High Traffic Roads Research Articles

Using Traffic Density and Foliar Chemistry Variables to Understand Interactions Between Air Pollution and Household Income

AbstractWe utilize traffic density and Convolvulus arvensis leaf chemistry to understand spatial patterns linking atmospheric pollution and household income in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, USA. We hypothesize that traffic density will explain variation in atmospheric NOx and O3 concentrations. In addition, we expect foliar %N and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) to be elevated and carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) to be depleted on high traffic density roads. These hypotheses were supported: we found the highest NOx and lowest O3 concentrations on high‐traffic density roads. Also, NOx concentrations were higher in low‐income neighborhoods. Low‐income neighborhoods contained a greater density of high‐traffic roads than high‐income neighborhoods. Foliar %N was highest in low‐income neighborhoods and was correlated with NOx and O3, while δ15N was more depleted with increasing O3. These findings indicate that the distribution of high‐traffic density roads plays a significant role in inequities in pollution exposure between high‐ and low‐income neighborhoods, which is reflected in leaf chemistry.

Habitat connectivity and resource selection in an expanding bobcat (Lynx rufus) population.

Terrestrial carnivores are among the most imperiled species worldwide, yet some species are resilient and are recovering in human-dominated landscapes after decades or centuries of absence. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations were extirpated from much of Midwestern US in the mid-1800’s, and are currently expanding and recolonizing their former range. In this study, we investigated multi-scale habitat selection for Ohio’s expanding bobcat population, and examined habitat connectivity in order to evaluate the conduits for dispersal statewide. We used citizen observations collected between 1978 and 2019 and logistic regression to evaluate population-level habitat selection, and GPS telemetry data for 20 individuals collected between 2012 and 2014 and a distribution-weighted exponential Resource Selection Function to evaluate individual-level habitat selection within home ranges. At the population level, bobcats selected for higher amounts of forest and pasture (at a 50 km2 scale) and herbaceous vegetation (at 15–50 50 km2 scales), thus overall heterogeneous forested habitat. At individual (home range) level, bobcats selected for forested habitats with low road density and farther away from high traffic roads; they also showed weak selection for open habitat at the home range level. Male home ranges were significantly greater than female home ranges. Lastly, we used the population-level spatial outputs (i.e. habitat suitability map) to parameterize habitat connectivity models using circuit theory in the program Circuitscape. We tested three relationships between habitat suitability and resistance to movement and used a subset of data on potential dispersing individuals to evaluate which relationship performed best. All three relationships performed almost equally well, and we calculated a weighted averaged connectivity map as our final map. Habitat was highly permeable to movements between core areas of two genetically distinct subpopulations located in southeastern Ohio. We also identified potential dispersal corridors from the core areas to other regions of Ohio dominated by agriculture and suburban development via forested riparian corridors. Overall, our analysis offers new information on habitat selection and connectivity in a rebounding felid population and offers important ecological information for wildlife management strategies. We recommend that the suitability and connectivity models should be periodically updated until the population reaches an equilibrium, and be integrated with data from neighboring states for a comprehensive assessment of a conservation success story.

Evaluation of noise barriers based on geometries and materials: a review.

The acoustical properties of a barrier are highly dependent on the physical properties of the material and the internal structure of the material. The acoustical material can curtail the quality of sound or enhance the dispersion, depending on the application being considered. The efficient acoustic performance of noise barriers possessing different shapes and materials including waste materials is reviewed for field implementation to achieve the low-cost sustainable noise barrier application in the Indian context. The review analysis of research papers demonstrates that the acoustic performance of barriers is dependent on different shapes, materials, and textures as well as onsite geometry. Based on the review study, T-shaped barriers with a soft top surface are found to be efficient at noise attenuation. For transparent barriers, perceived loudness and noise annoyance are assessed lower than that for opaque barriers and utilization of waste materials viz. plastic, rubber, bottom coal ash, etc. gives high noise attenuation along with low-cost efficiency. Noise pollution levels are high from prescribed noise limits in most of the Indian metropolitan cities. The Indian government is working on mitigation strategies of noise pollution as well as abiding laws regarding noise standards for the zone (residential, industrial, commercial, and silences) wise. In contrast, some communities which are adjacent to roads are suffering from high noise levels in the ambience. Therefore, it requires a coherent strategy for long-term measures intended at minimizing exposure of noise hence providing much more comfort to live, work, and shop near high-traffic roads. Noise barriers are highly beneficial in mitigating the emitted noise from the traffic.

