Comparative study of traffic density on air pollution in Alexandria city

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on four main streets of the city of Alexandria. To find out the effect of traffic on air pollution, the only two streets, that have no vehicle movement [El Falaky and El Naby Daniel] on certain days of the week [Fridays and Saturdays] had been studied. The results indicated clearly that the average concentrations of pollutants studied [Carbon monoxide, T.S.P., Pb, HC] were the highest on days of usual traffic density, while the lowest were on days no vehicle movement. The concentrations were generally higher at El-Falaky and at El Naby Daniel streets. This prevailing trend assures the role that the factors of width, highness of buildings, traffic density and the driving modes play an important role in deciding the concentration of pollutants. Port Said and Saad Zaghloul streets, having a continuous vehicle movement during the whole days of the week, had been studied as comparable streets and for stressing the effect of wind direction and speed on the vehical and horizontal dispersion of pollutants. The prevailing trend was that port said street had always a higher percent of pollutants than Saad Zaghloul street. It deserves mentioning that Sundays had been characterized by less traffic density than other days of the week and a consequent decrease of traffic pollution