Engineering Commons^™

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 …

Short Term Forecasting Of Nitrogen Dioxide (No2) Levels Using A Hybrid Statistical And Air Mass History Modelling Approach, Aoife Donnelly, Owen Naughton, Brian Broderick, Bruce Misstear

Articles

A novel hybrid model has been developed to support the provision of real-time air quality forecasts. Statistical techniques have been applied in parallel with airmass history modelling to provide an efficient and accurate forecasting system with the ability to identify high NO2 events, which tend to be the episodes ofmost significance in Ireland. Airmass history modelling and k-means clustering are used to identify air mass types that lead to high NO2 levels in Ireland. Trajectory matching techniques allow data associated with these air masses to be partitioned during model development. Non-parametric regression (NPR) has been applied to describe nonlinear variations …

Sustainable Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System, Poojitha Aleti

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Deterioration of air quality is a growing concern in the world. Air pollution causes serious health problems and also can sometimes result in death. In order to assess air quality, long term and continuous monitoring of pollutant levels in ambient air are needed, such monitoring is often expensive, cumbersome, and resource intensive and so the monitoring programs often fail to succeed.

This research focused on designing an ambient air monitoring system by integrating (1) low-cost sensor with a battery, (2) repurposed materials to fabricate all-weather housing for air monitors, and (3) electronics needed to download the data to an on-site …

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 …

The Fort Collins Commuter Study: Impact Of Route Type And Transport Mode On Personal Exposure To Multiple Air Pollutants, Nicholas Good, Anna Mölter, Charis Ackerson, Annette Bachand, Taylor Carpenter, Maggie L. Clark, Kristen M. Fedak, Ashleigh Kayne, Kirsten Koehler, Amy L. Stuart

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Traffic-related air pollution is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, yet few studies have examined strategies to reduce individual exposure while commuting. The present study aimed to quantify how choice of mode and route type affects personal exposure to air pollutants during commuting. We analyzed within-person difference in exposures to multiple air pollutants (black carbon (BC), carbon monoxide (CO), ultrafine particle number concentration (PNC), and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5)) during commutes between the home and workplace for 45 participants. Participants completed 8 days of commuting by car and bicycle on direct and alternative (reduced traffic) routes. Mean within-person …

Environmental Systems Analysis - Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology, Hong Kong, Ng Tze Ling

All ECSTATIC Materials

Undergraduate course in environmental systems analysis offered at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong in Fall 2015.

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 …

Environmental Systems Engineering - Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Arthur Mcgarity

All ECSTATIC Materials

Course in environmental systems engineering offered at Swarthmore College, Swarthmore in Spring 2015.

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) …

Meteorological Study Of The Air Pollution In The Cities Of Azerbaijan, Innovative Research Publications Irp India, Shakar Mammadova

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

The paper deals with the meteorological condition of air pollution in the large cities of Azerbaijan. Main emitted ingredients, the responsible natural and anthropogenic factors, as well as natural condition for the spreading of pollutants in the air, are studied. Regional features of the relevant meteorological processes are analysed. Data of the implemented observation are widely used

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 …

Slides: Public Health Research On Near O&G Development: Challenges And Needs, John L. Adgate

Water and Air Quality Issues in Oil and Gas Development: The Evolving Framework of Regulation and Management (Martz Summer Conference, June 5-6)

Presenter: John L. Adgate, PhD, MSPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Colorado

19 slides

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 …

Intraurban Variability Of Ambient Particulate Matter, Varun Yadav

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

An understanding of spatial and temporal variability in ambient particulate matter: PM) is important for effective air quality management and for assessing potential exposure misclassification in epidemiological and exposure studies used to support health-based standards. Spatiotemporal variability of PM in urban areas can be influenced by many factors, such as local sources of primary PM; source locations and their emission profiles; topographic barriers; meteorological patterns; behavior of semi-volatile components; and measurement errors. Intraurban variability is often gauged by conducting measurements at a network of monitoring stations across the region of interest. While certain statistical metrics are commonly used and interpreted …

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 …

Ammonia Measurements And Emissions From A California Dairy Using Point And Remote Sensors, Kori D. Moore, E. Young, C. Gurell, Michael D. Wojcik, Randy S. Martin, G. E. Bingham, R. L. Pfeiffer, J. H. Prueger, J. L. Hatfield

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Ammonia (NH3) is an important trace gas species in the atmosphere that can have negative impacts on human, animal, and ecosystem health. Agriculture has been identified as the largest source of NH3, specifically livestock operations. NH3 emissions from a commercial dairy in California were investigated during June 2008. Cattle were held in open-lot pens, except for young calves in hutches with shelters. Solid manure was stored in the open-lot pens. Liquid manure from feed lanes was passed through a solids settling basin and stored in a holding pond. Passive sensors and open-path Fourier transform infrared spectrometers (OP-FTIR) were deployed around …

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

Agenda: Air Quality Impacts From Oil And Gas Development, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Air Quality Impacts from Oil and Gas Development (January 27)

Oil and gas development and hydraulic fracturing have received enormous attention over the past few years, and most of that attention has focused on the potential impacts of such development on water quality. However, the potential impacts on air quality from oil and gas development have received far less public and media attention and discussion. This two-hour program will assess the current scientific knowledge, regulatory requirements and policies regarding the impacts on air quality from oil and gas development and will address current initiatives at the state and national levels to further regulate and control those impacts.

Jet Propellant 8 Versus Alternative Jet Fuels, Peter Feng, Wayne C. Kinsel, Alfred E. Thal Jr., Charles A. Bleckmann

Faculty Publications

The Air Force is the largest user of jet fuel in the Department of Defense DOD, consuming 2.4 billion gallons per year. In light of environmental impacts associated with using nonrenewable fuel sources and national security concerns regarding dependency on foreign oil, it is no surprise that the United States is paying more attention to alternative fuels. Both DOD and Air Force energy strategies address the need to develop and produce such fuels. The DOD has made a commitment to energy security, establishing an energy initiative that strives to modernize infrastructure, increase utility and energy conservation, enhance demand reduction, and …

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 …

Estimation Of Dariy Particulate Matter Emission Rates By Lidar And Inverse Modeling, C. C. Marchant, Kori D. Moore, Michael D. Wojcik, Randy S. Martin, R L. Pfeiffer, K H. Prueger, J L. Hatfield

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from agricultural operations are an important issue for air quality and human health and a topic of interest to government regulators. PM emission rates from a dairy in the San Joaquin Valley of California were investigated during June 2008. The facility had 1,885 total animals, including 950 milking cows housed in free-stall pens with an open-lot exercise area, and 935 dry cows, steers, bulls, and heifers housed in open lots. Point sensors, including filter-based aerodynamic mass samplers and optical particle counters (OPC), were deployed at select points around the facility to measure optical and aerodynamic particulate …