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Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment
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Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 February 2024) | Viewed by 22691

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xingwang Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Interests: HVAC; building ventilation; thermal comfort; air quality; COVID-19; green building
Dr. Junzhou He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Power Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, China
Interests: exposure risks; indoor air quality; building ventilation; disinfection; ozone; CFD; transportation
Dr. Zhipeng Deng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
Interests: air quality; building HVAC systems; occupant behavior; energy-efficient buildings; healthy buildings; smart buildings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The environment is the basis for human survival and includes indoor and outdoor environments. At present, outdoor air pollution is still one of the main risk factors for human health and has become a global environmental problem. In addition, people spend 90% of their lifetime in the indoor environment, which includes building indoor spaces, industrial plants, underground spaces, transportation, space station, etc., but indoor environmental problems (such as sick building syndrome, building-related diseases (respiratory disease, heart disease, cancer, etc.)) continue to emerge with no sign of stopping. Although scholars have conducted much related research, the impact of law, scientific understanding, control technology, construction means, and other aspects in the interactions between humans and indoor and outdoor environments still needs to be further explored. Such aspects can be summarized as follows: 1) Indoor environment creation, including the mechanism of environmental exposure to the human body, the improvement of human thermal comfort theory, human health monitoring, the transmission mechanism of respiratory infectious diseases, indoor air quality, intelligent regulation of indoor environment, etc.; 2) Outdoor environment controlling and improvement, including air pollution control, pollutant toxicity mechanism, urban outdoor space environment improvement, the impact mechanism of outdoor environment on indoor environment, etc.; 3) Energy conservation and emissions reduction, involving low-carbon and zero-carbon transformation of existing buildings, low-carbon/zero-carbon green buildings/communities, carbon emission measurement and management methods, deep utilization of low-grade heat, radiation refrigeration, etc.; 4) Smart cities and flexible environments, involving green low-carbon cities, high-performance green building, monitoring and improvement of building environment and urban air quality, etc.

This Special Issue encourages the submission of cross-cutting, multi-disciplinary research in the above areas and supports a wide range of basic theories, methodologies, and technical methods, including experimental, numerical calculations, observational, monitoring and management research, and policy analysis. In addition to fundamental and applied papers, review articles on important developments, challenges, and new perspectives will also be considered.

Dr. Xingwang Zhao
Dr. Junzhou He
Dr. Zhipeng Deng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • HVAC system
  • building ventilation
  • thermal comfort
  • indoor air quality
  • COVID-19
  • air purification
  • carbon neutralization
  • energy storage technology
  • volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • outdoor environment

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 4076 KiB  
Article
Observed Impacts of Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Systems on the Microclimate and Soil in an Arid Area of Gansu, China
by Jia Zhang, Zaixin Li, Junyu Tao, Yadong Ge, Yuzhen Zhong, Yibo Wang and Beibei Yan
Atmosphere 2024, 15(8), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15080936 - 5 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 744
Abstract
Ground-mounted photovoltaic (GMPV) systems are a crucial component of photovoltaic (PV) applications, and their environmental impacts during large-scale development require thorough attention. This study conducted continuous observations at a GMPV plant in an arid region, employing a three-site comparative monitoring system to assess [...] Read more.
