Intervention of an Upgraded Ventilation System and Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality at Birmingham New Street Railway Station
Por:
Clegg, M, Thornes, J, Banerjee, D, Mitsakou, C, Quaiyoom, A, Delgado-Saborit, J and Phalkey, R
Publicada:
1 ene 2022
Resumen:
High NO2 concentrations (long term average of 383 mu g/m(3) in 2016/2017) recorded at Birmingham New Street railway station have resulted in the upgrade of the bi-directional fan system to aid wind dispersion within the enclosed platform environment. This paper attempts to examine how successful this intervention has been in improving air quality for both passengers and workers within the station. New air pollution data in 2020 has enabled comparisons to the 2016/2017 monitoring campaign revealing a 23-42% decrease in measured NO2 concentrations. The new levels of NO2 are below the Occupational Health standards but still well above the EU Public Health Standards. This reduction, together with a substantial decrease (up to 81%) in measured Particulate Matter (PM) concentrations, can most likely be attributed to the new fan system effectiveness. Carbon Monoxide levels were well below Occupational and Public Health Standards at all times. The COVID-19 pandemic "initial lockdown" period has also allowed an insight into the resultant air quality at lower rail-traffic intensities, which produced a further reduction in air pollutants, to roughly half the pre-lockdown concentrations. This study shows the scope of improvement that can be achieved through an engineering solution implemented to improve the ventilation system of an enclosed railway station. Further reduction in air pollution would require additional approaches, such as the removal of diesel engine exhaust emissions via the adoption of electric or diesel-electric hybrid powered services.
Filiaciones:
Clegg, M:
Univ Birmingham, Sch Geog Earth & Environm Sci, Birmingham B15 2TT, W Midlands, England
Thornes, J:
Univ Birmingham, Sch Geog Earth & Environm Sci, Birmingham B15 2TT, W Midlands, England
United Kingdom Hlth Secur Agcy, Climate Change & Hlth Grp, Radiat Chem & Environm Hazards, Oxford OX11 0RQ, England
Banerjee, D:
Emiss Solut Ltd EMSOL, London SEI 0NZ, England
Mitsakou, C:
United Kingdom Hlth Secur Agcy, Climate Change & Hlth Grp, Radiat Chem & Environm Hazards, Oxford OX11 0RQ, England
Quaiyoom, A:
QSustain Ltd, Stockport SK7 6BG, Lancs, England
:
Univ Birmingham, Sch Geog Earth & Environm Sci, Birmingham B15 2TT, W Midlands, England
Univ Jaume 1, Sch Hlth Sci, Castellon de La Plana 12071, Spain
Phalkey, R:
United Kingdom Hlth Secur Agcy, Climate Change & Hlth Grp, Radiat Chem & Environm Hazards, Oxford OX11 0RQ, England
gold, Green Published
|