Aug 2026· Atmosphere· Vol 17, pp. 780· 0 citations· 18 references
Abstract
Urban air pollution remains a major public health concern, with road traffic representing one of the dominant sources of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in growing cities. This study evaluates the level of chemical air pollution in Alba-Iulia municipality (Romania) through two measurement campaigns (May 2025 and October 2025), carried out at 26 and 19 points, respectively, selected based on traffic intensity and population vulnerability criteria (schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and the food market). Measurements targeted PM2.5, PM10, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and formaldehyde (HCHO), as well as carbon dioxide (CO2), correlated with road traffic intensity. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the two seasons for PM2.5, PM10, and CO2 (p < 0.01), as well as a strong correlation between particulate matter concentrations and vehicle counts (r = 0.60–0.95), consistent with road traffic being an important local contributor to particulate matter, though correlation alone cannot establish source dominance in a strict causal sense. A multiple regression controlling for both traffic and season explained over 73% of the variance in PM2.5 and PM10 and showed that traffic and season each contribute independently to particulate levels. Both mean PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded WHO and EU limit values in both campaigns, and the low-cost sensor over-read absolute concentrations by roughly 2–4× relative to the official monitoring network, so absolute values should be treated as orientative. Despite this bias, the consistent spatial and seasonal patterns show that portable low-cost sensors can reliably rank exposure hotspots and support the targeting of traffic-mitigation measures, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, in medium-sized cities that lack dense reference monitoring networks.
One of the biggest environmental issues in cities is air pollution. Over 80% of urban dwellers are thought to be exposed to air pollution levels above the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended limits. This work aims to compare the air quality index (AQI) with the WHO 2014 guideline during 2024 and to determine the sources of air pollution in the study areas, as well as to compare carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Libya with global emissions. The AirVisual Outdoor monitors were used in this work to measure AQI, PM2.5 PM10 and CO2, The finding revealed the AQI in Benghazi city during the February period was unhealthy for sensitive groups (level 3) and in April period was unhealthy (level 4), in Al Byada city was moderate throughout all periods (level 2), the air quality in Zliten city from January to May period was unhealthy for sensitive groups (level 3) and in the air quality in Tripoli city during February period was unhealthy for sensitive groups (level 3). Zliten city is considered the most polluted city due to the lack of infrastructure and afforestation in the city. Based on PM2.5/PM10 ratios, the natural source and coarse particles of pollution were more prevalent in the studied areas. The concentration of CO2 in Libya was approximately 441 ppm, while the global average reached about 444 ppm, indicating that the distribution of CO2 in the atmosphere is nearly uniform worldwide.
Fares F. Fares, Faraj S. Faraj, Antisar M. Elmajbary et al.· Libyan Journal of Science &...· 0 citations
Abstract. Rapid industrialization and unplanned urbanization have increased air pollution levels across Indian cities, posing serious environmental and health challenges. This research presents a geospatial assessment of air pollutant behaviour across Nashik city by integrating multi-source remote sensing datasets and real observation datasets from Sentinel-5P, NASA POWER, and CPCB ground observations within a GIS-based analytical framework. Using ward-level mapping and spatial overlays, the study examines the distribution of key pollutants - PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO - and their relationship with environmental and anthropogenic parameters, including land use, road networks, wind direction, temperature, and vegetation density. The results consistently reveal high concentrations of PM2.5, ranging from a minimum of 52.4 μg/m³ to a maximum of 73 μg/m³, and PM10, a minimum of 87.3 μg/m³ and a maximum of 121.5 μg/m³, particularly along high-traffic corridors and industrial zones, which exceed the WHO standards. Correlations with meteorological and vegetative factors further highlight the influence of urban form and climatic conditions on pollutant dispersion. This integrated approach demonstrates how multi-source remote sensing and GIS tools can be effectively employed to identify emission hotspots, support evidence-based policy formulation, and strengthen urban environmental management strategies for sustainable development.
Chetan R. Patel, S. Dadhich· ISPRS Annals of the Photogra...· 0 citations
Air quality is one of the environmental issues that has become a global concern and a priority in the Sustainable Development Goals. This study aims to evaluate the ambient air quality on secondary roads in the urban area of Yogyakarta under the influence of traffic levels. The air quality variables in this study include PM2.5, PM10, CO2, HCHO, and TVOC. Data collection was conducted through observation and literature study. A total of 134 data points were collected from 37 measurement locations in this study. The data were analyzed using matching, geographic information systems (GIS), statistical methods, and descriptive approaches. The results indicate that CO2 is the only parameter significantly correlated with traffic activity. More specifically, CO2 is significantly related to motorcycles, where an increase in the number of motorcycles corresponds to a rise in CO2 levels. Spatially, there is a difference in average CO2 levels between urban and suburban areas. CO2 levels are higher in suburban areas than in the city center due to commuter traffic from surrounding areas. HCHO and TVOC do not show a significant correlation with traffic levels. Meanwhile, the number and intensity of cars on the road, although not as numerous as motorcycles, contribute to increased levels of PM2.5 and PM10. This study provides new insights into the relationship between private vehicle activity and air quality in non-industrial cities, contributing to the development of regional theories in Southeast Asia on the environmental impact of transportation activity on secondary roads. Additionally, the findings of this study imply the need for spatiotemporal traffic management, not only to prevent traffic congestion but also to control pollution levels.
