A decade of traffic supersite measurements: Trends in air pollution, compliance with guidelines, and source attribution

IF 3.4 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Atmospheric Environment: X Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-09-02 DOI:10.1016/j.aeaoa.2026.100511

Hilkka Timonen, Elli Suhonen, Teemu Lepistö, Kimmo Teinilä, Minna Aurela, Laura Salo, Luis M.F. Barreira, Anu Kousa, Liisa Pirjola, Harri Portin, Anssi Julkunen, Tatu Martinmäki, Janne Lampilahti, Leena Järvi, Heidi Hellén, Hermanni Aaltonen, Eija Asmi, Tuukka Petäjä, Miikka Dal Maso, Markus Sillanpää, Jarkko V. Niemi

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Abstract

This article presents the results of long-term air quality measurements (2015–2024) from the Helsinki Traffic Supersite, including gaseous compounds (NO, NO₂, CO, CO₂, O₃), particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, particle number (PN) and size distribution), chemical composition of PM (black carbon (BC), organic aerosol (OA), inorganic species), lung-deposited surface area (LDSA), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), as well as road surface conditions and meteorology. In addition to the long-term observations, large number of targeted short-term measurement campaigns were conducted to investigate emerging phenomena, to further develop supersite measurements and gain new information about sources impacting air quality.

The observed air quality improvements at the Traffic Supersite were driven by declining traffic exhaust concentrations (NO_x (−8.0%/yr), BC (−7.1%/yr), PN (−3.7%/yr), and anthropogenic VOCs (−3.1 to −8.9%/yr)). The observed emission factors (g/kg_fuel) also decreased for NO_x (−7.6%/yr), BC (−7.5%/yr), and PN (−4.1%/yr), reflecting fleet renewal. The observed rate of decrease in PN concentration was lower than that of other parameters, particularly in the smallest size classes (<30 nm). Organic aerosol analysis showed that traffic hydrocarbon tracers (m/z 57) declined faster (−7.9%/yr) than total OA and oxidized OA (m/z 44), which are linked to secondary formation and long-range transport. Long-term results indicate that compliance with the upcoming EU Air Quality Directive limit values for 2030 is already largely achievable, with the most challenging aspect being the exceedances of the PM₁₀ daily limit due to road dust events. However, achieving the EU Zero Pollution target for 2050 remains challenging, and the WHO guideline values for PM₁₀, PM_2.₅ and NO₂ continue to be exceeded. These unique findings highlight the importance of comprehensive, long-term supersite measurements for understanding pollutant sources and trends, and for supporting urban planning and policy development.

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十年的交通测量：空气污染的趋势，遵守指导方针和来源归属

本文介绍了赫尔辛基交通超级站点的长期空气质量测量结果（2015-2024），包括气态化合物（NO, NO2， CO, CO2, O3），颗粒物（PM2.5, PM10，颗粒数（PN）和大小分布），PM的化学成分（黑碳（BC），有机气溶胶（OA），无机物种），肺沉积表面积（LDSA），多环芳烃，挥发性有机化合物（VOC），以及路面状况和气象。除了长期观测外，还开展了大量有针对性的短期测量活动，以调查新出现的现象，进一步发展超现场测量并获得有关影响空气质量的来源的新信息。交通超级站点观测到的空气质量改善是由交通尾气浓度下降（NOx（- 8.0%/年）、BC（- 7.1%/年）、PN（- 3.7%/年）和人为VOCs（- 3.1至- 8.9%/年））驱动的。观测到的排放因子（g/kgfuel）也有所下降，氮氧化物（- 7.6%/年），BC（- 7.5%/年）和PN（- 4.1%/年），反映了车队的更新。观察到的PN浓度下降速率低于其他参数，特别是在最小尺寸类别（<30 nm）。有机气溶胶分析表明，交通烃示踪剂（m/z 57）比总OA和氧化OA （m/z 44）下降更快（- 7.9%/yr），这与次生形成和远程运输有关。长期结果表明，遵守即将到来的2030年欧盟空气质量指令限值已经基本可以实现，最具挑战性的方面是由于道路粉尘事件导致的PM10日限值超标。然而，实现欧盟2050年的零污染目标仍然具有挑战性，世界卫生组织的PM10、PM2.5和二氧化氮的指导值继续超过。这些独特的发现突出了全面、长期的超现场测量对于了解污染源和趋势以及支持城市规划和政策制定的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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