Pm+2.5+Research

UN Report on Brown Clouds in Asia http://www.unep.org/pdf/ABCSummaryFinal.pdf ([|summary of above report])

[|NT Times: Assessing the Air in Beijing] Jessy's Links: [] [] Vivian's Links: []

Randa's links: [|Greenfacts] [] [] What is it? It refers to particle matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller in terms of size. Where does it come from? Fuel combustion from automobiles, power plants, wood burning, industrial processes, and diesel powered vehicles such as buses and trucks. Also, they are formed in the atmosphere when gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds are transformed in the air by chemical reactions. Effects: Asthma, bronchitis, acute and chronic respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and painful breathing, and premature deaths. They affect more people with weak immune systems.

__**Know:**__ What do we know about pm2.5 pollution? fill in all the facts that you know right now (only things we know for sure).

__**Want to know:**__ Fill in all the questions that we will need to answer in order to make a good proposal. From this list, pick one or two that you will look for the answers to. (I gave you some to start with)

//What are the effects on health? What studies have been done?//

[] Health effects of pm 2.5 include: asthma, and higher rates of disease affecting the cardiovascular system or lungs. [] Particle pollution - especially fine particles - contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including: · increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing, for example; · decreased lung function; · aggravated asthma; · development of chronic bronchitis; · irregular heartbeat; · nonfatal heart attacks; and · premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

//What about SEPA?// [|//http://fire.biol.wwu.edu/trent/alles/China_API_Rules.pdf//] //How? I. Monitoring Items: Three pollutants: SO2, NO2 and inhalable particulates. II. Basic formula: Supposed I is the API of a certain pollutant, C is the concentration of the pollutant, the result is:// > values most approaching to the value of C, C high stands for the limited values higher > than and C low stands for the limited values lower than C. I high & I low : in the API > grading limited value table, the two values most approaching to Value I, I high stands > for the limited values larger than I, and I low stands for the limited values lower than I. III. The calculation steps of API for the whole city: IV. To choose the primary pollutants in the city: After the sub-API of all pollutants are calculated, and the maximum of sub-APIs is taken as the API of this region or the city, then this pollutant will be the primary air pollutant in this region or the city. API = max (I1,I2...Ii...In) Supposed the daily average value of PM10 in certain region is 0.215mg/cubic meter, the daily average value of SO2 is 0.105mg/cubic meter, daily average value of NO2 is 0.080 mg/cubic meter, and the calculation of the pollutant index is as follows: According to Table One, the practical monitoring concentration of PM10 is 0.215mg/cubic meter, which is between 0.150 mg/cubic meter and 0.250 mg/cubic meter, calculating according to this linear relation between the pollutant index and the pollutants within the concentration limit, i.e., here the concentration limited value C2= 0.150 mg/cubic meter, C3 = 0.250 mg/cubic meter, and the corresponding sub index value I2 = 100, I3 = 200, then the pollutant sub index of PM10 will be as following: I =[ (200-100)/(0.250-0.150)] X (0.215 - 0.150) + 100 = 165 Therefore the sub index of PM10 I = 165; and the sub index of other pollutants are respectively as: I=76 ( SO2), I =50 (NO2 ). The maximum of the pollutant index, 165, is selected to report as the API of this area. API = max ( 165, 76, 50 ) = 165 The primary pollutant is inhalable particulates PM10) . Where? I. Monitoring sites: Frequency? I. Monitoring circle and frequency for daily report: The definition of a day in ambient air daily report is from 12:00 of the previous day to 12:00 of the current day. China Environmental Protection Monitoring Center releases ambient air quality daily report of key cities at the medias before 16:00 every day, which includes API (Air Pollution Indices), prominent pollutants and air quality grade, and so on.
 * In which, C high & C low : in the API graded value limited table ( Table 1), the two
 * a. To calculate the daily average value at each monitoring site for each pollutant. In the calculation: Ci stands for the pollutant concentration at one monitoring site, N stands for the monitoring times at the site during a day.
 * b. To calculate the daily average value of a certain pollutant in the city In the calculation: l stands for the number of the monitoring sites in the city.
 * c. The sub-API value for a pollutant can be calculated through the Basic Formula by using the city daily average of the pollutant.
 * d. The maximum of sub-API values will be selected as the city API.
 * The city on the list of national monitoring network of ambient airquality must conduct monitoring according to the optimized monitoring sites ratified in the environmental monitoring No.108 Circular issued by State Environmental Protection Administration, and the ambient air quality report in such cities and regions will be based on that.
 * The city not on the list of state controlled should conduct monitoring according to the sites checked and confirmed by the state environmental comprehensive renovating ration, and the ambient air quality daily report will be based on that.
 * The configuration and sampling technique at the monitoring sites will enforce the regulations of "environmental monitoring technological specification (atmospheric air and exhaust air)"

What are the sources of pm2.5? __Coarse particles: __<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes. __<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Fine particles: __<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> particles include crushing or grinding operations, and dust stirred up by vehicles traveling on roads. //What is the current procedure for monitoring/decision making officially at ISB?// //Acceptable Level of pm10 and pm2.5?// Acceptable level of PM10 -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">50 µg/m3 (British Columbia) http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/air/codes/aqoffp.html -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> 50 micrograms per cubic meters (Greater Vancouver Regional District) http://www.richardgilbert.ca/Files/2005/Air%20quality%20inside%20inter-city%20buses%20(Web).pdf Acceptable level of PM2.5 -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> 30 micrograms per cubic meters (Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment) http://www.richardgilbert.ca/Files/2005/Air%20quality%20inside%20inter-city%20buses%20(Web).pdf

The health effects of PM 10, though not as drastic as those of PM 2.5, still affect the lives of people who are exposed to it. Those most susceptible to the effects of PM 10 are the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing lung and heart disease. Some effects of PM 10 are aggravation of asthma, chest pain, and nausea. Short-term exposure may irritate the lungs and result in lung constriction and long-term effects may cause lung cancer. For each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10 the estimated impacts are: a 0.8% increase in hospitalizations and a 1.0% increase in emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses, a 9.5% increase in days of restricted activity due to respiratory symptoms, a 4.1% increase in school absenteeism and a 1.2% increase in reporting of coughing. Current information – Problems/Uncertainty Air quality changes constantly from time to time, depending on the climate as well as human activities. Thus, this creates an uncertainty with air quality measurement and the decisions made in response to the measurement. For example, measurement made one day may not be applicable to the next, which questions the decisions made in terms of permission of outdoor activities. Location of measurement is also another factor that creates uncertainties. Currently, the ministry is taking measurements from different monitors in the city. There is no local monitor on campus that would provide the most accurate measurement in helping the school make decisions.

[]: official site of air monitoring in Beijing. They measure 3 days in advance so the uncertainty would be if something happens within the 3 days, the measurement might be inaccurate. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";">In infants under the age of 1 year, P.M 2.5 affects the rate of lung function development; it aggravates asthma and causes other respiratory problems such as bronchitis and cough. According to studies increased concentrations of P.M 2.5 has been proven to cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as cancer. It is also known to have more long term public health effects than short term; it can cause substantial reduction in life expectancy. The estimated relative risk amounts, due to exposure to 10-μg/m <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";">3 <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";">of PM 2.5 in the long term, were 12% for deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 14% for deaths from lung cancer. [] more links to look at: [] []
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";">Health effects of P.M 2.5 **