Transboundary and traffic influences on air pollution across two Caribbean islands

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 653; pp. 1105 - 1110
• Main Authors: Shairsingh, Kerolyn K., Jeong, Cheol-Heon, Evans, Greg J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 25.02.2019
• Subjects: Black carbon; Diesel-related emissions; Near-road monitoring; Particulate matter; Trinidad and Tobago; Trinidad and Tobago; Diesel-related emissions; Black carbon; Particulate matter; Near-road monitoring
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.034

Exposure to ambient air pollution has been linked to adverse health outcomes ranging from asthma to premature mortality. However, little to no information exists on the exposure of residents and visitors in the Caribbean islands. While a few previous studies have quantified levels of PM10 (particulate matter <10 μm) from Sahara dust in Trinidad, our study focussed on a local source of air pollution, traffic emissions. Mass concentrations of black carbon (BC) and PM2.5 (PM <2.5 μm) were measured at ten locations across the islands of Trinidad and Tobago over a three-week period. PM2.5 concentrations were observed to be heavily influenced by air masses showing origins from the Sahara Desert (31%), North America (26%) and Atlantic Ocean (42%), which resulted in similar average concentrations between the two islands. Average concentrations of BC were five times higher in Trinidad than Tobago (2.0 vs 0.43 μg/m3). In addition, BC in Trinidad was three times higher near than away from major roads (2.21 vs. 0.72 μg/m3), with concentrations reaching levels comparable to those near highways in large Metropolitan cities. The elevated BC concentrations observed in this study suggests that significant exposure to diesel exhaust is occurring in Trinidad, with significant contributions from traffic. [Display omitted] •Short-term monitoring of BC and PM2.5 were conducted in Trinidad and Tobago.•PM2.5 was similar across sites due to its regional sources.•Average BC concentrations were higher during rush-hour traffic times in both islands.•Average BC concentrations were 5× higher in Trinidad than Tobago: 2.0 vs 0.4 μg/m3.•Average BC concentrations were highest near roadways with diesel buses: 5.5 μg/m3.