ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Evaluation of Traffic-related Air Pollution (trap): the Case of Vilnius, Lithuania
 
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1
Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Türkiye
 
2
Institute of Science, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Türkiye
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2026-01-07
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-06-21
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-06-26
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-06-29
 
 
Publication date: 2026-06-29
 
 
Corresponding author
Atilla Mutlu   

Environmental Engineering, Balıkesir university, Turkey
 
 
Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports 2026;36(2):119-132
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Urban air pollution associated with traffic emissions remains an important environmental concern in rapidly developing urban areas. This study presents an indicative corridor-scale assessment of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in Vilnius, Lithuania, based on multi-site monitoring conducted between March and July 2023 across five major urban traffic corridors characterized by varying traffic intensity and urban morphology. The study evaluated spatial and temporal variations in nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO), PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations in relation to traffic activity and meteorological conditions. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were applied to examine relationships between traffic intensity, pollutant concentrations, and selected meteorological parameters. The results demonstrated strong positive relationships between traffic volume and gaseous pollutants, particularly NOₓ (r = 0.72) and CO (r = 0.88), indicating the dominant influence of vehicular emissions on short-term roadside air quality variability. PM2.5 and PM10 exhibited comparatively weaker relationships with traffic intensity, suggesting additional influences from non-exhaust emissions, atmospheric dispersion, and regional background sources. Pollutant concentrations generally increased under higher traffic intensity conditions, further supporting the role of traffic activity in shaping urban roadside air quality patterns. Among the investigated sites, Konstitucijos Avenue and Ukmergės Street exhibited the highest pollutant levels. Overall, the study provides locally grounded empirical evidence on TRAP patterns in a medium-sized Baltic city by integrating pollutant measurements, traffic observations, and meteorological data across multiple urban corridors. The findings may support future air quality management and sustainable urban mobility planning in Vilnius and comparable urban environments.
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