Abstract
PM10 was monitored during 2008-2011 period at LUT and BON, two urban tropical stations close to each other at Saint-Pierre city, in Reunion Island (south-western Indian Ocean). During the study period, notable PM10 concentrations are observed at BON close to the coasts. At LUT, a more inland site, the daily PM10 concentration range between 13 and 70 μg/m3. Importantly, the limit value for the protection of the human health is systematically exceeded at BON while it is never exceeded at LUT. Also, the quality objective (QO: 30 μg/m3, on annual average) and the limit value for the human health protection (LV: 40 μg/m3, on annual average) are exceeded at BON each year during 2008-2011, while at LUT no regulatory values are exceeded. Nitrogen dioxide, an atmospheric tracer of anthropogenic activities was also monitored at LUT and BON. The mean diurnal NO2 variation is of the same level and order of magnitude and exhibits a similar pattern at both stations suggesting that distinct sources influence the PM10 at LUT and at BON. Chemical analysis was performed on daily filters sampled in September-November 2011 at the two stations to determine the sea salt contribution on PM10 across Saint-Pierre city. It showed that the sea salt contribution to the PM10 is 55% at BON in September 2011. The sea salt particles are therefore the main cause for the exceedances of the regulatory values of PM10 recorded at BON. The results importantly suggest that the notable PM10 concentrations measured at this urban marine site might have some but minor impact on human health.
Highlights
The study of particulate matter is of increasing interest to the scientific community and to decision makers, in particular to determine the impact of this pollutant on human health [1,2,3]
The daily PM10 variability at LUT and BON are compared with the sea salt concentrations analyzed on the daily filter samples
Mean Diurnal PM10 Concentration Variation The mean diurnal variation of PM10 concentration has been calculated at LUT and BON from 2008 to 2011, period during which data are available for a whole year
Summary
The study of particulate matter is of increasing interest to the scientific community (epidemiologists, researchers...) and to decision makers, in particular to determine the impact of this pollutant on human health [1,2,3]. It is important to conduct the monitoring of this pollutant especially in densely inhabited regions, in order to take adequate measures (e.g. prevent the surrounding population, in particular sensible persons such as children and old ones) if regulatory values are exceeded and to study its long-term trend and effects. In this sense, since a few decades, decision makers have established regulatory values for the PM10 concentration levels, following the severity of the impact of this pollutant on human health and on the environment [4,5,6]. In June 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence that this exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer [3]
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