An investigation into ambient levels of traffic-related pollutants in urban centres: a case study of the Seagate, Dundee, United Kingdom

The findings of a local study, investigating the ambient levels of nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), total organic hydrocarbons (TOC) and total suspended particulates (TSP), for an urban roadside site within the Seagate area of Dundee, United Kingdom, are presented. A 2 week study was initiated as part of a Local Air Quality Management response to results, published under the National Nitrogen Dioxide Survey, which suggested that ambient levels of NO2 could be in breach of the regulatory standards for NO2 as prescribed by the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) and European Community (E.C.). The results of the study clearly show that the observed levels of NO2 are inconsistent with those presented within the National Nitrogen Dioxide Survey, and that the diurnal variation of NO2, observed over the 2 week monitoring period, remained well within the appropriate regulatory standard as set out by EPAQS and the E.C. The recorded levels of CO and TSP were similarly found to lie within the appropriate regulatory air quality standards. Possible traffic management measures for improving air quality in the study area have been proposed based on the findings of the study.