Outdoor Pollution Comparison Between Bucharest and Its Outskirts Using Mobile Laboratory

Razvan Stefan Popescu, Lelia Letitia Popescu () and Tiberiu Catalina
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Razvan Stefan Popescu: Buildings’ Services Faculty, Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania
Lelia Letitia Popescu: Buildings’ Services Faculty, Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania
Tiberiu Catalina: Buildings’ Services Faculty, Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: This study presents a modern mobile laboratory to monitor outdoor air quality in Bucharest, Romania, with a focus on pollutants associated with transportation. Particulate matter (PM 2 . 5 , PM 10 ), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO 2 ), and BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) were among the significant pollutants that were examined in the lab. Meteorological variables such wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity, and solar radiation were also routinely observed in order to assess their influence on pollution levels. The study looked at two locations—a bustling city road in Bucharest and a remote community 40 kmawayin Snagov—under a range of weather conditions, including sunny, rainy, warm, and chilly days. The findings showed that the primary source of pollution in the urban area, which had significantly higher pollution levels than the rural site, was transportation. Particularly in the city, alarming concentrations of harmful particulate matter and carcinogens like benzene were found, underscoring the need for continuous air quality monitoring. The weather has a major impact on the dispersal of contaminants. Because of washout effects, rainy days decreased airborne pollutants, but sunny days showed higher pollution deposition. This study highlights the importance of outdoor air quality monitoring, particularly in urban environments, where traffic and weather have a significant impact on pollution levels. These findings provide crucial data that policymakers can utilize to implement targeted pollution control measures that protect human health.

Keywords: outdoor pollution; mobile laboratory; PM 2.5; PM 10; BTEX (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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