Lee, Ching Yuen. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-288). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / List of Figures --- p.vii / List of Tables --- p.xv / List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used --- p.xix / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Roadside Air Pollution Problem --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Nitrogen Dioxide --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Benzene --- p.12 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Heat and Noise --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2 --- Treatment Methods for Removal of Ambient Air Pollutants --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Physical and Chemical Methods --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Bioremediation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Passive System and Active System --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Strategy --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Plant as a Bioremediating Agent --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC) as a Bioremediating Agent --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- An Integrated System for Air Bioremediation --- p.24 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Aim and Objectives of the Project --- p.24 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of the Project --- p.25 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1 --- Source of Materials --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Ingredients of Plant Growth Substrate --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Plants --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2 --- Formulation of the Plant Substrate --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Water Holding Capacity --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Water Retention --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Seed Germination Toxicity and Tissue Elongation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Bulk Density and Porosity --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Substrate Shrinkage --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3 --- Characterization of the Materials --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- pH --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Electrical Conductivity --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- % Organic Matter --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- "Nutrient Contents (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Iron)" --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Total Organic Carbon --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Detection for Heavy Metal Contaminants --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Detection for Organic Contaminants --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Extraction Efficiency of Heavy Metal Content and Organic Contaminants --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.9 --- Outdoor Growing Trial of the Bioremediation System using Various Plant Species --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4 --- Characterization of the Plant --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Leaf Area Estimation --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Density of Plantlet --- p.48 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Growth Rate of Plantlet in Water --- p.49 / Chapter 2.5 --- Temperature Stabilization Test --- p.50 / Chapter 2.6 --- NO2 Removal Test --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Preparation of Plantlets --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Generation and Sampling of NO2 --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Effect of N02 Concentration on RE --- p.55 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Effect of Various Combinations in the Bioremediation System --- p.56 / Chapter 2.6.5 --- "Comparison to Photocatalytic Paint, Physical Sorbents and Other Planting Media" --- p.57 / Chapter 2.6.6 --- Effect of Temperature --- p.60 / Chapter 2.6.7 --- Effect of Retention Time --- p.61 / Chapter 2.6.8 --- Effect of Exposed Time --- p.61 / Chapter 2.6.9 --- Composition Analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 2.6.10 --- Post Tests after N02 Removal Test --- p.63 / Chapter 2.6.11 --- Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Contents --- p.63 / Chapter 2.6.12 --- Phenolic Content --- p.64 / Chapter 2.6.13 --- Total Microbial Count --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.14 --- Activities of Antioxidative Enzymes --- p.66 / Chapter 2.6.15 --- Nitrite Oxidizing Enzyme --- p.68 / Chapter 2.7 --- Benzene Removal Test --- p.69 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Preparation of Plantlets --- p.69 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Generation and Sampling of Benzene --- p.69 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Effect of Benzene Concentration on RE --- p.74 / Chapter 2.7.4 --- Effect of Various Combinations in the Bioremediation System --- p.75 / Chapter 2.7.5 --- Effect of Temperature --- p.76 / Chapter 2.7.6 --- Effect of Exposed Time --- p.77 / Chapter 2.7.7 --- Effect of Retention Time --- p.78 / Chapter 2.7.8 --- Composition Analysis --- p.78 / Chapter 2.7.9 --- "Comparison to Physical Sorbents, Photocatalytic Paint and Other Planting Media" --- p.79 / Chapter 2.7.10 --- Trials in Order to Increase RE of Benzene --- p.80 / Chapter 2.7.11 --- Residual Benzene in Substrate --- p.83 / Chapter 2.7.12 --- Post Tests after Benzene Removal Test --- p.84 / Chapter 2.7.13 --- Catechol Oxidase Activity --- p.85 / Chapter 2.8 --- Removal Tests for Other Air Pollutants --- p.86 / Chapter 2.9 --- Field Study --- p.88 / Chapter 2.10 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.98 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.99 / Chapter 3.1 --- Formulation of Plant Substrate --- p.99 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Dose of SMC in Substrate Formula --- p.99 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Dose of SAP in Substrate Formula --- p.105 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Dose of Rice Hull in Substrate Formula --- p.111 / Chapter 3.2 --- Characterization of the Optimized Wedelia- growing Substrate --- p.118 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Physical and Chemical Analysis --- p.118 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Nutrient and Metal Contents --- p.120 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Detection of Heavy Metal Contaminants --- p.124 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Detection for Organic Contaminants --- p.126 / Chapter 3.3 --- Outdoor Growing Trial of Various Plants --- p.138 / Chapter 3.4 --- Plant Characterization --- p.143 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Growth Rate of Plantlets in Water --- p.143 / Chapter 3.5 --- Temperature Stabilization Test --- p.146 / Chapter 3.6 --- NO2 Removal Test --- p.149 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Effect of NO2 Concentration on RE --- p.149 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Effect of Various Combinations in the Bioremediation System --- p.156 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- "Comparison to Photocatalytic Paint, Physical Sorbents and Other Planting Media" --- p.160 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Effect of Temperature --- p.164 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Effect of Retention Time --- p.166 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Effect of Exposed Time --- p.168 / Chapter 3.6.7 --- Post Test Results After Various Exposed Times --- p.170 / Chapter 3.6.8 --- Microbial Count After Various Exposed Times --- p.176 / Chapter 3.6.9 --- Contribution of the Components of the Bioremediation System to Remove NO2 --- p.178 / Chapter 3.7 --- Benzene Removal Test --- p.183 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Effect of Benzene Concentration on RE --- p.183 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Effect of Various Combinations in the Bioremediation System --- p.186 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Effect of Temperature --- p.190 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Effect of Retention Time --- p.192 / Chapter 3.7.5 --- Effect of Exposed Time --- p.194 / Chapter 3.7.6 --- Contribution of Components of the Bioremediation System to Remove Benzene --- p.198 / Chapter 3.7.7 --- Optimization of the Benzene Removal of the Bioremediation System --- p.200 / Chapter 3.7.8 --- "Comparison to Photocatalytic Paint Coatings, Physical Sorbents and Other Planting Media" --- p.204 / Chapter 3.8 --- Removal Test for Other Air Pollutants --- p.208 / Chapter 3.9 --- Field Study I --- p.210 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Environmental Parameters --- p.210 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Noise --- p.212 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Removal versus Distance --- p.213 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Barrier Effect by Canvas --- p.216 / Chapter 3.9.5 --- NO2 Concentration --- p.216 / Chapter 3.9.6 --- VOC Concentration --- p.218 / Chapter 3.10 --- Field Study II --- p.220 / Chapter 3.10.1 --- Environmental Parameters --- p.220 / Chapter 3.10.2 --- Noise --- p.222 / Chapter 3.10.3 --- NO2 Concentration --- p.224 / Chapter 3.10.4 --- VOC Concentration --- p.225 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.228 / Chapter 4.1 --- Formulation of a Plant-growing Substrate --- p.228 / Chapter 4.2 --- Temperature Stabilization --- p.231 / Chapter 4.3 --- Dynamic Flow Through System in Pollutant Removal Experiment --- p.233 / Chapter 4.4 --- N02 Removal Test --- p.237 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Limiting Factors of NO2 Removal --- p.237 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Adsorption Isotherm --- p.239 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Contribution of NO2 Removal by Various Components --- p.241 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Comparison of NO2 Removal with Other Systems --- p.242 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Comparison of NO2 Removal with Other Studies --- p.246 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Toxicity of NO2 towards the Bioremediation System --- p.247 / Chapter 4.5 --- Interpretation of Results in Benzene Removal Test --- p.251 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Limiting Factors of Benzene Removal --- p.251 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Adsorption Isotherm --- p.253 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Contribution of Benzene Removal by Various Components --- p.254 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Comparison of Benzene Removal with Other Systems --- p.255 / Chapter 4.5.5 --- Trials in Order to Increase RE of Benzene --- p.256 / Chapter 4.5.6. --- Comparison of Benzene Removal with Other Studies --- p.258 / Chapter 4.6 --- Removal of Other Air Pollutants --- p.261 / Chapter 4.7 --- Field Studies with the Vertical Panels of the Bioremediation System --- p.264 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Barrier Effect by Canvas --- p.264 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Temperature Buffering --- p.265 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Sound Attenuation --- p.266 / Chapter 4.7.4 --- NO2 and VOC Removal --- p.268 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.272 / Chapter 6. --- Further Investigation --- p.274 / Chapter 7. --- References --- p.275

