Analysis on the Characteristics of Environmental Kuznets Curve and Assessment of Air Quality in Qingdao City

[Objective] The aim was to analyze the characteristics of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and assess air quality in Qingdao City. [Method] The EKC characteristics of Qingdao from 1996 to 2008 were studied based on air pollutant discharge indices, air pollution indices and economic data from the environmental quality reports and statistics yearbooks of Qingdao, and the air quality of Qingdao City was assessed. [Result] With the increase of GDP per capita, the total discharge of industrial waste gases improved remarkably, and its EKC showed inverted U type. Meanwhile, the discharge of SO2, industrial fumes and industrial dusts decreased on the whole, and the EKC of sulfur dioxide and industrial fumes was close to inverted N type. In addition, air pollution composite index also showed decrease trend, and its EKC showed inverted N type. In recent 13 years, the concentration of SO2, particles and NO2 in ambient air of Qingdao City showed decrease trend on the whole, especially particles. In addition, PM10 has replaced SO2 as the primary pollutant since 2001, and air pollution type has changed from coal smoke pollution to mixed mode pollution of coal smoke and motor vehicle. The mitigation of air pollution in Qingdao City could be attributed to the implementation of industrial waste gas management by the governments of Qingdao City. [Conclusion] The study could provide theoretical foundations for the establishment of environmental policies in Qingdao City.

The development of local ambient air quality standards: A case study of Hainan Province, China

The ambient air quality standard(AAQS)is a vital policy instrument for protecting the environment and human health.Hainan Province is at the forefront of China's efforts to protect its ecological environment,with an official goal to achieve world-leading air quality by 2035.However,neither the national AAQS nor the World Health Organization guideline offers sufficient guidance for improving air quality in Hainan because Hainan has well met the former while the latter is excessively stringent.Consequently,the establishment of Hainan's local AAQS becomes imperative.Nonetheless,research regarding the development of local AAQS is scarce,especially in comparatively more polluted countries such as China.The relatively high background values and significant interannual fluctuations in air pollutant concentrations in Hainan present challenges in the development of local AAQS.Our research proposes a world-class local AAQS of Hainan Province by reviewing the AAQS in major countries or regions worldwide,analyzing the influence of different statistical forms,and carefully evaluating the attainability of the standard.In the proposed AAQS,the annual mean concentration limit for PM2.5,the annual 95th percentile of daily maximum 8-h mean(MDA8)concentration limit for O_(3),and the peak season concentration limit for O_(3) are set at 10,120,and 85μg/m^(3),respectively.Our study indicates that,with effective control policies,Hainan is projected to achieve compliance with the new standard by 2035.The implementation of the local AAQS is estimated to avoid 1,526(1,253–1,789)and 259(132–501)premature deaths attributable to longterm exposure to PM2.5 and O_(3) in Hainan in 2035,respectively.

Ambient air quality trends and driving factor analysis in Beijing, 1983–2007

The rapid development in Beijing, the capital of China, has resulted in serious air pollution problems. Meanwhile great efforts have been made to improve the air quality, especially since 1998. The variation in air quality under the interaction of pollution and control in this mega city has attracted much attention. We analyzed the changes in ambient air quality in Beijing since the 1980’s using the Daniel trend test based on data from long-term monitoring stations. The results showed that different pollutants displayed three trends： a decreasing trend, an increasing trend and a flat trend. SO2, dustfall, B[a]P, NO2 and PM10 fit decreasing trend pattern, while NOx showed an increasing trend, and CO, ozone pollution, total suspended particulate （TSP）, as well as Pb fit the flat trend. The cause of the general air pollution in Beijing has changed from being predominantly related to coal burning to mixed traffic exhaust and coal burning related pollution. Seasonally, the pollution level is typically higher during the heating season from November to the following March. The interaction between pollution sources change and implementation of air pollution control measures was the main driving factor that caused the variation in air quality. Changes of industrial structure and improved energy effciency, the use of clean energy and preferred use of clean coal, reduction in pollution sources, and implementation of advanced environmental standards have all contributed to the reduction in air pollution, particularly since 1998.

Human health ambient water quality criteria for 13 heavy metals and health risk assessment in Taihu Lake

Heavy metals are widely concerning because of their toxicity,persistence,non-degradation and bioaccumulation ability.Iluman health ambient water quality criteria(AWQC)are specific levels of chemicals that can occur in water without harming human health.At present,most countries do not consider the effects of aquatic vegetables in deriving human health AWQC.Therefore,the intake of aquatic vegetables(Brasenia schreberi)was added to the derivation of human health AWQC and a health risk assessment for 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake.The human health AWQC(consumption of water,fish and aquatic vegetables)values of 13 heavy metals ranged from 0.04(Cd)to 710.87μg/L(Sn),and the intake of B.schreberi had a very significant effect on the human health AWQC for Cu,with a more than 62-fold difference.The hazard quotients of As(2.8),Cd(1.6),Cr(1.4)and Cu(4.86)were higher than the safe level(HQ=1),indicating that As,Cd,Cr and Cu in Taihu Lake posed a significant health risk.Sensitivity analysis showed that the contribution rate of B.schreberi intake to the human health risk from Cu was 91.6%,and all results indicated that the risk of Cu in B.schreberi to human health should be of particular concern.This study adds the consideration of aquatic vegetable consumption to the traditional method of human health AWQC derivation and risk assessments for the first time,and this approach can promote the development of risk assessments and water quality criteria.

