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A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 July 2024) | Viewed by 24101

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Thiago Nogueira

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo 05508-070, Brazil
Interests: aerosols; air pollution; air particulate matter; air quality; tropospheric ozone; VOCs; health assessment; elemental analysis
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Dr. Taciana Toledo De Almeida Albuquerque

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Guest Editor

Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6.627, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
Interests: air pollution; air particulate matter; air quality; air quality modeling; air pollution control and modeling applications
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Dr. Rodrigo J. Seguel

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Guest Editor

Center for Climate and Resilience Research, Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Chile, Blanco Encalada 2002, 4to Piso, Santiago, Chile
Interests: ozone trends; volatile organic compounds; air quality; urban resilience

Dr. Manousos Ioannis Manousakas

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Guest Editor

Paul Scherrer Institute, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, 5232, Villigen, PSI, Switzerland
Interests: aerosols; source apportionment; elemental analysis; PMF; PM; metals; air pollution
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Dr. Néstor Y. Rojas

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 26-86, Colombia
Interests: air pollution; PM; source apportionment; atmospheric emission
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution is the world’s single greatest environmental risk to health. Some 6.5 million people across the world die prematurely every year from exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution, and nine out of ten people breathe outdoor air polluted beyond acceptable WHO guidelines levels.

Megacities (metropolitan areas with populations over 10 million) present a major global environmental challenge. Rapid population growth, unsustainable urban development, and increased energy demand by transportation, industrial, commercial, and residential activities, have led to large amounts of emissions to the atmosphere that subject the residents to the health risks associated with harmful pollutants, and impose heavy economic and social costs.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present original research articles and reviews in assessing air pollution in metropolitan areas and megacities, including both experimental and monitoring studies and mathematical/numerical modeling studies. Topics to be covered include gases pollutants and urban aerosol observations, including particulate matter chemical characterization and human exposure assessment.

Dr. Thiago Nogueira
Dr. Taciana Toledo De Almeida Albuquerque
Dr. Rodrigo J. Seguel
Dr. Manousos Ioannis Manousakas
Dr. Néstor Y. Rojas
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Mid-Tier Approach to Estimating Durban’s Port Marine Mobile Emissions: Gauging Air Quality Impacts in South Durban

by Nkosinathi Michael Manqele, Raeesa Moolla and Lisa Frost Ramsay

Atmosphere 2024, 15(10), 1207; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15101207 - 10 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1125

Abstract

Durban Port in South Africa is the largest container port and the busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 60% of the country’s containerised cargo and 40% of break-bulk cargo transit through Durban. The port is near the central business district, which has a positive spin-off in terms of tourism, recreation, and accessibility to transport and other business activities. The juxtaposition of industry, the port, and the community has resulted in sustained public health implications, a relic of the apartheid era. Like most ports in Africa, Durban Port lacks proper quantification of emissions from marine mobile sources. This study is aimed at estimating atmospheric emissions from ocean-going vessels (OGVs) in and around Durban Port for a period of one year from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 using a mid-tier (activity-based) approach to supplement existing understandings of emissions from local industries. Emission estimates were then inputted to the AERMOD atmospheric dispersion model to allow for a comparison between ambient concentrations and national ambient air quality standards to assess potential health impacts. The study is an advancement in understanding the impact of mobile sources, particularly shipping, on air quality and health, and offers an example for other African ports to follow. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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21 pages, 3694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Quality in the Cartagena Basin in South-Western Europe and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

by José-Luis Moreno-Cegarra, Isidro A. Pérez and M. Ángeles García

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070783 - 29 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1306

Abstract

The port of Cartagena, south-east Spain, is noted for its intense activity. This paper presents the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recorded levels of six pollutants. Fifteen years of measurements were used, with two objectives. The first was to investigate how these pollutants evolved, together with their usual cycles. The second objective was to ascertain whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the concentrations recorded. The results showed that nitrogen oxide concentrations remained steady in the first half of the measurement period and decreased in the second half. SO₂ concentrations decreased irregularly, whereas O₃ and PM₁₀ presented steady concentrations. The annual cycle was observed for nitrogen oxides and O₃. Only SO₂ evidenced no weekly cycle. Finally, the analysis of pre- and post-pandemic concentrations revealed a sharp decrease in nitrogen oxides, whereas the pandemic was not seen to have had any impact on the other pollutants. In addition, NO₂ emerged as the best indicator of human activity—represented by car and maritime traffic—due to its response to the relaxation measures. Finally, Lamb weather types were calculated. The unclassified type was the most frequent. However, the greatest concentration changes were observed for anticyclonic and eastern flow types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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15 pages, 5251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Low-Cost Sensors for Environmental Health Surveillance: Wildfire-Related Particulate Matter Detection in Brasília, Brazil

by Patrick Connerton, Thiago Nogueira, Prashant Kumar and Helena Ribeiro

Atmosphere 2023, 14(12), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14121796 - 8 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2387

