Evolution of air pollution in Oporto area

Abstract

The analysis of pollution data was the support for the proposed remodelation of the network and allowed an estimation of the Air Quality evolution since 1968.

The most important pollution sources in Oporto area are the motor traffic, one oil refinery and one petrochemical complex.

Strong acidity levels are generally small, but black smoke concentrations are similar to that observed in several European cities.

The interpretation of the temporal evolution of network yearly averages, is sometimes not reliable, in consequence of not being possible to get the mean validation of every sites for all years.

The network should be increased installing stations in the oldest commercial areas where sulfur dioxide, black smoke, nitrogen oxides, hidrocarbons, carbon monoxide, lead and ozone should be measured. Sulfur dioxide and black smoke should be measured too, in six more areas of the metropolitan Oporto.