Engineering Commons^™

Household Income And Air Pollution At Public Schools In The United States, Katyland Facas, Kristina Wagstrom

Honors Scholar Theses

Poor air quality at schools may negatively impact students’ academic performance.1 2 3 In this study we look at the relationship between ambient, outdoor air quality and student socioeconomic status at United States public schools. We used free and reduced lunch eligibility, as part of the USDA’s National School Lunch Program, as an indicator of household income. We focus on nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). We used ambient pollutant concentration estimates at census block group resolution (Kim et al.) as the outdoor air pollution concentration at each school.4 We found a positive …

Understanding Air Pollutants And Meteorology Interactions Using Chemical Transport Models, Pengfei Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Air pollution is a worldwide threat to human health and ecosystems, especially in developing countries. After being emitted to the atmosphere, air pollutant concentrations are determined by chemical and physical processes including transport, transformation, and deposition, which are largely affected by meteorological variations. In turn, pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) affect meteorology by impacting solar radiation and cloud condensation processes. Thus, it is important and necessary to understand the interactions between air pollutants and meteorology for better designing effective air pollution control strategies and forecasting weather. In this study, two chemical transport models (CTMs) are applied …

A Conceptual Model For Integrating Community Health In Managing Remediation Of West Virginia And Central Appalachia’S Abandoned Coal Mines, Sarah J. Surber

Applied Safety & Technology Faculty Research

The decline of the coal industry and the associated ongoing bankruptcies of large coal companies create a serious concern that surface coal mining states may inherit large-scale liabilities for unremediated coal mines. These states may also have limited funding to remediate all abandoned mines at once, requiring prioritization of the cleanup of coal mines. In West Virginia and central Appalachia, these coal mines are often located in areas ranked as having poor public health outcomes, poor health factors, and extremely low-socioeconomic status. Epidemiological research has associated poor health outcomes for residents located near coal mining. Coal mine remediation presents an …

Kentucky's Environmental Future, Fall/Winter 2004, Issue 9

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Urban Air Quality, Spring/Summer 2002, Issue 6

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Assessing Spatiotemporal Exposures To Transportation Pollutants In Near-Road Communities Using Aermod, Mayra Consuelo Chavez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Traffic-related air pollution has a profound impact on human health especially for residents living in near-road communities which are constantly exposed these air pollutants. A near-road community is expected to observe significant spatial and temporal variations in pollutant concentrations, as air pollution resulting from emissions from major highways decreases rapidly from the highway. This research conducted on-site traffic and air quality measurements on four critical transportations related air pollutants, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, as well as emission and air dispersion modeling of transportation emission impacts in a near-road community. Using numerical models provided by the EPA, integrated with field measurements …

Caracterización De Bioaerosoles Presentes En Las Áreas Cercanas A Las Estaciones De La Red De Monitoreo De La Calidad Del Aire De La Zona Industrial De Bogotá, Angie Lorena Díaz Molina, Lina Fernanda Hernández Coca

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

La contaminación atmosférica como problema ambiental, social y de salud pública es ampliamente conocida y relacionada con fuentes de tipo industrial, móviles o puntuales. Su control y monitoreo se reduce a la obtención de valores de concentraciones emitidas de los contaminantes criterio (SO2, NOx, PM10 y PM2.5). No obstante, también existe la contaminación de tipo biológico: Los bioaerosoles (partículas sólidas o líquidas, que corresponden a partículas de origen natural vivo como granos de polen, esporas, bacterias, hongos, entre otros) presentes en la atmósfera se encuentran relacionados a producción y transmisión de virus y enfermedades infecciosas respiratorias. Sin embargo, la información …

Purdue Air Sense: A Methodology For Improving The Accuracy Of Ambient Aerosol Mass Concentration And Size Distribution Measurement With Low-Cost Optical Sensing Techniques, Rishabh Ramsisaria, Satya Sundar Patra, Brandon Emil Boor

