Reduction of exposure of cyclists to urban air pollution

This book collects the main outcomes that were generated during the implementation of the LIFE+RESPIRA project (LIFE13 ENV/ES/000417), carried out in the city of Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. The research was conducted by a cross-functional team made up of more than 30 researchers belonging to three entities: The University of Navarra, the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) and Environmental Management of Navarra (GAN-NIK)

Medidas para reducir la exposición de los ciclistas a los principales contaminantes atmosféricos urbanos

Recoge los principales resultados generados durante la realización del proyecto LIFE+RESPIRA, llevado a cabo en la ciudad de Pamplona (Navarra, España) por un equipo interdisciplinar constituido por más de 30 investigadores pertenecientes a la Universidad de Navarra, el Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) y Gestión Ambiental de Navarra (GAN-NIK). El libro, que se ha publicado en castellano y en inglés, se ha dividido en 7 capítulos: 1. ¿Ciudades sostenibles? 2. Exposición de los ciudadanos a la contaminación atmosférica 3. Papel de la vegetación urbana en la calidad del aire 4. Modelos de alta resolución para evaluar la calidad del aire 5. Impactos de la contaminación urbana 6. Movilidad y sostenibilidad urbanas 7. Comunicación y educación ambiental. Este libro pretende ser una guía de utilidad para científicos, gestores y ciudadanos, aportando un conjunto de herramientas que permitan mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestras ciudades. Además, quiere rendir un homenaje a todos los voluntarios ciclistas que han participado en dicho proyecto y que son los verdaderos artífices del mismo, ya que gracias a su dedicación incondicional durante más de dos años, han proporcionado una cantidad ingente de datos sobre la calidad del aire de la ciudad de Pamplona

Facing challenges in the monitoring of atmospheric nitrogen pollution: relevance of organic nitrogen deposition and cutting edge applications of mosses diagnostic bioindicators

Over the last century, the use of synthetic fertilizers and the fossil fuel combustion to satisfy the increasing demand for food and energy of a growing population has resulted in a massive alteration of the nitrogen (N) cycle. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate atmospheric N deposition through the use of different monitoring approaches, both physical and biomonitor-based ones, paying special attention to those issues that currently remain poorly understood. The first work was focused on the study of the nitrogenous organic fraction of rain samples. Both canopy throughfall and bulk deposition samples from four holm oak forests of the Iberian Peninsula were analyzed for their dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) content. The results showed that the contribution of the organic fraction to the total N budgets ranged in BD from 34% to 56%, and in TF from 38% to 72%. Data also revealed that agricultural activities and traffic-related pollutants generated in metropolitan areas may play an important role as potential sources of organic nitrogenous compounds. Finally, it was found that DON might be an additional nutrient for this forests type (canopy uptake). In the other chapters we studied N atmospheric pollution by using mosses as biomonitors. Firstly, we evaluated the feasibility of Pleurochaete squarrosa (Brid.) Lindb. (PS) as an alternative species for heavy metals and N deposition surveys in a Mediterranean area of southern Europe. To that end we compared the response of this species to that of Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. (HC), a commonly used and validated species in biomonitoring surveys. Both bryophytes showed similar spatial distribution patterns for N. Similarly, the two species discriminated sites both highly and scarcely affected by trace element deposition. Regarding Ô15N, PS gave a more congruent picture with the location of the main sources of N emissions in the area. All these data suggested that PS may be a suitable biomonitor in Mediterranean areas. Besides, bryophytes are among the most vulnerable organisms to N pollution. Thus, in our third study we evaluated the physiological response of Hypnum cupressiforme to an NH3 concentration gradient from a comprehensive and temporal perspective, to better understand the mechanisms implied when mosses cope with this pollutant. We aimed at identifying which variables are the most responsive, and therefore, which ones are the most promising for the use of HC in ecosystem surveys as early warning indicators of NH3 toxicity. The results showed that N accumulation and NH3-induced oxidative stress were the most important drivers of the physiological functioning of HC along the gradient. Moreover, the sampling season was determinant in the responsiveness of certain physiological variables. Finally, in the last research work we investigated the use of isotopic ratios to provide supplementary information about the nature of the atmospheric pollutants in biomonitoring surveys carried out at the European scale. To that end, more than 1300 samples of mosses from 15 countries, all of them participants of the ICP-Vegetation programme 2005-2006, were analyzed for their C and N content and Ô15N and Ô13C. The preliminary evaluation of these data suggested that additional measurements of C and N stable isotopes in mosses might be a useful tool in European surveys, not only in providing valuable information for identifying likely pollution sources, but also as biological markers of key environmental processes

Throughfall and bulk deposition of dissolved organic nitrogen to holm oak forests in the Iberian Peninsula : flux estimation and identification of potential sources

Acknowledgments: the research leading to these results has received funding from the COST organism (European cooperation in science and technology), through the COST Action FP0903 "Climate change and forest mitigation and adaptation in the polluted environment" under the grant number COST-STSM-ECOST-STSM-FP0903-291012-019757.Deposition of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in both bulk precipitation (BD) and canopy throughfall (TF) has been measured for the first time in the western Mediterranean. The study was carried out over a year from 2012 to 2013 at four evergreen holm oak forests located in the Iberian Peninsula: two sites in the Province of Barcelona (Northeastern Spain), one in the Province of Madrid (central Spain) and the fourth in the Province of Navarra (Northern Spain). In BD the annual volume weighted mean (VWM) concentration of DON ranged from 0.25 mg l⁻¹ in Madrid to 1.14 mg l⁻¹ in Navarra, whereas in TF it ranged from 0.93 mg l⁻¹ in Barcelona to 1.98 mg l⁻¹ in Madrid. The contribution of DON to total nitrogen deposition varied from 34% to 56% in BD in Barcelona and Navarra respectively, and from 38% in Barcelona to 72% in Madrid in TF. Agricultural activities and pollutants generated in metropolitan areas were identified as potential anthropogenic sources of DON at the study sites. Moreover, canopy uptake of DON in Navarra was found in spring and autumn, showing that organic nitrogen may be a supplementary nutrient for Mediterranean forests, assuming that a portion of the nitrogen taken up is assimilated during biologically active periods

Reduction of exposure of cyclists to urban air pollution

This book collects the main outcomes that were generated during the implementation of the LIFE+RESPIRA project (LIFE13 ENV/ES/000417), carried out in the city of Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. The research was conducted by a cross-functional team made up of more than 30 researchers belonging to three entities: The University of Navarra, the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) and Environmental Management of Navarra (GAN-NIK)