ROAD TRAFFIC POLLUTION AND PUBLIC NUISANCE

Road traffic affects the public in a wide variety of ways, many of whi ch cause some degree of annoyance. The major disturbances to the publi c arising from vehicular emissions include physical effects such as th e irritation of eyes and mucous membranes, visual intrusion, soiling, or more subjective impacts. A literature survey has been conducted whi ch identified the vehicle-derived air pollutants suspected of causing some degree of nuisance to the public but also highlighted the limited data in this area. A preliminary investigation of the relationship be tween public attitude and pollutant concentrations has been conducted at two locations in the London Borough of Ealing and a single location in the London Borough of Haringey. A range of pollutants was monitore d continuously including oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, selec ted volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. Traffic flows a nd meteorological conditions were also recorded throughout the survey period. To measure the local public opinion concerning vehicle-derived pollutants, pedestrians and occupants of residential and business pre mises were surveyed. The preliminary analysis of this data indicates t he importance of diesel-engined vehicles to public annoyance and the s ignificance of diesel derived particulate matter.