Suchergebnisse

Air quality in subway systems is of interest not only because particulate matter (PM) concentrations can be high, but also because of the peculiarly metalliferous chemical character of the particles, most of which differ radically from those of outdoor ambient air. We report on the oxidative potential (OP) of PM2.5 samples collected in the Barcelona subway system in different types of stations. The PM chemical composition of these samples showed typically high concentrations of Fe, Total Carbon, Ba, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cr sourced from rail tracks, wheels, catenaries, brake pads and pantographs. Two toxicological indicators of oxidative activity, ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation (expressed as OPAA μg−1 or OPAA m−3) and glutathione (GSH) oxidation (expressed as OPGSH μg−1 or OPGSH m−3), showed low OP for all samples (compared with outdoor air) but considerable variation between stations (0.9–2.4 OPAA μg−1; 0.4–1.9 OPGSH μg−1). Results indicate that subway PM toxicity is not related to variations in PM2.5 concentrations produced by ventilation changes, tunnel works, or station design, but may be affected more by the presence of metallic trace elements such as Cu and Sb sourced from brakes and pantographs. The OP assays employed do not reveal toxic effects from the highly ferruginous component present in subway dust. © 2016 The Authors ; This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER funds (METRO CGL2012-33066 ), the I MPROVE LIFE Project ( LIFE13 ENV/ES/000263 ) and the European Union Seventh Framework Programme ( FP7/2007-2013 ) under grant agreement no. 315760 HEXACOMM. Support is also acknowledged to Generalitat de Catalunya 2014 SGR33 . Fulvio Amato is beneficiary of an AXA Research Fund postdoctoral grant . In the UK the research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards at King's College London in partnership with Public Health England (PHE). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, the Department of Health or Public Health England. Special thanks to Wes Gibbons for improving an early draft of the manuscript. Appendix A ; Peer reviewed

Over the past century chlorine has been widely used as an oxidant in water and wastewater treatment. Chlorine's efficacy is demonstrated for microbial inactivation of a wide variety of pathogens along with oxidation of various chemical contaminants. However, the potential formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as trihalomethane, is a concern [1]. DBPs, including trihalomethanes, can be formed as a consequence of the reaction of chlorine with natural organic matter (NOM) present in both surface and ground water [2]. NOM comprises of two fractions; humic substances (HS), which are composed of humic acids, fulvic acids, and non-humic substances (non-HS), which include carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids [3]. Furthermore, humic acids constitute a major fraction of NOM, of which the soluble portion (aromatic compounds) of humic substances may react with chlorine to form trihalomethanes [4]. It has been reported that these THMs are carcinogens [5]. Epidemiologic studies in humans suggest a weak association with bladder, rectal and colon cancer [6,7] along with reproductive and developmental effects [8,9]. Due to these health concerns, many jurisdictions specify maximum allowable concentrations. The United States Environ- mental Protection Agency [10] specifies maximum levels for trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) of 80 and 60 mg/L, respectively [11]. European Union regulations limit THMs to 100 mg/L. However, many national reports find frequent occurrence of THM exceedance [12]. It is important to limit THMs and THMs causing substances (humic acids) in water. Several approaches such as nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis coagulation [13], activated carbon adsorption [14], Fenton treatment [15], nano-TiO2 photocatalysis [16], membrane filtration [17], biological treatment [18], and ozonation [19] have been employed to remove humic substances and THM's. Biological processes, including the use of bio-filters may lead to the accumulation of suspended solids and release of bacteria [20]. Separation technologies such as biofilms and membrane filtration may be limited due to fouling [21]. Ozone's efficacy for humic substance breakdown in water has been demonstrated, however the process may result in the formation of brominated by-products [22]. In addition, the use of such advanced oxidation processes (AOP) which are capable of oxidizing some of the NOM present in raw water sources require an additional step for mineralization increasing the operational cost. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel approaches to remove humic substances and THMs in energy efficient manner.

