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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Solutions Network Formulation Report. NASA's Potential Contributions for Using Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Conjunction with Photocatalysis for Urban Air Pollution Mitigation and Increasing Air Quality

This Candidate Solution is based on using NASA Earth science research on atmospheric ozone and aerosols data as a means to predict and evaluate the effectiveness of photocatalytically created surfaces (building materials like glass, tile and cement) for air pollution mitigation purposes. When these surfaces are exposed to near UV light, organic molecules, like air pollutants and smog precursors, will degrade into environmentally friendly compounds. U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is responsible for forecasting daily air quality by using the Air Quality Index (AQI) that is provided by AIRNow. EPA is partnered with AIRNow and is responsible for calculating the AQI for five major air pollutants that are regulated by the Clean Air Act. In this Solution, UV irradiance data acquired from the satellite mission Aura and the OMI Surface UV algorithm will be used to help understand both the efficacy and efficiency of the photocatalytic decomposition process these surfaces facilitate, and their ability to reduce air pollutants. Prediction models that estimate photocatalytic function do not exist. NASA UV irradiance data will enable this capability, so that air quality agencies that are run by state and local officials can develop and implement programs that utilize photocatalysis for urban air pollution control and, enable them to make effective decisions about air pollution protection programs.

Underwood, Lauren↗
NASA NTRS2019

Chemical Climatology of Atmospheric Pollutants in the Eastern United States: Seasonal/Diurnal Cycles and Contrast Under Clear/Cloudy Conditions for Remote Sensing

We statistically assessed temporal variations of observed concentrations of eight atmospheric pollutants (SO2, NO, NO2, NO(y), O3, CO, NH3, and HNO3) at three urban sites and one rural site in the eastern United States for a ten-year period (4 years for NH3). Diurnal/seasonal patterns of observed mean concentrations and their decade-scale trends under different weather conditions were evaluated. Concentrations of pollutants decreased consistently during the observation period (as long as 1997–2013), although nighttime ozone during winter appears to increase because of reduced NO-O3 titration. This study shows that the decay time of major air pollutant concentrations such as SO2 and NO(x) can be short as a few hours to one day. We also identified substantial differences between the mean concentrations of pollutants at clear sky and overcast conditions that could introduce biases into satellite observations. Surface concentrations of SO2 and CO are distinctly higher under cloud free than under overcast conditions by ∼30% and ∼20% respectively. NO2 shows a complex pattern, but demonstrates lower daytime concentrations under cloud-free skies. All of these estimates are important for understanding the chemical climatology of these atmospheric pollutants, especially their diurnal/seasonal cycles under different weather conditions. For four-year measurements, NH3 shows a substantial difference, with clear sky observations roughly a factor of two higher than those under overcast conditions. To track changes in the future, the full daily cycle of atmospheric pollutants monitored by geostationary satellite such as the future TEMPO mission may better capture patterns and trends.

TEMPO↗
DOE OSTI2018

Traffic-related air pollution and childhood obesity in an Italian birth cohort

Highlights: • Few studies analyse the association between air pollution and children BMI. • We modelled traffic-related air pollution with land-use regression models. • Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) has been used to control for selection bias. • No association was found between pollutants and ponderal excess parameters. Air pollution is associated with several adverse health outcomes in children, such as respiratory illnesses and cognitive development impairment. There are suggestions of an effect of traffic-related air pollution on the occurrence of childhood obesity, but the results are not consistent.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Temporal trends in air pollution exposure inequality in Massachusetts