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

There is a global lack of a means for monitoring air pollutant levels at a local level due to expensive and bulky instrument requirements. It is important to monitor toxic gas levels, as well as particulate matter levels, in the atmosphere to study their effects on human health and to further develop city- and community-level air pollution solutions. In this study, with the means of a Raspberry Pi, low-cost Alphasense Optical Particle Counter and gas sensors, and methodical calibration techniques, we built a portable 3-D printed module powered by clean electricity generated by an on-board Voltaic solar cell that measures …

Characterization Of Jet Fuel Combustion Emissions During A C-130 Aeromedical Evacuation Engines Running Onload, Michelle L. Page

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to characterize jet fuel combustion emissions (JFCE) in an occupational setting. Prior research demonstrated that aircraft emit hazardous species, especially at engine start-up and ground idle. Complaints of eye, nose, and throat irritation from occupational exposures near aircraft exist. In this study JFCE were tested during an aeromedical evacuation engines running patient onload (ERO) on a C-130 Hercules at the 179^th Airlift Wing, Mansfield-Lahm Air National Guard. Ultrafine particles, VOC, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfuric acid, and metals were sampled simultaneously in approximate crew and patient breathing zones. Testing methods were portable condensation …

Assessing Public Health Burden Associated With Exposure To Ambient Black Carbon In The United States, Ying Li, Daven K. Henze, Darby Jack, Barron H. Henderson, Patrick L. Kinney

Ying Li

Black carbon (BC) is a significant component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, which has been linked to a series of adverse health effects, in particular premature mortality. Recent scientific research indicates that BC also plays an important role in climate change. Therefore, controlling black carbon emissions provides an opportunity for a double dividend. This study quantifies the national burden of mortality and morbidity attributable to exposure to ambient BC in the United States (US). We use GEOS–Chem, a global 3-D model of atmospheric composition to estimate the 2010 annual average BC levels at 0.5 x 0.667° resolution, and …

Assessing Public Health Burden Associated With Exposure To Ambient Black Carbon In The United States, Ying Li, Daven K. Henze, Darby Jack, Barron H. Henderson, Patrick L. Kinney

ETSU Faculty Works

Black carbon (BC) is a significant component of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) air pollution, which has been linked to a series of adverse health effects, in particular premature mortality. Recent scientific research indicates that BC also plays an important role in climate change. Therefore, controlling black carbon emissions provides an opportunity for a double dividend. This study quantifies the national burden of mortality and morbidity attributable to exposure to ambient BC in the United States (US). We use GEOS–Chem, a global 3-D model of atmospheric composition to estimate the 2010 annual average BC levels at 0.5 x 0.667° …

Maximizing The Spatial Representativeness Of No2 Monitoring Data Using A Combination Of Local Wind-Based Sectoral Division And Seasonal And Diurnal Correction Factors, Aoife Donnelly, Owen Naughton, Bruce Misstear, Brian Broderick

Articles

This article describes a new methodology for increasing the spatial representativeness of individual monitoring sites. Air pollution levels at a given point are influenced by emission sources in the immediate vicinity. Since emission sources are rarely uniformly distributed around a site, concentration levels will inevitably be most affected by the sources in the prevailing upwind direction. The methodology provides a means of capturing this effect and providing additional information regarding source/pollution relationships. The methodology allows for the division of the air quality data from a given monitoring site into a number of sectors or wedges based on wind direction and …

Household Bush Burning Practice And Related Respiratory Symptoms In Grenada, The Caribbean, Muge Akpinar-Elci, Kareem Coomansingh, James Blando, Larissa Mark

Center for Global Health Publications

The practice of household bush burning in Grenada occurs frequently, though it is not well documented. The effects of the emissions from bush burning on respiratory health of the population have never been researched in Grenada. The goal of the study was to measure the frequency of bush burning and to investigate the relationship between bush burning practice and respiratory health in Grenada. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was used to gather information from households in the parishes of St. George and St. Andrew, Grenada. In total, 225 participants were recruited and their responses on household bush burning and …

Obliczenia Rozprzestrzeniania Się Pyłu Drobnego W Powietrzu Atmosferycznym Z Wykorzystaniem Dyfuzyjnych Modeli Gaussa, Robert Oleniacz, Mateusz Rzeszutek

