Another bioaerosols paper for AQMRC

In 2008/2009, Enda and Jim were part of a NERC funded project with the Centre for Research in Biomedicine at UWE, Bristol and Cranfield University. The 18 month project investigated bioaerosol and endotoxin emissions from commercial composting facilities in particular how much endotoxin is released from composting facilities, how far it will travel and whether the concentrations found in air from compost facilities can harm the health of people living close to these facilities. The groups 5th paper out of this short yet highly productive research has just been accepted for publication.

L. J. Pankhurst, L. J. Deacon, J. Liu, G. H. Drew, E. T. Hayes, S. Jackson, P. J. Longhurst, J. W. S. Longhurst, S. J. T. Pollard & S. F. Tyrrel (2009) Microbial and endotoxin emission from composting facilities: characterisation of release and dispersal patterns. In Brebbia, C.A. (Editor) Air Pollution XVII. WIT Press. Southampton and Boston.

Deacon L., Pankhurst, L., Liu, J., Drew, G. H., Hayes, E.T., Jackson, S., Longhurst, J., Longhurst, P., Pollard, S. & Tyrrel , S. (2009) Endotoxin emissions from commercial composting activities. Environmental Health 8:S9

Deacon, L.J., Pankhurst, L.J., Liu, J., Drew, G.H., Hayes, E.T., Jackson, S.K., Longhurst, J.W.S., Longhurst, P. J., Pollard, S.J.T, and Tyrrel, S.F. (2009) Particle size distribution of airborne Aspergillus fumigatus spores emitted from compost using membrane-filtration. Atmospheric Environment 43, 5698-5701

Liu, J. , Pankhurst, L.J. , Deacon, L.J. , Abate, W. , Hayes, E.T. , Drew, G.H. , Longhurst, P.J. , Pollard, S., Longhurst, J. , Tyrrel, S.F. , Jackson, S.K. (2011) Evaluation of inflammatory effects of airborne endotoxin emitted from composting sources. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 30, 3, 602-606

Pankhurst, L. J., Deacon, L. J., Liu, J, Drew, G. H., Hayes, E. T., Jackson, S., Longhurst, P. J., Longhurst, J. W. S., Pollard, S. J. T and Tyrrel, S. F. (In Press) Spatial Variations in Airborne Microorganism and Endotoxin Concentrations at Green Waste Composting Facilities. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health.

AQMRC deliver a Framework for Sustainability for the Dube Aerotropolis, South Africa

Following a successful workshop in the beautiful city of Durban, which was attended by Dr Enda Hayes, Rose Bailey, Tom Chambers, Dr Chad Staddon and Dr Mark Everard, a comprehensive Framework for Sustainability for the Dube Aerotropolis in Durban, South Africa was delivered to the clients, Dube TradePort and Tongaat Hulett Developments. This exciting multi-disciplinary project brought together many Faculty of Environment and Technology colleagues who advised on the sustainable development of the land use and infrastructure in the vicinity of the King Shaka International Airport, Durban, while supporting the client’s vision of working towards carbon and water neutrality for the area. The Dube Aerotropolis covers a radius of approximately 15 km around the recently opened King Shaka International Airport north of the city of Durban. This project expands upon AQMRC experience in air and carbon management in Africa, including the Low Carbon Consensus Panel study for the Academy of Science of South Africa and the National Framework for Air Quality for the South African Government.

 

 

More efforts required to reduce ozone pollution in Europe

Ground-level ozone is one of the most harmful air pollutants in Europe today. A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that despite efforts to reduce ozone pollution, in 2010 levels continued to exceed the long-term objective established in EU legislation to protect human health. EU Member States will also face difficulties in meeting the target value, applicable as of 2010.

Ozone is not directly emitted to the atmosphere but formed in complex photochemical reactions from ozone precursor gases (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, methane and non-methane volatile organic compounds). Its production depends on meteorological conditions such as solar intensity and temperature. Elevated levels of ground-level ozone reduce agricultural crop yields and corrode infrastructure and cultural heritage. It can also cause health problems and lead to premature deaths.

