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Climate Change and Outdoor-Indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environments
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Climate Change and Outdoor-Indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environments

A special issue of Climate (ISSN 2225-1154).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 15511

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vasilis Evagelopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Interests: chemical environmental; atmospheric pollution; gas chromatography; simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the past couple of centuries, the development of human societies and the accompanying growth in the consumption of resources (e.g., energy, water, and food), has caused such levels of stress to the global sum of ecosystems that the term ‘Anthropocene’ has been proposed as a more apt description of the current geological epoch. Among current problems faced by humanity today, the effects of climate change are fast becoming the familiar horsemen of a planetary apocalypse, as so vividly made clear to world leaders at the recent COP26 summit.

Climate change adversely affects outdoor air quality. Studies have shown that air pollution is the number one environmental cause of death in the EU, responsible for more than 400,000 premature deaths per year, because, as is well understood, exposure to particulate matter (PM) can cause or aggravate cardiovascular and lung diseases, heart attacks and arrhythmias, affect the central nervous system and the reproductive system, and cause cancer. Climate change also worsens existing indoor air, an issue particularly important in the northern hemisphere, where most people spend about 90% of their time indoors. Changes in the climate can affect the air we breathe indoors in many ways. For example, such changes can worsen the quality of air outdoors, which infiltrates indoor environments. Rising CO2 levels and warmer temperatures can increase outdoor airborne allergens which can then infiltrate indoor spaces. Additionally, more frequent and longer outdoor heat waves can result in higher indoor temperatures. Climate change can also increase dampness and humidity and lead to increases in mold, dust mites, bacteria, and other biological contaminants indoors. Extreme weather events can also create conditions that support increases in and the spread of pests and infectious agents that can make their way indoors.

This Special Issue aims to attract manuscripts concerned with indoor and outdoor air pollution studies, manuscripts that deal with the challenges faced by planners/decision makers, but also manuscripts that identify opportunities for improvement. As climate change is recognized as imposing impacts on the environment, manuscripts dealing with how it affects indoor air quality and the health of occupants are also welcome. Manuscripts reporting on the development of IoT-based indoor air quality monitoring platforms and cloud computing technology to monitor indoor air quality are particularly welcome.

Dr. Vasilis Evagelopoulos
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. Climate 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 1800 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

  • Climate change
  • Outdoor air pollution
  • Indoor air pollution
  • IoT-based and cloud computing for indoor/outdoor air quality
  • Particulate matter
  • Volatile organic compounds
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Allergens
  • Dampness/mold

