New indicator approaches for effective urban air quality management |
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Authors: | Peter J Peterson W Peter Williams |
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Institution: | (1) Life Sciences Division, King’s College London, University of London, Franklin Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, SE 1 8WA London, UK;(2) Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre, King’s College London, University of London, Franklin Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, SE 1 8WA London, UK |
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Abstract: | Measurements of urban air quality at monitoring stations in developed countries have frequently involved the criteria gaseous
pollutants, particulates, hazardous air pollutants, perceived air quality and relevant meteorological conditions. Large numbers
of indicators have therefore been established to quantify emissions, concentrations and environmental and human health impacts
of each of these groups of substances. To simplify the data for management, several indicators have been grouped together
to form urban air quality indices but the weightings of individual variables is contentious.
In industrialising and developing countries, data may be limited and traditional air pollutant indicators cannot often be
constructed. The emphasis therefore has to be placed on the development of policy-relevant indicators, such as Response Indicators
that reflect different policy principles for regulating air pollutant emissions. Indices that quantify the air quality management
capabilities and capacities at the city level provide further useful decision-relevant tools. Four sets of indices, namely,
1. air quality measurement capacity, 2. data assessment and availability, 3. emissions estimates, and 4. management enabling
capabilities, and a composite index to evaluate air quality management capability, were constructed and applied to 80 cities.
The indices revealed that management capability varied widely between the cities. In some of the cities, existing national
knowledge on urban air quality could have been more effectively used for management.
It was concluded that for effective urban air quality management, a greater emphasis should be given, not just to monitoring
and data capture programmes, but to the development of indicators and indices that empower decision-makers to initiate management
response strategies. Over-reliance on restricted, predetermined sets of traditional air quality indicators should be avoided. |
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Keywords: | Air quality cities environmental management Europe indicators indices urban management |
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