Ozone Concentration Levels in Urban Environments—Upper Silesia Region Case Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15487479
AuthorsJoanna Kobza (0000-0002-2272-4363, Medical University of Silesia, corresponding author), Mariusz Geremek (0000-0003-1099-0821, Medical University of Silesia), Lechosław Dul (0000-0001-9064-4042, Medical University of Silesia)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue4
Pages1473-1473
Publication date2021-02-04
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18041473
PMID33557260
OpenAlexW3127343250
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited46

Although ozone (O 3 ) plays a crucial role in screening the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere layers from the ultraviolet radiation, troposphere ozone is proven to have negative health effects on the human body and is one of the greenhouse gases. The objective of this study was to perform a measurement-based assessment for determining whether the concentration of ozone is within admissible limits, or exceeded, in Silesia Province and does not pose a threat to the local population. The data provided by the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Katowice were used in the analysis. The received data constitute the result of 8-h measurements of concentrations of ozone at selected air monitoring stations of the Silesian province. The locations of three monitoring stations were found to be useful for the aim of this research; one site is situated in a rural background area; another one is located in a medium-sized city and the Katowice station is representative for an urban background situation. We used cluster analysis, weighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (WPGMA) and Chebyshev distances to test the hypothesis and compare empirical distributions in the general population. The alarm level has not been exceeded in indicated measurements stations in Silesian Voivodship in the period 2015-2017 (averaging time 1 h: 240 μg/m 3 for 3 h). The target level was exceeded in 2015 at all three measurements stations and in the following years at one station (in Zloty Potok, 2016, and in Katowice, 2017). Each year, the largest number of exceedances occurred in August. The results clearly indicate a lack of hazards for the general population's health in terms of increased concentrations of ozone in the city centers and outside. The results confirm that environmental conditions (i.e., landform, the area surrounding monitoring station) have a significant influence on the ozone level

Environmental health · Environmental protection · Geography · Meteorology · Ozone · Physical geography · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols · Chemistry · Environmental Science · Medicine · Vehicle emissions and performance · Environmental Chemistry

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access