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Monitoring and control of the microbiological quality of the air is very important for human activity, which is why aeromicrobiology has boomed in recent years. Specialists suggest that to study the airborne of indoor and outdoor environments, numerous factors must be taken into account such as temperature, relative humidity, the time of year and even the time of the study, however, they forget that microorganisms are charged bioparticles and ignore the presence of an extremely low frequency oscillating magnetic field (ELF-OMF) at the time of air sampling. For this reason, the aim of this paper was to analyze the bibliographic sources that support the considerations about the influence of the ELF-OMF on the indoor airborne of indoor environments. The accepted scientific knowledge in microbiology on the effect of ionizing radiation on the excretion of pigments by the fungi and the electrical charge of microorganisms was linked to the experimental results of the electromagnetic attraction suffered by the same and the dust particles and ions in the air to which they may be united. Based on the link made, was supported that the ELF-OMF influences on the indoor indoor airborne, so it should be seen as a physical factor for the microbiological samplings of indoor air. [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 addresses the issue of exceeding the limit values by the Member States of the European Union in the framework of the regulations on ambient air quality and a cleaner atmosphere in Europe. The current Directive 2008/50 is the consequence of the normative evolution from the first partial Directives on specific polluting substances of the 1980s and to its most immediate antecedent, which was Directive 96/62 on evaluation and management of the quality of the air. The protection of human health is the true leitmotiv and primary objective of the European regulations on air quality and the reason for the quantitative criteria set forth therein. The non-compliance by the States of the same has been systematic and continued as reflected, only in part, the Court Judgments, being premonitory of the tragic situation of pandemic and loss of life in which all the States are, but especially those of the main world economies to which they never thought this situation would come to them, and with a "reflective" state model that, for three decades, has not anticipated or prepared for crises that have been happening since 2000 and that it has forced citizens to live with risk and socialize it in the face of the progressive emptying of resources. For this reason, the need for a paradigm shift in the State model towards a social and democratic State (art. 1.1 CE) whose preventive function is the prevailing one, based and built on the true rights of people who are really enforceable to the public powers with the full guarantee of individual effective judicial protection in all its length and effectiveness. Despite the low compliance with environmental regulations, two very recent Judgments of the Court against France and Germany on Directive 2008/50 on air quality open a path of hope for citizens in the firmness demonstrated by the Court in demanding responsibilities to the States and the adoption of measures "as soon as possible" through the novel application of well-known principles such as that of efficacy, proportionality, strict liability, etc. ... that establish the prevalence of health protection and air quality on other foundational principles of the European Union until now untouchable and before the still surprising allegations of defense of "structural deficiencies" by the first European economic powers for not having applied environmental regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of respiratory diseases in urban areas is related to the increase of atmospheric particulate matter. This paper shows a daily temporal analysis using ARIMA models of the influence of land surface coverage on PM10 concentrations in Bogota city, Colombia. This study was developed from information (years 2007-2012) of six automatic monitoring stations. ARIMA models showed a greater PM10 persistence (2 days) on urban areas with vegetated surface coverage. However, urban areas with vegetated surface coverage showed lower daily PM10 concentrations (-42.7%) in relation to areas of impervious surface coverage. [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 is proposes a procedure for comparative internal and external risk of management to control the atmospheric emission, which are provoked by steam boiler of service sectors. This are located at different points of the urban zone, with are considered as combustion fixes sources. The proposal takes the most actuality legal and standard documents about the subject as a base. This procedure pays attention to the risk management related to planning, technology, operation and effect of the atmospheric pollution, in order to compare the potential risk and the priority in a making decision processes, in a control action and improvement plan, to achieve the mitigation of effect the atmospheric pollution in Cienfuegos city, Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to illustrate a study about air quality from mid-sized cities in the South of Chile. The main cause for air pollution in medium-sized cities is the high consumption of wet, low-quality firewood that produces fine particulate material capable of penetrating the respiratory tract. An analysis on how this pollution is affecting the population is implemented; for this purpose, a statistical analysis was applied to a monitoring station in Chillán's city (from 2008 to 2013). This study leads to the conclusion that in Chillán the population is exposed to harmful particulate matter almost all year long. Emphasis is made on the need to maintain a time database, as complete as possible, in order to develop good forecasting models to inform authorities of situations in which the regulations for such material are exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to develop an analysis of mitigation and adaptation strategies in the transport sector in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Based on the methodology of the Programs of Action on Climate Change (PACC), we analyzed the Mexicali emissions inventory and generated a diagnosis. Once we analyzed the current situation, we studied mitigation strategies such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the smog check, new importation legislation for used cars, biofuel production, the promotion of loweremission vehicles and urban planning. On adaptation strategies vehicle recycling and the use of non-moto-rized transport were studied as an alternative of sustainable mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollutant concentrations inside street canyons are usually several times background concentrations in urban areas. In this paper, carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations observed in a street canyon are compared with estimated values obtained using four atmospheric dispersion models: STREET, STREET-BOX, OSPM and AEOLIUS. Results for leeward, windward and intermediate wind directions are analyzed. Data used in the model evaluation include one year of hourly CO concentrations measured inside a street canyon of Göttinger Strässe (Hannover, Germany) and at the roof of a nearby building, wind speed and direction data registered at the roof of the nearby building and traffic flow in the street. Each model performance was evaluated for leeward, windward and intermediate wind directions. Results obtained with the STREET model considering the empirical constant k=7 (default value), underestimated observed concentrations. A better performance of the STREET model was obtained with k= 12.1. The STREET-BOX model gave acceptable results for leeward and intermediate wind directions. The results of this model showed great differences with observed windward concentration values. In general, the concentrations estimated by OSPM and AEOLIUS showed the best agreement with observed values. [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]