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Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4

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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 (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 32980

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marc L. Mansfield

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Uintah Basin, 320 N. Aggie Blvd, Vernal, UT 84078, USA
Interests: winter ozone; emissions by the fossil fuel industry; statistical modeling of environmental data; transport of pollutants across the air/water and the air/snow interfaces; atomospheric chemistry under dry; cold conditions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Utah, USA has unique winter air quality issues related to thermal inversion phenomena in its valleys and basins. During wintertime inversion episodes, the valleys along the Wasatch Front in north–central Utah experience frequent PM_2.5 exceedances, while the Uinta Basin in eastern Utah experiences frequent ozone exceedances. High wintertime ozone occurs, so far as we know, in only two regions worldwide as a result of the interplay between several different causative agents. Chemical pathways differ from those in urban summertime ozone systems because the air is colder and drier and because the pollution speciation is different. Interactions with the snowpack may also be important. The difficulty in meteorological modeling of thermal inversions, especially given the complex topography of these valleys and basins, is another complicating factor. These air quality issues impact the health, economy, and quality of life in the state and mitigation strategies based on sound science are needed.

To stimulate progress in the understanding of the unique air quality issues in the State, the journal Atmosphere is planning to produce a Special Issue in partnership with the "Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4" (https://harbor.weber.edu/Airqualityscience/). I am writing to encourage you or your colleagues to submit original research papers related to Utah’s air quality. Suggested topics include but are not limited to:

Measurements and modeling of emissions having an impact on Utah’s air quality, including poorly characterized emission sources;
Meteorological measurements and modeling aimed at a better understanding of thermal inversion phenomena;
Measurements and modeling of air chemistry in the State, including winter ozone and aerosol formation, and interactions with the snowpack;
Health, economic or quality of life impacts.

Dr. Marc L. Mansfield
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Utah air quality
Winter ozone
Uinta basin
Wasatch Front
Persistent thermal inversions

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 8013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sources of Formaldehyde in Bountiful, Utah

by Nitish Bhardwaj, Ariel Kelsch, Delbert J. Eatough, Ryan Thalman, Nancy Daher, Kerry Kelly, Isabel Cristina Jaramillo and Jaron C. Hansen

Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030375 - 13 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2812

Abstract

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s National Air Toxics Trends Stations Network has been measuring the concentration of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) including formaldehyde (HCHO) since 2003. Bountiful, Utah (USA) has served as one of the urban monitoring sites since the network was established. Starting in 2013, the mean concentration of HCHO measured in Bountiful, Utah exceeded the non-cancer risk threshold and the 1 in 1 million cancer risk threshold. In addition, the measured concentrations were more than double those found at surrounding locations in Utah. A Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis using PMF-EPA v5 was performed using historical data (2004–2017) to better understand the sources of formaldehyde in the region. The historical data set included samples that were collected every sixth day on a 24 h basis. Beginning in February 2019 an eight-week air sampling campaign was initiated to measure formaldehyde on a two-hour averaged basis. In addition, the measurements of O_3, NO, NO₂, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) were also collected. Corresponding back-trajectory wind calculations for selected time periods were calculated to aid in the understanding of the effects of BTEX emission sources and formaldehyde formation. The results indicate that the principal formaldehyde sources are associated with biomass burning and the conversion of biogenic emissions into HCHO. Back-trajectory wind analysis of low (≤3 ppbv) and high (23.8–32.5 ppbv) HCHO cases show a clear dominance of high HCHO originating in trajectories that come from the southwest and pass over the area of the oil refineries and industrial sources in the north Salt Lake City area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4)

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18 pages, 2549 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Winter Ozone Pollution in Utah’s Uinta Basin is Attenuating

by Marc L. Mansfield and Seth N. Lyman

Atmosphere 2021, 12(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010004 - 23 Dec 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2778

Abstract

High concentrations of ground-level ozone have been observed during wintertime in the Uinta Basin of western Utah, USA, beginning in 2010. We analyze existing ozone and ozone precursor concentration data from 38 sites over 11 winter seasons and conclude that there has been a statistically significant (p < 0.02) decline in ozone concentration over the previous decade. Daily exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone (70 ppb) have been trending downward at the rate of nearly four per year. Ozone and NO_x concentrations have been trending downward at the rates of about 3 and 0.3 ppb per year, respectively. Concentrations of organics in 2018 were at about 30% of their values in 2012 or 2013. Several markers, annual ozone exceedance counts and median ozone and NO_x concentrations, were at their largest values in the period 2010 to 2013 and have never recovered since then. We attribute the decline to (1) weakening global demand for oil and natural gas and (2) more stringent pollution regulations and controls, both of which have occurred over the previous decade. We also see evidence of ozone titration when snow cover is absent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4)

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19 pages, 3902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Ethylene and Propylene in an Area Dominated by Oil Production

by Seth N. Lyman, Makenzie L. Holmes, Huy N. Q. Tran, Trang Tran and Trevor O’Neil

Atmosphere 2021, 12(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010001 - 22 Dec 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2528

