Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine
Few air pollution studies have been applied in the State of Palestine and all showed an increase in particulate matter concentrations above WHO guidelines. However, there is no clear methodology for selecting monitoring locations. In this study, a methodology based on GIS and locally calibrated low-...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Atmosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/7/1134 |
| _version_ | 1827597962139664384 |
|---|---|
| author | Tawfiq Saleh Abdelhaleem Khader |
| author_facet | Tawfiq Saleh Abdelhaleem Khader |
| author_sort | Tawfiq Saleh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few air pollution studies have been applied in the State of Palestine and all showed an increase in particulate matter concentrations above WHO guidelines. However, there is no clear methodology for selecting monitoring locations. In this study, a methodology based on GIS and locally calibrated low-cost sensors was tested. A GIS-based weighted overlay summation process for the potential sources of air pollution (factories, quarries, and traffic), taking into account the influence of altitude and climate, was used to obtain an air pollution hazard map for Nablus, Palestine. To test the methodology, eight locally calibrated PM sensors (AirUs) were deployed to measure PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for 55 days from 7 January to 2 March 2022. The results of the hazard map showed that 82% of Nablus is exposed to a high and medium risk of PM pollution. Sensors’ readings showed a good match between the hazard intensity and PM concentrations. It also shows an elevated PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations above WHO guidelines in all areas. In summary, the overall average for PM<sub>2.5</sub> in the Nablus was 48 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. This may indicate the effectiveness of mapping methodology and the use of low-cost, locally calibrated sensors in characterizing air quality status to identify the potential remediation options. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:42:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c27f1306b9024031b16948ec8ccd0860 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:42:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-c27f1306b9024031b16948ec8ccd08602023-12-03T14:39:00ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-07-01137113410.3390/atmos13071134Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, PalestineTawfiq Saleh0Abdelhaleem Khader1Faculty of Graduate Studies, An-Najah National University, Nablus P4110257, PalestineDepartment of Civil Engineering, An-Najah National University, Nablus P4110257, PalestineFew air pollution studies have been applied in the State of Palestine and all showed an increase in particulate matter concentrations above WHO guidelines. However, there is no clear methodology for selecting monitoring locations. In this study, a methodology based on GIS and locally calibrated low-cost sensors was tested. A GIS-based weighted overlay summation process for the potential sources of air pollution (factories, quarries, and traffic), taking into account the influence of altitude and climate, was used to obtain an air pollution hazard map for Nablus, Palestine. To test the methodology, eight locally calibrated PM sensors (AirUs) were deployed to measure PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for 55 days from 7 January to 2 March 2022. The results of the hazard map showed that 82% of Nablus is exposed to a high and medium risk of PM pollution. Sensors’ readings showed a good match between the hazard intensity and PM concentrations. It also shows an elevated PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations above WHO guidelines in all areas. In summary, the overall average for PM<sub>2.5</sub> in the Nablus was 48 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. This may indicate the effectiveness of mapping methodology and the use of low-cost, locally calibrated sensors in characterizing air quality status to identify the potential remediation options.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/7/1134particulate matterlow-cost sensorshazard mappingGIsPalestine |
| spellingShingle | Tawfiq Saleh Abdelhaleem Khader Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine Atmosphere particulate matter low-cost sensors hazard mapping GIs Palestine |
| title | Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine |
| title_full | Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine |
| title_fullStr | Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine |
| title_short | Urban Particulate Matter Hazard Mapping and Monitoring Site Selection in Nablus, Palestine |
| title_sort | urban particulate matter hazard mapping and monitoring site selection in nablus palestine |
| topic | particulate matter low-cost sensors hazard mapping GIs Palestine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/7/1134 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tawfiqsaleh urbanparticulatematterhazardmappingandmonitoringsiteselectioninnabluspalestine AT abdelhaleemkhader urbanparticulatematterhazardmappingandmonitoringsiteselectioninnabluspalestine |