Applying the OSPM model to the calculation of PM10 concentration levels in the historical centre of the city of Thessaloniki

In this paper, the OSPM model is employed for the calculation of the PM10 concentration levels in the historical centre of the city of Thessaloniki (Greece). Although measurements of the background concentration are available at a suburban station, and a few measurements of PM10 concentrations do exist at particular areas inside the historical city centre, further assumptions had to be made (e.g., for the traffic load) in order to implement OSPM. To validate this approach, NOx and NO2 measurements were employed in addition to data for PM10. The good agreement observed allowed the prediction of PM10 concentrations in all streets in the historical city centre. The very high PM10 concentration levels obtained in almost all streets are indicative of the city's situation today. Finally, developments in vehicle's technology are invoked to model possible future scenarios.