Ambient air SO2 patterns in 6 European cities

Susann Henschel, Xavier Querol, Richard Atkinson, Marco Pandolfi, Ariana Zeka, Alain Le Tertre, Antonis Analitis, Klea Katsouyanni, Olivier Chanel, Mathilde Pascal (), Catherine Bouland, Daniela Haluza, Sylvia Medina and Patrick G. Goodman
Additional contact information
Xavier Querol: IDAEA - Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research - CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas [España] = Spanish National Research Council [Spain]
Alain Le Tertre: Département santé environnement - INVS - Institut de Veille Sanitaire
Klea Katsouyanni: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, University of Athens. - Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, University of Athens.
Mathilde Pascal: INVS - Institut de Veille Sanitaire
Sylvia Medina: INVS - Institut de Veille Sanitaire

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: An analysis of the hourly SO2 pollution patterns with time can be a useful tool for policy makers and stakeholders in developing more effective local policies in relation to air quality as it facilitates a deeper understanding of concentrations and potential source apportionment. A detailed analysis of hourly inter-annual, seasonal and weekday-specific SO2 concentration patterns using data obtained from 6 cities involved in the Aphekom project was conducted. This type of analysis has been done for other pollutants but less so for SO2, and not in a systematic fashion for a number of European cities. Individual diurnal SO2 profiles and working weekday versus weekend specific 24-hr plots were generated using hourly SO2 measurements from a roadside and an urban background monitoring sites for 1993, 2001 and 2009 for each of the 6 European cities (Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Paris, and Vienna). This facilitated the assessment of city specific patterns and comparison of changes with time. SO2 concentrations varied throughout the day and tended to be lower on the weekends. A general decreasing trend for SO2 levels with time was observable at all stations. This study provides a useful European perspective on patterns of exposure. For the 6 EU cities examined, road traffic, heating, and shipping in port cities appeared to be important sources of SO2 emissions, and hence the driving components widely reflected in the diurnal profiles with lower levels on the weekend likely due to lower traffic volume and industry related emissions. Although ambient SO2 concentrations have fallen over the assessed study period at all measurement sites, the daily patterns remained relatively unchanged.

Keywords: vs.; Weekday; weekend (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published in Atmospheric Environment, 2013, 79, pp.236--247. ⟨10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.06.008⟩

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

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:hal:journl:hal-01499609

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.06.008

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().