Considerations concerning impact assessment of pollution with breathable PM2.5 particulate matter. Part 1. Pollution monitoring in urban areas with intense road traffic

Fine particles (smaller than 2.5 µm) penetrate more deeply into the lungs than coarse particles (2.5–10 µm). Recent health studies indicate a link between fine particle concentrations in the outdoor air and certain health effects. Adverse health effects from breathing air with a high PM2.5 concentration include: premature death, increased respiratory symptoms and disease, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function particularly for individuals with asthma. In an effort to reduce and control the hazards associated with PM2.5, EPA (Ecological Protection Agency) issued federal standards in 1997 to be complied on a county basis. The guidance on monitoring published by EPA emphasizes placing monitors in areas impacted by fine particles that are also locations where people live, work, or play. The study covered by the present project is referred to determination over three years of the pollution level with PM2.5 particulate matter in areas with intense road traffic and assessment of this pollution on population health. This will be done by means of specific test, in a first phase for respiratory function, ventilator functions, respectively, and in a second phase the characteristic tests for the presence of poly- and mono-nuclear hydrocarbons in particulate matter. The tests in the second phase will include the tests for dosing α1 antitripsina, 1 hydroxypyrene and S-phenylmercaptic acid on batches of exposed and control human subjects. The present paper will present the level of pollution with PM2.5 in the area of interest. This level is based on measurement conducted according with SR EN 14907/2006 standard requirements. Also, the paper will present the dynamic of daily pollution level evolution in correlation with road traffic, both for cold and hot seasons.