Abstract

Ambient air quality is the most important environmental factor affecting human health, estimated by the WHO to be responsible for 4.2 million deaths annually. Having timely estimates for air quality is critical for implementing public policies that can limit anthropogenic emissions, reduce human exposure and allow for preparation and interventions in the health sector. In Brazil, wildfires constitute an important source of particulate matter emission, particularly in the country’s northern and midwestern regions, areas that are under-served in terms of air quality monitoring infrastructure. In the absence of regulatory-grade monitoring networks, low-cost sensors offer a viable alternative for generating real-time, publicly available estimates of pollutant concentrations. Here, we examine data from two low-cost sensors deployed in Brasília, in the Federal District of Brazil, during the 2022 wildfire season and use NOAA’s HYSPLIT model to investigate the origin of a particulate matter peak detected by the sensors. There was high agreeability of the data from the two sensors, with the raw values showing that daily average PM_2.5 concentrations reached peak values of 46 µg/m³ and 43 µg/m³ at the school and park sites, respectively. This study demonstrates the value of low-cost sensors and their possible application in real-time scenarios for environmental health surveillance purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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21 pages, 4859 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Quality Characterization and Trend Analysis in a Brazilian Industrialized Metropolitan Area in the Period from 1995 to 2022

by Amanda Karine Chaves Ribeiro, Elson Silva Galvão and Taciana Toledo de Almeida Albuquerque

Atmosphere 2023, 14(12), 1792; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14121792 - 6 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2040

Abstract

The Brazilian population grew approximately 9% from 2006 to 2016, and the number of deaths caused by air pollution increased by 14% in Brazil in the same period. Facing the lack of studies on air quality in the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte (MABH)—the third most populous Brazilian metropolitan area—this study aimed to investigate the air quality and the trends of air pollutant concentrations in the MABH between 1995 and 2022, using data from the air quality monitoring network. The methodology consisted of checking MABHs air quality trends following the WHO air quality guidelines. The Mann–Kendall test was used to check statistically for the possibility of tendencies. The results showed a trend of stability in the concentrations of air pollutants in the MABH without any trend of improvement or worsening. However, the time series of the MABH exposed the challenge of ensuring better air quality that protects human health. Furthermore, the results reinforced the importance of focusing on pollutant sources and exposed the need for improvements in air quality management. Thus, it is essential to reverse the current dismantling scenario of the public environmental agencies in Brazil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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16 pages, 8547 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatiotemporal Variability of Urban Air Pollution in Bucharest City

by Alexandru Ilie, Jeni Vasilescu, Camelia Talianu, Cristian Iojă and Anca Nemuc

Atmosphere 2023, 14(12), 1759; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14121759 - 29 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2312

Abstract

Urban air pollution is one of the major challenges that cities around the world face. Particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO

_{2}

), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants are many times over the recommended airborne exposure, generating a strong impact on [...] Read more.

Urban air pollution is one of the major challenges that cities around the world face. Particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO

_{2}

), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants are many times over the recommended airborne exposure, generating a strong impact on human health and city well-being. Considering Bucharest as a case study, this study aimed to investigate the patterns of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Multiyear data from the Romanian National Air Quality Monitoring Network were used to investigate spatial and temporal variability. All air pollutants presented a typical bimodal trend during the day, with specific double peaks corresponding to the morning rush hours and nighttime. Spatial variability in NO

_{2}

concentrations was observed, with almost double the concentration values in the city center during midday compared with those for the background and industrial areas. A weekly pattern of PM was noticed, with lower concentrations during the weekends in comparison with those during weekdays, more pronounced in the case of PM

_{10}

compared with the case of PM

_{2.5}

. The fine particle fraction presented monthly and seasonal variability, with higher levels during the cold months compared with the warm months, mainly corresponding to the increased household heating. The estimated proportion of mortality attributable to annual exposure to an air PM

_{2.5}

above 5

μ

g/m

^{3}

in Bucharest ranged between 7.55% and 8.26%, with the maximum from 2021. By contrast, the estimated proportion of mortality attributable to PM

_{10}

and NO

_{2}

above 10

μ

g/m

^{3}

was significantly lower, with values around 4%. The results are useful in supporting environmental planning measures to decrease urban air pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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17 pages, 1048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An MCDM Approach to Analytically Identify the Air Pollutants’ Impact on Health

by Rashmi Bhardwaj and Shanky Garg

Atmosphere 2023, 14(6), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14060909 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2235

