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A geostatistical approach for assessing population exposure to NO2 in a complex urban area (Beirut, Lebanon)

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Abstract

Few studies in the Middle East region estimated the spatial distribution of air pollutants for exposure studies. This paper presents a geostatistical approach to assess background NO2 spatial distribution and the associated exposed population in a Mediterranean city with a complex topography, Beirut. Such modeling gave an accurate mapping of the 2010 yearly background average value of NO2: it varies between 35 and 67 μg m−3 with a mean of 53 μg m−3. The mean SD of the estimated error was about 3 μg m−3. The results showed that the spatial distribution of NO2 follows a nested structuring, with a major structure related to topoclimatic characteristics (interaction topography/atmospheric flow at large scale) and a minor one linked to micro-environment and micro-climatic characteristics (interactions urban morphology/atmospheric flows at fine scale). The probability for the city’s inhabitants to be exposed to NO2 levels exceeding 40 μg m−3 threshold limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that Beirut city has a real sanitary risk to the NO2 pollution. 93 % of the population (around 358,459 people) is 100 % sure to be exposed to a yearly average exceeding 40 μg m−3. This knowledge will be certainly useful for developing a tool for decision support in order to implement policies of reducing air pollution in Beirut, which is, given the results, very urgent.

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Acknowledgments

We thank our partners in this project on air quality in Beirut, Ile de France Region, Beirut Municipality, the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research and the research council of the Saint Joseph University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geography Department, Saint-Joseph University, Damascus Road, Mar Mikhaël, BP 17-5208, Beirut, 1104-2020, Lebanon

    N. Badaro-Saliba, J. Adjizian-Gerard & R. Zaarour

  2. Chemistry Department, Saint-Joseph University, Riad El Solh, BP 11-514, Beirut, 1107-2050, Lebanon

    M. Abboud

  3. Physics Department, Saint Joseph University, Riad El Solh, BP 11-514, Beirut, 1107-2050, Lebanon

    W. Farah

  4. Chemistry Department, American University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, PO Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon

    A. N. Saliba

  5. Mechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, PO Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon

    A. Shihadeh

  6. EDYTEM, UMR 5204 (Université de Savoie, France), Chambéry, France

    J. Adjizian-Gerard

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  1. N. Badaro-Saliba
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  2. J. Adjizian-Gerard
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  3. R. Zaarour
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  4. M. Abboud
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  6. A. N. Saliba
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Correspondence to N. Badaro-Saliba.

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Badaro-Saliba, N., Adjizian-Gerard, J., Zaarour, R. et al. A geostatistical approach for assessing population exposure to NO2 in a complex urban area (Beirut, Lebanon). Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 28, 467–474 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-013-0765-3

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