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The research team at POSTECH recently conducted an analysis of satellite remote sensing data from the European Space Agency (ESA) and uncovered a significant source of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions. Nitrogen dioxide is a critical air pollutant that serves as a precursor gas for fine particulate matter and ozone, and its emissions are primarily attributed to industrial facilities and vehicle exhausts. However, the study revealed that food processing facilities and high-rise apartments that are 10 stories or taller are also notable contributors to NO2 emissions. This groundbreaking discovery has garnered attention from NASA.
Professor Hyung Joo Lee and their research team at POSTECH utilized the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), a cutting-edge Earth observation satellite instrument, to investigate nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions in California. The team's findings revealed that food processing facilities and residential complexes with high population density were the primary sources of elevated NO2 emissions. This significant discovery sheds light on the contribution of different property types to NO2 pollution and provides valuable insights for air quality management efforts.
The research team at POSTECH conducted a comprehensive assessment of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in California, utilizing a spatial resolution of 500 meters and data from 2018 to 2019. They examined whether ground monitors accurately represented population exposures to NO2 in each county. Additionally, the team identified property types with the highest NO2 emissions and subsequent exposures. Remarkably, their findings consistently pointed to food processing facilities and high-rise apartments that are 10 stories or taller as the primary sources of elevated NO2 exposures, even when traffic emissions were considered. These results highlight the critical role of these property types in contributing to NO2 pollution in California.
Previous research has not considered residential combustion sources as significant contributors to air pollution. However, the findings from the study suggest that high NO2 emissions from residential complexes, particularly from food processing facilities and high-rise apartments, may be attributed to combustion sources within the apartments, such as water boilers, space heaters, and other indoor-generated emissions vented outdoors. This indicates that residential properties may play a more significant role in contributing to air pollution than previously thought, highlighting the need for further investigation and measures to address these emissions.
According to Professor Hyung Joo Lee from POSTECH, the research findings suggest that highly populated residential areas, especially high-rise apartments, have not received sufficient attention in previous studies. However, these areas should be recognized as significant contributors to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions when formulating environmental policies. This highlights the importance of including residential properties, particularly high-rise apartments, in air pollution mitigation strategies and underscores the need for further research to better understand and address the emissions from these sources.
He emphasized the significance of the research by stating, “The research demonstrates that satellite remote sensing can be effectively used to inform air quality management.”
The research was published in Science of the Total Environment, one of the most prestigious environmental journals, and was introduced in NASA Earth Observatory.
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