Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)最新文献

{"title":"Mapping street-level air pollution: One year of mobile monitoring in disadvantaged communities across New York State.","authors":"Joseph P Marto, Gavin M Lemley, Dominic H Moronta","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2547638","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2547638","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>New York State has enacted public policies that have enabled a multi-decadal trend in air quality improvement. However, the benefits of cleaner air are not felt equally across the populace, with individuals residing in disadvantaged communities bearing disproportionate air pollution burdens due to proximity of polluting sources, in addition to other environmental stressors. To address this disparity, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation contracted with Aclima, Inc. to perform mobile air quality monitoring in ten disadvantaged communities across the State. Monitoring was performed using a fleet of vehicles equipped with a sensor node of quick-response (one-second) air pollution monitoring instruments, which drove every publicly accessible road within the study area numerous times over the course of a year (within 2022-2023). For the results discussed in this paper, the collected data were processed in a model that aggregates results to 100-meter road segment for the pollutants: atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), black carbon (BC), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and methane (CH₄). Modeled results represent an effective air pollution screening tool for identifying persistent and elevated air pollution features on a highly localized, street-level scale. Across the ten communities, 274 road segments (0.26% of the roughly 107,000 road segments measured) were modeled to a concentration above the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM_2.5, suggesting that concentrations at those locations could exceed the standard. Overall, this study provides the communities with empirical evidence to address air pollution through mitigation and prevention strategies, while also guiding statewide policy based on broader trends observed across communities.<i>Implications:</i> This report broadly presents findings for a large-scale mobile air monitoring study conducted for a year across 10 disadvantaged communities within New York State. The results from this study represent a robust screening tool to evaluate the general behavior of an array of air pollutants, allowing for the identification of extremely localized pollution features. These findings serve to inform air pollution reduction and mitigation strategies within these communities and across New York.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"808-822"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145002750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal dynamics between COVID-19 cases and particulate matter in Bangkok: Impact of lockdown policies on air quality and disease transmission.","authors":"Phawichsak Prapassornpitaya, Wanida Jinsart","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2547642","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2547642","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study investigates the relationship between COVID-19 transmission and ambient air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand, during multiple pandemic waves from January 2020 to January 2022. The objectives were to quantify correlations between COVID-19 cases and criteria air pollutants (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;, PM&lt;sub&gt;10&lt;/sub&gt;, CO, NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;) across pandemic phases, analyze relationship variations during different waves and control periods, delineate temporal and seasonal trends, and evaluate lockdown effects on disease transmission and air quality. We employed comprehensive time-series analysis using data from six air quality monitoring stations and daily COVID-19 case records. Air quality parameters were measured using reference-grade instrumentation including Beta-attenuation monitors for particulate matter, non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy for CO, chemiluminescence for NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, and ultraviolet photometry for O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation with Bonferroni correction, multiple linear regression with assumption verification, and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) forecasting, stratified by seasonal variations, lockdown periods, and viral variant periods. During the first lockdown (March-June 2020), moderate positive correlations existed between COVID-19 cases and particulate matter (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;: &lt;i&gt;r&lt;/i&gt; = 0.159; PM&lt;sub&gt;10&lt;/sub&gt;: &lt;i&gt;r&lt;/i&gt; = 0.093), with both infection rates and pollution levels decreasing significantly (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; declined 18.7%). During Delta variant prevalence (July-August 2021), correlations shifted negative (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;: &lt;i&gt;r&lt;/i&gt; = -0.073; PM&lt;sub&gt;10&lt;/sub&gt;: &lt;i&gt;r&lt;/i&gt; = -0.125), indicating variant dynamics superseded environmental influences. Multiple regression revealed nitrogen dioxide from vehicular sources as the primary PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; predictor (β = 0.682, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), explaining 72.4% of variation. Seasonal analysis showed particulate pollution peaked during winter months, with average PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; levels (36.54 ± 18.73 μg/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;) exceeding WHO guidelines. This research demonstrates that Bangkok's air quality improvements during COVID-19 restrictions resulted primarily from reduced vehicular emissions rather than industrial changes, suggesting targeted traffic emission reduction strategies could substantially improve air quality while highlighting complex environmental-disease transmission relationships during pandemics.