The Integrated Mass Enhancement (IME) method is among the most popular remote sensing method for estimating methane emissions from point sources, and it has gained significant popularity in recent years. In this study, we evaluated how key environmental and observational factors, namely wind speed, instrument noise, terrain topography, and the source of 10-meter wind speed (U) data, influence emission estimates derived from the IME method. Although landfills are typically area sources, we used a simplified point-source emission setup as a controlled case to systematically explore the sensitivity of IME to each of these factors. This approach allows us to isolate the impact of individual variables on the mass enhancement (ME), plume scale (L), and estimated emission rate (Q). Our results show that higher wind speeds reduce the detectable methane ME by as much as 85%, due to lower plume concentrations, and the instrument noise further reduces ME, especially for smaller emission rates. Noise also had a stronger effect on L than wind speed, L dropped by up to 40% under just 1% noise. In complex terrain, ME increased but plume shapes became more irregular, making detection more sensitive to noise and harder to interpret. We also compared different wind data sources and found that, in the 2-8 m/s range relevant for satellite IME, GEOS overestimated U by 10-40%, while HRRR underestimated it by 10-30%. These differences can bias IME results and highlight the need for accurate, site-specific wind data. While remote sensing methods are effective for broad methane surveys, our results show that emission estimates at the facility level, especially for landfills, can be highly sensitive to wind speed, sensor noise, and terrain. To improve accuracy, location-specific calibration is essential for regulatory or operational use. Integrated Mass Enhancement is a widely used remote sensing algorithm for quantifying methane emissions from sources such as landfills. In this study, we demonstrated that the performance of the IME method can vary substantially under different meteorological and terrain conditions. Although remote sensing methods are highly effective for broad-scale methane surveys, our results indicate that facility-level emission estimates, such as those for individual landfills, can be significantly influenced by factors such as wind speed, sensor noise, and terrain characteristics. Therefore, developing location-specific calibration equations is essential for improving accuracy and ensuring reliable regulatory or operational use.

Exposures to traffic-related emissions are known to be responsible for diseases and increased mortality. Waste collection truck (WCT) drivers spend most of their time in microenvironments contaminated by these emissions and are also exposed to some pathogenic bioaerosols. To prevent WCT driver exposure, the cabin air filter (CAF) appears as one of the most useful equipment. No standard prescribing CAF efficiency levels for general or professional use was developed. Existing test procedures overlook particles smaller than 300 nm, such as diesel soot or certain bioaerosols, and no previous study has specifically addressed WCT cabin air filters or their clogging under real waste collection conditions. The aim of this work was to evaluate, for a range of particle sizes including ultrafine particles (UFP), the collection efficiency and pressure drop of the CAF media used in WCTs, and to study their evolution after clogging under real waste collection conditions. All the tested CAF models exhibited the typical U-shape curve of fractional collection efficiency with low to medium minimum collection efficiency ranging between 1.3% and 42.5%, depending on the filtration velocity. Statistical analysis indicated that CAF media are relatively homogenous across their filtration area and that variations in efficiency and pressure drop were mainly due to differences in clogging levels or initial state conditions. Compared to data available for private vehicles, CAF clogging appears to be more severe under waste collection conditions. Given the diversity of particulate contaminants, the low to moderate performances of current CAFs, and the exposure of WCT drivers, this study highlights the need for improved and more reliable protection. It is therefore essential to develop specific regulations or standards for CAFs, including systematic measurements of fractional collection efficiency over a broad particle size range, from UFP to micron-sized particles. The issue of preventive CAF replacement should also be addressed.: Waste collection truck (WCT) drivers spend most of their time in micro-environments contaminated by traffic-related emissions and work-related bioaerosols. No previous study has assessed the performance of cabin air filters (CAF) on WCTs as a function of particle size, and their evolution in the event of clogging under real waste collection conditions. This research highlights the fact that WCT cabin air filters exhibit highly variable, and only low to medium, minimum collection efficiencies. Waste collection conditions also accelerated the filter clogging compared with literature data on nonprofessional use of CAFs. Given the size of the particles to which WCT drivers are exposed and their adverse health effects, this study demonstrates the need for more effective and reliable protection. This implies the development of specific regulations and standards for CAF performance and testing, including systematic measurements of fractional collection efficiency over a wide range of particle sizes, from ultrafine to micron-sized particles. These regulations should also explore the definition of more precise and adapted guidelines for CAF replacements to prevent the decrease in air exchange rate and the release in the cabin of deposited particles or of fraction of microbial colonies. Finally, all professional drivers, not just WCT workers, could benefit from such specific regulations.

