Abstract
Surface ozone (O3) and its precursor’s gases (nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were measured in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia from January 2004-December 2004. The annual average concentrations of O3, NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, CH4, TNMHCs and THC were 22.51 ppb, 15.58 ppb, 17.25 ppb, 23.84 ppb, 6.66 ppb, 165.13 ppb, 3.44 ppm, 0.56 ppm and 3.88 ppm, respectively. The SO2/NOx and SO2/NO2 concentration ratios during the period of study indicate that the mobile emissions are the predominant sources in yanbu. The diurnal cycles of O3 concentrations revealed highest levels in the daytime and lowest levels in night time. The diurnal variations of NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, NMHCs concentrations were similar and showed peaks concentrations linked to traffic density, boundary layer mixing processes and chemical processes in the atmosphere. The mean concentrations of O3 in different seasons follow the order of summer > spring > autumn > winter. In contrary to O3, NO has higher concentrations in autumn and winter than those in summer and spring seasons. The highest concentrations of NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, and TNMHCs were found in autumn and spring, whereas the lowest concentrations were found in summer and winter. THC and CH4 have no significant change over winter, autumn and summer seasons, while their concentrations decrease sharply in spring. Although the studied area does not suffer from NO2, O3, SO2 and CO pollution and no health risk, comprehensive and long-term air quality management programmes are needed in order to keep air quality in a good condition.
Highlights
Anthropogenic air pollutants caused by technological progress, industrialization, and urban overpopulation had led to the deterioration of environmental air quality [1]
The objective of the present study is to investigate the seasonal and diurnal variations of surface O3 and its precursors (NO, NO2, NOx, CO, THC, CH4 and TNMHCs), and SO2 in the atmosphere of yanbu Al Sinaiyah, and compare the concentrations of these pollutants with the standard limits
The results of daily (24-h) minimum, maximum and average concentrations of NO2, O3, SO2 and CO were compared with the available air quality standards in different countries
Summary
Anthropogenic air pollutants caused by technological progress, industrialization, and urban overpopulation had led to the deterioration of environmental air quality [1]. Toxic air pollutants emitted in close proximity of population areas have the potential to subject such population to health risks [2]. Tropospheric ozone (O3) is an important air pollutant threatening human health and vegetation growth [3] [4]. People living in cities with high O3 levels had an over 30% increased risk of dying from lung disease [5]. O3 is one of the key species affecting the chemical properties of the atmosphere where it is a precursor for the highly reactive hydroxyl radical [6] [7]. Surface O3 and its precursors play an important role in affecting regional climates and causing adverse effects on human health and vegetation [8]
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