ASPHALT CONCRETE MIXTURE PRODUCED USING RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENT AND FLY ASH AS ARTIFICIAL AGGREGATE AND FILLER

This study presents the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), and fly ash as artificial aggregate and filler in asphalt concrete. Because of the limited availability of natural materials, infrastructure development has become a concern. Therefore, it is necessary to reuse and recycle waste materials. One such innovation is artificial aggregates. The disadvantage of RAP is that its gradation exceeds the standard; its asphalt penetration and ductility exceed the requirements. The weaknesses of artificial aggregate are high water absorption, spherical shape, and low aggregate interlocking. In this study, the artificial aggregate was produced using the fly ash and alkali activator. Alkali activator consisted of Na2SiO3 and 8M NaOH at a ratio of 2.5. The mixtures containing different percentages of artificial aggregate (45, 55, 65, and 75%) were produced, and the fly ash filler content was 5%. Different tests including XRF, SEM, and Marshall tests were conducted. The artificial aggregate is hydrophilic owing to the high silica content; thus, it has high water absorption. This results in a low adhesion between the asphalt and aggregate. The best composition of asphalt concrete is 55% artificial aggregate, RAP, fly ash filler, and asphalt. The asphalt concrete containing artificial aggregate has high stability and is stiff and light. However, it requires a high asphalt content because of high water absorption. It is unsuitable for application in high traffic roads but suitable for medium traffic ones.

In-situ measurement of surface infiltration in flexible pavements

ABSTRACT The surface pavement infiltration is one of the main routes for the water to enter into a pavement structure. This infiltration must be measured since it produces damage to the pavement surface and the soil layers of the pavement. To measure the surface infiltration rates of pavements, a field infiltrometer was designed and instrumented. Using this equipment, several in-situ tests were conducted on both low and high traffic roads in Mexico. Because most of the water is believed to enter the pavement through the surface cracks, much of the testing is focused on cracked pavement surfaces. Nonetheless, tests were also conducted on uncracked surfaces and on pavements with open-graded asphalt courses to observe the variation of the infiltration rates regarding the type of pavement. To characterise the cracking, a computational program was developed to measure the cracking extension of the testing site using image processing techniques. Lastly, the results of all the in-situ testing were analysed carefully and some remarks about the utility of the equipment are presented.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter samples from Hanoi, Vietnam: Particle size distribution, aryl hydrocarbon ligand receptor activity, and implication for cancer risk assessment

Concentrations and profiles of unsubstituted and methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and Me-PAHs) were analyzed in airborne particulate matter (PM) samples collected from high-traffic roads in Hanoi urban area. Levels of PAHs and Me-PAHs ranged from 210 to 660 (average 420) ng/m3 in total PM, and these pollutants were mainly associated with fine particles (PM2.5) rather than coarser ones (PM > 10 and PM10). Proportions of high-molecular-weight compounds (i.e., 5- and 6-ring) increased with decreasing particle size. Benzo[b+k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[ghi]perylene were the most predominant compounds in the PM2.5 samples. In all the samples, Me-PAHs were less abundant than unsubstituted PAHs. The PAH-CALUX assays were applied to evaluate aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand activities in crude extracts and different fractions from the PM samples. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (BaP-EQs) derived by the PAH-CALUX assays for low polar fractions (mainly PAHs and Me-PAHs) ranged from 300 to 840 ng/m3, which were more consistent with theoretical values derived by using PAH-CALUX relative potencies (270–710 ng/m3) rather than conventional toxic equivalency factor-based values (22–69 ng/m3). Concentrations of PAHs and Me-PAHs highly correlated with bioassay-derived BaP-EQs. AhR-mediated activities of more polar compounds and interaction effects between PAH-related compounds were observed. By using PAH-CALUX BaP-EQs, the ILCR values ranged from 1.0 × 10−4 to 2.8 × 10−4 for adults and from 6.4 × 10−5 to 1.8 × 10−4 for children. Underestimation of cancer risk can be eliminated by using effect-directed method (e.g., PAH-CALUX) rather than chemical-specific approach.

