Tracer studies to characterize the effects of roadside noise barriers on near-road pollutant dispersion under varying atmospheric stability conditions☆

Finn, Dennis; Clawson, K. L.; Carter, Roger G.; Rich, J. D.; Eckman, Richard M.; Perry, Steven G.; Isakov, Vlad; Heist, David

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.10.012

Cited by 90 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…These studies used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to evaluate noise barrier characteristics on pollutant transport and dispersion. Schulte et al (2014) used a semi-empirical dispersion model to describe observations from the wind tunnel (Heist et al, 2009) and field (Finn et al, 2010). These modeling results show that noise barriers can reduce downwind pollutant concentrations through the lofting of the traffic plume over the solid structure followed by enhanced dispersion downwind of the barrier.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Heist et al (2009) demonstrated that downwind pollutant concentrations gradients behind the noise barrier were lower out to hundreds of meters from the barrier. Finn et al (2010) conducted a field study using a tracer gas release to evaluate the effect of a noise barrier on air pollutant transport and dispersion under varying atmospheric stability conditions. This study showed 80% mean reductions in tracer concentrations downwind of a 6 m noise barrier up to 15 wall-heights (90 m) horizontally downwind of the barrier compared with collocated measurements without a noise barrier.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, current models perform poorly when the boundary layer departs from neutrality. For example, the model by Schulte et al (2014) did not simulate the large reduction in concentration seen in Finn et al (2010) during unstable conditions. The model also underestimates concentrations measured during very stable conditions, with this discrepancy attributed to the plume being carried around the barrier edge by very stable flow that tends to remain horizontal rather than go over the barrier vertically.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of solid noise barriers on near-road and on-road air quality

Baldauf

Isakov

Deshmukh

et al. 2016

Atmospheric Environment

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h i g h l i g h t sMobile monitoring measured near-road air quality impacts of a solid, noise barrier. Downwind concentration reductions of up to 50% occurred behind the barrier. Downwind reductions were highest within the first 50 m from the road. Reductions extended as far as 300 m from the road. On-road levels did not increase in front of barrier, contrary to model predictions. a r t i c l e i n f o Public health concerns regarding adverse health effects for populations spending significant amounts of time near high traffic roadways has increased substantially in recent years. Roadside features, including solid noise barriers, have been investigated as potential methods that can be implemented in a relatively short time period to reduce air pollution exposures from nearby traffic. A field study was conducted to determine the influence of noise barriers on both on-road and downwind pollutant concentrations near a large highway in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ultrafine particles, and black carbon were measured using a mobile platform and fixed sites along two limitedaccess stretches of highway that contained a section of noise barrier and a section with no noise barrier at-grade with the surrounding terrain. Results of the study showed that pollutant concentrations behind the roadside barriers were significantly lower relative to those measured in the absence of barriers. The reductions ranged from 50% within 50 m from the barrier to about 30% as far as 300 m from the barrier. Reductions in pollutant concentrations generally began within the first 50 m of the barrier edge; however, concentrations were highly variable due to vehicle activity behind the barrier and along nearby urban arterial roadways. The concentrations on the highway, upwind of the barrier, varied depending on wind direction. Overall, the on-road concentrations in front of the noise barrier were similar to those measured in the absence of the barrier, contradicting previous modeling results that suggested roadside barriers increase pollutant levels on the road. Thus, this study suggests that noise barriers do reduce potential pollutant exposures for populations downwind of the road, and do not likely increase exposures to traffic-related pollutants for vehicle passengers on the highway.Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of solid noise barriers on near-road and on-road air quality

Baldauf

Isakov

Deshmukh

et al. 2016

Atmospheric Environment

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“…We next examine whether these 8 concentration measurements can be described with a dispersion model that was evaluated with 9 data from controlled experiments conducted in the wind tunnel (Heist et al, 2009) and in the 10 tracer field study (Finn et al, 2010). 11 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using models to interpret the impact of roadside barriers on near-road air quality

Amini

Ahangar

Schulte

et al. 2016

Atmospheric Environment

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“…Other studies, pertaining directly to air pollution distribution, showed a significant effect of acoustic barriers on the spread of traffic contamination. Although, the examined barriers in those researches had a height of 4.5 and 6 m [BALDAUF et al 2016;FINN et al 2010]. That could contribute significantly to increasing their influence to change the spatial distribution of pollutants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Urban planning solutions in the context of dispersion of road pollution

Jakubiak

Urbański

2016

Journal of Water and Land Development

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Dense road network change the landscape as well as in many different ways affect the environment and living organisms. The works on reducing the exposures to traffic pollutants carried out all around the world. In the last decade, noise barriers in large numbers began to appear along the main streets and became a common feature of urban architecture in Poland. Besides being barriers to the spread of the noise on the neighboring areas these constructions might also contribute to reducing the spread of air pollution, especially road dust particles with associated trace metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn).The aim of the study described in the article was to examine if the extent to which "green walls" noise barriers and transparent acrylic-glass noise barriers located along roads can contribute to a change in the spread of trace elements from the road traffic to outside of the road area. Toxic metals which occur in road dust in significant concentrations (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) were selected and their concentrations in soil samples were examined. The samples were collected at close vicinity of the road edge in an open area as well as in an area with noise barriers.

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Tracer studies to characterize the effects of roadside noise barriers on near-road pollutant dispersion under varying atmospheric stability conditions☆

Cited by 90 publications

References 22 publications

Influence of solid noise barriers on near-road and on-road air quality

Influence of solid noise barriers on near-road and on-road air quality

Using models to interpret the impact of roadside barriers on near-road air quality

Urban planning solutions in the context of dispersion of road pollution

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