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Understanding the immediate impacts of air pollution is crucial, especially as non-health outcomes like player productivity are covert. This paper focuses on investigating the causal relationship between air pollution and player productivity, which is theoretically established by the health consequences of air pollution and the Grossman health production function. The dataset used comprises over 20,000 observations from 1,440 matches in the Chinese Football Association Super League from 2014 to 2019. The IV estimation results show that a 1% increase in air pollution results in a reduction of 0.101% in the number of passes, which is five times larger than the OLS estimation. Heterogeneity results suggest that possessing an advantage (physical fitness, technical skills, or playing at home) contributes to mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution. This study underscores the critical role of clean air in enabling football players to achieve high productivity in the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2013, Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in England have allowed commercial-to-residential conversions in locations once deemed suitable only for non-residential land-use. This deregulation of planning control has been justified as a way of encouraging more home-building in areas experiencing 'housing crisis', but its overall consequences remain unclear. This paper hence compiles quantitative evidence on a city-wide scale on the price, size, build and location of these conversions in London 2013–2021. It finds that homes produced through this route are generally smaller than the London average and are over-concentrated in neighbourhoods with fewer accessible green spaces and higher-than-average levels of air pollution. Here, larger conversion schemes (of more than 10 units) appear particularly problematic, potentially subjecting residents to forms of 'slow violence' that could have long-term consequences for their physical and mental health. The paper also finds that, on average, PDR conversions are marginally more affordable than other new developments in the capital, but are also more expensive per square metre, suggesting deregulation is allowing developers to 'extract' maximum value from these schemes rather than providing affordable homes per se. The implications of this are discussed in relation to the politics of housing in London and the wider forms of planning deregulation allowing developers to accrue increased profits from housing in an era of intense financialisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measured airborne concentrations of asbestos are often unavailable to assess different epidemiologic estimates of past personal exposure levels or concentrations near specific operations involving handling asbestos. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential use of a laboratory study in estimating exposure to asbestos in operations that ceased for many years. The asbestos transfer operations were simulated by splitting and boxing 4.5-kg paper bags of chrysotile asbestos in an enclosed chamber ventilated at 28.2 air changes per hour (ACH). Two recirculation fans achieved chamber air mixing. The airborne concentration of asbestos fibers was determined by sampling air through membrane filters at a rate of 10 l/ min and by analysing fibers by phase contrast optical microscopy to determine 15-mm average airborne concentrations. Samplers were located at four equidistant locations from the operation. Opening a maximum of seven bags in 15 mm was associated with an asbestos-in-air concentration of less than 2 x 10-6 fibers/m3 (f/m3) in splitting open and boxing and less than 0.85 X 10-6 f/ m3 in boxing of pre-split bags. The measured airborne asbestos concentration exhibited a linear trend with the number of bags opened per 15 min. The empirical results were utilised to model fiber concentrations for various ventilation rates. It was concluded that the distribution of the operation within the workday and the ventilation rate are the two most important variables in the determination of the estimated time-weighted average concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fear of anthropogenic "global warming" can adversely affect patients' well-being. Accordingly, the state of the scientific consensus about climate change was studied by a review of the 539 papers on "global climate change" found on the Web of Science database from January 2004 to mid-February 2007, updating research by Oreskes, who had reported that between 1993 and 2003 none of 928 scientific papers on "global climate change" had rejected the consensus that more than half of the warming of the past 50 years was likely to have been anthropogenic. In the present review, 31 papers (6% of the sample) explicitly or implicitly reject the consensus. Though Oreskes said that 75% of the papers in her former sample endorsed the consensus, fewer than half now endorse it. Only 7% do so explicitly. Only one paper refers to "catastrophic" climate change, but without offering evidence. There appears to be little evidence in the learned journals to justify the climate-change alarm that now harms patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The challenges of third-world countries toward curbing indoor air pollution seem insurmountable as its solution is closely linked to their economic incapacities, lifestyle, and existing outdoor air quality. The economic incapacities include types of the cookstove, fuel sources, types of insecticides and pesticides, building patterns, indoor fermentation activities (such as leaving dirty plates and biological waste in the house for a long time), and regulation on the use of deodorants. Aside from the common pollutants from these sources, the reactive chemistry of pollutants leads to other kinds of pollutants which have been reported to be short-lived but dangerous. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to: profile emerging indoor pollutants; examine the pollutant dynamics and their impact on unplanned regions of developing countries; offer solutions to curb indoor pollution in the identified region; elaborate on the cost analysis of existing solutions and how irrelevant they may be due to the rising poverty index; and project how government policies could help in reducing indoor pollution. Design: This paper is a review that wholistically examined indoor pollution. A total of fifty-six articles was reviewed in addition to the data obtained from MERRA-2. Results: The study observed that indoor air pollution dynamics are more complex—compared to outdoor air pollution. It was observed that the possibility to control indoor air pollution is based on the type of pollutants, the reactive chemistry of the pollutants, and ventilation in the building. This review shows that poverty is one of the many reasons why indoor air pollution would be a source of menace for a long time in third-world countries. Several solutions to curbing indoor air pollution were considered with a principal focus on cost and availability. Limitations: Most experimental results that were used to corroborate postulates were obtained from the literature. The accuracy of those experiments and the sensitivity of the equipment used cannot be verified. Conclusion: The plant-based technique was identified as a perfect solution to indoor air pollution control in third-world countries but the local architecture and lifestyle of most third-world countries constitute a threat to its adoption. It was observed that less than 8% of third-world countries have specific Air Quality Acts which have not been amended for decades. Most third-world countries have a general Environmental Act with air quality as a sub-section in the Act with very low fines