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The State of Mexico is a Mexican entity facing socio-environmental problems: destruction of forest resources, water and air pollution, and poor quality of basic services. This paper analyzes its socio-urban metabolism between 2010 and 2020, considering it as a thermodynamic machine. Using Material Flow and Energy Flow Analysis (MFAE), indicators of consumption and emissions of electricity, fuel, water and social aspects (schooling, social security, economically active population and PBT) were obtained. Metabolic Indexes (MI) were calculated to indicate consumption by municipality. The results showed increases in: fuel consumption (275%), water (130%) and decrease in electricity consumption (-65.7%) due to costs, overcrowding and theft, indicating a governmental inability to provide services. On the social issue, the quality of education declined despite the decrease in the illiterate population. Access to social security rose (27%) in 2020, but public entities are bankrupt and 47.9% of the population is poor. The MI showed that the most consuming municipalities are those in the Toluca Valley and those in the suburbs of Mexico City. Despite the alignment of urban planning to the SDGs, they are not achieved due to methodologies that do not contemplate thermodynamic laws, socio-environmental complexity and, therefore, long-term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate whether the low-carbon transport strategy (subway, rapid transit bus system -Macrobús-, trolleybus, and shared bicycles) implemented in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG) from 2000 to 2019 improves air quality. Sustainable urban mobility is the movement of people in cities in a way that generates the least impact on the environment. We analyze three actions of government intervention in the same sense. This is the first study for Guadalajara, the third-largest city in Mexico. We use robust Newey-West estimators and endogenously model pollution disruptions using the Bai Perron approach. Our results suggest that this type of public transport reduces SO2, NO2, O3, and CO, though we find an increase in PM10. We also identified that when the service of the first line of the Bus Rapid Transit was consolidated CO, O3 and PM10 decreased. In addition, the improvement in the connectivity of the bus network with the subway means that only NO2 diminished. Finally, the entry into operation of the shared bicycle program reduced PM10, while increasing O3 and in SO2. In short, sustainable urban mobility is an alternative to making the transit of people efficient, while mitigating air pollution in the AMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate emissions of criteria pollutants (VOC's, PM10, CO, NOx and SOx) from point sources for the year 1997 in Cali-Yumbo (Colombia). Data were obtained from 108 emission declarations to environmental authorities. We applied the method of emission factors for most of the sources which had no direct measurements and reported type and amount of fuel used. We find that paper manufacturing and printing/publishing industries generate the most pollutants overall, followed by non-metallic minerals and textile/apparel industries. While the sources in the city of Cali were responsible for most of the volatile organic compounds (VOC's), emissions of sulfur oxides and particulate matter originate mostly from sources in the industrial town of Yumbo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effect of pollution on housing prices. In particular, we explore the effect of Metroplús on housing prices in Medellin city for 2010 and 2012 years, and the direct impact of air pollution and public transport coverage. We select treatment and control by georeferencing the households and according to a distance criterion of 750 meters. Using two methodologies: Difference in Differences (DD) and Propensity Score Matching with Differences in Differences (PSM-DD), we do not find effects at the aggregate level; However, we find that low strata houses receive a positive effect, while high strata houses are negatively affected. In addition, air pollution has a significant impact; however, public transport coverage does not have effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This objective of the work described in this paper is to minimize conflict costs between air pollution regulations and industrial activity which can be modeled as a semi-infinite optimization problem. The problem was solved by using the stochastic method of outer approximations in MATLAB and by introducing particle composition and dispersion as a key parameter, the initial pollution distribution area was regrouped into smaller subareas. Then, the set of pollution sources was replaced with a set of virtual sources, which allows solving the problem in a more appropriate manner by preserving the initial coordinates of the pollution sources. The numerical experiments allowed to build precise pollution maps according to the dispersion of polluting particles. This method provided good solutions that satisfy the safety regulation in each point of different zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Daylight saving time (DST) has been actively used as a mechanism for energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In the case of Argentina, the most recent experiences with DST occurred during the austral summer periods of 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, when the policy was finally abandoned. However, the benefits of DST and the size of the (potential) energy savings are still part of an ongoing discussion in a country where energy subsidies imply a heavy fiscal burden. Methodology: Using a difference-in-differences framework that exploits the quasi- experimental nature of the program implementation, we use hourly data for the 2005-2010 period at the province level and estimate the impact of DST on electricity consumption and on peak demand. Results: The application of DST increased total electricity consumption between 0.4% and 0.6%, but decreased aggregate national peak demand between 2.4% and 2.9%. In monetary terms, DST represented extra generation costs of 10.9 and 18 million USD during summers 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, respectively. Finally, the application of DST increased the emissions of air pollutants during those periods. Conclusion: The rationale for DST is questionable. The policy outcomes in terms of energy consumption and energy peak demand seem to go in opposite directions, at least in the latest experience in Argentina. A case-by-case study is the safest way of proceeding, and this paper is a piece of evidence that contributes to an open debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution affects cities and countries all over the world. One of the most common air pollutants is particulate matter (PM10) which has a