Claims:I/We Claim,
1. A system (1) for quantifying pollution outcomes (2) for a target geographical area due to release 5 of pollutant from various drivers of business activity, wherein drivers of business activity are defined as human-induced factors or activities that directly or indirectly causes a change in an natural ecosystem, the system (1) comprising:
- an input unit (3) adapted to receive an identification (4) of a targeted geographical region of 10 emission source;
- a first processing unit (5) is adapted to receive and process the identification (4), and based on such processing further adapted to receive and process an air pollutant related data (6) related to concentration of air pollutant in air, and at least one of a health impact data (7) of the air 15 pollutants related to a dose response relationship between pollutant concentration and it’s health impact or a hazardousness impact data (8) related to hazardousness of the air pollutants, or combination thereof, and to quantify a pollution outcomes (2) for the target geographical area.
2. The system (1) according to any of the claims 1 comprising: 20
- a memory unit (9) adapted to store a population density data (10) related to density of the population in a geographical area, and the health impact data (7) of the air pollutants,
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wherein the air pollutant are at least one of Particulate matter (PM), Oxides of Sulphur (SOx), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3) or combination thereof, and the first processing unit (5) adapted to process a concentration change data (11) related to change in concentration of the air pollutants, the population density data (10), and the health impact data (7) of the air pollutants, to quantify at least one of a first number 5 of morbidity cases (12), a second number (13) of reduced life expectancy cases, a first disability adjusted life years data (14) due to morbidity cases, a second disability adjusted life years data (15) due to number of reduced life expectancy cases, or combination thereof.
3. The system (1) according to the claim 2, wherein the health impact data (7) comprises a baseline 10 data (16) related to a population baseline incidence rate of the given health effect, and a relative risk data (17) related to relative risk per 10 µg/m3 change in pollutant concentration, and the first processing unit (5) is adapted to process a exposed population data (18) along with the baseline incidence data (16), the relevant risk data (17), and the concentration change data (11) to generate at least one of the first number of morbidity cases (12), the second number (13) of 15 reduced life expectancy cases, or combination thereof,
wherein the exposed population data (18) is defined by an estimated population impacted by the change in pollution concentration.
4. The system according (1) to the claim 4, wherein the first processing unit (5) is adapted to 20 process the concentration change data (11) with respect to a plurality of micro geographical area, and the population density data (10), and to generate the exposed population data (18).
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5. The system (1) according to any of the claims 2 to 4, wherein the memory unit (9) is adapted to store a meteorological data (21) related to atmospheric parameters, and a source parameters data (20) which relates to physical parameters of the point source, the physical parameters of the pollutants emitted, or amount of time for which the pollutant is emitted, or combination thereof, the system further comprising: 5
- a second processing unit (25) adapted to receive and process a source pollution emission rate data (26), a meteorological data (21), and the source parameters data (20) based on dispersion modelling and to generate the concentration change data (11),
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wherein the source pollution emission rate data (26) is related to rate of emission of the air pollutant from at least a point source, or a line source, or an area source, or combination thereof.
6. The system (1) according to the claim 5, wherein the memory unit is adapted to store a pollution quantitative data (22) related a quantity of pollutant released at least a point source, or a line 15 source, or an area source, or combination thereof, the pollution quantitative data (22) comprising of at least one of a quantity (27) of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 released in a geographical area, a source specific emission rates (23) of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 in a geographical area, a fossil fuel data (24) related to fossil fuel quantities and respective emission factors for a geographical area and, and the second processing unit (25) is adapted to process 20 the pollution quantitative data (22) and the source parameter data (20), to generate a source pollution emission rate data (26) related to a rate of emission of pollution from a particular source.
