NOx and CO levels in the Mediterranean major Patras area, Greece

Gaseous pollutants negatively affect air quality and consequently human health and wellbeing. Thus, the University of Patras Campus (UPC) air quality is evaluated in comparison to Patras downtown air quality, regarding nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentration levels. The air pollution station installed at the suburban area of UPC was monitoring the air quality during the period 2014-2018. The daily average concentrations +/- standard deviations recorded by continuous measurements of NO, NO2, NOx, and CO were 0.4 +/- 0.5, 4.6 +/- 2.7, and 5.0 +/- 3.0, and 39.3 +/- 64.1 mu g m(-3), correspondingly. These values are lower than the corresponding ones measured by downtown monitoring stations during 2001-2018. After analyzing the data recorded, the diurnal, weakly and yearly variations of NO, NO2, NOx, CO concentrations and NO/NOx, NO2/NOx, NO/NO2 ratios were obtained. The yearly variations show that the pollutant concentrations at UPC are below the legislation limits. On the contrary, in Patras Downtown only NOx concentrations overcome the limit, while NO2 concentrations found marginally below the limit during the last decade. Statistical analysis showed that concentration levels are affected by seasonality and meteorological parameters. The present findings may be useful in environmental impact assessments necessary for sustainable development projects.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the air quality on the University of Patras Campus (UPC) and compared it with the air quality in downtown Patras. The results showed that the concentrations of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide were lower on the campus compared to downtown. The findings also highlighted the influence of seasonality and meteorological parameters on the concentration levels.