In this article we have approached the reality surrounding the intervention of public authorities in the control of air pollution in our country. This is done through the planning, management and protection of the air we breathe. In Spain, as in the other countries that make up the European Union, Economic growth brings the constant increase in the consumption of natural resources, the generation of waste and pollutants that spread to the atmosphere generating "air pollution" and the exposure of citizens to numerous toxic and harmful substances that put at risk and generate dangers and uncertainty, among other issues, to human health. In this way, we can affirm, without a doubt, that the progress generated in the integration of the environment in the decision-making process and in the realization of sectoral policies they are relatively slow. ; En el presente artículo nos hemos aproximado a la realidad que rodea la intervención de los poderes públicos en el control de la contaminación atmosférica en nuestro país. Esto se realiza a través de la planificación, la gestión y la protección del aire que respiramos. En España, como en los demás países que conforman la Unión Europea, el crecimiento económico lleva parejo el aumento constante del consumo de recursos naturales, la generación de residuos y agentes contaminantes que se propagan a la atmósfera generando "contaminación atmosfércia" y la exposición de los ciudadanos a numerosas sustancias tóxicas y dañinas que ponen en riesgo y generan peligros e incertidumbre, entre otras cuestiones, a la salud humana. De este modo, podemos afirmar, sin lugar a dudas, que los progresos generados en la integración del medioambiente en el proceso de toma de decisiones y en la concreción de políticas de carácter sectorial son relativamente lentos. ; Dans cet article, nous avons abordé la réalité entourant l'intervention des pouvoirs publics dans le contrôle de la pollution de l'air dans notre pays. Ceci est fait par la planification, la gestion et la protection de l'air que nous respirons. En Espagne, comme dans les autres pays de l'Union européenne, La croissance économique entraîne l'augmentation constante de la consommation de ressources naturelles, la génération de déchets et de polluants qui se propagent dans l'atmosphère générant une "pollution de l'air" et l'exposition des citoyens à de nombreuses substances toxiques et nocives qui met en péril et génère des dangers et des incertitudes, entre autres problèmes, pour la santé humaine. De cette façon, nous pouvons affirmer, sans aucun doute, que les progrès réalisés dans l'intégration de l'environnement dans le processus décisionnel et dans la réalisation des politiques sectorielles, elles sont relativement lentes.

This book is a distillation of the First Annual International Technical Workshop on Climate Risk held in 2016 in Wells, Maine, USA. It is organized into three major themes, namely: environmental, health and societal impacts; the special case of Africa; and advances in education.The volume's premise is that, long before the 2015 Paris Agreement, many professionals from diverse fields were working to solve the problems of human-caused climate change. The 1987 Montreal Protocol is now in support of a key emission reduction goal of the Agreement. It was time for the seasoned leaders who implement the Protocol, the world's most successful treaty for atmospheric protection, to share their knowledge and wisdom with the next generation before that expertise was lost. The purpose of bringing these communities of practice together is to leverage the many successes to date to inspire future innovations through 'lessons learned'; ensure that new or updated regulations are timely communicated and economically executed; and identify opportunities for related sustainable development.

This book is a distillation of the First Annual International Technical Workshop on Climate Risk held in 2016 in Wells, Maine, USA. It is organized into four major themes, namely: the Montreal Protocol; industry and infrastructure concerns; sustainability and strategic planning; and climate science and informing business risk.The volume's premise is that, long before the 2015 Paris Agreement, many professionals from diverse fields were working to solve the problems of human-caused climate change. The 1987 Montreal Protocol is now in support of a key emission reduction goal of the Agreement. It was time for the seasoned leaders who implement the Protocol, the world's most successful treaty for atmospheric protection, to share their knowledge and wisdom with the next generation before that expertise was lost. The purpose of bringing these communities of practice together is to leverage the many successes to date to inspire future innovations through 'lessons learned'; ensure that new or updated regulations are timely communicated and economically executed; and identify opportunities for related sustainable development.

Organisational conflict is normally recognised as a disruptive activity which interrupts relational dynamics and productivity. However, this paper will argue that in addition, if conflict is not resolved carefully, it can trigger negative affect which will in turn unsettle and destabilise a whole workforce. Based on the findings from an organisational ethnography, the author examines how conflict emerged in a child protection social work agency by theorizing on the concept of affective practice. In doing so, the author makes the argument that although affect emerges in interaction it can be exacerbated by the unintentional pursuit of problematic strategies. Examining affective practice in such a way enables studies to bring into play the atmospheric factors which impacted on those who were present at that moment so that readers can understand how people were moved, attracted to or pained by certain social interactions. This is important when trying to comprehend how coercive power approaches in social work prevent care objectives from being met. The paper will conclude by suggesting that when practitioners are preoccupied with trying to survive in the workplace they will find it difficult to meet the needs of the children and families they are working with.

