Suchergebnisse

Due to the threat of a possible global climate change and the greenhouse effect caused by constituents of anthropogenic origin in the atmosphere, air quality has become a major environmental issue. As a consequence, emissions into the atmosphere need to be monitored and controlled. Measurement of Atmospheric Emissions presents technologies for emission control and analysis from industrial and energy plants. The author explains the physical and chemical basis before proceeding to the practical performance. This publication provides the reader with the knowledge necessary to critically analyze and investigate emission measurement techniques. It will be of great interest to researchers and engineers in the fields of environmental technology and air pollution control. It will assist in the choice of the most appropriate instruments for various purposes and circumstances

The problem of atmospheric pollution is one of the major concerns about damaging effects of human activities on the environment. Some of the gases released into the atmosphere known as greenhouse gases (GHG) have a global effect, contributing to climate change. An increasing number of scientific studies seek to quantify and predict the possible effects of global warming, and they often conclude that these could be extremely serious. The risks associated to climate change clearly need an international effort to be faced. The aim of this thesis is to provide some empirical evidence to enrich the debate on the evolution of emissions and on the policy instruments that could reduce atmospheric pollution. A first essay analyses the evolution of GHG emissions and acidification emissions for Italy, in the years 1995-2005. The aim is to highlight how different economic factors have driven the evolution of Italian emissions. The main factors considered are economic growth, the development of a technology allowing a more environment-friendly way of production, and the structure of consumption. The knowledge of the role of different determinants is helpful to figure out effective political instruments that would permit to reduce environmental pressures. Essay two and three analyze a specific EU policy, the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD), an environmental taxation approved in 2003 that affects the price of energy products. In 2011, the European Commission proposed a new version of the ETD to increase the effectiveness of the instrument through higher rates and less exemptions. However, in May 2012 the European Parliament did not approve the Commission proposal. These studies simulate the effect that the reform would have had on the level of prices, if implemented. The aim is to shed light on the possible reasons that caused the attempt of improving this instrument to failure. The last essay refers to the current debate regarding carbon-motivated border tax adjustment (CBTA). CBTA are tariffs applied to imports designed to ...

El problema de la contaminación atmosférica es una de las preocupaciones principales sobre el daño de los efectos de actividades humanas sobre el entorno. Algunos gases liberados en la atmósfera sabida como gases invernaderos (GHG) tienen un efecto global, contribuyendo al cambio climático. Un número creciente de estudios científicos procura cuantificar y predecir los efectos posibles de calentamiento global, y ellos a menudo concluyen que estos podrían ser sumamente serios. Los riesgos asociados al cambio climático claramente necesitan un esfuerzo internacional para ser afrontado. El objetivo de esta tesis es proporcionar algunas pruebas empíricas para enriquecer el debate sobre la evolución de emisiones y sobre los instrumentos de política que podrían reducir la contaminación atmosférica. Un primer ensayo analiza la evolución de emisiones GHG y emisiones de acidificación para Italia, en los años 1995-2005. El objetivo es destacar como factores diferentes económicos han conducido la evolución de emisiones italianas. Los factores principales considerados son el crecimiento económico, el desarrollo de una tecnología que permite a un camino más ecológico de producción, y la estructura de consumo. El conocimiento del papel de determinantes diferentes es provechoso de entender los instrumentos eficaces políticos que permitirían para reducir presiones ambientales. El ensayo dos y tres analiza una política de la Unión Europea específica, la Directiva de Impuestos de Energía (ETD), los impuestos ambientales se aprobaron en 2003 que afecta el precio de productos de energía. En 2011, la Comisión Europea propuso una nueva versión del ETD para aumentar la eficacia del instrumento por tarifas más altas y menos exenciones. Sin embargo, en mayo de 2012 el Parlamento europeo no aprobó la oferta de Comisión. Estos estudios simulan el efecto que la reforma habría tenido sobre el nivel de precios, de ser puestos en práctica. El objetivo es deshacerse la luz sobre los motivos posibles que causaron la tentativa de mejorar este instrumento al fracaso. El último ensayo se refiere al debate corriente en cuanto al ajuste de impuesto de frontera de carbón motivado (CBTA). CBTA son tarifas aplicadas a importaciones diseñadas para evitar las desventajas de política de reducción de emisión cuando sólo una o pocas regiones (las regiones de disminución) los ponen en práctica. Por CBTA las regiones de disminución se nivelan el tratamiento diferente aplicado a productos domésticos e importados. Por una multiregión y el análisis de multisector calculamos y comparamos dos sistemas posibles CBTA que Unión Europea podría poner en práctica para complementar un impuesto hipotético de carbón aplicado a productos domésticos. Los resultados en el país y el nivel de producto contribuyen mejor entienden los efectos de este instrumento y añadir la información al debate político sobre ello. ; The problem of atmospheric pollution is one of the major concerns about damaging effects of human activities on the environment. Some of the gases released into the atmosphere known as greenhouse gases (GHG) have a global effect, contributing to climate change. An increasing number of scientific studies seek to quantify and predict the possible effects of global warming, and they often conclude that these could be extremely serious. The risks associated to climate change clearly need an international effort to be faced. The aim of this thesis is to provide some empirical evidence to enrich the debate on the evolution of emissions and on the policy instruments that could reduce atmospheric pollution. A first essay analyses the evolution of GHG emissions and acidification emissions for Italy, in the years 1995-2005. The aim is to highlight how different economic factors have driven the evolution of Italian emissions. The main factors considered are economic growth, the development of a technology allowing a more environment-friendly way of production, and the structure of consumption. The knowledge of the role of different determinants is helpful to figure out effective political instruments that would permit to reduce environmental pressures. Essay two and three analyze a specific EU policy, the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD), an environmental taxation approved in 2003 that affects the price of energy products. In 2011, the European Commission proposed a new version of the ETD to increase the effectiveness of the instrument through higher rates and less exemptions. However, in May 2012 the European Parliament did not approve the Commission proposal. These studies simulate the effect that the reform would have had on the level of prices, if implemented. The aim is to shed light on the possible reasons that caused the attempt of improving this instrument to failure. The last essay refers to the current debate regarding carbon-motivated border tax adjustment (CBTA). CBTA are tariffs applied to imports designed to avoid drawbacks of emission reduction policies when only one or few regions (the abating regions) implement them. Through CBTA the abating regions level out different treatment applied to domestic and imported products. Through a multi-region and multi-sector analysis we compute and compare two possible CBTA systems that the EU could implement to complement a hypothetical carbon tax applied to domestic products. Results at country and product level contribute to better understand the effects of this instrument and to add information to the political debate on it.