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7. The system (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 8, wherein each geographical area is having a predefined size. , Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention is related to a computer implemented method for quantifying pollution outcomes in a target geographical area. More specifically, the invention is related to quantifying pollution 5 outcomes due to Business Activity of an Enterprise.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Poor air quality is one of the most serious environmental problems in urban areas around the world. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, Air pollution has emerged as the fourth 10 leading risk factor for deaths worldwide (IHME, 2017). While pollution-related premature deaths predominantly affect young children and the elderly, it also results in lost labor income for working age men and women. An estimated 5.5 million lives were lost in 2013 (4.6 million lives were lost in 2017 (IHME, 2017) to diseases associated with outdoor and household air pollution, causing human suffering and reducing economic development. These premature deaths cost the global 15 economy an estimated US$225 billion in lost labor income in 2013 and more than US$5 trillion in welfare losses, pointing toward the economic burden of air pollution (The World Bank; IHME, 2016). Moreover, it affects crop yields and the environment, with impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, amongst others. These impacts have significant economic consequences, which will affect economic growth as well as welfare. 20
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Air pollution can be categorized into primary (which can directly cause negative impacts on the environment and the people) and secondary pollutants (result from reactions between primary pollutants and other gases under certain conditions, and which subsequently also have negative impacts on the environment and people). Primary particles are emitted directly into the atmosphere, such as diesel soot, whereas secondary particles are created through the 5 physicochemical transformation of gases, such as nitrate and sulphate formation from gaseous nitric acid and Sulphur dioxide (SO2), respectively (Brook, et al., 2004). The most significant primary and secondary air pollutants are discussed in the following sections.
Key air pollutants are Particulate Matters (PM), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Oxides of Sulphur 10 (SOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Particulate matter (PM) refers to a range of different types of solid particles that are suspended in ambient air. PM is mainly produced from the burning of biomass and fossil fuels and the generation of dust from agricultural activities and industrial processes. PM is classified according to particle 15 size: PM10 refers to coarse particulate matter (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres or less); PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less). Fine (2.5 microns) or ultra-fine (0.1 microns) particulates are the most hazardous because of their ability to penetrate lung airways and access to other body tissues. Ultra-fine particles, comparable to the size of viruses, have very low mass but are present in very large 20 numbers. Their large surface area may be the most significant factor in their ability to deliver toxic chemicals to respiratory and circulatory systems. They remain suspended in the air for long periods prolonging the period of exposure to anyone breathing polluted air. However, all fractions of PM10
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should be regarded as hazardous and there is substantial evidence that PM2.5– PM10 (the so-called “coarse fraction”) causes inflammatory changes in body tissues (Hedley A. J., 2009).
Nitrogen oxides are reactive substances commonly includes nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen trioxide, nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), and dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5). These 5 compounds are referred to collectively as “NOX” (EPA, 1993; Brook, et al., 2004). These are naturally present in the atmosphere but are also released in large quantities through the combustion of fossil fuels and particularly transport fuels.
Oxides of Sulphur (SOx) is a highly irritating, colorless, soluble gas with a pungent odor and taste. 10 In contact with water, it forms sulphurous acid, which accounts for its strong irritant effects on eyes, mucous membranes, and skin. SOx is released through the processing of sulphurous mineral ores and from many industrial processes that involve the burning of sulphurous fossil fuels. The vast majority of SOx in the atmosphere comes from human sources (Brook, et al., 2004).
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that binds to hemoglobin with an affinity 250 times that of oxygen, thereby interfering with the delivery of oxygen to tissues. CO is released through the combustion of fuels in a limited supply of air and is also a by-product of numerous industrial and agricultural processes (Brook et al., 2004).
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VOCs are the organic compounds that have boiling point between 50°C and 260°C (Sarigiannis, Karakitsios, Gotti, Liakos, & Katsoyiannis, 2011). They comprise a wide range of organic compounds that have a high vapour pressure under normal atmospheric conditions, for example,
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benzene, aliphatic hydrocarbons, ethyl acetate, glycol ethers, and acetone. They are released in large quantities as a result of human activities such as the use of solvents in industrial processes, as well as from some natural processes. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, 1:3 butadiene, and benzo(a) pyrene and many others, are involved in the causality of cancers including leukaemia, and damage to embryos in the uterus of a pregnant mother (Hedley A. J., 2009). VOCs 5 are divided into two sub-categories with regard to whether they are considered as carcinogens or not. Some of the most common carcinogenic compounds include benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and naphthalene. Among non-carcinogenic VOCs, toluene, xylenes, styrene, ammonia, limonene and a-pinene are most prevalent (Sarigiannis, Karakitsios, Gotti, Liakos, & Katsoyiannis, 2011). 10
Exposure to air pollution is associated with increased chances of diseases including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases leading to premature deaths (mortality) and morbidity (Cohen, et al., 2004). There is an inverse relationship between the severity of health problems and their frequency of occurrence. more severe health issues are less frequent but would require formal and costly 15 healthcare whereas less severe health problems are more frequent and more likely to cause no hospitalisation and involve self and traditional medication (Cohen, et al., 2004; Hedley A.j., 2009).
