Transboundary Air Pollution Transport of PM10 and Benzo[a]pyrene in the Czech–Polish Border Region

Vladimíra Volná,Daniel Hladký,Radim Seibert,Blanka Krejčí

doi:10.3390/atmos13020341

Abstract

The article is occupied with the evaluation of the transboundary transport of pollutants in the Czech–Polish border region (between the Moravian-Silesian region and the Silesian Voivodeship) in Central Europe. It focuses on the evaluation of concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and suspended particles of PM10 depending on meteorological conditions, especially wind direction. The whole area of interest is heavily affected with air pollution of BaP and PM10. Limits of BaP and PM10 are still exceeded. Annual concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene are even several times higher than the value of its annual limit. The elaboration follows the results of the Czech–Polish project “Air Silesia”, which dealt with air pollution and the transboundary transport of pollutants in this area and took place in 2010 to 2013. Within this project, a higher transport of pollutants from Poland to the Czech Republic was established. The evaluation of the dependences of PM10 concentrations is based on hourly and daily data of PM10 and hourly data of meteorological quantities. To assess the dependences of daily BaP and PM10 concentrations, a methodology for evaluating daily types of wind direction was implemented into the processing. The results confirm that the problem of above-limit concentrations of BaP and PM10 in the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic and the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland remains. The article confirms there is a higher transport of PM10 concentrations from Poland to the Czech Republic in the area of interest. Higher transport in the same direction is also predicted for daily concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene, although this cannot be clearly confirmed due to the lack of more detailed and identifiable data.

Highlights

Suspended particles PM10 and benzo[a]pyrene are problematic pollutants and have clinically proven negative effects on the human body, especially in the form of carcinogenicity [1,2,3,4,5]
The paper presents an assessment of the transboundary transport of PM10 and benzo[a]pyrene in the Czech–Polish border region
Quantification estimation is described for the section of the state border between Vernovice and Godów, which represents the main area of air pollution transport between the Czech Republic and Poland

Summary

Introduction

Suspended particles PM10 and benzo[a]pyrene are problematic pollutants and have clinically proven negative effects on the human body, especially in the form of carcinogenicity [1,2,3,4,5]. Improvements in air quality occurred in the 1990s with the advent of economic restructuring in both post-communist countries [7,8]. The accession of both countries to the European Union and the need to adapt legislation to EU requirements has contributed significantly to the improvement [9,10]. Thanks to these measures, air pollution levels in the Czech–Polish region have been reduced but problems persist, and there are still exceedances of the limits for PM10 and benzo[a]pyrene

Methods

Results

Conclusion