Abstract

We measured the spatial distribution and composition of ozone-forming hydrocarbons, alcohols, and carbonyls in Utah’s Uinta Basin during the winter months of 2019 and 2020. The Uinta Basin contains about 10,000 producing oil and gas wells. Snow cover and the region’s unique topography (i.e., a large basin entirely surrounded by mountains) promote strong, multi-day temperature inversion episodes that concentrate pollution and lead to wintertime ozone production. Indeed, organic compound concentrations were about eight times higher during inversion episodes than during snow-free springtime conditions. We examined spatial associations between wintertime concentrations of organics and oil and gas sources in the region, and we found that concentrations of highly reactive alkenes were higher in areas with dense oil production than in areas with dense gas production. Total alkene+acetylene concentrations were 267 (42, 1146; lower and upper 95% confidence limits) µg m⁻³ at locations with 340 or more producing oil wells within 10 km (i.e., 75th percentile) versus 12 (9, 23) µg m⁻³ at locations with 15 or fewer oil wells (i.e., 25th percentile). Twenty-eight percent of the potential for organic compounds to produce ozone was due to alkenes in areas with dense oil production. Spatial correlations and organic compound ratios indicated that the most likely source of excess alkenes in oil-producing areas was natural gas-fueled engines, especially lean-burning (i.e., high air:fuel ratio) artificial lift engines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4)

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28 pages, 3679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human Health and Economic Costs of Air Pollution in Utah: An Expert Assessment

by Isabella M. Errigo, Benjamin W. Abbott, Daniel L. Mendoza, Logan Mitchell, Sayedeh Sara Sayedi, Jeffrey Glenn, Kerry E. Kelly, John D. Beard, Samuel Bratsman, Thom Carter, Robert A. Chaney, Andrew Follett, Andrew Freeman, Rebecca J. Frei, Mitchell Greenhalgh, Heather A. Holmes, Peter D. Howe, James D. Johnston, Leslie Lange, Randal Martin, Audrey Stacey, Trang Tran and Derrek Wilson Show full author list Hide full author list

Atmosphere 2020, 11(11), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11111238 - 18 Nov 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 15996

Abstract

Air pollution causes more damage to health and economy than previously understood, contributing to approximately one in six deaths globally. However, pollution reduction policies remain controversial even when proven effective and cost negative, partially because of misunderstanding and growing mistrust in science. We used an expert assessment to bridge these research–policy divides in the State of Utah, USA, combining quantitative estimates from 23 local researchers and specialists on the human health and economic costs of air pollution. Experts estimated that air pollution in Utah causes 2480 to 8000 premature deaths annually (90% confidence interval) and decreases the median life expectancy by 1.1 to 3.6 years. Economic costs of air pollution in Utah totaled $0.75 to $3.3 billion annually, up to 1.7% of the state’s gross domestic product. Though these results were generally in line with available estimates from downscaled national studies, they were met with surprise in the state legislature, where there had been an almost complete absence of quantitative health and economic cost estimates. We discuss the legislative and personal responses of Utah policy makers to these results and present a framework for increasing the assimilation of data into decision making via regional expert assessment. In conclusion, combining quantitative assessments from local experts is a responsive and cost-effective tool to increase trust and information uptake during time-sensitive policy windows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4)

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23 pages, 3002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mass Transport of Gases across the Air–Water Interface: Implications for Aldehyde Emissions in the Uinta Basin, Utah, USA

by Marc L. Mansfield

Atmosphere 2020, 11(10), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11101057 - 02 Oct 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1729

Abstract

When they dissolve in water, aldehydes become hydrated to gem-diols:

R - COH + H_{2} O \leftrightarrow RCH {(OH)}_{2}

. Such reactions can complicate air–water transport models. Because of a persistent belief that the gem-diols do not exist in [...] Read more.

When they dissolve in water, aldehydes become hydrated to gem-diols:

R - COH + H_{2} O \leftrightarrow RCH {(OH)}_{2}

. Such reactions can complicate air–water transport models. Because of a persistent belief that the gem-diols do not exist in the vapor phase, typical models do not allow them to pass through the air–water interface, but in fact, they do. Therefore, transport models that allow both molecular forms to exist in both phases and to pass through the interface are needed. Such a model is presented here as a generalization of Whitman’s two-film model. Since Whitman’s model has fallen into disuse, justification of its use is also given. There are hypothetical instances for which the flux predicted by the current model is significantly larger than the flux predicted when models forbid the diol form from passing through the interface. However, for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, the difference is about 6% and 2%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4)

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Review

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14 pages, 15624 KiB

Open AccessReview

Historic and Modern Air Pollution Studies Conducted in Utah

by Judy Ou, Cheryl S. Pirozzi, Benjamin D. Horne, Heidi A. Hanson, Anne C. Kirchhoff, Logan E. Mitchell, Nathan C. Coleman and C. Arden Pope III

Atmosphere 2020, 11(10), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11101094 - 13 Oct 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5567

Abstract

Utah’s low-smoking population and high population density concentrated in mountain valleys, with intermittent industrial activity and frequent temperature inversions, have yielded unique opportunities to study air pollution. These studies have contributed to the understanding of the human health impacts of air pollution. The populated mountain valleys of Utah experience considerable variability in concentrations of ambient air pollution because of local emission sources that change over time and episodic atmospheric conditions that result in elevated concentrations of air pollution. Evidence from Utah studies indicates that air pollution, especially combustion-related fine particulate matter air pollution and ozone, contributes to various adverse health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and increased risk of lung cancer. The evidence suggests that air pollution may also contribute to risk of pre-term birth, pregnancy loss, school absences, and other adverse health outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Utah, USA: In Partnership with the Air Quality: Science for Solutions 4)

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