Abstract
On-road mobile sources of emissions make important contributions to particulate matter pollution (PM2.5–PM10) in cities. The quantification of such pollution is, however, highly challenging due to the number of interacting factors that affect emissions such as vehicle category, emission standard, vehicle speed and weather conditions. The proper identification of individual sources of emission is particularly necessary for air quality management areas. In this study, we estimated exhaust and non-exhaust traffic-related PM2.5 and PM10 contributions to total ambient pollution in Banská Bystrica (Slovak republic) by simulation based on the AERMOD dispersion model. Emission rates of particular vehicle categories were obtained through vehicle population statistics, traffic data survey and emission factors from the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook. Continuous PM10 and PM2.5 data from air quality monitoring stations were analysed for the years 2019–2020 and compared with modelled concentrations. The annual concentration values of PM2.5 and PM10 in the study area reached 16.71 μg/m3 and 15.57 μg/m3, respectively. We found that modelled PM2.5 peak concentration values exceeded the WHO air quality guideline annual mean limit. Traffic-related PM2.5 and PM10 contributions to ambient pollution at the reference point located nearby to a busy traffic route were approximately 25% and 17%, respectively. The reference point located outside the main transport corridors showed an approximately 11% contribution, both for PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. The simulations showed that PM pollution is greatly contributed to by on-road mobile sources of emissions in the study area, and especially non-exhaust emissions, which require serious attention in association with their health impacts and the selection of Banská Bystrica as an air quality management area.
Highlights
Air pollution is a major problem in recent years, which has a significant impact on the environment and human health
According to the annual Air Quality Report prepared by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMI), the city territory of Banská Bystrica was selected as AQMA, due to particulate matter (PM10 ) and benzo(a)pyrene (BP) pollutants based on air pollution monitoring in the years 2016–2019
This study offers an estimation of the contributions of on-road mobile sources of emissions to PM pollution in the air quality management area of Banská Bystrica
Summary
Air pollution is a major problem in recent years, which has a significant impact on the environment and human health. Local air pollution is associated with greater sensitivity to respiratory infections in humans. One third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution [1]. Populations living close to major traffic routes, especially children and older adults, have an increased occurrence of health issues associated with air pollution related to emissions from on-road mobile sources [2]. The increased air pollution in urban areas is due to the urban canyoning effect where on-road mobile sources contribute two to ten times as much as in general background locations [3].
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