Ground-mounted photovoltaic (GMPV) systems are a crucial component of photovoltaic (PV) applications, and their environmental impacts during large-scale development require thorough attention. This study conducted continuous observations at a GMPV plant in an arid region, employing a three-site comparative monitoring system to assess the environmental impact of both shaded and non-shaded areas within GMPV systems. The parameters measured included atmospheric temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), soil temperature (ST), soil water content (SWC), and wind speed. The results revealed significant diurnal and seasonal variations in AT, with daytime warming and nighttime cooling ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 °C, with particularly large variations observed during high-temperature seasons. Shaded areas under the PV panels exhibited increased RH at night and decreased RH during the day, along with a cooling effect on ST, with a maximum reduction of 7 °C. SWC was higher in shaded areas during dry seasons but exhibited complex redistribution patterns during rainy seasons. Wind speed and direction were notably altered, demonstrating a corridor effect. These findings contrast with previous studies that only focused on the environmental assessment of non-shaded areas within PV systems and external areas using two-site monitoring. This study highlights the critical role of shaded areas in understanding the local environmental impacts of PV systems. This comprehensive approach offers deeper insights into how PV systems influence local meteorological and environmental conditions, suggesting that optimized design and placement of PV systems can enhance their ecological benefits and mitigate adverse environmental impacts in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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19 pages, 4319 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Mechanical Ventilation, Indoor Air Quality Classes, and Energy Classes in a Romanian Context
by Vasilica Vasile, Vlad Iordache, Valentin Mihai Radu and Claudiu-Sorin Dragomir
Atmosphere 2024, 15(4), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040444 - 3 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1332
Abstract
Nowadays, indoor air quality (IAQ) and the energy performance of buildings are two main scientific and technical challenges because they are in direct connection with human health and the depletion of energy resources. In this study, we analyzed the influence of an outdoor [...] Read more.
Nowadays, indoor air quality (IAQ) and the energy performance of buildings are two main scientific and technical challenges because they are in direct connection with human health and the depletion of energy resources. In this study, we analyzed the influence of an outdoor air flow introduced through a mechanical ventilation system, focusing on the two aforementioned topics. A standardized ventilation rate (25 m3/h/person) led to an increase in the indoor O3 concentration (from 5 μg/m3 to 50 μg/m3) and, simultaneously, to a decrease in the indoor CO2 concentration (from 2000 mg/m3 to 800 mg/m3), a decrease in the PM2.5 concentration (from 300 μg/m3 to 150 μg/m3), and the maintenance of a constant indoor HCHO concentration. In our study, a new, single indoor air quality index, IIAQ, is proposed. This new index presents different implications: on the one hand, it has the ability to simultaneously take into account several pollutant species, and on the other hand, it can prioritize the ventilation strategy that responds to the extreme values of a certain pollutant. Moreover, indoor air quality classes were elaborated, similar to energy classes. The possibility of using this new index simultaneously with energy consumption may lead to ventilation strategies that are adaptative to dynamic outdoor pollutant concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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16 pages, 5061 KiB  
Article
Pollution Levels in Indoor School Environment—Case Studies
by Vasilica Vasile, Tiberiu Catalina, Alina Dima and Mihaela Ion
Atmosphere 2024, 15(4), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040399 - 24 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1450
Abstract
Air quality in school environments is of particular interest due to the significant amount of time children spend in these settings. Children, being a particularly sensitive demographic, are exposed to various pollutants at school or kindergarten. In this regard, our studies have focused [...] Read more.
Air quality in school environments is of particular interest due to the significant amount of time children spend in these settings. Children, being a particularly sensitive demographic, are exposed to various pollutants at school or kindergarten. In this regard, our studies have focused on monitoring the concentrations of three main categories of pollutants: VOCs (volatile organic compounds), VICs and PM (particulate matter). We conducted two experimental campaigns in seven classrooms within public educational institutions. The average concentration values of TVOC (total volatile organic compounds) ranged from 554 µg/m3 to 2518 µg/m3, of CO2 from 1055 ppm to 2050 ppm, of NH₃ (Ammonia) from 843.2 µg/m3 to 1403.4 µg/m3, of PM2.5 from 25.1 µg/m3 to 89.9 µg/m3, and of PM10 from 63.7 µg/m3 to 307.4 µg/m3. In most instances, the registered values exceeded the limit values set by national or international regulations. Furthermore, this study highlights the significant impact of a heat recovery ventilation system in improving indoor air quality by substantially reducing the levels of CO2 and PM. However, it also underscores the need for further measures to more efficiently reduce TVOC concentrations. The aim of our paper was to enhance the understanding of pollution levels in school environments, increase awareness of the importance of indoor air quality, and highlight the adverse effects of polluted air on the health of occupants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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16 pages, 6093 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Ozone Pollution Characteristics between Urban Area and Southern Mountainous Area of Urumqi, China
by Cuiyun Zhu, Qing He, Zhujun Zhao, Xinchun Liu and Zongchao Pu
Atmosphere 2023, 14(9), 1387; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14091387 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1035
Abstract
The difference in ozone (O3) concentration between stations in the urban and southern mountainous areas of Urumqi was explored based on mathematical statistics and comparative analysis of pollutant concentrations. Besides, potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) [...] Read more.