&lt;i&gt;Implications:&lt;/i&gt; These findings argue for a multi‑faceted air‑quality strategy for Bangkok. Because vehicular emissions dominate, transportation measures should lead: accelerate electric‑vehicle adoption, expand high‑capacity public transit, and implement congestion pricing or low‑emission zones. Seasonal patterns justify tighter winter controls, when meteorology intensifies pollutant accumulation. The evolving association between air pollution and COVID‑19 highlights the need for integr","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"823-838"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biogas as a sustainable fuel for internal combustion engines: Production, purification, and performance assessment.","authors":"Sumit Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Meena, Ali J Khalaf, Devendra Pratap Singh, Neha Verma, Anurag Shrivastava","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2529207","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2529207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study underscores the urgency of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and transitioning toward cleaner, sustainable energy alternatives. It emphasizes biogas as a viable and eco-friendly substitute for conventional fuels, assessing its potential for application in internal combustion engines (ICEs). The investigation covers the key attributes of biogas, including its production methods, chemical makeup, purification requirements, and the necessary engine adaptations to enable its efficient use in ICEs. The research further analyzes the performance and emission characteristics of biogas-fueled engines by synthesizing findings from recent studies and exploring the role of fuel additives in optimizing efficiency. Special attention is given to integrating biogas into emerging engine technologies and identifying knowledge gaps related to its processing and combustion. Challenges such as fuel quality, infrastructure limitations, and operational efficiency are critically examined, along with potential strategies to address them. Overall, the study presents biogas as a promising candidate for sustainable energy transition, capable of lowering greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to global environmental and energy objectives. It highlights the need for continued innovation, supportive policy frameworks, and dedicated research to realize the full potential of biogas in modern energy systems.<i>Implications</i>: The study underscores biogas as a sustainable and eco-friendly fuel option that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. By addressing the challenges of purification, storage, and engine optimization, this research contributes to improving the feasibility and efficiency of biogas-powered ICEs. The findings advocate for policy frameworks and technological innovations to support large-scale biogas adoption, fostering a cleaner and more resilient energy future.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"683-705"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144577597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recovery of complete crystalline silicon cells from waste crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules.","authors":"Chengxin Liu, Bin Lee","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2513942","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2513942","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Firstly, the EVA adhesive film is dissolved with preheating treatment and ultrasonic-assisted toluene, and the backsheet are peeled off. The EVA film is then removed by thermal degradation. Finally, the high value but low reactivity silver (Ag) and aluminum (Al) are leached out with nitric acid (HNO₃). The hydrochloric acid (HCl) precipitation-ammonia (NH₃·H₂O) solubilization-hydrazine hydrate reduction process route was used to recover Ag. Addition of NH₃·H₂O to a leach solution containing only Al produces an aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃) precipitate, which is then heat treated to produce aluminum trioxide (Al₂O₃). After the above process method, the recovery rate of complete crystalline silicon cells reaches more than 50%, the recovery rate of Ag reaches 95%, and the recovery rate of Al reaches 91%. The most important feature of this study is that the recovered intact crystalline silicon cells can be directly used in the reproduction of crystalline silicon PV module components. Implications: In this study \"Recovery of complete crystalline silicon cells from waste crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules,\" a new process combining organic solvent method and thermal treatment method is provided with the main objective of efficient recovery of intact crystalline silicon cells. Finally, Ag and Al were efficiently recovered from crystalline silicon cells by chemical methods. The optimized process has the advantages of high integrity rate of recycled crystalline silicon cells, low recycling cost and low environmental pollution.