Particulate matter and black smoke concentration levels in central Athens, Greece

Chaloulakou, A; Kassomenos, P; Grivas, G; Spyrellis, N

dc.contributor.author	Chaloulakou, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Kassomenos, P	en
dc.contributor.author	Grivas, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Spyrellis, N	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:22:54Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:22:54Z
dc.date.issued	2005	en
dc.identifier.issn	0160-4120	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/16716
dc.subject	Black smoke	en
dc.subject	Greater Athens Area	en
dc.subject	Particulate matter	en
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en
dc.subject.other	Air pollution	en
dc.subject.other	Air quality	en
dc.subject.other	Diesel fuels	en
dc.subject.other	Estimation	en
dc.subject.other	Light absorption	en
dc.subject.other	Particulate emissions	en
dc.subject.other	Precipitation (meteorology)	en
dc.subject.other	Standards	en
dc.subject.other	Air quality standards	en
dc.subject.other	Black smoke	en
dc.subject.other	Light-absorbing substances	en
dc.subject.other	Particulate matter (PM)	en
dc.subject.other	Smoke	en
dc.subject.other	atmospheric pollution	en
dc.subject.other	particulate matter	en
dc.subject.other	smoke	en
dc.subject.other	air monitoring	en
dc.subject.other	air particle control	en
dc.subject.other	air pollution indicator	en
dc.subject.other	air quality standard	en
dc.subject.other	ambient air	en
dc.subject.other	article	en
dc.subject.other	concentration (parameters)	en
dc.subject.other	environmental monitoring	en
dc.subject.other	exhaust gas	en
dc.subject.other	light absorption	en
dc.subject.other	particulate matter	en
dc.subject.other	photochemical smog	en
dc.subject.other	priority journal	en
dc.subject.other	regression analysis	en
dc.subject.other	seasonal variation	en
dc.subject.other	statistical analysis	en
dc.subject.other	Air Pollutants	en
dc.subject.other	Cities	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental Monitoring	en
dc.subject.other	Greece	en
dc.subject.other	Particle Size	en
dc.subject.other	Periodicity	en
dc.subject.other	Smoke	en
dc.subject.other	Transportation	en
dc.subject.other	Vehicle Emissions	en
dc.subject.other	Wind	en
dc.subject.other	Athens [Attica]	en
dc.subject.other	Attica	en
dc.subject.other	Eastern Hemisphere	en
dc.subject.other	Eurasia	en
dc.subject.other	Europe	en
dc.subject.other	Greece	en
dc.subject.other	Southern Europe	en
dc.subject.other	World	en
dc.title	Particulate matter and black smoke concentration levels in central Athens, Greece	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/j.envint.2004.11.001	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2004.11.001	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2005	en
heal.abstract	This study presents the statistical analysis of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations (measured at a central site, in the Athens area), along with black smoke (BS) data, for a 2-year period. The biennial average concentrations of PM 10 and PM2.5, were 75 and 40 mu g m(-3). The respective average concentration of BS, as estimated by the OECD method, was 108 mu g m(-3). Severe exceedances of the PM10 air quality standards were recorded. The seasonal variation of PM10 and BS was less pronounced than the variation Of PM2.5, which concentration was elevated by 14.2% during the cold period. Concentrations of all three pollutants were significantly lower during weekends; however, PM2.5 and BS displayed a more uniform weekly distribution pattern. PM10 particles were found to be almost equally comprised by PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 particles (PM2.5/PM10 ratio=0.53 +/- 0.09 mu g/m(3)). The average PM10/BS value was found lower than unity revealing the inappropriateness of the used reflectance conversion method, for the estimation of mass-equivalent BS concentrations, in the study area, where diesel-powered vehicles mainly control emissions of light-absorbing substances. Important reductions in concentrations were observed during days when drivers of diesel-powered taxies and transportation buses went on strike (reaching 40% for BS). Calm wind conditions were found to have an incremental effect on particle concentrations and were also associated with the appearance of persistent episodic events. Increased PM levels were also observed during southem-southwestent wind flows while significantly lower-than-average concentrations were measured during precipitation events. Separate regression analyses were performed for PM10, PM2.5 with BS and NQ(x) as independent variables, in an attempt to estimate the relative contribution of specific source types (diesel-powered vehicles) to measured particle levels. The contribution of the diesel-exhaust component to PM10 mass was estimated at 49.9%, while the corresponding contributions to PM2.5 mass concentrations was 53.8%. These results may have important implications with the oncoming decision of national authorities to allow the purchase of diesel-powered private cars to the residents of the Greater Athens Area, which was forbidden up to this day. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.	en
heal.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD	en
heal.journalName	Environment International	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.envint.2004.11.001	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000229724400004	en
dc.identifier.volume	31	en
dc.identifier.issue	5	en
dc.identifier.spage	651	en
dc.identifier.epage	659	en