Abstract
The main subject of this paper is an analysis of the influence of changes in the air pollution caused by road traffic, due to its modernization, on the air quality in Warsaw conurbation, Poland. Using the Calpuff model, simulations of the yearly averaged concentrations of NOx, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 were performed, together with an assessment of the population exposure to individual pollutions. Source apportionment analysis indicates that traffic is the main source of NOx and CO concentrations in the city atmosphere. Utilizing the Euro norms emission standards, a scenario of vehicle emission abatement is formulated based on the assumed general vehicle fleet modernization and transition to Euro 6 emission standards. Computer simulations show a reduction in NOx concentrations attributed to emission mitigation of passenger cars, trucks and vans, and public transport buses, respectively. On the other hand, improving air quality in terms of CO concentrations depends almost exclusively on gasoline vehicle modernization. The implementation of the considered scenario causes an adequate reduction in the population exposure and related health effects. In particular, implementation of the scenario discussed results in a 47% reduction (compared with the baseline value) in the attributable yearly deaths related to NOx pollution. In spite of a substantial contribution of vehicle traffic to the overall PM pollution, modernization of the fuel combustion causes only minor final effects because the dominant share of PM pollution in Warsaw originates from the municipal sector and the transboundary inflow.
Highlights
Air pollution remains the main environmental health risk in Europe, especially in urban conurbations, where many inhabitants suffer from poor air quality
The above estimations showed that meeting the Euro 6 emission standards for passenger cars in Warsaw would reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by about 60%, as compared with the baseline level
Similar to other Eastern European conurbations, road traffic in Warsaw has a large share of vehicles meeting only pre-E4 emission standards [6]
Summary
Air pollution remains the main environmental health risk in Europe, especially in urban conurbations, where many inhabitants suffer from poor air quality. The source apportionment analysis reveals [1,2] that in many cities, the transportation system is the dominating emission category in urban air quality degradation. Road traffic contributes to negative health effects mainly by primary nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution, and via the primary and secondary components of particulate matter. While PM pollutions originate from various categories of sources (with a minor contribution of traffic to the primary emission), NO2 concentrations almost exclusively originate from road traffic. NO2 pollution in urban conurbations is mainly due to emissions from diesel vehicles [6,7]. Recently published European studies assessed the effects of traffic policies, intended to reduce concentrations of the above species in large cities
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