Indoor air pollution with harmful particulate matter (PM) is mainly caused by cigarette smoke. Super-Slim-Size-Cigarettes (SSL) are considered a less harmful alternative to King-Size-Cigarettes (KSC) due to longer filters and relatively low contents. We ask if "Combined Mainstream and Sidestream Smoke" (CMSS)-associated PM levels of SSL are lower than of KSC and thus are potentially less harmfu...

A study of concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) has been performed in Delhi. The monthly and seasonal variations of concentrations and winds are analyzed. The monthly mean SO2 concentrations were in the range of 16.15-34.44 ngrrT and showed regular seasonal variations with the highest concentrations in winter and lowest in monsoon season. On the other ha...

BACKGROUND Studies have suggested associations between elevated blood pressure and short-term air pollution exposures, but the evidence is mixed regarding long-term exposures on incidence of hypertension. OBJECTIVES We examined the association of hypertension incidence with long-term residential exposures to ambient particulate matter (PM) and residential distance to roadway. METHODS We est...

Quantifying spatial distribution patterns of air pollutants is imperative to understand environmental justice issues. Here we present a landscape-based hierarchical approach in which air pollution variables are regressed against population demographics on multiple spatiotemporal scales. Using this approach, we investigated the potential problem of distributive environmental justice in the Phoen...

OBJECTIVES This study intended to characterize work environment contamination by particles in 2 waste-sorting plants. MATERIAL AND METHODS Particles were measured by portable direct-reading equipment. Besides mass concentration in different sizes, data related with the number of particles concentration were also obtained. RESULTS Both sorting units showed the same distribution concerning th...

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to assess the size characteristics of particulate matter (PM) generated during waste collection and sorting, and to assess the effect of the type of waste-handling activity on levels of coarse and fine PM. METHODS A portable aerosol spectrometer calibrated to 1.2 //min was used to monitor PM generated during four types of waste-handling activities. The type...

The Pb-monitoring program was extended for 6 years from 2002 to 2007 at 17 representative urban sites (6 traffic, 5 industrial, and 6 residential sites), and 3 suburban sites to assess the lead pollution in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) after phasing out leaded gasoline in Shanghai. Compared with Pb levels reported in other places, the Pb pollution in Shanghai is still serious after phasing o...

The abundance of airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) is a significant environmental and health issue. Many tools have been used to examine the relationship between PM2.5 abundance and meteorological variables, but some of the relationships are nonlinear, non-Gaussian, and even unknown. Machine learning provides a broad range of practical...

This study aims to assess the long-term trend of fine particles (PM2.5; ≤2.5 μm) at two urban sites of Lahore during 2007-2011. These sites represent two distinct areas: commercial (Townhall) and residential cum industrial (Township). The highest daily mean concentrations of PM2.5 were noted as 389 and 354 μg m-3 at the Townhall and Township sites, respectively. As expected, the annual seasonal...

The ambient air quality monitoring network involves measurement of a number of air pollutants. A variety of methods exist to measure particulate matter in air. This study evaluates the effects of particulate air pollution associated short-term exposure of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in Diwali festival. Fireworks display during festive celebrations can cause acute short term air pollutio...