It is pertinent to be noted that major cause for Air pollution is due to multiple activities across the value chain of an enterprise. Activities like the use of fossil fuels in boilers, process emissions, 20 transportation of raw material and finalized products, fugitive emissions during handling of raw material and road transportation etc. can lead to the release of one or more categories of air pollutants. All these activities lead to an increase in the concentration of air pollutants in the local
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environment which can be called biophysical change or primary ‘outcome’. It is pertinent to be noted that pollution released by an enterprise may impact an environment of both geographical areas, where it is located, as well as, where the pollutant flows through the air. It is a need of time that outcomes of pollution from business activities of such enterprises shall be quantified irrespective of whether the enterprise is located in the specific geographical area or not. 5
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for quantifying pollution outcomes for a geographical area due to release of pollutant by an enterprise, irrespective of whether the enterprise 10 is located in same geographical area of not.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is achieved by a system for quantifying pollution outcome for a target 15 geographical area due to release of pollutant from various drivers of business activity according to claim 1.
The system includes an input unit and a first processing unit. The input unit receives an identification of a targeted geographical region of emission source. The first processing unit 20 receives and processes the identification, and based on such processing further receives and processes an air pollutant related data related to concentration of air pollutant in air, and at least one of a health impact data of the air pollutants related to a dose response relationship between
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pollutant concentration and it’s health impact or a hazardousness impact data related to hazardousness of the air pollutants, or combination thereof, and quantifies pollution outcomes for a target geographical area.
According to one embodiment of the system a memory unit stores a population density data related 5 to density of the population in a geographical area, and the health impact data of the air pollutants. The air pollutant is at least one of Particulate matter (PM), Oxide of Sulphur (SOx), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3) or combination thereof. The first processing unit processes a concentration change data related to change in concentration of the air pollutants, the population density data, and the health impact data of the air pollutants, 10 and quantifies at least one of a first number of morbidity cases, a second number of reduced life expectancy cases, a first disability adjusted life years data due to morbidity cases, a second disability adjusted life years data due to number of reduced life expectancy cases, or combination thereof.
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According another embodiment of the system, wherein the health impact data includes a baseline data related to a population baseline incidence rate of the given health effect, and a relative risk data related to relative risk per 10 µg/m3 change in pollutant concentration, and the first processing unit processes a exposed population data along with the baseline incidence data, the relevant risk data, and the concentration change data to generate at least one of the first number of morbidity 20 cases, the second number of reduced life expectancy cases, or combination thereof. The exposed population data is defined by an estimated population impacted by the change in pollution concentration.
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According to yet another embodiment of the system, wherein the first processing unit processes the concentration change data with respect to a plurality of micro geographical area, and the population density data, and generates the exposed population data.
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According to one embodiment of the system, wherein the memory unit stores a meteorological data related to atmospheric parameters, and a source parameters data which relates to physical parameters of the point source, the physical parameters of the pollutants emitted, or amount of time for which the pollutant is emitted, or combination thereof. The system further includes a second processing unit which receives and processes a source pollution emission rate data, the 10 meteorological data, and the source parameters data based on dispersion modelling and generates the concentration change data. The source pollution emission rate data is related to rate of emission of the air pollutant from at least a point source, or a line source, or an area source, or combination thereof.
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According to another embodiment of the system, wherein the memory unit is adapted to store a pollution quantitative data related a quantity of pollutant released at least a point source, or a line source, or an area source, or combination thereof. The pollution quantitative data includes at least one of a quantity of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 released in a geographical area, a source specific emission rates of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 in a geographical area, a fossil fuel data related to 20 fossil fuel quantities and respective emission factors for a geographical area, or combination thereof. The second processing unit processes the pollution quantitative data and the source
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parameter data, and generates the source pollution emission rate data related to a rate of emission of pollution from a particular source.
According to yet another embodiment of the system, wherein each geographical area is having a predefined size. 5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for quantifying pollution outcomes for a geographical area due to business activity of an enterprise.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such 15 further applications of the principles of the invention as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended 20 to be restrictive thereof.
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The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other, sub-systems, 5 elements, structures, components, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.
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Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.
