Assessing the Spatial Distribution of NO<sub>2</sub> and Influencing Factors in Urban Areas—Passive Sampling in a Citizen Science Project in Berlin, Germany

Nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) is a major air pollutant with diverse impacts on human health and the environment. In urban areas, road traffic is the main emission source for NO<sub>2</sub>. In Berlin, Germany, a network of measurement stations is operated by the state, fu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Annelie Höhne, Rieke A. A. Schulte, Melissa Kulicke, Thu-Trang Huynh, Maren Telgmann, Wolfgang Frenzel, Andreas Held
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/2/360
Description
Summary:Nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) is a major air pollutant with diverse impacts on human health and the environment. In urban areas, road traffic is the main emission source for NO<sub>2</sub>. In Berlin, Germany, a network of measurement stations is operated by the state, fulfilling the monitoring requirements set by the European Union. To get a more detailed overview of the spatial distribution of NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in Berlin, a citizen science project allowed for collection of additional data and an increase in the number of sampling sites. Passive samplers (modified Palmes tubes) were distributed to participants to collect NO<sub>2</sub> at a site of their choice. When returned, the samplers were analyzed based on the Griess–Ilosvay reaction and spectrophotometric detection. The results confirmed a seasonal trend of higher NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in winter and lower concentrations during the summer period. Furthermore, the spatially and monthly averaged NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations observed in the study period from March 2019 to October 2020 were in good agreement with the average urban background concentration. At small spatial scales, a tendency of decreasing NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations with increasing distance from roads was observed. Overall, this study shows the added benefit of extensive low-cost measurements of NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations across urban environments in a citizen science project to complement stationary air pollution monitoring networks.
ISSN:2073-4433