An Assessment of the On-Road Mobile Sources Contribution to Particulate Matter Air Pollution by AERMOD Dispersion Model

On-road mobile sources of emissions make important contributions to particulate matter pollution (PM_2.5–PM₁₀) in cities. The quantification of such pollution is, however, highly challenging due to the number of interacting factors that affect emissions such as vehicle category, emission standard, vehicle speed and weather conditions. The proper identification of individual sources of emission is particularly necessary for air quality management areas. In this study, we estimated exhaust and non-exhaust traffic-related PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ contributions to total ambient pollution in Banská Bystrica (Slovak republic) by simulation based on the AERMOD dispersion model. Emission rates of particular vehicle categories were obtained through vehicle population statistics, traffic data survey and emission factors from the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook. Continuous PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 data from air quality monitoring stations were analysed for the years 2019–2020 and compared with modelled concentrations. The annual concentration values of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in the study area reached 16.71 μg/m³ and 15.57 μg/m³, respectively. We found that modelled PM_2.5 peak concentration values exceeded the WHO air quality guideline annual mean limit. Traffic-related PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ contributions to ambient pollution at the reference point located nearby to a busy traffic route were approximately 25% and 17%, respectively. The reference point located outside the main transport corridors showed an approximately 11% contribution, both for PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations. The simulations showed that PM pollution is greatly contributed to by on-road mobile sources of emissions in the study area, and especially non-exhaust emissions, which require serious attention in association with their health impacts and the selection of Banská Bystrica as an air quality management area.