The safe management of asbestos-containing waste (ACW) remains an environmental and public health priority. This study proposes a low-energy treatment strategy integrating ammonium salt leaching with aqueous CO carbonation to chemically stabilize fibrous asbestos structures. Although Ca was not significantly leached from ACW using ammonium sulfate, the system achieved up to 99.9% conversion efficiency of dissolved Ca to crystalline calcite (CaCO₃) during carbonation. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of calcite as the dominant product, and SEM images revealed the complete loss of fibrous morphology, replaced by rhombohedral carbonate layers. The ammonium-based process effectively modifies the surface of asbestos materials, forming a protective carbonate coating that limits fiber release. These results suggest that the addition of external Ca sources (e.g., CaO) may be required to ensure sufficient carbonation and full surface stabilization, given the low Ca leaching efficiency in ammonium salt systems. The process operates under ambient temperature and pressure, offering a safe and scalable alternative to thermal treatment methods for ACW stabilization. This study introduces a low-energy, scalable approach for the detoxification of asbestos-containing waste (ACW) through ammonium salt-assisted leaching and in situ CO carbonation. By transforming hazardous fibrous asbestos into carbonate-coated, non-fibrous particulates, the method significantly reduces airborne toxicity while concurrently utilizing CO as a reactive agent. The dual benefits of waste stabilization and carbon utilization position this process as a promising candidate for sustainable hazardous waste management and climate-responsive environmental engineering solutions.

SmokePath Explorer is a web-based decision-support tool for California, U.S.A. that quantifies smoke transport probability and population exposure risk across the state, enabling data-driven strategies to minimize impacts while advancing fire management effectiveness. SmokePath integrates the California and Nevada Smoke and Air Committee (CANSAC) high-resolution (2-km) 20-year reanalysis climatology with HYSPLIT trajectory modeling. A total of 1.3 billion transport trajectories were precomputed with initializations four times per day at four distinct height levels capturing diurnal variations and injection height influences across various prescribed fire scenarios to support probabilistic smoke projections. Within the SmokePath online dashboard, users can input fire parameters and select specific months or weeks to assess smoke transport risk. The tool generates risk-level smoke transport contours from precomputed data and summarizes key meteorological variables. The system also provides population exposure estimates, including the total affected population, the number of smoke-sensitive facilities (i.e. educational and healthcare), and impacted USPS ZIP codes. User feedback has been key to developing SmokePath, enhancing usability, data integration, and decision-making for prescribed fire planning. To assess SmokePath's efficacy, we conducted case studies across diverse regions and validated results against independent observation datasets. These use cases assessed the accuracy of the WRF-CANSAC reanalysis dataset, which serves as the meteorological input for fire weather climatology and trajectory modeling. The fire case studies focused on identifying optimal burn windows and quantifying smoke transport patterns from (i) large multi-day prescribed fires, (ii) short duration (single-day) pile burns, and (iii) burns across diverse regions with complex topographic features. In most cases, modeled transport probability aligned with satellite-observed smoke plumes, capturing predominant dispersion patterns. Stakeholder feedback further supported the tool's practical utility - 85% indicated they would use SmokePath for prescribed fire planning, and 62% found it useful during wildfires.: With catastrophic wildfires on the rise, California is expanding fuel treatments, including prescribed fire. While essential for mitigation, prescribed burns release smoke that can harm public health if unmanaged. SmokePath addresses this challenge by providing evidence-based insights on plume behavior to guide short- and long-term planning. The tool helps land managers schedule burns to minimize community impact, especially for vulnerable populations, and supports wildfire response with rapid smoke risk information. By improving public communication and enabling protective actions, SmokePath advances both health protection and the strategic use of prescribed fire.

