Analysis of concentrations trends and origins of PM

Particulate matter is generated in many natural and anthropogenic processes and, therefore, taking part in chemical reactions and physical processes in the atmosphere could affect human health, climate, and natural environment. The dust, after emission to the atmosphere, remains there in a floating state to form an atmospheric aerosol with different properties – depending on the morphology, the fraction, shape, surface, and chemical composition of the particles. The chemical composition of particulate matter is heterogeneous and depends on the type of emission sources and the time of residence in the atmosphere. The contribution of individual types of sources in the total dust emission is different in European countries. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentrations of PM10 at urban background and traffic stations in the chosen 17 European cities. For this purpose, the data from the database of the European Environment Agency and Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection was used. The annual average concentrations of 10 and daily average concentrations of PM10 in 2014 will be presented to confirm that in the European cities there is a problem about high 10 concentrations, especially in Poland and other eastern countries. In the case of daily average 10 concentration, the highest concentrations of pollutants in the winter season suggests that for the low air quality in these cities the phenomenon of so- called low-stack-emissions from the municipal sector is responsible

Ocena narażenia inhalacyjnego mieszkańców Wrocławia, Krakowa oraz Warszawy na benzo(a)piren

Burning of fossil fuels and biomass, transport and industry are the main sources of PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in the atmosphere. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is also a compound identified in cigarette smoke. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has qualified benzo[a]pyrene for compounds with proven carcinogenic effects on humans. The target value for benzo[a]pyrene, taking into account health protection purposes, is defined in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment on the levels of certain substances in the air and it is annual average concentration 1 ng/m3. The aim of the study was to carry out a cancer risk assessment for residents of Wroclaw, Krakow and Warszawa related to inhalation exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in ambient air. The methodology employed by the American Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was used in the study. The lifetime exposure of adults and children was assumed. The results of measurements carried out at the air monitoring stations under the State Environmental Monitoring by the Regional Inspectorates for Environmental Protection (RIEP) in Wroclaw, Krakow and Warszawa in the years 2014–2016 were used. The average concentration of BaP in the years 2014–2016 was 3.84, 6.31 and 2.19 ng/m3 for Wroclaw, Krakow and Warszawa respectively. The calculations show that the highest risk of cancer was obtained for the inhabitants of Krakow: 1.54 ∙ 10-5 children, 7.52 ∙ 10-6 women, 6.30 ∙ 10-6 men. The estimated cancer risk was higher for Krakow residents than for Wroclaw (1.01 ∙ 10-5 children, 4.94 ∙ 10-6 women, 3.82 ∙ 10-6 men) and Warszawa, where these indicators were the lowest (children: 5.34 ∙ 10-6, women: 2.61 ∙ 10-6, men: 2.19 ∙ 10-6). Children are the group most exposed to the risk of cancer associated with BaP in the air among the examined subpopulations.Źródłami WWA (wielopierścieniowe węglowodory aromatyczne) do atmosfery są m.in. transport, przemysł oraz spalanie paliw kopalnych. Benzo[a]piren jest także związkiem identyfikowanym w dymie papierosowym. Międzynarodowa Agencja Badań nad Rakiem (IARC) zakwalifikowała benzo[a]piren do związków o udowodnionym działaniu rakotwórczym na człowieka. Dopuszczalne stężenie benzo[a]piren ze względu na ochronę zdrowia określono w Rozporządzeniu Ministra Środowiska w sprawie poziomów niektórych substancji w powietrzu i wynosi ono 1 ng/m3. Celem pracy było przeprowadzenie oceny ryzyka nowotworowego dla mieszkańców Wrocławia, Krakowa i Warszawy związanego z narażeniem inhalacyjnym na benzo[a]piren w powietrzu atmosferycznym. W pracy zastosowano metodykę Amerykańskiej Agencji Ochrony Środowiska (US EPA). W badaniach założono narażenie całożyciowe osoby dorosłej oraz dziecka. W pracy wykorzystano wyniki pomiarów przeprowadzanych w ramach Państwowego Monitoringu Środowiska przez Wojewódzkie Inspektoraty Ochrony Środowiska (WIOŚ) we Wrocławiu, Krakowie oraz w Warszawie w latach 2014–2016. Średnia wartość stężenia B[a]P w latach 2014–2016 wyniosła dla Wrocławia, Krakowa i Warszawy odpowiednio: 3,84, 6,31 i 2,19 ng/m3. Z przeprowadzonych obliczeń wynika, iż najwyższą wartość ryzyka nowotworowego otrzymano dla mieszkańców Krakowa: dzieci: 1,54 ∙ 10-5, kobiety: 7,52 ∙ 10-6, mężczyżni: 6,30 ∙ 10-6. Wyznaczone wartości ryzyka nowotworowego były wyższe dla mieszkańców Krakowa niż Wrocławia (dzieci: 1,01 ∙ 10-5, kobiety: 4,94 ∙ 10-6, mężczyżni: 3,82 ∙ 10-6) i Warszawy, gdzie wyznaczone wartości ryzyka były niższe (dzieci: 5,34 ∙ 10-6, kobiety: 2,61 ∙ 10-6, mężczyżni: 2,19 ∙ 10-6). Wśród badanych populacji najbardziej narażone na ryzyko nowotworowe związane z obecnością B[a]P w powietrzu są dzieci

