Study of Re-Design Roads as a Control Measure for Reduction of Traffic Air Pollution in the Eastern Province of KSA
Fahad Al-Afandi*, Muath Al-Moslem*, Abdulrahman AL-Abdulazeem*, Dr. Mahmoud Fathy El-Sharkawy *** Students in Environmental Health Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia** Ass. Professor in Environmental Health Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Air pollution is an important public health problem in developed and developing nations. The major current urban air pollutants come from road traffic. Dammam & Khobar are two of the largest cities with highest population and most developed economy in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Due to the rapid population growth in these cities, number of vehicles is also increasing leading to bad changes of air quality in their atmosphere due to the continuous emissions from the high traffic density in their streets. This research was aiming to study re-design of roads as a control measure for reduction of traffic air pollution and study the attitudes of population that are living near heavy traffic streets towards the alternative roads designs. Levels of different air pollutants were measured at selected roads of different designs in Dammam and Khobar cities. The attitudinal survey was fulfilled by a direct interview using a per-designed questionnaire. It was concluded that construction of tunnels or bridges in heavy traffic roads may lead to decreasing of traffic air pollution levels in their environments. In addition, the highest percent of population had a contentment that re-design of the traffic roads will considerably reduce the traffic noise and air pollution levels in the street environment and consequently reduce their adverse effects on the surrounding population and their daily activities.
Key words: CO means carbon monoxide, SO2 means sulfur dioxide, VOCs means volatile organic compounds, and PM means particulate matters.