Prospect of China's ambient air quality standards

Ambient air quality standards are the core strategic goal of ambient air quality management.Countries worldwide have given importance to research on the development of ambient air quality standards.To understand the history of the development of China’s ambient air quality standards,this study analyzed the background associated with all previous formulations and revisions of the standards,classification of functional areas,standard grading,pollutants,and evolution of the standard limits over the past 40 years.The results show that since the initial release of the“Ambient Air Quality Standard”by China in 1982,it has been supplemented once,revised twice,and modified twice.The first ambient air quality standard specified the standard limits of six pollutants commonly found in ambient air.With the development of ambient air quality management,the number of pollutants has increased to ten.Since the release of the“Ambient Air Quality Standards”in 2012,the ambient air quality in China has significantly improved.However,the proportion of cities meeting these standards is still low.At present,China is suitably positioned to make the standards associated with 24 hr SO2concentrations more stringent such that it meets the values defined in the World Health Organization(WHO)interim target-2 and the WHO air quality guideline(AQG).We further suggested that the SO2standard should be revised promptly.Simultaneously,regions with a relatively high proportion of cities meeting the standard are encouraged to introduce more stringent interim target limits in due course to manage the local ambient air quality.

Air Pollution in Major Chinese Cities: Some Progress, But Much More to Do

Background: Ambient (outdoor) air pollution has been implicated as a major cause of acute cardiovascular and pulmonary illnesses and increased risk for acute and chronic effects after chronic exposures, including mortality and morbidity. In 2008, due to persistent health concerns about its workforce and their dependents, the US Mission in China began monitoring air quality at the US Embassy in Beijing. Subsequently, monitoring stations were also established at US consulates at Shanghai (2011), Guangzhou (2011), Chengdu (2012), and Shenyang (2013). Objectives: To determine whether there have been definable trends in air quality in these five Chinese cities. Methods: Air monitoring results from each locale for accumulated PM2.5 particulate matter were calculated hourly. Accumulated data were organized, culled using a standardized set of heuristics, and analyzed for trends. Results: China’s capital city, Beijing, experienced decreased PM2.5 from 2013 through 2015, but no significant long-term downward trend from 2008 through 2015. Shanghai has not shown any definable air quality trend since 2012. Chengdu experienced some improvement in air quality since 2013, but none discernible from 2012 through 2015. Guangzhou had generally better air quality, and a downward trend since 2012. Shenyang experienced increasingly severe air pollution from 2013 through 2015. Conclusion: There appear to have been recent tangible, though modest, improvements in air quality in three large Chinese cities: Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, but no apparent progress in Shanghai, and a worrisome decline in air quality observed in Shenyang. Despite recent progress, there is a long way to go before even the cities which show improvement reach Chinese standards.

Level of Exposure of Populations to Atmospheric Pollution in Southern Benin

This study focuses on monitoring the exposure of populations in South Benin to atmospheric pollution. Thirteen (13) monitoring points were identified where the Air quality measurements were taken using autonomous electronic devices called “Air Quality Monitor”. Calibrated and turned on, the measuring device automatically determines the concentrations of carbon dioxide CO2, Total Organic Compounds, methanal (HCHO), particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity (RH). Per site, air pollution levels are recorded for 5 minutes every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. After the analyses, it appears that the carbon dioxide CO2 contents vary from 400 to 1444 ppm with an average of 486.80 ± 184.3 ppm, the daily contents of Total Volatile Organic Compounds from 0.01 to 6 .91 mg/m3 with a daily average of 0.36 ± 0.65 mg/m3, aldehydes from 0.005 to 3 mg/m3 with an average of 0.05 ± 0.17 mg/m3, for particulate matter of diameters less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5) pollution levels vary between 5 and 173.8 μg/m3 with an average of 21.5 ± 17.62 μg/m3. On the other hand, for PM10, the contents vary from 5 to 449.6 μg/m3 with an average of 28.17 ± 31.74 μg/m3, the Air Quality Index (AQI) varies from 0, 3 to 243 with an average of 39 ± 33.16. From the results observed, it appears that the south-western part of South Benin is heavily polluted by CO2, Total Volatile Organic Compounds, PM10 and especially PM2.5 with the city of Cotonou at its head, in particular the Red Star crossroads, the Toyota crossroads and the crossroads after the friendship stadium. The impacts of this pollution could be significant on sensitive people such as the elderly, newborns and patients with acute and chronic respiratory illnesses.