Helen Crabbe

Assessment of Air Quality, Emissions and Management in a Local Urban Environment

This paper describes one example of how the UK National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) is implemented in a local urban environment. The paper reviews the beginning of this process, by examining the review and assessment procedures of the NAQS in the London Borough of Barnet. By the application of available UK tools of local air quality management (LAQM), the process began through analysis of the levels of local emissions and progressed onto modelling of current and future air quality. A map showing combined emission hotspot areas for the Borough indicated and higher emission rates occur in the south of the Borough and along the major transport corridors, as road sources dominate emissions. Dispersion modelling studies were also conducted for this purpose, using the screening models GRAM, PGRAM and ADMS Urban for an in-depth assessment. These analyses found that some local point sources and the majority of Borough roads with over 20,000 vehicles per day produced exceedances of the future objectives for air quality for some pollutants.

Using GIS and Dispersion Modelling Tools to Assess the Effect of the Environment on Health

A feasibility study in progress to integrate health and air quality information is presented. The methods of using integrated GIS and air quality dispersion modelling tools to assess the effect of the environment on health are discussed. The main aim is to model human personal exposure to air pollutants and compare the predictions to respiratory health data for asthmatics in a health telematics project. The MEDICATE project develops and tests the feasibility of using a health telematic system for asthmatics. Key to this is the determination of the real-time health (lung function) response to the ambient environment. For this, air quality information is related to respiratory measurements by modelling personal exposure through a GIS. The methods of integrating environmental modelling and assessment tools (GIS) in this case are examined. ESRI’s ArcView is used to locate and compile environmental information about the patients’ locations and lifestyles in the study areas (London and Barcelona). A dispersion modelling extension to ArcView, ADMS Urban, is used to interrogate the spatial environmental databases (e.g. emission inventories) to model air pollution concentrations. Patients’ personal exposure is modelled by time-weighted estimates of their exposure to ambient air quality at each defined location. Lung function data can be compared on a time-wise basis with these air quality indicators to see if there is a relationship on an hourly, daily or lagged-day basis. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology and discuss the integration and practicalities of using air quality assessment tools (inventories, dispersion modelling and a GIS) in assessing the impacts of the environment on human health.

Local air quality management: a practical approach to air quality assessment and emissions audit

This paper reviews the results of the practical application of national UK tools of air quality management on a local scale, to show their usefulness and application. Such tools include an urban emissions inventory, dispersion modelling and the review and assessment guidance procedures of the National Air Quality Strategy.

Environment, Pollution and Effects

This chapter will look at the main environmental influences and controls on damage to heritage, which occurs even in the absence of pollution, and also examine the main characteristics and sources of the most important air pollutants that exacerbate this damage or, in some cases, add new types of damage. The types of damage are briefly reviewed at the beginning of the chapter. It is also important to understand the environmental factors that not only influence weathering in the absence of pollution but also are key to the control of pollution damage, and so these are also briefly reviewed.

Environment, Pollution and Effects Environment, Pollution and Effects

This chapter will look at the main environmental influences and controls on damage to heritage, which occurs even in the absence of pollution, and also examine the main characteristics and sources of the most important air pollutants that exacerbate this damage or, in some cases, add new types of damage. The types of damage are briefly reviewed at the beginning of the chapter. It is also important to understand the environmental factors that not only influence weathering in the absence of pollution but also are key to the control of pollution damage, and so these are also briefly reviewed.

Environment, Pollution and EffectsEnvironment, Pollution and Effects

This chapter will look at the main environmental influences and controls on damage to heritage, which occurs even in the absence of pollution, and also examine the main characteristics and sources of the most important air pollutants that exacerbate this damage or, in some cases, add new types of damage. The types of damage are briefly reviewed at the beginning of the chapter. It is also important to understand the environmental factors that not only influence weathering in the absence of pollution but also are key to the control of pollution damage, and so these are also briefly reviewed.