Highlights: • We characterized longitudinal PM{sub 2.5} and NO{sub 2} inequality trends across Massachusetts. • Exposure inequality increased in urban, but not rural areas. • NO{sub 2} exposure inequality was greater in magnitude than PM{sub 2.5} inequality. • Observed inequality trends likely driven by spatiotemporal pollution shifts. Mounting evidence over the past several decades has demonstrated inequitable distribution of pollutants of ambient origin between sociodemographic groups in the United States. Most environmental inequality studies to date are cross-sectional and used proximity-based methods rather than modeled air pollution concentrations, limiting the ability to examine trends over time or the factors that drive exposure inequalities. In this paper, we use 1 km{sup 2} modeled PM{sub 2.5} and NO{sub 2} concentrations in Massachusetts over an 8-year period and Census demographic data to quantify inequality between sociodemographic groups and to develop a more nuanced understanding of the drivers and trends in longitudinal air pollution inequality. Annual-average population-weighted PM{sub 2.5} and NO{sub 2} concentrations were highest for urban non-Hispanic black populations (11.8 µg/m{sup 3} in 2003 and 8.4 µg/m{sup 3} in 2010, vs. 11.3 µg/m{sup 3} and 8.1 µg/m{sup 3} for urban non-Hispanic whites) and urban Hispanic populations (15.9 ppb in 2005 and 13.0 ppb in 2010, vs. 13.0 ppb and 10.2 ppb for urban non-Hispanic whites), respectively. While population groups experienced similar absolute decreases in exposure over time, disparities in population-weighted concentrations increased over time when quantified by the Atkinson Index, a relative inequality measure. Exposure inequalities were approximately one order of magnitude greater for NO{sub 2} compared to PM{sub 2.5}, were more pronounced in urban compared to rural geographies, and between racial/ethnic groups compared to income and educational attainment groups. Our results also revealed similar longitudinal PM{sub 2.5} and NO{sub 2} inequality trends using Census 2000 and Census 2010 data, indicating that spatio-temporal shifts in air pollution may best explain observed trends in inequality. These findings enhance our understanding of factors that contribute to persistent inequalities and underscore the importance of targeted exposure reduction strategies aimed at vulnerable populations and neighborhoods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Toxic metal(loid)-based pollutants and their possible role in autism spectrum disorder

Highlights: • There is a significant relationship between ASD and various environmental factors. • A possible association exists between ASD and exposure to toxic metals. • Lead, mercury, aluminum, and arsenic may be involved in the etiology of ASD. • Toxic metals may induce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. • Modulation of toxic metal body burden may improve ASD. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and stereotypic behaviors. Many studies support a significant relationship between many different environmental factors in ASD etiology. These factors include increased daily exposure to various toxic metal-based environmental pollutants, which represent a cause for concern in public health. This article reviews the most relevant toxic metals, commonly found, environmental pollutants, i.e., lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al), and the metalloid arsenic (As). Additionally, it discusses how pollutants can be a possible pathogenetic cause of ASD through various mechanisms including neuroinflammation in different regions of the brain, fundamentally occurring through elevation of the proinflammatory profile of cytokines and aberrant expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Due to the worldwide increase in toxic environmental pollution, studies on the role of pollutants in neurodevelopmental disorders, including direct effects on the developing brain and the subjects’ genetic susceptibility and polymorphism, are of utmost importance to achieve the best therapeutic approach and preventive strategies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Mobilisation of lipophilic pollutants from blubber in northern elephant seal pups (Mirounga angustirostris) during the post-weaning fast

Northern elephant seals (NES) (Mirounga angustirostris) from the Año Nuevo State Reserve (CA, USA) were longitudinally sampled during the post-weaning fast in order to study the mobilisation and redistribution of various classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) between blubber and blood. Inner and outer blubber layers were analysed separately. Organohalogenated compounds were detected in all blubber samples in the decreasing order of their concentrations: p,p′-DDE>PCBs⪢HCB>PBDEs. The concentrations of all studied compounds were homogeneously distributed in the blubber layer at early fast, since the concentrations of POPs were statistically not different in the inner and outer layers. With the progression of the fast, the concentrations of PBDEs, PCBs and p,p′-DDE increased more sharply in inner blubber than in outer blubber. As a result, their levels became significantly higher in inner blubber as compared to outer blubber at late fast. The rise of pollutant concentrations in blubber might result from a less efficient mobilisation than triglycerides and/or a reuptake by adipocytes of some of the pollutants released into the circulation. The mobilisation of pollutants from blubber was higher at late fast. An increase of pollutant concentrations was observed in serum between early and late fast. Lower halogenated congeners (i.e. tetra-CBs) were present in higher proportions in serum, whereas the higher halogenated congeners (i.e. hepta-CBs) were mainly found in the inner and outer blubber layers. The transfer ratios of both PBDEs and PCBs from inner blubber to serum decreased with the number of chlorine and bromine atoms. In addition, the distribution of both types of compounds between serum and blubber was strongly influenced by their lipophilic character (log K{sub ow} values), with more lipophilic compounds being less efficiently released from blubber to serum. - Highlights: • The POP concentrations were evenly distributed in blubber layers at early fast. • The POP concentrations were higher in inner than in outer blubber at late fast. • The POP concentrations increased in blubber and serum over the fast. • POPs were less efficiently mobilised from blubber than triglycerides. • The mobilisation of POPs from blubber was influenced by their lipophilic character.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Assessing the pollution risk of a groundwater source field at western Laizhou Bay under seawater intrusion