Statistic Equation to Estimate the Amount of CO2 Emission Produced From High Traffic Density Roads

Energy consumption, especially the energy used for electricity supply has doubled in the past three decades, causing a drastic increase in the carbon emissions produced. Between 1990 and 2005 globally, the amount of CO2 emissions increased 25%. It is estimated that vehicles produce approximately 30% of the global NOx and 14% of global CO2 emissions. Egypt is the fourteenth biggest wellspring of CO2 emissions among all GEF program nations. It was proven that 66% of CO2 emissions comes from fossil fuel as a primary energy consuming source, playing a key role in the overall carbon intensity. The problem of this research is that the roads in developing countries produce a high level of carbon emissions, and the level is increasing due to the heavy usage of fossil fuels in the transportation sector. This research presents statistical analysis equation to analyse the amount of CO2 emissions produced from roads without using heavy and expensive equipment’s. Moreover, the equation can be used as a tool to estimate the amount of CO2 emissions produced from roads during the design phase in order to improve the design and reduce carbon emissions in roads. According to the statistics the main factors affecting the amount of CO2 produced in roads are the electricity generations, types of vehicles and vehicles speed. The research used experimental method to validate the equation by measuring CO2 emissions in high traffic density road using measuring device and compared the measuring results with the statistic equation results. The presented equation should help in reducing the amount of CO2 produced in roads, in return it will help in reducing the growth of global problems such as climate change and ozone depletion.

An investigation of the effect of thermoplastic additives in asphalt concrete mixtures on the properties of different types of asphalt concrete

The effect of modification of asphalt concrete mixtures of different grain sizes with “Ric-Polycell” (Ukraine) and “Duroflex®-SMA” thermoplastic polymers (Germany), which were added directly to the asphalt mixer during their preparation, on the properties of asphalt concrete was studied. It is confirmed that it is more expedient to use stone mastic asphalt concretes with a larger size of mineral crushed stone grains on high-traffic roads, as they are more rutting-resistant compared to asphalt concretes with smaller size and content of crushed stone grains. The effect of the temperature of preparation and thermostating of asphalt concrete mixtures modified with the investigated thermoplastics on the compressive strength of asphalt concrete at a temperature of 50 °С, which were made of the studied mixtures, was investigated. It was found that the maximum possible temperatures of preparation and thermostating of asphalt concrete mixes provide a more complete modification. The effect of the content of thermoplastic polymers in the composition of asphalt concrete mixtures on the properties and rutting resistance of fine-grained asphalt concrete, as well as stone mastic asphalt concrete, was studied. It was found that adding the “Ric-Polycell” polymer in the amount of 1.5 % and 3 % by weight of bitumen in the composition of the studied asphalt mixtures in the asphalt mixer during their preparation increases the rutting resistance of asphalt concrete under the studied conditions by 2.52–3.86 times. Modification of asphalt concrete mixtures with the “Duroflex®-SMA” additive in the amount of 0.3 % and 0.6 % by weight of the aggregate by a similar technology also allows increasing the rutting resistance of the obtained asphalt concrete by 1.86–3.16 times. Using these modifiers in the future will have a positive effect on the service life of the entire pavement structure

Reinterpreting of mobility in high traffic streets in the Anápolis-GO downtown

The Brazilian urban centers, in general, emit a saturated landscape of vehicles with visual, noise, thermal, andatmospheric pollution causing stress and discomfort. Thinking about sustainable mobility is the principle of planning for such space’s reformulation, to make them truly pleasant and efficient public spaces. Observing the need of users in the city traffic of Anápolis-GO, this research has essay investigative character based on bibliographical research, census and case study. Done through an analysis of the flow and the aggravating conditions of urban mobility in that region, to enable efficient use of space and consistent with demand from users. The research presents viable alternatives, changing the conformation, the organization of the transit and essentially the cultural meaning of this space, basing on preference to sustainable modes, or even physical restructuring of components that complicating the access to any person.

