SO2 in Beirut: air quality implication and effects of local emissions and long-range transport

Abstract

While sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions have been dramatically restricted in the past few decades, some cities in developing countries still encounter high pollution levels. This makes it essential to implement an air quality monitoring network in these sensitive regions. Results from a program of measuring groundlevel concentration of SO 2 (from December 2004 till July 2006) at 22 curbside and background sites within the city of Beirut (Lebanon) are presented for the first time. Four-week sampling period measurements were made over 20 periods for all sites by passive sampling. Low SO 2 concentrations were observed (3.1 parts per billion on average for the whole period). This value is among the lowest observed in urban areas worldwide. Thus, Beirut is not polluted by SO 2 on an annual basis. Highest concentrations were measured in winter time, resulting from low height of the boundary layer and higher emissions of SO 2 (e.g., heating). Cluster analysis revealed two different SO 2 variation patterns over the city (high-and low-level patterns), highlighting the effects of local sources location and wind direction variability on SO 2 distribution. Analysis of seasonal variations pointed out a springtime SO 2 maximum in 2005. Beside local sources, long-range transport can account for an important source of SO 2 in Beirut, explaining around 50% of SO 2 levels within the city.

Trends of Ambient Concentrations of Gaseous Air Pollutants in Almadinah Al Menawwarah, Central Area, Saudi Arabia

“…The average concentrations of NO x (0.095 ppm) in the present study was lower than that found in holy Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, during Hajj season 1425 H (0.15 ppm), (Al-Jeelani, 2009b) and much higher than those found in Al-Taneem area in the Holy Makkah city, Saudi Arabia (0.033 ppm), (Al-Jeelani, 2009a) The daily average concentrations of SO 2 (0.011 ppm) ( Fig. 1) was nearly similar to those found in Al-Taneem area in the Holy Makkah city, Saudi Arabia (0.010 ppm), (Al-Jeelani, 2009a) and in Ankara, Turkey (0.011 ppm), (DRSCH, 2006).On the other hand, the average concentrations of SO 2 in the present study was lower than those found in Dokki, Giza, Egypt (0.048 ppm) in winter and (0.032 ppm) in summer, (Khoder, 2002), in Dhaka, Bangladesh (0.045 ppm) (Gurjar et al, 2008) and in China (0.114 ppm), (Lei et al, 1997) and relatively lower than those found in Mexico City, Mexico (0.018 ppm), (Gurjar et al, 2008) and in Eskisehir, Turkey (0.018 ppm)\ (Özden et al, 2008) in Izmir, Turkey (0.015 ppm), (DRSCH, 2006) On the other hand, the average concentration of SO 2 in the current study was much higher than those found in Beirut, Lebanon (0.003 ppm), (Afif et al, 2008), in Roma, Italy (0.006 ppm) (Avino and Manigrasso, 2008), in Pamplona, Spain (0.003 ppm) (Zabalza et al, 2007) in Thurroch, UK (0.002 ppm), (UK Air Quality Archive, 2008) and relatively higher than that found in New York, USA (0.009 ppm) (USEPA, 2008) and in Beijing (0.009 ppm) (Wang et al, 2008) The daily average concentrations of O 3 (0.009 ppm) in this study were much lower than those found in Giza (Haram), Egypt, during the winter (0.030 ppm), spring (0.048 ppm), summer (0,064 ppm) and autumn (0.043 ppm), (Khoder, 2009), and in the city centre of Cairo, Egypt, (0.040, 0.058, 0.079, 0.051 ppm) during the corresponding seasons, respectively (Khoder, 2004), in Eskisehir, Turkey (0.019 and 0.027 ppm) during the winter (0.019 ppm) and in summer (0.027 ppm), (Özden et al, 2008) and in Al-Taneem area in the Holy Makkah city, Saudi Arabia (0.021 ppm), (Al-Jeelani, 2009a). In contrast SO 2 average concentration was higher than that found in the Holy Makkah city, Saudi Arabia during Hajj season 1425 H (0.004 ppm), (Al-Jeelani, 2009b).…”

“…In addition, atmospheric oxidation of SO 2 by hydroxide radical (OH), O 3 and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) contributes to acid deposition and sulfate formation (Finlayson-Pitts andPitts, 2000 andUSEPA, 2008).The major source of SO 2 is the combustion of fossil fuels containing sulfur, in particular from power stations burning coal and heavy fuel oil (Afif et al, 2008). Although road transport is a minor source of SO 2 at the national level, it can be important in some urban areas, especially alongside busy roads (Holgate et al, 1999).…”

Comparison between ultrafine and fine particulate matter collected in Lebanon: Chemical characterization, in vitro cytotoxic effects and metabolizing enzymes gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells

“…At 3 Km North of the site resides the Beirut harbor and at 8 km from its South-Western side, the international airport of Beirut is located. The main source of pollution in Beirut is vehicle traffic, the industrial activity being little developed in the surrounding city (Afif et al, 2008).…”

Statistical Study for Leaching of Covellite in a Chloride Media

“…Sulfurized copper ores are generally treated by flotation-smelting-refining [5][6][7]. Although they have reported economic [8] and metallurgical viability, there are environmental problems associated with the emission of sulfur dioxide and arsenic [9][10][11][12][13]. Arsenic, which has continuously increased in recent decades with the increasing extraction of copper sulfide [14], presents a risk to human health associated with a higher incidence of cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [15].…”