Успадкована Україною спотворена структура промисловості, із перевантаженням брудних металургійних, хімічних та гірничорудних підприємств зумовила погіршення стану повітряного середовища. Основними джерелами антропогенного забруднення атмосфери є: виробники енергії, усі промислові об'єкти, сільське господарство, військова промисловість і військові об'єкти, транспорт, гірниче виробництво та ін. Вони забруднюють атмосферу сотнями токсичних речовин, та шкідливими фізичними полями, шумами, вібраціями, теплом тощо. За кількістю промислового забруднення на душу населення Україна посідає одне з перших місць в Європі. Захист атмосферного повітря є однією з найбільш актуальних проблем у сучасному технологічному суспільстві, оскільки науково-технічний прогрес і розширення виробництва пов'язане зі зростанням негативних антропогенних впливів на атмосферу. The hereditary structure of industry, inherited by Ukraine, with the overload of dirty metallurgical, chemical and mining enterprises caused deterioration of the atmospheric environment. The main sources of anthropogenic pollution of the atmosphere are: energy producers; all industrial objects; аgriculture; military industry and military facilities; transport; production. They pollute the atmosphere with hundreds of toxic substances, harmful physical fields, noise, oscillations, heat, and the like. By the number of industrial pollution per capita, Ukraine is one of the first places in Europe. Protection of atmospheric air is one of the most pressing problems in modern technological society, as scientific and technological progress and expansion of production is associated with an increase in negative human-induced impacts on the atmosphere.

For many years, improving air quality has been great attention of the whole world. It has been recognized that air pollution as a hypothetically hazardous type of environmental pollution and polluted air directly affects the human health. In Asian countries, it has converged less attention of ever growing most alarming and hazardous issue of air pollution. This paper presents a case study of Lahore city of Pakistan for the prediction of Air Quality Index (AQI) using hybrid approach of Neuro Fuzzy (NF) inference system. The ambient air data of Lahore was taken from the Environmental Protection | department (EPD) working under government of the Punjab. For results evaluation, data was recorded at different station in the period from April 2007 to May 2015. The fuzzy rules have been generated according to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA) standard of AQI. The NF Inference Model took the air pollutants such as Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) as inputs and predicted the air quality index as good, moderate, or unhealthy air. The results showed that NF based AQI prediction model classifies the AQI proficiently, robustly, and accurately as compared to conventional method.

"The follow up to An Inconvenient Truth and companion to Al Gore's new documentary, this book exposes the reality of how humankind has aided in the destruction of our planet and delivers hope through groundbreaking information on what you can do now. Vice President Gore, a leading expert in climate change, brings together cutting-edge research from top scientists around the world; approximately 200 photographs and illustrations to visually articulate the subject matter; and personal anecdotes and observations to document the fast pace and wide scope of global warming. He asserts that the fact of global climate change is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be assuredly disastrous if left unchecked. Follow him around the globe as he tells a story of change in the making. He connects the dots of Zika, flooding, and other natural disasters we've lived through in the last 10+ years. A comprehensive how-to guide on exactly how we can change the course of fate. With concrete, actionable advice on topics ranging from how to run for office to how to talk to your children about climate change, An Inconvenient Sequel will empower you to make a difference, and lets you know how exactly to do it. Al Gore is the author of Earth in the Balance, An Inconvenient Truth, The Assault on Reason, and Our Choice."--Provided by publisher

In the last 30 years, environmental challenges in the Asia-Pacific have gone from sitting at the margins of political discourse to featuring prominently in academic and policy debates about institutional capacity, economic sustainability and regional futures. Those challenges are extensive: they include loss of biodiversity and species, land degradation and deforestation, water pollution and scarcity, drought, wildlife smuggling, ozone depletion, other forms of atmospheric pollution, and climate change. This article explores regional responses to environmental challenges through a global governance lens. It examines the ways in which vertical and intergovernmental arrangements have been supplemented by institutions and networks that reflect horizontal and transnational approaches. It reveals that this has been an uneven process, with coherence and fragmentation equally represented. In its focus on the two key subregions of Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, it shows how environmental cooperation has been implicated in a crisis of regionalism and caught up in states' efforts to demonstrate that governance can still be effective in the absence of binding multilateral agreements. (Pac Rev/GIGA)

The main objective of this project is to quantitatively assess the impact of current and alternative national and local policies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality through a full chain approach and to evaluate the future public health and wellbeing impacts of these policies in European cities. To reach this goal, ICARUS will develop innovative tools for urban impact assessment leading to design and implement win-win strategies to improve the air quality and reduce the carbon footprint of European cities. An integrated approach will be used for air pollution monitoring, combining ground-based measurements, atmospheric transport and chemistry modelling as well as air pollution indicators, derived from satellite, airborne and agent based monitoring. The targeted parameters encompass variety of environmental pollutants. Furthermore, project deliverables will be developed based on existing statistical data. The ICARUS methodology will be applied in nine EU cities, including Brno, of variable size, socio-economic conditions and history. Technological and non-technological measures and policy options will be analyzed and proposed to the responsible authorities for air pollution and/or climate protection on the city level.