The difference in ozone (O3) concentration between stations in the urban and southern mountainous areas of Urumqi was explored based on mathematical statistics and comparative analysis of pollutant concentrations. Besides, potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) analysis were performed to identify the potential sources of PM2.5 and O3. The results showed that the daily and monthly mean O3 concentrations in the urban area of Urumqi showed a bimodal variation from October 2017 to August 2018, and the O3 concentration had obvious seasonal characteristics, with the highest in July (120.57 μg/m3) and the lowest in January (22.38 μg/m3). The overall variation of O3 concentration in the mountainous area in the southern suburb of Urumqi was not significant (56.69–84.06 μg/m3), and the O3 concentration was slightly higher in summer than in other seasons. The daily O3 concentration in the urban area showed a unimodal variation in all seasons, and the daily variation was the smallest in winter and the largest in summer. However, the daily variation in the mountainous area was not significant. The O3 concentration in the urban area showed a significant negative weekend effect in winter and a positive weekend effect in spring and summer. However, the O3 concentration only showed a significant positive weekend effect in the mountainous area in summer. The PSCF and CWT analysis results of urban O3 concentration showed that Urumqi, Shihezi, and Wusu were the main O3 source areas. In addition, some areas bordering Kazakhstan in Xinjiang, China were also important source areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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23 pages, 994 KiB  
Article
Does Public Participation Reduce Regional Carbon Emission?
by Xin Zhang, Yongliang Yang and Yi Li
Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010165 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
Public participation is playing an increasingly important role in environmental governance. This paper uses panel data from Chinese cities to evaluate the causal relationship between public participation, regional carbon emissions, and regional carbon intensity. We obtain the following conclusions: (1) Public participation significantly [...] Read more.
Public participation is playing an increasingly important role in environmental governance. This paper uses panel data from Chinese cities to evaluate the causal relationship between public participation, regional carbon emissions, and regional carbon intensity. We obtain the following conclusions: (1) Public participation significantly reduces regional carbon emissions and regional carbon intensity, which remains robust after a series of robustness and endogeneity discussions. (2) The carbon reduction effect of public participation performs better in eastern regions, regions with higher per capita income, and regions with a concentration of tertiary industries and talents. (3) We divided the public participation into resident participation and environment non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) participation. We found an excellent interactive emission reduction effect with resident participation and a good interaction between resident participation and government and environmental organizations. (4) This paper finds that promoting regional green technology innovation is a significant mechanism for public participation in achieving carbon emission reduction. (5) Finally, this paper found an “inverted U-shaped” non-linear relationship between public participation and regional carbon emissions. The results reveal the importance of public participation in regional carbon emissions and provide an empirical basis for promoting informal environmental regulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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12 pages, 935 KiB  
Article
Effects of COVID-19 Control Measures on the Concentration and Composition of PM2.5-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Shanghai
by Jialiang Feng, Fan Fan, Yi Feng, Ming Hu, Jia Chen, Yutong Shen, Qingyan Fu and Shunyao Wang
Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010095 - 1 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1957
Abstract
In order to explore the effects of COVID-19 control measures on the concentration and composition of PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and to better understand the sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs, PM2.5, samples were collected at two sites [...] Read more.