<i>Implications</i>: In this study \"Recovery of complete crystalline silicon cells from waste crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules,\" a new process combining organic solvent method and thermal treatment method is provided with the main objective of efficient recovery of intact crystalline silicon cells. Finally, Ag and Al were efficiently recovered from crystalline silicon cells by chemical methods. The optimized process has the advantages of high integrity rate of recycled crystalline silicon cells, low recycling cost and low environmental pollution.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"735-745"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144210741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of exposure to ambient PM_2.5 during pregnancy on septal defects in offspring: A retrospective population-based case-control study.","authors":"Lihui Liao, Liangcheng Xiang, Na Li, Shan Li","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2542158","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2542158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent epidemiological studies conducted over the past ten years have increasingly investigated the association between ambient air pollution exposure and the risk of congenital heart defects, yet the findings have shown considerable inconsistency across different research populations and methodological approaches. This study sought to examine the association between maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) during the critical first eight weeks of gestation and the risk of septal defects in offspring. A population-based case-control study in Beijing, China (2008-2012) was conducted to assess the association between maternal exposure to PM_2.5 during the first eight weeks of pregnancy and the risk of septal defects in offspring. Multi-variable logistic regression regression models were used to estimated adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for exposure-risk association, and the exposure-response association was investigated using restricted cubic spline analysis. Maternal exposure to PM_2.5 were positively associated with the risk of overall septal defects in the 10^th-50^th percentile (aOR = 2.415; 95%CI: 1.424 to 4.359), 51^th-90^th percentile (aOR = 2.539; 95%CI: 1.472 to 4.643), and >90^th percentile (aOR = 2.991; 95%CI: 1.601 to 5.832) groups during the fourth week, and in the 10^th-50^th percentile (aOR = 1.432; 95%CI: 0.899 to 2.362), 51^th-90^th percentile (aOR = 1.874; 95%CI: 1.162 to 3.128), and > 90^th percentile (aOR = 2.468; 95%CI: 1.398 to 4.453) groups during the fifth week, all compared with the < 10^th percentile group. Non-isolated atrial septal defect demonstrated the strongest association with PM_2.5 exposure during these weeks (aOR range: 1.882 to 4.382). Individual characteristics showed no meaningful effect modification. Furthermore, PM_2.5 exposure exhibited a linear dose-response association with overall septal defects. This study identified a significant positive association between maternal exposure to ambient PM_2.5 during the first eight gestational weeks and fetal septal defects.<i>Implications</i>: This study demonstrates that maternal PM2.5 exposure, especially in the first trimester, increases congenital septal defect risk. The findings support stricter air quality policies for vulnerable populations and highlight a critical susceptibility window. Clinically, prenatal care should incorporate PM_2.5 exposure reduction strategies, such as real-time air quality monitoring for pregnant individuals. Further research should explore PM_2.5's mechanistic pathways (e.g., oxidative stress, placental inflammation) in cardiac malformations. These results align with A&WMA's focus on air pollution management and its health impacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"757-766"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144763031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Raman spectroscopy for identifying postconsumer packaging plastics for recycling.","authors":"Letícia Parada Moreira, Amanda Selinger, Helen Sadauskas-Henrique, Rodrigo Brasil Choueri, Paloma Kachel Gusso-Choueri, Marcos Tadeu Tavares Pacheco, Landulfo Silveira","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2513935","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2513935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The identification of postconsumer plastic types is important for proper separation for recycling purposes. In this work, Raman spectroscopy was used as a tool to identify the type of postconsumer plastic and subsequent separation for applications in recycling stations and plants. The different postconsumer plastic samples were separated, and Raman spectra were obtained using a dispersive spectrometer (with an excitation wavelength of 830 nm, a laser power of up to 400 mW, an integration time of 3 s, and a spectral range between 400 and 1800 cm^-1). The peaks in the spectra of each type of plastic were correlated with the literature, and the spectra were separated into groups according to their symbology. The spectra were subjected to group classification using partial least squares regression. The types of plastics were identified, and the spectra of the PE-HD and PE-LD plastics were similar because they had the same chemical structure. Peaks of the dyes commonly used in packaging and labels were also observed. The classification model achieved 100% accuracy in separating plastics from 1 to 6. Plastics of type 7 were not modeled due to their mixed composition. Raman spectroscopy can be a useful tool in the identification and separation of postconsumer plastics for proper recycling.