3D Spatial Analysis of Particulate Matter (PM 10, PM 2.5 and PM 1.0 ) and Gaseous Pollutants (H 2 S, SO 2 and VOC) in Urban Areas Surrounding a Large Heat and Power Plant

Robert Cichowicz and Maciej Dobrzański
Additional contact information
Robert Cichowicz: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Al. Politechniki 6, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Maciej Dobrzański: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Al. Politechniki 6, 90-924 Lodz, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: In many regions of the world, the winter period is a time of poor air quality, due primarily to the increased use of individual and district heating systems. As a consequence, the atmospheric air contains increased concentrations of both particulate matter and gaseous pollutants (as a result of “low” emissions at altitudes of up to 40 m and “high” emissions more than 40 m above ground level). In winter, the increased pollution is very often exacerbated by meteorological conditions, including air temperature, pressure, air speed, wind direction, and thermal inversion. Here, we analyze the concentrations of particulate matter (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1.0 ) and gaseous pollutants (H 2 S, SO 2 , and VOC) in the immediate vicinity of a large solid fuel-fired heat and power plant located in an urban agglomeration. Two locations were selected for analysis. The first was close to an air quality measurement station in the center of a multi-family housing estate. The second was the intersection of two main communication routes. To determine the impact of “low” and “high” emissions on air quality, the selected pollutants were measured at heights of between 2 and 50 m using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The results were compared with permissible standards for the concentration of pollutants. Temperature inversion was found to have a strong influence on the level of pollutants at various heights, with higher concentrations of particulate matter registered at altitudes above 40 m. The source of PM, H 2 S, and SO 2 pollutants was confirmed to be “low emission” from local transport, industrial plant areas, and the housing estate comprising detached houses located in the vicinity of the measuring points. “High emission” was found to be responsible for the high concentrations of VOC at altitudes of more than 40 m above the intersection and in the area of the housing estate.

Keywords: air quality monitoring; SO 2; VOC; H 2 S; PM 10; PM 2.5; PM 1.0; outdoor air quality; air flow aerodynamics; street canyon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4070/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4070/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:14:p:4070-:d:589248

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().