Možnosti zlepšování životního prostředí územní samosprávou na příkladu snížení koncentrace prachových částic PM10 v ovzduší[Environmental Improvement Possibilities for Local Governments: Example of Reducing PM10 Concentration in Air]

Environmental Improvement Possibilities for Local Governments: Example of Reducing PM10 Concentration in Air The municipality can significantly improve the air in its territory by regular cleaning of its street network. The aim of this study is therefore to demonstrate the positive effect of machine cleaning of roads on the reduction of PM10 dust particles in the air. These particles are the result of emissions from transport and more than 83% of them come from the so-called resuspension (the secondary whirling of particles that lie on the road). Cleanliness and care of public spaces, in which road cleaning may be included, belongs to the so-called compulsory tasks of self-governments in some legal regulations, e.g., Bavarian, Polish, Slovak and Serbian, and as this study shows, its positive effect is measurable, which is not common among activities of local municipalities. Therefore, it may be stated that the funds invested by local governments in mechanical road cleaning have a significant positive effect on reduction of PM10 particles in the air and thus on the health of their citizens. The study is based on measurements performed in the capital city Prague from 2013 to 2019 and uses monthly data from 4 measuring stations, for which it was also possible to obtain adequate meteorological data of variables that affect the occurrence of PM10 particles in the air. The results of the study can be used to properly set up the machine cleaning system so that its effect is as high as possible. Stata econometric software was used for the data analysis. The study builds on similar analyses carried out in recent years in Europe, the Arabian peninsula and Asia.