for violators. The inclusion of indoor air quality as a vital public health issue in third-world countries is necessary for the preservation of lives and posterity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid growth in petrol and diesel-powered vehicles has resulted in significant increases in tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, both of which harm public health in Indian cities. Furthermore, India's dependence on imported fuel to transport people and goods threatens its fuel security. Therefore, electric mobility has been sought to deal with these issues. The governments have framed several plans and policies to promote electric vehicles (EVs) and achieve the target of EV30@30. However, EV adoption in Indian states has been slow. Therefore, this paper aims to estimate the number of EVs needed to be registered to achieve the desired target by 2030 by taking a case study of four states: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat. The vehicular registration data used in this paper has been obtained from the government database. The study looks at the EV adoption rates of passenger vehicles such as two-wheelers, cars, auto-rickshaws (including e-rickshaws), and buses. According to the findings, the average annual share of passenger EVs is less than 2% in Delhi, less than 1% in Uttar Pradesh, and less than 0.5% in Karnataka and Gujarat during the study period. According to the models' estimates, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka will need to register 0.31 million, 1.51 million, 0.88 million, and 0.79 million passenger EVs, respectively, in FY 2030–2031 to achieve a 30% EV share of total registrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a major global health threat. There is growing evidence for a negative effect of air pollution on health and well-being. Relationships between air pollution and health are mediated by health risk perceptions and play a crucial role in public response to it. Air pollution in the public's mind is often different from air pollution defined by the scientific community. Therefore, in order to develop successful prevention and alleviation strategies, an understanding of public risk perceptions is key. The central question of this paper is: 'How does "the public" (in Brussels) perceive air pollution?' This research is an attempt to enrich the limited body of qualitative research in the field, approaching the topic of perception from 4 different, complementary angles: definition, association, categorisation and problematisation. About 51 interviews were conducted in the Brussels-Capital Region. Consistent with earlier research, this research illustrates that perceptions of air pollution are diverse, subjective, context-dependent and often deviate from conceptualisations and definitions in the scientific community. Respondents underestimate the potential harm and problematisation depends on comparative strategies and perceived avoidability. The novel aspect of this paper is the identification of 5 mental schemes by which specific elements are categorised as being air pollution: (1) the source of the element, (2) its health impact, (3) its climate impact, (4) its functionality and (5) sensory perceptions. The insights gained from this research contribute to the field of environmental epidemiology through a better understanding of how 'the public' perceives air pollution and in what way this may deviate from how it is perceived by experts. We hope to raise the awareness among experts and policy makers that air pollution perceptions are far from universal and consensual but on the contrary individual and contested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost from the time that autopsies were first routinely carried out, darkening of lungs with increasing age was described. Different explanations for the origin of the accumulating black pigment arose and by the early nineteenth century three hypotheses had emerged: 1) soot inhaled into the lungs from the air; 2) carbon accumulating in the lungs from abnormal pulmonary carbon dioxide metabolism; and, 3) pigment derived from the blood. In 1813 the English physician and chemist George Pearson published a paper in which he described the recovery of the black pigment from lungs and its chemical analysis. Pearson declared the black pigment to be airborne carbon/soot from the burning of coal and wood. He described these particles depositing in 'black spots' in the terminal airways and accumulating in the peribronchial lymph nodes, forming 'black glands'. Despite Pearson's prescient account, debate continued and the true explanation, given in that paper, was not fully accepted until the late nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: Multiple factors affect healthcare disparities in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with and without nasal polyps. These factors include access to care, economic burdens to treatment, and differences in air pollution and air quality. In this paper, we will discuss how socioeconomic status, race, and air pollution burden influence healthcare disparities in the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods: A literature search was performed via PubMed for articles related to CRSwNP, healthcare disparities, race, socioeconomic status, and air pollution in September 2022. Original studies from 2016 to 2022, landmark articles, and systematic reviews were included. We summarized these articles to cohesively discuss factors contributing to healthcare disparities in CRSwNP. Results: Literary search produced 35 articles. Individual factors such as socioeconomic status, race, and air pollution influence CRSwNP severity and treatment outcomes. Correlations were noted with socioeconomic status, race, and air pollution exposure and CRS severity and post-surgical outcomes. Air pollution exposure was also associated with histopathologic changes in CRSwNP. Lack of access to care was a notable contributor to healthcare disparities in CRS. Conclusion: Healthcare disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of CRSwNP differentially affect racial minorities and individuals of lower socioeconomic status. Increased air pollution exposure in areas of lower socioeconomic status is a compounding factor. Clinician advocacy for greater healthcare access and reductions in environmental exposures for patients, among other societal changes, may help improve disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of increasing air pollution on human health and the environment is a major concern worldwide. Exposure to air pollution is one of the leading risk factors and substantially contributes to morbidity and premature mortality. This review paper aims to examine the exposure of major air pollutants (i.e., particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide) and its association with respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and genotoxic adverse health outcomes that can cause DNA damage leading to genetic mutations. The study emphasized how a better understanding of source-receptor relationships and exposure assessment methodologies can support effective air quality management planning. Hence, there is a need to augment various exposure indicators (spatial modeling, personal/area monitoring, emphasizing central/rural site measurements, etc.) to generate reliable surrogates for informed decision-making. The critical drivers of anthropogenic interference for air pollution remain urbanization, growing vehicle use, and industrialization. This requires innovative approaches, such as energy-efficient and technologically sustainable solutions to gradually replace conventional fossil fuel from primary energy mix with renewable energy. It holds the key to meet future energy challenges and minimizing air pollution emissions. Further, there