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

{"title":"Low-cost sensors for indoor air quality monitoring: A systematic review of accuracy, applications, and limitations.","authors":"Gonçalo Silva, Joana Duarte, João Santos Baptista, João Cavaleiro Rufo","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2624795","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2624795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Indoor air quality significantly influences public health, especially due to prolonged indoor time. Low-cost sensors (LCSes) have emerged as promising tools for indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring in real-life environments. This systematic review evaluates the accuracy, applications, and limitations of LCSes for monitoring indoor pollutants, focusing on particulate matter and carbon dioxide. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases for studies published up to March 15, 2025. Eligible studies included original peer-reviewed research evaluating the accuracy, performance, and applicability of low-cost sensors for indoor air quality monitoring in real-world settings. The focus was on studies measuring carbon dioxide and/or particulate matter and comparing the performance of low-cost sensors against reference-grade instruments. The quality and risk of bias of included studies were assessed using the Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies. Of the 2,736 articles initially identified, 24 studies met the inclusion and quality criteria. These studies evaluate a wide range of low-cost sensor technologies for indoor air quality monitoring, particularly for particule matter and carbon dioxide. The majority of sensors used optical particle counters or nondispersive infrared technology and were validated against reference-grade instruments. Results demonstrate that several low-cost sensors achieved strong correlations with reference monitors, particularly under controlled or semicontrolled conditions. However, performance varied significantly based on environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and pollutant source. Limitations include methodological heterogeneity, limited interdevice validation, regional bias, insufficient legal compliance assessment, and unaddressed confounding factors such as sensor aging and environmental cross-sensitivity. Low-cost sensors offer a valuable, scalable approach for IAQ monitoring in diverse environments. Despite variability in performance, with appropriate calibration and environmental compensation, many LCSes can provide reliable data. Yet, standardization in validation procedures and sensor regulation is crucial for their integration into legal and health-related frameworks.<i>Implications</i>: This systematic review demonstrates that low-cost sensors hold significant potential to enhance indoor air quality monitoring in schools, workplaces, health care facilities, and homes. However, the majority of currently available devices do not yet meet government standards or legal compliance requirements, and their data must therefore be interpreted with caution. While some models show promise and can provide reliable results under controlled conditions or with appropriate calibration, their broader adoption for public health purposes will require standardized valida","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"315-341"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095385","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":"Enhancing wind erosion resistance in arid mines: Development and field validation of a novel bio-based dust suppressant.","authors":"Zijun Li, Wenxi Xie, Zhe Zhou, Yin Chen, Jianbang Wang, Yu Xu","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2614453","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2614453","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amid the widespread adoption of fully mechanized mining technology, dust pollution in Chinese mines has become increasingly severe. Compared to traditional dust control methods, dust suppressants have emerged as an important and cost-effective technological approach for enhancing dust management outcomes. This study engineered a composite dust suppressant premised on traditional single-chemical dust suppression principles, leveraging fenugreek gum as a binding agent to augment wind erosion resistance and adhesion. Field application experiments were executed in the 926 and 830 tunnels of Xinjiang Kalatongke Mining to corroborate the suppressant's effectiveness. Key performance parameters, including dust concentration, particle size distribution, compressive strength, and wind erosion resistance, were appraised. The experimental outcomes evinced that a spraying dosage of 2 kg/m² of the dust suppressant efficaciously meets practical dust control imperatives. Under this dosage, the total dust concentration was sustained below 0.2 mg/m³. The proportion of dust particles with a diameter of approximately 100 μm dwindled from 5.7% to 0.3%, while those around 1000 μm declined from 10.8% to 5.3%. Samples treated with the suppressant exhibited a breaking time 6.2 times longer than untreated samples and 2.2 times longer than water-treated samples. The breaking strength of the suppressant-treated samples was 9.8 times that of untreated samples and 2.5 times that of water-treated samples. The composite dust suppressant significantly reduces dust concentrations in underground tunnels, improves dust control efficiency, and enhances the wind erosion resistance and adhesion of the dust crust layer. It provides a clear direction for developing wind erosion- and compaction-resistant composite dust suppressants and offers an effective solution for efficient dust control in arid, high-dust-generation mining areas.