Outdoor Air monitoring of atmospheric levels of PM2.5 in Portugal over the years (2003-2021): first step for effectiveness evaluation of air quality policies in Portugal

• Autor(a) principal: Lima, Lorena Falcão
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/159936
• topic: Outdoor air pollution; Particulate matter; Air Quality; Portugal; Poluição do ar; Partículas Finas; Qualidade do Ar; Domínio/Área Científica::Ciências Sociais::Outras Ciências Sociais

ABSTRACT - Introduction: Air pollution, specifically PM2.51 , is one of the leading environmental causes of global mortality, with significant negative effects on health, particularly on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study aimed to analyze PM2.5 levels in Portugal from 2003-2021, considering different regions, emission influences, and environmental areas, and to compare them with the EU AQD 20082 and WHO AQG3 2006/2021. Study Design: Data from the QualAr4 Portugal platform was obtained for each monitoring station, including levels of PM2.5, region, city, station, emission influence, and environment. The percentage of hourly exceedances of EU AQD and WHO AQG of 2006 and 2021 was determined. Results: From 2003 to 2021, PM2.5 levels decreased, with significant differences between Lisbon Metropolitan Area and other regions (p≤0.05). There were national-level differences in 2015-2016 and 2019–2021, including lockdown months in 2020 and 2021 (p≤0.05). Stations from urban and suburban areas, as well as traffic and background influence, showed higher significant PM2.5 levels when compared to other stations (p≤0.05). In 2021, atmospheric PM2.5 levels exceeded the EU AQD 2008 and WHO AQG 2006 and 2021, ranging from 0.07% to 11.70%, to 0.3% to 37%, and 6% to 72%, respectively. Conclusion: Lisbon Metropolitan Area had differences among another regions. The flow of people due to restriction measures during COVID-195 pandemic caused a reduction in pollution by PM2.5. Urban areas and traffic had the highest WHO AQG 2021 exceedance percentage. Despite environmental policies aiming to improve air quality, Portugal experienced periods of exceedance of references levels, making it challenging to meet the ongoing WHO AQD recommended limits.