The effect of anthropogenic activity on BTEX, NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations in urban air of the spa city of Sopot and medium-industrialized city of Tczew located in North Poland

Mariusz Marć; Michalina Bielawska; Vasil Simeonov; Jacek Namieśnik; Bożena Zabiegała

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2016.03.014

The effect of anthropogenic activity on BTEX, NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations in urban air of the spa city of Sopot and medium-industrialized city of Tczew located in North Poland

Environ Res. 2016 May:147:513-24. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.03.014. Epub 2016 Mar 15.

Authors

Mariusz Marć¹, Michalina Bielawska², Vasil Simeonov³, Jacek Namieśnik⁴, Bożena Zabiegała⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Analytical Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza Str. 11/12, PL 80-233 Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: marmarc@pg.gda.pl.
² Agency of Regional Air Quality Monitoring in the Gdansk Metropolitan Area (ARMAAG), Gdańsk, Poland.
³ Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria.
⁴ Department of Analytical Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza Str. 11/12, PL 80-233 Gdansk, Poland.

PMID: 26990845
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.03.014

Abstract

The major goal of the present study is to compare the air quality of two urban locations situated in Northern Poland - the spa City of Sopot and the medium-industrialized city of Tczew using chemometric methods. As a criterion for the assessment of atmospheric air quality, measurements of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes were used (collected from atmospheric air using diffusion-type passive samplers) as well as measurements of inorganic compounds - CO, NO2 and SO2, which were subject to routine control and determined by means of automatic analysers. Studies related to determination of defined chemical compounds in the urban air in the monitored area were performed from January 2013 to December 2014. By interpreting the results obtained and using basic multivariate statistical tools (cluster analysis and principal components analysis), major sources of emissions of determined pollutants in the air in urbanized areas were defined. The study also shows the potential influence of the sea breeze on concentrations of chemical compounds in the atmospheric air in the spa city of Sopot.

Keywords: BTEX; Hierarchical cluster analysis; Inorganic compounds; Principal components analysis; Urban air quality.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Benzene Derivatives / analysis*
Cities / statistics & numerical data*
Oxides / analysis*
Poland

Substances

Air Pollutants
Benzene Derivatives
Oxides