Spatial concentration distributions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in Patras, Greece, in a winter period

Abstract

An economic and quick methodology for performing a preliminary spatial assessment of a city air quality with the purpose to identify locations and zones susceptible to high pollution levels is proposed. A Patras case-study is selected, regarding the air pollutants of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)). A total number of 451 samples of short duration, of which 225 were randomly picked in morning rush hours and 226 within evening rush hours, were collected from 50 locations of the major Patras area during a year period, when peaks of primary air pollutants usually occur. Concentration measurements at prescribed locations used to statistically calculate spatial average concentrations approximating 1-h mean values with mean probable errors less than 25.9% for SO(2), NO and NO(x) and less than 15.5% for NO(2). Then iso-concentration contour diagrams plotted indicate high pollution zones and possibly appropriate locations for continuous or random monitoring according to the European Community (EC) Directives. The 1-h mean concentrations were in good correlation to the corresponding traffic rates and useful relationships are given (0.54 <or= r <or= 0.63). In addition, comparisons with data available for other cities, as well as with the limit and guide values provided by the EC and the World Health Organization (WHO) were given. The present data could be useful for the design and optimization of a city network of stations for monitoring air quality, for environmental impact assessments, future reference and comparisons due to city development needs, as well as for validating dispersion models.

Passive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in urban air: A case study of Durban metropolis, South Africa

“…This represented the dry season (winter) for the city. Similar findings were reported by Yannopoulos (2007). Furthermore, the inversion layer, which is quite pronounced during this season, traps pollutants in ambient air.…”

“…However the cost of routine monitoring on a periodic basis may be beyond the budgets of some municipalities if sophisticated and expensive methods are utilised. In this regard, the report of Yannopoulos (2007), on the spatial distribution of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in Patras, Greece, supports our view that economic methods for monitoring air quality are needed by some towns and cities. The latter could use such methods to establish an affordable network of air quality monitoring stations.…”

Passive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in urban air: A case study of Durban metropolis, South Africa

“…This represented the dry season (winter) for the city. Similar findings were reported by Yannopoulos (2007). Furthermore, the inversion layer, which is quite pronounced during this season, traps pollutants in ambient air.…”

“…However the cost of routine monitoring on a periodic basis may be beyond the budgets of some municipalities if sophisticated and expensive methods are utilised. In this regard, the report of Yannopoulos (2007), on the spatial distribution of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in Patras, Greece, supports our view that economic methods for monitoring air quality are needed by some towns and cities. The latter could use such methods to establish an affordable network of air quality monitoring stations.…”

Assessment of the prevailing environmental conditions: in the town of Patras, Greece with emphasis on areas with school buildings

“…It is noted that a school unit exists at a short distance from the new port of Patras. Yannopoulos (2007) showed that there is a good positive correlation between average hourly concentrations of SO2 and NO2 at various stations in the city of Patras during the peak traffic hours.…”

“…Based on the levels of SO2, NO, NO2 concentrations at a significant number of stations, maps were drawn showing the geographic changes of the values of the above pollutants, the source of which is attributable to road traffic (Yannopoulos, 2007). A detailed examination of the position of the schools studied here, in relation to the concentration curves of these pollutants in the city of Patras, shows that there are schools which fall within the zones of maximum or high concentrations of these pollutants.…”

Quick and Economic Spatial Assessment of Urban Air Quality

“…The mean probable error made for each final grid matrix of average concentrations can be calculated and tabulated. As we can see in Chapter 3, the maximum values of mean probable errors were around 25% and they depend on the parameter measured (Yannopoulos, 2007a). The ratio of peak to mean concentrations at the ground level depends on the stability of the atmosphere and the type of terrain that the pollutant is passing over.…”

Passive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in urban air: A case study of Durban metropolis, South Africa

“…This represented the dry season (winter) for the city. Similar findings were reported by Yannopoulos (2007). Furthermore, the inversion layer, which is quite pronounced during this season, traps pollutants in ambient air.…”

“…However the cost of routine monitoring on a periodic basis may be beyond the budgets of some municipalities if sophisticated and expensive methods are utilised. In this regard, the report of Yannopoulos (2007), on the spatial distribution of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in Patras, Greece, supports our view that economic methods for monitoring air quality are needed by some towns and cities. The latter could use such methods to establish an affordable network of air quality monitoring stations.…”

Assessment of the prevailing environmental conditions: in the town of Patras, Greece with emphasis on areas with school buildings

“…It is noted that a school unit exists at a short distance from the new port of Patras. Yannopoulos (2007) showed that there is a good positive correlation between average hourly concentrations of SO2 and NO2 at various stations in the city of Patras during the peak traffic hours.…”

“…Based on the levels of SO2, NO, NO2 concentrations at a significant number of stations, maps were drawn showing the geographic changes of the values of the above pollutants, the source of which is attributable to road traffic (Yannopoulos, 2007). A detailed examination of the position of the schools studied here, in relation to the concentration curves of these pollutants in the city of Patras, shows that there are schools which fall within the zones of maximum or high concentrations of these pollutants.…”

Quick and Economic Spatial Assessment of Urban Air Quality

“…The mean probable error made for each final grid matrix of average concentrations can be calculated and tabulated. As we can see in Chapter 3, the maximum values of mean probable errors were around 25% and they depend on the parameter measured (Yannopoulos, 2007a). The ratio of peak to mean concentrations at the ground level depends on the stability of the atmosphere and the type of terrain that the pollutant is passing over.…”

Passive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in urban air: A case study of Durban metropolis, South Africa

“…This represented the dry season (winter) for the city. Similar findings were reported by Yannopoulos (2007). Furthermore, the inversion layer, which is quite pronounced during this season, traps pollutants in ambient air.…”

“…However the cost of routine monitoring on a periodic basis may be beyond the budgets of some municipalities if sophisticated and expensive methods are utilised. In this regard, the report of Yannopoulos (2007), on the spatial distribution of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in Patras, Greece, supports our view that economic methods for monitoring air quality are needed by some towns and cities. The latter could use such methods to establish an affordable network of air quality monitoring stations.…”

Assessment of the prevailing environmental conditions: in the town of Patras, Greece with emphasis on areas with school buildings

“…It is noted that a school unit exists at a short distance from the new port of Patras. Yannopoulos (2007) showed that there is a good positive correlation between average hourly concentrations of SO2 and NO2 at various stations in the city of Patras during the peak traffic hours.…”

“…Based on the levels of SO2, NO, NO2 concentrations at a significant number of stations, maps were drawn showing the geographic changes of the values of the above pollutants, the source of which is attributable to road traffic (Yannopoulos, 2007). A detailed examination of the position of the schools studied here, in relation to the concentration curves of these pollutants in the city of Patras, shows that there are schools which fall within the zones of maximum or high concentrations of these pollutants.…”

Quick and Economic Spatial Assessment of Urban Air Quality

“…The mean probable error made for each final grid matrix of average concentrations can be calculated and tabulated. As we can see in Chapter 3, the maximum values of mean probable errors were around 25% and they depend on the parameter measured (Yannopoulos, 2007a). The ratio of peak to mean concentrations at the ground level depends on the stability of the atmosphere and the type of terrain that the pollutant is passing over.…”