PM10 concentration levels at an urban and background site in Cyprus: the impact of urban sources and dust storms
Journal
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association
Date Issued
December 1, 2014
DOI
10.1080/10962247.2014.923061
Abstract
Air quality in Cyprus is influenced by both local and transported pollution, including desert dust storms. We examined PM10
concentration data collected in Nicosia (urban representative) from April 1, 1993, through December 11, 2008, and in Ayia Marina
(rural background representative) from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2008. Measurements were conducted using a Tapered
Element Oscillating Micro-balance (TEOM). PM10 concentrations, meteorological records, and satellite data were used to identify dust
storm days. We investigated long-term trends using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) after controlling for day of week, month,
temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity. In Nicosia, annual PM10 concentrations ranged from 50.4 to 63.8 mg/m3 and exceeded the
EU annual standard limit enacted in 2005 of 40 mg/m3 every year. A large, statistically significant impact of urban sources (defined as the
difference between urban and background levels) was seen in Nicosia over the period 2000–2008, and was highest during traffic hours,
weekdays, cold months, and low wind conditions. Our estimate of the mean (standard error) contribution of urban sources to the daily
ambient PM10 was 24.0 (0.4) mg/m3
. The study of yearly trends showed that PM10 levels in Nicosia decreased from 59.4 mg/m3 in 1993 to
49.0 mg/m3 in 2008, probably in part as a result of traffic emission control policies in Cyprus. In Ayia Marina, annual concentrations
ranged from 27.3 to 35.6 mg/m3
, and no obvious time trends were observed. The levels measured at the Cyprus background site are
comparable to background concentrations reported in other Eastern Mediterranean countries. Average daily PM10 concentrations during
desert dust storms were around 100 mg/m3 since 2000 and much higher in earlier years. Despite the large impact of dust storms and their
increasing frequency over time, dust storms were responsible for a small fraction of the exceedances of the daily PM10 limit.
Implications: This paper examines PM10 concentrations in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 1993 to 2008. The decrease in PM10 levels in
Nicosia suggests that the implementation of traffic emission control policies in Cyprus has been effective. However, particle levels
still exceeded the European Union annual standard, and dust storms were responsible for a small fraction of the daily PM10 limit
exceedances. Other natural particles that are not assessed in this study, such as resuspended soil and sea salt, may be responsible in
part for the high particle levels.
concentration data collected in Nicosia (urban representative) from April 1, 1993, through December 11, 2008, and in Ayia Marina
(rural background representative) from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2008. Measurements were conducted using a Tapered
Element Oscillating Micro-balance (TEOM). PM10 concentrations, meteorological records, and satellite data were used to identify dust
storm days. We investigated long-term trends using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) after controlling for day of week, month,
temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity. In Nicosia, annual PM10 concentrations ranged from 50.4 to 63.8 mg/m3 and exceeded the
EU annual standard limit enacted in 2005 of 40 mg/m3 every year. A large, statistically significant impact of urban sources (defined as the
difference between urban and background levels) was seen in Nicosia over the period 2000–2008, and was highest during traffic hours,
weekdays, cold months, and low wind conditions. Our estimate of the mean (standard error) contribution of urban sources to the daily
ambient PM10 was 24.0 (0.4) mg/m3
. The study of yearly trends showed that PM10 levels in Nicosia decreased from 59.4 mg/m3 in 1993 to
49.0 mg/m3 in 2008, probably in part as a result of traffic emission control policies in Cyprus. In Ayia Marina, annual concentrations
ranged from 27.3 to 35.6 mg/m3
, and no obvious time trends were observed. The levels measured at the Cyprus background site are
comparable to background concentrations reported in other Eastern Mediterranean countries. Average daily PM10 concentrations during
desert dust storms were around 100 mg/m3 since 2000 and much higher in earlier years. Despite the large impact of dust storms and their
increasing frequency over time, dust storms were responsible for a small fraction of the exceedances of the daily PM10 limit.
Implications: This paper examines PM10 concentrations in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 1993 to 2008. The decrease in PM10 levels in
Nicosia suggests that the implementation of traffic emission control policies in Cyprus has been effective. However, particle levels
still exceeded the European Union annual standard, and dust storms were responsible for a small fraction of the daily PM10 limit
exceedances. Other natural particles that are not assessed in this study, such as resuspended soil and sea salt, may be responsible in
part for the high particle levels.