Atmospheric pollutants have both beneficial and detrimental effects on carbon uptake by land ecosystems. Surface ozone (O3) damages leaf photosynthesis by oxidizing plant cells, while aerosols promote carbon uptake by increasing diffuse radiation and exert additional influences through concomitant perturbations to meteorology and hydrology. China is currently the world's largest emitter of both carbon dioxide and short-lived air pollutants. The land ecosystems of China are estimated to provide a carbon sink, but it remains unclear whether air pollution acts to inhibit or promote carbon uptake. Here, we employ Earth system modeling and multiple measurement datasets to assess the separate and combined effects of anthropogenic O3 and aerosol pollution on net primary productivity (NPP) in China. In the present day, O3 reduces annual NPP by 0.6 Pg C (14 %) with a range from 0.4 Pg C (low O3 sensitivity) to 0.8 Pg C (high O3 sensitivity). In contrast, aerosol direct effects increase NPP by 0.2 Pg C (5 %) through the combination of diffuse radiation fertilization, reduced canopy temperatures, and reduced evaporation leading to higher soil moisture. Consequently, the net effects of O3 and aerosols decrease NPP by 0.4 Pg C (9 %) with a range from 0.2 Pg C (low O3 sensitivity) to 0.6 Pg C (high O3 sensitivity). However, precipitation inhibition from combined aerosol direct and indirect effects reduces annual NPP by 0.2 Pg C (4 %), leading to a net air pollution suppression of 0.8 Pg C (16 %) with a range from 0.6 Pg C (low O3 sensitivity) to 1.0 Pg C (high O3 sensitivity). Our results reveal strong dampening effects of air pollution on the land carbon uptake in China today. Following the current legislation emission scenario, this suppression will be further increased by the year 2030, mainly due to a continuing increase in surface O3. However, the maximum technically feasible reduction scenario could drastically relieve the current level of NPP damage by 70 % in 2030, offering protection of this critical ecosystem service and the mitigation of long-term global warming.

The article describes the state of eutrophication of water bodies of Ukrainian Polissya on the example of some lakes of Turiysk region. It is indicated legislation defining the notion of eutrophication. It is displayed water fund of Volyn region in terms of surface water bodies — lakes, reservoirs and ponds. It is specified the results of studies on overgrowing and water logging of water bodies. It is separately marked the natural conditions of the lakes of Turiysk territory and their impact on the surrounding area. It is considered the newly approaches of national legislation on the environmental state of water bodies or their parts that allows to estimate consequences of eutrophication on a comparison of environmental standards for water quality of surface water bodies. It is analyzed the accumulation of bottom sediments in water bodies with atmospheric and marsh nutrition type. It is calculated the dynamics of change of water surface area of eleven lakes of Turiysk region for assessing the degree and forecast of their eutrophication. It is conducted the estimation of anthropogenicchanges that have occurred over the last 80 years and proposed environment protection measures for restoration of functioning of anthropogenically modified ecosystem « lake — floodplain» in order to preserve their water content ; Проанализировано состояние эвтрофикации водоемов Украинского Полесья на примере озер Турийского р-на. Приведены законодательные акты, определяющие понятие эвтрофикации. Отражен водный фонд Волынской обл. в разрезе плоскостных водных объектов — озер, водохранилищ и прудов. Представлены результаты исследований проблемы зарастания и заболачивания водоемов. Отмечены природные условия формирования озер Турийского р-на и их влияние на прилегающие территории. Рассмотрены новые подходы национального законодательства к оценке экологического состояния водоемов или их частей, что позволяет определить последствия эвтрофикации относительно экологического норматива качества поверхностных вод. Проанализированы особенности накопления донных отложений в водоемах атмосферно-болотного типа питания. Рассчитана динамика изменения площади водного зеркала 11 озер Турийского р-на для оценки степени и прогноза их эвтрофикации. Осуществлена оценка антропогенных изменений, которые произошли за последние 80 лет и предложены природоохранные мероприятия по восстановлению функционирования экосистемы «озеро — пойма» с целью сохранения водности ; Проаналізовано стан евтрофікації водойм Українського Полісся на прикладі озер Турійського р-ну. Наведено законодавчі акти, що визначають поняття евтрофікації. Відображено водний фонд Волинської обл. у розрізі площинних водних об'єктів — озер, водосховищ та ставків. Висвітлено результати досліджень проблеми заростання та заболочування водойм. Відзначено природні умови формування озер Турійського р-ну та їх вплив на прилеглі території. Розглянуто нові підходи національного законодавства до оцінки екологічного стану водойм або їх частин, що дає змогу визначити наслідки евтрофікації порівняно з екологічним нормативом якості поверхневих вод. Проаналізовано особливості нагромадження донних відкладів у водоймах атмосферно-болотного типу живлення. Розраховано динаміку зміни площі водного дзеркала 11 озер Турійського р-ну для оцінки ступеня і прогнозу їх евтрофікації. Здійснено оцінку антропогенних змін, що відбулись за останні 80 років та запропоновано природоохоронні заходи з відновлення функціонування екосистеми «озеро — заплава» з метою збереження водності

