Asphalt emissions in paving production, transportation, placement and in-service temperature conditions

The paving industry significantly contributes to elevated air pollutant emissions. This study analyses asphalt emissions during asphalt mixing plant (AMP) production, transport and placement in a real context of paving services and after compaction and cooling under operational conditions, which remains an underexplored aspect in scientific literature. Particulate matter (PM) with chemical speciation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was collected in AMP by HiVol. Innovative passive sampling methods were used for NO2 in field measurements, while, in the laboratory, air quality sensors collected NO2 and VOCs. NO2 results suggest that transport is the critical paving service, at least five times higher than production. Asphalt pavements exposed to daily heat cycles (∼65°C) are a continuous source of air pollution emissions in urban areas, showing the same concentration magnitudes of paving steps. This study can contribute to emission inventories, aiding the comprehension and depiction of factors that impact urban air quality.