Mapping Air Quality: An Assessment of the Pollutants Dispersion in Inhabited Areas to Predict and Manage Environmental Risks

The momentary maximum concentration of the most important air pollutants (nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and dusts) was determined using the dispersion curves of the pollutants in the densely inhabited areas of Dâmboviţa County. In order to present the industry-wide potential impact of air pollutants on the population and on the environment, maps showing air pollution levels have been generated using gathered data and model calculations. Emissions data were retrieved through an intensive survey locating, characterizing and monitoring all important stationary sources. Weather and wind can result in exposures that occur in different locations from where the emissions actually occurred, and can create new pollutants due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere. There were used on-line collected meteorological and air quality data. Geo-applications were used to obtain Digital Elevation Models from the corresponding orthophotos through raster-vector conversion for each envisaged areas. Once an orthophoto has been prepared, the images displayed are spatially attributed (accurately mapped) and can be linked with any other data that is spatially attributed through geographic information system (G.I.S.). New information, collected from a combination of photointerpretation, ground reconnaissance, and specific measurements, were layered on top of the orthophoto for easy reference. A Gaussian mathematical model allowed the calculation of the pollutants dispersion in air in order to estimate the environmental risk situations. The pollutant concentrations curves for various scenarios were overlaid on DEMs indicating the most exposed inhabited areas to pollutants. With the aid of measurements and scenarios, pollutant maps show the present and future air pollution situation in Dâmboviţa county with regard to various nocive substances. The results presented in this paper are obtained in the frame of the MEMDUR Project, which has as the main objective to design, develop, test and implement in Dâmboviţa County an advanced management system, which has to assure the evaluation of the environmental risk in order to administrate the crises situations. Key-Words: air pollution, MEMDUR Project, monitoring system, pollutant dispersion, environmental risk