Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Prof. Department of Civil Eng., University of Zanjan, Iran
2 Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Traffic-related air pollution poses a significant challenge to environmental and public health. This study aims to conduct a spatial comparison of air pollutant concentrations in a pedestrian walkway and an adjacent roadway to evaluate the performance of the Sabzeh Meydan pedestrianization project in Zanjan. Due to the absence of pre-implementation data as the most important limitation of this research, the study focused on monitoring and spatial comparison of pollutant concentrations on the walkway versus the roadway.
Research Method: Air pollutant sampling (SO2, NO2, O3, and PM10) was conducted over three seasons: summer, fall, and winter, on various days of the week, and in two-time shifts: morning and evening. A total of 30 sampling stations were established within the walkway area and along the adjacent roadway to spatially compare the effect of eliminating vehicle traffic in a similarly used, directed, and located area.
Results and Discussion: The findings indicated that the construction of the walkway did not significantly reduce air pollutant concentrations. In fact, an increase in ozone levels was observed during the summer in the walkway area. Pollutant concentrations varied on different days of the week and between morning and evening periods. Nevertheless, in most instances, the levels met the national standards, as well as those set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.
Conclusion: The results suggest that pedestrian walkway construction can contribute to improved air quality when integrated into a comprehensive policy package that includes traffic control, resource management, and an understanding of pollutant chemical processes. While the Sabzeh Meydan walkway in Zanjan has successfully fulfilled its social and physical functions, it has not achieved satisfactory environmental outcomes.
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