Anarchy\u2019s Neighborhoods: the Formation of a Quadriplex Urban Ecology

In each of four nearby city areas, residents orient to local centers of collective activity in different geographic patterns. In a “perimeter” neighborhood, residents and outsiders are drawn to religious and retail organizations located on streets that form a rectangle. In an “intersection” neighborhood, residents are most visible to each other at an agglomeration of stores and services located where two high traffic streets cross. Residents of an “in-between” area travel to socio-economically and culturally different neighborhoods centered in all directions elsewhere. In a “contested” geography, rival organizations disagree over who, living where, for what purposes, has the right to define the neighborhood’s boundaries and social identity. These different social ecologies took shape without coordination yet became an interdependent, quadriplex set. After 1965, a series of retreats in government control of local social life created unprecedented opportunities for intermediaries who reshaped the social landscape with new businesses, cultural institutions, and interpretations of neighborhood identity. This case study revives the “collective action” explanations of the “Chicago School” by showing how urban social ecology was transformed in the late twentieth century as people of different generations and in different geographic areas interacted indirectly, creating durable neighborhood patterns without centralized, top-down leadership from business or government, in response to locally recognized affordances of anarchy.

Performance Evaluation of Studded Tire Ruts for Asphalt Mix Designs in a Cold Region Environment

Studded tire wear is one of the most important contributing factors that govern pavement life on high traffic volume roads in south-central Alaska. It has been estimated that the annual cost to repair damage caused by studded tires in Alaska is approximately $13.7 million. Polymer modified asphalt binders and hard aggregate are commonly used in mix designs in the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities projects in an attempt to resist studded tire wear. This research provides a field performance-based analysis of the use of hard aggregate and polymer modified binders related to the reduction of the impact of studded tire wear. To analyze the performance of modification in asphalt mix designs, roadway data was gathered from the Alaska Department of Transportation Pavement Management System Database and roads were grouped into deterioration families based on mix design properties. Relationships of each deterioration are presented to show cumulative average annual daily traffic versus total rut depth, comparing mix designs with and without hard aggregate and polymer modification. Findings indicated that both polymer modification and hard aggregate can be used to reduce the impact of studded tire wear. The benefits of polymer modification and hard aggregate proved more significant as cumulative traffic volumes increase. Recommendations from the performance analysis included continuing the use of hard aggregate and polymer modified binders on Alaskan roadways with continuous research on the use of more highly modified asphalt binders to further reduce the impact of studded tire wear.

Snakes on a lane: Road type and edge habitat predict hotspots of snake road mortality

Roads constitute just 1% of the total land in the US, but their impacts on wildlife are significant and far-reaching. Snakes are particularly susceptible to road mortality because many species do not avoid crossing roads, may use the road’s surface to thermoregulate, or freeze when approached by a vehicle. We conducted opportunistic surveys to collect road mortality points for snakes in southeastern Ohio over 15 years (2003–2018). We used logistic regression to predict roadkill hotspots and evaluate variables that influence road mortality. The species most frequently found dead on roads were Black Ratsnakes (Pantherophis spiloides), Northern Black Racers (Coluber constrictor), Eastern Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), and Rough Greensnakes (Opheodrys aestivus). Across the 14 snake species we recorded dead on roads, percent pasture within a 100 m buffer of the roadkill point, township route, county route, and state route were all negative predictors of road mortality. All surveys started in Athens, Ohio, and distance to roadkill locations was a positive predictor for road mortality. These results indicate that high-traffic roads pose a risk to snake populations, but that mortality also occurs on low-traffic roads as well. Our top model showed that low levels of pasture embedded in other land cover types was an important predictor of roadkill, suggesting that edge habitat contributes to snake road mortality. Because road mortality does not seem to be localized, road mortality mitigation structures such as underpasses and fences may have limited benefits for snake populations in our study area. The creation of edge habitat away from roads could provide snakes with necessary habitat without increasing their risk of mortality.

