Abstract
The effects of a green buffer zone to protect a residential area from air pollution from industrial facilities and traffic was examined by analyzing the case of a green buffer zone in the Shiwha industrial complex. The green buffer zone is 175 m wide. The intent was to assess the dispersion patterns of atmospheric air pollutants and the reduction in concentration around the green buffer zone. To measure atmospheric sulfur dioxide$(SO_2)$ and nitrogen dioxide$(NO_2)$ concentration, badge-type passive samplers were used and set up at 76 locations in order to measure the concentration of air pollutants with respect to the spatial dispersion. The weighted mean values of $SO_2\;and\;NO_2$ concentration were $3\~57 ppb\;and\;18\~62 ppb$ and the differences among the green buffer zone, the industrial area and the residential areas were $0.7\~1.1 ppb$. Mean values of atmospheric concentrations of $NO_2$ were similar in industrial and, residential areas and the green buffer zone. Results of the study show that the effect of the green buffer zone on reducing the dispersion of air pollutants was very low. This study also recommends that micro-climate, i.e., wind direction should be considered as a factor for planning and design of green buffer zones.