, 4508 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Variability of Chemical Properties of the Atmospheric Aerosol above Lake Baikal during Large Wildfires in Siberia

by Liudmila Golobokova, Tamara Khodzher, Olga Khuriganova, Irina Marinayte, Natalia Onishchuk, Polina Rusanova and Vladimir Potemkin

Atmosphere 2020, 11(11), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11111230 - 14 Nov 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2731

Abstract

The article analyzes the chemical composition (ions, elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of the atmospheric aerosol in the near-water layer of the atmosphere above Lake Baikal during wildfires in Siberia. Aerosol deposition affects the aquatic environment of the watershed basin and the lake [...] Read more.

The article analyzes the chemical composition (ions, elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of the atmospheric aerosol in the near-water layer of the atmosphere above Lake Baikal during wildfires in Siberia. Aerosol deposition affects the aquatic environment of the watershed basin and the lake itself. The current law on Lake Baikal limits the activity of the permanent stationary anthropogenic sources of the aerosol in the central ecological zone, and they do not have a significant negative impact. Wildfires can have a much greater impact on the environment. Smoke emissions entering the area of Lake Baikal due to wildfires change the chemical properties of the atmospheric aerosol and increase its mass and number concentration. The concentrations of NH₄⁺, K⁺, NO₃⁻, and SO₄²⁻, which enter with submicron aerosol fraction, increase in the ionic composition of the aerosol. The composition of polyaromatic compounds changes, and their concentrations increase. Elevated concentrations of B, Mn, Zn, As, Sr, Cd, and Pb in the composition of aerosol indicate the influx of air masses from the areas prone to wildfires. Despite the sporadic effects of these natural factors, they affect the pollution of various Baikal ecosystems, especially small tributaries of the lake, whose main supply is atmospheric. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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22 pages, 5117 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatial Distribution of Atmospheric Aerosol Physicochemical Characteristics in the Russian Sector of the Arctic Ocean

by Sergey M. Sakerin, Dmitry M. Kabanov, Valery I. Makarov, Viktor V. Pol’kin, Svetlana A. Popova, Olga V. Chankina, Anton O. Pochufarov, Vladimir F. Radionov and Denis D. Rize

Atmosphere 2020, 11(11), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11111170 - 29 Oct 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2252

Abstract

The results from studies of aerosol in the Arctic atmosphere are presented: the aerosol optical depth (AOD), the concentrations of aerosol and black carbon, as well as the chemical composition of the aerosol. The average aerosol characteristics, measured during nine expeditions (2007–2018) in [...] Read more.

The results from studies of aerosol in the Arctic atmosphere are presented: the aerosol optical depth (AOD), the concentrations of aerosol and black carbon, as well as the chemical composition of the aerosol. The average aerosol characteristics, measured during nine expeditions (2007–2018) in the Eurasian sector of the Arctic Ocean, had been 0.068 for AOD (0.5 µm); 2.95 cm⁻³ for particle number concentrations; 32.1 ng/m³ for black carbon mass concentrations. Approximately two–fold decrease of the average characteristics in the eastern direction (from the Barents Sea to Chukchi Sea) is revealed in aerosol spatial distribution. The average aerosol characteristics over the Barents Sea decrease in the northern direction: black carbon concentrations by a factor of 1.5; particle concentrations by a factor of 3.7. These features of the spatial distribution are caused mainly by changes in the content of fine aerosol, namely: by outflows of smokes from forest fires and anthropogenic aerosol. We considered separately the measurements of aerosol characteristics during two expeditions in 2019: in the north of the Barents Sea (April) and along the Northern Sea Route (July–September). In the second expedition the average aerosol characteristics turned out to be larger than multiyear values: AOD reached 0.36, particle concentration up to 8.6 cm⁻³, and black carbon concentration up to 179 ng/m³. The increased aerosol content was affected by frequent outflows of smoke from forest fires. The main (99%) contribution to the elemental composition of aerosol in the study regions was due to Ca, K, Fe, Zn, Br, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Sr. The spatial distribution of the chemical composition of aerosols was analogous to that of microphysical characteristics. The lowest concentrations of organic and elemental carbon (OC, EC) and of most elements are observed in April in the north of the Barents Sea, and the maximal concentrations in Far East seas and in the south of the Barents Sea. The average contents of carbon in aerosol over seas of the Asian sector of the Arctic Ocean are OC = 629 ng/m³, EC = 47 ng/m³. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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15 pages, 1681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

VARMA-EGARCH Model for Air-Quality Analyses and Application in Southern Taiwan

by Edward Ming-Yang Wu and Shu-Lung Kuo

Atmosphere 2020, 11(10), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11101096 - 14 Oct 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1934

Abstract

This study adopted the Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) model to analyze seven air pollutants (or the seven variables in this study) from ten air quality monitoring stations in the Kaohsiung–Pingtung Air Pollutant Control Area located in southern Taiwan. Before the verification [...] Read more.

This study adopted the Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) model to analyze seven air pollutants (or the seven variables in this study) from ten air quality monitoring stations in the Kaohsiung–Pingtung Air Pollutant Control Area located in southern Taiwan. Before the verification analysis of the EGARCH model is conducted, the air quality data collected at the ten air quality monitoring stations in the Kaohsiung–Pingtung area are classified into three major factors using the factor analyses in multiple statistical analyses. The factors with the most significance are then selected as the targets for conducting investigations; they are termed “photochemical pollution factors”, or factors related to pollution caused by air pollutants, including particulate matter with particles below 10 microns (PM₁₀), ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Then, we applied the Vector Autoregressive Moving Average-EGARCH (VARMA-EGARCH) model under the condition where the standardized residual existed in order to study the relationships among three air pollutants and how their concentration changed in the time series. By simulating the optimal model, namely VARMA (1,1)-EGARCH (1,1), we found that when O₃ was the dependent variable, the concentration of O₃ was not affected by the concentration of PM₁₀ and NO₂ in the same term. In terms of the impact response analysis on the predictive power of the three air pollutants in the time series, we found that the asymmetry effect of NO₂ was the most significant, meaning that NO₂ influenced the GARCH effect the least when the change of seasons caused the NO₂ concentration to fluctuate; it also suggested that the concentration of NO₂ produced in this area and the degree of change are lower than those of the other two air pollutants. This research is the first of its kind in the world to adopt a VARMA-EGARCH model to explore the interplay among various air pollutants and reactions triggered by it over time. The results of this study can be referenced by authorities for planning air quality total quantity control, applying and examining various air quality models, simulating the allowable increase in air quality limits, and evaluating the benefit of air quality improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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14 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The CO₂ Emissions Drivers of Post-Communist Economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

by Rui Li, Hong Jiang, Iryna Sotnyk, Oleksandr Kubatko and Ismail Almashaqbeh Y. A.

Atmosphere 2020, 11(9), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11091019 - 22 Sep 2020

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3621

Abstract

CO₂ emissions have become a key environmental contaminant that is responsible for climate change in general and global warming in particular. Two geographical groups of countries that previously belonged to the former bloc of socialist countries are used for the estimations of [...] Read more.

CO₂ emissions have become a key environmental contaminant that is responsible for climate change in general and global warming in particular. Two geographical groups of countries that previously belonged to the former bloc of socialist countries are used for the estimations of CO₂ emissions drivers. The research covers such Eastern European countries as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russian Federation, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Ukraine and such Central Asian states as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan during the period 1996–2018. The main goal of the research is to identify common drivers that determine carbon dioxide emissions in selected states. To control for the time fixed effects (like EU membership), random effect model was used for the analysis of the panel data set. Results: It is found that energy efficiency progress reduces per capita CO₂ emissions. Thus, an increase in GDP by 100 USD per one ton of oil equivalent decreases per capita CO₂ emissions by 17–64 kg. That is, the more energy-efficient the economy becomes, the less CO₂ emissions per capita it produces in a group of selected post-communist economies. Unlike energy efficiency, an increase in GDP per capita by 1000 USD raises CO₂ emissions by 260 kg per capita, and the richer the economy becomes, the more CO₂ emissions per capita it generates. The increase in life expectancy by one year leads to an increase in CO₂ emissions per capita by 200−370 kg, with average values of 260 kg per capita. It was found that an increase in agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector share (as a % of GDP) by one percentage point leads to the decrease in CO₂ emissions by 67–200 kg per capita, while an increase in industrial sector share by one percentage point leads to the increase in CO₂ per capita emissions by 37–110 kg. Oil prices and foreign direct investment appeared to be statistically insignificant factors in a group of selected post-communist economies. Conclusions: The main policy recommendation is the promotion of energy efficiency policy and the development of green economy sectors. The other measures are the promotion of a less energy-intensive service sector and the modernization of the industrial sector, which is still characterized by high energy and carbon intensity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

17 pages, 2819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China

by Zhonggen Li, Qingfeng Wang, Zhongjiu Xiao, Leilei Fan, Dan Wang, Xinyu Li, Jia Du and Junwei Cheng

Atmosphere 2020, 11(9), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11090951 - 06 Sep 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3083

Abstract

Coal burning is a main concern for a range of atmospheric pollutants, including the environmentally sensitive element chromium (Cr). Cr migrates to the environment through stack emissions and can leach out from solid coal-burning byproducts, thereby causing adverse effects on the ecosystem. In [...] Read more.

