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2024
A reliable determination of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations derived from filter absorption photometers (FAPs) measurements depends on the appropriate quantification of the mass absorption cross-section (MAC) for converting the absorption coefficient (babs) to eBC. This study investigates the spatial–temporal variability of the MAC obtained from simultaneous elemental carbon (EC) and babs measurements performed at 22 sites. We compared different methodologies for retrieving eBC integrating different options for calculating MAC including: locally derived, median value calculated from 22 sites, and site-specific rolling MAC. The eBC concentrations that underwent correction using these methods were identified as LeBC (local MAC), MeBC (median MAC), and ReBC (Rolling MAC) respectively. Pronounced differences (up to more than 50 %) were observed between eBC as directly provided by FAPs (NeBC; Nominal instrumental MAC) and ReBC due to the differences observed between the experimental and nominal MAC values. The median MAC was 7.8 ± 3.4 m2 g-1 from 12 aethalometers at 880 nm, and 10.6 ± 4.7 m2 g-1 from 10 MAAPs at 637 nm. The experimental MAC showed significant site and seasonal dependencies, with heterogeneous patterns between summer and winter in different regions. In addition, long-term trend analysis revealed statistically significant (s.s.) decreasing trends in EC. Interestingly, we showed that the corresponding corrected eBC trends are not independent of the way eBC is calculated due to the variability of MAC. NeBC and EC decreasing trends were consistent at sites with no significant trend in experimental MAC. Conversely, where MAC showed s.s. trend, the NeBC and EC trends were not consistent while ReBC concentration followed the same pattern as EC. These results underscore the importance of accounting for MAC variations when deriving eBC measurements from FAPs and emphasize the necessity of incorporating EC observations to constrain the uncertainty associated with eBC.
Elsevier
2024
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analysed in a high number of terrestrial samples of soil, earthworm, bird eggs and liver from red fox and brown rat in an urban area in Norway from 2013 to 2020. PFOS and the long chain PFCAs were the most dominating compounds in all samples, proving their ubiquitous distribution. Other less studied compounds such as 6:2 FTS were first and foremost detected in earthworm. 8:2 FTS was found in many samples of fieldfare egg, sparrowhawk egg and earthworm, where the eggs had highest concentrations. Highest concentrations for both 6:2 FTS and 8:2 FTS were detected at present and former industry areas. FOSA was detected in many samples of the species with highest concentrations in red fox liver and brown rat liver of 3.3 and 5.5 ng/g ww.
PFAS concentrations from the urban area were significantly higher than from background areas indicating that some of the species can be suitable as markers for PFAS emissions in an urban environment. Fieldfare eggs had surprisingly high concentrations of PFOS and PFCA concentrations from areas known to be or have been influenced by industry. Biota-soil-accumulation factor and magnification calculations indicate accumulation and magnification potential for several PFAS.
Earthworm and fieldfare egg had average concentrations above the Canadian and European thresholds in diet for avian wildlife and predators. For earthworms, 18 % of the samples exceeded the European threshold (33 ng/g ww) of PFOS in prey for predators, and for fieldfare eggs, 35 % of the samples were above the same threshold. None of the soil samples exceeded a proposed PNEC of PFOS for soil living organisms of 373 ng/g dw.
