Traffic primary/secondary emissions

Abstract Gaseous and particulate emissions from vehicles represent a major source of atmospheric pollution in cities. Recent research shows evidence of, along with the primary emissions from motor exhaust, important contributions from secondary (due to traffic-related organic/inorganic gaseous precursors) and primary particles due to wear and resuspension processes. Besides new and more effective (for NO emissions) technologies, non-technological measures from local authorities are needed to improve urban air quality in Europe. 

Road transport is an important contributor to primary emissions of PM (soot, wear particles and road dust) and also a source of secondary particles formed by condensation of gaseous species (mainly S- and N-compounds and organics) emitted by the tailpipe and partly also by the wear of brakes and tyres. Thus, PM emissions from road traffic are responsible for an important proportion of the exceedances of the PM10 and PM25 Air Quality Limit Values established by the European legislation for the protection of the human health (2008/50/EC [17]). The daily (50 pg m-3) and annual (40 pg m 3 ) limit values for PM10 (atmospheric particles with mean aerodynamic diameter <10 pm) and the annual limit value for PM2.5 (25 pg m-3) (in force from 2015) concentrations in ambient air are indeed exceeded mostly in the urban areas (Fig. 1 [17]). 

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