Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2026 Feb 27. doi: 10.1007/s11356-026-37546-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Air pollution remains a persistent environmental and public health concern in urban regions. This study presents a 22-year analysis (2001-2022) of coarse particulate matter (PM10) concentrations across 15 monitoring stations in the Porto Metropolitan Area (PMA), Portugal. The stations, pre-classified by national authorities as traffic, background-urban, background-suburban, or industrial, were used to assess long-term temporal trends and spatial variability. Annual mean PM10 concentrations were calculated and linear regression was applied to evaluate trends. Differences between station types were tested using statistical analysis. The results revealed consistent decline in PM10 levels from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s, followed by stagnation or increases at several stations in the final years of the series. While higher concentrations were historically observed at traffic and industrial sites, no statistically significant differences in annual mean PM10 concentrations were found between stations of different classifications or within classifications, even when comparing distinct time periods. This homogeneity suggests widespread regional exposure, likely driven by shared emission sources, atmospheric transport, and urban development patterns across the PMA. When compared to World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, exceedances were frequent and persistent. From 2001 to 2011, nearly all stations with valid data exceeded the 2005 guideline of 20 µg/m3. Between 2012 and 2020, the exceedances gradually decreased, although several stations still surpassed the guideline. However, under the 2021 WHO guideline (15 µg/m3), all stations with valid data for 2021 and 2022 again exceeded the guideline. These findings highlight the need for integrated, long-term air quality policies. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.
PMID:41758433 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-026-37546-w
