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Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition
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Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 6835

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yonghang Lai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Ibaraki, Japan
Interests: environmental epidemiology; air pollution exposure; fireworks pollution; indoor air quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Peter Brimblecombe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Marine Environment and Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
2. School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
Interests: air pollution exposure; air pollution in China; fireworks pollution; heritage climatology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution often results from high-density and high-frequency activities including emissions from motor vehicles, power plants, chemical industries, and other activities, especially in urban areas. Many epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) can lead to respiratory and circulatory health problems. Urban air pollution and its variation and controlled management still represent a significant scientific and environmental policy issue around the world, as variation in air pollutants is complicated due to chemical reactions and human activities. Relevant research continues to be needed in these and related interacting fields to facilitate the understanding of air pollutant variation for improving urban air quality on both local and international scales.

This Special Issue is interested in contributions associated with the understanding and improvement of air pollution in urban areas. There will be a special focus on pollution from cultural activities such as sport or the use of incense and fireworks and new policy developments for controlling the air quality. Studies may model the transport of air pollutants; analyze air pollution impacts; examine new technologies of source reduction or emission control; and quantify the diverse sources of air pollutants and their impacts. Investigations on the effects of cultural activities on indoor air quality are also welcome.

The publications in the first volume, which we believe may be of interest to you, can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/environments/special_issues/465O8X5XC4

Dr. Yonghang Lai
Prof. Dr. Peter Brimblecombe
Guest Editors

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. Environments 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

  • air pollution exposure
  • cultural activities
  • urban air pollution impacts
  • new methodologies and technologies
  • policy developments
  • indoor air quality