In order to explore the effects of COVID-19 control measures on the concentration and composition of PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and to better understand the sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs, PM2.5, samples were collected at two sites in urban and suburban areas of Shanghai before the lockdown, during the lockdown, after the lockdown in 2020, and during the same periods in 2019. The mass concentrations of 21 individual PAHs were determined via GC-MS analysis. While the COVID-19 control measures significantly reduced the absolute concentration of PM2.5-bound PAHs, they had no significant effect on their relative abundances, indicating that the significantly reduced traffic emission may not originally be the major source of PAHs in Shanghai. The differences in the composition of PM2.5-bound PAHs at three different lockdown-related periods may be caused by the gas-particle distribution of semi-volatile PAHs. The similarity in the composition of PM2.5-bound PAHs in different functional areas and different periods brings more uncertainties to the identification of PAH sources using the diagnostic ratios. During the lockdown period, the toxic equivalent concentration of PM2.5-bound PAHs in Shanghai was estimated to decrease by about 1/4, which still exhibits substantial carcinogenic risk upon exposure via inhalation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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21 pages, 34312 KiB  
Article
RETRACTED: Climate Adaptability Analysis on the Shape of Outpatient Buildings for Different Climate Zones in China Based on Low-Energy Target
by Youman Wei, Siyan Wang, Hongwei Dang and Peng Liu
Atmosphere 2022, 13(12), 2121; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122121 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2191 | Retraction
Abstract
Under the impact of COVID-19 and the needs for urban expansion, a large number of outpatient buildings have been rapidly constructed, but the problem of high energy consumption has always been ignored. There is a lack of research on the adaptability of building [...] Read more.
Under the impact of COVID-19 and the needs for urban expansion, a large number of outpatient buildings have been rapidly constructed, but the problem of high energy consumption has always been ignored. There is a lack of research on the adaptability of building shape in different climate zones. Many studies have shown that a reasonable shape in the early stage of design can significantly reduce the energy consumption of buildings. Therefore, it helps if architects quickly select a reasonable shape that can effectively reduce energy consumption. This study summarized a number of outpatient building cases in China and proposed three typical building shapes: centralized-type (Shape-1), corridor-type (Shape-2), and courtyard-type (Shape-3). The Design Builder tool was used to simulate and analyze the typical building energy consumption in different climate zones. The simulation results show that Shape-2 (angle: 0°) should be chosen in severe cold zone; Shape-1 (angle: 90°) should be chosen in cold zone; Shape-1 (angle: 0°) should be chosen in hot summer and cold winter zone; Shape-1 (angle: 60°) should be chosen in hot summer and warm winter zone; and Shape-1 or Shape-2 can be chosen in warm zone. The results of this study can provide suggestions for the energy saving design of outpatient buildings in China and other areas with similar conditions. The result can help architects make rapid shape selection in the early stage of design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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10 pages, 1338 KiB  
Article
Effect of Airborne Particulate Matter on Cardiovascular Diseases
by Naof Faiz Saleem, Mahmoud Fathy ElSharkawy and Ayman M. Azoz
Atmosphere 2022, 13(12), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122030 - 2 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1618
Abstract
Context: Airborne particulate matter (PM) attracts heightened attention due to its implication in various diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Although numerous epidemiological studies have been published worldwide in developing countries on risks associated with exposure to PM, such studies are still scarce in [...] Read more.
