Nitrogen dioxide and particle pollution near trunk roads and in towns of the South Midlands in England

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and participate emissions play an important role in atmospheric pot lution and might be a major cause of human respiratory prob lems in urban areas. This report provides an overview of traffic-related em issions monitored on several trunk roads and towns of the South Midlands of England between 1996 and 1999. NO2 pollution on major trunk roads frequent ly exceeded British and European Union air quality standards, while particl e pollution was lower. The possible effects of traffic diversion activities in the research area are discussed. Bypasses of busy! trunk roads might re duce NO2 pollution between 30 and 40% in urban centres and improve air qual ity for inhabitants in those areas.