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the deadliest and most important concerns of our era, and it not only impacts our environment but also our health. The consequences of poor air quality are not limited to just our lungs or our heart but also our brain and resulting in increased mortality rate of many countries every year. There are many effluents/pollutants present in the air that are harmful and cause diseases in humans which eventually lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a need to identify those factors and evaluate the effect of pollution caused by air on the health of humans which is a prerequisite for the implementation of policies in preventing pollution. In this study, we model and evaluate the harmful impact of pollution caused by air on the health of humans by using a multi-criteria decision-making approach (MCDM). We have proposed a novel coupled model of the double modified (criteria importance through intercriteria correlation) CRITIC—technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method (DMCTM) to identify and evaluate the factors of air pollution and its effect on health which overcome the disadvantage of bias while collecting the subjective data in the traditional TOPSIS method. To get a clear view of the framework proposed, a case study is conducted based on the methodology proposed in which we find that Xinxiang is the most polluted city in China among the five studied cities with SO₂ as the major contributor, and the city experienced more pollution levels in 2022 and least in 2016, whereas there is a slight fluctuation in life expectancy with air pollution in the years 2015 and 2023. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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19 pages, 5365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Ozone Levels Responses to Changes in Meteorological Conditions under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 Scenarios over São Paulo, Brazil

by Alejandro H. Delgado Peralta, Mario Gavidia-Calderón and Maria de Fatima Andrade

Atmosphere 2023, 14(4), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14040626 - 26 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2441

Abstract

Since the implementation of emission control policies in 1983, the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) has experienced a significant decrease in the annual mean concentration of air pollutants, except for ozone, which has remained relatively stable. This work analyzes the future impact on surface ozone formation in the MASP caused by changes in atmospheric conditions. The authors performed air quality simulations using the weather research and forecasting with chemistry (WRF-Chem) model under two representative concentration pathway (RCP) atmospheric conditions. A base case simulation from September and October 2018 was compared to scenarios for the same months in 2030, using the same anthropogenic emissions. Results show an average increase in peak ozone concentrations (0.43% for RCP 4.5 and 5.92% for RCP 8.5) with variations depending on the month and location. However, under the RCP 4.5 scenario, peak ozone concentrations in October were higher in urban areas than under the RCP 8.5. These outcomes can assist decision-makers in understanding the potential future impacts of high ozone formation, which has historically occurred in September and October in São Paulo by considering the effects of changing meteorological conditions, such as increased temperatures, higher surface radiation, and reduced cloudiness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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14 pages, 2136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emission Source Areas of Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

by Tuyet Nam Thi Nguyen, Nguyen Xuan Du and Nguyen Thi Hoa

Atmosphere 2023, 14(3), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14030579 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5545

Abstract

This study aims to determine emission source areas of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City, Vietnam, using a conditional bivariate probability function (CBPF) and hybrid receptor models, including three-dimensional potential source contribution function (3D-PSCF) and concentration-weighted trajectory (3D-CWT), considering latitudes, longitudes, and height of trajectory segments. Uncertainties of the CBPF and 3D-PSCF/3D-CWT were evaluated based on the 95th confidence intervals and 95% confidence levels, respectively. For the local scale, PM_2.5 in HCM City was primarily emitted from shallow or common ground sources (e.g., vehicle emissions) throughout the year. Regarding non-local source areas, PM_2.5 in HCM City is contributed by those originated from the East Sea (e.g., shipping emissions) and southeastern Vietnam (e.g., Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces) having several industrial zones with PM_2.5 emission sources, especially in the dry season (December to April of the following year). In the rainy season (May–November), PM_2.5 derived from emission sources in the Mekong Delta (e.g., biomass burning) might be transported to HCM City. However, contribution of the non-local sources to PM_2.5 pollution in HCM City during the rainy season is less important because of PM_2.5 deposition stemmed from the high rainfall amount in this season. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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17 pages, 7295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Natural and Anthropogenic Drivers of PM_2.5 Concentrations Based on Random Forest Model: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration, China

by Shasha Guo, Xiaoli Tao and Longwu Liang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020381 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

PM_2.5 is the key reason for the frequent occurrence of smog; therefore, identifying its key driving factors has far-reaching significance for the prevention and control of air pollution. Based on long-term remote sensing inversion of PM_2.5 data, 21 driving factors in the fields of nature and humanities were selected, and the random forest model was applied to study the influencing factors of PM_2.5 concentration in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (BTH) from 2000 to 2016. The results indicate: (1) The main factors affecting PM_2.5 concentration not only include natural factors such as sunshine hours (SSH), relative humidity (RHU), elevation (ELE), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), wind speed (WIN), average temperature (TEM), daily temperature range (TEMR), and precipitation (PRE), but also human factors such as urbanization rate (URB), total investment in fixed assets (INV), and the number of employees in the secondary industry (INDU); (2) The concentration of PM_2.5 changed into an inverted S-shape with the increase in SSH and WIN, and into an S-shape with the increase in RHU, NDVI, TEM, PRS, URB and INV. As for ELE and TEMR, it fluctuated and decreased with the increase in ELE, while it increased and then decreased with the increase in TEMR. However, its change was less pronounced with the increase in PRE and INDU; (3) The influence of natural factors is higher than that of human factors, but the role of human factors has been continuously strengthened in recent years. The adjustment and control of PM_2.5 pollution sources from the perspective of human factors will become an effective way to reduce PM_2.5 concentrations in the BTH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

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