Spatial and temporal analysis of black carbon aerosols in Istanbul megacity

Huseyin Ozdemir; Luca Pozzoli; Tayfun Kindap; Goksel Demir; Bulent Mertoglu; Nikos Mihalopoulos; Christina Theodosi; Maria Kanakidou; Ulas Im; Alper Unal

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.102

Spatial and temporal analysis of black carbon aerosols in Istanbul megacity

Sci Total Environ. 2014 Mar 1:473-474:451-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.102. Epub 2013 Dec 31.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Bahcesehir University, Department of Environmental Engineering, 34349 Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey; Marmara University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Goztepe, Istanbul, Turkey.
² Istanbul Technical University, Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
³ Bahcesehir University, Department of Environmental Engineering, 34349 Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey.
⁴ Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Kadikoy, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey.
⁵ University of Crete, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, P.O. Box 2208, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
⁶ University of Crete, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, P.O. Box 2208, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; Joint Research Centre, Institute of Environment and Sustainability, Air and Climate Unit, Ispra, Italy.
⁷ Istanbul Technical University, Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: alper.unal@gmail.com.

PMID: 24388823
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.102

Abstract

Black carbon (BC) is an important component of particulate matter due to its effects on human health and climate. In this study, we present the first BC concentrations measured in the Istanbul megacity (~15 million inhabitants). Two measurement campaigns have been conducted to measure BC and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations at four locations, characterized by different traffic densities. In the first campaign, BC daily mean concentrations have been found to be between 4 μg/m(3) and 10 μg/m(3). In the second campaign, BC and PM2.5 have been measured at the site with the highest traffic density for an entire year. Annually averaged BC contributes by 38 ± 14% to the PM2.5 levels (annual average BC: 13 μg/m(3) and PM2.5: 36 μg/m(3)). Diurnal variations of BC concentrations followed those of traffic density (correlation coefficient of 0.87). These measurements are essential to identify the sources of BC and PM2.5 concentrations in Istanbul and develop mitigation measures.

Keywords: Black carbon; Exposure; Fine particulate matter; Megacity; Traffic.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Aerosols / analysis*
Air Pollutants / analysis*
Air Pollution / statistics & numerical data
Cities
Environmental Monitoring*
Soot / analysis*
Turkey

Substances

Aerosols
Air Pollutants
Soot