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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In this paper is presented firstly the traffic and emission characterization of Via
de Cintura Interna (VCI), an urban highway at Oporto city, Portugal, with more
than 4 000 vehicles/hour during rush hours. Emission estimates were carried
through on the basis of emission factors to road transport published in the
Atmospheric Emission Inventory Guidebook. A weighed emission factor has
been calculated for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and vehicle class, according to the
Portuguese fleet composition (vehicles age, type of engine and average speed).
Furthermore, during a three-week period, an outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
monitoring campaign was carried out in a domain around the VCI (100 m for
each side), in particular near residential buildings. The results demonstrate that
higher NO2 concentrations are seen in the sub-domain with higher circulation of
heavy-duty vehicles and where buildings are adjacent to VCI hindering pollutant
dispersion. Meteorological conditions, such as wind intensity and direction,
temperature and solar radiation were monitorized too. The NO2 concentrations
obtained by the monitoring campaign have been used to create scenarios of
population exposure to NO2, having taken into account the time-activity patterns
of residents. It was verified that higher exposures occur when the population
lives in Boavista, in contrast with the favourable scenario that corresponds to life
in Prelada and those working in Espinho city. The work and results presented in
this paper are a part of the methodology used in the scope of the ImpactAir
Project. This project, started in 2003 in Oporto city, has the main objective of
evaluating the impact of urban highway (VCI) traffic emissions on air quality
and the health of the local population.
Description
Keywords
Air pollution Traffic Population exposure Health risk
Citation
Publisher
WIT Press