The gas emissions to the atmosphere are one the main and more actual environmental problems in the world. The effects of greenhouse gas emissions have been studied and treated recently in the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto. In the approved Kyoto Protocol, the European Union would reduce emissions by 8%, the United States by 7%, and Japan by 6%. The data for each country are used to implement policies and to make global decisions regarding the level of emissions allowed in the future. For this reason, a study more in depth about the origin and level of emissions from a regional perspective become necessary, due to the implications on the regional development. In this paper we will provide detailed information regarding atmospheric emissions in Spanish regions. Moreover, we will show that in many cases the atmospheric emissions are not directly related to the economic situation of each region. For this reason, environmental policies should pay attention to the regional differences within a country.

Abstract. Supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms are used to perform statistical and logical analysis of several transport and dispersion model runs which simulate emissions from a fixed source under different atmospheric conditions. First, a clustering algorithm is used to automatically group the results of different transport and dispersion simulations according to specific cloud characteristics. Then, a symbolic classification algorithm is employed to find complex non-linear relationships between the meteorological input conditions and each cluster of clouds. The patterns discovered are provided in the form of probabilistic measures of contamination, thus suitable for result interpretation and dissemination. The learned patterns can be used for quick assessment of the areas at risk and of the fate of potentially hazardous contaminants released in the atmosphere.

International audience ; Actions of French governments on waste, resource and energy management force to focus on waste treatment and recovery process. Among these processes, anaerobic digestor offers significant advantages compared to other forms of waste treatment. It permits an organic waste treatment and a double valorization. The organic waste treatment enables the production of a digestate and a combustible gas fraction called biogas. The digestate, is an improved fertilizer, and can be enhanced by spreading or composting. Biogas can be valorized to produce heat or electricity. From this activity sector, energy production is expected to increase from 1,478 GWh in 2005 to 13,701 GWh in 2020 (Club Biogas ATEE, 2011). Anaerobic digestion is widely studied to understand its mechanisms at microbial level and to improve biogas production and process stability. However, health risk for workers in these facilities and for surrounding residents is very poorly documented. Gaseous and particulate emissions are also incompletely defined. Information on odor concentrations and biogas chemical /biological composition has been investigated. Nevertheless, no data on emissions from inputs storage locations or digestate was currently available. The EMAMET project aims to improve our understanding concerning the biogas production sector. Sources of gaseous and bioaerosol emissions will be researched and characterized on the whole production chain. The chemical composition of gaseous emissions will be completed by odor concentration determination. Biological emissions will be determined by molecular methods. From this information, specific biological and/or chemical indicators of this activity will be defined. In addition, 2D and 3D emission modeling will used to determine the influence zone of the biogas production implantation. To confirm this influence area a research of biological and microbial indicators around a pilot site will be realized. These data can help to assess health and environmental risks for workers and ...

