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Road traffic affects the public in a wide variety of ways, many of which cause some degree of annoyance. The major disturbances to the public arising from vehicular emissions include physical effects such as the irritation of eyes and mucous membranes, visual intrusion, soiling, or more subjective impacts. A literature survey has been conducted which identified the vehicle-derived air pollutants suspected of causing some degree of nuisance to the public but also highlighted the limited data in this area. A preliminary investigation of the relationship between public attitude and pollutant concentrations has been conducted at two locations in the London Borough of Ealing and a single location in the London Borough of Haringey. A range of pollutants was monitored continuously including oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, selected volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. Traffic flows and meteorological conditions were also recorded throughout the survey period. To measure the local public opinion concerning vehicle-derived pollutants, pedestrians and occupants of residential and business premises were surveyed. The preliminary analysis of this data indicates the importance of diesel-engined vehicles to public annoyance and the significance of diesel derived particulate matter.

This paper describes the application of the UK Department of Transport's air pollution prediction programme, PREDCO, to four urban street locations within the London area, each of which demonstrates restricted dispersion characteristics. The development of approaches to predict CO levels at varying heights above the road surface are described. Predictive expressions are also derived to estimate the concentration of total hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, using the emission rates of each pollutant relative to that of CO.

Air pollution from traffic is one of the main factors considered in the environmental appraisal of road schemes. Currently this appraisal concentrates on the emission and roadside concentration of those regulated pollutants which are potentially harmful to the health or well-being of human, animal or plant life, or to ecological systems. However, vehicle emissions, especially those from diesel vehicles, may also cause a number of aesthetic and nuisance problems, such a visibility reduction, urban soiling and physical irritation. A methodology to investigated the subjective nuisance effects of air pollution from road traffic on the public has been developed and tested. The data indicates that vehicle-derived air pollution was an issue of high relative importance to the public when compared to other major social issues. On a local level, the physical presence of road traffic and its associated pollution appeared to be the largest contributors to outdoor public environmental nuisance. Indoors, the public appeared to experience only minor disturbances from vehicle-derived pollution, with the average respondent being not very bothered by vehicle-derived smoke, fumes and odour, dust and dirt and general air pollution. Noise appeared to cause the greatest indoor traffic-related nuisance, although many respondents complained about soiling from dust/dirt. The surveys suggest that outdoor disturbance from vehicle-derived air pollution was fairly high, with smoke, fumes and odour causing the greatest annoyance. The main reason given for disturbance from outdoor smoke, fumes and odour and dust/dirt was concern that they would harm the public's health. Other important specific reasons included soiling and the smell of the fumes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In the UK, many improvements and modifications to the road system are made in urban areas where the network of roads and the surrounding area are often complex. In these locations, the emission and dispersion of vehicle exhaust are complicated by the diversity of the vehicle operating conditions and of the airflow patterns. A series of air pollution surveys have taken place at successively more complex sites. A preliminary analysis of the results has been carried out to determine the features that are most important in determining local pollution levels. These will be considered in the future development of methods of predicting pollution levels that are more accurate in topographically complex locations.

Exhaust emission tests were conducted on 20 heavy-duty vehicles. These test vehicles were Euro 1 and Euro 2 compliant and included coaches, and trucks ranging from 7.5 to 38 tonne vehicles. The vehicles were tested over the European 13-mode and the FIGE engine dynamometer tests, with some of the vehicles repeat tested using an ultra low sulphur diesel fuel (ULSD). A single test vehicle was tested over a selection of real world driving cycles. In general, Euro 2 vehicles demonstrated lower emissions than Euro 1 vehicles. The ULSD produced large decreases in the emissions of CO and PM with a smaller decrease in NOx. Although Euro 2 vehicles produced less mass of particulate, the number of particles emitted significantly increased when compared to Euro 1. The FIGE and the Truck cycles produced the lowest and similar emission rates, while the bus cycle produced much higher levels, reflecting the importance of vehicle operation on emissions.

Measurements of black smoke (BS), total suspended particulates (TSP) and selected trace element concentrations were made at two locations (four sites) in London, UK. One location was in Ealing, West London, the other was in Wood Green, North London. At each location, a residential and commercial roadside site was identified and monitored. The black smoke measurements were taken over 24-hour periods via a British standard 8-port smoke sampler situated inside a mobile laboratory. The TSP measurements were taken during peak traffic periods and 24-hour periods using glass fibre filters and high volume sampling pumps. At one site (the residential site at Wood Green), the TSP samples were analysed for 17 elements Pb, Zn, Br, Mg, Al, V, Fe, Sb, Mo, Co, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ba, Sn and Pt. After gravimetric analysis, the trace elements were extracted from the filter papers and analysed using inductively coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry. Two methods of extracting the trace elements were investigated, and the most efficient technique, the "nitric-perchloric", was used. Quantitative determinations of BS were made for a total of 98 and 115 days at the Ealing and Wood Green locations respectively during 1991/92. The average concentrations determined at the residential locations were 18.3 (Ealing) and 20.5 (Wood Green) µg/m³, respectively, and for the commercial sites the corresponding values were 30.6 and 69.5 µg/m³. The daily TSP values at the four sites are also reported and compared with measurements taken during the morning and afternoon rush hours. The particulate values reported here are discussed and compared with previously reported measurements in the UK. A total of 55 filter papers from the residential site at Wood Green were extracted for trace element analysis and the results are reported. Sufficient samples were collected to allow the data to be divided into morning, afternoon and 24-hour time periods, allowing comparison of the trends with the TSP data. The total and individual contributions of the trace elements to the particulate mass have been calculated and the most abundant trace elements (Zn, Pb, Br, Fe, Al, Mg) identified.