Increased concentration of pollutants can lead to multiple secondary outcomes such as exposure 15 to the human population, exposure to plants or crops, decreased visibility, exposure to buildings, and can hamper recreational activities. And finally, these outcomes can lead to ‘impacts’ such as an increase in morbidity or premature deaths from increased incidences of diseases, loss of agricultural productivity, impacts on aviation, transportation, infrastructure, and tourism. The invention is focused to determine only human health impacts which have been considered as they 20 contribute as much as ~95% of total impacts from air pollutants.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 1 for determining pollution outcomes 2 due to an enterprise in a geographical area. The system 1 includes an input unit 3, a first processing
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unit 5, a second processing unit 25, and a memory unit 9, which cooperates together to quantify pollution outcomes 2 for a geographical area due to business activities of the enterprise. It is pertinent to be noted that the enterprise need not be situated in the geographical area for which the impact assessment is carried. The air pollutants are carried away by air, and have an impact on other geographical area, other than the one where the pollution was originated. 5
The input unit 3 receives an identification 4 of a targeted geographical region of emission source. The identification 4 shall be unique for each targeted region of emission source. This identification 4 is further sent to the first processing unit 5, which processes it further to receive and process an air pollutant data 6, a health impact data 7 of air pollutants, and hazardousness impact data 8, and to generate the pollution outcomes 2. The air pollutant data 6 is about concentration or change of 10 concentration of air pollution in air. The health impact data 7 of air pollutants relates to a dose response relationship between pollutant concentration and its health impact. The hazardousness impact data 8 related to hazardousness of air pollutants. In most cases the hazardousness data 8 shall relate to hazards and toxicological effect of the heavy metals.
In one embodiment, instead of both, either of health impact data 7 or the hazardousness impact 15 data 8 are used for quantifying the pollution outcomes 2 by the first processing unit 5.
The pollution oucomes 2 includes a first number of morbidity cases 12, a second number 13 of reduced life expectancy cases, a first disability adjusted life years data 14 due to morbidity cases, and a second disability adjusted life years data 15 due to number of reduced life expectancy cases. Alternatively, the pollution outcomes 2 may include any one of the first number of morbidity cases 20 12, the second number 13 of reduced life expectancy cases, the first disability adjusted life years data 14 due to morbidity cases, and the second disability adjusted life years data 15, or any
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combination of them. Yet alternatively, the pollution outcomes 2 may include any other health related impact related to pollution, or any other impact determination due to pollution.
Health impact data 7 is related to pollutants like Particulate matter (PM), Oxide of sulphur (SOx), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3), or any other such air pollutants. 5
To quantify, any one or combination of the first number of morbidity cases 12, the second number 13 of reduced life expectancy cases, the first disability adjusted life years data 14 due to morbidity cases, and the second disability adjusted life years data 15, the first processing unit 5 processes a concentration change data 11 related to change in concentration of the air pollutants, the population density data 10, and the health impact data 7 of the air pollutants. The concentration change data 10 11 is a type of air pollutant data 6. In one embodiment, the air pollutant data 6 may also include concentration of each of the pollutant being considered in cumulative way, or individual concentration of the pollutant being considered for pollution outcomes 2 determination.
On quantifying, the pollution outcomes 2 shall be displayed on a Display 19. In scenario when any one or combination of the first number of morbidity cases 12, the second number 13 of reduced 15 life expectancy cases, the first disability adjusted life years data 14 due to morbidity cases, and the second disability adjusted life years data 15 are quantified, same shall be displayed on the Display 19.
The health impact data 7 includes a baseline data 16, and a relative risk data 17. The baseline data 16 is related to a population baseline incidence rate of the given health effect, and the relative risk 20 data 17 is related to relative risk per 10 µg/m3 change in pollutant concentration. In one
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embodiment, the health impact data 7 may include any other types of data which can refer to the health impact made due to pollution in a region.
For quantifying the first number of morbidity cases 12, and the second number 13 of reduced life expectancy cases, the first processing unit 5 processes an exposed population data 18 along with the baseline incidence data 16, the relevant risk data 17, and the concentration change data 11. The 5 exposed population data 18 is defined by an estimated population impacted by the change in pollution concentration. It is to be noted that the first disability adjusted life years data 14 due to morbidity cases, and a second disability adjusted life years data 15 due to number of reduced life expectancy cases can be further determined by analyzing the first number of morbidity cases 12, and the second number 13 of reduced life expectancy cases. 10
The exposed population data 18 is generated by the first processing unit 5 by processing the concentration change data 11 with respect to a plurality of micro geographical area, and the population density data 10. It is to be noted that air pollution is a local impact, affecting people near the pollution site, so representing the region and population densities near the pollution source as accurate as possible helps in achieving accurate results. Exposed population due to pollution 15 can be estimated for predefined size of geographical area. In one embodiment, micro geographical area can be 1km * 1 km grid.