Conventional oil and gas wells produce wastewater, or brine, that has a beneficial use as a road deicer. However, the brine also contains naturally occurring radium (Ra-226 and Ra-228). This work modeled radiation doses to an adult and a 15-year-old receptor (the highest dose age group) from two scenarios. Scenario 1 considers exposures during recreational activities from deicer runoff to roadside soils following repeated deicer applications. Scenario 2 assumes that a residence with farming is built on soil having the same radiation content as the roadside soils in Scenario 1. Maximum detected Ra-226 and Ra-228 levels in brine samples taken from six conventional gas wells located in northern Ohio were used, along with conservative assumptions, to model annual whole-body doses. Accounting for Ra-226 and Ra-228 decay and assuming limited radium buildup in roadside soil, as supported by experimental and empirical evidence, modeled doses for an adult and 15-year-old were predicted to reach an asymptote at approximately year 50 of 0.0077 and 0.012 millisieverts per year (mSv/yr), respectively, in Scenario 1, and 0.025 and 0.040 mSv/yr in Scenario 2. Assuming no limit on buildup and the northern Ohio average of 30 brine applications per season, accumulated doses were predicted as 0.0010 mSv/yr for an adult and 0.0087 mSv/yr for a 15-year-old, respectively, in Scenario 1 at year 50 and 0.19 and 0.30 mSv/yr in Scenario 2. These dose estimates are within the U.S. EPA and NRC standards of 0.25 to 1 mSv/yr for protecting the general public and well below the natural background dose. This analysis predicts that use of conventional gas-well brine as a road deicer is unlikely to pose an unacceptable radiation risk to the public. The analysis is sensitive to the level of radiation buildup in soils; more field studies on radium transport processes are warranted.: The manuscript entitled "Public Radiation Dose from Conventional Gas-Well Produced Water Used as a Pavement Deicer" presents modeled radiation doses to the public from two conservative scenarios in which conventional gas-well wastewater brine is used as a pavement deicer. Given the heightened public interest in potential human health risks from oil and gas drilling operations, this analysis offers timely insight into a relevant topic. In particular, it demonstrates that such brine can be beneficially used as a deicer without unacceptable risk from radiation even under highly conservative scenarios.

Used electromechanical products containing hazardous components pose a significant threat to both the environment and human health. Therefore, society must emphasize and explore strategies for constructing a recycling network to enhance the recycling efficiency of used electromechanical products. In this paper, we propose a multi-institutional recycling network that includes recycling centers, reprocessing centers, and disposal centers, with recyclers responsible for the recycling operations. To enhance the effectiveness of this recycling network, we establish three optimization objectives: economic, environmental, and social. We develop a multi-objective mathematical optimization model specifically designed for the recycling network of used electromechanical products. This model aims to assist government entities and recyclers in addressing environmental challenges while simultaneously balancing economic and social impacts. By applying the multi-objective Gray Wolf optimization algorithm, we analyzed the results pertaining to the utilized electromechanical products. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on key parameters, which illuminated the relationships among economic costs, carbon emissions, and employment opportunities, thereby confirming the model's validity and practicality.: This study on recycling networks for used electromechanical products holds significant implications. It promotes a circular economy by reducing primary resource use and environmental pollution. The network fosters a new industrial chain for recycling, dismantling, and remanufacturing, which can stimulate large-scale industry growth and create employment. Furthermore, the research aligns with national strategies like China's "14th Five-Year" Plan, providing insights to help refine recycling policies and accelerate the development of a comprehensive waste materials recycling system.

Evaporative ("swamp") coolers (ECs) are used for cooling of homes in hot and arid climates. Because ECs draw in large volumes of outdoor air, they can introduce substantial amounts of ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants indoors, which is especially exacerbated during wildfire smoke events. We measured airborne metals and PM inside and outside farmworkers' homes with ECs in the California San Joaquin Valley, U.S.A. Sampling was conducted as part of a larger study (FRESSCA, Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air) to develop and evaluate an affordable EC filtration solution. All homes received portable air cleaners (PACs), and approximately half the homes received filters on their EC air intakes. Indoor and outdoor airborne metals were actively measured using 24-hr air sampling. Airborne metals were dominated by Fe, with some detections of Cu, Mn, Zn, and Se. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for Fe were mostly <1 and were lower for homes with EC filters. Metals analyses of the EC filters themselves revealed additional metals, likely due to the longer sampling time. These metals were partially removed from the air entering participants' homes by EC filters. Passive PM samplers were deployed for 70 days and analyzed using electron microscopy. PM samples revealed crustal, carbonaceous, and agriculture-related particle types, including Cu-rich fungicides. PM levels were lower indoors compared to outdoors in all homes (30%-70%). Some evidence of greater PM reductions in homes with EC filters was observed, with 25% reductions in coarse PM in homes with EC filters that used their ECs more frequently ( < 0.05). Few smoke events during the study limited our ability to detect differences in PM from wildfires. However, the measured reductions in coarse PM are important for communities heavily impacted by dust, both for home cleanliness and for protection from upper-airway health impacts.: Do-it-yourself evaporative cooler filters are a promising and affordable method of reducing dust infiltration in homes burdened by heat stress and poor outdoor air quality. Further evaluation during wildfire smoke events and optimization of evaporative cooler filter interventions could eventually reduce respiratory-related health impacts in communities affected by a changing climate.