Elsevier
2024
This study investigates the impact of meteorological variations on the long-term patterns of PM2.5 in Delhi from 2007 to 2022 using the AirGAM 2022r1 model. Generalized Additive Modeling was employed to analyze meteorology-adjusted (removing the influence of inter-annual variations in meteorology) and unadjusted trends (trends without considering meteorology) while addressing auto-correlation. PM2.5 levels showed a modest decline of 14 μg m−3 unadjusted and 18 μg m−3 meteorology-adjusted over the study period. Meteorological conditions and time factors significantly influenced trends. Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, boundary layer height, medium-height cloud cover, precipitation, and time variables including day-of-week, day-of-year, and overall time, were used as GAM model inputs. The model accounted for 55% of PM2.5 variability (adjusted R-squared = 0.55). Day-of-week and medium-height cloud cover were non-significant, while other covariates were significant (p
Elsevier
2024
2024
Understanding thermal comfort expectations in older adults: The role of long-term thermal history
Understanding how long-term thermal history affects thermal comfort expectations in older adults (65+) has implications for designing energy-efficient spaces in a changing climate. A growing number of studies focus on thermal sensation/preference votes to represent the current thermal comfort expectations, often overlooking their limitations. This study, however, investigates how factors shaping long-term thermal history link to the current 65+ adults indoor thermal comfort expectations during exposure to heat, by focusing on the upper limit of thermally acceptable temperature range, represented by a self-reported temperature threshold at which 65+ adults believe to feel uncomfortable by indoor heat (Tit). To find Tit, we use answers to “Above what temperature do you start feeling too hot indoors?” by survey respondents in Warsaw (n = 678) and Madrid (n = 527), who lived in their apartment ≥5 years. Statistically, we find indoor factors affecting long-term thermal experiences more significant in explaining 65+ Tit, when compared to outdoor factors such as distance to water, vegetation, or surface thermal radiance. Better-insulated buildings were associated with a lower Tit [...]
Elsevier
2024
Assessment of transboundary pollution with heavy metals and POPs
Meteorological Synthesizing Centre – East (MSC-E)
2024
Ammonia emission estimates using CrIS satellite observations over Europe
Over the past century, ammonia (NH3) emissions have increased with the growth of livestock and fertilizer usage. The abundant NH3 emissions lead to secondary fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, climate change, and a reduction in biodiversity, and they affect human health. Up-to-date and spatially and temporally resolved information on NH3 emissions is essential to better quantify their impact. In this study we applied the existing Daily Emissions Constrained by Satellite Observations (DECSO) algorithm to NH3 observations from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) to estimate NH3 emissions. Because NH3 in the atmosphere is influenced by nitrogen oxides (NOx), we implemented DECSO to estimate NOx and NH3 emissions simultaneously. The emissions are derived over Europe for 2020 on a spatial resolution of 0.2°×0.2° using daily observations from both CrIS and the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI; on the Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) satellite). Due to the limited number of daily satellite observations of NH3, monthly emissions of NH3 are reported. The total NH3 emissions derived from observations are about 8 Tg yr−1, with a precision of about 5 %–17 % per grid cell per year over the European domain (35–55° N, 10° W–30° E). The comparison of the satellite-derived NH3 emissions from DECSO with independent bottom-up inventories and in situ observations indicates a consistency in terms of magnitude on the country totals, with the results also being comparable regarding the temporal and spatial distributions. The validation of DECSO over Europe implies that we can use DECSO to quickly derive fairly accurate monthly emissions of NH3 over regions with limited local information on NH3 emissions.
2024
This report gives an overview of annual statistics and results from the monitoring programme of ozone in EMEP 2022.
NILU
2024
European pollen reanalysis, 1980–2022, for alder, birch, and olive
The dataset presents a 43 year-long reanalysis of pollen seasons for three major allergenic genera of trees in Europe: alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), and olive (Olea). Driven by the meteorological reanalysis ERA5, the atmospheric composition model SILAM predicted the flowering period and calculated the Europe-wide dispersion pattern of pollen for the years 1980–2022. The model applied an extended 4-dimensional variational data assimilation of in-situ observations of aerobiological networks in 34 European countries to reproduce the inter-annual variability and trends of pollen production and distribution. The control variable of the assimilation procedure was the total pollen release during each flowering season, implemented as an annual correction factor to the mean pollen production. The dataset was designed as an input to studies on climate-induced and anthropogenically driven changes in the European vegetation, biodiversity monitoring, bioaerosol modelling and assessment, as well as, in combination with intra-seasonal observations, for health-related applications.
