Evidence of traffic-generated air pollution in Havana

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Jessie Madrazo
Alain Clappier
Osvaldo Cuesta
Luis C. Belalcazar
Yosdany González
Javier Bolufé
Carlos Sosa
Ernesto Carrillo
Ricardo Manso
Janet Canciano
François Golay

Abstract

In Havana, transport is blamed as a likely source of pollution issues, which is usually supported on arguments referring to a vehicle fleet mainly made of old cars (i.e., most models are American from the 1950s or Russian from the 1980s) with poor technical conditions. Most of the existing studies are based on measurements from passive samplers collected for 24 h, which may not be representative of conditions where pollutant concentrations (particles or gases) fluctuate or are not homogeneous, such as transport-related pollution. The goal of this paper is to explore the transport-generated pollution by examining short-time correlations between traffic flows, pollutant concentrations and meteorological parameters. To do that, statistical relationships among all variables were analyzed, which revealed that PM10, NO2 and SO2 concentration levels are influenced by vehicular traffic, mainly with low-speed winds blowing perpendicular to the street axis. Furthermore, southeast and northeast winds force drag pollutionfrom sources other than traffic. These conclusions depend on the specific conditions of the summer season at the measurement area. A more complete analysis could be conducted when more data becomes available for each season.

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Author Biographies

Jessie Madrazo, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne - EPFL, Geographic Information Systems Laboratory - LASIG EPFL ENAC IIE LASIG Bâtiment GC Station 18 CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

PhD candidate. Doctoral Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Scientific Assistant - Geographic Information Systems Laboratory

Alain Clappier, Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire Image Ville Environnement 3 rue de l'Argonne 67000 Strasbourg, France. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne - EPFL. Geographic Information Systems Laboratory - LASIG EPFL ENAC IIE LASIG Bâtiment GC Station 18 CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Full Professor and Faculty Member at Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Géographie et d'Aménagement

Scientist at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne - EPFL.

Osvaldo Cuesta, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

Luis C. Belalcazar, Universidad Nacional de Colombia- UNAL Cra 45, Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia.

Full Professor at  Departamento de ingeniería quimica y ambiental

Yosdany González, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

Javier Bolufé, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

Carlos Sosa, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

 

Ernesto Carrillo, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

 

Ricardo Manso, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

 

Janet Canciano, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología. INSMET Apartado 17032 Código Postal 11700. Habana 17. Cuba

Sicientistic at Centro de contaminación y quimica de la atmósfera - CECONT, INSMET

 

François Golay, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne - EPFL, Geographic Information Systems Laboratory - LASIG EPFL ENAC IIE LASIG Bâtiment GC Station 18 CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Full Professor at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne - EPFL, Geographic Information System Laboratory - LASIG

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