The article describes the state of eutrophication of water bodies of Ukrainian Polissya on the example of some lakes of Turiysk region. It is indicated legislation defining the notion of eutrophication. It is displayed water fund of Volyn region in terms of surface water bodies — lakes, reservoirs and ponds. It is specified the results of studies on overgrowing and water logging of water bodies. It is separately marked the natural conditions of the lakes of Turiysk territory and their impact on the surrounding area. It is considered the newly approaches of national legislation on the environmental state of water bodies or their parts that allows to estimate consequences of eutrophication on a comparison of environmental standards for water quality of surface water bodies. It is analyzed the accumulation of bottom sediments in water bodies with atmospheric and marsh nutrition type. It is calculated the dynamics of change of water surface area of eleven lakes of Turiysk region for assessing the degree and forecast of their eutrophication. It is conducted the estimation of anthropogenicchanges that have occurred over the last 80 years and proposed environment protection measures for restoration of functioning of anthropogenically modified ecosystem « lake — floodplain» in order to preserve their water content ; Проанализировано состояние эвтрофикации водоемов Украинского Полесья на примере озер Турийского р-на. Приведены законодательные акты, определяющие понятие эвтрофикации. Отражен водный фонд Волынской обл. в разрезе плоскостных водных объектов — озер, водохранилищ и прудов. Представлены результаты исследований проблемы зарастания и заболачивания водоемов. Отмечены природные условия формирования озер Турийского р-на и их влияние на прилегающие территории. Рассмотрены новые подходы национального законодательства к оценке экологического состояния водоемов или их частей, что позволяет определить последствия эвтрофикации относительно экологического норматива качества поверхностных вод. Проанализированы особенности накопления донных отложений в водоемах атмосферно-болотного типа питания. Рассчитана динамика изменения площади водного зеркала 11 озер Турийского р-на для оценки степени и прогноза их эвтрофикации. Осуществлена оценка антропогенных изменений, которые произошли за последние 80 лет и предложены природоохранные мероприятия по восстановлению функционирования экосистемы «озеро — пойма» с целью сохранения водности ; Проаналізовано стан евтрофікації водойм Українського Полісся на прикладі озер Турійського р-ну. Наведено законодавчі акти, що визначають поняття евтрофікації. Відображено водний фонд Волинської обл. у розрізі площинних водних об'єктів — озер, водосховищ та ставків. Висвітлено результати досліджень проблеми заростання та заболочування водойм. Відзначено природні умови формування озер Турійського р-ну та їх вплив на прилеглі території. Розглянуто нові підходи національного законодавства до оцінки екологічного стану водойм або їх частин, що дає змогу визначити наслідки евтрофікації порівняно з екологічним нормативом якості поверхневих вод. Проаналізовано особливості нагромадження донних відкладів у водоймах атмосферно-болотного типу живлення. Розраховано динаміку зміни площі водного дзеркала 11 озер Турійського р-ну для оцінки ступеня і прогнозу їх евтрофікації. Здійснено оцінку антропогенних змін, що відбулись за останні 80 років та запропоновано природоохоронні заходи з відновлення функціонування екосистеми «озеро — заплава» з метою збереження водності