is an urgent need to frame effective public policy with graded mitigation actions to reduce the adverse impact of air pollution on human health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air pollution situation in the northern part of China has become a threat to the current status of China's energy consumption. This has created pressure to relocate coal plants to the western section of the country. We apply a spatial panel data method to empirically examine the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration, precipitation and wind speed by using the sample data of 50 cities over 11 months. Based on the empirical parameters, the paper simulates the potential impacts of the proposed coal plants and the coal plants currently under construction for the PM2.5 concentrations across all cities once these coal plants are operational. The results show that the new capacities will increase PM2.5 concentrations in northwest and northeast China, but at acceptable levels and lower than levels in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution has become an urgent issue affecting sustainable urban development. The Chinese government has implemented a series of air pollution control policies since 2012. Exploring the effectiveness of pollution control policies is important for future policy-making and improvements in air quality. Mean and variance tests were used for evaluation on the effectiveness of pollution control policies implemented in major cities and estimates of the heterogeneity among cities based on the distribution fitting and testing of daily PM2.5 data from January 2015 to January 2020. The nonparametric kernel density estimation adopted in this paper can effectively describe the data characteristics, and this is very important for air quality monitoring and control. Our findings demonstrate that air pollution prevention and control policies have significantly improved the levels and distribution of urban air quality in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis uses an integrated assessment model to link emissions from offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico to impacts in the continental U.S. The analysis employs emission and production data for rigs located in the Gulf of Mexico to estimate the air pollution damages for the years 2000, 2005, and 2008. For platforms in the western Gulf of Mexico, extraction yields damage due to air pollution that average between $0.31 and $0.75 per unit of oil extracted. For platforms in the central Gulf of Mexico, damage due to air pollution averages between $0.26 and $0.57 per unit of oil extracted. The distribution of marginal social costs is right-skewed; the paper finds that in 2008 115 platforms produce damages in excess of $12.80 per barrel of oil. Optimal management of the air pollution emissions from platforms in the Gulf must recognize this spatial heterogeneity in damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the instrumental variable method and the panel data of 283 prefecture-level cities in China from 2004 to 2016, we explore the relationship between carbon emission, air pollution, and total factor productivity (TFP). The results show that: (1) Both carbon emission-induced and air pollution-induced environmental regulations positively promote TFP. For every 1% increase in the two indicators of the intensity of environmental regulation, carbon emission, and air pollution, TFP will increase by 1.7150 percentage points and 0.6366 percentage points respectively. (2) Carbon emission-induced and air pollution-induced environmental regulation have similar coefficients on TFP, indicating that the effects of the two are synergistic. Carbon emission has a greater impact on TFP, so enhancing environmental regulation on carbon emission can better promote the improvement of TFP. (3) Financial scale and government intervention have a significant intermediary effect between environmental regulation in both aspects and TFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the impact of air pollution on Chinese professional football players' performance. Our primary research question is whether the negative effects of air pollution can be mitigated by adaptation, and which cohort of players can have higher adaptability. We find that a higher pollution level during the game, relative to the adapted pollution level in players' home cities, has a negative and significant impact on the players' efforts and accuracy. The impact of non-adapted air pollution can be greatly offset by the home advantage, but not by personal attributes such as the higher ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of sea ports in the global logistics maritime supply chain and it connectivity is increasing, as is the focus on optimizing daily operational activities and minimizing the negative impact on society. One of the most significant negative externalities for sea ports is air pollution that remain one the main concern and environmental priority for Port Authorities and Government and their strategic policies. The growth of containerization in the shipping industry stimulates the demand for infrastructure development and increased energy use. This paper strives to propose the best alternative sources of energy to transit from traditional fuel to the greener ones for two important container terminals in Italy. The analyses focus on energy consumption of the most important container terminals Voltri and La Spezia in Italy and analysed using alternative sources of energy. Based on the priorities chosen by twelve experts, the cost, societal and environmental criteria are assigned the highest weight respectively. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) techniques are used, to identify the best alternative sources of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the early years of 20th-century air pollution control in Los Angeles. In both scholarship and public memory, mid-century efforts at the regional level were overshadowed by major federal developments, namely the Clean Air Act and creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. Yet the mid-century local experience was highly consequential and presaged many subsequent challenges that persist today. The article begins with an exploration of the existential, on-the-ground misery of smog in Los Angeles during the 1940s and 1950s. The article examines the role that scientific evidence on smog did and did not play in regulation, the reasons smog control galvanized support across various constituencies in the region, and, finally, some of mid-century air pollution's limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fierce debate rages on whether abundant natural gas is a bridge to a low-carbon future or a hindrance to long-term decarbonization. This paper uses a detailed energy- economic market equilibrium model to study the effects of an upper bound case of natural gas availability. We show that a market-driven abundant natural gas supply can provide substantial reductions in air pollution but does not considerably reduce CO2 emissions in the longer-term, especially relative to a moderate carbon price. However, we quantify large welfare benefits from abundant natural gas. The spatial disaggregation of our results allows for a clear picture of the distributional impacts of abundant natural gas under different carbon price scenarios, illustrating welfare gains by most regions regardless of whether there is carbon pricing, but substantial heterogeneity in the welfare gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it presents a pluralistic framework for justice that combines an expanded interpretation of distributive justice with concerns for recognition, participation, capability, and responsibility. It argues that the latter has not attracted the scholarly attention that it deserves in the environmental justice debate. Secondly, the paper demonstrates how this multidimensional framework can be applied in practice to inform practical judgments about particular environmental justice claims by using an example of traffic-related air pollution in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South China’s Guangdong Province, the Chinese largest provincial economy and the global 14th biggest economy, has been facing a huge challenge of achieving economic growth without emission growth. Developing new strategy for making economic growth compatible carbon reduction requires better understanding of the decoupling carbon emission from economic growth. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive decoupling and decomposition analysis of carbon emission from economic output in Guangdong Province from a sector perspective. We firstly calculate carbon emission in six sectors based on the energy consumption of each sector and carbon coefficient of 13 types of fuels during 2000–2014, and then quantify the decoupling status between CO2 emissions and economic growth in those six sectors by using the Tapio decoupling index, finally, investigate the influencing factors of emissions by using the decomposition techniques. The modeling results show that agricultural sector has strong decoupling, industrial, transport and others sectors are weak decoupling; construction and trade sectors are expansive negative decoupling. We also find that energy intensity and economic output are the major factors influencing carbon emission, also the effects of energy structure and emission factor among six sectors are studied. Some policy recommendations finally are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Kingdom emitted 628 Mt CO2 equivalent (CO2e) as greenhouse gases in 2008. United Kingdom (UK) policy is to decrease these emissions to 154 Mt by 2050. This paper investigates the role that wood construction products and wood-based panels may play in mitigating these greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, we have concentrated on production and consumption in 2005: all solid wood products and wood based panels consumed in the UK in 2005 contained almost 16 Mt CO2e. Using established international methodologies and the 'stock change approach' to carbon storage, the net increase in CO2e stored in all UK wood products in 2005 was calculated to be 7·1 Mt CO2e. Applying the newer UNFCCC 'production approach' gave a net increase in CO2e stored in wood based panels and solid wood of 3·4 Mt CO2e in 2005, approximately half of this storage was in wood based panels. The focus of previous UK studies of carbon in construction has been new housing. We estimate that only 10% of CO2e contained in all UK solid wood and wood based panel products consumed went into new housing in 2005. We have modelled the storage of CO2e in solid wood and wood based panels for other construction sectors and used this to model changes in construction methods: if current trends in UK housing construction methods continue and are extended to other construction sectors, there is the potential to increase the annual increment of CO2e stored in wood products in construction from 9 Mt CO2e to 14 Mt CO2e (more than 2% of the total annual UK greenhouse gas emissions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The factors that trigger spontaneous pneumothorax have not been sufficiently evaluated. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the development of spontaneous pneumothorax and meteorological parameters, including air pollutants. Methods: This is a retrospective study using the medical records of 379 patients who were admitted for spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) over a period of 4 years. Meteorological and air pollution data were obtained from the National Meteorological Office and the Ministry of Environment. We employed a case-crossover design to evaluate the short-term association between SP and meteorological factors including air pollutants. Conditional logistic regression was used to analyze bi-directional matched data. Results: Increase of relative humidity (RH) and of carbon monoxide (CO) were associated with the risk of pneumothorax, with odds ratio (OR) for RH = 1.18 (1.02–1.36), CO = 1.23 (1.02–1.48). Moreover, as air pressure (AP) decreased, risk of pneumothorax increased, with OR = 1.30 (1.05–1.59) but others did not. In the stratified analysis, the effect of RH was positive in ex-smokers (OR = 3.31) and non-smokers (OR = 1.32), but negative in current smokers (OR = 0.72). The effect of AP was significant in younger patients (OR = 1.33), males (OR = 1.40), and non-smokers (OR = 1.36). CO was related only with non-smokers (OR = 1.35) Conclusion: The triggering factors for spontaneous pneumothorax were relative humidity, carbon monoxide, and air pressure. The effect of the trigger was prominent in patients who were younger (<45 years), non- or ex-smokers, and male. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the most recent years, renewable sources are becoming increasingly crucial owing to both the stocks of fossil fuels being depleted and environmental problems around the globe. This study describes the environmental assessment of thermal power plant-based trigeneration systems fuelled by renewable energy sources for district heating/cooling system. First, the paper examines the thermal and refrigeration requests of a possible new urban area with electricity, cooling and heating provided by a new trigeneration power system; this study is performed considering a trigeneration plant based on the internal combustion engines fuelled by renewable vegetable oil. Subsequently, a numerical assessment is achieved in order to evaluate the environmental impact on the neighboring area of the trigeneration system. The results of these numerical simulations show that the impact of this power plant on air quality state is not significant in this area. As a result, this kind of trigeneration power system can significantly support the cause of sustainable development and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case-crossover designs have been widely applied to epidemiological and medical investigations of associations between short-term exposures and risk of acute adverse health events. Much effort has been made in literature on understanding source of confounding and reducing systematic bias by reference-select strategies. In this paper, we explored the nature of bias in the ambi-directional and time-stratified case-crossover designs via simulation using actual air pollution data from urban Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We further proposed a calibration approach for eliminating systematic bias in estimates (coefficient estimate, 95% confident interval, and p-value). Bias check for coefficient estimation, size check and power check for significance test were done via simulation experiments to show advantages of the calibrated case-crossover studies over the ones without calibration. An application was done to investigate associations between air pollutants and acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations in urban Edmonton. In conclusion, systematic bias in a case-crossover design is often unavoidable, leading to an obvious bias in the estimated effect and an unreliable p value in the significance test. The proposed calibration technique provides an efficient approach to eliminating systematic bias in a case-crossover study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optical instrument was developed that is based on a two-wavelength extinction principle and is used to measure the temporal mass concentration of soot aggregates in diesel exhaust. Two laser beams in coaxial alignment transmit a gas sample flow and the transmittances at two wavelengths are measured simultaneously. The specific extinction is determined by a comparison of mass concentrations measured at steady operation conditions by both the extinction and paper filter methods. The soot mass concentration is calculated from the measured transmittance value using the specific extinction obtained. It is demonstrated by experiments with two EURO III direct injection diesel engines that the developed instrument is able to measure the soot mass concentration under transient modes. A theoretical approach to quantify the ratio of scattering to absorption of diesel soot aggregates is proposed whereby the transmittance values measured at two wavelengths and electron micrographs are incorporated into the soot aggregate scattering theory. The refractive index of the diesel soot aggregates is finally determined so that the measured specific absorption could fit a calculated one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion and emissions formation in a Volvo TD 100 series diesel engine running in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode and fuelled with natural gas is simulated and compared with measurements for both with and without external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). A new stochastic approach is introduced to model the convective heat transfer, which accounts for fluctuations and fluid-wall interaction effects. This model is included in a partially stirred plug flow reactor (PaSPFR) approach, a stochastic reactor model (SRM), and is applied to study the effect of EGR on pressure, autoignition timing and emissions of CO and unburned hydrocarbons (HCs). The model accounts for temperature inhomogeneities and includes a detailed chemical mechanism to simulate the chemical reactions within the combustion chamber. Turbulent mixing is described by the interaction by exchange with the mean (IEM) model. A Monte Carlo method with a second-order time-splitting technique is employed to obtain the numerical solution. The model is validated by comparing the simulated in-cylinder pressure history and emissions with measurements taken from Christensen and Johansson (SAE Paper 982454). Excellent agreement is obtained between the peak pressure, ignition timing and CO and HC emissions predicted by the model and those obtained from the measurements for the non-EGR, 38 per cent EGR and 47 per cent EGR cases. A comparison between the pressure profiles for the cases studied reveals that the ignition timing and the peak pressure are dependent on the EGR. With EGR, the peak pressure reduces and the autoignition is delayed. The trend observed in the measured emissions with varying EGR is also predicted correctly by the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the key findings and insights offered by recent work on public understandings of air pollution, which has begun to adopt some of the concepts and methodologies associated with social constructionism. We begin with a brief discussion of debates in the social sciences generally, and human geography specifically, regarding the precepts of 'social constructionism', before setting out the 'heterogeneous' mode that we adopt in this paper. In this light, we trace briefly the fairly narrow empirical, methodological and conceptual preoccupations of early air pollution perception work. These accounts usefully situate the remainder of the paper, which focuses on the recent body of research that explores public understandings of air pollution, with quite different approaches to theory and data collection to that which has gone before. The argument we develop asserts that a constructionist interpretation, in revealing 'complexity' and the entangled interaction of society-environment-technology, raises serious questions about the dominant political discourse of air pollution and the policy responses which it legitimates. The issues raised by this review, we believe, offer a fresh perspective and the potential to progress not only our understanding and management of air pollution risks but also the contribution of geographers to a challenging research terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new combustion concept, named MK (modulated kinetics) combustion, has been developed, which reduces NO[sub x] and smoke simultaneously through high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and retarded injection timing. High-speed photography was employed to investigate the physical and chemical processes of MK combustion, and the results revealed that the combustion features premixed combustion and the lowtemperature flames were accompanied by transparent appearances. Heat flux measurements and KIVA calculations were also made to investigate the effects of swirl, which serves to improve thermal efficiency in MK combustion. It was apparent that the swirl effectively governs the fuel distribution in the combustion chamber, suppressing HC formation and improving thermal efficiency by preventing the flames from contacting the cavity walls. Throughout these experiments, ignition delay and fuel injection duration were found to be the two key parameters that control MK combustion. Accordingly, ignition delay was prolonged by cooled EGR and fuel injection duration was shortened by high injection pressure to allow the MK combustion operation in a high load range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is the assessment of the environmental air pollution in a very densely inhabited area in the southern Italy, which is characterised by serious general contamination. Because the air pollution may have an impact on human health, this area was identified in 1998 as a National Interest Priority Site and comprises a large part of agricultural lands belonging to over 60 municipalities between Naples and Caserta provinces. This study characterises the air pollution affecting this area by estimating the total annual emissions of the major pollutants (CO, NOX, VOC, PM and heavy metals) and showing their municipal spatial disaggregation. In this study a bottom-up methodology was employed, then focusing at regional level instead of national and comprising local and specific parameters. The pollutants emitted from several sources in the area under investigation were obtained by direct measurements of the principal industrial point sources, whereas the emissions from diffuse sources were calculated on the basis of local activity indicators and specific emission factors concerning the relevant activities in this area. The results obtained in this research have identified local critical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's rapid economic growth has resulted in serious environmental issues especially on the urban air pollution, which has caused serious harm to the health of residents and large economic losses. It is widely accepted that the road transport sector is one of the major emitters in China. However, it remains unclear who is more responsible for severe air pollution between the freight and passenger transport subsectors, especially in urban areas of China. In this paper, we divided the road transport sector into the freight and passenger subsectors and investigated the following important issues: (a) Are there any causal relationships between air pollution and the foresaid subsectors? (b) How do we identify the impacts of the changes in the two subsectors on the air pollution in urban China areas? (c) What are the contributions of the two subsectors to the air pollution in urban areas of China? Alternatively, who is to blame more for the current situation, freight or passenger subsectors? Our empirical findings could help the policy makers and researchers had better understand the status of air pollution in China by distinguishing the different proportions of the emissions from