Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Dairy Cattle Manure in a Cattle Shed in Japan

Arika Aizawa,Akane Miyazaki,Nobuyuki Tanaka KOSAE·JSAE·CSES-CSAE 2022 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.16 No.3

The livestock industry is a major source of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but details on these emissions are not well documented in Japan. In particular, it remains unclear how the rearing method affects the emissions of VOCs from livestock, which originate primarily from feces and urine. Here we aimed to estimate the amounts of VOCs emitted from the feces and urine of tethered Holstein dairy cattle in a cattle shed in Japan. Dimethyl sulfide and acetone accounted for about 60% of the total VOCs emitted from feces, followed by formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Also, dimethyl sulfide and acetone were the dominant VOCs emitted from urine, accounting for 90% of the total VOCs. The VOCs from manure were considered to be emitted between the excretion and removal of the manure during the cleaning of the shed. As a result of analyzing images from three cameras installed in the shed, the average time between excretion and cleaning during the daytime (8:00 am-5:00 pm) was 80 min for feces and urine, whereas at night (5:00 pm-7:00 am), the average time between excretion and cleaning was 480 min. Based on the above findings, the emissions of VOCs in the interval between excretion and cleaning of the shed were estimated. As a result, the emissions of VOCs from feces and urine per head of cattle in the shed were estimated to be 1.75 and 1.52 g day<SUP>-1</SUP>, respectively. Furthermore, contribution of VOCs emitted from manure to odor activity value (OAV) and hydroxyl radical reactivity (OHR) were also estimated. Volatile fatty acids and sulfur compounds emitted from feces estimated to have high contribution to OAV, whereas aldehydes contributed mainly for OHR from manure.

Current Status of Ozone Control Measures in the United States and Europe and Implications for Japan

Hideki Hasunuma,Liliana Martinez Rivera,Hirosato Kobayashi,Kenji Aizu,Kazunori Oshima,Jun Shibutani,Yasuyuki Itano,Satoru Chatani,Shuichi Hasegawa,Makiko Yamagami,Junya Hoshi KOSAE·JSAE·CSES-CSAE 2022 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.16 No.3

In Japan, the achievement rate of environmental standards for air pollution has been improving in recent years, but for photochemical oxidants, including ozone, improvement are required. In this study, we investigated trends in ozone countermeasures in the United States and Europe from the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and National Air Pollution Control Program (NAPCP) and examined whether there are any points recommended in Japan. The United States and Europe have different policies on environmental standards for air pollution and ozone control. In the United States, states that do not meet the environmental standards for ozone concentration are required to develop an SIP to attain the standards. There was an urgent need to find a cost-effective approach to addressing the ozone problem, and forest control measures were one of the possibilities. In Europe, the European Union has set “target values” for ozone and NAPCP does not mention forest control measures or ozone sensitivity regimes. The main focus in Europe is on the win-win solution of reducing emissions of air pollutants at the same time as greenhouse gases. Japan should consider a framework including setting feasible step-by-step goals to attain the desired standards. As ozone is greatly affected by advection, wide-regional measures against ozone precursors and prediction of the future precursor reduction and concentration are required. The preparation of an emissions inventory and estimated reduction amount is prerequisites as basic data for simulation. To achieve this, cooperation between national, local and private research institutes is crucial. Since the international community has agreed to prioritize greenhouse gas countermeasures, Japan could consider a win-win solution for both ozone and greenhouse gas reduction.

Elevated CO₂ Could Reduce Spikelet Fertility and Grain Appearance Quality of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown under High-temperature Conditions

Masahiro Yamaguchi,Shoma Kamiya,Dai Kokubun,Tomoki Nakayama,Tetsushi Yonekura,Yoshihisa Kohno KOSAE·JSAE·CSES-CSAE 2022 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.16 No.3

Two Japanese rice cultivars with different heat-tolerance, Hinohikari (sensitive) and Nikomaru (tolerant), were grown in pots inside open-top chambers and exposed to ambient CO₂ (400 μmol mol<SUP>-1</SUP>) or elevated CO₂ (550 μmol mol<SUP>-1</SUP>) from the beginning of the tillering stage to maturity. The study was conducted in Nagasaki, in the Kyushu region of Japan, where heat stress on rice has become increasingly evident. Although elevated CO₂ significantly improved the net photosynthesis and whole-plant growth of the cultivars, there were no significant effects on grain yield, which in turn reduced harvest index. In both cultivars, adverse effects occurred with elevated CO₂, such as reductions in spikelet fertility and grain appearance quality, which are typical manifestations of heat stress in rice. During the flowering period, the air temperature was high that spikelet fertility was reduced even under ambient CO₂ conditions for both cultivars. These results suggest that, under high-temperature conditions, elevated CO₂ could induce or exacerbate the manifestations of heat stress in rice. Because transpiration rate in the flag leaf was significantly reduced by the exposure to elevated CO₂, it is possible that elevated CO₂ increased plant temperature via a reduction in transpiration during flowering period, although we did not detect significance of the increase in leaf and panicle temperature. To ensure a more confident conclusion, further studies focusing on the effects of elevated CO₂ on the determinants of spikelet fertility and grain appearance quality with other cultivars in different year are required.

Air Pollution Trend and Variation during a Mega Festival of Firecrackers (Diwali) in Context to COVID-19 Pandemic

Tahmeena Khan,Alfred Lawrence,Samridhi Dwivedi,Saima Arif,Shrishti Dwivedi,Astha Upadhyay,Akriti Abraham,Venessa Roberts KOSAE·JSAE·CSES-CSAE 2022 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.16 No.3

The present study was conducted in Lucknow city to assess the impact of firecracker burning during Diwali, from 2 November 2021-6 November 2021 including the pre and post-Diwali days. The concentrations of PM<SUB>10</SUB>, PM<SUB>2.5</SUB>, SO₃, NO₂, CO, O₃, benzene and toluene, were monitored from the Central Pollution Control Board site on an hourly basis. The Air Quality Index was also recorded for PM<SUB>10</SUB>, PM<SUB>2.5</SUB>, SO₂ and NO₂. A questionnaire survey was done with 51 doctors to know the reported complaints post-Diwali. On Diwali night the PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> value reached 262 μg m<SUP>-3</SUP> around 22:00 hours and the maximum value (900 μg m<SUP>-3</SUP>) was obtained on 5 November, reported from the Central School monitoring station. From Gomti Nagar highest PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> value obtained on Diwali day was 538 μg m<SUP>-3</SUP> at 23:00 hours reaching 519 μg m<SUP>-3</SUP> post-Diwali. Areas belonging to the old part of the city witnessed higher variations as PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> crossed 900 μg m<SUP>-3</SUP>, in Lalbagh and Talkatora areas. The multivariate analysis showed that on Diwali night there was an increase of 204, 386, 344 and 341 in the PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> concentration reported from Gomtinagar, Central School, Talkatora and Lalbagh stations, showing that firecracker burning resulted in a significant increase in air pollution. The Toluene/Benzene ratio was mostly more than 1 indicating that toluene and benzene may be emitted from other sources as well including the mobile sources. Around 50-75% rise was seen in the number of patients post-Diwali. 57.1% of the reported cases had respiratory issues, followed by allergic reactions. The data obtained from Lalbagh, Talkatora and Central School showed that although the values remained high, a decreasing trend was seen in the AQI compared to previous years which is a good sign and may be attributed to public awareness and the ongoing pandemic making people conscious.