Effects of traffic-related nitrogenous emissions on purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench) transplants, used here as a new biomonitoring species, were assessed along 500 m long transects orthogonal to roads located in two open areas in the Maurienne valley (French Alps). Leaves were sampled during summer 2004 and 2005 for total N-content and 15N-abundance determination while nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) concentrations were determined using passive diffusion samplers. A significant and negative correlation was observed between plant total N-content, and 15N-abundance and the logarithm of the distance to the road axis. The strongest decreases in plant N parameters were observed between 15 and 100 m from road axis. They were equivalent to background levels at a distance of about 800 m from the roads. In addition, motor vehicle pollution significantly affected vegetation at road edge, as was established from the relationship between leaf 15N-abundance, total N-content and road traffic densities.

The elemental composition and bioaccessibility of trace metals have been determined in a variety of geosolids (soils, road dusts and house dusts) from an arid, coastal region (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia). Concentrations of many elements reflected those of the local geology, ascertained by analysis of desert sand. Several trace metals (e.g. Cu, Sb, Zn, Pb, Tl and Sn) were moderately enriched in both road and house dusts, reflecting external and internal (household) anthropogenic sources. For a given trace metal, bioaccessibilities, assessed using a physiologically based extraction test, were broadly similar across the range of geosolids. Median values for a simulated gastric phase ranged from less than 10% (Ba, Cu, Cr, Ni and V) to more than 50% (As, Cd, Sb, Sn and Tl), and for a subsequently simulated intestinal phase from less than 15% (Ba, Cr, Cu, Ni, V and Zn) to more than 50% (As, Cd, Sb, Tl and U). Results suggest that the levels and bioaccessibilities of trace metals in dusts from arid environments are controlled by the dilution of anthropogenic particulates by variable (but significant) proportions of fine, baseline sand.

Trace elements, especially those associated with fine particles in airborne particulate matter (PM), may play an important role in PM adverse health effect. The aim of this paper is to characterize elements in a wide particle size range from nano (57-100 nm) to fine (100-1,000 nm) and to coarse (1,000-10,000 nm) fractions of two urban PM samples collected in Ottawa. Size-selective particle sampling was performed using a micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor, and element concentrations were determined in each different size fraction by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. A general trend of increasing element concentration with decreasing aerodynamic diameter was observed for elements V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Cd, indicating they were predominately concentrated in the nanoparticle size range. Other elements including Fe, Sr, Mo, Sn, Sb, Ba, and Pb were predominately concentrated in the fine-size range. Increased concentration of elements in the nano and fine particle size range is significant due to their ability to penetrate into the deepest alveolar area of the lungs. This was confirmed by the calculation of median concentration diameters, which were less than 800 nm for most of the investigated elements. Particle size distribution and element correlation analysis suggest that the elements concentrated in the nano- and fine-size fractions originated mainly from vehicular combustion and emission. Long-range airborne transport and soil or road dust resuspension may also contribute. Particle size had an important effect on element bioaccessibility for the studied urban PM samples showing a general trend of increasing element bioaccessibility with decreasing particle size. These results emphasize the importance of acquiring information on nano and/or fine PM-bound elements and their bioaccessibilities for accurate element and PM exposure assessment.

Assessing air quality in street canyons is a crucial concern, as the highest pollution levels and threshold exceedances are usually experienced within this kind of urban streets. A brief overview based on experimental studies and modelling techniques undertaken in literature is presented, including characteristic features affecting wind flow and pollutant dispersion within street canyons. In this work, a numerical street canyon model intercomparison has been performed in a typical urban canyon in Florence, Italy. In particular, STREET, Canyon Plume Box Model (CPBM) and Operational Street Pollution Model (OSPM) have been applied to compute the street-level 1-h carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations. In addition, the CALINE4 model has been applied to test the site morphology. Input data cover a 1-year time period and include meteorological observations as well as measured traffic volumes and driving speeds. Hourly road emissions have been calculated using the COPERT methodology taking into account vehicle fleet, traffic flows and driving speed, as well as ambient temperature to account for cold overemissions. A preliminary experimental data analysis has been carried out in order to investigate the dependence of observed CO concentrations on meteorological and traffic parameters. Hourly CO concentrations observed over the full year have been used to compare the STREET, CPB and OSP models, resulting in a detailed statistical analysis carried out by wind sector as well as on a seasonal basis.

The objective of the investigations of the Cetina River, located in southern Croatia, was to record specific characteristics and properties of the Cetina waters at nine stations. In addition to measurements undertaken in the Cetina River, the water quality of its most significant springs and tributaries, such as Kosinac, Šilovka, Studenci and Mala Ruda, Velika Ruda and Grab, has also been measured. The water quality in the Cetina watershed has been evaluated in the following storage reservoirs: Peruča, Buško Blato and Prančevići. The nitrogen compounds and phosphorus concentrations have been estimated at all these sampling sites over a 3-year period (2005-2008). Concentration levels at the Cetina-Vinalić sampling site for total N (from August 2005 to December 2008) ranged from 0 to 1.759 mg/L, for NH₃-N from 0 to 0.374 mg/L, for NO₃-N from 0.063 to 0.916 mg/L and for PO₄-P from 0 to 0.099 mg/L. The results prove that the Cetina-Vinalić sampling site is not polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. The river section from Trilj to the Prančevići dam, where the water is used for the water supply of Omiš, Makarska and Dalmatian islands, has been polluted by wastewater because the majority of agricultural area, roads, industry and settlements are located upstream of it. The highest concentration for total N of 1.128 mg/L and of 1,527 total coliforms in 100 mL, expressed as a mean value for a 3-year period of investigations, was found at the sampling site Trilj. The results of concentration changes at the Čikotina Lađa and Cetina Radmanove Mlinice sampling sites show no regularities. The highest concentration for total N of 0.941 mg/L was measured at the Cetina Radmanove Mlinice during 2007. The highest concentration for NO₃-N of 0.916 mg/L was measured at the same sampling site. According to the investigations of the water quality of the Cetina springs and tributaries, the bacteriological most polluted river spring is Kosinac, and the bacteriological most polluted river tributary is Grab. With reference to the water quality in the Cetina storage reservoirs, it may be concluded that the lowest quality standard has been found within the Prančevići storage reservoir regarding nitrogen compounds and phosphorus concentration levels.