There are growing concerns about the negative impact of soil and forest pollution from improper waste disposal and leachate production on soil and ecosystem quality. Favorable climate and rich soils have made Guilan Province one of Iran's major agricultural centers. Phthalates (PAEs), also known as phthalic acid esters (PAEs), are common plasticizers that may pose a ubiquitous risk to the environment because they are difficult to degrade. This study investigated the environmental impact of PAEs at 26 sites in 5 cities in western and central Guilan Province. For this purpose, a total of 4 to 7 mixed soil samples were collected from both agricultural and non-agricultural lands, at a distance of 100 to 700 meters from each landfill in all directions. The physicochemical parameters of the soil samples, including moisture content (MC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic matter (TOM), and PAEs, were then measured. The PAE concentration was measured using the standard extraction method (EPA Method 8061 A) in a gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC - MS) instrument. The results of the study showed that the concentration of PAEs in agricultural and non-agricultural soils was significantly different ( < 0.05). The highest concentration was related to BEHP with 59.6% (14.37 ppb in agricultural soils and 50.61 ppb in non-agricultural soils). Other PAEs identified included DOP at 26.99% (10.54 ppb in agricultural soils and 20.89 ppb in non-agricultural soils), DMP at 11.48% (7.61 ppb in agricultural soils and 7.33 ppb in non-agricultural soils), IBP at 1.69% (0.67 ppb in agricultural soils and 1.31 ppb in non-agricultural soils), DEP at 0.09% (0.03 ppb in agricultural soils and 0.07 ppb in non-agricultural soils), BBP at 0.14% (0.04 ppb in agricultural soils and 0.11 ppb in non-agricultural soils), and DBP at 0.1% (ND in agricultural soils and 0.01 ppb in non-agricultural soils). The mean PAEs concentration in non-agricultural areas was significantly higher than in agricultural areas ( < 0.05). The results also indicated that the highest PAE concentration was in Talesh (13.57 ppb, 29.52%), followed by Anzali (10.71 ppb, 23.31%), Astara (8.91 ppb, 19.38%), Saravan (8.78 ppb, 19.10%), and Astana (4 ppb, 8.70%), respectively. The risk assessment results in our study indicate that the levels of PAEs, especially BEHP and DNOP, are significantly higher than the standards set by the MRL, TDI and RfD. Specifically, BEHP values in agricultural and non-agricultural settings were reported to be 14.17 and 50.41 times higher than the RfD and MRL, respectively. DNOP values in agricultural and non-agricultural settings were also 3.54 and 20.49 times higher than the MRL and TDI, respectively. While DBP values in non-agricultural settings were 0.01 ppb lower than the MRL (0.5), they still pose a serious acute and chronic risk. The results of this study emphasize the need for proper waste management and continuous monitoring of soil quality to prevent the negative effects of these pollutants on the environment.: This study addresses growing concerns about soil and forest pollution caused by improper waste disposal and leachate in Guilan Province, a key agricultural region in Iran. By analyzing the concentration of phthalates (PAEs) - persistent plasticizers harmful to the environment - in soils from 26 sites across five cities, we provide critical data on contamination levels in both agricultural and non-agricultural lands. Our findings highlight significant differences in PAE distribution, with notably higher concentrations in non-agricultural soils, and identify key PAE compounds affecting soil quality. These results are essential for environmental managers and policymakers to develop targeted strategies for soil protection and pollution mitigation in Guilan and similar agricultural regions.

