Publikasjoner

Development of PFAS-free coatings in the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) framework - the PROPLANET project

A Low-Cost Image Sensor for Particulate Matter Detection to Streamline Citizen Science Campaigns on Air Quality Monitoring

Estimating surface NO2 concentrations over Europe using Sentinel-5P TROPOMI

Satellite observations from instruments such as the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) show significant potential for monitoring the spatiotemporal variability of NO2, however they typically provide vertically integrated measurements over the tropospheric column. In this study, we introduce a machine learning approach entitled ‘S-MESH’ (Satellite and ML-based Estimation of Surface air quality at High resolution) that allows for estimating daily surface NO2 concentrations over Europe at 1 km spatial resolution based on eXtreme gradient boost (XGBoost) model using primarily observation-based datasets over the period 2019–2021. Spatiotemporal datasets used by the model include TROPOMI NO2 tropospheric vertical column density, night light radiance from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), observations of air quality monitoring stations from the European Environment Agency database and modeled meteorological parameters such as planetary boundary layer height, wind velocity, temperature. The overall model evaluation shows a mean absolute error of 7.77 μg/m3, a median bias of 0.6 μg/m3 and a Spearman rank correlation of 0.66. The model performance is found to be influenced by NO2 concentration levels, with the most reliable predictions at concentration levels of 10–40 μg/m3 with a bias of

Microplastics in the Arctic and Mainland Norway; Occurence, Composition and Sources

Monitoring of microplastics in the Norwegian environment (MIKRONOR) 2023

The MIKRONOR monitoring program aims to establish baseline levels of microplastics in the Norwegian environment and to identify potential sources and sinks. This third MIKRONOR report focuses mainly on results from air samples, including data on tyre wear particles (TWP), as well as river and fjord surface water samples, and their correlation to rainfall and river discharge levels. Additionally, it presents data from sand samples taken from an OSPAR beach in the outer Oslofjord. The results for 2023 provide evidence of the omnipresence of microplastics in the environment. However, levels were higher near cities and populated areas, with decreasing levels further from human activities. This trend was observed in both air and surface water samples. Sand samples from the OSPAR beach in the Oslofjord showed levels of microplastics comparable to, or slightly higher than studied eabches at Svalbard. Since no other beach studies have been conducted in the MIKRONOR program, it is difficult to determine typical microplastic levels on a beach in the outer Oslofjord. Determined levels of microplastics in the beach samples were comparable to levels in marine bottom sediment at remote areas along the coast and lower than levels in sediments from the Oslofjord. Main conclusions of this report highlight the need for further research into the processes that control the levels and variations of microplastics and TWPs, such as weather conditions, river discharge, and air mass movement. Sampling of different matrices should, where possible, be conducted using similar strategies and equipment to improve the comparability of results. Additionally, the high spatial and temporal variability between samples must be considered to determine the appropriate number of analyses needed to obtain reliable results.

Norsk institutt for vannforskning (NIVA)

Climate health risks to children and adolescents: exposures, policy and practice interventions

ETC/HE

Skadelige mengder bisfenoler lekker ut av forpakning til næringsmidler

Høysesong for dårlig luftkvalitet

Høiskar, Britt Ann Kåstad (intervjuobjekt); Stenbek, Finn Børge (journalist)

Varsler dårlig luftkvalitet de neste dagene

Grythe, Henrik (intervjuobjekt); Stokholm, Ane Rostad (journalist)

In vitro toxicity testing of PFAS-based and PFAS-free coating materials for different industrial sectors

Atmospheric Microplastic in the Arctic and Mainland Norway; occurence, composition and sources

Occurrence and backtracking of microplastic mass loads including tire wear particles in northern Atlantic air

Modelled sources of airborne microplastics collected at a remote Southern Hemisphere site

Airborne microplastics have emerged in recent years as ubiquitous atmospheric pollutants. However, data from the Southern Hemisphere, and remote regions in particular, are sparse. Here, we report airborne microplastic deposition fluxes measured during a five-week sampling campaign at a remote site in the foothills of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Samples were collected over 24-hour periods for the first week and for 7-day periods thereafter. On average, atmospheric microplastic (MP) deposition fluxes were six times larger during the 24-hour sampling periods (150 MP m−2 day−1) than during the 7-day sampling periods (26 MP m−2 day−1), highlighting the importance of sampling frequency and deposition collector design to limit particle resuspension. Previous studies, many of which used weekly sampling frequencies or longer, may have substantially underestimated atmospheric microplastic deposition fluxes, depending on the study design. To identify likely sources of deposited microplastics, we performed simulations with a global dispersion model coupled with an emissions inventory of airborne microplastics. Modelled deposition fluxes are in good agreement with observations, highlighting the potential for this method in tracing sources of deposited microplastics globally. Modelling indicates that sea-spray was the dominant source when microplastics underwent long-range atmospheric transport, with a small contribution from road dust.