Impact of Remote and Local Sources on Particulate Matter in Urban Environment

Abstract

In this paper, the impact of natural and anthropogenic sources on particulate matter with diameter less than 10 µm (PM 10) was investigated in Jeddah urban area, Saudi Arabia to identify and quantify the major particle pollution source classes. Hourly data of PM 10 and other gaseous pollutants (NO x , CO, SO 2 and O 3) and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and wind direction) were collected at two air quality monitoring sites for the period of March 2008 to February 2009. The air mass origin was determined using 5-day backward trajectories arriving to Jeddah by using HYSPLIT model. Results show that the PM 10 Daily Limit Value was exceeded. The most frequent air masses entering Jeddah and thereby influencing PM 10 concentrations come from the East, specifically the SE and NE directions, 84% of the trajectories were originated over the Arabian Peninsula including Saudi Arabia mainland and the Arabian Gulf. The Mediterranean Sea and southern Europe were the origin source of 8% of the air mass trajectories, another 8% were originated from North Africa and Sahara Desert. The majority of PM 10 episodes were attributed to the intrusion of dust to Jeddah urban air.

Major air pollutants seasonal variation analysis and long-range transport of PM10 in an urban environment with specific climate condition in Transylvania (Romania)

“…According to the results, a clear seasonal variation was observed. Furthermore, the results are fairly similar to those reported by Chen et al ( 2015b ) and Al-jeelani ( 2016 )), namely the concentration of particulate matter increases from October to February in accordance with heating time and strong thermal inversion; therefore, the highest monthly average values were recorded in December (17.04 μg/m 3 ), January (28.30 μg/m 3 ), and February (34.31 μg/m 3 ), respectively. Given these values, the PM 10 concentrations were statistically higher in cold season than those in warmer season ( p < 0.05).…”

“…The major concern of humankind about air quality is to decipher the connection between anthropogenic activities and air pollution as long as by the year 2050 it will become the world major environmental cause of mortality (OECD 2012 2014 ). On the other hand, the problems related to particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 μm) (Makra et al 2011 ; Bodor et al 2020 ), resulting from urbanization as well as from industrialization, have steadily created a real need for a well-elaborated and efficient long-term emission controls (Al-jeelani 2016 ). Hence, in order to control and maintain air quality, it is mandatory to determine the potential pollution sources and emissions both locally and globally.…”