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Influence of Solid Noise Barriers on Near-Road and On-Road Air Quality
Citation:
Baldauf, R., V. Isakov, P. Deshmukh, AND A. Venkatram. Influence of Solid Noise Barriers on Near-Road and On-Road Air Quality. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 129:265-276, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
Paper evaluating reductions in near-road air quality in the presence of a solid noise barrier. Compares near-road and on-road concentrations
Description:
Public health concerns regarding adverse health effects for populations spending significant amounts of time near high traffic roadways has increased substantially in recent years. Roadside features, including solid noise barriers, have been investigated as potential methods to reduce air pollution exposures from nearby traffic that can be implemented in a relatively short time period. A field study was conducted to determine the influence of noise barriers on both upwind and downwind pollutant concentrations near a large highway in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ultrafine particles, and black carbon were measured using a mobile platform and fixed sites along two limited-access stretches of highway that contained a section of noise barrier and a section with no noise barrier at-grade with the surrounding terrain. Results of the study showed that roadside barriers led to reductions in concentrations of vehicle-emitted pollutants relative to those measured in the absence of barriers. The reductions ranged from 50% within 50 m from the barrier to about 30% as far as 300 m from the barrier. Reductions in pollutant concentrations generally began within the first 25 to 75 meters of the barrier edge during predominantly downwind conditions; however, concentrations were highly variable along the road and no trend among all wind direction and speed conditions was evident. The concentrations upwind of the barrier were similar to those measured in the absence of the barrier, contradicting previous modeling results that suggest that roadside barriers might increase the exposure to vehicle-related pollutants for vehicle passengers on the highway.
