Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries

Urban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2,urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in the 3rd to 5th layer of vertical urban cemeteries have the potential to contaminate large adjacent regions.The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the reflectance of altimetry, normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) and land surface temperature(LST) in the urban cemeteries and neighbouring areas of the City of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is assumed that the population residing in the vicinity of these cemeteries may be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contamination through the displacement of microparticles carried by the wind as a corpse is placed in the burial niche or during the first several days of subsequent fluid and gas release through the process of decomposition. The reflectance analyses were performed utilizing Landsat 8 satellite images applied to altimetry, NDVI and LST, for hypothetical examination of possible displacement, transport and subsequent deposition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that two cemeteries within the city, cemeteries A and B could potentially transport SARS-CoV-2 of nanometric structure to neighboring residential areas through wind action.These two cemeteries are located at high relative altitudes in more densely populated regions of the city.The NDVI, which has been shown to control the proliferation of contaminants, proved to be insufficient in these areas, contributing to high LST values. Based on the results of this study, the formation and implementation of public policies that monitor urban cemeteries is suggested in areas that utilize vertical urban cemeteries in order to reduce the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

An analysis of vehicular exhaust derived nanoparticles and historical Belgium fortress building interfaces

Air pollution monitoring is one of the most important features in contamination risk management.This is because many of the compounds contained within air pollution present a serious risk both for the preservation of open air cultural heritage and for human health.New particle formation is a major contributor to urban pollution,but how it occurs in cities is often puzzling.As more and more people enjoy an increased quality of life through outdoor activity,managing outdoor air quality is vital.This study presents the application of a low-cost system for monitoring the current level of road traffic passengers’exposure to particulate air contamination.The global rise in tourism also leads to apprehension about its probable destructive influence on various aspects of global preservation.One of the major risks encountered by tourists,stemming from modes of transport,are nanoparticles(NPs)(<100 nm)and ultra-fine particles(UFPs)(100-1000 nm)consisting of potentially hazardous elements(PHEs).This study examines Steen Castle,a medieval fortress located in Antwerp,Belgium.Significant NPs with PHEs,were found in the air sampled in this area.The self-made passive sampler(LSPS)described in this study,consisting of retainers specially designed for advanced microscopic analysis,is used for the first time as a simple way to characterize the surrounding atmospheric contamination caused by NPs and UFPs,without the need of other commonly employed more expensive particulate focused active samplers such as cascade impactors.This study aims to assess the result of the utilization of a low-cost,LSPS,to determine outdoor NPs and UFPs in a Belgian urban(Steen Castle)and rural area(Fort van Schoten).This work is the first to detail the usefulness of LSPS for the evaluation of Belgium’s outdoor air for NPs and UFPs,which contain PHEs.

Studying Air Pollution with Kitt Peak Solar Flux Atlas—Analysis Method and Results of Observation

For the measurement of atmospheric NO2 vertical column density (VCD), Kitt Peak Solar Flux Atlas can be substituted as an extraterrestrial solar radiation. Compared with differential analysis method, the Taylor expansion of integrated transfer equation underestimates the VCD. This underestimation is as large as 35% when the amount of NO2 is 1 × 1017 cm?2 and observation is conducted with an air mass factor of 10. Even when the VCD is 2 × 1016 cm?2 and the air mass factor is 4, the relative error of the retrieved VCD is still no less than 3%. If the observation is restricted under the small air mass factor condition (≤ 4), with Kitt Peak Solar spectrum as an extraterrestrial solar radiation, only an atmospheric layer of 2 km thick from ground can be studied, which will make the absorption too weak to be detected by normal instruments. The VCD in winter Tokyo area was observed and analyzed by differential method, which shows a good precision even when the absorption is as low as 3%. The largest average VCD was about 1.3 × 1017 cm-2, and the lowest was about 1.3 × 1016 cm?2. The trend of its variation was almost the same as the ground level observation by Saltzman reagent method. Key words Vertical column density (VCD) - Extraterrestrial solar radiation - NO2 - Atmospheric contamination