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Toxics
Special Issues
Atmospheric Emissions Characteristics and Its Impact on Human Health
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Atmospheric Emissions Characteristics and Its Impact on Human Health

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Pollution and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 3870

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Qian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
Interests: heavy metal; light-absorbing carbonaceous particles; health risks; toxics source apportionment; atmospheric pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Hongmei Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
Interests: personal exposure to air pollutants and their health effects; emission characteristics; source apportionment
Dr. Tian Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
Interests: volatile organic compounds and their health risk; ultrafine particles; air pollution control
Dr. Peng Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 251100, China
Interests: air quality; atmospheric pollution; air pollution studies; exposure modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has an adverse effect on human health. High PM burdens are a major trigger for the frequent occurrence of severe pollution weather regionally and even globally. Many PM constituents, such as heavy metal elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and their derivatives, have been identified as toxics and hazardous substances, which have severe carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. An increasing number of epidemiological and cohort studies have reported that these hazardous substances in fine or ultrafine PM exposure are closely associated with lung, cardiovascular, and even neurological injuries.

Therefore, this Special Issue welcomes studies from different countries focusing on the health effects of atmospheric PM emissions, such as health risk and exposure modeling. Interregional, international, and historical studies are highly encouraged in this Special Issue. We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics including, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  1. Analysis of the hazardous substances in PM and evaluate their health risk.
  2. Assessment of the carcinogenic potential of specific air pollutants and their related increased risk of various types of cancer.
  3. Evaluate the health effects of various atmospheric PM chemical compositions from anthropogenic sources.
  4. Toxic and health effects or epidemiological investigations of personal exposure to atmospheric pollutants.
  5. Occupational exposure; the potential health effects of specific pollution sources on surrounding residents or employees.
  6. Control of PM hazardous compounds using advanced technologies.

Dr. Qian Zhang
Prof. Dr. Hongmei Xu
Dr. Tian Chang
Dr. Peng Wei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • air pollution
  • health risk assessment
  • atmospheric emissions
  • personal exposure
  • particulate matter
  • toxic pollutants
  • optical characteristics
  • secondary organic aerosol
  • source apportionment