<i>Implications</i>: This dust suppressant provides a highly effective and practical solution to control dust in high-traffic areas, directly addressing the critical issue of dust concentrations exceeding national safety standards. It enhances production efficiency by improving visibility and equipment longevity, while crucially safe guarding worker health by reducing the risk of respiratory diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"342-358"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147446661","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":"Performance evaluation of commercially available non-regulatory instruments and sensors in smoke for PM, CO, CO₂, NO_2, and SO₂.","authors":"Matthew S Landis, Russell W Long, Jonathan D Krug, Maribel Colón, Jenny Perth, Shawn P Urbanski","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2629562","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2629562","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wildland fire smoke can severely degrade downwind air quality and impact responding firefighters and the public. Accurate and timely monitoring of particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants around wildland fires are needed to support management activities like protecting responders and the public from the health and safety hazards of wildland fire smoke. This study systematically evaluates the performance of commercially available, non-regulatory PM and gas instruments/sensors under controlled wildland fire smoke conditions. We assessed accuracy, precision, and linearity by comparing instrument/sensor outputs to reference-grade samplers/instruments across a wide range of smoke concentrations. Results indicate that most non-regulatory PM instruments/sensors, particularly those utilizing optical particle sensing technology, often exhibit a high positive raw PM_2.5 measurement bias. However, applying smoke-specific calibration models substantially improved accuracy, with several models achieving post-calibration accuracy greater than 85%. Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas instruments/sensors generally performed well after calibration, while the performance of electrochemical nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) sensors was relatively poor. Non-regulatory PM_2.5 instrument/sensor response was primarily influenced by aerosol optical properties, particle size distribution, and effective density. We found that smoke-specific calibration and data quality assurance are key for reliable non-regulatory measurements during wildland fire events, especially for incident responder force protection and nearby communities. Integrating calibrated non-regulatory measurement data with regulatory networks can improve smoke exposure assessment and public health messaging. While non-regulatory instruments/sensors cannot fully replace reference instruments, their proper selection and calibration can provide valuable, actionable data for air quality management during wildfires.<i>Implications</i>: The results presented in this paper provide federal, state, local, and tribal air monitoring and public health agencies with performance information on numerous commercially available non-regulatory instruments/sensors to address air quality monitoring data collection and interpretation challenges presented by wildland fire smoke. The presented accuracy, precision, and linearity performance metrics provide knowledge for the selection of new air quality monitors and insight on the deployment/use of existing monitors during wildland fire events to improve management oversight for professional practitioners/responders, and for communication of health messaging to the public.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"383-405"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13409359/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146152204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An analysis of the institutional and policy challenges for the sustainable management of AHP waste in South Africa: Lessons from the Polokwane Local Municipality of Limpopo Province.","authors":"Maria Tebogo Rampjapedi, Richard Kwame Adom, Mulala Danny Simatele","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2624799","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2624799","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The management of absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) is a critical aspect that requires comprehensive attention by various stakeholders including local government authorities. While existing literature has systematically and comprehensively identified the challenges of AHP waste in residential areas, little attention has been given to understanding its associated management problems at the level of institutional and policy frameworks. This paper, using methods inspired by the tradition of qualitative research, explores challenges that hamper the sustainable management of AHP from the institutional and policy contexts, focusing on Polokwane Local Municipality. This study shows that the lack of financial resources, including deficiencies in institutional coordination, legislation and physical infrastructure, presents major challenges for the sustainable management of AHP in Polokwane Municipality and South Africa as a whole. These challenges have been analyzed within the broader framework of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15.