Assessing the effects of short-term traffic restriction policies on traffic-related air pollutants

Xiao-Rui Fang; Xing-Hang Zhu; Xing-Zhou Li; Zhong-Ren Peng; Hu Qingyao; Hong-Di He; Aj Yuan Chen; Huang Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161451

Assessing the effects of short-term traffic restriction policies on traffic-related air pollutants

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Apr 1:867:161451. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161451. Epub 2023 Jan 5.

Authors

Xiao-Rui Fang¹, Xing-Hang Zhu², Xing-Zhou Li², Zhong-Ren Peng³, Hu Qingyao⁴, Hong-Di He², Aj Yuan Chen⁵, Huang Cheng⁶

Affiliations

¹ Center for Intelligent Transportation Systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems Applications Research, State-Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China. Electronic address: Fangxiaorui@sjtu.edu.cn.
² Center for Intelligent Transportation Systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems Applications Research, State-Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
³ International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design, College of Design, Construction and Planning, University of Florida, Florida 32611-5706, USA. Electronic address: zrpeng@ufl.edu.
⁴ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China. Electronic address: huqy@saes.sh.cn.
⁵ University of Southern California (Marshall), Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
⁶ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China.

PMID: 36621495
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161451

Abstract

The implementation of short-term traffic restriction policies (TRPs) during major events positively influences the traffic emission reduction. However, few studies explore the impact of diesel vehicle emissions on air quality during short-term TRP. In particular, the intertwined influences of short-term TRP and Spring Festival remains unclear. Based on Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal changes in urban air quality and diesel vehicle emission during short-term TRP. The results showed that the TRPs and Spring Festival contributed equally to the improvement of air quality and reduction of diesel vehicle emissions. The "interruption-recovery" pattern of short-term TRPs is characterized by a longer duration and a slower decline/recovery rate. Additionally, the individual contribution rate of diesel vehicle emissions to urban air pollutants was 15-20 % higher than that of meteorological factors during short-term TRPs.

Keywords: Air pollutants; Diesel vehicle emission; Machine learning; Regression discontinuity design; Traffic restriction policy; Winter Olympic Games.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Beijing
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Particulate Matter / analysis
Vehicle Emissions / analysis

Substances

Vehicle Emissions
Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter