Air Pollution Projects
Title
Personal Exposure of commuters to air pollution in the urban environment
Project coordinator(s)
Mr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Prof. Brian Broderick
Email: bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2348
Research Student(s)
Dr. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1130
Description
Research was carried out into the relative exposure of commuters to air pollutants in Dublin between four modes of transport. These differences were determined experimentally by simultaneously sampling the personal exposure of commuters to VOCs and PM2.5 in cars, buses, on bicycles and on foot. Over 400 samples were recorded from January 2005 to June 2006 and the resulting dataset revealed statistically significant differences between exposure concentrations in the modes of transport. The Car commuter was found to have the highest exposure to VOCs followed by the bus, cyclist and pedestrian, while the bus had the highest exposure to PM2.5 followed by the car, cyclist and pedestrian. Using a numerical lung model to predict the internal deposition and absorption of these harmful pollutants revealed that for PM2.5 the cyclists had the highest uptake due to their elevated breathing rates, followed by the bus, pedestrian and car. For VOCs the car was found to have the highest uptake, owing to its high exposure concentration and long duration of exposure, followed by the cyclist, pedestrian and bus. Samples were recorded using mobile sampling equipment and analysed using gas chromatography for VOCs and gravimetric analysis for PM2.5.
The dataset comprised the exposure concentration of 5 VOCs and PM2.5 as well as number of meteorological and traffic variables. The dataset was comprehensively analysed using statistical methods. Trends were revealed such as increases in concentrations during evening rush hour compared to morning rush hour; higher VOC emissions with cold temperatures compared to warm or mild conditions; the degree of difference between the modes of transport was generally greater on Route 2 than on Route 1; evidence of non-transport sources contributing to the PM2.5 concentration etc.
Investigations of intra-mode variability were also carried out whereby the importance of roadside positioning was found for the pedestrian, with lower exposures found for increased distances from the traffic. Reduced exposure for car commuters who maintain a larger inter-vehicle spacing of 2m compared to 1m in idling traffic was found. Lower exposure for car commuters and cyclist in suburban areas were found compared to inner city commuting.
Numerical analysis of the data using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was successfully carried out using the commercial CFD software Fluent 6.2. 3D models of Route 1 were constructed which allows the accurate prediction of the personal exposure of commuters exposure to air pollutants based on the meteorological conditions of wind speed, wind direction and temperature. Models of intra-mode variability for the pedestrian and car commuter were also constructed in 3D which provided insightful graphical findings on the dispersion of air pollutants in each of these microenvironments.
Title
Quantifying air pollution exposure and relative cardiac health effects in commuters
Project coordinator(s)
Dr. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3837
Associate Prof. Bruce Misstear
Email: bmisster@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2800
Research Student(s)
Marguerite Nyhan
Email: mnyhan@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3199
Description
This project evaluates the temporal relationship between air pollution exposure and altered cardiac function, as measured by heart rate variability. Commuters comprising cyclists, pedestrians, bus users, train users and private car users have differing physiological states and are compared in terms of exposure, dose using a numerical model of the respiratory tract, fitness and cardiovascular health. This research examines commuting from an environmental health perspective and may have implications for commuter modal choice and policy. This project is funded by the PRTLI.
Title
Indoor air quality in urban commercial buildings - Do we require legislative limits to protect health?
Project Coordinator(s)
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Research Student(s)
Avril Challoner
Email: achallon@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2045
Description
Research shows people now spend up to 90% of their day indoors yet in Ireland no legislative indoor air pollutant limits exist. Legislative reductions in air pollutant limit values seek to improve outdoor air quality, in turn reducing associated illnesses such as asthma, acute bronchitis, strokes and lung cancer. This research focuses on the two air pollutants, NOx (NO2 + NO) and PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5µm, that the 2008-2012 Dublin Regional Air Quality Management Plan stated were of most concern. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between exposure of staff to specific air pollutants in Irish working environments (e.g. shops, offices) and outdoor air pollutants, investigating controlling factors such as ventilation systems and door design for such buildings.
NOx and PM2.5 concentrations have been measured simultaneously indoors and outdoors of the buildings under investigation. Outdoor concentrations were measured in two locations either directly outside the building at ground level or at the air intake of the buildings ventilation system. To date ten work places located on busy street canyons within Dublin city centre have been monitored.
