Particulate matter exposure at urban traffic intersection during haze episodes: A case study in Changsha

exposure of particulate matter (PM) in modern cities. The main aim of this study was to get a better understanding of the determinants of traffic-related PM temporal variations and personal exposure to PMs at a viaduct-covered intersection controlled by traffic signals during the winter haze episodes. A two-day field sampling campaign was conducted with a portable device during evening rush hour and measured the PMs in the 0.3-10 mu m size range both on the surface crosswalk and underground passage. PM variations and related cumulative respiratory deposition dose (RDD) along two routes with six road crossing scenarios were estimated on a severe pollution day and a typical day for both adults and children, respectively. The PM concentration on the severe pollution day ranged 59.2-67.9 mu g/ m3 for PM1, 163.8-257.0 mu g/m3 for PM2, and 258.2-469.1 mu g/m3 for PM10, respectively, as compared to 47.9-57.9 mu g/m3for PM1, 112.7-199.8 mu g/m3 for PM2, and 151.0-301.0 mu g/m3 for PM10 on the typical day, respectively. The variability could be explained largely by the built-up environment, traffic component, signal setting, and ventilation condition. Our data suggest that an appropriate setting of the traffic signal would help reduce the personal exposure dose on the surface crosswalk at urban intersections and the ventilation condition had a significant influence on local PM distributions inside the underground passage. Results here provide possible suggestions for the future design of a walkable city.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to understand the determinants of traffic-related particulate matter (PM) variations and personal exposure to PMs at a viaduct-covered intersection controlled by traffic signals during winter haze episodes. The research found that the variability of PM concentrations could be largely explained by the built-up environment, traffic component, signal setting, and ventilation condition. The study suggests that an appropriate setting of traffic signals and ventilation conditions can help reduce personal exposure to PMs at urban intersections.