Mobile measurements of black carbon: Comparison of normal traffic with reduced traffic conditions during COVID-19 lock-down.

Autor: Van Poppel M; Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium., Peters J; Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium., Levei EA; Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Mărmureanu L; Remote Sensing Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE2000, 409 Atomiştilor, RO077125, Măgurele, Ilfov, Romania., Moldovan A; Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Hoaghia MA; Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Varaticeanu C; Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Van Laer J; Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Atmospheric environment (Oxford, England : 1994) [Atmos Environ (1994)] 2023 Mar 15; Vol. 297, pp. 119594. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jan 13.
DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119594
Abstrakt: A mobile monitoring campaign was conducted (by bicycle) to assess the black carbon (BC) concentrations in Cluj-Napoca city, Romania, in 2020, before, during and after COVID-19 lock-down. Over the entire study period, the BC concentrations ranged between 1.0 and 25.9 μg/m³ (averaged per street section and period characterized by different traffic conditions). Marked spatial and temporal differences were observed. Observed differences in BC concentrations between locations are attributed to traffic intensities, with average BC concentrations, under normal circumstances, of 6.6-14.3 μg/m³ at roads with high to intense traffic, compared to 2.8-3.1 μg/m³ at areas with reduced traffic, such as residential areas, parks and pedestrian streets. The COVID-19 measures impacted traffic volumes, and hence average BC concentrations decreased from 5.9 μg/m³ to 3.0 μg/m³ during lock-down and in a lower extent to 3.4 μg/m³ and 4.4 μg/m³ in post-lockdown periods with reduced and more normalized traffic. Two approaches to account for variations in background concentrations when comparing different situations in time are assessed. Subtracting background concentrations that are measured at background sites along the monitoring route is an appropriate method to assess spatio-temporal differences in concentrations. A reduction of about 1-2 μg/m³ was observed for the streets with low to medium traffic, and up to 6 μg/m³ at high traffic locations under lockdown. The approach presented in this study, using mobile measurements, is useful to understand the personal exposure to BC along the roads in different seasons and the influence of traffic reduction on BC pollution during prolonged restrictions. All these will support policymakers to reduce pollution and achieve EU directives targets and WHO recommendations.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(© 2023 The Authors.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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