Showing papers on "Air pollutant concentrations published in 1976"

A quantitative evaluation of the pollutant standards index.

Abstract: The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended a daily air pollution index for use by State and local air pollution control agencies— the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). The new index makes use of "segmented linear functions" which convert measured concentrations of each air pollutant into a normalized number. The overall index is reported for the pollutant with the maximum subindex value, or the "critical pollutant."

Air Pollution and Recreational Behavior

Abstract: (1976). Air Pollution and Recreational Behavior. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 100, No. 1, pp. 149-150.

Solid Waste, Air Pollution and Health

Abstract: While much has been written on each individual subject, very little has been published that attempts to clarify the direct and indirect associations among the incidence of air pollutant related disease, the emission of air pollutants, and their relation to solid waste generation and disposal. This study attempts to clarify these relationships. After the appropriate literature is surveyed, clarification of the total mass of air pollutants emitted by solid wastes disposal is presented. Most important, the misrepresentation of this air pollutant source, as presented in the most widely published data, is reinterpreted and clarified. The revised data show that solid waste disposal contributes more than twice as much (9.7% of total) as presented in widely published data. A development and tabulation of the relative health effects of the most prevalent air pollutants follows. Walther’s "tolerance factors" and "health effect factors" for these pollutants are presented and corrected with the use of the clarified s...

[Air pollution in Switzerland--sources and extent].

Abstract: The immediate source of air pollution is the fuel consumption that goes on in domestic heating (about 50%), in motor vehicles (about 25%), and in industry (about 25%). Immissions in towns and agglomerations do not only depend on the number and size of these issuing sources but also on the location and meteorological conditions. The average sulphur dioxide content in various towns amounts to 0.03-0.06 ppm in winter and in summer to 0.01-0.03 ppm. In weather conditions with little exchangeability, as is often the case in Zurich, particulate matter and sulphur dioxide concentrations frequently lie above threshold limits applied abroad. In the area of heavy traffic for instance, daily averages of carbon monoxide of up to 20 ppm, and maximum hourly averages of up to 50 ppm are measured--concentrations which lie also considerably above threshold limits. For nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and lead too, concentrations such as are measured in large foreign cities occur. In the future, coordinated time measurements will have to be carried out more frequently in Switzerland--especially in places with strong emitting sources and unfavorable meteorological conditions.

Accuracy of prediction of urban air pollutant concentrations by diffusion models

Abstract: Projections of future transportation-related air quality impacts require the use of mathematical models that relate emissions to air quality. Whereas the derivation and use of such models have received much attention (at least for inert pollutants, such as CO), much less attention has been paid to questions of the interpretation of th concentrations these models predict and how the predictions relate to real atmospheric quantities. Concepts of validity and accuracy must be carefully defined for any model that is to be used in order that the predictions from the model can be properly evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to formulate the concepts of validity and accuracy for atmospheric air pollutant diffusion models and to suggest numerical experiments that can be used to test both the validity and the accuracy of the models. /Author/

Regulation of indirect sources of air pollution

Abstract: The Division of Air Pollution Control, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, has conducted an ambient air quality monitoring project focusing on carbon monoxide levels in and around several indirect sources. An analysis of the data indicates that highway types of pollutant emissions have the greatest impact on receptors in the vicinity of indirect sources. This implies that the principal, localized constraint on the siting of indirect sources will be the carbon monoxide generated on public roadways servicing those indirect sources. Clearly, adequate procedures must be developed to link such highway types of emissions to pollutant concentrations. Area- source and line-source models were tested by using the data generated during the monitoring project. Favorable results were achieved by using the line-source model. The proper siting of indirect sources involves the allocation of roadway capacity by the governmental units that are responsible for transportation network design and that work in conjunction with regional planning bodies. A regulatory structure is suggested that emphasizes a regional approach, and an example of an air quality allocation scheme is given. The methodology is applicable to all automotive air pollutants although, in general, localized sensitivity is lost for nitrogen dioxide and photochemical oxidants.

Indoor Air Pollution as an Environmental Factor

Abstract: An average person spends most of his time indoors and the quality of indoor air affects his performance and well-being. This justifies the study of indoor air pollution for the development of working and living environments which are comfortable and safe.As a part of a larger program to study traffic-generated air pollution in the vicinity of streets, a simultaneous indoor/outdoor sampling program was carried out at three sites in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. Parameters included CO, NO, NO2 and HCHO. The results show the direct relationship between indoor and outdoor concentrations of CO, NO and NO2. HCHO concentrations were found to be substantially higher indoors than ourdoors thus supporting the hypothesis that HCHO source could be in the buildings themselves. The importance of indoor air is emphasized, and the interplay of indoor and outdoor air pollution is demonstrated.