Correlations between noise level and pollutants concentration in order to assess the level of air pollution induced by heavy traffic

Abstract

Bucharest is one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with a very high population density and intense traffic. Because many residential buildings and shopping centers are located near different busy roads and crossroads, the air pollution induced by traffic affects the inhabitants in the area. The level of air pollution needs to be constantly monitored in order to take appropriate measures when the concentrations exceed the limits. Most of the measurement techniques require time and expensive equipment, therefore, a big attention turned into finding an air pollution indicator that could be precise enough, easily and cheap to determine. The paper presents some preliminary studies regarding the correlation between noise pollution and the concentrations of NO2, SO2, CO. The measurements were conducted at different distances from some very busy roads and crossroads in order to determine a pattern. The data have been processed with a statistical analysis program in order to establish if the noise level can be used to assess the urban air pollution generated by traffic. Most of the results indicate a good correlation between noise and chemical pollutants. Noise level can be a good indicator for air pollution, especially for the situation when there is no need of a precise determination.