This thesis has investigated the cascade impactor with its fractionating particulate capabilities for monitoring respirable particulate matter. Additionally, the cascade impactor was compared with the high volume sampler, the present acceptable method of measuring total suspended particulates.This two-year study analyzed the quarterly and annual geometric means, geometric standard deviations and mass median diameters of the cascade impactor concentrations. Correlation coefficients between the cascade impactor and high volume sampler were analyzed to reveal the relationship between the two sampling methods.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

No description available.

Inverse modeling has been used in the past to constrain atmospheric model parameters, particularly emission estimates, based upon ambient measurements. Here, inverse modeling is applied to air quality planning by calculating how emissions should change to achieve desired reduction in air pollutants. Specifically, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) are adjusted to achieve reductions in tropospheric ozone, a respiratory irritant, during an historic episode of elevated concentrations in urban Atlanta, GA. Understanding how emissions should change in aggregate without specifying discrete abatement options is particularly applicable to long-term and regional air pollution management. Using a cost/benefit approach, desired reductions in ozone concentrations are found for a future population in Atlanta, GA. The inverse method is applied to find NOx emission adjustments to reach this desired reduction in air pollution. An example of how emissions adjustments may aid the planning process in two neighborhoods is demonstrated using urban form indicators from a land use and transportation database. Implications of this method on establishing regional and market-based air quality management systems in light of recent legal decisions are also discussed. Both ozone and secondary particulate matter with diameters of less than 2.5μm (PM2.5) are formed in the atmosphere from common precursor species. Recent assessments of air quality management policies have stressed the need for pollutant abatement strategies addressing these mutual sources. The relative contribution of several important precursor species (NOx, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds) to the formation of ozone and secondary PM2.5 in Atlanta during May 2007 - April 2008 is simulated using CMAQ/DDM-3D. This sensitivity analysis is then used to find adjustments in emissions of precursor species to achieve goal reductions for both ozone and secondary PM2.5 during a summertime episode of elevated concentrations. A discussion of the implications of these controls on air pollutant concentrations during the remaining year follows.

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

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Thesis (DTech. degree: Environmental Management)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2012. / Discusses polybromobiphenyls (PBBs) and polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are among brominated flame retardants commonly used as additive flame retardants and are now well-known pollutants. They can easily be released from household and office materials if present and tend to settle on dust. Of all the PBDEs congeners, the detection of BDE-209 is considerably more difficult than the lower congeners. Furthermore, there is no available data on the presence of PBBs and PBDEs in indoor dust in South Africa, and, therefore, it was deemed necessary to conduct the present study.

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The radical shift in approach to the Air Quality Management (AQM) strategy that has been introduced recently, through the promulgation of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA), makes provision for a number of innovative measures in the control of air pollution in South Africa. These include the appointment of Air Quality Officers, the development of Air Quality Management Plans, the designation of priority areas, the provision for stricter enforcement conditions, and the broad implementation of monitoring. A significant change is in the form of delegating the greatest responsibility for implementation of measures to the local government tier, comprised of metropolitan areas, district and local municipalities. Local authorities are recognised as a sphere of government, however, they are impeded, inter alia, by matters of limited financial resources, lack of skills capacity, and the slow transformation of organisational culture and structure (Cloete, 2002). The implementation ofthe AQA by local government is framed by an understanding ofthe responsibilities of local government, as well as the principal components of AQM and their implementation. The selected areas for study are Uthungulu, Uthukela, and Ugu district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, representing administrative and geographical variation. Existing and potential air quality issues, and their plans to address these issues, were identified and assessed in the municipalities using the Integrated Development Plans. The capacity of municipalities to implement the AQA was assessed using interviews, focusing on the interpretation of the AQA, technical capabilities, and implementation of AQM. Awareness of municipal responsibilities under the AQA was limited, although advances in AQM implementation had been made by municipalities. Responsibilities reflecting technical measures or activities that were currently undertaken by the municipality, such as monitoring and enforcement, were well recognised. However, the related policy and management tools, of Air Quality Officer (AQO) appointment and Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) development, were less emphasised by municipal respondents. Limited progress in implementation of the AQA was observed, with only AQO appointment and ambient monitoring being significantly applied. The greatest challenge facing municipalities is the securing of financial resources for personnel and equipment. Progress in technical fundamentals is noted, most notably in emission inventories and monitoring capabilities, although communication on air quality issues remains poor, with limited mechanisms in place for inter-governmental or public communication. There is a prevalence of the use of AQMPs as planning tools, as well as general concepts of town planning and zoning. However, in general, planning departments are not involved. A significant proportion of municipalities have a means of assessing progress, whether explicitly or not. A framework for implementing the AQA is produced to guide local government efforts, and provides a summation of the outcomes of the research. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.