Context: Airborne particulate matter (PM) attracts heightened attention due to its implication in various diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Although numerous epidemiological studies have been published worldwide in developing countries on risks associated with exposure to PM, such studies are still scarce in developing countries such as Saudi Arabia. Objective: To examine the association between the concentration of airborne particulate matter (PM) and hospital admissions resulting from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, specifically in the cities of Dammam and Khobar. Methodology: The daily concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were obtained from 10 monitoring stations distributed around the two hospitals. There was an examination of the discharge data of patients diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure as their primary diagnoses. The data were obtained from two big governmental hospitals in the Eastern Region. The primary cause of hospital admission of 259 patients was identified as acute cardiac condition. Results: For PM10 and PM2.5, the 24 h mean was calculated as 101.2 and 37.1 µg/m3, respectively; such means are considered higher than the Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs). We found evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular events for long-term exposure to PM2.5–10 concentrations, and a correlation with the IHD hospital admission within 6 days of the peak PM10 or PM2.5 concentration. In addition, the increased PM2.5 concentration also had a correlation with hospital admissions; however, analysis shows an increase in mortality at lag1, lag2, and lag3 prior to hospital admission. Conclusions: Hospital admissions for several cardiovascular diseases acutely increase in response to higher ambient PM concentrations. It is recommended that residents need to use personal protection, especially those residents with cardiovascular disease, while the government needs to strengthen the governance of air pollution in areas with lighter air pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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13 pages, 4101 KiB  
Article
Towards a Healthy Car: UVC LEDs in an Automobile’s HVAC Demonstrates Effective Disinfection of Cabin Air
by Richard M. Mariita, James H. Davis, Michelle M. Lottridge, Rajul V. Randive, Hauke Witting and Johannes Yu
Atmosphere 2022, 13(11), 1926; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13111926 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2216
Abstract
Vehicle Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can accumulate and recirculate highly infectious respiratory diseases via aerosols. Integrating Ultraviolet Subtype C (UVC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to complement automobile HVAC systems can protect occupants from developing allergies, experiencing inflammatory problems, or acquiring respiratory [...] Read more.
Vehicle Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can accumulate and recirculate highly infectious respiratory diseases via aerosols. Integrating Ultraviolet Subtype C (UVC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to complement automobile HVAC systems can protect occupants from developing allergies, experiencing inflammatory problems, or acquiring respiratory infectious diseases by inactivating pathogenic organisms. UVC can add little to no static pressure with minimal space, unlike mercury lamps which are larger and heavier. Additionally, UVC LEDs are effective at low voltage and have no mercury or glass. While previous experiments have shown UVC LED technology can reduce bacteriophage Phi6 concentrations by 1 log in 5 min (selected as the average time to clean the cabin air), those studies had not positioned LED within the HVAC itself or studied the susceptibility of the surrogate at the specific wavelength. This study aimed to assess the disinfection performance of UVC LEDs in automotive HVAC systems and determine the dose–response curve for bacteriophage Phi6, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate. To achieve this, UVC LEDs were installed in a car HVAC system. To determine inactivation efficacy, a model chamber of 3.5 m3, replicating the typical volume of a car, containing the modified automobile HVAC system was filled with bacteriophage Phi6, and the HVAC was turned on with and without the UVC LEDs being turned on. The results revealed that HVAC complemented with UVC reduced bacteriophage Phi6 levels significantly more than the HVAC alone and reduced the viral concentration in the cabin by more than 90% viral reduction in less than 5 min. The performance after 5 min is expected to be significantly better against SARS-CoV-2 because of its higher sensitivity to UVC, especially at lower wavelengths (below 270 nm). HVAC alone could not achieve a 90% viral reduction of bacteriophage Phi6 in 15 min. Applying UVC LEDs inside an HVAC system is an effective means of quickly reducing the number of aerosolized viral particles in the chamber, by inactivating microorganisms leading to improved cabin air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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12 pages, 2688 KiB  
Article
Effects of Outdoor Air Pollutants on Indoor Environment Due to Natural Ventilation
by Ayame Tamuro, Ryoichi Kuwahara and Hyuntae Kim
Atmosphere 2022, 13(11), 1917; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13111917 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1768
Abstract
This study measured ventilation volumes and particle concentrations in indoor environments with open windows and doors. In addition, the effect of the airflow mode of the air conditioner on the ventilation volume and indoor particle concentration variations was also measured. The ventilation fan [...] Read more.