the subsectors. Therefore, some pertinent policies could be implemented to mitigate the emissions from China's road transport sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is undeniable that coal is still the main resource for production and consumption in China and will likely remain so in the coming decades. This paper proposes a new method based on rough set theory to effectively evaluate clean coal technology (CCT). Firstly a rough-set information system is built after the filtration of CCT evaluation indexes, and then we discuss the calculations of the weight of every index and evaluation result for each technology. This new method reduces the correlation among different attributes, which makes the results more precise. This data collection approach improves reliability and rationality of evaluation. The results highlight advantages and defects in each technology. This will guide entrepreneurs and scholars to improve Chinese CCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of environmental and health impacts stemming from sports mega-events plays an important role in evaluating the overall cost–benefit of the events. This study utilizes microdata sourced from the China Household Income Project in conjunction with a time-varying difference-in-differences methodology. Through this approach, we estimated the impact of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games on both air quality and public health conditions within China. The results reveal the following: (1) The Games wield substantial and favorable effects on self-perceived health; (2) The primary avenue through which the Games improve self-perceived health is by mitigating air pollution levels in the cities associated with the Games; (3) The cost–benefit analysis unveils that hosting the Games has led to a reduction of 1103.12 million RMB in residents' medical expenses, with the improved air quality accounting for 20.15% of the cost reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although air pollution is an important practical and theoretical issue, the impact of air pollution on game outcomes has not yet been comprehensively investigated. Therefore, by using data from the Chinese Football Association Super League, this study examined the impact of the Air Quality Index and six major air pollutants on game outcomes. Results show that air pollution is negatively and significantly related to game outcomes and is heterogeneous between home teams and away teams. The results extend the knowledge of air pollution studies and sports studies and provide insights into both environmental regulations and sports markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has become a major concern for global environmental health, as it can lead to inflammatory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (AR) and cause a high burden of disease. The aim of this study is to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis based on available research to present the link between ambient PM2.5 and the risk of AR in global populations. Methods: We systematically searched six databases from their inception to 30 November 2020. An expanded literature search was carried out using the references of the included studies. Data extraction was performed using Excel 2016 software, and meta-analysis and heterogeneity analysis were performed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: A total of 14 out of 1361 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The quality assessment showed these studies to be of high quality. Seven out of 14 studies reported a relationship between ambient PM2.5 and AR through Odds ratios (OR, ORoverall = 1.14, 95% CI [1.00, 1.29]), but with a non-significant statistical overall test result (the test result for overall effect was Z = 1.98, p =.05). For subgroups by ages and regions, ORChildren = 1.08 (95% CI [1.04, 1.13]), and OROther ages = 1.50 (95% CI [1.24, 1.81]. The differences between age-related subgroups were significant (p <.01). Meanwhile, the relationship between PM2.5 and the risk of AR in Asia was significant (ORAsia = 1.20, 95% CI [1.01, 1.44], p =.001); whereas the association studies from outside of Asia have reported the relationship as non-significant (OROut-Asia = 1.04, 95% CI [0.82, 1.31], p =.76). Conclusion: There are reports that recognize that the exposure to PM2.5 may contribute to the development of AR. An international framework with a whole-of-society approach, including air quality control efforts and well-being health promotion among AR patients and at-risk populations, should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data for crude oil transported out of North Dakota in 2014, this paper constructs new estimates of the air pollution, greenhouse gas, and spill and accident costs from long-distance movement of petroleum products by rail and pipelines. Our analysis has three main findings. First, air pollution and greenhouse gas costs are nearly twice as large for rail as for pipelines. Second, air pollution and greenhouse gas costs are much larger than estimates of spill and accidents costs. Third, air pollution and greenhouse gas costs of transporting fuel by rail and pipelines are one-fifth to one-tenth of the costs of combusting fuel in motor vehicles. These results suggest that the policy debate surrounding crude oil transportation may be putting too much relative weight on spills and accidents, while overlooking a far more serious external cost: air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Outdoor air pollution is now a well-known risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and is increasingly being identified as a major risk factor for stroke. Methods A narrative literature review of the effects of short and long-term exposure to air pollution on stroke and dementia risk and cognitive functioning. Results Ten papers on stroke and 17 on dementia were selected. Air pollution, and in particular small particulate matter, contributes to about one-third of the global stroke burden and about one-fifth of the global burden of dementia. It particularly affects vulnerable patients with other vascular risk factors or a prior history of stroke in low- and medium-income countries. New pathophysiological mechanisms of the cause-effect associations are suggested. Conclusion Air pollution should be considered as a new modifiable cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative risk factor. This massive worldwide public health problem requires environmental health policies able to reduce air pollution and thus the stroke and dementia burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement for human health and well-being. Objective: To examine the relationship between cognitive performance and ambient pollution exposure. Methods: Studies were identified through a systematic search of online scientific databases, in addition to a manual search of the reference lists from the identified papers. Results: Air pollution is a multifaceted toxic chemical mixture capable of assaulting the central nervous system. Despite being a relatively new area of investigation, overall, there is mounting evidence implicating adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive function in both adults and children. Conclusions: Consistent evidence showed that exposure to air pollution, specifically exposure to particulate matter, caused poor age-related cognitive performance. Living in areas with high levels of air pollution has been linked to markers of neuroinflammation and neuropathology that are associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease-like brain pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the decoupling states between CO2 emissions and transport development in China from 1994 to 2012. The results indicate that, at the aggregate