Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter?
Abstract The Beirut port explosion in 2020 released a huge amount of chemicals including ammonium nitrate, however, the long-term effects of the explosion on air quality and public health remain unclear. In this study, particulate matter (PM10) samples were collected in Beirut, Lebanon 1 month and 3...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220395 |
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| author | Yi-Bo Zhao Nathalie Hayeck Najat A. Saliba Claudia Schreiner Markus Zennegg Fuze Jiang Renato Figi Davide Bleiner Jing Wang |
| author_facet | Yi-Bo Zhao Nathalie Hayeck Najat A. Saliba Claudia Schreiner Markus Zennegg Fuze Jiang Renato Figi Davide Bleiner Jing Wang |
| author_sort | Yi-Bo Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Beirut port explosion in 2020 released a huge amount of chemicals including ammonium nitrate, however, the long-term effects of the explosion on air quality and public health remain unclear. In this study, particulate matter (PM10) samples were collected in Beirut, Lebanon 1 month and 3 months after the explosion. The average concentrations of main anions measured in 2020 (one and three months after the explosion) were compared with those in 2009–2015 by calculating the percentage of difference, and the average concentrations of cations and anions in September (one month after the explosion) and November (three months after the explosion) 2020 were also compared to identify any abnormal values, indicating insignificant effects on the post-explosion PM in terms of component concentrations. That is, PM and gases directly induced by the explosion might be subject to rapid atmospheric transport and deposition. Hence, the results imply that investigations of the chemical contaminations in soil and water are urgently needed. Long-term monitoring is necessary to avoid subsequent air pollution caused by possible particle resuspension. The continuous demolition and reconstruction after the explosion are possibly the main long-term effect of the Beirut port explosion, causing an elevated concentration of PM2.5 at ground level 400% higher than the recommended concentrations (15 µg m−3 for 24-hour mean). Protective measures must be taken to reduce the exposure risks by controlling the PM release from demolition and construction, traffic, and diesel generators. The cancer risk in Beirut based on PAHs measurements in 2021 was also estimated and discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6521e44491744a0bfa2f64817f88bba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6521e44491744a0bfa2f64817f88bba2025-02-09T12:22:44ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-03-0123511510.4209/aaqr.220395Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter?Yi-Bo Zhao0Nathalie Hayeck1Najat A. Saliba2Claudia Schreiner3Markus Zennegg4Fuze Jiang5Renato Figi6Davide Bleiner7Jing Wang8Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH ZürichDepartment of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of BeirutAdvanced Analytical Technologies, EmpaAdvanced Analytical Technologies, EmpaInstitute of Environmental Engineering, ETH ZürichAdvanced Analytical Technologies, EmpaAdvanced Analytical Technologies, EmpaInstitute of Environmental Engineering, ETH ZürichAbstract The Beirut port explosion in 2020 released a huge amount of chemicals including ammonium nitrate, however, the long-term effects of the explosion on air quality and public health remain unclear. In this study, particulate matter (PM10) samples were collected in Beirut, Lebanon 1 month and 3 months after the explosion. The average concentrations of main anions measured in 2020 (one and three months after the explosion) were compared with those in 2009–2015 by calculating the percentage of difference, and the average concentrations of cations and anions in September (one month after the explosion) and November (three months after the explosion) 2020 were also compared to identify any abnormal values, indicating insignificant effects on the post-explosion PM in terms of component concentrations. That is, PM and gases directly induced by the explosion might be subject to rapid atmospheric transport and deposition. Hence, the results imply that investigations of the chemical contaminations in soil and water are urgently needed. Long-term monitoring is necessary to avoid subsequent air pollution caused by possible particle resuspension. The continuous demolition and reconstruction after the explosion are possibly the main long-term effect of the Beirut port explosion, causing an elevated concentration of PM2.5 at ground level 400% higher than the recommended concentrations (15 µg m−3 for 24-hour mean). Protective measures must be taken to reduce the exposure risks by controlling the PM release from demolition and construction, traffic, and diesel generators. The cancer risk in Beirut based on PAHs measurements in 2021 was also estimated and discussed.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220395Ammonium nitrateBeirut port explosionParticulate matterAir qualityExposure risks |
| spellingShingle | Yi-Bo Zhao Nathalie Hayeck Najat A. Saliba Claudia Schreiner Markus Zennegg Fuze Jiang Renato Figi Davide Bleiner Jing Wang Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter? Aerosol and Air Quality Research Ammonium nitrate Beirut port explosion Particulate matter Air quality Exposure risks |
| title | Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter? |
| title_full | Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter? |
| title_fullStr | Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter? |
| title_short | Any Long-term Effect of the Beirut Port Explosion on the Airborne Particulate Matter? |
| title_sort | any long term effect of the beirut port explosion on the airborne particulate matter |
| topic | Ammonium nitrate Beirut port explosion Particulate matter Air quality Exposure risks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220395 |
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