Title: Elevated PM10 concentrations and high PM2.5/PM10 ratio in the Brussels Urban Area during the 2006 car-free Sunday

Authors: P. Vanderstraeten, M. Forton, Y. Lenelle, A. Meurrens, D. Carati, L. Brenig, Z.Y. Offer, E. Zaady

Addresses: IBGE-BIM. Brussels Institute for Environmental Management, Laboratory for Environmental Research, Gulledelle 100, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. ' IBGE-BIM. Brussels Institute for Environmental Management, Laboratory for Environmental Research, Gulledelle 100, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. ' IBGE-BIM. Brussels Institute for Environmental Management, Laboratory for Environmental Research, Gulledelle 100, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. ' IBGE-BIM. Brussels Institute for Environmental Management, Laboratory for Environmental Research, Gulledelle 100, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. ' ULB. Universite Libre de Bruxelles, ULB- Campus Plaine, CP.231, Boulevard du Triomphe, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. ' ULB. Universite Libre de Bruxelles, ULB- Campus Plaine, CP.231, Boulevard du Triomphe, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. ' BGU. Ben Gurion University, Sede Boker Campus, 84990, Israel. ' Gilat Research Center – Department of Natural Resources, Mobile Post Negev 85280, Israel

Abstract: The results of the Car-Free Sundays in Brussels demonstrate the close relationship between the traffic and the presence of the gaseous pollutants such as NO, NO2, CO, CO2 and O3 in a traffic environment. The relationship with PM10 and PM2.5 seems to be much more complex. In fact, the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations on the Car-Free Sunday 2006 were amongst the highest that year and they were three times higher than on an average Sunday or working day. Analysis of the data indicate that direct particle emissions from traffic only have a limited contribution to the overall PM concentration.

Keywords: car-free day; airborne particulates; PM10; PM2.5; secondary aerosols; air quality; air pollution; traffic emissions; Brussels; Belgium; particle emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2010.035062

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2010 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.264 - 279

Published online: 02 Sep 2010 *

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