Comparative analysis of air quality on petrol filling stations and related health impacts on their workers Abstract Air pollution has become a public concern in large metropolitan cities. Rapid urbanization has increased the number of vehicles which ultimately increase number of petrol filling stations. Petrol filling process releases many emissions, which severely affects the worker’s health. For this purpose, the present study is based upon the comparison of seasonal variations of different air pollutant levels at petrol filling stations and assessing health problems among their workers. The air quality parameters including VOCs, COx, NOx, SOx, PM, temperature, and humidity are analyzed by the help of the HAZ-scanner. Workers at petrol stations were interviewed regarding their health issues due to air quality. Comparison of air quality parameters and their seasonal fluctuations at different petrol filling stations was done by using ANOVA (analysis of variance). Results indicate that TVOCs, NO2, SO2, and O3 were found in higher concentrations in summer season as compared to that in winter season, while COx, NO, and PM were found in higher concentrations in winter season as compared to that in summer season. Sound levels were almost same during both seasons. The related health problems were sleeping disorder, hearing problem, cardiovascular issue, headache, and various other respiratory problems.

Air pollution in European countries and life expectancy—modelling with the use of neural network Abstract The present paper discusses a novel methodology based on neural network to determine air pollutants’ correlation with life expectancy in European countries. The models were developed using historical data from the period 1992–2016, for a set of 20 European countries. The subject of the analysis included the input variables of the following air pollutants: sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and non-methane volatile organic compounds. Our main findings indicate that all the variables significantly affect life expectancy. Sensitivity of constructed neural networks to pollutants proved to be particularly important in the case of changes in the value of particulate matters, sulphur oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds. The most frequent association was found for fine particle. Modelled courses of changes in the variable under study coincide with the actual data, which confirms that the proposed models generalize acquired knowledge well.

Volatile chemical emissions from 134 common consumer products Abstract Emissions from everyday consumer products have been associated with adverse effects on air quality and health. This study investigates volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from 134 common consumer products, both fragranced and fragrance-free, including those with claims of green. Product types include personal care products, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products, and sunscreens. Using GC/MS headspace analysis, this study found 1538 VOC occurrences (individual ingredients), representing 338 VOC identities (different compounds), emitted from the 134 consumer products. Among the 1538 VOCs, 517 VOCs are classified as potentially hazardous. The most common VOC emitted from the 104 fragranced products was limonene, which was absent in fragrance-free versions. Comparing the green and regular fragranced products, no significant difference was found between the most prevalent potentially hazardous VOCs. Among all volatile ingredients emitted, fewer than 4% were listed on product labels. This study provides extensive findings on volatile emissions from consumer products, which can improve awareness of potential exposures and effects on air quality and health.

Characteristics and cytotoxicity of indoor fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and PM 2.5 -bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Hong Kong Abstract Organic components of fine particles, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), play an essential role in the toxicity of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The chemical and bioreactive properties of PM2.5 in indoor environments were investigated from 2014 to 2016 in Hong Kong among 33 residential indoor environments. All analyzed components revealed higher concentrations in winter than in summer, except for organic carbon (OC). High molecular weight PAHs (4–6 rings) contributed higher total PAH compositions than low molecular weight PAHs (2–3 rings). The study results suggested that the major sources of indoor PM2.5 originated from outdoor vehicle emissions, indoor cooking activities, and incense burning. Cytotoxicity tests only revealed significant associations in winter. The cell viability demonstrated strong negative correlations between OC (r = − 0.8, p < 0.05), total PM2.5-bound PAHs (r = − 0.6, p < 0.05), and United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) priority PAHs (r = − 0.7, p < 0.05). Cell lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and 8-isoprostane were positively associated with OC (r = 0.8, p < 0.05; r = 0.7, p < 0.05), total PM2.5-bound PAH (r = 0.7, p < 0.05; r = 0.7, p < 0.05), and US EPA priority PAH (r = 0.6, p < 0.05; r = 0.5, p = 0.07) concentrations. IL-6 had the only positive association with OC (r = 0.5, p < 0.05). This study focused on indoor PM2.5 levels and the associated cytotoxicity in the absence of environmental tobacco smoke.