This exposed population data 18 need not be estimated every time, rather after determining one time, it can be stored the memory unit. In an alternate embodiment, the first processing unit 5 need not generate the exposed population data 18, rather the first processing unit 5 may use directly the 20 population density data 10 along with health impact data 7 and the concentration change data 11 to quantify the pollution outcomes 2. The pollution outcomes 2 can be characterized by one or
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more of the first number of morbidity cases 12, the second number 13 of reduced life expectancy cases, the first disability adjusted life years data 14 due to morbidity cases, and the second disability adjusted life years data 15.
The second processing unit 25 generates the concentration change data 11 and communicates to the first processing unit 5 for pollution outcomes 2 quantification. In one embodiment, the 5 concentration data 11 need not be generated, rather it can be pre-generated and stored in a memory device on communication with the first processing unit 5, which can utilize it for generating the pollution outcomes 2.
The second processing unit 25 receives and processes a source pollution emission rate data 26, a meteorological data 21, and source parameters data 27 based on dispersion modeling and generates 10 the concentration change data 11. The source parameter data 20, and the meteorological data 21 are stored in the memory unit 9.
The source parameters data 20 relates to physical parameters of the point source, the physical parameters of the pollutants emitted, or amount of time for which the pollutant. Some examples of source parameter data are: 15
? Stack height (meters)
? Gas exit temperature (Kelvin)
? Gas exit velocity (m/s)
? Stack Inside Diameter (meters)
? Source operating hours 20
The meteorological data 21 is related to atmospheric parameters, such as:
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? Boundary Layer Height
? Forecast Surface Roughness
? Latent Heat Flux
? Near IR Albedo for Direct radiation
? Relative Humidity 5
? Sensible Heat Flux
? Surface Downward Shortwave Radiation Flux
? Surface Pressure
? Temperature
? Total Cloud Cover 10
? Total Precipitation
The dispersion modelling is applied to determine increased pollutant concentration in all affected regions due to the operations of the given source using various models depending on the source (point/ line/ area) of air pollution, Gaussian plume dispersion model algorithm will be employed, 15 to simulate downwind changes in concentration of air pollutants with receptors located at a spatial resolution. The spatial resolution one embodiment can be 1km x 1km approximately. The maximum geographical region that can be considered in gaussian plume modelling is 0.5-degree latitude by 0.5-degree longitude (approximately 50 km diameter).
The source pollution emission rate data 26 is generated by the second processing unit 25 by 20 processing a pollutant quantitative data 22, and the source parameter data 20. The pollution quantitative data 22 is related to a quantity of pollutant released at least a point source, or a line source, or an area source, or combination thereof. The pollution quantitative data 22 includes:
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? a quantity 27 of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 released in a geographical area,
? a source specific emission rates 23 of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 in a geographical area,
? a fossil fuel data 24 related to fossil fuel quantities and respective emission factors for a geographical area 5
In the one embodiment the pollution quantitative data 22 may include any one of the quantities 27 of pollutants released in the geographical area, the source emission rate, of the fossil fuel rate, or any combination of them.
In one embodiment, each geographical area shall be of predefined, and preferably equal sized. In yet another embodiment size of the geographical shall be of 50km radius or grid of 0.5o * 0.5o. 10
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LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 System
2 Pollution Outcomes
3 Input unit
4 Identification of a target geographical area 5
5 First Processing unit
6 Air Pollution related data
7 Health impact data
8 Hazardousness impact data
9 Memory unit 10
10 Population density data
11 Concentration change data
12 First number of morbidity cases
13 Second number of reduced life expectancy
14 First disability adjusted life year data 15
15 Second disability adjusted life year data
16 Baseline data
17 Relative risk data
18 Exposed Population data
19 Display 20
20 Source parameters data
21 Meteorological data
22 Pollution quantitative data
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23 Source specific emission rate
24 Fossil fuel data
25 Second processing unit
26 Source pollution emission rate data
27 Quantity of PM, SOx, NOx, CO, O3, NH3 released 5