Title: PM10, CO and NO_x concentrations in the Tuhobic road tunnel, Croatia

Authors: Ivan Beslic, Kesimir Sega, Anica Sisovic, Zvjezdana Bencetic Klaic

Addresses: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ' Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ' Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ' Andrija Mohorovicic Geophysical Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac bb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract: Particulate matter (PM10 particle fraction) and trace gases (CO, NO and NO₂) have been sampled during six weeks in the Tuhobic road tunnel, Croatia, whose length is 2140 m. Eight mini portable air samplers (Air Metrics, USA) were placed in the centre of the tunnel at a height of 1.70-m above the ground. PM10 samples were collected on Whatman quartz filters with the diameter of 47 mm, while gases were collected in Tedlar bags. Diurnal variations of pollutant concentrations for weekends and weekdays were determined based on cumulative eight- and four-hour sampling intervals, respectively. Results revealed the dependence of air pollution levels on both, the traffic density and pollution history, i.e., traffic density in times prior to the time interval concerned. The highest correlation between PM10 and trace gases concentrations was found for NO₂, while among the trace gases NO and CO were the best correlated.

Keywords: PM10; CO; NO; NO₂; NO_x; road tunnels; sampling; traffic density; pollutant concentrations; air pollution; air quality; Croatia; vehicle emissions; road transport emissions; dispersion modelling; trace gases.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2005.007671

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2005 Vol.25 No.1/2/3/4, pp.251 - 262

Published online: 31 Aug 2005 *

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