Intervention of an Upgraded Ventilation System and Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality at Birmingham New Street Railway Station.

Matt Clegg,John Edward Thornes,Christina Mitsakou,Azhar Quaiyoom,Debasree Banerjee,Revati Phalkey,Juana Maria Delgado-Saborit

doi:10.3390/ijerph19010575

Abstract

High NO2 concentrations (long term average of 383 µg/m3 in 2016/2017) recorded at Birmingham New Street railway station have resulted in the upgrade of the bi-directional fan system to aid wind dispersion within the enclosed platform environment. This paper attempts to examine how successful this intervention has been in improving air quality for both passengers and workers within the station. New air pollution data in 2020 has enabled comparisons to the 2016/2017 monitoring campaign revealing a 23–42% decrease in measured NO2 concentrations. The new levels of NO2 are below the Occupational Health standards but still well above the EU Public Health Standards. This reduction, together with a substantial decrease (up to 81%) in measured Particulate Matter (PM) concentrations, can most likely be attributed to the new fan system effectiveness. Carbon Monoxide levels were well below Occupational and Public Health Standards at all times. The COVID-19 pandemic “initial lockdown” period has also allowed an insight into the resultant air quality at lower rail-traffic intensities, which produced a further reduction in air pollutants, to roughly half the pre-lockdown concentrations. This study shows the scope of improvement that can be achieved through an engineering solution implemented to improve the ventilation system of an enclosed railway station. Further reduction in air pollution would require additional approaches, such as the removal of diesel engine exhaust emissions via the adoption of electric or diesel-electric hybrid powered services.

Highlights

IntroductionBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was experiencing increased popularity for rail travel with more than 1700 million passenger journeys per year across the network [1]
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was experiencing increased popularity for rail travel with more than 1700 million passenger journeys per year across the network [1].Towards the centre of that network lies Birmingham New Street Station, a subterranean, twelve platform interchange, which is the busiest UK station outside of London [2]
The maximal 24 h PM10 value measured was 52 μg/m3, which is in exceedance of the EU 50 μg/m3 air quality standard for ambient air, this was only exceeded a total of 5 times between both platforms over the course of the 68-day monitoring period

Summary

Introduction

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was experiencing increased popularity for rail travel with more than 1700 million passenger journeys per year across the network [1]. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 575 low air volume environment (240 m long, 160 m wide and 5 m high) at platform level when compared to other large, enclosed train stations such as London Paddington (250 m long, 100 m wide, and 15 m high) or London St Pancras [5,6]. Public Health 2022, 19, 575 low air volume environment (240 m long, 160 m wide and 5 m high) at platform level when compared to other large, enclosed train stations such as London Paddington (250 m long, 100 m wide, and 15 m high) or London St Pancras [5,6] Due to this low air volume at the platform level, Birmingham New Street station is more like an underground station.

Monitoring Air Pollution Levels in the Station

Results

Dual y-axis plot of 24 h 10

Conclusions