Springer Nature
2024
New advanced models (NAMs) for risk assessment of bisphenol A alternatives
The safety of bisphenol A (BPA) due to its adverse effects on the immune system has led to an increasing concern and a significant regulatory shift. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposed a reduction in the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of BPA in food in their 2023 scientific opinion, highlighting the need for stricter regulations compared to their previous assessment in 2015. This regulatory action has spurred the production of BPA alternatives, raising concerns about their safety due to insufficient toxicological data. Addressing this gap is crucial for ensuring human and environmental health. In this project, multiple genotoxicity endpoints were applied for testing of two regulatory relevant BPA alternatives, bisphenol E (BPE) and bisphenol P (BPP), in different human models: 2D HepG2 liver cells, 3D liver spheroids and primary human peripheral blood lymphocytes. DNA strand breaks and oxidised base lesions were evaluated by the enzyme-modified version of the comet assay, while clastogenicity and aneugenicity were analysed by the in vitro micronucleus assay (OECD TG 487, 2016), together with cytotoxicity. Development of new advanced models (NAMs), as 3D spheroids, are essential for next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) in line with the 3R's to replace, reduce or refine animal experiments. In this aspect, validation and standardisation of NAMs are needed to reach regulatory readiness level and development of OECD Test Guidelines. Therefore, a standardisation and pre-validation of the advanced 3D liver spheroid model was performed by using multiple genotoxicity endpoints and by comparing the obtained results with standard genotoxicity models.
2024
A Quantitative Model of Endogenous Climate Adaptation: Data Challenges, Validation, and Applications
2024
2024
Målinger av SO2 i omgivelsene til Elkem Carbon. Januar 2023 – desember 2023.
På oppdrag fra Elkem Carbon AS har NILU utført målinger av SO2 i omgivelsene til Elkem Carbon i Vågsbygd (Kristiansand kommune). Målingene ble utført med SO2-monitor i boligområdet på Fiskåtangen (Konsul Wilds vei). I tillegg har Elkem Carbon AS valgt å måle med passive SO2-prøvetakere ved 3 steder rundt bedriften. Rapporten dekker målinger i perioden 1. januar – 31. desember 2023. Norske grenseverdier for luftkvalitet (SO2) ble overholdt ved Konsul Wilds vei for alle midlingsperioder (årsmiddel, vintermiddel, døgnmiddel og timemiddel). En døgnmiddelverdi var over nedre vurderingsterskel (50 µg/m3). Passive luftprøver viste at de mest belastede stedene i måleperioden var Konsul Wilds vei nordøst og Fiskåveien rett sør for bedriften.
NILU
2024
2024
Whereas inhalation exposure to organic contaminants can negatively impact human health, knowledge of their spatial variability in the ambient atmosphere remains limited. We analyzed the extracts of passive air samplers deployed at 119 unique sites in Southern Canada between 2019 and 2022 for 353 organic vapors. Hierarchical clustering of the obtained data set revealed four archetypes of spatial concentration variability in the outdoor atmosphere, which are indicative of common sources and similar atmospheric dispersion behavior. “Point Source” signatures are characterized by elevated concentration in the vicinity of major release locations. A “Population” signature applies to compounds whose air concentrations are highly correlated with population density, and is associated with emissions from consumer products. The “Water Source” signature applies to substances with elevated levels in the vicinity of water bodies from which they evaporate. Another group of compounds displays a “Uniform” signature, indicative of a lack of major sources within the study area. We illustrate how such a data set, and the derived spatial patterns, can be applied to support the identification of sources, the quantification of atmospheric emissions, the modeling of air quality, and the investigation of potential inequities in inhalation exposure.
2024
Monitoring of environmental contaminants in air and precipitation. Annual report 2023
This report presents air monitoring data from 2023 for the Norwegian monitoring programme "Atmospheric contaminants". The results covers 16 groups comprising of 260 organic compounds (regulated and non-regulated) as well as 14 heavy metals, and a selection of organic chemicals of concern.
NILU
2024
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