Measurements of Local Sources of Particulates with a Portable Monitor along the Coast of an Insular City

Abstract

The air quality of modern cities is considered an important factor for the quality of life of humans and therefore is being safeguarded by various international organizations, concentrating on the mass concentration of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10, 2.5 and 1 μm. However, the different physical and anthropogenic processes and activities within the city contribute to the rise of fine (<1 μm) and coarse (>1 μm) particles, directly impacting human health and the environment. In order to monitor certain natural and anthropogenic events, suspecting their significant contribution to PM concentrations, seven different events taking place on the coastal front of the city of Limassol (Cyprus) were on-site monitored using a portable PM instrument; these included both natural (e.g., dust event) and anthropogenic (e.g., cement factory, meat festival, tall building construction, tire factory, traffic jam, dust road) emissions taking place in spring and summer periods. The violations of the limits that were noticed were attributed mainly to the various anthropogenic activities taking place on-site, revealing once more the need for further research and continuous monitoring of air quality.

Dust Emission Monitoring in Cement Plant Mills: A Case Study in Romania

“…In the vicinity of cement plants, relatively high concentrations of PM could be observed, reaching an average value of about 388 µg/m 3 for PM 10 and 386 µg/m 3 for PM 2.5 . Still, at the same time, high instantaneous measurements were recorded up to 12,200 µg/m 3 (PM 2.5 ) [25]. The analysis results show that the number of diseases is higher as the dust particles are smaller (even below 1 mm).…”

Environmental sustainability assessment of excavation, construction, and demolition waste conditions and practices across Greece and Cyprus

“…The construction industry uses a significant part of the natural non-renewable resources, as a result of which it is responsible for the most serious local and global environmental changes, the pollution of the environment as well as for the depletion of resources. The construction sector is therefore vital to sustainability and sustainable development [53][54][55]. Sustainability in construction to date has usually concerned technical issues and usually depends on the conditions and level of development of each country.…”

Waste Strategies Development in the Framework of Circular Economy

“…Especially in modern cities, air pollution plays a fundamental role in human health, and especially the concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 µm. The PM concentrations were measured in the city of Limassol in Cyprus from natural (e.g., dust events) and anthropogenic (i.e., traffic, cement works, restaurants) activities in two seasons: summer and spring [9]. The results were useful to monitor the air quality in cities.…”