direct impact on people´s health (WHO, 2006). The concentration of this pollutant in the troposphere depends principally on weather conditions. This paper seeks to analyse variations in Bahía Blanca (Argentina) PM10 concentration over time by evaluating the relationship between physical and anthropogenic factors that may influence its dynamics. It was observed that variations in PM10 concentrations are related to both natu- ral and anthropogenic factors. Traffic flow and agroindustrial activities, mainly related to grain transport and storage, promote high pollutant concentrations. This is reflected by marked variations of PM10 concentrations throughout the day and between working and nonworking days. PM10 concentrations are affected by Northern, high speed winds, which cause clouds of dust and smoke very often. In addition, results from this investigation revealed that PM10 concentrations may be related to volcanic activity, as the eruption of the Puyehue- Caulle Range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directive 2008/50 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air in Europe sets limit values for air pollutants, in particular nitrogen dioxide, And which obliges Member States to implement appropriate measures to put an end to this situation should the limits be exceeded. Member States should therefore take measures to control levels of air pollution and ensure good air quality and protect public health. This paper analyzes the failure of several Member States to meet EU maximum levels for air quality and proposes urgent measures to address this serious environmental problem. It also addresses the treatment of air pollution in urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a model of spatial proximity to roads, industrial uses of land and green areas, to determine concentrations of particulate matter and locate air quality monitoring sites in urban areas. The model uses monthly average concentration of PM10 (µgm/m³) measured at nine monitoring sites in the city of Medellin between January 2003 and December 2008. With these data, monthly maps were calculated using geostatistical interpolation methods with J-Bessel semivariograms to characterize the concentration of PM10. Three factors of spatial proximity (to main roads, industries and green areas) were calculated along with one combined factor. They were then multiplied by the concentration maps. With this result, a network of monitoring sites was proposed for Medellín. The Spatial analysis techniques and the proximity model allow for the assessment of the distribution of the contaminant on the territory, highlighting the effect of intersections and industrial areas on high concentrations and the dampening effect of green areas. This work may complement the existing regulatory provisions in Colombia for locating critical monitoring sites of the air quality surveillance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is now considered the biggest environmental health risk as it is related to diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems, in addition to its potential carcinogenic effects in human beings. The industrial sector is one of the largest contributor to air pollution emissions. In this paper we return to the thought of Ulrich Beck who, in his book World Risk Society, criticized industrialization for ignoring its negative impact on nature and human beings, thereby creating risks with global consequences. The author suggested that there may be politics beyond the scope of traditional State institutions, in what he named global sub-politics. We examine whether global sub-politics can be an alternative means for civil society to address the problem of air pollution and its adverse impacts, in addition to alternatives coming from other areas of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an empirical assessment on the impact of air pollution, specifically the bad scents produced by heavy industries and industries associated to the production of fish flour on the population's economic welfare of Concepción-Talcahuano, Chile. The paper applies an indirect method of environmental valuation known as the model of hedonics prices (Rosen, 1974). This approach has been broadly used in urban and environmental economics. Tile results from this paper reveal that there is a negative effect from bad scents on the price of housing and goes further by carrying out an exercise on the economic effect in a representative housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper it is presented a methodology for the minimization of residuals and industrial emissions, which is a guide for the environmental work developed in the Biotechnology Department of the Solar Energy Research Center. The paper presents the advantages of the preventive solutions for the industry. The techniques used for the pollution minimization in the industry, as well as an example of applications in the Caney factory in Santiago de Cuba are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution in cities is a process growing every day. Currently we have sought to reduce this pollution and the factors involved through good environmental management by identifying the sources of pollution and passive techniques such as automatic air quality monitoring as the case of the city of Quito stations. This paper conducts an investigation to define whether models generated from satellite images with field data, models adapted to simple and multiple regression, can be employed in Ecuador, with satisfactory results in Quito taking the model that best fits that has relationship between Aerosol Optical Tickness (AOT) and Particular Matter less than 10 microns (PM10) (Othman et al., 2010), with correlation values above 90%. In the city, you have data from air pollutants such as less than 10 microns (PM10) daily basis particulate matter due to the data of the monitoring stations. When combined with data processed satellite images can help to identify sites where you have problems and suggest that other cities do not have the resources to acquire and maintain permanent air stations can opt for this methodology. The results achieved in the research for each of the 3 years itself infer the value of PM10 throughout the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of multiple lifestyles on reproductive health of men and women. Factors to consider include the following: 1) age, 2) drug use, 3) diet and weight, 4) some prescription drugs, 5) Stress and 6) environmental contamination. The old man or woman is a factor that can impair fertility, since due to study, work or other factors couples decide to postpone the offspring. Drugs such as snuff, alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, cocaine or opioids and anabolic impair fertility of the couple, essentially lowering the quality of gametes, their number and motility in the case of the male, and blocking ovulation , the largest number of abortions or longer to get pregnant in the case of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The locality of Puente Aranda in Bogotá has been reported as a zone of high air pollution, mainly because the PM10 concentrations exceed the legal limits. This paper presents a temporal and spatial assessment of air quality in the industrial zone of Puente Aranda locality by using a mobile laboratory of monitoring. Air pollutants measured by the laboratory during the sampling period (2009/04/13-2009/12/21) were the following: PM10, NOx, NO2, NO, SO2, CO and O3. With regard to the Colombian law, the results show that PM10 (24 hours) is the air pollutant with the highest number of exceedances during the investigation period (47.3%), however, the evaluation of the exceptional state by air pollution shows that the highest concentrations reported not generate a level of prevention; above, in contrast with the results obtained by use of the air quality index proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On the other hand, the findings suggest a similar trend in the temporal behavior of PM10, O3 and NOx over the whole of the research area; that is, probably by the existence of dominant sources in the industrial area of the locality. Finally, the concentrations recorded (PM10, NO2, NOx, NO and CO) by the mobile laboratory (central area) are on average 2.30 and 2.01 times higher than those recorded by stations mobile SDA (eastern area) and fixed SDA (western area), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of heavy metals have been detected in soils associated with a high density of traffic. The road users and those living in nearby environments are potentially exposed. This paper presents a study of the behavior of heavy metals concentration associated with the sediment accumulated on road surfaces (Torrelavega-Spain and Soacha-Colombia). Two types of samples are distinguished: aspired directly and collected after sweeping. The particle size distribution (63-2800 μm) and heavy metals concentration (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd and Ba) associated with each size fraction were determined by means of flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the sediment with a longer residence time on the surface was more exposed to crushing generated by traffic (i.e., finer particle size distribution). As a result, this sediment probably tended to present a greater susceptibility to the suspension by the wind and traffic turbulence. In this sense, the size fraction of less than 63 μm presented the highest concentrations. The larger the residence time of the sediment on the road surface, the higher the metal concentrations associated with it. Areas with a higher traffic density tend to have the highest concentrations. Furthermore, the roads with greater use as parking zones tend to have the highest concentrations, despite registering a lower density of traffic. In the researched cities, Pb exceeds the limits established by law used as reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the importance of an approach on local environmental management regarding the quality of air in the Mexicali and Imperial Valley region. The paper discusses that the absence of a strategic approach in the environmental local policy will enhance the air pollution in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows an assessment exercise of the air pollutant emissions measurement methods required by the IDEAM and environmental authorities, particularly the stack particulate matter isokinetic sampling and the diesel exhaust opacity measurement. The assessment methodology included the identification and assessment of critical factors, a review of currently applied controls and a practical performance assessment exercise. Serious training of the personnel in charge of isokinetic sampling resulted in misinterpretation of sampling methods, which means that a training and certification scheme is needed. On the other hand, the individual characteristics of the opacity meters and the appropriate design of the software to comply with the technical standards are not well known by suppliers. Therefore, better accreditation procedures for the technologies being imported are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chile has pioneered the implementation of emission offseting programs pursuing simultaneously economic growth and environmental protection. In this paper, emission trading programs implemented in Santiago of Chile are analyzed and its relevance for developing countries is evaluated. It is argued that emission trading programs can be the best tool to deal with air pollution problems even in cases in which the institutional capacities are not well developed. Moreover, the inclusion of the transport system into the emission trading programs and the possibility of moving towards a system of interpollutant exchange are both nouvelle and relevant elements in the context of air pollution control policies. However, these innovations involve rather more complex elements in the design of emission trading programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows a review of studies comparing particulate emissions from diesel engines running on diesel, biodiesel and their blends, based not only on particle mass concentrations, but also on particle number concentrations and particulate chemical composition. Finally, it summarizes the need for thoroughly characterizing particulate matter emissions in studies comparing Colombian diesel and biodiesel from palm oil (or other oil-producing Colombian species). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the South of Cordoba province, Argentine, the pleistocene zone of Sampacho is located, where the active fault Las Lagunas is situated. This probably generated the seismic crisis of 10th June 1934, with the occurrence of two earthquakes of M5.5 and M6. Modifications in Radon gas emissions (Rn 222) and increases in the microseismic occurrence are considered as precursor geoindicators in areas under seismic hazard. Anomalies in this gas emission levels, as well as an increase in the microseismic activity were detected in the pre-seismic stage of the earthquakes that occurred in Japan, USA, Italy, Mexico and the former Soviet Union. The objective of the present paper is to monitor the radon gas emissions in order to establish its relation to the microseismic activity in an area nearby a section of the active fault Las Lagunas, by means of the Track-Etch technique and to try to establish a seismic precursor geoindicator for it. As a conclusion, it was proved that there exist relations between the changes in the Radon gas emission and the local seismic activity, and between the variation of emission level and the size of superficial light earthquakes, that have occurred in the record period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]