Analysis of concentrations trends and origins of PM10 in selected European cities

Particulate matter is generated in many natural and anthropogenic processes and, therefore, taking part in chemical reactions and physical processes in the atmosphere could affect human health, climate, and natural environment. The dust, after emission to the atmosphere, remains there in a floating state to form an atmospheric aerosol with different properties – depending on the morphology, the fraction, shape, surface, and chemical composition of the particles. The chemical composition of particulate matter is heterogeneous and depends on the type of emission sources and the time of residence in the atmosphere. The contribution of individual types of sources in the total dust emission is different in European countries. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentrations of PM10 at urban background and traffic stations in the chosen 17 European cities. For this purpose, the data from the database of the European Environment Agency and Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection was used. The annual average concentrations of 10 and daily average concentrations of PM10 in 2014 will be presented to confirm that in the European cities there is a problem about high 10 concentrations, especially in Poland and other eastern countries. In the case of daily average 10 concentration, the highest concentrations of pollutants in the winter season suggests that for the low air quality in these cities the phenomenon of so- called low-stack-emissions from the municipal sector is responsible

Application of field studies and geostatistical methods in assessment of odour nuisance based on selected examples from municipal, industrial and agricultural environments

In Europe and around the world, field studies conducted in areas surrounding the odour source are used for evaluating the odour nuisance and for emission studies. In Europe, the Standards of the Association of German Engineers (VDI) - VDI 3940 series - for grid and odour-plume measurements are used. Carrying out this type of research allows for the assessment of olfactory air quality in a ‘quantitative’ analysis by characterizing a particular odour in terms of its impact and its frequency. In addition, in order to analyse and visualize the distribution of odours occurring in a certain area, by using the results of field studies, the Geographical Information System (GIS) tools may be applied. The research methodology, including the results of field measurements and geostatistical analysis in the assessment of odour nuisance, could be very important tools for the determination and spatial interpolation of odour intensity distributions and studying the range of odorous plumes. This paper presents the results of field measurements and geostatistical analysis conducted for selected municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors objects

Exposure of urban agglomeration population to the selected components of PM1 emitted from low emission sources

The sources of gaseous and particulate (PM) pollutants in Polish cities are mainly: municipal sector, industry, emissions from the road transport and the upstream emission (pollution “flowing” to the cities, derived from emission sources located outside of cities). The residents of the cities are mainly exposed to air pollutants from low-emission sources (i.e. municipal sector and road traffic). In the paper, the results of the study from field campaign, conducted in January of 2016 in Wroclaw will be presented. During the field campaign the 24-h concentrations of submicron particulate matter (PM1) and 24-h concentrations of selected PM1-bound heavy metals were determined. The cancer risk associated with inhalation exposure to arsenic, nickel, and cadmium to the city’s residents, based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards methodology including the so-called lifelong chronic exposure of adult and child, was calculated. Measurements results showed that in Wroclaw during the winter season in 2016 the 24-h concentrations of PM1-bound arsenic, nickel and cadmium ranged from 0.51 to 4.26 ng/m3, 0.21–52.89 ng/m3 and 0.08–1.01 ng/m3, respectively. Obtained calculations results of cancer risk values for inhalation exposure to arsenic were: for men: 6.11·10−6, women: 7.30·10−6, children: 14.90·10−6, to nickel: for men: 1.91·10−6, women: 2.29·10−6, children: 4.67·10−6, to cadmium: for men: 0.37·10−6, women: 0.44·10−6, children: 0.91·10−6. The values obtained for inhalation exposure among children indicated the high potential risk of cancer, mainly for arsenic exposure

Exposure of urban agglomeration population to the selected components of PM

The sources of gaseous and particulate (PM) pollutants in Polish cities are mainly: municipal sector, industry, emissions from the road transport and the upstream emission (pollution “flowing” to the cities, derived from emission sources located outside of cities). The residents of the cities are mainly exposed to air pollutants from low-emission sources (i.e. municipal sector and road traffic). In the paper, the results of the study from field campaign, conducted in January of 2016 in Wroclaw will be presented. During the field campaign the 24-h concentrations of submicron particulate matter (PM1) and 24-h concentrations of selected PM1-bound heavy metals were determined. The cancer risk associated with inhalation exposure to arsenic, nickel, and cadmium to the city’s residents, based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards methodology including the so-called lifelong chronic exposure of adult and child, was calculated. Measurements results showed that in Wroclaw during the winter season in 2016 the 24-h concentrations of PM1-bound arsenic, nickel and cadmium ranged from 0.51 to 4.26 ng/m3, 0.21–52.89 ng/m3 and 0.08–1.01 ng/m3, respectively. Obtained calculations results of cancer risk values for inhalation exposure to arsenic were: for men: 6.11·10−6, women: 7.30·10−6, children: 14.90·10−6, to nickel: for men: 1.91·10−6, women: 2.29·10−6, children: 4.67·10−6, to cadmium: for men: 0.37·10−6, women: 0.44·10−6, children: 0.91·10−6. The values obtained for inhalation exposure among children indicated the high potential risk of cancer, mainly for arsenic exposure