Use of ADMS-Urban dispersion model to estimate the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in Kaunas city

Abstract

Background: Modelling of air pollution dispersion is one of the ambient air quality assessment methods, allowing predicting air pollution and accurately assessing the spatial distribution of ambient pollutants in the city. However, the estimation of the spatial variation of the nitrogen dioxide (NO2)using ADMS-Urban model has not been evaluated extensively. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fitness of ADMS-Urban dispersion model to determine dispersion of NO2 concentrations for exposure estimation in epidemiological studies. Methods: In 2011 year, using Ogawa passive samplers we monitored NO2 concentration and modelled annual average concentrations for winter, summer and intermediate seasons in Kaunas city. NO2 concentrations estimated by ADMS-Urban model have been verified from 41 Ogawa passive samplers monitoring place results. Results: The modelling results showed that the highest mean seasonal NO2 concentration was in winter (21,79 μg/m3), and the lowest was in summer (12,28 μg/m3). Correlation coefficient between concentrations of NO2 modelled using ADMS-Urban model and measured by Ogawa passive samplers was high for all seasons (from R2=0,727 to R2=0,793). Conclusions: Our results confirmed the generally good performance of the ADMS-Urban model for the spatial distribution of NO2concentrationsin the city.