<i>Implications</i>:The findings of the study underscore the need to categorize AHP waste as a waste stream and develop a targeted policy intended to influence sustainable AHP waste management. The development of action plans integrating SDGs could aid effective and sustainable practices. Prioritizing of waste management budget allocation in the South African parliament can contribute toward development of waste facilities. Intensive awareness programs and the addition of waste management curriculum in foundation educational programs could influence sustainable behaviours. Compliance monitoring coupled with penalties will address indifferent behaviours. Prioritizing environmental-pollution-related cases in court can set a precedent to mold sustainable practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"359-382"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146145799","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":"Characterization of bottom ash from a medical waste incinerator and its potential environmental impacts: A case study of Kaloleni Hospital, Arusha, Tanzania.","authors":"Jesca Kabasinga, Karoli Njau","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2635076","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2635076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although incineration is a prevalent method for medical waste treatment in developing countries like Tanzania, the environmental safety of the resulting ash is often overlooked. This study aimed to present a detailed characterization of bottom ash from a medical waste incinerator at Kaloleni Hospital, Arusha, to assess its chemical composition, leaching potential, and environmental risk. Herein, source-segregated medical waste from three streams, including infectious waste (red bags), laboratory/pharmaceutical waste (yellow bags), and general waste (black bags), was analyzed. The findings revealed the distinct particle-size distributions, with the infectious waste (red bag) ash exhibited the highest fineness modulus (9.29) and the largest average particle size (2.35 mm), indicating greater potential for soil penetration and dust generation. Concentrations of heavy metals in the ash exceeded USEPA permissible limits for soil, including titanium (Ti) (3600-9884 mg/kg), iron (Fe) (3683-7789 mg/kg), zinc (Zn) (4020-7449 mg/kg), copper (Cu) (304-616 mg/kg), and mercury (Hg) (0.93-1.23 mg/kg). Notably, mercury predominated in infectious waste (red bag) ash, which was associated with thermometers. Leachate concentrations of critical metals such as lead (Pb) (1093 mg/L) and chromium (Cr) (601.1 mg/L) exceeded U.S. EPA regulatory limits by more than 200 and 120 times, respectively. Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and sodium chloride (NaCl) were the main crystalline phases. These findings demonstrate that the bottom ash poses a substantial risk of heavy metal leaching and environmental contamination. This underscores the urgent need for regulated disposal and pre-treatment of such ash at this hospital. This study recommends extending this investigation to other hospitals to fully assess and mitigate the regional risk to public and environmental health.<i>Implications</i>: This study demonstrates that bottom ash from a typical medical waste incinerator in a low-resource setting poses a severe environmental threat. High concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Hg, Zn) exceed regulatory limits, with leaching tests confirming alarming mobility, particularly for Pb and Cr. Particle size analysis indicates risks of atmospheric dispersion of fine particles and soil infiltration of coarser fragments. The established link between color-coded waste segregation and ash hazards provides critical insights. These findings necessitate integrated strategies, including optimized incinerator operation, mandatory pre-treatment (e.g., stabilization) of bottom ash, and context-specific regulatory frameworks to mitigate risks to air quality, soil, groundwater, and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"406-418"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147446690","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":"Numerical simulation of secondary air location effect on waste incineration in a grate boiler.","authors":"Mengzhi Zhi, Haixia Li, Zhihui Li, Lijun Zhao, Peng Du, Ruixiang Wang, Xinmin Zhang, Anchao Zhang, Zhijun Sun, Yanyang Mei, Fanmao Meng","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2601012","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2601012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Incineration is an efficient method for solid waste treatment and energy recovery. Secondary air is a critical parameter in the operation of incinerators, yet information on how the position of secondary air affects the incineration of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) remains poorly understood. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling serves as effective tool for the optimal design and operation of waste incinerators. This study employs ANSYS FLUENT 2021 R1 as the simulation platform to investigate the impact of different secondary air positions on the incineration process in a moving grate incinerator. An optimized incinerator model was developed, featuring three configurations: a baseline case without secondary air and two cases with secondary air inlets at distinct positions. Unlike other secondary air simulations, the solid waste in this study is treated as a porous medium, incorporating chemical reactions related to waste incineration. The results of the FLUENT simulation are visually presented through contour plots, facilitating comparative analysis to determine the optimal configuration for the secondary air inlet. The findings demonstrate that proper secondary air placement significantly reduces soot and pollutant gas concentrations. The CO emissions of pollutant gases was reduced by 92.5%, while the NO concentration was reduced by 95% and 90%, respectively. The model with the secondary air position that yields higher waste calorific value and lower pollutant emissions is identified as the optimal configuration.