Results indicate that indoor concentrations can be significantly greater than outdoor concentrations for certain sites, e.g. Indoor Outdoor ratios (I/O) of up to 2.0 for NO2 and 2.1 for PM2.5. Other sites however, have shown significant reductions in pollutant concentrations indoors compared to outdoors, with I/O ratios as low as 0.32 for NO2 and 0.45 for PM2.5. Clear differences in lag times and I/O ratios for PM2.5 and NOx were also observed for working and non-working hours. The building with the greatest reduction for NO2 was a naturally ventilated office while the greatest PM2.5 reduction was seen in the mechanically ventilated office.
Title
An investigation of the influence of daily activities & location on personal exposure to air pollution in Dublin: measurement, analysis, modelling & application
Project Coordinator(s)
Dr. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3837
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Research Student(s)
Andrew McCreddin
Email: mccredda@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2781
Funding
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) STRIVE Programme 2007-2013
Description
Over the last few decades the body of evidence for the serious health consequences from exposure to air pollution has been growing. As a result of this the need for better air quality has been recognised and efforts have been made internationally in establishing minimum quality standards for the ambient air. However, these minimum air quality standards are based on background or regional ambient air quality monitoring. Owing to the exposures encountered due to certain activities and microenvironments, background concentration may in many instances be an unsatisfactory basis on which to solely investigate the impacts of air pollution on human populations. A more relevant measure for individual subjects of an air pollutant health impact assessment would be personal exposure. This can be quantified by recording personal exposure data over 24-hour periods (see Fig. 1) on a real-time basis incorporating different activities (e.g. commuting, shopping, working, sleeping, etc.) and different locations. The current research study aims to gather sufficient data of this nature to be used in the development of predictive modelling tools. Data has been collected for one such pollutant, particulate matter (PM), with the use of a real-time Aerocet-531 nephelometer monitor. Different statistical methods will be applied in order to investigate a number of novel approaches to the prediction of 24 hour personal exposure concentrations for PM10, as well as dose. The successful implementation of this approach will lead to a personal exposure model on a macroscopic scale which could be used to investigate the health impacts of personal exposure to air pollution in a more extensive and comprehensive manner than using background concentrations. In addition, as it is impractical to monitor personal exposure on a long term basis and due to the fact the monitoring of background data is a legal requirement in many countries, it is also the aim of this research project to develop methods of predicting personal exposure from background monitoring data. This will be achieved through the investigation of background monitoring data located across the Dublin region in conjunction with GPS data on locations of subjects.
Title
"A model for evaluating and disseminating personal exposure to air pollution”, Sponsored by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency under the STRIVE Programme.
Project coordinator(s)
Prof. Brian Broderick
Email: bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2348
Research Student(s)
Francesco Pilla
Email: fpilla@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2781
Description
A GIS model for the Dublin Area is constructed. This model is based on an extensive personal exposure and ambient air quality modelling. Measured air pollution concentrations in a particular location are regressed against factors such as road network, traffic volumes, land use, meteorological factors, etc. This facilitates the inclusion of parameters associated with a wide range of activities and locations. It will result in a model that is more directly linked to the environment health impact of air pollution on the individual as well as the population. The model will be web based as a means of disseminating information to the general public in a more intuitive manner.
Title
An Investigation of the Passive Control of air Pollution in the Urban Environment
Project Coordinator(s)
Assistant Prof. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3837
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Research student(s)
John Gallagher
Email: gallagj2@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2781
Description
Pedestrian exposure to air pollutants in urban microenvironments is detrimental to human health as pollutants become trapped within the boundaries of urban canyons (McNabola et al., 2008; Zhou & Levy, 2008). Research studies have adopted a combined modelling and measurement approach to investigate the dispersion of pollutant emissions in channelled urban canyons (Taseiko et al., 2009). The source of urban pollution is dominated by vehicle emissions and these pollutants are concentrated along the street surface, posing a high risk to the urban pedestrian (Ghenu et al., 2008). In this research, the investigation of passive controls will expand the viable options available to urban planners for improving pedestrian health. The research will be carried out as a series of modelling studies using CFD software Fluent 6.3. The reduction of pollutants requires the implementation of a passive control in a canyon to improve dispersion. Passive controls influences air flow patterns in a street canyon and has many different forms, such as low boundary walls (LBWs) (McNabola et al., 2009) or avenue trees (Buccolieri et al., 2009). This research will examine further passive control forms, such as on-street car parking (Gallagher et al., 2011) and further assess the ability of passive control in different street conditions i.e. at junctions and in asymmetric canyons. A calibrated model of Pearse Street in Dublin will be developed, which combines the knowledge gained from each of the model studies and validates passive controls in a real-time scenario.