S. Purwantara, Arif Ashari, Grace Helena Amaranthois Kapisan· Turkish Journal of Engineeri...· 0 citations
Objective: Ambient atmospheric pollution represents a critical threat to human health globally. Within Iraq, air quality has drastically diminished due to harsh climatic dust events and expanding unregulated anthropogenic factors. The primary goal of this investigation is to establish a thorough comparative analysis of air quality across the urban and rural sectors of Al-Diwaniyah Province. Method: A comparative cross-sectional design was carried out from mid-September 2025 through January 2026 across six strategic sampling locations. Ground-level monitoring utilized a calibrated Temtop M2000 device to log particulate metrics, while space-borne observations were acquired via the Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite for gaseous pollutants. A composite Z-score air quality index (AQI) evaluated safety thresholds, with statistical analysis processed through SPSS v26 software. Results: Ground measurements revealed that average PM2.5 (34.87 µg/m³) and PM10 (101.37 µg/m³) drastically outpaced WHO safety limits (p < 0.001). Satellite monitoring demonstrated a significant abundance in tropospheric NO₂ (63.54 µmol/m²) and O₃. The index classified 73.3% of the total observations as unhealthy for sensitive demographics. Urban sectors displayed significantly higher concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and CO₂ than rural environments (p < 0.001), though rural locations showed a high prevalence (80.0%) of air quality categorized as hazardous for sensitive groups. Novelty: Al-Diwaniyah Province experiences severe atmospheric degradation. While urban centers undergo heavier pollution loads from concentrated traffic and fuel combustion, rural zones present distinct ambient threats to vulnerable populations from agricultural operations and dust.
A. S. Saleh, A. K. Jasim, A. S. Hantoosh· International Journal Multid...· 0 citations
Air pollution from fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) poses a significant environmental health challenge in rapidly urbanizing African cities. Lagos, Nigeria, experiences severe traffic congestion and elevated ambient PM₂.₅ concentrations, yet localized estimates of associated health impacts remain limited. This study applies the World Health Organization’s AirQ⁺ model to quantify mortality attributable to PM₂.₅ exposure along the Ikeja traffic corridor, a representative high-traffic urban environment. Ambient PM₂.₅ concentrations were monitored using a high-resolution SNAQ sensor over four months (November 2018–February 2019), yielding a mean concentration of 73.75 µg/m3 and peaks exceeding 123 µg/m3. Population data for Ikeja (≈475,000 residents) and cause-specific mortality rates from the Institute for Health Metrics and national statistics were used as model inputs. Using the study-period mean concentration, AirQ⁺ estimated that acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) accounted for the largest number of attributable deaths over the four-month period (4,131; 520 per 100,000 population), while lung cancer (54.1%) and ischemic heart disease (50.8%) showed the highest attributable fractions. Weekly and monthly analyses revealed that even modest fluctuations in PM₂.₅ levels could meaningfully influence respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Scenario analysis indicates that a 10% reduction in PM₂.₅ concentrations could prevent more than 1,400 premature deaths, highlighting the potential health benefits of targeted emission control and traffic management strategies. These findings underscore the substantial burden of traffic-related PM₂.₅ exposure in Lagos and provide critical evidence to guide urban air quality interventions and public health policy in rapidly developing African megacities.
O. A. Babatunde, Olanrewaju B. Fayemi, L. Sunmonu et al.· Discover Environment· 0 citations
The Paal Dua area of Manado City is an urban area characterized by intensive traffic and commercial activities that may contribute to elevated particulate matter concentrations in ambient air. This study aimed to determine and analyze Total Suspended Particulate (TSP), PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations at three sampling sites with different environmental characteristics and to evaluate their compliance with ambient air quality standards specified in Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021, Annex VII. Measurements were conducted for 24 hours at each site using a High Volume Air Sampler (HVAS) and the gravimetric method, following SNI 7119.3:2017 for TSP, SNI 7119.15:2016 for PM10, and SNI 7119.14:2016 for PM2.5. Although all methods employ the same gravimetric principle, they differ in particle-size-selective inlet specifications. TSP concentrations ranged from 6.19 to 24.46 µg/m³, PM10 from 1.38 to 10.89 µg/m³, and PM2.5 from 0.24 to 3.83 µg/m³. The highest TSP and PM10 concentrations were observed at Site 1, near a road and market area, while PM2.5 concentration at Site 3 exceeded that at Site 2. This spatial difference was presumably associated with prevailing wind direction and surrounding building configuration, although meteorological and statistical analyses are required for confirmation. All measured particulate concentrations were below ambient air quality standards during August 2025. These results represent conditions during the sampling period and cannot be generalized to the entire Paal Dua area. Periodic monitoring with broader spatial and temporal coverage is recommended. The study provides information on particulate matter distribution across locations with different emission sources and urban configurations.