CO and NO2 pollution in a long two-way traffic road tunnel: investigation of NO2/NOx ratio and modelling of NO2 concentration.
The CO, NO and NO2 concentrations, visibility and air flow velocity were measured using continuous analysers in a long Norwegian road tunnel (7.5 km) with traffic in both directions in April 1994 and 1995. The traffic density was monitored at the same time. The NO2 concentration exceeded Norwegian air quality limits for road tunnels 17% of the time in 1994. The traffic through the tunnel decreased from 1994 to 1995, and the mean NO2 concentration was reduced from 0.73 to 0.22 ppm. The ventilation fan control, based on the CO concentration only, was unsatisfactory and the air flow was sometimes low for hours. Models for NO2 concentration based on CO concentration and absolute air flow velocity were developed and tested. The NO2/NOx ratio showed an increase for NOx levels above 2 ppm; a likely explanation for this phenomenon is NO oxidation by O2. Exposure to high NO2 concentrations may represent a health risk for people with respiratory and cardiac diseases. In long road tunnels with two-way traffic, this study indicates that ventilation fan control based on CO concentration should be adjusted for changes in vehicle CO emission and should be supplemented by air flow monitoring to limit the NO2 concentration.
Indrehus
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O
Faculty of Engineering, Sogn og Fjordane College, N-6800 Førde, Norway.
Vassbotn
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P
D000392:Air Movements; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000032:analysis*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide