Traffic-related air pollution in an industrial area

Abstract

Motor vehicles are a significant source of air pollution and recent studies suggest an association between automobile emissions and increased respiratory symptoms or diminished pulmonary function. In industrial areas - due to the dependence of industries on motor vehicles for the transport of products and workers and because stringent emission controls have been implemented in order to reduce the release of pollutants from the stationary sources - the weight of traffic has been increasing, compared with local anthropogenic sources. The objective of this work was to assess the relation between pollutant concentrations, traffic fluxes and meteorology near the main roadway of an industrial area. During two weeks, air pollution measurements were performed in site X and Y located 7 and 70 meters from this heavy traffic road. A mobile station, located at Site X, measured the pollutants PM10, PM2.5, NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, O3, benzene, toluene, xylene and PAHs and meteorological parameters. At Site Y, only PM2.5 and PM10 were assessed continuously. In parallel, a traffic count was performed in order to get the local vehicle fleet. Results showed positive correlations between traffic and the pollutants NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, xylene and PM10. For PM10 and SO2; these correlations increased when calculated for heavy duty vehicles instead of total vehicles. This work highlights the complex mixture of pollutants present in the near-road of an industrial area and contributed to the evaluation of the role of traffic emissions with the air quality in the industrial area of Mitrena. © 2014 WIT Press.