Location of areas of emission of pollutants when poor urban air quality is detected

Abstract

Air pollution constitutes an environmental risk, evidenced in large urban centers. This work applies a methodology capable of detecting the areas of emission of pollutants when episodes of poor urban air quality are observed. This is carried out coupling air quality indices proposed by United States Environmental Protection Agency with the receptor model known as Nonparametric Trajectory Analysis. As a control case, observed concentrations (2013-2015) in Bahia Blanca (Argentina) were analyzed, highlighting particulate matter as a dominant pollutant for episodes of poor air quality. Likewise, the application of the methodology allowed to reduce the number of possible stationary emission sources by 75%, and to highlight the implication of nearby linear sources. The strength of the methodology lies in visualizing in real time, or in diagnostic mode, the potential areas of emission and their significance.