冷凝湿度控制对微振荡天平监测细颗粒物性能的改进

为提高细颗粒物(PM2.5)测量的准确性,尝试采用一种新型的气溶胶冷凝湿度控制器(简称冷凝湿度控制器)作为微振荡天平法颗粒物监测仪(TEOM)的除湿方式,在广东大气超级监测站开展了TEOM自动监测(一台采用传统的加热除湿方式,记为TEOM1405;另一台采用冷凝湿度控制器除湿,记为TEOM1405+除湿)和手工监测结果的对比。结果表明,根据PM2.5日均值相关性的拟合结果,TEOM1405监测较手工监测结果总体偏低约13%,加装冷凝湿度控制器后,TEOM1405+除湿监测较手工监测结果总体偏低在5%以内。加装冷凝湿度控制器后,显著提高了PM2.5的监测准确性;在相对湿度较高、二次颗粒物生成量较少的大气环境中,TEOM1405+除湿系统对PM2.5的监测结果是可靠的,而且在降雨过程中监测结果更为稳定;但在相对湿度较高、且二次颗粒物生成量较多的大气环境中,其对PM2.5的监测性能仍待进一步考察;在PM2.5污染比较严重的高污染时段,TEOM1405、TEOM1405+除湿监测到的PM2.5日均质量浓度分别比手工监测结果偏低26%和11%,偏低较多。但这种高污染情况在珠三角地区出现的概率很低,故采用TEOM1405+除湿系统进行PM2.5长期自动监测是可取的。     

β射线衰减法和重量法测定环境空气中PM10的对比研究

用β射线衰减法和重量法同步测定了2005年乐清市环境空气中PM10日均浓度,实验覆盖了乐清市的各种气象条件和PM10的浓度变化范围,具有一定的代表性.实验结果表明:在同一监测条件下,两种方法的测定结果具有一致性和可比性,β射线衰减法测得的PM10比重量法高,年均值偏高23%;两种方法测得的PM10高度相关,相关系数为0.994,能用回归直线来描述两者之间的关系.     

重庆市春季大气颗粒物浓度的对比监测分析

通过2012年春季在重庆大气超级站进行的PM10和PM2.5手工采样与自动仪器的对比监测,分析了自动监测与手工监测的一致性及造成偏差的原因,并对PM2.5与PM10浓度的比值关系进行了分析。结果表明:MP101M型颗粒物自动监测仪用于监测PM10时系统性误差偏高,仪器初始精密度存在负偏差;用于监测PM2.5时系统性误差在允许范围之内,仪器初始精密度存在较大负偏差;PM10和PM2.5的手工采样和自动仪器监测值之变化趋势具有非常高的一致性;PM2.5与PM10浓度比值范围在56.5%～90.4%,平均比值为(73.8±7.4)%。     

柴油机尾气中微粒粒径分布特征的实验研究

柴油机尾气中的微粒粒径大小分布范围广泛,不同直径的微粒所占的比例以及对环境和人身健康造成的危害各不相同,因此对微粒粒径特征进行研究更具有实际意义。本研究分别采用滤膜称重法和光散射法对厦工XG951Ⅲ装载机配置的国Ⅲ柴油发动机怠速工况下的尾气进行测试,研究了微粒的质量浓度分布、数量浓度分布以及质量浓度与数量浓度分布的关系。研究结果表明,从微粒质量上看,可吸入微粒(PM10)占微粒总量(TSP)的74.0%,可入肺微粒(PM2.5)占可吸入微粒的48.1%;2.5μm以下粒径范围内的微粒质量浓度是2.5~10μm粒径范围内微粒质量浓度的将近3倍,是10~100μm粒径范围内微粒质量浓度的52倍;2.5~10μm粒径范围的微粒质量浓度是10~100μm粒径范围内微粒质量浓度的18倍。数量上,在不同的数量级上,微粒数量浓度随粒径变化差距很明显,尤其是1μm以下的微粒较多。另外,质量浓度的粒径分布滞后于数量浓度。因此PM2.5排放标准中应考虑以个数浓度代替质量浓度为标准。     

基于MOVES的轻型车颗粒物排放来源和特征分析

利用实测数据对MOVES模型进行本地化修正,测算了轻型车颗粒物的排放来源以及粒径、组分构成特征。分析结果表明,全部颗粒物中,轻型汽油车的非尾气排放PM10所占比例为72.70%,PM2.5为42.64%;轻型柴油车非尾气排放PM10所占比例为40.78%,PM2.5为15.41%。2种燃油车辆的尾气排放颗粒物主要来源于尾气管排放,粒径集中在0~2.5μm;而非尾气排放颗粒物主要来源于刹车磨损,粒径集中在2.5~10μm。轻型汽油车的尾气排放颗粒物主要组分为有机碳,轻型柴油车则为元素碳和有机碳。进一步分析不同速度下颗粒物排放变化发现:轻型车非尾气排放颗粒物随行驶速度的增大而降低,而尾气排放颗粒物则随速度的增大先降低后升高;非尾气排放颗粒物占全部颗粒物比例随速度的增大先升高再降低;全部颗粒物中PM2.5的比例则随速度的增大先降低后升高。     