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 6232 KiB  
Article
Towards Cleaner Cities: Estimating Vehicle-Induced PM2.5 with Hybrid EBM-CMA-ES Modeling
by Saleh Alotaibi, Hamad Almujibah, Khalaf Alla Adam Mohamed, Adil A. M. Elhassan, Badr T. Alsulami, Abdullah Alsaluli and Afaq Khattak
Toxics 2024, 12(11), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12110827 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 421
Abstract
In developing countries, vehicle emissions are a major source of atmospheric pollution, worsened by aging vehicle fleets and less stringent emissions regulations. This results in elevated levels of particulate matter, contributing to the degradation of urban air quality and increasing concerns over the [...] Read more.
In developing countries, vehicle emissions are a major source of atmospheric pollution, worsened by aging vehicle fleets and less stringent emissions regulations. This results in elevated levels of particulate matter, contributing to the degradation of urban air quality and increasing concerns over the broader effects of atmospheric emissions on human health. This study proposes a Hybrid Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM) framework, optimized using the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES), to predict vehicle-related PM2.5 concentrations and analyze contributing factors. Air quality data were collected from Open-Seneca sensors installed along the Nairobi Expressway, alongside meteorological and traffic data. The CMA-ES-tuned EBM model achieved a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 2.033 and an R2 of 0.843, outperforming other models. A key strength of the EBM is its interpretability, revealing that the location was the most critical factor influencing PM2.5 concentrations, followed by humidity and temperature. Elevated PM2.5 levels were observed near the Westlands roundabout, and medium to high humidity correlated with higher PM2.5 levels. Furthermore, the interaction between humidity and traffic volume played a significant role in determining PM2.5 concentrations. By combining CMA-ES for hyperparameter optimization and EBM for prediction and interpretation, this study provides both high predictive accuracy and valuable insights into the environmental drivers of urban air pollution, providing practical guidance for air quality management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Emissions Characteristics and Its Impact on Human Health)
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16 pages, 5674 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Complex Emission Dynamics in Port Areas Using High-Density Air Sensor Network
by Jun Pan, Ying Wang, Xiaoliang Qin, Nirmal Kumar Gali, Qingyan Fu and Zhi Ning
Toxics 2024, 12(10), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12100760 - 19 Oct 2024
Viewed by 835
Abstract
Cargo terminals, as pivotal hubs of mechanical activities, maritime shipping, and land transportation, are significant sources of air pollutants, exhibiting considerable spatiotemporal heterogeneity due to the complex and irregular nature of emissions. This study employed a high-density air sensor network with 17 sites [...] Read more.
Cargo terminals, as pivotal hubs of mechanical activities, maritime shipping, and land transportation, are significant sources of air pollutants, exhibiting considerable spatiotemporal heterogeneity due to the complex and irregular nature of emissions. This study employed a high-density air sensor network with 17 sites across four functional zones in two Shanghai cargo terminals to monitor NO and NO2 concentrations with high spatiotemporal resolution post sensor data validation against regulatory monitoring stations. Notably, NO and NO2 concentrations within the terminal surged during the night, peaking at 06:00 h, likely due to local regulations on heavy-duty diesel trucks. Spatial analysis revealed the highest NO concentrations in the core operational areas and adjacent roads, with significantly lower levels in the outer ring, indicating strong emission sources and limited dispersion. Employing the lowest percentile method for baseline extraction from high-resolution data, this study identified local emissions as the primary source of NO, constituting over 80% of total emissions. Elevated background concentrations of NO2 suggested a gradual oxidation of NO into NO2, with local emissions contributing to 32–70% of the total NO2 concentration. These findings provide valuable insights into the NO and NO2 emission characteristics across different terminal areas, aiding decision-makers in developing targeted emission control policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Emissions Characteristics and Its Impact on Human Health)
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17 pages, 3697 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Indoor Air Quality in Schools: Is the Indoor Environment a Haven during High Pollution Episodes?
by Li Sun, Peng Wei, Dane Westerdahl, Jing Xue and Zhi Ning
Toxics 2024, 12(8), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12080564 - 2 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1056
Abstract
Pollution data were collected at five schools in Hong Kong using low-cost, sensor-based monitors both indoors and outdoors during two consecutive high pollution episodes. The pollutants monitored included NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10, which were [...] Read more.
Pollution data were collected at five schools in Hong Kong using low-cost, sensor-based monitors both indoors and outdoors during two consecutive high pollution episodes. The pollutants monitored included NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10, which were also used as input to a health risk communication protocol known as Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). CO2 was also measured simultaneously. The study aimed to assess the relationship between indoor pollutant concentrations and AQHI levels with those outdoors and to evaluate the efficacy of building operating practices in protecting students from pollution exposure. The results indicate that the regular air quality monitoring stations and outdoor pollutant levels at schools exhibit similar patterns. School AQHI levels indoors were generally lower than those outdoors, with PM10 levels showing a larger proportional contribution to the calculated values indoors. NO2 levels in one school were in excess of outdoor values. CO2 monitored in classrooms commonly exceeded indoor guidelines, suggesting poor ventilation. One school that employed air filtration had lower indoor PM concentrations compared to other schools; however, they were still similar to those outdoors. O3 levels indoors were consistently lower than those outdoors. This study underscores the utility of on-site, sensor-based monitoring for assessing the health impacts of indoor and community exposure to urban air pollutants. The findings suggest a need for improved ventilation and more strategic air intake placement to enhance indoor air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Emissions Characteristics and Its Impact on Human Health)
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18 pages, 4458 KiB  
Article
Microscopic Characterization of Individual Aerosol Particles in a Typical Industrial City and Its Surrounding Rural Areas in China
by Yunfei Su, Yuhan Long, Xunzhe Yao, Chunying Chen, Wei Sun, Rui Zhao and Junke Zhang
Toxics 2024, 12(7), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12070525 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1028
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy was used to analyze individual aerosol particles collected in Lanzhou (urban site) and its surrounding areas (rural site) in early 2023. The results revealed that from the pre-Spring Festival period to the Spring Festival period, the main pollutants at the [...] Read more.
Transmission electron microscopy was used to analyze individual aerosol particles collected in Lanzhou (urban site) and its surrounding areas (rural site) in early 2023. The results revealed that from the pre-Spring Festival period to the Spring Festival period, the main pollutants at the urban site decreased significantly, while the PM2.5 and SO2 concentrations increased at the rural site. During the entire sampling period, the main particles at the urban site were organic matter (OM), secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA), and OM-SIA particles, while those at the rural site were OM, SIA, and soot particles. The degree of external mixing of single particles in both sites increased from the pre-Spring Festival period to the Spring Festival period. The proportion of the OM particles increased by 11% at the urban site, and the proportion of SIA particles increased by 24% at the rural site. During the Spring Festival, the aging of the soot particles was enhanced at the urban site and weakened at the rural site. At the urban site, the SIA particle size was more strongly correlated with the thickness of the OM coating during the pre-Spring Festival period, while the correlation was stronger at the rural site during the Spring Festival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Emissions Characteristics and Its Impact on Human Health)
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