Legislative requirements for emission limits from industrial processes are becoming increasingly stringent and therefore a lower uncertainty of measurement of emissions released to the atmosphere is needed and possible sources of measurement errors need to be reconsidered. In this paper, we investigate a measurement error of industrial emissions of particulate matter from stacks caused by the selection of sampling positions in stacks with uneven particle distribution and we determine its dependence on different flow fields inside the stacks and on the size of the particles. CFD modeling is used to analyze particle distributions in stacks with a diameter of 0.75m and with three different shapes of a supply pipe (straight, one or two bends) generating different flow fields, considering sizes of the particles from 10μm to 50μm (Stokes numbers from 0.007 to 0.18). Concentration fields in several cross-sections are compared and significant changes of the particle distribution are observed when the shape of the supply pipe or the emission particle diameter are changed. The error of the emission mass flow rate as it would be determined according to the EN 15259 standard can reach about 30% for particle diameters of 20μm. Larger particles and the presence of bends lead to stronger particle clustering and near-wall accumulation which tend to increase the error. This should be taken into account in the iso-kinetic sampling practice.: This study highlights the significant impact of particulate matter distribution on the accuracy of emission measurements in industrial stacks. The findings demonstrate that uneven particle distribution, particularly in setups with bends causing stronger particle clustering and near-wall accumulation, can introduce measurement errors of up to 50% depending on flow conditions. These results suggest that current standard sampling methods (e.g., EN 15259) may not always provide accurate emission mass flow rate estimations, especially for larger particles. The study underscores the need for improved sampling strategies or mixing devices to ensure reliable regulatory compliance in emission monitoring.

Flaring serves as an important safety and emissions compliance tool in industries such as oil and gas production, refineries, and landfills. Nonassisted, low-flow (≤100 thousand cubic feet per day (MSCFD)), utility (pipe) flares are widely used in practice, yet there are limited studies of real-world conditions. Additionally, while shrouds (windshields) are commonly used to mitigate wind effects, their impact on flare performance is previously undocumented. This study introduces a novel outdoor testing facility designed to evaluate low-flow flares and quantitatively assess their performance with and without shrouds. Experiments were conducted at flare-gas flow rates of 5 to 75 MSCFD using natural gas and an 80% natural gas/20% propane blend (by volume) under crosswind speeds from 0 to over 35 miles per hour (MPH). Combustion efficiency (CE) and methane destruction removal efficiency (DRE) were determined for all operating conditions. While CE for a baseline utility flare (3-inch diameter pipe equipped with a pilot ignition system) was over 96.5% for crosswinds below 10 MPH, the CE decreased rapidly for crosswinds above 10 MPH, with CE <70% for crosswinds above 30 MPH. The utility flare results were compared with results of prior wind-tunnel studies and prior proposed scaling relationships and incorporated into machine learning (ML) models. The scaling relationships show poor correlation with the body of data, but the ML models yielded good agreement (R = 0.84) when crosswind turbulence intensity was incorporated as an input parameter. The current work investigated retrofitting a utility flare with different shroud designs, which increased CE ≥96.5% for all conditions, demonstrating the effectiveness of shrouds as practical and cost-effective strategies to improve utility flare performance. The results showed low sensitivity to different shroud designs.: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), industry and other monitoring organizations commonly assume flares operate at 98% destruction efficiency; however, recent aerial surveys have revealed efficiencies as low as 91.1%, resulting in up to five times more methane emissions than expected. Low-flow (≤100 MSCFD) utility flares, widely deployed at oil and gas production sites, have limited performance data under real world conditions. This study addresses that gap by providing new experimental data on low-flow utility flares, identifying a new parameter important for predicting flare efficiency and demonstrating a practical solution for significantly reducing emissions.

The Midwestern city of Kansas City, Missouri, has a long history of redlining practices that have deeply segregated the city. This segregation persists to the present, making Kansas City an important place to study pollution disparities. However, the monitoring landscape in Kansas City is sparse, leading to unique challenges in identifying pollution disparities. Here, we examine disparities in fine particulate matter (PM) in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area (KCMA) across demographics and present methodology that can be applied to other cities with sparse monitoring infrastructure. We examine quantitative decadal trends in disparities from 2010 to 2019 using Census tract demographic information and PM modeled at the intra-urban scale. We find statistically significant ( < 0.05) differences in PM distributions between predominantly White communities and communities of color that persist throughout the past decade in all seasons. On an annual basis, majority Black and African-American (BAA) Census tracts have experienced on average 2.7% (0.2 µg m) higher PM burden than majority White American (WA) Census tracts. Higher disparities occur between the most and least WA Census tracts (3.4%; 0.3 µg m). The largest disparities in PM occur during winter (6.8%; 0.7 µg m). Despite large overall decreases in PM mass concentrations of 27%, the disparity between communities remains remarkably persistent over time, indicating that the pollution gap between communities has not been narrowed by emissions regulations. Source attribution simulations performed via the Intervention Model for Air Pollution (InMAP) suggest that non-point sources such as residential heating contribute primarily to observed PM disparities. This suggests that the air pollution disparity in Kansas City can be at least partially addressed through mitigation efforts targeting non-point sources of pollution.: It is widely acknowledged in the field of environmental justice that communities of color are disproportionately exposed to higher levels of pollution than predominantly White communities in the United States. In Kansas City, which has not been evaluated for air quality-related environmental justice concerns before, we note a PM disparity along demographic lines and find that non-point emissions contribute the most to this observed disparity. Our results suggest that efforts targeting pollution from non-point sources (e.g., anthropogenic dust, residential heating, commercial combustion, and waste disposal) could be critical to reducing pollution disparities in the region alongside reductions in total air pollution.

