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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Atmosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/2/360 |
| _version_ | 1797622392009261056 |
|---|---|
| author | Annelie Höhne Rieke A. A. Schulte Melissa Kulicke Thu-Trang Huynh Maren Telgmann Wolfgang Frenzel Andreas Held |
| author_facet | Annelie Höhne Rieke A. A. Schulte Melissa Kulicke Thu-Trang Huynh Maren Telgmann Wolfgang Frenzel Andreas Held |
| author_sort | Annelie Höhne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:09:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1183fd59649b46cbb565f9e4338e36f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:09:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-1183fd59649b46cbb565f9e4338e36f02023-11-16T19:03:46ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-02-0114236010.3390/atmos14020360Assessing the Spatial Distribution of NO<sub>2</sub> and Influencing Factors in Urban Areas—Passive Sampling in a Citizen Science Project in Berlin, GermanyAnnelie Höhne0Rieke A. A. Schulte1Melissa Kulicke2Thu-Trang Huynh3Maren Telgmann4Wolfgang Frenzel5Andreas Held6Institute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Chemistry and Air Research, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyNitrogen 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/2/360citizen sciencepassive samplingnitrogen dioxide |
| spellingShingle | Annelie Höhne Rieke A. A. Schulte Melissa Kulicke Thu-Trang Huynh Maren Telgmann Wolfgang Frenzel Andreas Held 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 Atmosphere citizen science passive sampling nitrogen dioxide |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| topic | citizen science passive sampling nitrogen dioxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/2/360 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anneliehohne assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany AT riekeaaschulte assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany AT melissakulicke assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany AT thutranghuynh assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany AT marentelgmann assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany AT wolfgangfrenzel assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany AT andreasheld assessingthespatialdistributionofnosub2subandinfluencingfactorsinurbanareaspassivesamplinginacitizenscienceprojectinberlingermany |