Coal burning is a main concern for a range of atmospheric pollutants, including the environmentally sensitive element chromium (Cr). Cr migrates to the environment through stack emissions and can leach out from solid coal-burning byproducts, thereby causing adverse effects on the ecosystem. In this study, atmospheric emissions of Cr from six coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), as well as the distribution of Cr inside these CFPPs in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, were investigated. Among the six CFPPs, one was a circulating fluidized bed boiler and the others were pulverized coal boilers. The results showed that Cr in the feed fuel of these CFPPs ranged from 39.5 to 101.5 mg·kg⁻¹ (average: 68.0 ± 24.8 mg·kg⁻¹) and was approximately four times higher than the national and global average. Cr in the feed fuel correlated significantly with the ash yield, demonstrating that Cr in coal is closely associated with ash-forming minerals. After the coal combustion and the treatment by different air pollution control devices, most Cr (>92%) in the installation was retained in the captured fly ash and bottom ash, with less as gypsum (0.69–7.94%); eventually, only 0.01–0.03% of Cr was emitted into the atmosphere with a concentration of 1.4–2.2 μg·Nm⁻³. The atmospheric emission factors of Cr for these utility boilers were as low as 14.86 ± 3.62 mg Cr·t⁻¹ coal, 7.72 ± 2.53 μg Cr (kW·h)⁻¹, and 0.70 ± 0.19 g Cr·TJ⁻¹, respectively. About 981 kg·y⁻¹ of Cr was discharged into the atmosphere from Guizhuo’s CFPPs in 2017, much lower than previous reported values. Most of the Cr in the CFPPs ended up in solid combustion products, identifying the need for the careful disposal of high-Cr-containing ashes (up to 500 mg·kg⁻¹) to prevent possible mobilization into the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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19 pages, 4633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Study of Emission Inventory on Anthropogenic Air Pollutants and Source Apportionment of PM_2.5 in the Changzhutan Urban Agglomeration, China

by Bin Xu, Xiangyu You, Yaoyu Zhou, Chunhao Dai, Zhan Liu, Shaojian Huang, Datong Luo and Hui Peng

Atmosphere 2020, 11(7), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11070739 - 12 Jul 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4295

Abstract

As one of China’s emerging urban agglomerations, the Changzhutan urban area is suffering from regional composite air pollution. Previous studies mainly focus on single cities or world-class urban agglomerations, which cannot provide a scientific basis for air pollution in emerging urban agglomerations. This [...] Read more.

As one of China’s emerging urban agglomerations, the Changzhutan urban area is suffering from regional composite air pollution. Previous studies mainly focus on single cities or world-class urban agglomerations, which cannot provide a scientific basis for air pollution in emerging urban agglomerations. This paper proposes the latest high-resolution emission inventory through the emission factor method and compares the results with the rest of the urban agglomeration. The emission inventory shows that the estimates for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), particulate matter 10 (PM₁₀), particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia (NH₃) emission are 132.5, 148.9, 111.6, 56.5, 119.0, and 72.0 kt, respectively. From the 3 × 3 km emission grid, the spatial difference of air pollutant emissions in the Changzhutan urban agglomeration was more obvious, but the overall trend of monthly pollutant discharge was relatively stable. Depending on the source apportionment, SO₄²⁻, OC, and NO₃⁻ are the main chemical constituents of PM_2.5, accounting for 13.06, 8.24, and 4.84 μg/m³, respectively. Simultaneously, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and dust are still three main sources that cannot be ignored. With the support of these data, the results of this study may provide a reference for other emerging urban agglomerations in air quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

19 pages, 311 KiB

Open AccessReview

Indoor Air Quality in Museum Display Cases: Volatile Emissions, Materials Contributions, Impacts

by Oscar Chiantore and Tommaso Poli

Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030364 - 10 Mar 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4269

Abstract

The control of air quality in museum showcases is a growing issue for the conservation of the displayed artefacts. Inside an airtight showcase, volatile substances may rapidly concentrate and favor or directly cause the degradation or other unwanted phenomena on the objects. The [...] Read more.

The control of air quality in museum showcases is a growing issue for the conservation of the displayed artefacts. Inside an airtight showcase, volatile substances may rapidly concentrate and favor or directly cause the degradation or other unwanted phenomena on the objects. The role of materials used in the construction of museum display cases as a source of pollutants and volatile compounds dangerous for the cultural heritage integrity is here reviewed with an illustration of consequences and critical damages. Ways of assessing the suitability of materials used either in the construction or in use of the display cases are also discussed altogether with an overview of the possible choices for monitoring the air quality and limiting the concentration of volatile compounds in their interior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Estimation)

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