<i>Implications</i>: This study pioneers a systematic evaluation of how secondary-air port location impacts both combustion performance and emissions in waste-to-energy boilers. The identified optimal air-staging configuration significantly increases waste calorific value while drastically reducing CO and NOx emissions. These results offer concrete engineering guidelines for designing, retrofitting, and operating incineration facilities, enabling immediate technological upgrades globally. Moreover, they provide a scientific basis for stricter emission policies and incentivizing retrofit optimizations, accelerating cleaner waste recovery under carbon‑neutrality goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"240-254"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728179","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":"Waste sorting policy impact on mercury emissions from municipal solid waste incineration: Evidence from China.","authors":"Junfeng Pang, Ruiqi Zhang, Jianbo Guo, Han Liu, Yang Chen, Yaji Huang, Liyuan Liu","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2601011","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2601011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p> Mandatory waste sorting policy in Beijing (2020) lowered mercury inputs to the representative MSWI plant by 67.7 % versus 2019 through removal of batteries and other Hg-rich articles. The front-end change propagated through the entire system, cutting stack emissions 82 % (1.35 ± 0.6 → 0.24 ± 0.05 µg m/³) and decreasing the Hg²⁺ fraction from 45.5 % to 28 %. Higher post-sorting plastic loads elevated chlorine, promoting in-furnace oxidation of Hg⁰; the resultant Hg²⁺ was efficiently captured by existing wet scrubbing/fabric filters. Mass-balance and speciation data show that source separation functions as a chemical pre-treatment that shifts mercury toward easily removable forms, amplifying downstream control performance without hardware retrofits.<i>Implications</i>: This study provides the first field-scale proof that waste-classification policy can govern mercury emission chemistry. By altering waste composition at the source, mandatory sorting oxidizes elemental mercury and enhances removal efficiency, offering decision-makers a low-cost, proactive tool to meet stringent Hg limits while advancing circular-economy goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"229-239"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145716989","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":"Health risk assessment of BTEX exposure among public transport commuters in Bangkok, Thailand.","authors":"Nonlapan Khantikulanon, Wanida Jinsart","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2613910","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2613910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traffic-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represent an important exposure pathway for urban commuters in megacities such as Bangkok, Thailand. This study quantified personal exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX) and evaluated associated inhalation health risks across five major transportation modes: air-conditioned bus (A/C bus), non-air-conditioned bus (non-A/C bus), taxi, the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), and the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT). Personal air monitoring was conducted during wet and dry seasons to capture seasonal variability in exposure. BTEX concentrations differed significantly by transport mode and season. Non-A/C buses consistently exhibited the highest concentrations, followed by A/C buses and taxis, while the lowest levels were observed in rail-based systems (BTS and MRT). Across all modes and seasons, concentrations ranged from 6.1-41.4 µg/m³ for benzene, 19.1-128.6 µg/m³ for toluene, 1.9-23.7 µg/m³ for ethylbenzene, 10.3-50.3 µg/m³ for <i>m,p</i>-xylenes, and 2.3-8.8 µg/m³ for o-xylene, with consistently higher levels during the dry season. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment indicated hazard index values below unity for all transport modes, with the highest value observed in non-A/C buses during the dry season (HI = 7.94 × 10^-2). In contrast, benzene-related incremental lifetime cancer risks frequently exceeded the U.S. EPA lower benchmark (1.0 × 10^-6) but remained below the upper tolerable limit (1.0 × 10^-4), with the highest risk estimated for non-A/C bus commuters (9.80 × 10^-6). These results demonstrate that transportation mode and seasonality are key determinants of commuter BTEX exposure and highlight the need for targeted mitigation strategies focusing on ventilation design, emission control, and cleaner public transport systems.