Are developments in technology improving air quality?
- Date:
- March 2, 2016
- Source:
- Taylor & Francis
- Summary:
- The London fog episode of the 1950s and the thousands of premature deaths that followed catalysed a series of attempts to improve air quality. According to author Philip K. Hopke, there have been continued efforts to determine sources of air pollution over the last 50 years. Moreover, according to a recent article, developments in pollutant-measurement technologies continue to improve today.
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The London fog episode of the 1950s and the thousands of premature deaths that followed catalysed a series of attempts to improve air quality. According to author Philip K. Hopke, there have been continued efforts to determine sources of air pollution over the last 50 years. Moreover, according to a recent paper published in Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (JA&WMA), developments in pollutant-measurement technologies continue to improve today.
According to Hopke, the most effective way to measure air quality is to quantitatively determine sources of air pollution. As such, there is now a "substantial capability to provide useful insights into the sources of pollutants and their atmospheric processing." He In his paper, "Review of receptor modeling methods for source apportionment," Hopke discusses a multitude of mathematical data analysis methods in his article. Hopke emphasizes, emphasizing both the increasing maturity and the easy accessibility of these models.
Ultimately, according to Editor-in-Chief of Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Dr. S. Trivikrama Rao, "Receptor modeling methods are now being routinely applied to air monitoring data for identifying and apportioning air pollutants. Hopke reviewed these methods in terms of their evolution, application, current state-of-the-science, and looks ahead to what next." Hopke, while pleased with the expansion of atmospheric data analysis methods, emphasizes a continued need for improvements in the field.
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional organization that enhances knowledge and expertise by providing a neutral forum for information exchange, professional development, networking opportunities, public education, and outreach to more than 5,000 environmental professionals in 65 countries. A&WMA promotes global environmental responsibility and increases the effectiveness of organizations to make critical decisions that benefit society.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Taylor & Francis. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Philip K. Hopke. Review of receptor modeling methods for source apportionment. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 2016; 66 (3): 237 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2016.1140693
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