International audience ; Actions of French governments on waste, resource and energy management force to focus on waste treatment and recovery process. Among these processes, anaerobic digestor offers significant advantages compared to other forms of waste treatment. It permits an organic waste treatment and a double valorization. The organic waste treatment enables the production of a digestate and a combustible gas fraction called biogas. The digestate, is an improved fertilizer, and can be enhanced by spreading or composting. Biogas can be valorized to produce heat or electricity. From this activity sector, energy production is expected to increase from 1,478 GWh in 2005 to 13,701 GWh in 2020 (Club Biogas ATEE, 2011). Anaerobic digestion is widely studied to understand its mechanisms at microbial level and to improve biogas production and process stability. However, health risk for workers in these facilities and for surrounding residents is very poorly documented. Gaseous and particulate emissions are also incompletely defined. Information on odor concentrations and biogas chemical /biological composition has been investigated. Nevertheless, no data on emissions from inputs storage locations or digestate was currently available. The EMAMET project aims to improve our understanding concerning the biogas production sector. Sources of gaseous and bioaerosol emissions will be researched and characterized on the whole production chain. The chemical composition of gaseous emissions will be completed by odor concentration determination. Biological emissions will be determined by molecular methods. From this information, specific biological and/or chemical indicators of this activity will be defined. In addition, 2D and 3D emission modeling will used to determine the influence zone of the biogas production implantation. To confirm this influence area a research of biological and microbial indicators around a pilot site will be realized. These data can help to assess health and environmental risks for workers and ...

This paper analyses the role of EU pollution strategies in reducing SO2and NOXemissions in the EU. The environmental policies impact on the slope of Kuznets environmental curve is discussed. The use of economic mechanisms for SO2, NOXand other pollutants emission reduction is analysed based on experience of EU member states. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the impact of EU pollution reduction strategies on atmospheric emissions in Lithuania and to define the role of EU emission reduction policies on shifting environmental Kuznets curves of EU member states and Lithuania. ES taršos mažinimo strategijos ir jų įtaka atmosferos teršalų emisijoms Lietuvoje Santrauka.Straipsnyje nagrinėjama ES atmosferos taršos mažinimo strategijų įtaka ekologinių Kuznets kreiviųnuolydžiui. ES rūgštėjimą ir eutrofikaciją sukeliančių teršalų emisijų ribojimo politika yra pagrindinėvaromoji jėga, keičianti Kuznets ekologinės kreivės nuolydį. Nubraižius Kuznets ekologinę kreivę Lietuvai,galima nustatyti, kaip ES atmosferos taršos mažinimo politika paveikė klasikinių atmosferosteršalų emisijos dinamiką Lietuvoje. Straipsnyje išnagrinėti ES šalyse taikomi taršos mažinimo būdaiir palyginti ES narėse taikomų mokesčių už pagrindinių teršalų emisijas tarifai su Lietuvoje taikomais tarifais analogiškų teršalų emisijoms. Pateikti siūlymai dėl taršos mažinimo priemonių plėtros Lietuvoje,pirmenybę teikiant lankstiems rinką imituojantiems mechanizmams. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Kuznets kreivė, taršos mažinimas, atmosferos emisijos, Lietuva. First published online:21 oct 2010

This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of the global health impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air, conducted on the basis of a high-resolution emission inventory, global chemical transport modeling, and probabilistic risk assessment. One of the main strengths of the thesis is the concentration downscaling process, which provides a linkage between emissions and exposure concentrations at a comparatively high resolution. Moreover, by focusing on individual susceptibility, the thesis proposes an instrumental revision of current risk assessment methodology and argues that, if individual susceptibility were not taken into consideration, the overall risk would be underestimated by 55% and the proportion of highly vulnerable populations would be underestimated by more than 90%

This work focuses on identifying the source of BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) emissions generated by hydrocarbon-related industrial activities and evaluation of its impact on ambient air quality according to European Union (EU) regulations during 2019. The spatial distribution of BTEX concentrations suggest that massive emissions are mainly due to the oil refining activity. BTEX concentration levels at the sampling sites show that benzene was more dominant. Considering the level of atmospheric pollution relative to the indicative value (2µg/m3) recommended by the EU, the ambient air is considered to be quite polluted with benzene content (5.36 µg/m3) produced mainly by emissions from the oil refining industrial complex.