Determination of the Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of Electric Arc Furnace Slags and Environmental Evaluation of the Process for Their Utilization as an Aggregate in Bituminous Mixtures.

Road construction is an activity that demands a significant amount of aggregates for bituminous mixtures. In addition, these aggregates must be of a suitable quality for use, even more so on high traffic roads. In response to this problem, and in order to avoid the extraction of new raw materials, research is being carried out using industrial waste as a substitute for conventional aggregates. In this way, the extraction of raw materials is reduced and landfilling of waste is avoided. However, these wastes must have certain properties and environmental advantages over natural aggregates. Otherwise, the use of waste would not be environmentally beneficial but would be more damaging to the environment. For this reason, this research evaluates the viability of using electric arc furnace slag as aggregates for bituminous mixtures, the main objectives being the determination of the characteristics of the by-product, the particularities and the critical points to be taken into account for its subsequent use in mixtures. At the same time, the environmental advantages of treating this waste to obtain a usable aggregate are evaluated in comparison with the processing of a natural aggregate. The results showed that electric arc furnace slags have a suitable chemical composition and excellent physical and mechanical properties for use in bituminous mixtures, even on high traffic roads. At the same time, it was determined that their use produces a considerable reduction in environmental afflictions. Therefore, it could be affirmed that the use of electric arc furnace slags in bituminous mixtures is recommendable as a way to develop more sustainable materials for construction.

Influence of Local Sources and Meteorological Parameters on the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Ultrafine Particles in Augsburg, Germany

Ultrafine particles (UFP; diameter less than 100 nm) are ubiquitous in urban air, and an acknowledged risk to human health. At the same time, little is known about the immission situation at typical urban sites such as high-traffic roads, residential areas with a high amount of solid fuels for home heating or commercial and industrial areas due to missing legal requirements for measurements of UFP. Therefore, UFP were measured and evaluated in the (sub-)urban background as well as on spots influenced by these various anthropogenic local sources in the city of Augsburg, Germany, for the year 2017. In particular, the spatial and temporal correlations of the UFP concentrations between the seven measurement sites, the quantification and valuation of the contribution of local emitters with regard to their diurnal, weekly and seasonal variations and the influence of meteorological conditions on the formation and dispersion of UFP were investigated. Our analysis results demonstrate that urban UFP concentrations show a pronounced temporal and spatial variability. The mean concentration level of UFP varies between below 8,000 ultrafine particles/cm3at the suburban background site and above 16,700 ultrafine particles/cm3at the measurement station located next to a busy street canyon. At this particularly traffic-exposed measurement station, maximum concentrations of over 50,000 ultrafine particles/cm3were measured. The additional UFP load caused by intensive traffic volume during evening rush hour in connection with the unfavourable exchange processes in the street canyon can be quantified to concentrations of 14,000 ultrafine particles/cm3on average (compared to the immission situation of the urban background). An aggravating effect is brought about by inversion weather conditions in connection with air-polluted easterly winds, low wind speeds, lack of precipitation and very low mixing layer heights, such as over Augsburg at the end of January 2017, and cause peak concentrations of UFP.