level, the Chinese transport sector is far from reaching the decoupling state. Negative decoupling or non-decoupling years account for 72.2% of the study period. At the disaggregated level, the decoupling states between CO2 emissions and eight primary fuels are as follows: raw coal and coke are in the absolute decoupling state; crude oil, gasoline and diesel are in the weak negative state; and the other three types (kerosene, heavy fuel oil, and natural gas) are in the strong negative decoupling state. Policy implications underneath the identified decoupling states are also revealed to help China build a more sustainable transportation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the economic and environmental effects of increasing indigenous coal share in electricity generation by using extended input–output analysis. The policy scenario is a $1 million increase in demand for investment in the coal mining sector. In order to analyze this policy option, we specifically developed an extended input–output analysis associated with disaggregating the electricity sector into electricity generation transmission and distribution and the mining sector into coal and oil–gas mining. Furthermore, we use a range of key economic and environmental indicators to evaluate the effects of increasing indigenous coal production on these indicators. The results indicate that the $1 million increase in final demand for indigenous coal produces an increase in economic output for all sectors of $1,389,241 and an increase in total greenhouse gases of 229,572 CO2-equivalents (kg CO2-e) as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosols are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and have strong effects on climate and public health due to the importance of reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in air. Over the last decade, study of the reactions of PAHs and their derivatives in the atmosphere has become a key topic to find an effective way to decrease the impact of this spontaneous reaction and so reduce air pollution. This article aims to pool the majority of research on the reactions of PAHs with atmospheric agents such as oxygen, hydrogen and ozone and compare the theoretical and experimental results. In examining theoretical research, the number of aromatic rings is very important in calculating the rate constants and determining the main pathway of the reaction. So, while there are weak theoretical data, several papers issued in this field have concurred with key experimental results. For reactants with more than six aromatic rings, small basis sets have good conformity with experimental outcomes. Due to the abundance of OH in the atmosphere, much research has been done to find the best reaction pathway and calculate the associated rate constants experimentally and theoretically. In future, the opportunity exists for new researchers to detect the main intermediates, most important pathways, rate constants and the products of reactions with more than six aromatic rings and to detect PAHs in a dense atmosphere. Product identification will help to reduce air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has become a major concern for global environmental health, as it can lead to inflammatory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (AR) and cause a high burden of disease. The aim of this study is to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis based on available research to present the link between ambient PM2.5 and the risk of AR in global populations. Methods: We systematically searched six databases from their inception to 30 November 2020. An expanded literature search was carried out using the references of the included studies. Data extraction was performed using Excel 2016 software, and meta-analysis and heterogeneity analysis were performed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: A total of 14 out of 1361 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The quality assessment showed these studies to be of high quality. Seven out of 14 studies reported a relationship between ambient PM2.5 and AR through Odds ratios (OR, ORoverall = 1.14, 95% CI [1.00, 1.29]), but with a non-significant statistical overall test result (the test result for overall effect was Z = 1.98, p =.05). For subgroups by ages and regions, ORChildren = 1.08 (95% CI [1.04, 1.13]), and OROther ages = 1.50 (95% CI [1.24, 1.81]. The differences between age-related subgroups were significant (p <.01). Meanwhile, the relationship between PM2.5 and the risk of AR in Asia was significant (ORAsia = 1.20, 95% CI [1.01, 1.44], p =.001); whereas the association studies from outside of Asia have reported the relationship as non-significant (OROut-Asia = 1.04, 95% CI [0.82, 1.31], p =.76). Conclusion: There are reports that recognize that the exposure to PM2.5 may contribute to the development of AR. An international framework with a whole-of-society approach, including air quality control efforts and well-being health promotion among AR patients and at-risk populations, should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses bibliometric techniques and social network analysis to evaluate 318 publications on air quality management in cities worldwide. The relevant data were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using the VOSviewer 1.6.7 tools. The analysis included the number of publications, citation analyses, research study area analyses, and the most common keywords from 1975 to November 6, 2022. In addition, based on the results of the cluster analysis, we developed co-occurrence networks that enable a more specific keyword classification. The visualization showed the existing relationships between key terms, research study areas, and publications dealing with air quality management in cities. China, the United States, and the United Kingdom led in terms of the number of scientific publications and overall strength of connections during the study period. The most productive journal was Science of the Total Environment, followed by Atmospheric Environment, and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Several limitations of the study are described and recommendations are made for future studies to increase the scope of studies and facilitate urban air quality management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original Cerdà plan (Pla Cerdà) of 1855 for the extension of Barcelona is famous for its grid array of large blocks and wide streets to promote circulation. Each block was originally intended to have an area of open space in the center to provide for the needs of residents. Already by the 1920s, however, the center of the blocks had been filled with buildings. Barcelona currently suffers from a chronic lack of open space, excess noise, and air pollution that exceeds European Union law. This article aims to trace the agency of play as a dynamic process in urban planning to provide new sources of open space through Superblocks (aka Superillas and Supermanzanas). We begin with a brief history of their implementation in the city of Barcelona and the evolution of their justification from the 1990s onward. We then explain the capacity for urban transformation that Superblocks have and how they can modify the urban mobility model and the public space model. We then analyze the role of different forms of play that are used in the area of Poblenou to suggest how play can be used to increase the legitimacy of public participation. Finally, we observe the contingent role of play within urban socialization and in motivating and shaping the urban planning processes of implementing Superblocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scientific assessment of the synergistic effect of the low-carbon city pilot policy in reducing air pollution and carbon emissions