Intervention of an Upgraded Ventilation System and Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality at Birmingham New Street Railway Station

Matt Clegg, John Edward Thornes, Debasree Banerjee, Christina Mitsakou, Azhar Quaiyoom, Juana Maria Delgado-Saborit and Revati Phalkey
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Matt Clegg: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
John Edward Thornes: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Debasree Banerjee: Emission Solutions Ltd. (EMSOL), London SEI 0NZ, UK
Christina Mitsakou: Climate Change and Health Group, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Chilton, Oxford OX11 0RQ, UK
Azhar Quaiyoom: QSustain Ltd., Stockport SK7 6BG, UK
Juana Maria Delgado-Saborit: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Revati Phalkey: Climate Change and Health Group, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Chilton, Oxford OX11 0RQ, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: High NO 2 concentrations (long term average of 383 µg/m 3 in 2016/2017) recorded at Birmingham New Street railway station have resulted in the upgrade of the bi-directional fan system to aid wind dispersion within the enclosed platform environment. This paper attempts to examine how successful this intervention has been in improving air quality for both passengers and workers within the station. New air pollution data in 2020 has enabled comparisons to the 2016/2017 monitoring campaign revealing a 23–42% decrease in measured NO 2 concentrations. The new levels of NO 2 are below the Occupational Health standards but still well above the EU Public Health Standards. This reduction, together with a substantial decrease (up to 81%) in measured Particulate Matter (PM) concentrations, can most likely be attributed to the new fan system effectiveness. Carbon Monoxide levels were well below Occupational and Public Health Standards at all times. The COVID-19 pandemic “initial lockdown” period has also allowed an insight into the resultant air quality at lower rail-traffic intensities, which produced a further reduction in air pollutants, to roughly half the pre-lockdown concentrations. This study shows the scope of improvement that can be achieved through an engineering solution implemented to improve the ventilation system of an enclosed railway station. Further reduction in air pollution would require additional approaches, such as the removal of diesel engine exhaust emissions via the adoption of electric or diesel-electric hybrid powered services.

Keywords: air pollution; upgraded ventilation system; nitrogen dioxide; particulate matter; carbon monoxide; enclosed railway station; diesel trains (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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