Coastal areas have great significance for human living, economy and society development in the world. With the rapid increase of pressures from human activities and climate change, the safety of groundwater resource is under the threat of seawater intrusion in coastal areas. The area of Laizhou Bay is one of the most serious seawater intruded areas in China, since seawater intrusion phenomenon was firstly recognized in the middle of 1970s. This study assessed the pollution risk of a groundwater source filed of western Laizhou Bay area by inferring the probability distribution of groundwater Cl{sup −} concentration. The numerical model of seawater intrusion process is built by using SEAWAT4. The parameter uncertainty of this model is evaluated by Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation, and DREAM{sub (ZS)} is used as sampling algorithm. Then, the predictive distribution of Cl{sup -} concentration at groundwater source field is inferred by using the samples of model parameters obtained from MCMC. After that, the pollution risk of groundwater source filed is assessed by the predictive quantiles of Cl{sup -} concentration. The results of model calibration and verification demonstrate that the DREAM{sub (ZS)} based MCMC is efficient and reliable to estimate model parameters under current observation. Under the condition of 95% confidence level, the groundwater source point will not be polluted by seawater intrusion in future five years (2015–2019). In addition, the 2.5% and 97.5% predictive quantiles show that the Cl{sup −} concentration of groundwater source field always vary between 175 mg/l and 200 mg/l. - Highlights: • The parameter uncertainty of seawater intrusion model is evaluated by MCMC. • Groundwater source field won’t be polluted by seawater intrusion in future 5 years. • The pollution risk is assessed by the predictive quantiles of Cl{sup −} concentration.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Survey on the micro-pollutants presence in surface water system of northern Serbia and environmental and health risk assessment

Highlights: • First survey on the occurrence of 940 substances in the middle part of the Danube Basin. • Micro-pollutants from canals water had higher abundance of contaminants that from river. • High level of sterols indicated dominant effect of untreated domestic wastewater. • Correlations among the groups of micro-pollutants indicated their common origin. • Ecological risk suggesting a potential for adverse effects on fish. This study demonstrates the occurrence of 940 organic micro-pollutants in surface water of four rivers, one irrigation canal system, and two lakes in Vojvodina Province, the northern part of Serbia, summing in total eighteen samples. The number of detected chemicals ranged from 22 to 84, with 127 micro-pollutants detected at least once, representing 13% of the studied substances. The targeted compounds include n-alkanes, sterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, pharmaceutical active compounds, industrial chemicals, plasticizers, etc. Among the analysed compounds, sterols were the most dominant with maximum quantified concentrations. The substances which were quantified with frequency over 50% were two PAHs (2-methylnaphthalene, benzo(ghi)perylene), five sterols (cholesterol, cholestanol, stigmasterol, fucosterol, beta-sitosterol), three pharmaceuticals and personal care products (L-menthol, diethyltoluamide, caffeine), and ten household chemicals (4-tert-octylphenol, dimethyl phthalate, methyl palmitate, phenylethyl alcohol, 1-nonanol, alpha-terpineol, 2-phenoxy-ethanol, methyl myristate, acetophenone, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol). The list of priority substances under the European Union Directive 2013/39/EU includes 49 priority substances (PSs) out of which 34 were analysed. Among these, eleven PSs were quantified, and only two compounds (fluoranthene and benzo (a) pyrene) exceeded EU Environmental Quality Standards targeted values. The obtained results were compared with the previously published data that dealt with the same targeted number of micro-pollutants in sediment samples. This revealed connections between the same sampling locations. Environmental risk assessment showed the existence of potential ecological risk as 72% of the obtained values for the ecological hazard index (HI) at investigated locations were higher that the targeted value (HI > 1). Estimated values for hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic risk were lower than the targeted value, indicating no non-carcinogenic risk through dermal contact and non-intentional ingestion of water. Estimated values for cancer risk were all below 1 × 10{sup −6}, which is not considered to pose significant human health risk.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Comparison of the greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions from the SF-BREEZE high-speed fuel-cell ferry with a diesel ferry