Research Video: http://youtu.be/SakStQUHPAs
Title
Emission and Exposure Modelling Using Real Time Traffic Data
Project Coordinator(s)
Assistnat Prof. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3837
Research Student(s)
Md Saniul Alam
Email: alamms@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 4561
Funding
European Union FP7 Project ‘EcoNav’.
Description
Information of Emission and Exposure should be easily understandable and instantly accessible to an individual while making or having completed a trip in order to build awareness about the environmental impact. Thus, Investigation of Vehicle Emission and Exposure from such bottom up approach must have potential on future consideration to emission level reduction in a link, area or city level. It is expected that accurate information of emission based on rigorous traffic and meteorological variables for a single trip will influence traveller’s decision of taking efficient mode or best route choice/eco-driving. Previous attempts to date are rare considering the detail features and purpose of this research for the estimation and prediction of emission and exposure of a single trip. This research area is close to Modal model or Instantaneous or Microscopic Emission modelling which will account of the ITS tools like GPS and may use Neural Network as possible method for estimation and prediction.
Title
Validation of air dispersion models for road and industrial sources
Project coordinator(s)
Prof. Brian Broderick
Email: bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2348
Research Student(s)
Description
To be completed
Title
Transport Impacts on the Environment
Project coordinator(s)
Margaret O’Mahony
Email: Margaret.omahony@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2084
Brian Broderick
Laurence Gill
Aoife Ahern
Lisa English.
Description
The study entitled Scope of Transport Impacts on the Environment was commissioned by the EPA as part of the Environmental RTDI Programme 2000-2006. The aims of the project included a review of the recent international literature on the environmental impacts of the transport sector and on the integration of environmental considerations into transport planning and operations. Ten topic areas were identified from the project brief and in consultation with the EPA, and these ten sections form the basis for the structure of the report. The topic areas are air pollution, waste from the transport sector, eco-audits and strategic environmental assessment, economic instruments, land use, public awareness, noise, natural heritage, public transport and information technology.
Relevant published reports were reviewed to determine the environmental significance of the transport sector in Ireland. Organizations were consulted so that an inventory of ongoing research could be compiled. Finally recommendations are made on the essential research necessary to integrate environmental considerations into the transport sector. In the executive summary, each topic area is mentioned briefly, highlighting the important concerns in each and identifying the priorities for further research in the area.
The final report is available from the Environmental Protection Agency under the title: Scope of Transport Impacts on the Environment (2000-DS-4-M2).
Title
Background concentrations monitoring for monitoring air pollution
Project coordinator(s)
Prof. Brian Broderick
Email: bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2348
Associate Prof. Bruce Misstear
Email: bmisster@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2800
Research Student(s)
Not available.
Description
Not available
Title
Monitoring ambient hydrocarbons
Project coordinator(s)
Prof. Brian Broderick
Email: bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2348
Description
Motor vehicles emit a variety of atmospheric pollutants. Amongst these are a variety of hydrocarbons, including benzene, the ambient concentrations of which are to be limited by recent EU directives. The initial stage of this project involves the on-line measurement of ambient hydrocarbon concentrations in the vicinity of a motorway and at a busy junction in Dublin city centre. At these locations, concentrations of many hydrocarbons can, in the main, be attributed to road-traffic emissions.
The second part of the project entails adapting the on-line system to accommodate a more flexible, portable and mobile sampling method based on the use of tedlar bags as sampling vessels. Once validated, this method will facilitate a wide range of sampling applications, such as the measurement of background concentrations, emission factors and the spatial distribution of pollution levels.
The final project stage will involve the application of this “mobile sampling” method. Spatial mapping of Dublin city along with “real world” driving emissions are topics currently being reviewed as potential areas of research.
Title
Global environmental monitoring and health impacts
Project coordinator(s)
Prof. Brian Broderick
Email: bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2348
Description
Not available.