Chicken feather waste is a potential low-cost nitrogen source for fertilizer production. However, due to its recalcitrant biodegradability, low C/N ratio, and high water content, composting chicken feather waste requires amendments. Optimizing the initial substrate composition plays a key role in improving composting performance. This study investigated the effects of varying chicken feather waste proportions, which altered the initial C/N ratio of the composting substrate, on the physicochemical evolution and final product quality of compost mixtures containing rice husk as a bulking agent and readily degradable vegetable residues. The substrates were composted in static compost bins of 20 L for 126 days under ambient conditions (~28°C). Significant differences were observed in physicochemical evolution and compost quality. A higher proportion of chicken feather waste or a lower initial C/N ratio led to increased total nitrogen (TN), extractable NH, and SO concentrations during composting and in the final products. The addition of rice husk and vegetable residue improved the germination index of compost products from chicken feather waste. It was found that more nutrient-rich compost could be produced by co-composting chicken feather waste with a low C/N ratio. Chicken feather waste is a potential low-cost nitrogen source for fertilizer production. However, composting of chicken feather waste is challenging due to its recalcitrant biodegradability, low C/N ratio, and high water content. This study highlights the interrelation of co-substrates in the decomposition of chicken feather waste to produce qualified compost. Nutrient-rich compost was obtained when chicken feather waste was co-composted with low C/N ratio substrates. Higher proportion of chicken feather waste or lower initial C/N ratios of composting substrate increased total nitrogen, extractable NH₄, and SO₄ concentrations in compost product. Co-composting of chicken feather waste with rice husk and vegetable residue enhanced compost maturity and germination index. The findings contribute scientific basis for promoting the utilization of chicken feather to produce nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

This study explores the complex relationship between environmental degradation and rural poverty through the perspective of environmental justice in the Indian Sundarbans. This region is recognized for its ecological richness but faces significant socio-economic vulnerabilities. Despite the area's abundant natural resources and biodiversity, rural poverty persists, shaping resource use patterns and environmental outcomes. The main objective is to examine how rural poverty affects the environment and to identify key socio-economic factors influencing ecosystem services in the region. A stratified sampling technique was used to select households and data were collected through structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Household-level CO₂ emissions were estimated from domestic fuel and energy consumption. Results show nearly half of the household emissions come from burning firewood for cooking and heating. These practices not only release stored carbon but also reduce the region's carbon removal capacity, directly contributing to environmental degradation. The people of the Sundarbans pollute far less than the national average, but they face the harshest impacts of climate change: rising sea levels, salinity intrusion and ecosystem decline that highlighting a profound environmental injustice. Among rural households, the extremely poor emit more CO₂ than the less poor because they depend on cutting trees to survive, further weakening the region's natural carbon sink. A log-linear regression model identifies education, dependency ratio, livelihood diversification and access to transport as major factors influencing natural resource-based income. The findings suggest that poverty, isolation and low education reinforce ecological stress, forming a poverty - environment trap. This study argues that protecting the Sundarbans' environmental integrity and enhancing its carbon sequestration potential are inseparable from improving human well-being. Achieving India's net-zero target by 2070 requires policies that expand clean energy access, build human capabilities and ensure justice for communities who contribute least to emissions but suffer the most from climate disruption.