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 523 KB  
Article
Molecular and Ionic Signatures in Rainwater: Unveiling Sources of Atmospheric Pollution
by Grace Stamm, Arka Bhattacharjee, Gayatri Basapuram, Avishek Dutta and Srimanti Duttagupta
Environments 2025, 12(10), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12100351 - 29 Sep 2025
Viewed by 808
Abstract
Atmospheric deposition through rainfall plays a significant role in transporting various anthropogenic contaminants to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, rainwater’s integrated ionic and molecular composition remains underexplored in semiurban environments. This study provides a comprehensive chemical characterization of rainwater collected during seven precipitation [...] Read more.
Atmospheric deposition through rainfall plays a significant role in transporting various anthropogenic contaminants to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, rainwater’s integrated ionic and molecular composition remains underexplored in semiurban environments. This study provides a comprehensive chemical characterization of rainwater collected during seven precipitation events from February to April 2025 in Athens, Georgia, USA. This semiurban area is characterized by substantial vehicular traffic, seasonal agricultural activities, and ongoing construction, while lacking significant industrial emissions. Targeted spectrophotometric analyses revealed heightened concentrations of nitrate (ranging from 2.0 to 4.3 mg/L), sulfate (17 to 26 mg/L), and phosphate (2.4 to 3.1 mg/L), with peak concentrations observed during high-intensity rainfall events. These findings are consistent with enhanced wet scavenging of atmospheric emissions. Concurrently, both targeted and non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses identified a diverse array of organic pollutants in the rainwater, including organophosphate, organochlorine, and triazine pesticides; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); plasticizers; flame retardants; surfactant degradation products; and industrial additives such as bisphenol A, triclosan, and nicotine. Furthermore, several legacy contaminants, such as organochlorines, were detected alongside currently utilized compounds, including glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). The concurrent presence of elevated anion and organic pollutant levels during significant storm events suggests that atmospheric washout can be the primary deposition mechanism. These findings underscore the capability of semiurban atmospheres to accumulate and redistribute complex mixtures of pollutants through rainfall, even in the absence of large-scale industrial activity. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated ionic and molecular analyses for uncovering concealed pollution sources. It highlights the potential of rainwater chemistry as a diagnostic tool for monitoring atmospheric contamination in urbanizing environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition)
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28 pages, 60612 KB  
Article
Reduction in Brake Wear Emissions with Cr2O3 and WC-CoCr Coatings for Cast Iron Discs
by Marie Hoff, Christophe Bressot, Yan-Ming Chen, Laurent Meunier and Martin Morgeneyer
Environments 2025, 12(10), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12100341 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 677
Abstract
The present contribution showcases the potential brake emission reduction with Cr2O3 (chromium oxide) and WC-CoCr (tungsten carbide–chromium–cobalt) rotor coatings, as realized in our joint public–private research consortium. Particulate matter (PM) emissions from automotive braking systems have been characterized using a [...] Read more.
The present contribution showcases the potential brake emission reduction with Cr2O3 (chromium oxide) and WC-CoCr (tungsten carbide–chromium–cobalt) rotor coatings, as realized in our joint public–private research consortium. Particulate matter (PM) emissions from automotive braking systems have been characterized using a pin-on-disc tribometer equipped with particle measurement devices: a CPC (Condensation Particle Counter), an APS (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer), an SMPS (Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer), and a PM2.5 sampling unit. Brake pad samples made from the same low-steel friction material were tested against a grey flake cast iron disc and two types of custom coated discs: a Cr2O3-coated disc and a WC-CoCr-coated disc. The friction pairs were investigated at a constant contact pressure of 1.2 MPa while the sliding velocity varied during the test, starting with 25 sequences at 3.6 m/s, followed by 19 sequences at 6.1 m/s, and finishing with 6 sequences at 11.2 m/s. The test results show encouraging 64% to 84% reductions in particle number (PN) emissions between 4 nm and 3 µm and 84% to 95% reductions in mass emissions (PM2.5) thanks to the respective coated discs. SEM-EDXS (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analyses show that the hardness and roughness of the discs, the chemical reactivity (oxidation), and the abrasiveness of the three friction pairs are parameters that might explain this reduction in emission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 3687 KB  
Article
From Aerosol Optical Depth to Risk Assessment: A Novel Framework for Environmental Impact Statistics of Air Quality Using AERONET
by Ioana Tanasa, Marius Cazacu, Dumitru Botan, John D. Atkinson, Viktor Sebestyen and Brindusa Sluser
Environments 2025, 12(8), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12080285 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 855
Abstract
The implementation of European Union policies contributed to substantial air pollution reductions in recent years, but atmospheric aerosols remain a key pollutant class with environmental and public health risks. This study develops a novel method for assessing environmental impact and the risk associated [...] Read more.