<i>Implications</i>: This study provides policy-relevant evidence for urban air quality management and exposure reduction in traffic-congested megacities. Significant variation in BTEX exposure across transport modes indicates that microenvironmental conditions, including ventilation, cabin enclosure, and proximity to traffic emissions, strongly influence commuter exposure. Road-based modes, particularly non-A/C buses, exhibited the highest exposures and risk estimates. Although risks remained within regulatory thresholds, benzene-related cancer risks highlight routine commuting as a meaningful long-term exposure pathway. Targeted controls such as improved vehicle ventilation and sealing, VOC filtration, stricter emission standards, reduced idling, and expansion of mass rapid transit can effectively reduce commuter exposures and support evidence-based transportation and air quality policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"284-299"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260670","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":"Green brick production from rice husk and lake sediment: Energy consumption and optimization.","authors":"Kien Ton Tong, Huyen T T Dang, Thuy Anh Tran, Hang T M Tran, Anh Tu Cai, Khai M Nguyen","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2615205","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2026.2615205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the past few decades, there has been a growing need to improve energy efficiency in brick production to reduce its environmental impact and support sustainable development. This study investigated the potential of partially replacing clay with treated lake sediment (LS), rice husk (RH), or mixtures of rice husk and treated lake sediment (RH-LS) in fired brick production. The brick samples were tested for density, linear shrinkage, water absorption, and compressive strength. Energy consumption during the firing process was monitored, and a comparison was made between conventional clay bricks and the novel brick formulations. The results revealed that it is possible to fabricate fired bricks using lake sediment blended with rice husk, incorporating up to 45% by weight of the alternative materials. These lightweight bricks met the technical standards for clay brick production, exhibiting a compressive strength exceeding 5.0 MPa, water absorption ranging from 13.8% to 31.3%, and linear shrinkage below 8.0%. The inclusion of LS and, particularly, RH, led to brick samples consuming 13% to 60% less energy and reducing CO₂ emissions by 0.9 to 2.7 times during the firing process. Additionally, the optimal 45% RH-LS brick samples reduced electricity consumption by 41% and CO₂ emissions by 2.3 times during sintering.<i>Implications</i>: Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of synthesizing fired-clay bricks by incorporating mixing sewage sludge from different origins (sewage sludge, river sediment, canal sediment, sewer sediment, etc.) with clay and some wastes to make bricks. This study identifies an optimal substitution ratio of 45% clay replacement-comprising 18% rice husk ash and 27% lake sediment. Thermal analysis confirms a maximum energy efficiency at a sintering temperature of 950°C for 3-hours. This integration achieved a 13-60% reduction in specific energy consumption and a 0.86-2.7-fold decrease in CO₂ emissions relative to conventional clay bricks.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"300-314"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145961219","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":"Prioritizing mitigation efforts for intra-urban heat vulnerability using a case study of San Antonio, Texas.","authors":"Kristen E Brown, Wei Zhai, Esteban A Lopez Ochoa","doi":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2607014","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10962247.2025.2607014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many urban areas, particularly in the southern United States (US), experience extreme heat causing discomfort and illness. Heat vulnerability is not uniform across a city due to the built-environment and socioeconomic conditions, impacting some areas more than others. Therefore, it is important that heat reduction actions prioritize areas that are most vulnerable. To help ensure mitigation and adaptation efforts are most effectively targeted, analytical techniques are used to quantify vulnerability to heat. A case study of Bexar County, home to San Antonio, Texas, is used to demonstrate identification of vulnerability using high resolution land surface temperature (LST) data from the Landsat program and socio-economic data from the US Census Bureau and American Community Survey. The index is validated using chronic disease information from CDC Places as well as energy burden data. Specific heat mitigation measures may be best sited through consideration of additional variables, including characteristics of the built environment. An analysis of vulnerability by local climate zone (LCZ) is performed.<i>Implications</i>: Urban heat varies within a given metropolitan area, as does the ability of residents to adapt to extreme conditions. This variability leads to environmental justice issues. This study identifies the most vulnerable areas using readily available data sources. Using a ranking system to combine disparate metrics allows for efficient communication to allocate interventions at the local level. Findings reinforce the relationships that high building density is correlated to higher temperatures and green infrastructure and water are correlated to cooler temperatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":520693,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)","volume":" ","pages":"255-270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145784179","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}