During the winter of 2020-2021, PM-PAH samples were collected and analyzed at the Jiangxi Architectural Ceramics Industry Park to evaluate the implementation of comprehensive air pollution control measures and determine their effect on the health risk of the local exposed population. The study results showed that the pollution level of PM-PAHs was 5.54 ± 2.45 ng m, which was primarily composed of benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[e]pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, and pyrene. Using diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis, qualitative or semi-quantitative analysis found that the PM-PAHs were mainly derived from gasoline and diesel vehicle exhaust emissions, road dust, and vehicle non-exhaust emissions. Moreover, employing Pearson correlation analysis, it was found that the PM-PAHs were greatly affected by a combination of wind direction, wind speed, and gaseous pollutants. The inhalation exposure health risks of PM-PAHs were evaluated using the BaP equivalent concentration, excess cancer risk, incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk, and loss of life expectancy. It was found that the health risks of PM-PAHs were mainly influenced by high molecular weight PAHs. For various genders and heterogeneous groups, this study showed that the carcinogenic risk of PM-PAHs for men was higher than for women, and it was higher for adults than for adolescents and children, but the risks to all groups were at acceptable levels. The above results show that PM-PAHs emissions in the ceramic industry were very low and would not affect human health. These were probably due to the fact that the industrial park had completed its ultra-low emission transformation at the time of sampling, and the fuel used in the industrial furnace had been changed from coal to water gas supplemented with natural gas.: Industrial emissions are one of the main sources of toxic and hazardous substances, PM-PAHs. However, insufficient research on health risks of PM-PAHs associated of ceramic industries, especially after the implementation of tighter government controls and the upgrading of and transformation to cleaner production processes. Hence, PM-PAHs samples were collected at the Jiangxi Ceramic Industrial Park. We analyzed the causes of PM-PAHs to evaluate the implementation of comprehensive air pollution control measures, and determine their effect on the health risk of the local exposed population by using the , excess cancer risk, incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk, and loss of life expectancy.

The horizontal plane method is a novel method of measuring fugitive emission rates that is based on the mass balance approach. Conventional mass balance approach methods measure concentrations or integrated concentrations of airborne matter across a substantially vertical measurement surface that is substantially perpendicular to the wind flow direction. In contrast, for the horizontal plane method, concentrations or integrated concentrations of airborne matter are measured across a substantially horizontal sampling surface that is substantially parallel to the wind flow direction. This characteristic allows users of the horizontal plane method to sample an entire cross-section of a plume that exceeds the operating ceiling of drones or if there is an operating floor for aircraft. A horizontal plane map may be used to estimate the plan location of individual emission sources. Since sampling is horizontal, there is also the potential to efficiently measure the fugitive emission rate of large areas or the fugitive emission rates of multiple sources over large areas. Optimal conditions to carry out the method include conducting the field work during daytime sunny weather and obtaining the concentration or integrated concentration measurements between an altitude of approximately 110 m and 120 m.A horizontal plane system, which incorporated the horizontal plane method to measure the upper portion of the plume and a conventional mass balance method to measure the lower portion of the plume, was applied at the Vancouver Landfill and a methane emission rate of the landfill of 181 g/s was measured. By comparison, a methane emission rate of 177 g/s was measured using the airborne matter mapping method that had been applied earlier the same afternoon, for a difference of approximately +2.5%. The horizontal plane map that was generated enabled the identification of the estimated location of four areas of the landfill with relatively high emission rates.: Small drones are a low-cost and effective platform for measurement of fugitive emission rates. However, drones are subject to safety regulations that impose an operating ceiling, and this constrains their ability to measure emission rates, especially of large plumes, using available quantification methods. The novel horizontal plane method of fugitive emission rate measurement expands the capabilities of drones by allowing drones to operate within regulatory constraints even if the altitude of a plume exceeds the operating ceiling of drones. The method also provides a map that can be used to estimate the location of individual emission sources.