A theoretical comparison is made of the “well to waves” (WTW) greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria pollutant emissions from the SF-BREEZE high-speed hydrogen PEM fuel cell ferry and the VALLEJO ferry powered by traditional diesel engine technology but constrained to Tier 4 emissions standards. The emissions were calculated for a common maritime mission, the current ferry route between Vallejo CA and San Francisco CA. Calculations are made of the energy required for the SF-BREEZE and VALLEJO to perform the mission route profile. The SF-BREEZE requires 10.1% more fuel energy than the VALLEJO, primarily due to the SF-BREEZE being heavier. Estimates are made for the SF-BREEZE GHG emissions associated with five LH2 fuel production pathways including renewable and non-renewable (fossil-fuel based) methods. Estimates are also made for GHG emissions associated with fossil-diesel production and delivery as well as those for biodiesel, which can be considered a renewable “drop-in” fuel replacement for conventional diesel fuel. We find that the GHG emissions for the SF-BREEZE using non-renewable LH 2 are significantly higher than for the Tier 4 diesel-fueled VALLEJO on a per passenger basis. However, using renewable LH 2 , the GHG emissions for the SF-BREEZE ferry are reduced 75.8% compared to the diesel-fueled VALLEJO operating at Tier 4 emissions standards. We also compare the criteria pollutant emissions (NO x , HC, PM 10 ) for the SF-BREEZE to that of the VALLEJO held to Tier 4 emissions standards fueled by diesel fuel or biodiesel. Hydrogen PEM fuel cell technology dramatically reduces NO x and HC emissions below the most advanced Tier 4 criteria pollutant emissions requirements regardless of whether the LH 2 is made by NG reforming or via water electrolysis using 70% renewable energy. Renewable LH 2 made with greater than 84% renewable process energy is needed to also drop the SF-BREEZE PM 10 emissions below that of Tier 4 for high-speed fuel cell ferry transportation. Overall, the results show that operating a hydrogen fuel cell ferry on nearly 100% renewable hydrogen provides the dramatic reduction in GHG and criteria pollutant emissions commensurate with the problems of global climate change and maritime air pollution worldwide.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Metal-organic frameworks as effective sensors and scavengers for toxic environmental pollutants

Abstract Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constructed from a rich library of organic struts and metal ions/clusters represent promising candidates for a wide range of applications. The unique structure, porous nature, easy tunability and processability of these materials make them an outstanding class of materials for tackling serious global problems relating to energy and environment. Among them, environmental pollution is one aspect that has increased at an alarming rate in the past decade or so. With rapid urbanization and industrialization, toxic environmental pollutants are constantly released and accumulated leading to serious contamination in water bodies and thereby having adverse effects on human health. Recent studies have shown that many toxic pollutants, as listed by the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency, can be selectively detected, captured, sequestered and removed by MOFs from air and aquatic systems. Most of these sensing/capture processes in MOFs are quantifiable and effective for even a trace amount of the targeted chemical species. The functional sites (ligands and metals) play a critical role in such recognition processes and offer an extensive scope of structural tunability for guest (pollutants, toxic entities) recognition. Whereas on the one hand, the underlying mechanisms governing such sensing and capture are important, it is also crucial to identify MOFs that are best suited for commercial applications for the future. In this review article, we provide an overview of the most recent progress in the sensing, capture and removal of various common toxic pollutants, including neutral and ionic, inorganic and organic species, with brief discussions on the mechanism and efficacy of selected MOFs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Multivariate Dynamic Spatial Factor Model for Speciated Pollutants and Adverse Birth Outcomes

