Transportation emissions and health impacts

The University of Nicosia and the Marine & Carbon Lab invite you to the following talk:
Road Transport Emissions and Pertinent Health Implications During the COVID-19 Lockdown
Abstract

COVID-19 induced restrictions on mobility and operations in many industries has achieved lower levels of ambient air pollution. This unique opportunity to trace local and regional emission sources will support the island’s 2030 emission reduction target of 55%. In this project, hourly measurements of Particulate Matter, NOx, NO, NO2, SO2, CO, O3 and C6H6 were collected from three air quality monitoring stations in Nicosia. Analyses focused on March to May of 2019 and 2020 during which the strictest lockdown measures were imposed.
Results showed emission reductions for all pollutants in the city of Nicosia while PM10 and O3 levels at Ayia Marina background station increased reflecting dust and parallel NOx reductions, respectively. Nitrogen oxides— tied to traffic-related pollution— sustained the largest reduction of 86%. Traffic volume, monitored at 6 stations, was significantly less during the lockdown period compared to 2019 and 2021. Traffic remained more or less steady at Athalassa Ave. which mirrored intercity travel. The island’s vehicle fleet consists largely of aging cars, owing to the import of used cars, and 80% of gasoline fuelled vehicles— the second highest share in the EU. Vehicle exhaust emissions were estimated and compared with measured data.
To estimate how many lives were spared from the improved air quality, integrated exposure response functions for respiratory and cardiovascular mortality were applied to Nicosia’s demographic group of 30 years and older. Non-accidental mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease were the lowest for SO2 exposure at 7 deaths. NOx exposure resulted in an estimated 291 cardiovascular deaths and for NO2 up to 208 deaths from respiratory disease. Mortality rates following the lockdown period will be examined for changes in response to the improved air quality.

Speaker’s bio:

Ms. Michelle Duri is a doctoral student of the University of Nicosia’s Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering programme. Her research focusses on the pollutant emissions of the transport, industry and residential sectors, and their influence on public health. She has worked on projects to digitize the map of Cyprus using GIS for the Department of Town Planning at NetU, and later conducted research in Horizon 2020 projects in the sustainable built environment. She graduated from Frederick University with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering (9.41/10) and an MSc in Sustainable Energy (9.35/10) and tutored maths, physics and statics.

The talk to be delivered in English will be held face-to-face and live streamed via WebEx:
www.webex.com; Link: https://bit.ly/3HacJso; Meeting number: 2733 916 2264; Meeting Pass: smXiM5gup45. For more info please visit the Marine & Carbon Lab: www.carbonlab.eu

Date: Conf. Room 102, RTB, U. of Nicosia; Wed., Feb. 23rd, 2022. Time: 10:00-11:00am


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