Time Series Analysis of Climate and Air Pollution Factors Associated with Atmospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration in Japan

Takeshi Miyama, Hiroshi Matsui, Kenichi Azuma, Chika Minejima, Yasuyuki Itano, Norimichi Takenaka and Masayuki Ohyama
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Takeshi Miyama: Division of Public Health, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka 537-0025, Japan
Hiroshi Matsui: Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka 537-0025, Japan
Kenichi Azuma: Department of Environmental Medicine and Behavioural Science, Faculty of Medicine Kindai University, Osakasayama 589-8511, Japan
Chika Minejima: Department of Natural Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University, Mitaka 181-8585, Japan
Yasuyuki Itano: Osaka City Research Center of Environmental Science, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
Norimichi Takenaka: Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai 599-8531, Japan
Masayuki Ohyama: Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka 537-0025, Japan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-10

Abstract: Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) is an air pollutant discharged from combustion of human activities. Nitrous acid (HONO), measured as NO 2 , is thought to impact respiratory function more than NO 2 . HONO and NO 2 have an equilibrium relationship, and their reaction is affected by climate conditions. This study was conducted to discuss the extent of HONO contained in NO 2 , depending on the level of urbanization. Whether climate conditions that promote HONO production enhanced the level of NO 2 measured was investigated using time series analysis. Climate and outdoor air pollution data measured in April 2009–March 2017 in urban (Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi) and rural (Yamanashi) areas in Japan were used for the analysis. Air temperature had a trend of negative associations with NO 2 , which might indicate the decomposition of HONO in the equilibrium between HONO and NO 2 . The associations of relative humidity with NO 2 did not have consistent trends by prefecture: humidity only in Yamanashi was positively associated with NO 2 . In high relative humidity conditions, the equilibrium goes towards HONO production, which was observed in Yamanashi, suggesting the proportion of HONO in NO 2 might be low/high in urban/rural areas.

Keywords: air pollution; climate; HONO; Japan; NO 2; time series analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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