Analyzing the air quality of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang using grey Verhulst model Abstract To predict the comprehensive air quality index, the data of comprehensive air quality index and environmental protection investment are analyzed in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang, respectively. Considering the different growth rates in environmental protection investment, comprehensive air quality index is predicted by grey Verhulst model. The results show that the government’s investment can promote the improvement of air quality to a certain extent. According to local conditions, the improvement of air quality not only relies on government investment, but also needs other ways to reduce the comprehensive air quality index.

Characterization of aerosol size distributions and chemical compositions under strong wind and stagnant conditions during haze episodes in Lin’an, China Abstract A long-lasting haze episode which included a strong wind pollution day (SWPD) and stable pollution days (SPD) occurred in Lin’an from January 21 to 26, 2015. On Jan. 21, the Lin’an atmospheric background station experienced a north wind at ground level, which resulted in short-term northern input–based pollution. During January 23 to 26, stable atmospheric conditions led to a local accumulation of pollutants. The average number concentration, surface area concentration, volume concentration, and concentration of PM2.5 were 14,183 ± 7121 cm−3, 576 ± 154 μm2 cm−3, 1009 ± 151 μm3 cm−3, and 145 ± 41 μg/m3 in SWPD; 14,497 ± 7418 cm−3, 1033 ± 241 μm2 cm−3, 1435 ± 540 μm3 cm−3, and 205 ± 44 μg/m3 in SPD. The extinction coefficients calculated in SWPD and SPD were 523.7 ± 281.7 Mm−1 and 918.0 ± 416.9 Mm−1. The number concentration spectra in SWPD were a bimodal distribution, which exhibited peak values at 38 nm and 88 nm (11,422 cm−3 nm−1 and 11,043 cm−3 nm−1). The number concentration spectra in SPD were a unimodal distribution with a peak at 96 nm (15,375 cm−3nm−1). Surface concentration spectra in SWPD and SPD were three-peak distributions with maximum concentration peaks at 230 nm and 575 nm (808 μm2 cm−3 nm−1 and 1087 μm2 cm−3 nm−1), respectively. The volume concentration spectra of SWPD had a four-peak distribution with peaks at 38 nm, 210 nm, 575 nm, and 1.3 μm. Appropriate relative humidity (RH) and particles in the 0.5–1-μm range were the main reasons for lower visibility for SPD. The contributions of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4), and organic matter (OM) to the extinction coefficients were 30.3%, 30.1%, and 19.7%, respectively, for SWPD; and 32.1%, 26.3%, and 23.4%, respectively, for SPD. The particles in SWPD came from the long-range transport and conversion of gas to particles, and SO42− and NO3− for SPD were mainly generated by heterogeneous reactions and homogeneous reactions, respectively. It was also determined that the enhancement of atmospheric oxidation resulted in greater secondary organic carbon (SOC) generation, and a reduction in RH led to a decrease in the main water-soluble ions.

The trace of airborne particulate matter from smoking e-cigarette, tobacco heating system, conventional and hand-rolled cigarettes in a residential environment Abstract Indoor particle number concentrations and size distributions were monitored in a typical, residential living room, considering two independent variables: smoking activities (using e-cigarettes, tobacco heating systems (THS), conventional and hand-rolled cigarettes) and the operation of the air conditioning (AC) system. Each smoking device exhibited its own characteristic size distribution (its own “trace”), in the room atmosphere, which was also affected by the AC operation. All devices emitted ultrafine and fine particles especially in the range around 100 nm. The minimum average PM number or mass concentrations in any size were observed for the THS (either with the AC on or off). The PM1 number concentrations were maximum when conventional cigarettes were smoked, especially when the AC was off. In the case of the coarse particles, the PM(1–10) number concentrations were maximum when hand-rolled cigarettes were smoked (and AC was on). When the AC was off, the maximum PM(1–10) number concentration was recorded when the e-cigarette was used. The effect of the AC on particle number concentrations depended on their size and their origin. A factorial ANOVA corroborated that the two independent variables affected significantly (at p < 0.05) the airborne PM number concentrations. Specifically, low versus high air temperature, fan operation or not, affected differently particles in different size ranges and for different smoking activities.

Measuring the spatial variability of black carbon in Athens during wintertime Abstract A first assessment of the spatial variability of ambient black carbon (BC) concentrations in the Greater Area of Athens (GAA) was carried out during an intensive wintertime campaign, when ambient levels are exacerbated by increased biomass burning for residential heating. Short-term daytime BC measurements were conducted at 50 sites (traffic and urban/suburban/regional background) and on-road along 12 routes. Daytime measurements were adjusted based on BC concentrations continuously monitored at a reference site. Indicative nighttime BC ambient concentrations were also measured at several residences across the area. Daytime BC concentrations recorded an average of 2.3 μg m-3 with considerable between-site variability. Concentrations at traffic sites were significantly higher (43% on average), compared with the rest of the sites. Varying levels were observed between background site subtypes, with concentrations at urban background sites (located near the center of Athens and the port of Piraeus) being 34% and 114% higher, on average, than at suburban and regional background sites, respectively. The traffic intensity at the nearest road and the population and built density in the surrounding area of sites were recognized as important factors controlling BC levels. On-road concentration measurements (5.4 μg m-3 on average) enabled the identification of hot-spots in the road network, with peak levels encountered along motorways (13.5 μg m-3 on average). Nighttime measurements demonstrated that wintertime BC pollution, enhanced by residential biomass burning for heating, affects the entire Athens basin. The reference site in central Athens was found to be representative of the temporal variability for daytime and nighttime BC concentrations at background locations.

Evaluating air quality with and without air fresheners Abstract Air fresheners emit a range of volatile organic compounds, which can include hazardous air pollutants. Exposure to air fresheners has been associated with health problems such as migraine headaches, respiratory difficulties, and asthma attacks. To reduce pollutant exposures and potential adverse effects, air fresheners can be discontinued from use within indoor environments. However, little is known about how much air quality can be improved and over what time. This study evaluates the effects of air fresheners on air quality with a focus on d-limonene, a prevalent and dominant compound in air fresheners and one that can generate hazardous air pollutants. Using workplace environments, the study analyses and compares d-limonene concentrations in restrooms that use air fresheners, that discontinue the use of air fresheners, and that do not use air fresheners. In restrooms that use air fresheners, d-limonene concentrations averaged 6.78 μg/m3 compared with 0.84 μg/m3 in restrooms that do not use air fresheners. Further, after discontinuing the use of air fresheners, d-limonene concentrations decreased up to 96% within 2 weeks with an average reduction of 81% and an average concentration down to 1.17 μg/m3. These findings suggest that a straightforward strategy, such as ceasing the use of air fresheners, can produce measurable benefits for indoor air quality.

Source apportionment and health risk assessment of trace elements in the heavy industry areas of Tangshan, China Abstract Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure 20 trace elements in PM2.5 from the Tangshan heavy industry areas. The variation characteristics, potential sources, and health risks of these trace elements were analyzed in great detail within the research area. The results showed that the annual total concentration of the 20 elements in the research area did not change significantly from 2016 to 2017, and the contributions of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, and Fe were very high, accounting for 89–96% of the total concentration. The concentrations of these elements were higher during the day than they were at night, and the concentrations in the spring and winter were higher than they were in the summer and autumn. Five potential sources were identified using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and enrichment factors (EFs). Traffic, dust source, oil combustion, coal combustion, and industrial sources contributed 17.80%, 12.2%, 8.8%, 7.7%, and 53.5% to the total trace elements, respectively. The contribution of each source was significantly different during different seasons. Industrial sources including steel industry and cement production were the largest source; nearly 70% of the total trace elements in the winter of 2017 were from industrial sources. The health risk assessment reflected that the cancer risks of Cr, Ni, and Cd to adults, and Cr to children were higher than the acceptable levels (1 × 10−6). Furthermore, Mn had a potential non-carcinogenic risk to children and adults, which should be given more attention by relevant departments.