The new EEA report ‘Air pollution by ozone across Europe during summer 2010’ shows that the long-term objective to protect human health (maximum daily eight-hour mean concentration of 120 µg/m3) was exceeded in all EU Member States and in most of the other reporting European countries at least once during summer 2010. As in previous years, the most widespread concentrations occurred in the Mediterranean area. However, areas of western and central Europe experienced higher ozone concentrations than in 2009.

Preliminary results show that 17 EU Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Spain) are facing difficulties in meeting the target value for protecting human health. In all these countries, the maximum daily eight-hour mean ozone concentration of 120 µg/m3 was exceeded on more than 25 days during summer 2010.

Other key findings
For the first time in four years, in 2010 the information threshold (a one-hour average ozone concentration of 180 µg/m3) was exceeded in northern Europe. The average number of threshold exceedances increased slightly in north-western, central and eastern Europe.
The alert threshold (a one-hour average ozone concentration of 240 µg/m3) was exceeded 44 times in nine EU Member States with most exceedances in northern Italy and northern Portugal.
Summer 2010 was characterised by a long period with numerous exceedances during the warm sunny weather experienced between 24 June and 22 July. This episode accounted for approximately 85 % of the total number of exceedances of the information threshold, 64 % of exceedances of the alert threshold and 52 % of exceedances of the long-term objective.


Target value for the protection of human health
Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe sets out the ‘target value for the protection of human health’. Specifically, as of 2010 the maximum daily eight-hour mean concentration of ozone should not exceed 120 µg/m3 on more than 25 days per calendar year, averaged over three years. It further specifies that the target value will first be calculated using validated data from 2010 and following years. Therefore it will not be possible to assess exceedance of the target value fully until data for 2010, 2011 and 2012 have been compiled and validated.

Ozone pollution – not only a local air quality issue
In Europe, ozone concentrations in a particular country are also influenced by emissions in other northern hemisphere countries and by poorly regulated sectors such as international shipping and aviation. Thus, ozone pollution is not only a local air quality issue but also a hemispheric and global problem.

Data sources on emissions of ozone precursor gases
The EEA publishes emissions data on the air pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, available in several data viewers: NEC Directive viewer (NOx, NMVOCs), LRTAP Convention viewer (CO) and the greenhouse gas data viewer (CH4). Updated information on the trends in man-made emissions of ozone precursors NOx and NMVOCs are also available in the recently published NEC Directive status report 2010.

Tim talking at "Green-Talk" in Bristol

Tim has been invited to give a talk at the Bristol “Green Talks” at the Arnolfini on 14^th June.

 

The talks, in the style of the TED lectures, are a series of 8 minute presentations around issues of the environment, climate change and sustainability.

 

More information can be found at: http://www.climate-works.co.uk/projects-clients/green-talk/

Tim on UKPHA Integration Management Panel

Tim has been elected on to a management panel to oversee the incorporation of the UK Public Health Association into the Faculty of Public Health.  The position represents an important recognition of the environmental factors that contribute to the health of the nation, and comes at a very important point in the histories of both the UKPHA and the Faculty.

Tim Speaking at Royal Society for Chemistry

On Tuesday 7^th June, Tim will be presenting a paper on “Air Quality: Breaking Out of the Silo” at a workshop on “A trans-disciplinary approach to improved local air quality: what are the current problems for integration and coherence?” at  the Royal Society for Chemistry.

Tim to present at RSC Air Quality Workshop

Tim Chatterton will be presenting at an Air Quality Workshop hosted and organised by the Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division (ESED) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) on Tuesday 7th June. The theme of the workshop is "A trans-disciplinary approach to improved local air quality: what are the current problems for integration and coherence?" and will also include contributions from Duncan Laxen (AQC), Steve Moorcroft (AQC), Peter Fallon (Birmingham CC), Gary Fuller (KCL), Paul Monks (AQEG) and Sarah Honour (Defra).