The effect of EURO-0 vehicle substitution on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide concentrations in an urban area

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 43; no. 8; pp. 1520 - 1526
• Main Authors: Valerio, Federico, Stella, Anna, Pala, Mauro, Balducci, Daniele, Piccardo, Maria Teresa, Cipolla, Massimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air pollution; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Catalytic converter; Emission sources; Exact sciences and technology; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Temporal trend; Transports; Urban traffic; Italy; Europe; Italy, Genoa; Air pollution; Emission sources; Urban traffic; Catalytic converter; Temporal trend; Hydrocarbon; Environmental policy; Toxicity; Pollution control; Environmental factor; Air quality; Motor vehicle; Urban area; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Persistent organic pollutant; Street canyon; European Union; Seasonal variation; Trend analysis; Pollution abatement; Road traffic; Emission measure; Carbon monoxide; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.11.039

From 1994 to 2003, daily air concentrations of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and carbon monoxide (CO) were regularly monitored at two traffic-oriented sampling sites (A and B) in urban Genoa, Italy. The data were used to estimate effects on air quality in real situations due to progressive substitution of EURO-0 vehicles, started in 1993, with less-polluting vehicles (EURO-1, EURO-2), mainly gasoline vehicles with a catalyst. PAH profile classification and diagnostic PAH ratios were used to identify 345 samples of predominantly traffic origin. At both sites, CO and PAH daily concentrations decreased exponentially with time and the apparent half-life values calculated were 6.3 and 5.5 for CO and 3.7 and 3.5 years for PAHs at sites A and B, respectively. At site A, monitored for traffic intensity, multiple regression analyses confirmed that daily PAH and CO concentrations were positively correlated with the number of non-catalytic vehicles estimated to cross this site during sampling and negatively correlated with seasonal variables (air temperature, ozone concentration, relative air humidity). The reduction in air pollution estimated for complete substitution of non-catalytic gasoline vehicles was 89% for BaP, 85% for total PAHs and 69% for CO.