Abstract

High-traffic roadways substantially contribute to UFP number concentrations and size distributions within many urban areas and may contribute to excess urban mortality and morbidity. A number of previous studies have quantified near-road concentrations of UFP and the decay with horizontal displacement from highways and indicated rapid decreases to near background levels within 300 m of the line-source. However, the majority of those previous studies have focused on ground-level highways and so herein we present data from sampling perpendicular to an elevated highway viaduct. Measurements taken during morning rush hour and non-rush hour periods using a bicycle-mounted TSI Nanoscan scanning mobility particle sizer within distances of 200–300 m from the freeway are lower than those from previous studies of ground-level highways, but the decay of UFP number concentrations with distance from the highway is more gradual. A linear mixed-effects model indicates only distance from I-81 and air temperature are significant predictors of near I-81 UFP concentrations, but wind speed and direction and vehicle counts on the street where the measurements were conducted exhibit the expected sign of dependence.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call