Robert Oleniacz

The chapter presents a comparison of results of modelling concentrations of fine dust (suspended dust PM10) in the air with the use of two diffusion models: the Gaussian plume model (used commonly in Poland), and the Gaussian puff model CALPUFF (used significantly less frequently). It indicates discrepancies in obtained results of calculations for point emitters taking into consideration three dimensional options (with the following heights: 20, 40 and 60 m and diameters of respectively: 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m). For particular variants, errors were visualised, resulting from use of the simple Gaussian plume model in place of the advanced CALPUFF …

Zastosowanie Systemu Modeli Calmet/Calpuff O Wysokiej Rozdzielczości Do Oceny Wpływu Na Jakość Powietrza Spalarni Odpadów Komunalnych W Krakowie, Mateusz Rzeszutek, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

In this paper there was presented a comprehensive assessment of the impact on air for the Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) plant in Krakow with the planned start of operation by the end of 2015. Construction of the plant started in autumn 2013 in the district of Nowa Huta in Krakow. Modeling of the spread of pollutants in ambient air was conducted using an advanced multi-layer cloud CALPUFF Gaussian model, whose algorithms include, among other things, diversity of terrain. Spatial data of land area in the admitted computational domain are obtained from digital terrain model Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM3) …

Ocena Wpływu Na Jakość Powietrza Procesu Przygotowania Obszaru Wiertni Przy Poszukiwaniach Gazu Z Łupków, Marek Bogacki, Robert Oleniacz, Monika Janicka

Robert Oleniacz

This chapter presents the model calculation results of the level of concentration of air pollutants emitted during works related to the preparation of the drilling pad for the shale gas exploration. The most significant emission sources located in the drilling pad, including rig access roads, paved and unpaved, were analyzed. The emission field was defined by the parameterization of various sources/processes, taking into account the technical, technological, organizational and environmental conditions. The calculations of the pollutants dispersion in the air were carried out using the Gaussian reference model. The results of numerical calculations showed that the only substance likely to …

Ocena Wpływu Rozdzielczości Siatki Obliczeniowej Na Wyniki Modelowania Rozprzestrzeniania Się Zanieczyszczeń W Powietrzu, Mateusz Rzeszutek, Robert Oleniacz, Marian Mazur

Robert Oleniacz

In this study are presented the results of the assessment of the impact of grid resolution on the results of computational modeling of the dispersion of air pollutants. Calculations were performed using Gaussian, non-stationary puff model CALPUFF. Four different grids resolution were analyzed. Networks were established on the basis of SRTM3 terrain and land cover classes of CLC, 2006. Analysis of results of spatial distribution of concentrations of air pollutants obtained in a regular computing grid was performed using statistical indicators recommended by the U.S. EPA. The study shows the applicability of particular computational grids in the system modeling transport …

Determination Of Optimal Spatial Databases For The Area Of Poland To The Calculation Of Air Pollutant Dispersion Using The Calmet/Calpuff Model, Robert Oleniacz, Mateusz Rzeszutek

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents a methodology for the preparation of three-dimensional spatial data and land use data for the purpose of modeling pollutant dispersion in the ambient air using a group of geophysical preprocessors of the CALMET/CALPUFF modeling system and the GIS software. Some space information data sources available to Poland were specified and their characteristics and availability were discussed. Particular attention was turned to the SRTM3 and GTOPO30 elevation data as well as the CLC2006 and GLCC land use data, for the preparation of computational grids of different resolutions. Groups of programs which can be used in order to form …

Ocena Wpływu Nowo Budowanej Spalarni Odpadów Komunalnych W Krakowie Na Jakość Powietrza Z Wykorzystaniem Modelu Calmet/Calpuff, Mateusz Rzeszutek, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

The chapter presents the results of the evaluation the impact on air quality for the newly built Municipal Solid Waste Thermal Treatment Plant in Krakow (Poland) whose construction started in autumn 2013. Air pollution impact assessment was performed for air emissions adopted at the levels of emission limit values applicable for waste incineration. Modeling of air pollutant dispersion was carried out using the system of CALMET/CALPUFF models. For this purpose, the terrain elevation data from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM3) and data of land use from Corine Land Cover 2006 (CLC 2006) were adopted with a resolution of about 100 …

