Annual Mean Levels of Fine PM 2.5 particules in Valladolid city

Road transport and construction operations are identified as major sources of air pollutants in cities. Airborne particulate matter is associated with harmful effects on human cardiovascular and respiratory health. Particles ≤ 10 microns (PM10), and particularly the finer particles ≤ 2.5 microns (PM2.5) associated with road transport vehicles, are of concern due to their small size; (a micron, or micrometre = one-millionth of a meter: 0.001 millimetre). Green walls (or screens) in urban streets may act as barriers to direct dispersal of pollutants from combustion engine vehicles to pedestrian areas. Particulates may be deposited on the leaf surface of trees or taken up into the leaf surface wax layer, reducing atmospheric particulate concentrations. Monitoring of air quality parameters is complex; involving many potentially interacting variables. Variation in weather conditions; prevailing wind direction and speed; tree species, density, location and structure; and the configuration of built urban infrastructure are among factors which may affect the trajectory and rate of dispersal of particulate pollutants. We aim to compare outdoor air concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 at child and adult head heights at locations with and without street trees or green walls to evaluate whether these NBS are associated with reduced local concentrations of airborne PM10 and PM2.5.