Spatio-Temporal Modeling of Small-Scale Ultrafine Particle Variability Using Generalized Additive Models

Alessandra Gaeta, Gianluca Leone, Alessandro Di Menno di Bucchianico, Mariacarmela Cusano, Raffaela Gaddi, Armando Pelliccioni, Maria Antonietta Reatini, Annalisa Di Bernardino and Giorgio Cattani
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Alessandra Gaeta: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy
Gianluca Leone: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy
Alessandro Di Menno di Bucchianico: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy
Mariacarmela Cusano: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy
Raffaela Gaddi: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy
Armando Pelliccioni: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Maria Antonietta Reatini: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy
Annalisa Di Bernardino: Physics Department, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giorgio Cattani: Department for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Sustainability, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 00144 Rome, Italy

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

Abstract: High-resolution measurements of ultrafine particle concentrations in ambient air are needed for the study of health human effects of long-term exposure. This work, carried out in the framework of the VIEPI project (Integrated Evaluation of Indoor Particulate Exposure), aims to extend current knowledge on small-scale spatio-temporal variability of Particle Number Concentration (PNC, considered a proxy of the ultrafine particles) at a local scale domain (1 km × 1 km). PNC measurements were made in the university district of San Lorenzo in Rome using portable condensation particle counters for 7 consecutive days at 21 sites in November 2017 and June 2018. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were performed in the area for winter, summer and the overall period. The log-transformed two-hour PNC averages constitute the response variable, and covariates were grouped by urban morphology, land use, traffic and meteorology. Winter PNC values were about twice the summer ones. PNC recorded in the university area were significantly lower than those observed in the external routes. GAMs showed a rather satisfactory result in order to capture the spatial variability, in accordance with those of other previous studies: variances were equal to 71.1, 79.7 and 84%, respectively, for winter, summer and the overall period.

Keywords: ultrafine particles; Generalized Additive Model; air pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:313-:d:713122

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