Abstract
Hazardous air quality prematurely kills millions of people a year and exacerbates underlying health issues for millions more. Unsafe levels of particulate matter are typically associated with newly industrialized and developing countries, however, this is a misconception, especially when considering ambient air pollutants in densely packed urban areas. According to the Airbeam and Purple Air data collected on 07/15/2021, Richmond, Virginia has good air quality with the vast majority of values falling below the United States Environmental Protection Agency annual PM2.5 standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). Vehicular emissions may not account for a large percentage of PM2.5 levels in Richmond but considering other emission types and their effects on human health, preventive investment and action is necessary. The Virginian government, through the Richmond 300 project, is planning on expanding and improving on-street networks and amenities serving bicycles through further development of bike-sharing programs.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-25-2022
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2022, University of Richmond.
Recommended Citation
Malstead, Morgan. "Air quality and vehicular emissions. Evaluating vehicular emission contributions to and distribution of ambient particulate matter pollution with low-cost sensors in Richmond, Virginia." Paper for Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography Capstone, University of Richmond, May 2022.
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