Particulate pollution from motor vehicles in an urban street canyon in Nottingham, UK

Examining air quality information is important in understanding possible human exposure and potential impacts in health and welfare. It has recently been realized that smaller-diameter particulate pollutants are implicated in the increasing incidence of asthma and cancer. This paper presents the results of a study on particulate pollution from motor vehicles in urban areas. PM₁₀ and other fractions of airborne particulate matters were measured using two aerosol spectrometers in an urban street canyon in Nottingham, UK. Detailed information on traffic flow and vehicles was collected using video recording and sample surveys. Variations in temporal, spatial and size distributions of PM₁₀ and inhalable, thoracic and alveolic fractions of particulates are presented. This study will be of benefit to researchers in the field of atmospheric dispersion modelling and to epidemiologists looking at the health effects of particulate pollution.