Construction and demolition waste negatively impacts the sustainable development of the construction industry. Furthermore, construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) still faces barriers in Vietnam, including lack of awareness and collaboration among stakeholders. This study aims to explore stakeholder views on sustainable CDWM in Vietnam based on a perspective of total quality management. A survey questionnaire focusing on stakeholders in the Vietnamese construction industry was developed. The stakeholders included: (1) direct stakeholders (owners, contractors, subcontractors, designers, consultants, suppliers, and waste management firms), (2) authorities, (3) institutes, educators, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), (4) end-users, and (5) society. The data from 126 valid responses were analyzed through multiple techniques including analysis of variance (ANOVA), Spearman's rank, Cronbach's alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results revealed that stakeholders underestimated CDWM activities. The group of institutes, educators, and NGOs exhibited a more positive attitude, while the society group expressed a more negative attitude on CDWM issues. However, all stakeholders agreed that sustainable CDWM activities are essential for the Vietnamese construction industry. This study proposes and validates a sustainable CDWM framework, adapted from total quality management perspective to enhance stakeholder awareness and collaboration. This framework contributes to promoting comprehensive CDWM systems, offering a new approach to achieve sustainable development within the built environment.: Theoretically, this study highlights the current context of construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) in Vietnam and the potential of integrating total quality management principles into CDWM to drive sustainability in the construction industry. Practically, the proposed framework provides a structured approach for authorities to enhance performance, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and promote sustainable CDWM practices. This study is expected to attract the attention of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in advancing waste management systems and sustainable construction management.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a crucial determinant of health, which is of particular concern for low-income Black children, who are disproportionately exposed to asthma triggers in their indoor housing environment and have higher rates of asthma and poorer outcomes from the disease, indicating an environmental justice issue. However, guidelines for IAQ data collection vary between organizations, making assessments and comparisons difficult. This study consolidates recommended practices into one cohesive set of guidelines for monitoring IAQ. It outlines a structured approach for defining IAQ sampling objectives, identifying the most appropriate low-cost air sensors, determining optimal sensor placement in homes, developing data collection and analysis, and presenting and interpreting results. With indoor PM as a case study, the guidelines were used to determine sampling duration, analysis, and quality assurance in five households with pediatric asthma patients. The metrics illustrate PM concentration by the 90th percentile (with average concentration level from 4 to 109 μg/m), daily average minutes of PM concentration exceeding recommended exposure limits of 0-134 min, daily average PM concentration of 1.8-82 μg/m, and significant temporal variation across households. This study highlights the significance of employing low-cost air sensors to provide real-time notifications of IAQ, along with simplified monitoring guidelines for researchers, healthcare providers, and parents working to improve IAQ for households with asthmatic children, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. The low-cost sensors and resulting metrics can direct interventions effectively and provide a basis for determining the efficacy of environment-based air quality interventions.: People spend much of their time indoors, especially at home, making indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring crucial for guiding actions that reduce asthma exacerbations, particularly among low-income households. Although low-cost air sensors are being widely used for real-time IAQ monitoring, most existing guidelines focus on occupational settings rather than residential environments, making implementation difficult. This study develops comprehensive and unified guidelines for deploying low-cost sensors for real-time IAQ monitoring in residential settings. A case study utilizing the developed guideline in this study was applied to demonstrate and evaluate PM concentration levels in some low-income residential homes in Southeastern Louisiana.

Emission factor data for existing heating appliances are being used to estimate achievable emission reductions with emerging heating technologies. However, the emission factors currently being used for modeling were developed prior to low-sulfur fuel standards and rely on a small number of studies, mostly focusing on steady-state operation. In this work, detailed emission measurements of typical heating equipment fired with natural gas and No. 2 oil under relevant field-use conditions were made to update these emission factors. The work included the emissions and heating performance of three residential hydronic heating appliances (27-41 kW), two fueled with natural gas, one fueled with No.2 oil, and two commercial steam heating appliances (220-440 kW), one fueled with natural gas and the other with No.2 oil. The burner technologies employed include natural gas conversion burners, a natural gas Inshot burner, and single and dual-firing-rate pressure atomizing oil burners. The appliances were evaluated using a load-profile test method that captured transient conditions in cyclic operation, typical of field use. The emission factors of 17 pollutant compounds were measured in this work and compared with values currently published in United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) databases. These pollutants include particulate matter mass, methane, and speciated volatile organic compounds. Particulate mass was found to be 1.7 to 4.6 times less than the EPA 2020 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) value for No. 2 oil-fueled appliances and ranged 3.5 times more to 1.4 times less for natural gas appliances. Methane was 3.5 times higher for the residential natural gas appliances tested due to transient methane emissions during ignition and shutdown. Speciated volatile organic compounds were found to be lower than the closest related emission inventory values.: The largest US building energy use is for space and water heating. In 2019, NYS established the NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which mandates the state achieve a 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, based on 1990 emission levels. This mandate will result in significant changes to the fuels and technologies used for heating. Emission factor data for existing heating appliances are being used to estimate achievable emission reductions with these changes. In this work, a new set of detailed emission factors has been developed through laboratory measurements which will greatly improve the knowledge about these existing sources nationwide.

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), black carbon (BC), ozone (O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and methane (CH). 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, 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. 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.