The implementation of European Union policies contributed to substantial air pollution reductions in recent years, but atmospheric aerosols remain a key pollutant class with environmental and public health risks. This study develops a novel method for assessing environmental impact and the risk associated with urban atmospheric aerosols. The integrated approach for air quality evaluation and prediction of the effects and risk of certain pollutants is based on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) analysis, considering the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) database. To validate the method, it was applied using monitored air quality data for two cities in Romania, with 13 years (from 2011 to 2023) in one case and 12 years (from 2012 to 2023) in the other. The results demonstrated that an AOD risk index can be developed and utilized for air quality evaluation and prediction, enabling estimation of impacts and risks. In this case, aerosols measured by AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) over Cluj-Napoca (2011–2023) were dominated (46%) by a mixture of elemental (EC) and organic carbon (OC), while measurements over Iasi (2012–2023) showed 55% of the EC/OC mixture. The impacts and risks, as calculated by the AOD index for EC, show few significant ones, with an AOD range of 0.88 to 1.05 for Iasi and 0.73 to 0.88 for Cluj-Napoca. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition)
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31 pages, 11303 KB  
Article
Integrated Surface and Tropospheric Column Analysis of Sulfur Dioxide Variability at the Lamezia Terme WMO/GAW Regional Station in Calabria, Southern Italy
by Francesco D’Amico, Teresa Lo Feudo, Daniel Gullì, Ivano Ammoscato, Mariafrancesca De Pino, Luana Malacaria, Salvatore Sinopoli, Giorgia De Benedetto and Claudia Roberta Calidonna
Environments 2025, 12(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12010027 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) can be of natural and anthropogenic origin and is one of the sulfur compounds present in the atmosphere. Among natural sources, volcanoes contribute with relevant annual outputs, and major eruptions lead to spikes in these outputs. In the [...] Read more.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) can be of natural and anthropogenic origin and is one of the sulfur compounds present in the atmosphere. Among natural sources, volcanoes contribute with relevant annual outputs, and major eruptions lead to spikes in these outputs. In the case of anthropogenic pollution, SO2 emissions are mostly correlated with the sulfur content of fuels, which has been the focus of specific emission mitigation policies for decades. Following other examples of cyclic and multi-year evaluations, an analysis of SO2 at the Lamezia Terme (code: LMT) WMO/GAW (World Meteorological Organization—Global Atmosphere Watch) station in Calabria, Southern Italy, was performed. The coastal site is characterized by wind circulation patterns that result in the detection of air masses with low or enhanced anthropic influences. The presence of the Aeolian Arc of active, quiescent, and extinct volcanoes, as well as Mount Etna in Sicily, may influence LMT observations with diffused SO2 emissions. For the first time in the history of the LMT, a multi-year analysis of a parameter has been integrated with TROPOMI data gathered by Sentinel-5P and used to test total tropospheric column densities at the LMT itself and select coordinates in the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. Surface and satellite data indicate that SO2 peaks at the LMT are generally linked to winds from the western–seaside wind corridor, a pattern that is compatible with active volcanism in the Tyrrhenian Sea and maritime shipping to and from the Gioia Tauro port located in the same region. The findings of this research provide the basis for enhanced source apportionment, which could further differentiate anthropogenic sources in the area from natural outputs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 7476 KB  
Article
Cyclic and Multi-Year Characterization of Surface Ozone at the WMO/GAW Coastal Station of Lamezia Terme (Calabria, Southern Italy): Implications for Local Environment, Cultural Heritage, and Human Health
by Francesco D’Amico, Daniel Gullì, Teresa Lo Feudo, Ivano Ammoscato, Elenio Avolio, Mariafrancesca De Pino, Paolo Cristofanelli, Maurizio Busetto, Luana Malacaria, Domenico Parise, Salvatore Sinopoli, Giorgia De Benedetto and Claudia Roberta Calidonna
Environments 2024, 11(10), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11100227 - 17 Oct 2024
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2133
Abstract
Unlike stratospheric ozone (O3), which is beneficial for Earth due to its capacity to screen the surface from solar ultraviolet radiation, tropospheric ozone poses a number of health and environmental issues. It has multiple effects that drive anthropogenic climate change, ranging [...] Read more.
Unlike stratospheric ozone (O3), which is beneficial for Earth due to its capacity to screen the surface from solar ultraviolet radiation, tropospheric ozone poses a number of health and environmental issues. It has multiple effects that drive anthropogenic climate change, ranging from pure radiative forcing to a reduction of carbon sequestration potential in plants. In the central Mediterranean, which itself represents a hotspot for climate studies, multi-year data on surface ozone were analyzed at the Lamezia Terme (LMT) WMO/GAW coastal observation site, located in Calabria, Southern Italy. The site is characterized by a local wind circulation pattern that results in a clear differentiation between Western-seaside winds, which are normally depleted in pollutants and GHGs, and Northeastern-continental winds, which are enriched in these compounds. This study is the first detailed attempt at evaluating ozone concentrations at LMT and their correlations with meteorological parameters, providing new insights into the source of locally observed tropospheric ozone mole fractions. This research shows that surface ozone daily and seasonal patterns at LMT are “reversed” compared to the patterns observed by comparable studies applied to other parameters and compounds, thus confirming the general complexity of anthropogenic emissions into the atmosphere and their numerous effects on atmospheric chemistry. These observations could contribute to the monitoring and verification of new regulations and policies on environmental protection, cultural heritage preservation, and the mitigation of human health hazards in Calabria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition)
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