<i>Implications:</i> This study demonstrates the potential of Raman spectroscopy as an effective and accurate tool for identifying and classifying postconsumer plastics, achieving 100% accuracy for plastics classified from types 1 to 6 according to the recycling triangles. The ability to differentiate plastic types, including the detection of dyes commonly used in packaging and labels, can significantly enhance sorting efficiency in recycling facilities. By improving plastic separation, this method can contribute to more sustainable recycling practices, reducing contamination in recycled materials and supporting the development of a circular economy.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"719-734"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144210740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research on the recovery and purification of lead ions from the aqueous leachate of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash.","authors":"Nianwei Yang, Tianxing Wang, Wenyi Zhu, Yunqing Liu","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2505074","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2505074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incineration of municipal solid waste generates a significant amount of MSWIFA, which poses environmental risks due to its high chlorine and lead content, hindering its resourceful utilization. Firstly, water washing is used to remove chlorine and heavy metals from the MSWIFA, followed by a combination of CO₂ aeration and acid leaching to recover lead from the aqueous leachate and purify the lead in the CO₂ precipitate. According to the research results, the MSWIFA from waste incineration was pre-treated with a single water washing at 500 r/min with a liquid-to-solid ratio of 5 for 10 min. It was found in the experiment that when the MSWIFA leachate was aerated with CO₂ at a flow rate of 100 mL/min for 60 min, the recovery rate of lead ions reached 81.77%. Furthermore, when the CO₂ precipitate was leached with 1.5 mol/L hydrochloric acid, only 0.53% of calcium ions remained un-leached in the precipitate phase, while the lead ions retained reached 70.01%, significantly improving the purity of lead ions in the CO₂ precipitate.<i>Implications</i>: Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) contains high chlorine and lead, limiting its reuse. This study combined water washing (5:1 liquid-solid ratio, 500 rpm, 10 min) with CO₂ aeration (100 mL/min, 60 min) and acid leaching (1.5 mol/L HCl) to remove Cl^- and recover Pb²⁺. CO₂ aeration achieved 81.77% Pb²⁺ recovery, while HCl leaching retained 70.01% Pb²⁺ in the precipitate, reducing Ca²⁺ residue to 0.53%. The process effectively purified Pb²⁺ in the CO₂ precipitate, enabling safer MSWIFA utilization. Through this research, it is possible to make effective use of resources and use waste. In line with the current concept of environmental protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"706-718"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144639579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case study of system integration application and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Landfill Mining: Strategies comparison of waste-to-material and waste-to-energy.","authors":"Zhimin Ye, Chao Huang, Min Zhong, Songlin Wang","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2523051","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2523051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) process, which could convert waste to materials (WtM), was proposed and established for the multi-component recycling of a landfill case. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was used to evaluate the whole life cycle of WtM, and environmental impact was compared with waste-to-energy (WtE) strategy. It was found that WtE strategy could improve primary energy demand. However, the global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP) and ecotoxicity (ET) of the WtM strategy are significantly improved, with the potential values of 328 KgCO₂eq, 3.29 KgSO₂eq and 0.69 CTUe. The WtM strategy realizes multiple recycling of the remaining waste, and promotes the coordination of pollution reduction and carbon reduction. In addition, the sensitivity analysis of the WtM strategy showed that the GWP and PED were sensitive to the changes of the combined sorting rate, the recovery rate of recyclables and the utilization rate of recyclables.<i>Implications</i>: In our manuscript, an Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) process, which could convert waste to materials (WtM), was proposed and established for the multi-component recycling of a landfill case. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was used to evaluate the whole life cycle of WtM, and environmental impact was compared with waste-to-energy(WtE) strategy. It was found that WtE strategy could improve primary energy demand. The WtM strategy realizes multiple recycling of the remaining waste, and promotes the coordination of pollution reduction and carbon reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"746-756"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144334817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public perception and knowledge on air pollution and its health effects in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Albaraa A Milibari, Hatim M Badri, Wahaj A Khan, Krassi Rumchev","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2517779","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2517779","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Air pollution is a significant global issue that affects human well-being. This study investigated the knowledge and perception of air pollution among the population in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A survey was conducted in Makkah between December 2023 and April 2024 to investigate public knowledge and perception about air pollution and its impact on adverse health effects. The study population consisted of patients admitted to hospitals in Makkah. A total of 1022 respondents, aged between 15 and 66 years, completed an online standardized questionnaire. Questions related to demographic characteristics, including age and gender, were also included in the questionnaire. The findings demonstrated increased concern over air pollution as the majority of respondents, 77% (787), considered air pollution a significant environmental health issue in Makkah. Natural dust was identified as the main source of air pollution in Makkah among 51% (211) men and 45% (268) women, followed by transportation, as reported by 36% (215) women and 34% (143) men. Fifty-one percent (296) of respondents aged above 36 years believed that air pollution could impact their health compared to 49% (216) of the study subjects aged between 15 and 35 years. The most common health effect reported by the respondents associated with exposure to air pollution was bronchitis 41% (419), followed by asthma 38% (388), and heart disease 26% (266). The study outcomes show that most of the study respondents have considerable knowledge about air pollution and perceive air quality as a significant health concern. Implementing sustainable strategies and comprehensive awareness campaigns to mitigate health impacts associated with air pollution in Makkah is recommended.<i>Implications</i>: As the first study of its kind in Makkah, this research provides crucial baseline data on public perception of air pollution and its health impacts. The findings highlight gaps in awareness and emphasise the need for targeted health education and policy interventions to improve environmental health literacy and reduce exposure risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"670-681"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the EPA's proposed screening-level methodology for 1,3-butadiene exposures in fenceline communities: A case study approach.","authors":"Catherine G Masoud, Bradley A Flowers, Dan Baker, Loredana Suciu, Sunghye C Yun","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2509976","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2509976","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As part of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk Evaluation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) published a proposed screening-level methodology in January 2022 to evaluate potential chemical exposures from air pollutants in fenceline communities. In this work, we investigate the suitability of the proposed methodology for making risk determination decisions by applying its tiers to a case study facility located in Texas, which reports the release of hazardous air pollutants such as 1,3-butadiene. While 1,3-butadiene serves as a suitable example chemical due to its high-priority status under TSCA and the public availability of its emissions and ambient measurements data, the methodology presented here is broadly applicable to any chemical. The EPA's suggested tiered methodology, including its Pre-Screening Integrated Indoor-Outdoor Air Calculator (IIOAC) and its simplified air dispersion model setup (Full-Screening AERMOD), is compared to a more detailed dispersion model setup in AERMOD (Facility-specific AERMOD) following the example provided in the EPA's 2020 Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing Residual Risk and Technology Review (MON RTR), for two years (2019 and 2021). Results show that the IIOAC consistently produces the highest output concentrations (10.75 µg/m³ and 9.69 µg/m³ for years 2019 and 2021, respectively), followed by the TSCA Full-Screening AERMOD (1.04 µg/m³ and 0.74 µg/m³), with the facility-specific AERMOD run producing the lowest output concentrations (0.44 µg/m³ and 0.46 µg/m³). Ambient air concentrations of 1,3-butadiene measured at various nationwide sites with automated gas chromatography (auto-GC) from 2017 to 2021 are also analyzed. All average concentrations of 1,3-butadiene, with the exception of one Texas site in 2021, are found to be below 1 ppb (2.21 µg/m³).<i>Implications</i>: While the TSCA Screening Level Approach provides a necessary initial framework for assessing chemical exposures, incorporating facility-specific modeling and real-world monitoring data can lead to more accurate risk management decisions. This refined approach can ensure that regulatory efforts are both protective of public health and practically feasible for regulated entities.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"636-655"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144652066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}