ЕКОЛОГІЧНІ ПРОБЛЕМИ ПІДЗЕМНОЇ І НАЗЕМНОЇ УРБАНІСТИКИ

Purpose. The aim of the study is to predict the potential risk of urban air pollution by toxic components of exhaust gases of vehicles in terms of the underground and terrestrial urban planning, in particular, street canyons, underground pedestrian crossings, underground parking lots, etc. Methods. The following research methodology was used in the work: on the basis of space-time field observations of the intensity, density and speed of traffic flows, as well as using mathematical modeling methods it was proved that urban air pollution (of the roadside space, adjacent territories of well-type yards, underground infrastructure, etc.) by toxicants, which are components of vehicle engine emissions, remains at a high, often environmentally hazardous level, and therefore requires urgent development and implementation of the appropriate precautionary measures. Results. The analysis of problems of ecological safety of city objects of terrestrial (high-traffic roads, adjacent territories) and underground (underground pedestrian crossings, garages, parking lots) urbanistics allowed to reveal direct and indirect negative influences on air environment from emissions of motor vehicles; using mathematical modeling methods to predict the fields of concentration of major toxicants and identify areas of local emergency pollution in different weather conditions, identify the most unfavorable directions and wind speeds and assess the level of environmental hazards to human health (residents of houses located in the well-type yards, pedestrians, owners of underground garages (parking lots), tenants of parking spaces, etc.). Scientific novelty. The study revealed direct and indirect negative effects of the motor transport complex on the air environment of urban territories (objects of terrestrial and underground urbanistics), in particular, based on the use of mathematical modeling methods. The level of environmental danger to the health of urban residents has been assessed. Practical significance. The results of the study can be used in the design and construction of urban infrastructure, as well as to reduce the technogenic load on the environment and human health in existing objects of terrestrial and underground urbanistics and other city areas.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ЗАГРЯЗНЕННОСТИ ПРИЗЕМНОГО СЛОЯ АТМОСФЕРЫ НА КАДАСТРОВУЮ СТОИМОСТЬ ЗЕМЕЛЬНЫХ УЧАСТКОВ ПОД ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНОЕ ЖИЛИЩНОЕ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВО В ГРАНИЦАХ ПРИДОРОЖНЫХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЙ ТРАССЫ «ТАВРИДА»

Environmental problems of transport impact on the natural environment in Russia do not lose their relevance. Automobile transport is the leading source of environmental pollution, and the amount of emissions can reach 90 %. These processes are actively manifested within the boundaries of the influence of high-traffic roads. Thus, the tasks of taking into account the pollution level of the surface atmospheric layer in order to clarify the cadastral value of lands located within the boundaries of road-side territories acquire particular relevance. The work used mathematical models to calculate the emission power and surface concentrations of the pollutant (Gaussian atmospheric diffusion model). The interpolation method was used to determine the correction factors for different zones of pollution with carbon monoxide. The authors considered the carbon monoxide pollution density of the roadside territories and stated that the part of federal road "Tavrida" (settlement Zuia) has 121 land plots on the higher-polluted territory, which have the permitted use of "private housing construction" (PHC), there-fore it is considered necessary to correct their cadastral cost taking into account air pollution. The obtained results allows to clarify the local correction coefficients used in the cadastral assessment of roadside territories.

Environmental monitoring of toxic metals in roadside soil and dust in Ulsan, South Korea: pollution evaluation and distribution characteristics

This study investigated toxic metal distribution in roadside soil and dust in the metropolitan city of Ulsan, South Korea, and the factors affecting distribution, using Korean waste-leaching tests, determination of total concentrations, sequential extraction, and statistical analysis. Composite grab samples were collected from high-traffic roads (7 sites), low-traffic roads (2 sites), and an uncontaminated control area (2 sites) in Ulsan. The pH of roadside soil and dust was slightly alkaline. The concentrations of copper, lead, and zinc in soil as determined by Korean waste-leaching tests decreased as soil depth increased, while those of arsenic, nickel, and chromium increased. Leaching concentrations in dust were lower than in soil, with the exception of copper. Total concentrations decreased as soil depth increased, and total concentrations of metals in dust were higher than in soil. The sampling sites that exceeded the regulation levels of soil contamination in South Korea were 7 points in topsoil, 3 points in middle soil, and 9 points in dust. TCLP tests showed that the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in topsoil and dust at Duwang and Myeongchon intersections were higher than regulatory levels. The maximum correlation coefficient among two metals in soil and dust was 0.987 (p < 0.01), for cadmium and lead. Concentrations of cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, nickel, and mercury, mostly from tire and brake-pad abrasion, were highly correlated. The strong positive correlation between traffic volume and metals in dust suggests that vehicle emissions may be responsible for metal contamination of soil and dust. Pollution indices of topsoil at 4 sites and all dust at 7 high-traffic sites were higher than 1.0, which is consistent with an effect of vehicle traffic on metal contamination in soil and dust.

