A study of traffic-related particulate air pollution

Abstract

Particulate air pollution (PMio) was monitored at a busy urban intersection using a continuous method. Meteorological conditions: wind speed, wind direction, air temperature and percent relative humidity were measured continuously, in conjunction with PMio. Traffic volume counts were obtained for part of the monitoring period. Motor vehicles were identified as being the main contributor to the overall PMio level at the intersection. The meteorological parameters were assessed to establish their effect on the measured PMio mass concentration values. A model of the relationships was developed and evaluated. The model was found to be reasonable in predicting PMio values based on historical data. An empirical technique was investigated based on the developed model to assess the suitability to prediction of daily PMio average values. The empirical technique was concluded to be unacceptable when applied to PMio due to the nature of the pollutant itself.