Evidence suggests that exposure to elevated concentrations of air pollution during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of birth defects and other adverse birth outcomes. While current regulations put limits on total PM2.5 concentrations, there are many speciated pollutants within this size class that likely have distinct effects on perinatal health. However, due to correlations between these speciated pollutants, it can be difficult to decipher their effects in a model for birth outcomes. To combat this difficulty, we develop a multivariate spatio-temporal Bayesian model for speciated particulate matter using dynamic spatial factors. These spatial factors can then be interpolated to the pregnant women’s homes to be used to model birth defects. The birth defect model allows the impact of pollutants to vary across different weeks of the pregnancy in order to identify susceptible periods. Here, the proposed methodology is illustrated using pollutant monitoring data from the Environmental Protection Agency and birth records from the National Birth Defect Prevention Study.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2014

Antarctic-Wide Array of High-Resolution Ice Core Records Reveals Pervasive Lead Pollution Began in 1889 and Persists Today

Interior Antarctica is among the most remote places on Earth and was thought to be beyond the reach of human impacts when Amundsen and Scott raced to the South Pole in 1911. Here we show detailed measurements from an extensive array of 16 ice cores quantifying substantial toxic heavy metal lead pollution at South Pole and throughout Antarctica by 1889 - beating polar explorers by more than 22 years. Unlike the Arctic where lead pollution peaked in the 1970s, lead pollution in Antarctica was as high in the early 20th century as at any time since industrialization. The similar timing and magnitude of changes in lead deposition across Antarctica, as well as the characteristic isotopic signature of Broken Hill lead found throughout the continent, suggest that this single emission source in southern Australia was responsible for the introduction of lead pollution into Antarctica at the end of the 19th century and remains a significant source today. An estimated 660 t of industrial lead have been deposited over Antarctica during the past 130 years as a result of mid-latitude industrial emissions, with regional-to-global scale circulation likely modulating aerosol concentrations. Despite abatement efforts, significant lead pollution in Antarctica persists into the 21st century.

pollution↗
NASA NTRS2017

The Net Decay Time of Anomalies in Concentrations of Atmospheric Pollutants

This paper introduces a new parameter to characterize the random component in temporal variability of atmospheric pollutants and proposes a simple statistical technique for its evaluation. That parameter is the net decay time (or the time scale) of the local anomalies in concentrations of atmospheric pollutants, rather than the traditionally used chemical lifetimes of total amounts of the species. Using widely available data of hourly multi-year surface trace gas pollutant concentrations we demonstrate a simplified way to estimate the net decay time with an exponential approximation of lag-correlation functions. We assessed the decay times of fluctuations in observations of eight atmospheric pollutants (SO2, NO, NO2, NOy, O3, CO, NH3, and HNO3) at two urban sites and one cleaner rural site in the Eastern US. The time scales of temporal fluctuations (net decay times) vary from about one hour to slightly more than one day. These scales are generally much shorter in urban environments than in remote regions. We also compared day- and night-time observations in warm and cold seasons. At night in the cold season, time scales of fluctuations in atmospheric pollutants are usually the longest. Such estimates should be useful to air quality prediction, public health, and satellite remote sensing research communities.

air quality prediction↗
NASA NTRS2020

Influence of Cloud, Fog, and High Relative Humidity during Pollution Transport Events in South Korea: Aerosol Properties and PM2.5 Variability