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 734 KiB  
Article
Apparent Temperature Modifies the Effects of Air Pollution on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Cape Town, South Africa
by Bukola G. Olutola, Nandi S. Mwase, Joyce Shirinde and Janine Wichmann
Climate 2023, 11(2), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11020030 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3078
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the top cause of mortality and a main contributor to disability globally. The evidence so far is varied on whether cold or heat modifies the CVD effects of air pollution. Weather conditions and air pollution sources and levels are [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the top cause of mortality and a main contributor to disability globally. The evidence so far is varied on whether cold or heat modifies the CVD effects of air pollution. Weather conditions and air pollution sources and levels are different in different countries. Studies in low-and middle-income countries are lacking. Mortality data were obtained from Statistics South Africa. Air pollution and meteorological data were obtained from the South African Weather Service. A time-stratified case–crossover epidemiological design was applied. The association between air pollutants (PM10, NO2 and SO2) and CVD mortality was investigated using conditional logistic regression models. Susceptibility by sex and age groups was investigated. In total, 54,356 CVD deaths were included in the 10-year study. The daily PM10, NO2 and SO2 levels exceeded the daily WHO guidelines on 463, 421 and 8 days of the 3652 days, respectively. Higher air pollution risks were observed in this study compared to those reported in meta-analyses. In general, the elderly and females seemed to be vulnerable to air pollutants, especially at high and moderate apparent temperature levels. Harvesting effects were observed at longer lags. The results can be used to develop an early warning system for the city. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Outdoor-Indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environments)
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9 pages, 3507 KiB  
Article
Identifying Common Trees and Herbaceous Plants to Mitigate Particulate Matter Pollution in a Semi-Arid Mining Region of South Africa
by Sutapa Adhikari, Madeleen Struwig and Stefan John Siebert
Climate 2023, 11(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11010009 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2604
Abstract
Plants provide long-term and sustainable solutions to mitigate particulate matter (PM) pollution in urban environments. We evaluated total, fine, coarse and large particle trapping abilities of an equal number of common trees (Carica papaya, Citrus limon, Moringa oleifera, Ozoroa [...] Read more.
Plants provide long-term and sustainable solutions to mitigate particulate matter (PM) pollution in urban environments. We evaluated total, fine, coarse and large particle trapping abilities of an equal number of common trees (Carica papaya, Citrus limon, Moringa oleifera, Ozoroa paniculosa, Peltophorum africanum, Psidium guajava) and herbaceous species (Argemone ochroleuca, Catharanthus roseus, Gomphocarpus fruticosus, Ipomoea batatas, Senna italica, Tribulus terrestris) to identify dust accumulators for Sekhukhuneland, a mining–smelting region of South Africa where desertification is becoming problematic. Scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to count and measure particles and relate leaf surface micromorphology to dust accumulation. Three tree and three herbaceous species showed superior dust collection capacity (G. fruticosus > P. guajava > I. batatas > O. paniculosa > C. roseus > M. oleifera). Variations in accumulation of PM sizes were noted among these six species and between adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Compared with large PM, all plants accumulated more fine and coarse fractions which are respirable and thus hazardous to human health. Leaf surface roughness, epicuticular wax and epidermal glands improved dust accumulation. The six preferred plants may serve as forerunner species to abate PM pollution in Sekhukhuneland and other arid regions facing similar climate change and pollution challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Outdoor-Indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environments)
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20 pages, 4295 KiB  
Article
Compound Risk of Air Pollution and Heat Days and the Influence of Wildfire by SES across California, 2018–2020: Implications for Environmental Justice in the Context of Climate Change
by Shahir Masri, Yufang Jin and Jun Wu
Climate 2022, 10(10), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli10100145 - 1 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4022
Abstract
Major wildfires and heatwaves have begun to increase in frequency throughout much of the United States, particularly in western states such as California, causing increased risk to public health. Air pollution is exacerbated by both wildfires and warmer temperatures, thus adding to such [...] Read more.
Major wildfires and heatwaves have begun to increase in frequency throughout much of the United States, particularly in western states such as California, causing increased risk to public health. Air pollution is exacerbated by both wildfires and warmer temperatures, thus adding to such risk. With climate change and the continued increase in global average temperatures, the frequency of major wildfires, heat days, and unhealthy air pollution episodes is projected to increase, resulting in the potential for compounding risks. Risks will likely vary by region and may disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. In this study, we processed daily particulate matter (PM) data from over 18,000 low-cost PurpleAir sensors, along with gridMET daily maximum temperature data and government-compiled wildfire perimeter data from 2018–2020 in order to examine the occurrence of compound risk (CR) days (characterized by high temperature and high PM2.5) at the census tract level in California, and to understand how such days have been impacted by the occurrence of wildfires. Using American Community Survey data, we also examined the extent to which CR days were correlated with household income, race/ethnicity, education, and other socioeconomic factors at the census tract level. Results showed census tracts with a higher frequency of CR days to have statistically higher rates of poverty and unemployment, along with high proportions of child residents and households without computers. The frequency of CR days and elevated daily PM2.5 concentrations appeared to be strongly related to the occurrence of nearby wildfires, with over 20% of days with sensor-measured average PM2.5 > 35 μg/m3 showing a wildfire within a 100 km radius and over two-thirds of estimated CR days falling on such days with a nearby wildfire. Findings from this study are important to policymakers and government agencies who preside over the allocation of state resources as well as organizations seeking to empower residents and establish climate resilient communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Outdoor-Indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environments)
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15 pages, 4371 KiB  
Article
Cloud-Based Decision Support System for Air Quality Management
by Vasilis Evagelopoulos, Nikolaos D. Charisiou, Milton Logothetis, Georgios Evagelopoulos and Christopher Logothetis
Climate 2022, 10(3), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli10030039 - 10 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4140
Abstract
Air quality is important for the protection of human health, the environment and our cultural heritage and it is an issue that will acquire increased significance in the future due to the adverse effects of climate change. Thus, it is important to not [...] Read more.
Air quality is important for the protection of human health, the environment and our cultural heritage and it is an issue that will acquire increased significance in the future due to the adverse effects of climate change. Thus, it is important to not simply monitor air quality, but to make information immediately available to those responsible for monitoring the networks, to policy/decision makers, but also to the general population. Moreover, the development of information technologies over the last couple of decades has allowed the proliferation of real-time pollution monitoring. The work presented herein concerns the development of an effective way of monitoring environmental parameters using dedicated software. It offers a complete suite of applications that support environmental data collection management and reporting for air quality and associated meteorology. It combines modern technologies for the proper monitoring of air quality networks, which can consist of one or more measuring stations. Innovatively, it also focuses on how to effectively present the relevant information, utilizing modern technologies, such as cloud and mobile applications, to network engineers, policy/decision managers, and to the general public at large. It also has the capability of notifying appropriate personnel in the event of failures, overruns or abnormal values. The system, in its current configuration, handles information from six networks that include over 55 air pollution monitoring stations that are located throughout Greece. This practical application has shown that the system can achieve high data availability rates, even higher than 99% during the year. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Outdoor-Indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environments)
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