Air Pollution – An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Problem of Air Pollution and Improvement of Air Quality

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the problem of air pollution affects almost the entire world. In many regions of Asia, Africa, South America and Europe, exceedances of not only the relatively restrictive recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), but also local, often more liberal, allowable concentrations of air pollutants are recorded. Pollutants enter the air from natural sources (e.g. volcanic eruptions, forest fires), but human activities are the key factor responsible for changes in air quality. The most important sources of anthropogenic emissions, affecting air quality on a local, regional and global scale, include:

•    Combustion of fuels in the energy production and distribution sector;
•    Combustion of fuels in the municipal and household sector;
•    Manufacturing / industrial processes;
•    Transportation, especially road transport.

As a result, many different chemical substances are released into the air, both gaseous, such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, as well as particulate matter, on the surface of which particularly harmful substances belonging to the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, other persistent organic pollutants or heavy metals often adsorb. As a consequence of their influence, the natural composition of the air changes, thus contributing to a negative impact on almost all components of the environment. The pressure of air pollution on the environment may be more direct, resulting in a negative impact on living organisms (both plants and animals), in particular on human health and quality of life, but also on various types of structures or building materials. In turn, an indirect effect is observed in the case of, for example, leaching of pollutants into soils, or their accumulation in the tissues of living organisms.

Due to the health effects associated with air pollution, including mainly respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems diseases, but also neoplasms, it is necessary, above all, to precisely identify areas exposed to the influence of pollution, as well as to reduce and ultimately eliminate the emission sources. The first aspect is related primarily to the development of air quality monitoring systems, including the improvement, expansion and usage of modern measurement methods based on the so-called low-cost devices. In such a case, however, it is necessary to ensure the appropriate quality of the measurement results. On the other hand, reduction of pressure from emission sources concern activities on the development of renewable energy sources and their widespread implementation, especially in countries that base their economy on the combustion of fossil fuels. These works should also focus on the implementation of environmentally friendly production technologies and finally on the development of means of transport and transport systems, characterized by a significant reduction in the emission of pollutants into the air.

This special issue will be dedicated to the presentation of scientific papers on all these aspects that can be collected under the common title “Air pollution”. Articles on the sources of air pollutants emissions, types of emitted substances, but also their impact on air quality, the environment and, above all, human health will be presented. Particular emphasis will be placed on the issues of minimizing not only emissions as such, but above all limiting health effects and improving the quality of life. For this purpose, a key aspect will be the presentation of modern, but also accurate methods for identifying air pollutants and assessing the air quality, as well as innovative technologies that can significantly contribute to reducing the pressure of emission sources on air quality.

We welcome submission that cover, but are not limited to the following topics:

•    Air pollution
•    Air pollutants
•    Particulate matter
•    Gaseous pollutants

•    Exposure to air pollution
•    Environmental exposure
•    Environmental determinants of health
•    Adverse health effects
•    Respiratory diseases
•    Cardiovascular diseases
•    Nervous system diseases
•    Cancers
•    Local and general inflammatory processes
•    Exacerbations of diseases
•    Neuro-cognition
•    Morbidity
•    Mortality

•    Measurement methods
•    Air quality monitoring
•    Air quality assessment
•    Air quality modelling

•    Combustions of fuels
•    Fossil fuels
•    Energy systems
•    Energy production and distributions
•    Municipal and households emission
•    Traffic-related air pollutants
•    Renewable energy sources
•    Mitigating the air quality problem

Dr. Chris G. Tzanis
Prof. Dr. Artur Badyda
Topic Editors