Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a detrimental urban air pollutant primarily emitted by traffic and biomass burning, poses disproportionately significant health risks at relatively limited exposure ...during commuting. Previous studies have mainly focused on fixed locations when assessing PM2.5 exposure, while neglecting pedestrians and cyclists, who often experience higher pollution levels. In response, this research aimed to independently validate the effectiveness of bicycle-mounted low-cost sensors (LCS) adopted by citizens, evaluate temporal and spatial PM2.5 exposure, and assess associated health risks in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The LCS quality assurance results, verified by co-location field tests by air quality monitoring stations (AQMS), showed comparable outcomes with an average percentage difference of 21.29 %, attributed to humidity-induced nucleation effects. The colder months exhibited the highest air pollution levels (μ = 32.31 μg/m3) due to frequent thermal inversions and weak wind circulation, hindering vertical air mixing and the adequate dispersion of pollutants. Additionally, PM2.5 levels in all sampling periods were lowest in the afternoon (μ = 12.09 μg/m3) and highest during the night (μ = 61.00 μg/m3) when the planetary boundary layer thins, leading to the trapping of pollutants near the surface, thus significantly affecting diurnal and seasonal patterns. Analysis of exposure factors revealed that cyclists were approximately three times more exposed than pedestrians. However, the toxicological risk assessment indicated a minimal potential risk of PM2.5 exposure. The collaborative integration of data from official AQMS and LCS can enhance evidence-based policy-making processes and facilitates the realignment of effective regulatory frameworks to reduce urban air pollution.
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•PM2.5 poses significant health risks at limited exposure during commuting.•Air quality monitoring stations and citizens' initiatives data integration enhances air pollution assessment.•Air quality monitoring stations co-location validation of low-cost sensors results yielded comparable outcomes.•PM2.5 increased in cold months due to thermal inversions hindering pollutant dispersion.•Cyclist had three times higher PM2.5 exposure than pedestrians.
The Kornati National Park (Croatia) is considered an environment with minimal anthropogenic input. The purpose of this study was to determine the isotopic characteristics of the sediment and muscle ...tissues of the banded dye-murex Hexaplex trunculus. We selected locations in the park according to their estimated risk of anthropogenic pollution (large, lower, and minimal). Isotopic analyses of the sedimentary organic carbon (δ13Corg values) showed that the sedimentary organic matter in locations with P. oceanica meadows (Piškera, Vrulje) was enriched in 13C compared to that of locations with the influx of terrestrial organic matter. The δ13C and δ15N values of the muscle tissues of H. trunuclus were the highest in the two locations with the highest possible anthropogenic impact (−14.47‰ and −15.66‰ for δ13Corg, +8.87‰ and +10.4‰ for δ15N). The high δ values may indicate the presence of the pigment indirubin (C16H10O2N2) and other derivatives that cause the purple coloration but are also elevated because of the discharge of untreated sewage from a nearby marina and village.
Review of: Skupnost znanja in inovacij EIT Urbana mobilnost –prijetnejše in bolj trajnostno bivanje v evropskih mestih z uporabo inovativnih rešitev. EIT Urban Mobility (2021) EIT urban mobility ...strategic agenda 2021–2027. Barcelona. Reviewed by: Anja Ilenič, Alenka Mauko Pranjić, Darko Kokot, Ana Mladenovič, Mateja Košir.
Review of: The EIT Urban Mobility Knowledge and Innovation Community: More pleasant and sustainable living in European cities through innovative mobility solutions. EIT Urban Mobility (2021) EIT ...urban mobility strategic agenda 2021–2027. Barcelona. Reviewed by: Anja Ilenič, Alenka Mauko Pranjić, Darko Kokot, Ana Mladenovič, Mateja Košir.
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