Air pollution from traffic emissions in Oporto, Portugal: health and environmental implications

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Klara Slezakova (Author) FEUP; Dionísia Castro (Author) Other; Arlindo Begonha (Author) Other; Cristina Delerue Matos (Author) Other; Maria da Conceicao Alvim Ferraz (Author) Other; Simone Morais (Author) Other; Maria do Carmo Pereira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Microchemical Journal

Vol. 99 No. 1

Pages: 51-59

ISSN: 0026-265X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 84 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 87 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Associated Projects

Gulbenkian 60415 - Partículas suspensas no ar exterior e interior: caracterização para suporte de estudos epidemiológicos

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-NJY

DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2011.03.010

Abstract (EN): Air pollution represents a serious risk not only to environment and human health, but also to historical heritage. In this study, air pollution of the Oporto Metropolitan Area and its main impacts were characterized. The results showed that levels of CO, PM(10) and SO(2) have been continuously decreasing in the respective metropolitan area while levels of NO and NO(2) have not changed significantly. Traffic emissions were the main source of the determined polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; 16 PAHs considered by U.S. EPA as priority pollutants, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[j]fluoranthene) in air of the respective metropolitan area. The mean concentration of 18 PAHs in air was 69.9 +/- 39.7 ng m(-3) with 3-4 rings PAHs accounting for 75% of the total Sigma(PAHs). The health risk analysis of PAHs in air showed that the estimated values of lifetime lung cancer risks considerably exceeded the health-based guideline level. Analytical results also confirm that historical monuments in urban areas act as passive repositories for air pollutants present in the surrounding atmosphere. FTIR and EDX analyses showed that gypsum was the most important constituent of black crusts of the characterized historical monument Monastery of Serra do Pilar classified as "UNESCO World Cultural Heritage". In black crusts, 4-6 rings compounds accounted approximately for 85% of Sigma(PAHs). The diagnostic ratios confirmed that traffic emissions were the major source of PAHs in black crusts; PAH composition profiles were very similar for crusts and PM(10) and PM(2.5).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9