This investigation examines aerosol dynamics during major fine mode aerosol transboundary pollution events in South Korea primarily during the KORUS-AQ campaign from May 1 – June 10, 2016, particularly when cloud fraction was high and/or fog was present to quantify the change in aerosol characteristics due to near-cloud or fog interaction. We analyze the new AERONET Version 3 data that have significant changes to cloud screening algorithms, allowing many more fine-mode observations in the near vicinity of clouds or fog. Case studies for detailed investigation include May 25–26, 2016 when cloud fraction was high over much of the peninsula, associated with a weak frontal passage and advection of pollution from China. These cloud-influenced Chinese transport dates also had the highest aerosol optical depth (AOD), surface PM2.5 concentrations and fine mode particle sizes of the entire campaign. Another likewise cloud/high relative humidity (RH) case is June 9 and 10, 2016 when fog was present over the Yellow Sea that appears to have affected aerosol properties well downwind over the Korean peninsula. In comparison we also investigated aerosol properties on air stagnation days with very low cloud cover and relatively low RH (May 17 & 18, 2016), when local Korean emissions dominated. Aerosol volume size distributions show marked differences between the transport days (with high RH and cloud influences) and the local pollution stagnation days, with total column-integrated particle fine mode volume being an order of magnitude greater on the pollution transport dates. The PM2.5 over central Seoul were significantly greater than for coastal sites on the transboundary transport days yet not on stagnation days, suggesting addi-tional particle formation from gaseous urban emissions in cloud/fog droplets and/or in the high RH humidified aerosol environment. Many days had KORUS-AQ research aircraft flights that provided observations of aerosol absorption, particle chemistry and vertical profiles of extinction. AERONET retrievals and aircraft in situ mea-surements both showed high single scattering albedo (weak absorption) on the cloudy or cloud influenced days, plus aircraft profile in situ measurements showed large AOD enhancements (versus dried aerosol) at ambient relative humidity (RH) on the pollution transport days, consistent with the significantly larger fine mode particle radii and weak absorption.

Aerosol↗
DOE OSTI2018

Spatiotemporal interpolation of air pollutants in the Greater Cairo and the Delta, Egypt

Highlights: • Data from network of monitoring stations in Egypt are used for studying SO{sub 2}, NO{sub 2}, and PM{sub 10.} • Trans-Gaussian Spatiotemporal kriging is used as a spatiotemporal interpolation method. • The whole area under study is suffering from high values of PM{sub 10} throughout 2015. • For NO{sub 2} and SO{sub 2}, the highest value is noticed in February. • Concerns must be given to the monitoring network to improve the prediction precision. This paper analyses the spatiotemporal variability of air pollutants in Egypt using monthly averages from the air quality monitoring network from 2011 to 2015. Particulate Matters (PM{sub 10}) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO{sub 2}) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO{sub 2}), measured by the monitoring stations network are studied. A log transformation is applied for the three pollutants to achieve normality. The sum-metric function is utilized for modelling the spatiotemporal variogram as it gave the smallest Mean Squared Error (MSE) compared to other forms namely separable, metric, and product sum models. Therefore, employing the gstat package in R together with the trans-Gaussian spatiotemporal kriging, the maps are generated for the interpolated surfaces for the monthly averages of 2015 and the corresponding standard error values. These maps will help the decision maker to understand and visualize the spatial and temporal variability of the measured pollutants and hence undertake the necessary policies and decisions. The results show that the down town area has the highest pollutants levels. As concerns the temporal dimension, the highest values are depicted during the month of February as compared to the rest of the year. Furthermore, Egypt is suffering from a serious PM{sub 10} problem for the area and period under study that extremely exceed the WHO and Egyptian guidelines.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effect of oxidation on the release of multiple metals from industrially polluted sediments and synchrotron-based evidence of Cu–S dynamic association

