Abstract: We examine the response of Arctic gas and aerosol concentrations to perturbations in pollutant emissions from Europe, East and South Asia, and North America using re- sults from a coordinated model intercomparison. These sen- sitivities to regional emissions (mixing ratio change per unit emission) vary widely across models and species. Intermodel differences are systematic, however, so that the relative im- portance of different regions is robust. North America con- tributes the most to Arctic ozone pollution. For aerosols

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of green roofs and green walls on air pollution in urban Toronto. The research looked at the synergistic effects on air pollution mitigation of different combinations of vegetation by manipulating quantities of trees, shrubs, green roofs and green walls in the study area. The effects of these manipulations were simulated with the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model developed by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Regional Station. While UFORE contains several modules, Module—D quantifies the levels of air pollution for contaminants such as NO2, S02, CO, PM10 and ozone as well as hourly pollution removal rates and the economic value of pollutant removal. Six vegetation scenarios were developed within the Toronto study area to compare different subsets of vegetation and their effect on air contaminants. Results of the study indicate that grass on roofs (extensive green roofs) could augment the effect of trees and shrubs in air pollution mitigation, placing shrubs on a roof (intensive green roofs) would have a more significant impact. By extension, a 10–20% increase in the surface area for green roofs on downtown buildings would contribute significantly to the social, financial and environmental health of all citizens.

Abstract: Intensified industrialization and human activities have resulted in the release of various contaminants into the environment. Among them, heavy metals are often present as a result of mining, milling and industrial manufacturing. In the present investigation, bulk concentrations Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca and Al in Shur River (Iran) bed sediments and water around the Sarcheshmeh copper mine were measured from several sample locations. In addition, partitioning was assessed to determine the proportions of metals in different forms. The degree of sediment contamination was evaluated using an Enrichment Factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (I geo) and a newly developed pollution index (I POLL). Elevated metals in sediment and water were found to be correlated with areas of the river that were proximal to direct and indirect mining activities. Cadmium and Zn showed the highest pollution index. Cluster analysis was performed in order to assess heavy metal interactions between water and sediment. Chemical partitioning studies revealed that organic metallic bonds were not significantly present in the sediment of the Shur River.

Abstract: The concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, and As) in the intertidal surface sediments from Quanzhou Bay were determined to evaluate their levels and spatial distribution due to urbanization and economic development of Quanzhou region, southeast China. The ranges of the measured concentrations in the sediments are as follows: 24.8-119.7 mg/kg for Cu, 105.5-241.9 mg/kg for Zn, 34.3-100.9 mg/kg for Pb, 0.28-0.89 mg/kg for Cd, 51.1-121.7 mg/kg for Cr, 16.1-45.7 mg/kg for Ni, 0.17-0.74 mg/kg for Hg, and 17.7-30.2 mg/kg for As. The overall average concentrations of above metals exceed the primary standard criteria but meet the secondary standard criteria of the Chinese National Standard of Marine Sediment Quality. Several contents of Cu and Hg exceed the secondary standard criteria at some stations. The results of geoaccumulation index (Igeo) show that Cd causes strong pollution in most of the study area. There are no significant correlations among most of these heavy metals, indicating they have different anthropogenic and natural sources. Some locations present severe pollution by heavy metals depending on the sources, of which sewage outlets, aquatic breeding, and commercial ports are the main sources of contaminants to the area.

Abstract: “Air pollution and population health” is one of the most important environmental and public health issues. Economic development, urbanization, energy consumption, transportation/motorization, and rapid population growth are major driving forces of air pollution in large cities, especially in megacities. Air pollution levels in developed countries have been decreasing dramatically in recent decades. However, in developing countries and in countries in transition, air pollution levels are still at relatively high levels, though the levels have been gradually decreasing or have remained stable during rapid economic development. In recent years, several hundred epidemiological studies have emerged showing adverse health effects associated with short-term and long-term exposure to air pollutants. Time-series studies conducted in Asian cities also showed similar health effects on mortality associated with exposure to particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) to those explored in Europe and North America. The World Health Organization (WHO) published the “WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs), Global Update” in 2006. These updated AQGs provide much stricter guidelines for PM, NO2, SO2 and O3. Considering that current air pollution levels are much higher than the WHO-recommended AQGs, interim targets for these four air pollutants are also recommended for member states, especially for developing countries in setting their country-specific air quality standards. In conclusion, ambient air pollution is a health hazard. It is more important in Asian developing countries within the context of pollution level and population density. Improving air quality has substantial, measurable and important public health benefits.

Abstract: Based on a systematic review of literature on adverse health effects of air pollution, the World Health Organization has updated its Air Quality Guidelines in 2005. The current update is intended to be relevant and applicable worldwide and takes into consideration large regional inequalities in exposures to air pollution. It recommends guideline levels for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, as well as the set of interim targets for these pollutants’ concentrations, encouraging gradual improvement of air quality and reduction of health impacts of the pollution.

Abstract: Benthic foraminifera are increasingly used as environmental bio-indicators of pollution in coastal and marginal marine settings. Their community structure provides information on the general characteristics of the environment and some species are sensitive to specific environmental parameters. Among various criteria, the occurrence of test abnormalities may represent a useful bioindicator for monitoring environmental impacts in coastal regions. A study of living benthic foraminifera was carried out in 42 sediment samples collected from the central Adriatic coast of Italy. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from this area are rich, well preserved, and dominated by Ammonia parkinsoniana, and subordinately by Ammonia tepida, Aubignyna perlucida, Eggerella scabra, and Nonionella turgida. Heavy metal concentrations have been analysed which indicate low polluted environmental conditions. Foraminiferal species and heavy metal concentrations were investigated both with bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate techniques of principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Statistical analysis shows a possible control of these pollutants both on the taxonomic composition of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages and the development of test malformations. Increasing heavy metal contents lead to an increase in relative abundance of A. tepida A. perlucida, N. turgida and E. scabra, and a relative concurrent decrease in relative abundance of A. parkinsoniana and higher percentages of deformed specimens (FAI) and species (FMI). Our results confirm that A. parkinsoniana prefers clean to low polluted environments and show that it is a very sensitive and un-tolerant species to heavy metal pollution being deeply affected by heavy metal content even at low concentrations. Our findings also confirm the capacity of the A. tepida to tolerate increasing heavy metal concentrations, and highlights that A. perlucida, N. turgida and E. scabra can be considered as tolerant species at least in low polluted environments. Following this, A. parkinsoniana and A. tepida can be reciprocally considered good bioindicator of heavy metal pollution over the surveyed area. The development of test abnormalities with a variety of malformations is a noticeable feature over the study area where the living deformed assemblages are largely dominated by a few species. The low percentages of deformed specimens (Foraminiferal Abnormality Index up to 4.7, with 2 on average) match well with the low concentrations of heavy metals that lead to low polluted environmental conditions. This study confirms and supports the suitability of studying benthic foraminifera as a technique for the in situ continuous bio-monitoring of heavy metal pollution of coastal marine sediments.

Abstract: A geochemical assessment of groundwater quality and possible contamination in the vicinity of the Bhalswa landfill site was carried out by using a hydrochemical approach with graphical and multivariate statistical methods with the objective of identifying the occurrence of various geochemical processes and understanding the impact of landfill leachates on groundwater quality. Results indicate that nitrate, fluoride and heavy-metal pollution are in an alarming state with respect to the use of groundwater for drinking purposes. Various graphical plots and statistical analyses have been applied to the chemical data based on the ionic constituents, water types, and hydrochemical facies to infer the impact of the landfill on groundwater quality. The statistical analysis and spatial and temporal variations indicate the leaching of contaminants from the landfill to the groundwater aquifer system. The concentrations of heavy metals in the landfill leachates are as follows: Fe (22 mg/l), Mn (~20 mg/l), Cu (~10 mg/l), Pb (~2 mg/l), Ni (0.25 mg/l), Zn (~10 mg/l), Cd (~0.2 mg/l), Cl− (~4,000 mg/l), SO42− (~3,320 mg/l), PO43− (~4 mg/l), NO3− (30 mg/l) and fluoride (~50 mg/l); all were much higher than the standards. The study reveals that the landfill is in a depleted phase and is affecting groundwater quality in its vicinity and the surrounding area due to leaching of contaminants.

Abstract: Levels of PM 10 , PM 2.5 and PM 1 and chemical speciation of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were measured during the MILAGRO campaign (1st to 31st March 2006, but extended in some cases until 6th April) at four urban, one suburban, two rural background and two rural sites, with different degree of industrial influence, in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) and adjacent regions. PM 10 and PM 2.5 daily levels varied between 50–56μg/m 3 and 24–46μg/m 3 at the urban sites, 22–35μg/m 3 and 13–25μg/m 3 at the rural sites, and 75μg/m 3 and 31μg/m 3 at the industrial hotspot, lower than those recorded at some Asian mega-cities and similar to those recorded at other Latin American cities. At the urban sites, hourly PM 2.5 and PM 1 concentrations showed a marked impact of road traffic emissions (at rush hours), with levels of coarse PM remaining elevated during daytime. At the suburban and rural sites different PM daily patterns were registered according to the influence of the pollution plume from MCMA, and also of local soil resuspension. The speciation studies showed that mineral matter accounted for 25–27% of bulk PM 10 at the urban sites and a higher proportion (up to 43%) at the suburban and rural sites. This pattern is repeated in PM 2.5 , with 15% at urban and 28% at suburban and rural sites. Carbonaceous compounds accounted for a significant proportion at the urban and industrial sites (32–46% in PM 10 , and 51–55% in PM 2.5 ), markedly reduced at the suburban and rural sites (16–23% in PM 10 , and 30% in PM 2.5 ). The secondary inorganic aerosols accounted for 10–20% of bulk PM 10 at urban, suburban, rural and industrial sites, with a higher proportion (40%) at the industrial background site. A relatively high proportion of nitrate in rural sites was present in the coarse fraction. Typically anthropogenic elements (As, Cr, Zn, Cu, Pb, Sn, Sb, Ba, among others) showed considerably high levels at the urban sites; however levels of particulate Hg and crustal trace elements (Rb, Ti, La, Sc, Ga) were generally higher at the suburban site. Principal component analysis identified three major common factors: crustal, regional background and road traffic. Moreover, some specific factors were obtained for each site.

Abstract: [1] Greenhouse gases and particle soot have been linked to enhanced sea-level, snowmelt, disease, heat stress, severe weather, and ocean acidification, but the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) on air pollution mortality has not been examined or quantified. Here, it is shown that increased water vapor and temperatures from higher CO2 separately increase ozone more with higher ozone; thus, global warming may exacerbate ozone the most in already-polluted areas. A high-resolution global-regional model then found that CO2 may increase U.S. annual air pollution deaths by about 1000 (350–1800) and cancers by 20–30 per 1 K rise in CO2-induced temperature. About 40% of the additional deaths may be due to ozone and the rest, to particles, which increase due to CO2-enhanced stability, humidity, and biogenic particle mass. An extrapolation by population could render 21,600 (7400–39,000) excess CO2-caused annual pollution deaths worldwide, more than those from CO2-enhanced storminess.

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine status of heavy metals in agricultural soils under different patterns of land use. A total of 38, 40 and 45 soil samples for bare vegetable field, greenhouse vegetable field, and grain crop field were respectively taken from surface layer (0-20 cm) from selected experimental areas away from suburbs of ten counties (or districts or cities) in four provinces or municipal- ities of Huabei plain in north China. Information of crop production history, including varieties, rotation systems and fertilizer use, at the corresponding sampling sites was surveyed. Soil total Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As and Hg were measured. The results showed that the contents of total Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, and Hg in the soil samples, especially soil total Cu and Zn contents, were higher in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field than that in the grain crop field. Long-term use of excessive chemical fertilizers and organic manures in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field contributed to the accumulation of Cu, Zn, and other heavy metals in the soils. The contents of total Cu, Zn, and other heavy metals in soils increased with increasing vegetable production history of the re- search areas. In comparison with the grain crop field, the comprehensive pollution indices of the seven soil heavy metals and the single-factor pollution indices of soil Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Hg based on the second criterion of Environmental Quality Standard for Soils were significantly higher in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field. Soils from the greenhouse vegetable field were slightly contaminated according to the comprehensive pollution index, and soils from the bare vegetable field and the grain crop field were at the warning heavy metal pollution level. The soils were contaminated with Cd according to the single-factor pollution index. The Cd pollution was relatively more serious in the bare vegetable field and thegreenhousevegetablefield thanthatinthegraincrop field. The soils selected with different land use patterns were not contaminated with Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, As and Hg.

Abstract: At the onset of 21st century, the pollution of surface and groundwater by toxic metals continues to represent a challenge for the authorities responsible for environmental protection. The uncontrolled rejection of metals in aquatic ecosystems such as Ag, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn, constitute a serious threat to human and animal health. Several methods of treatment of waters polluted by metals have been proposed during the last several decades. However, the technique of precipitation of metals remains the most favorable option on an industrial scale due to reasons of cost-effectiveness, performance, and simplicity. The present review presents current knowledge on various technical alternatives for precipitation of metals. The discussion relates to the individual characteristics of the metal contaminants, as well as their behavior compared to various techniques of precipitation.

Abstract: The contamination levels and distribution characters of heavy metals in coastal waters and sediments from Tianjin Bohai Bay, China were examined Pb and Zn were found as the main heavy metal pollutants in the coastal waters of the bay High levels of Pb and Zn appeared especially near the estuary, indicating that river discharge was the main pollution source Moreover, atmospheric deposition resulted in Pb contamination in the middle of the embayment Analysis of data for the period 1987-2004 indicated that Pb pollution in coastal waters of Tianjin Bohai Bay originated primarily from river discharge before 2001 Pb levels did not decrease after 2001 when annual runoff levels declined; indicating that Pb pollution by atmospheric deposition had increased due to the use of leaded petrol in motorcars Pb, Zn, and Cd were the dominant polluting elements in surficial sediments from Tianjin Bohai Bay, with levels in excess of the corresponding upper limits of environmental background values High concentrations of polluting elements were found in tidal sediments near water bodies such as Qihe and Dagu estuaries

Abstract: PROPOSED TABLE OF CONTENTS 1)Introduction. 2)The role of geochemistry in environment and health problems. 3)Regional Programs. FOREGS. Sampling methods for different media - Stream sediments, soils, waters. 4) Environmental impact of the disposal of solid by-products from waste incineration processes. 5)Household hazardous waste disposal as a pathway for environmental pollution. 6)Sampling methods for site characterization and waste disposal. 7)Site investigations of stream and groundwaters: How to avoid getting into deep water. 8) Methods of chemical analysis of organics and quality controls. 9)Data base management at regional scale. 10)Data analysis and treatment, at local scale, using GIS and GeoDAS. 11)Evaluation of background/baseline values. 12) Geochemical mapping of urban areas. Examples on the munipal soils of Napoli, Avellino, Caserta, Benevento and Salerno towns. 13) Thermodynamics of platinum, palladium, and rhodium with inorganic ligands in the environment. 14)Trace metals speciation and bioavailability in soil. 15)Environment pollution, epidemiology and Workers problems. 16)Medical Geology: Application to arsenic and fluorine poisoning in southwest Guizhou Province, China. 17)Contaminated land in Britain. 18)The US brownfields program: Case studies reflect progress and challenges. 19)Case history of site characterization in Italy: Bagnoli brownfield site.

Abstract: In order to avoid the pollution of trace metals in marine environment, it is necessary to establish the data and understand the mechanisms influencing the distribution of trace metals in marine environment The concentration of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Co and Cd) were studied in sediments of Ennore shelf, to understand the metal contamination due to heavily industrialized area of Ennore, south-east coast of India Concentration of metals shows significant variability and range from 17 to 37% for Fe, 284–460 μg g−1 for Mn, 1486–2432 μg g−1 for Cr, 385–657 μg g−1 for Cu, 198–534 μg g−1 for Ni, 58–118 μg g−1 for Co, 249–40 μg g−1 for Pb, 713–201 μg g−1 for Zn and 46–75 μg g−1 for Cd For various metals the contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (I geo) has been calculated to assess the degree of pollution in sediments The geoaccumulation index shows that Cd, Cr and Cu moderately to extremely pollute the sediments This study shows that the major sources of metal contamination in the Ennore shelf are land-based anthropogenic ones, such as discharge of industrial wastewater, municipal sewage and run-off through the Ennore estuary The intermetallic relationship revealed the identical behavior of metals during its transport in the marine environment

Abstract: A comprehensive Pb-Sr-Nd isotope tracer study of atmospheric trace metal pollution has been performed in the urban environment of Strasbourg-Kehl. Filter dust of the principal pollutant sources (waste incinerators, thermal power plant and steel plant) and soot of car and ship exhausts have been analyzed. In addition tree barks (as biomonitors) and PM10 have been analyzed to trace and determine the distribution of the pollution in the environment. The industrial sources have highly variable epsilonNd values (-9.7 and -12.5 for incinerators and -17.5 for steel plant). Much higher epsilonNd values have been found for soot of car exhausts (-6 and -6.9). These high values make the Nd isotope system a powerful tool for the discrimination of traffic emissions but especially for the identification of diesel derived particles in the urban environment. The 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios of gasoline are low (1.089) compared to diesel soot (1.159). The 26Pb/207Pb ratios of 1.151-1.152 for the steel plant and 1.152 for the solid waste incinerator are close to the Pb isotope ratio of diesel. The 87Sr/ 8Sr isotope ratios of the principal industrial sources vary significantly: 0.7095 for the domestic solid waste incinerator, 0.709 for the steel plant, and 0.7087 for car exhaust soot. PM10 aerosols collected in the urban center of Strasbourg show the influence of the pollutant sources at 3-7 km distance from the center. Most of the aerosols Pb isotopic compositions suggest Pb admixtures from at least three sources: a natural background and in function of the wind direction the domestic waste incinerator (S-wind) or the steel plant and the chemical waste incinerator (NE-wind). The traffic contribution can only be estimated with help of Nd isotopes. Therefore the clear identification of different pollutant sources in the urban environment is only possible by combining the three different isotope systems and is based on the fact that significant differences exist between the Pb, Sr, and Nd isotope ratios of the natural atmospheric background and pollutants containing Pb, Sr, and Nd of industrial origin with similar variable 206Pb/207Pb, 87Sr/ 86Sr, and 143Nd/144Nd.

Abstract: Estimating the net flux direction of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides is important for understanding the role of soil as a sink or source of these chemicals to the atmosphere. In this study, soil air equilibrium status was investigated for various soil categories in Central and Southern Europe using an extensive database of coupled soil and time integrated air samples. Samples were collected from 47 sites over a period of five months to assess both, site-specific as well as seasonal variations in fugacity fractions; calculated as a potential measure of soil air exchange. Sampling sites were carefully selected to represent a variety of background, rural, urban, and industrial areas. Special attention was given to sites in the former Yugoslavia; a country affected by recent conflicts, where soils were found to be highly contaminated with PCBs. Industrial soils from the Czech Republic, heavily polluted as a result of previous pesticide production, were also included in the survey. Soil was found to be a sink for highly chlorinated PCBs and for DDT; for DDE the status was closer to equilibrium, with a tendency for net deposition during winter and net volatilization during summer. For lower molecular weight PCB congeners, as well as for a-HCH, soil tends to be a source of pollution to the air, especially, but not exclusively, during summer. Fugacity fractions were found to decrease during the colder seasons, especially for the more volatile compounds, although in both the war damaged areas and the heavily contaminated industrial sites, seasonal variability was very low, with fugacity fractions close to one indicating strong net soil to air transfer for all seasons. The original assumption that residents of Western Balkan are still exposed to higher levels of PCBs due to the recent wars was confirmed. In general, the soil air transfer of PCBs and OC pesticides was found to be site specific and dependent on the physicochemical properties of the contaminant in question, the soil properties, the historical contamination record and a sites vicinity to sources, and the local meteorological conditions.

Abstract: [1] It has been well documented that pollution and dust from east Asia can be transported across the North Pacific basin, reaching North America and beyond. In this study, we assess the transpacific transport of ‘‘pollution aerosol’’ (defined as a mixture of aerosols from urban/industrial pollution and biomass burning) by taking advantage of the much improved measurement accuracy and enhanced new capabilities of satellite sensors in recent years. A 4-year (2002 to 2005) climatology of optical depth for pollution aerosol was generated from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations of fine- and coarse-mode aerosol optical depths. The pollution aerosol mass loading and fluxes were then calculated using measurements of the dependence of aerosol mass extinction efficiency on relative humidity and of aerosol vertical distributions from field campaigns and available satellite observations in the region. We estimated that about 18 Tg/a pollution aerosol is exported from east Asia to the northwestern Pacific Ocean, of which about 25% reaches the west coast of North America. The imported flux of 4.4 Tg/a to North America is equivalent to about 15% of local emissions from the United States and Canada. The pollution fluxes are largest in spring and smallest in summer. For the period we have examined the strongest export and import of pollution particulates occurred in 2003, largely because of record intense Eurasia boreal forest fires in spring and summer. The overall uncertainty of pollution fluxes is estimated at a factor of 2. Simulations by the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) and Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) models agree quite well with the satellite-based estimates of annual and latitude-integrated fluxes, with larger model-satellite differences in latitudinal and seasonal variations of fluxes.

Abstract: Discharging different kinds of wastewater and polluted waters such as domestic, industrial and agricultural wastewaters into environment, especially to surface water, can cause heavy pollution of this body sources. With regard to increasing effluent discharge standards to the environment, high considerations should be made when selecting proper treatment processes. Any of chemical, biological and physical treatment processes have its own advantages and disadvantages. It should be kept in mind that economical aspects are important, too. In addition, employing environment- friendly methods for treatment is emphasized much more these days. Application of some waste products that could help in this regard, in addition to reuse of these waste materials, can be an advantage. Agricultural fibers are agricultural wastes and are generated in high amounts. The majority of such materials is generated in developing countries and, since they are very cheap, they can be employed as biosorbents in water and wastewater applications. Polluted surface waters, different wastewaters and partially treated wastewater may be contaminated by heavy metals or some organic matters and these waters should be treated to reduce pollution. The results of investigations show high efficiency of agricultural fibers in heavy metal and phenol removal. In this paper, some studies conducted by the author of this article and other investigators are reviewed.