Measuring combined exposure to environmental pressures in urban areas: An air quality and noise pollution assessment approach

• Published in: Environment international 2012-02, Vol.39 (1), p.8-18
• Main Authors: Vlachokostas, Ch, Achillas, Ch, Michailidou, A.V., Moussiopoulos, Ν.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Assessments; Bicycling - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Cities - statistics & numerical data; Combined Dose and Exposure Factor; Combined Exposure Factor; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Greece; Hazardous Substances - analysis; Humans; Medical sciences; Noise; Noise pollution; Pollutants; Public Health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sustainability; Toxicology; Transport; Transportation - statistics & numerical data; Urban areas; Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis; Walking - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.09.007

This study presents a methodological scheme developed to provide a combined air and noise pollution exposure assessment based on measurements from personal portable monitors. Provided that air and noise pollution are considered in a co-exposure approach, they represent a significant environmental hazard to public health. The methodology is demonstrated for the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The results of an extensive field campaign are presented and the variations in personal exposure between modes of transport, routes, streets and transport microenvironments are evaluated. Air pollution and noise measurements were performed simultaneously along several commuting routes, during the morning and evening rush hours. Combined exposure to environmental pollutants is highlighted based on the Combined Exposure Factor (CEF) and Combined Dose and Exposure Factor (CDEF). The CDEF takes into account the potential relative uptake of each pollutant by considering the physical activities of each citizen. Rather than viewing environmental pollutants separately for planning and environmental sustainability considerations, the possibility of an easy-to-comprehend co-exposure approach based on these two indices is demonstrated. Furthermore, they provide for the first time a combined exposure assessment to these environmental pollutants for Thessaloniki and in this sense they could be of importance for local public authorities and decision makers. A considerable environmental burden for the citizens of Thessaloniki, especially for VOCs and noise pollution levels is observed. The material herein points out the importance of measuring public health stressors and the necessity of considering urban environmental pollution in a holistic way. [Display omitted] ► Methodology for the combined air and noise pollution exposure assessment. ► Combined Exposure Factor (CEF) and Combined Dose and Exposure Factor (CDEF). ► Microenvironments' monitoring and characterisation. ► Importance of measuring co-exposure to several environmental health stressors. ► Necessity of considering urban environmental pollution in a holistic way.