Niekontrolowane Spalanie Odpadów I Pozostałości Roślinnych Na Terenach Wiejskich – Przykład Inwentaryzacji Źródeł Emisji I Oceny Wpływu Na Jakość Powietrza, Robert Oleniacz, Barbara Bacik, Marcelina Spiszak

Robert Oleniacz

The most troublesome air pollutant emissions that occur in rural areas are associated with the operation of domestic furnaces (mainly during the heating season) and the processes of open burning of plant residues (mainly outside the heating season). The paper presents an example of emission inventory for this type of sources in two submontane villages of Małopolska Voivodeship (Poland) based on the results of the questionnaire survey and an attempt to assess the impact on air quality of these sources, including the potential uncontrolled burning of waste.The conducted questionnaire survey showed the use to home heating mainly solid fuels (first …

Wykorzystanie Atmosferycznego Modelu Dyspersji Calpuff Do Oceny Oddziaływania Na Jakość Powietrza Planowanego Zakładu Termicznego Przekształcania Odpadów Komunalnych W Krakowie, Mateusz Rzeszutek, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the planned Municipal Waste Thermal Treatment Plant in Krakow on air pollution. Air quality impact assessment was based on the current state of the legal formalities (including emission limit values for waste incineration plants) and the results of the air pollutant atmospheric dispersion modeling for one month period. In this study to calculate of air pollutant dispersion was used model system CALMET/CALPUFF. Using the CALMET model variables in time and space weather condition were calculated. CALPUFF model were performed to computing of propagation of air pollution. Analysis of the …

Effects Of Nitrogen Deposition And Empirical Nitrogen Critical Loads For Ecoregions Of The United States, Linda Pardo, Mike Fenn, Christine Goodale, Linda. Geiser, Charles Driscoll, Edith Allen, Jill Baron, Roland Bobbink, Williams Bowman, Christopher Clark, Bridget Emmett, Frank Gilliam, Tara Greaver, Sharon Hall, Erik Lilleskov, Lingli Liu, Jason Lynch, Knute Nadelhoffer, Steven Perakis, Molly Robin-Abbott, John Stoddard, Kathleen Weathers, Robin Dennis

Frank S. Gilliam

Human activity in the last century has led to a significant increase in nitrogen (N) emissions and atmospheric deposition. This N deposition has reached a level that has caused or is likely to cause alterations to the structure and function of many ecosystems across the United States. One approach for quantifying the deposition of pollution that would be harmful to ecosystems is the determination of critical loads. A critical load is defined as the input of a pollutant below which no detrimental ecological effects occur over the long-term according to present knowledge.

The objectives of this project were to synthesize …

Zawartość Węgla I Siarki W Pyle Pm2,5 I Pm10 W Powietrzu W Centrum Krakowa, Monika Dziugieł, Marek Bogacki, Robert Oleniacz, Marian Mazur

Robert Oleniacz

This paper presents the results of the PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration measurements in an urban air and results obtained from the additional chemical analysis concerning carbon and sulfur content of the collected dust samples. Dust samples were collected at the measuring point located on the roof of five-storey building at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland (the center of the urban area of the city). In the scope of this study the relations between the carbon and sulfur content within the collected dust samples were determined in the function of the dust fraction content and …

Slides: Meeting The Needs Of Women Through Clean Cooking Solutions, Corinne Hart

2012 Energy Justice Conference and Technology Exposition (September 17-18)

Presenter: Corinne Hart, Program Manager, Gender and Markets, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves

20 slides

Retrospective Geospatial Modeling Of Pm10 Exposures From Open Burning At Joint Base Balad, Iraq, John P. Rinker

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting, determining, and linking theater-related source-specific exposures to health effects has proven difficult. The purpose of this research is to delineate retrospective exposure zones using spatially interpolated particulate air sampling point data from Joint Base Balad, create burn pit exposure isopleths from dispersion model outputs, and merge into a combined exposure model in GIS. Interpolated monitoring results and dispersion modeled results were combined to compare modeled exposures across base. Burn pit contribution to total PM10 was also modeled. The combined dispersion and interpolation map showed elevated concentrations within a 1 kilometer buffer of the burn pit. Buildings within this area …

Aerosol Characterizaton In El Paso-Juarez Airshed Using Optical Methods, Angel E. Esparza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The assessment and characterization of atmospheric aerosols and their optical properties are of great significance for several applications such as air pollution studies, atmospheric visibility, remote sensing of the atmosphere, and impacts on climate change. Decades ago, the interest in atmospheric aerosols was primarily for visibility impairment problems; however, recently interest has intensified with efforts to quantify the optical properties of aerosols, especially because of the uncertainties surrounding the role of aerosols in climate change. The main objective of the optical characterization of aerosols is to understand their properties. These properties are determined by the aerosols' chemical composition, size, shape …

Effects Of Nitrogen Deposition And Empirical Nitrogen Critical Loads For Ecoregions Of The United States, Linda H. Pardo, Mike E. Fenn, Christine L. Goodale, Linda. H. Geiser, Charles T. Driscoll, Edith B. Allen, Jill S. Baron, Roland Bobbink, Williams D. Bowman, Christopher M. Clark, Bridget Emmett, Frank S. Gilliam, Tara L. Greaver, Sharon J. Hall, Erik A. Lilleskov, Lingli Liu, Jason A. Lynch, Knute J. Nadelhoffer, Steven S. Perakis, Molly J. Robin-Abbott, John L. Stoddard, Kathleen C. Weathers, Robin L. Dennis

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Human activity in the last century has led to a significant increase in nitrogen (N) emissions and atmospheric deposition. This N deposition has reached a level that has caused or is likely to cause alterations to the structure and function of many ecosystems across the United States. One approach for quantifying the deposition of pollution that would be harmful to ecosystems is the determination of critical loads. A critical load is defined as the input of a pollutant below which no detrimental ecological effects occur over the long-term according to present knowledge.

The objectives of this project were to synthesize …

Impact Of A Large Medical Waste Incinerator On Air Quality, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

In the paper, an assessment of the compliance with air emission limit values and the impact on air quality of one of the largest medical waste incinerators in Poland, with a total capacity of about 300 kg/h (two incineration lines) is presented. The assessment took the results of continuous and periodic measurements of emissions in the plant’s installation over a period of 12 months’ operation into account. For this period, a calculation was performed for the spread of air pollutants emitted by the two operating incineration lines. According to the analysis and calculations, the analysed medical waste incineration plant does …

A Study Of Central Florida Nonroad Voc And Nos Emissions And Potential Actions To Reduce Emissions, Michael Radford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ground-level ozone is harmful to the human respiratory system, as well as the environment. The national EPA 8-hour ozone standard for ground-level ozone was reduced from 85 parts per billion (ppb) to 75 ppb in 2008, and trends from previous years show that some of the counties in Central Florida could be in danger of violation. Violation means "non attainment" status; in which the county is ordered by EPA to develop specific implementation plans to reduce its emissions. The objective of this study was to compile an emissions inventory of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from nonroad …

Ocena Wpływu Arcelormittal Poland S.A. Oddział W Krakowie Na Jakość Powietrza, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki, Przemysław Szczygłowski

Robert Oleniacz

The work presents selected results of atmospheric dispersion modeling and air quality impact assessment for pollutant emissions from installations of ArcelorMittal Poland S.A. Unit in Krakow (Poland). The assessment was carried out for the most unfavourable emission variant probable to take place in the period 2007-2016. In the calculations were taken into consideration typical for steelworks particle matter pollutants (total dust, heavy metals, tar substances and PAHs including benzo-a-piren) and gaseous substances (SO2, NO2, CO, HC, HCl, HF, NH3, HCN, H2S, CS2, H2SO4, BTX, phenol and pyridine). As the result of estimations, carried out according to the Polish reference method …