This study measured ventilation volumes and particle concentrations in indoor environments with open windows and doors. In addition, the effect of the airflow mode of the air conditioner on the ventilation volume and indoor particle concentration variations was also measured. The ventilation fan could only provide approximately 43% of the ventilation volume during the design phase. The amount of ventilation differed depending on the opening area in windows and doors. The ventilation volume was increased by opening multiple windows or doors, even when the area of the opening was the same. No significant change in the ventilation rate was observed, although the air conditioner was expected to promote the ventilation rate in the room when set on blow mode. It was confirmed that both 0.3 and 1 μm particles could enter through the gaps around the windows and doors. Although most of the 5 μm particles were from the outdoor air, when the air conditioner was operated in airflow mode, the removal of 5 μm particles was performed by the air conditioner filter. The use of medium-performance or HEPA filters is expected to remove smaller particulates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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26 pages, 1131 KiB  
Article
Assessing Green Solutions for Indoor and Outdoor Environmental Quality: Sustainable Development Needs Renewable Energy Technology
by Muhammad Imran, Shiraz Khan, Khalid Zaman, Haroon ur Rashid Khan and Awais Rashid
Atmosphere 2022, 13(11), 1904; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13111904 - 14 Nov 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
The survival of humans depends on both natural and manufactured surroundings. Though most people spend their time indoors, there are constantly new challenges to address, and air pollution is one of them. This research considered both outdoor and indoor factors that affected green [...] Read more.
The survival of humans depends on both natural and manufactured surroundings. Though most people spend their time indoors, there are constantly new challenges to address, and air pollution is one of them. This research considered both outdoor and indoor factors that affected green development agendas. Outdoor factors include fossil fuel combustion, renewable energy supplies, and carbon emissions, whereas indoor factors include industrial waste management, chemical use in production, and green technologies. Against the backdrop of the Indian economy, plagued by severe environmental problems from 1995Q1 to 2020Q4, this research evaluated green alternatives for indoor and outdoor environments. Carbon emissions rise with the use of chemicals in production, with the burning of fossil fuels, and with economic expansion, as shown by the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) testing method employed. In contrast, emissions fall when a nation invests in renewable energy technologies and appropriately manages its industrial waste. Granger causality estimations validated the feedback link between industrial chemical usage and carbon emissions while demonstrating a unidirectional causality from chemical use to green energy demand and fossil fuel combustions. Moreover, burning fossil fuels and energy demand causes carbon emissions. Carbon emissions and fossil fuel combustion are produced due to industrial waste handling. The scale of the use of chemicals is expected to have the greatest impact on carbon emissions over the next few decades, followed by industrial waste, renewable energy supply, fossil fuel combustion, and renewable energy technologies. In order to achieve environmental sustainability via emissions reduction, this study proposed policies for a low-carbon economy, renewable energy source encouragement, and sustainable management. Close attention should be paid to clean energy and environmental sustainability by investing in research and development (R&D) to create a long-term sustainable energy strategy that is environmentally benign. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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13 pages, 4581 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Parameters Influencing Baseline Ozone in the Western United States: A Statistical Modeling Approach
by Matthew Ninneman, Irina Petropavlovskikh, Peter Effertz, Duli Chand and Daniel Jaffe
Atmosphere 2022, 13(11), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13111883 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1625
Abstract
Ground-level ozone (O3) is a key atmospheric gas that controls the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere and has significant health and environmental implications. Due to ongoing reductions in the concentrations of O3 precursors, it is important to assess the variables [...] Read more.
Ground-level ozone (O3) is a key atmospheric gas that controls the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere and has significant health and environmental implications. Due to ongoing reductions in the concentrations of O3 precursors, it is important to assess the variables influencing baseline O3 to inform pollution control strategies. This study uses a statistical model to characterize daily peak 8 h O3 concentrations at the Mount Bachelor Observatory (MBO), a rural mountaintop research station in central Oregon, from 2006–2020. The model was constrained by seven predictive variables: year, day-of-year, relative humidity (RH), aerosol scattering, carbon monoxide (CO), water vapor (WV) mixing ratio, and tropopause pressure. RH, aerosol scattering, CO, and WV mixing ratio were measured at MBO, and tropopause pressure was measured via satellite. For the full 15-year period, the model represents 61% of the variance in daily peak 8 h O3, and all predictive variables have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) impact on daily peak 8 h O3 concentrations. Our results show that daily peak 8 h O3 concentrations at MBO are well-predicted by the model, thereby providing insight into what affects baseline O3 levels at a rural site on the west coast of North America. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Technology of Indoor and Outdoor Environment)
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