Disposal operations for industrially polluted sediments are usually accompanied by disturbance and resuspension, which can induce metal remobilization and secondary pollution. Evaluating the risk of metal release under various redox conditions is fundamental for predicting contaminant mobilization and guiding remediation measures. An abandoned oxidation pond, Yanjia Lake, China, was selected as a typical industrially polluted site. Re-suspension experiments were carried out by mixing polluted sediments with lake water under oxic or anoxic conditions, then investigating the effect of oxidation conditions on the release of multiple metals. Metal concentrations and aqueous chemistry in the overlying water were monitored. Synchrotron-based methods, including X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), were used to characterize oxidation states and coordination conditions of metals in sediments. The release of metals, including Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Sn, Cd, and Pb, was enhanced under oxic vs. anoxic conditions. The XANES analysis revealed that elevated Cr and Zn concentrations under oxic conditions likely resulted from the oxidation of Cr(III) and oxidizing dissolution of ZnS, respectively. K-edge Cu XANES, S XANES, and Cu EXAFS analyses reconstructed the Cu–S association, indicating that S-related oxidation promoted Cu release and Cu–O partly replaced Cu–S in the sediment after a 7-day oxic treatment. The release of most metals was promoted under oxic conditions, resulting from the oxidation of sulfides and metals as indicated by aqueous and synchrotron-based evidence. The risk of secondary pollution is greatly enhanced under oxic conditions, which suggests that measures should be taken to minimize the redox disturbance during sediment remediation. This information can guide the management of sediments in Yanjia Lake and other contaminated sites with similar properties.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Persistent high PM 2.5 pollution driven by unfavorable meteorological conditions during the COVID-19 lockdown period in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China

Lockdown measures to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic in China halted most nonessential activities on January 23, 2020. Despite significant reductions in anthropogenic emissions, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region still experienced high air pollution concentrations. In this work, employing two emissions reduction scenarios, the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model was used to investigate the PM 2.5 concentrations change in this region. The model using the scenario (C3) with greater traffic reductions performed better compared to the observed PM 2.5 . Compared with the no reductions base-case (scenario C1), PM 2.5 reductions with scenario C3 were 2.70, 2.53, 2.90, 2.98, 3.30, 2.81, 2.82, 2.98, 2.68, and 2.83 µg/m 3 in Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Cangzhou, Chengde, Handan, Hengshui, Tangshan, and Xingtai, respectively. During high-pollution days in scenario C3, the percentage reductions in PM 2.5 concentrations in Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Cangzhou, Chengde, Handan, Hengshui, Tangshan, and Xingtai were 3.76, 3.54, 3.28, 3.22, 3.57, 3.56, 3.47, 6.10, 3.61, and 3.67%, respectively. However, significant increases caused by unfavorable meteorological conditions counteracted the emissions reduction effects resulting in high air pollution in BTH region during the lockdown period. This study shows that effective air pollution control strategies incorporating these results are urgently required in BTH to avoid severe pollution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Fine-scale damage estimates of particulate matter air pollution reveal opportunities for location-specific mitigation of emissions

Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) air pollution has been recognized as a major source of mortality in the United States for at least 25 years, yet much remains unknown about which sources are the most harmful, let alone how best to target policies to mitigate them. Such efforts can be improved by employing high-resolution geographically explicit methods for quantifying human health impacts of emissions of PM 2.5 and its precursors. Here, we provide a detailed examination of the health and economic impacts of PM 2.5 pollution in the United States by linking emission sources with resulting pollution concentrations. We estimate that anthropogenic PM 2.5 was responsible for 107,000 premature deaths in 2011, at a cost to society of $886 billion. Of these deaths, 57% were associated with pollution caused by energy consumption [e.g., transportation (28%) and electricity generation (14%)]; another 15% with pollution caused by agricultural activities. A small fraction of emissions, concentrated in or near densely populated areas, plays an outsized role in damaging human health with the most damaging 10% of total emissions accounting for 40% of total damages. We find that 33% of damages occur within 8 km of emission sources, but 25% occur more than 256 km away, emphasizing the importance of tracking both local and long-range impacts. Our paper highlights the importance of a fine-scale approach as marginal damages can vary by over an order of magnitude within a single county. Information presented here can assist mitigation efforts by identifying those sources with the greatest health effects.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