Contaminant carbon (blank carbon) was studied for its impact on the carbon isotope measurements (∆14C and δ13C) of 3 organic compound classes of oceanic particulate organic matter. Two methods of blank correction and associated uncertainties were studied. First, the carbon blanks were quantified manometrically and the isotope ratios of the blank carbon were measured directly. Second, the isotop...

Particulate Matter (PM) is a form of air pollution that visually degrades urban scenery and is hazardous to human health and the environment. Current monitoring devices are limited in measuring average PM over large areas. Quantifying the visual effects of haze in digital images of urban scenery and correlating these effects to PM levels is a vital step in more practically monitoring our enviro...

Biomass burning (BB) contributes large amounts of black carbon (BC) and particulate organic matter (POM) to the atmosphere and contributes significantly to the earth's radiation balance. BB particles can be a complicated optical system, with scattering and absorption contributions from BC, internal mixtures of BC and POM, and wavelength-dependent absorption of POM. Large amounts of POM can also...

Fire management specialists in the southeastern United States needing guides for predicting or assessing particulate matter emission factors, emission rates, and heat release rate can use the models presented in this paper for making these predictions as a function of flame length in the palmetto-gallberry fuel type. FOREST So. 29:761-770. ADDITIONAL

Autoxidation is a complex abiotic degradation process, and while it has long been known and well studied in biological compounds, it has been widely overlooked in environmental samples and as a part of environmental processes. With recent observations showing the magnitude of the involvement of autoxidation in coastal environments, it has become critical to better understand how and why this de...

BACKGROUND In October 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the particulate matter from outdoor air pollution as a group 1 carcinogen and declared that particulate matter can cause lung cancer. Fine particular matter (PM2.5) pollution is becoming a serious public health concern in urban areas of China. It is essential to emphasize the importance of the public's awaren...

The New York City (NYC) subway is the main mode of transport for over 5 million passengers on an average weekday. Therefore, airborne pollutants in the subway stations could have a significant impact on commuters and subway workers. This study looked at black carbon (BC) and particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in selected subway stations in Manhattan. BC and PM2.5 levels were measured in ...

The airborne particles were collected near the power plant and the opencast coal mine of the Kolubara basin. This paper represents the part of the one-year project aiming to collect, characterize and then determine the mineralogical composition of the airborne particles. Samples of deposited particulate matter from the air were collected between March 2007 and March 2008. Mean concentrations co...

BACKGROUND Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with future cardiac morbidity and mortality and is often used as a marker of altered cardiac autonomic balance in studies of health effects of airborne particulate matter. Fewer studies have evaluated associations between air pollutants and cardiac arrhythmia. OBJECTIVES We examined relationships between cardiac arrhythmias...

Alternative cookstoves are designed to improve biomass fuel combustion efficiency to reduce the amount of fuel used and lower emission of air pollutants. The Nepal Cookstove Trial (NCT) studies effects of alternative cookstoves on family health. Our study measured indoor particulate matter concentration (PM2.5), boiling time, and fuel use of cookstoves during a water-boiling test in a house-lik...