Project
POLMIT - Highway Pollutants
Funding origin:
European
STRIA Roadmaps:
Other ()
Transport mode:
Road
Duration:
Start date: 01/08/1997,
End date: 01/08/1999
Status: Finished
Funding details:
Overview
Background & policy context:
One of the consequences of the continuing increase in road transport has
been the growth of pollution, both atmospheric and ground based. Efforts
have been made by policy makers, engineers, scientists and the public to
reduce the environmental impact of transport. European work in this area
has advanced, however, in a fragmented way. Past objectives have been to
solve particular problems, often concerning a specific pollutant and/or
section of the environment, in individual countries.
Objectives:
- The aims of the POLMIT project are to:
- determine and understand the absolute and relative importance of highway pollutants compared with other pollutant sources;
- understand the dispersal mechanisms of these pollutants and the pathways by which they are released to soil and groundwater;
- understand the physical and chemical impacts of highway pollutants on soil and groundwater - both locally and nationally;
- identify/developing practical measures which may be taken to control, or mitigate this pollution.
Methodology:
To achieve the aims, the project will involve:
- two case study sites in each of the seven participating countries; to cover a range of conditions and particular problems encountered throughout Europe;
- identification of factors that influence the emission and transportation processes;
- calculation of mass fluxes of pollutants; identification of the most important pathways for each pollutant under varying local conditions, such as traffic density and climate etc.;
- collation of existing data and development of a computerised database; using literature and experimental data;
- calculation of mass balances of pollutants at local, and on national and European scales; mitigation measures, Best Practice Guide and Policy Advice.
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