Air pollutant concentrations

About: Air pollutant concentrations is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1652 publications have been published within this topic receiving 36138 citations.

Prediction of COVID-19 Cases from the Nexus of Air Quality and Meteorological Phenomena: Bangladesh Perspective

Abstract: An integrated approach was used to estimate the number of COVID-19 patients related to air quality and meteorological phenomena. Additionally, the air quality during pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown stages of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed to determine the effect of the infection containment measures taken in Bangladesh during the pandemic. The air quality was assessed based on measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), black carbon, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and aerosol optical depth. Time-averaged maps of these parameters have been generated from NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) website. Values of these parameters have also been collected from a continuous air monitoring station (CAMS) located in Bangladesh’s north-western city Rajshahi. The comparison shows that lockdown during the pandemic has brought significant improvements in air quality. However, the improvement was not sustained, since rapid increases in the air pollutant concentrations were observed in the post-lockdown period. Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficients between each air quality variable and the daily new COVID-19 case rates were calculated. Different meteorological variables during the same time periods were determined to observe the variation in Rajshahi city. Relationships of these variables with the case rates were also established. Additionally, statistical analyses of the obtained data have been conducted for the measured variables using the Kruskal–Wallis test to assess the differences in the observed data among the pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown periods. Dunn’s “Q” test was employed to test if the variables showed significance statistical difference during the Kruskal–Wallis test for pairwise comparisons. From the study, it has been observed that both meteorological variables and air quality parameters have significant relationship with daily new COVID-19 case rates. Both positive and negative associations of these parameters with the COVID-19 case rates have been observed. Very high air pollution has been observed in the post-lockdown period. Thus, it is recommended that appropriate authorities undertake corrective measures to protect the environment in cities with large populations. This study provides guidance for decision makers and health officials for future research and potentially reducing the spread of COVID-19.

A Study on Synoptic Cause of Air Pollution and Forecast Methods of Air Pollutant Concentrations in Lanzhou Proper in Winter

Abstract: Lanzhou is one of the cities in which air pollution is very heavy. Based on the analysis on the relation between air pollution and climate element, the weather style in winter were given .The correlations between concentrations of three mainly air pollutants (TSP?SO2?NOX) and inversion parameter at the same times were analysised, the correlations between concentrations of air pollutants and surface meteorological elements were analysised too. The results show:(1) The correlation coefficients between air pollutant concentrations and thickness of inversion is positive.(2) The correlation coefficients between air pollutant concentrations and average of air temperature, relative humidity, horizontal visibility ,wind speed ,total cloud amount is negative. The correlation coefficients between air pollutant concentrations and difference between maximal air temperature and minimum air temperature is positive. As the result, air pollution concentration forecast equations were given for different weather style in winter. The examined results show that the forecast project has high accuracy.

A contribution to air quality management in urban industrialized areas

Abstract: Despite the increasing concern given to air quality in urban and industrial areas in recent years, particular emphasis on regulation, control and reduction of air pollutant emissions is still necessary to fully characterize the chain emissions – air quality – exposure – dose – health effects, for specific sources In this context, INSPIRAR, a research project started in 2010, was designed to develop a multidisciplinary methodology for air quality, exposure and population health impacts assessment, of industrial pollutants emissions in an industrialized urban area The Estarreja region was selected as a study case because it has one of the largest chemical industrial complexes in Portugal that has been recently expanded with an increase of its production capacity This work presents an overview of the first air quality assessment for the region, based on emission inventories and monitoring data This assessment includes an analysis of trends and the identification and characterization of past air pollution episodes according to the new Air Quality Framework Directive The contribution of different sources and meteorological conditions to these episodes is investigated Results show that the most problematic pollutants are ozone and PM10 The advection of contaminated air masses from neighbour regions and adverse weather conditions associated with local emissions, namely industrial activity and road traffic, are the major contributors to air quality degradation in the study region