is needed to promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This study applied the Spatial Durbin Model-Difference in Difference technique to investigate the synergistic effect of air pollution and carbon emission reduction through the implementation of the low-carbon city pilot policy. The main results are as follows. (1) A spatial phenomenon was observed, in which there was a coexistence of urban carbon emissions and air pollution agglomerations. The spatial characteristics of the "symbiotic" carbon emissions and air pollution agglomerations were revealed. (2) The low-carbon city policy significantly reduced CO2, SO2, and PM2.5 concentrations, and the effect of the "co-governance" of air pollution and carbon emission reduction was obvious. (3) There was a clear regional heterogeneity in the synergistic effect of air pollution and carbon emission reduction in low-carbon cities. A stronger incentive effect was apparent in central and western cities, resource-based cities, and key environmental protection cities. (4) To achieve a synergistic governance "sharing" situation, the transmission mechanism of the low-carbon city pilot policy was the reduction of total energy consumption, the promotion of industrial restructuring, the optimization of the factor endowment structure, and the continuous improvement of the urban transport structure and green innovation. Our results not only help advance the research on synergistic reduction of air pollution and carbon emissions, but also can be of interest to low-carbon city policy makers in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is a part of the NANOSECURE integrated project, supported by the European Commission under Framework Programme 6, with the objective to use nanotechnology in developing sensing and detoxification devices. Besides being sensitive, flexible, compact and inexpensive, it is important that the sensors do not respond to normal indoor air pollutants in their typical concentrations, as false-positive signals can have serious consequences. The purpose of this paper is to list typical indoor air pollutants and indicate ranges of concentrations in which they normally occur. Among others, these results may draw designers’ and manufacturers’ attention to the importance of chemical selectivity, sufficient capacity and robustness to withstand normal exposures in buildings. The main focus is on assembly buildings, airport terminals, and train and metro stations, as spaces in these buildings can be especially endangered by attacks using chemical or biological agents due to their size and population density. The literature review shows lack of information on concentrations of chemical and biological pollutants in these buildings. It also points out a need for calibration and testing in both laboratory environments with clean and well-defined air quality and in atmospheres with typical and often complex compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important criteria for evaluating building engineering are the indoor climate and energy consumption. Increasing energy saving can result not only through the use of better barriers, but also particular building elements, such as windows that have low air leakage values. Both in the design of new buildings and the retrofitting of existing buildings, traditional structures that allow natural ventilation may be used. In these cases, the ventilation provided is important for a proper realisation of all environmental and energy requirements. The present paper presents selected results from a long period of research work. These results were obtained by questionnaires, measurements and simulations of ventilation processes in typical blocks of flats and office buildings in Silesia. The main objective of this paper is to present the investigations and summarise the large number of results taken which describe the effects of airtightness and natural ventilation on the indoor environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates the effect that can be observed when support schemes for renewable energy are regionalised. Two theoretical examples are used to explain interactive effects on, e.g., the price of power, conditions for conventional power producers, and changes in import and export of power. The first example covers countries with regional power markets that also regionalise their support schemes, the second countries with separate national power markets that regionalise their support schemes. The main findings indicate that the almost ideal situation exists if the region prior to regionalising RES-E support schemes already has a common liberalised power market. In this case the introduction of a common support scheme for renewable technologies will lead to more efficient sitings of renewable plants, improving economic and environmental performance of the total power system. But if no such common power market exits regionalising RES-E support schemes might due to interactions introduce distortions in the conventional power system. Thus contrary to intentions we might in this case end up in a system that is far from optimal with regard to efficiency and emissions. Thus considerable cautious should be taken when coordinated or regionalised support schemes are introduced, the outcome depending especially on the conditions at the power market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a study of the particle pollution in an office under two different ventilation modes, that is, mixing ventilation and displacement ventilation. The particle concentration distribution in a full scale office has been numerically simulated, while the size distribution of particles from copiers, which are regarded as a major particle source in offices, has been measured for numerical simulation. The results show that most particles generated by the copiers are in sub-micron range, with diameters of 0.5-2.0μm. Based on the numerical results of particle concentration distribution, the concept of perceived particle intensity (PPI) proposed in a previous study has been applied to evaluate the particle pollution in an office under two different ventilation modes. In addition the occupied density (OD) concept is employed to consider the occupant distribution. The results show that for the cases presented, side supply (mixing ventilation) is better than bottom supply (displacement ventilation) since in our construction the particle source (copier) was located close to the displacement diffuser, which implies that displacement ventilation needs to be carefully designed and adapted for actual application, It is hoped that it will be possible to evaluate particle pollution for different combinations of particle source locations and ventilation modes following the process presented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK was the first country to implement emissions trading as a policy instrument to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the whole of the economy. The paper therefore commences with a description of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and then continues with a discussion of incentives for UK companies to engage in emissions trading. It then outlines a case for research of companies' experiences of "direct participation" in the Scheme, and presents results obtained from case studies of a set of companies which are "direct participants". These illustrate the impact of emissions trading on income generation as well as cost savings. The paper then concludes with the observation that emissions trading will take on increased importance with the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in 2005, and that further research is therefore required into energy and carbon costs and their possible influences on facilities location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]