Abstract
Abstract The analysis of the results of long-term air quality monitoring in Riga is presented, which shows that in city centre throughout the measurement time (2004-2014) according to the guidelines defined by the European Union directives and Latvian laws the limits of small particles PM10 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are exceeded. From the nature of appearance of pollution and from the research of morphology and composition of fine dust particles it was concluded that in the city centre where the monitoring was performed the main air pollutants are caused by internal combustion engine vehicles. The measures to reduce air pollution performed by two Action Programs (2004-2009; 2011-2015) of the City Council showed that there were only two possible ways to improve air quality in urban environment ‒ to decrease the number of traffic units and/or to decrease exhaust emissions from vehicles. From the analysis of energy consumption and resources used for it the conclusion was drawn that Latvia is dependent on fossil fuel import, especially in traffic sector (99 %). A new trend has been observed in Latvia ‒ the type of cars is changing: the number of gasoline cars rapidly decreases and number of diesel cars is growing. Both fuels in exhaust gases of second-hand cars are giving high emissions of fine particles (soot) and nitrogen oxides as compared with new cars; 72 % of cars on the roads of Latvia are more than 13 years old. The switch to bio-diesel can improve Latvian statistics according to CO2 reduction target for 2020 but not the concentration of PM10 and NO2 on streets with dense traffic. Therefore, to improve air quality in urban environment and simultaneously reduce the dependence of Latvia from fossil fuel import, a scenario is proposed for the changeover to zero-carbon technologies in transport and energy production. Hydrogen is analyzed from the point of view of availability of resources and commercialized technologies. The research of the public opinion was done because there is little awareness in society about hydrogen as energy carrier and simultaneously as fuel.
Highlights
More than half of the world’s population nowadays is living in large cities, and urban environment badly affects the health of their population
To assess the level of air pollution in Riga, most important air pollutants are monitored by the City Council
Air monitoring systems based on differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) with open-air light beam 300‒650 m are used to measure air quality on the background level, as well as on the street level in Riga (Kleperis et al, 2002; 2007; 2011; Ādamsone and Parupa, 2007)
Summary
More than half of the world’s population nowadays is living in large cities, and urban environment badly affects the health of their population. Particulates include dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets directly emitted into atmosphere by sources such as factories, power plants, vehicle exhausts, construction activity, fires, and windblown dust. They are formed in the atmosphere by condensation of emitted gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds into tiny droplets. The major concerns for human health include effects on breathing and respiratory symptoms, aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, alterations in the body’s defense systems against foreign materials, damage to lung tissue, carcinogenesis and premature death (Zhang et al, 2009) Another important air polluter from vehicle exhausts and boiler stacks is nitrogen dioxide NO2. Nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere causes acid rain, and inhaled in higher concentrations damages health (Zhang et al, 2009)
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