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Pollution Measurement in the Port of Trieste

30th of August.2023, Napli

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Dr. Axel Friedrich

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Nitrogen Oxides

NO₂/NO_x Concentration Measurements in the Port of Trieste

To convert ppb NO₂ in micro gram/m3 it has to be multiplied by 1,85. So the max. NO2 value was 98 micro gram/m3.

Cruise Ship Plume in Trieste at low Wind Speed

NO2 Concentrations at low Wind Speed in Trieste Harbor

Ultrafine Particles in Harbor Area Trieste

Black Carbon

Black carbon is the “second most important human emission

only carbon dioxide is estimated to have a greater forcing…”

The total climate forcing of black carbon is 1.1 W m^-2, with the high end of the range at 2.1 W m^-2, which would put black carbon far above carbon dioxide, which is 1.7 W m^-2.

The “direct radiative forcing of +0.88 W m^-2 … is similar to the +0.9 W m^-2 given by Ramanathan and Carmichael [2008].” (Section 9.6.28.2)

“[T]otal climate forcing of black carbon is greater than the direct forcing given in the fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.” (Section 0.2.3.2)

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BC Second Only to CO₂

Health Effects of Black Carbon

Short-term epidemiological studies provide sufficient evidence for a link between daily variations in BC concentrations with short-term adverse health effects e.g. cardiopulmonary hospital admissions. Also, long-term average BC exposure has been directly linked to and cardiopulmonary and all-cause mortality. BC may not be a major directly toxic component of PM2.5, but it may operate as a universal carrier of a wide variety of chemicals of varying toxicity to the lungs, the body’s major defence cells and possibly the systemic blood circulation. 

https://unece.org/info/Environment-Policy/pub/21544

New low cost Black Carbon Measurement Instrument

The currently “cheapest” black carbon measuring device costs around € 8,500.

A far too high price for citizens and many authorities. That is why there are hardly any measurements of the pollution of the air with black carbon.

The aim was to develop a "low cost" black carbon measuring device. The aim for the component costs was to remain below € 500.

Construction plan and software are put on the Internet as “open source”. The construction plan and software can be downloaded from www.bcmeter.org.

Low Cost Rußmessgerät

Comparison Black Carbon Values�MAAP and BCMeter�September 2021 Trophos Leipzig

Black Carbon Measurement in the Port of Trieste

Conclusions

The evidence of the air pollution level of NO, NO2, Ozone and particles show the urgent need to introduce not only a SECA, but also a NECA in the Mediterranean Sea.

Analyses from research groups like IASSA and INERIS show that the benefit is much higher than the abatement cost.

But as much pollution is caused by local vehicles, trucks and ferries, action can be taken also on local level. E.g. a low emission zone for the harbor area.

Trieste should support the introduction of emission dependent harbor fees together with other harbors around the Northern Mediterranean Sea.

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Air Quality Monitoring

EU Air Quality Directive

axel.friedrich.berlin@gmail.com