Health risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in street dust of federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of this study was to assess contamination and potential human health risks of heavy metals in street dust from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H). In total, 117 street dust samples were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Health risk assessment was applied to determine potential health risks, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, in children and adults. According to mass concentrations of studied trace metals, the dust samples were arranged as the following diminishing series: industrial zone > high traffic streets > streets with moderate traffic > parking place > parks, school yards, sports facilities, medical facilities. Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn mean concentrations are 3.18, 33.17, 30.01, 3150, 236, 73.00, 52.49 and 81.72 mg/kg, respectively. In order to identify possible metals sources correlation analysis was applied. Strong correlations between Cd-Mn, Fe-Mn, Ni-Cr, and Cr-Fe were obtained, suggesting a common dependence or source of these metals in street dust in FB&H. Contributor that most impact the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk is the ingestion route for both, children and adults, followed by the dermal and inhalation pathways. The risk assessment shows that the population of FB&H is at increased lifetime risk of experiencing cancer because of exposure to Cr and Pb concentrations in street dust of FB&H.

Mobile air quality measurements using bicycle to obtain spatial distribution and high temporal resolution in and around the city center of Stuttgart

Cities often have a problem regarding the air quality because various emissions are produced within these cities and local emission sources among others relate directly to the air quality. As an addition to stationary monitoring stations, mobile measurements can provide valuable information regarding spatial distribution of pollutants. In this research, a case study is presented to illustrate the design and implementation of mobile measurement platform with a bicycle. Different compact measuring devices were selected and installed on the bicycle for mobile measurements along a designated route in Stuttgart, Germany. The measured pollutants included Particulate Matter (PM), Ultrafine Particles (UFP), Black Carbon (BC), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2 and NOX) and ozone (O3). Meteorological parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation and air pressure were also measured. These measured parameters were allocated to the location using a GPS device. The measurements were carried out during February 2018. The measurement route covered part of the city center with high traffic roads as well as side roads and a park. The results show a very high spatial variability and the pollutant concentration was influenced by different factors such as local traffic, measurement location, meteorological conditions, etc. For NO, NO2 and UFP, the concentrations in the park (which can be considered as urban background level) were only around 30%–50% of the measured concentrations directly on the roadside. For PM10, the differences between the concentrations on the road and in urban background were less pronounced but still clearly measurable. The mobile measurement platform with the bicycle provided an opportunity to have a spatial distribution of a larger study area and proved to be highly adaptive and flexible method.

Traffic noise, air pollutants and incidence of diabetes mellitus: a population cohort study in Milan

Abstract Background Recent evidence suggests a link between long-term exposure to traffic-related pollution and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. The present study aims at exploring this association in a highly urbanized setting such as the city of Milan. Methods This is a population-based retrospective dynamic cohort study in the municipality of Milan. All residents aged &amp;gt;35 years with no prior diagnosis of diabetes were included (N = 1096654), with follow-up ranging from January 2011 to June 2019. The residential address of each subject was geocoded and assigned mean values of traffic noise at the day-evening-night level (Lden, dB) and NO2 concentration (µg/m3) using a noise predictive model and a NO2 land-use regression model with 30x30 m grid resolution. Associations with a new diagnosis of diabetes were assessed with Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, nationality and a socio-economic deprivation index. A dichotomous classification of addresses as city center/suburban based on the External Ring Road as a delimiter was also used for a stratified analysis. Results New diagnoses of diabetes occurred in 26134 subjects (2.4%). Models using NO2, either continuous or ranked into quintiles, yielded no significant results. When using noise to categorize traffic intensity (&amp;lt;65/65-69/70-74/≥75 dB), a positive yet non-significant trend was shown. At stratified analysis, increases in risk were found for the two highest levels of exposure in the city center (70-74 dB: HR 1.141, 95% C.I. 1.013-1.284; ≥75 dB: HR 1.185, 95% C.I. 1.058-1.328). Conclusions Residential proximity to high-traffic roads categorized according to traffic noise was found to be associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with diabetes. The effect is evident in the city center, whereas in the suburban area it might be masked by individual and lifestyle factors that ought to be investigated in future studies. Key messages Living close to high-traffic roads in a highly urbanized environment increases the risk of diabetes. Policies aimed at reducing traffic intensity in large cities may lower the incidence of this highly prevalent chronic condition.