Public health and urban air quality: Influences of the condition of atmospheric stability and land cover on PM10 concentrations

Abstract

Objective: To analyze in the context of public health the daily PM 10 concentrations (DPM 10 ) and influences of the atmospheric stability (AS) condition and land surface coverage (LSC) in Bogota city (Colombia). Methodology: Daily information from three monitoring stations was used. The sampling period was eight years. The AS condition and LSC distribution was determined after comparing DPM 10 with limits and increases in daily mortality (DM) published by WHO. The influence of traffic restriction by congestion was also studied. Results: Urban sectors with lower atmospheric instability (AI) probably had an increase in DM of 2.0% relative to higher AI sectors. In these lower AI sectors, impervious LSC (between 54.5- 85.8%; radio-1600 m) prevailed instead of vegetated LSC. An average reduction of 14.8% in DPM 10 (-0.55% in DM) possibly associated with a 40% restriction of traffic during peak hours was observed.