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Studies find global COVID-19 lockdowns have significantly reduced PM2.5 and NO2 pollution, but ozone up

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Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. For comparison, columns over the same time periods are shown for 2019. Bauwens et al.

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Severe drought influences ozone pollution

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Drought conditions can have complicated effects on ozone air quality, so to better understand the process, researchers have analyzed data from two ozone-polluted cities before, during and after the California drought. However, plants also decrease air ozone levels by taking the gas up through pores in their leaves.

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Japan, China researchers develop plasma-assisted MnO2 filter that produces zero-NO2, -SO2 diesel exhaust

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This research, published in the journal Separation and Purification Technology , shows that ozone can be used to remove not only SO x but also NO x from fossil fuel combustion exhaust streams. In this study, to improve absorption performance of SO 2 and NO 2 , we added ozone in exhaust gas. Osaka et al. 2018.12.077.

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Study suggests future climate changes to worsen air quality for >85% of China’s population; ~20k+ additional deaths each year

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W/m 2 before 2100 without overshoot by employment of a range of technologies and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.). 55% of land area) by the middle of the century, and would increase by 3% and 4% the population-weighted average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and ozone, respectively. (The RCP 4.5

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Monitoring shows plumes of carcinogenic formaldehyde in neighborhoods along Houston’s Ship Channel

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Air pollution monitoring by the Houston Health Department in 2019 and 2020 recorded levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, along the Houston Ship Channel that pose potential health risks to surrounding neighborhoods. parts per billion. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can cause certain types of cancers.

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Northwestern/Princeton study explores air quality impacts of aggressive conversion to EVs

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coal, oil, natural gas, and biomass). Among the findings: Summer surface ozone (O 3 ) decreases in most locations due to widespread reductions of traffic NO x emissions. Across scenarios, we found the more cars that transitioned to electric power, the better for summertime ozone levels. Seasons and times of day. Schnell et al.

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EEA report finds most Europeans in cities still exposed to levels of air pollution exceeding WHO guidelines

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The European Environment Agency’s (EEA’s) “ Air quality in Europe — 2019 report ” shows that almost all Europeans living in cities are still exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the health-based air quality guidelines (AQGs) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). About 8% of the urban population in the EU-28 was exposed to PM 2.5

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