冬季关中城市及农村颗粒物的污染特征

为比较冬季城市和农村大气颗粒物浓度及化学组分等特征,本文分别采集分析了西安市区、安康农村冬季大气PM2.5颗粒物与PM0.1颗粒物。分析结果表明:两地大气中PM2.5日均浓度均超过国家二级标准(75μg·m~(-3)),空气质量不容乐观;其中农村样品中PM0.1颗粒物约占PM2.5颗粒物浓度的36.8%左右;所有颗粒物中有机碳远高于无机碳组分,而市区大气颗粒物中多环芳烃浓度显著高于农村浓度,说明城市空气中来源于机动车尾气的污染较为严重;从颗粒物粒径分布特征来看,粒径为0.300~0.374μm颗粒物具有最高数浓度和比表面积浓度,粒径为0.374~0.465μm的颗粒物具有最高质量浓度;由于农村污染源较为单一,安康样品颗粒物浓度受燃煤和油烟的影响较大。此外,由于受燃煤机动车排放影响,西安大气中PM0.1颗粒物中水溶性离子主要为NO_3~-与SO24,而安康大气PM0.1颗粒物中水溶性离子主要以SO_4~(2-)与Ca2+为主,PM2.5颗粒物中水溶性离子以NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)和NH_4~+为主,这与农村环境中使用燃煤、农田灌溉、家畜喂养以及有机质降解等有关。     

天津冬季PM2.5与PM10中有机碳、元素碳的污染特征

研究了天津冬季PM2.5和PM10中碳成分的污染特征.结果表明,天津冬季PM2.5和PM10的平均质量浓度分别为(124.4±60.9)、(224.6±131.2)μg/m3;总碳(TC)、有机碳(OC)与元素碳(EC)在PM2.5中的平均质量分数比在PM10中分别高出5.0%、3.6%、1.2%;PM2.5中OC、EC的相关系数较高,为0.95,表明OC、EC的来源相对简单,可能主要反应了燃煤和机动车尾气的贡献.OC/EC的平均值在PM2.5和PM10中分别为3.9、4.9.次生有机碳(SOC)在PM2.55和PM10中的平均质量浓度分别为14.9、23.4/μg/m3,分别占OC的48.5%(质量分数,下同)、49.8%,OC/EC较高可能主要与直接排放源有关;PM2.5中的OC1与OC2的比例明显高于PM10,而聚合碳(OPC)的比例又低于PM10,同时PM2.5与PM10中的EC1含量均较高,表明天津冬季燃煤取暖和机动车尾气是重要的污染源.     

燃煤电厂烟气中颗粒物粒径分布特征研究

采用冲击式尘粒分级仪对某燃煤电厂1、3机组静电除尘器进、出口烟气进行监测,分析了烟气中颗粒物排放规律和静电除尘器对不同粒径颗粒物的去除率.结果表明,除尘前烟气中以大粒径颗粒物为主,小粒径颗粒物含量相对较低.静电除尘器对不同粒径颗粒物的去除率差别较大,1、3机组的静电除尘器对平均粒径(d50)≥3.56 μm的颗粒物的去除率均达到99.99%,对d50为1.01 μm的颗粒物的去除率则分别为92.75%、95.69%.除尘后烟气中PM2.5和PM10所占比例迅速增加,燃煤电厂排放的烟气中颗粒物以PM2.5为主.     

PM_(2.5)手工标准方法与自动监测法比对分析

选取金华、衢州、温州、丽水、宁波、杭州6个城市开展PM2.5手工标准方法和自动监测法比对实验,并用相关性和相对偏差两个指标对比对结果进行分析和评价。结果表明:(1)2013年6个采样城市采集的PM2.5手工和自动监测值均具有较好的相关性(相关系数均在0.95以上),截距均在-0.010~0.010mg/m3,但斜率相差较大(衢州和丽水在0.90以上;金华、温州和杭州在0.85~0.90;宁波在0.80以下)。(2)2013年6个城市采集的PM2.5手工和自动监测值的相对偏差为-34.2%~36.5%;PM2.5手工和自动监测值相对偏差在±15%范围内的数据占总数据量的82.6%;负偏差数据占总数据量的80.0%。(3)PM2.5手工标准方法和自动监测法的比对差异与地域、季节和PM2.5浓度等条件有关。总体上,不同地区PM2.5手工与自动监测值相对偏差绝对值(︱RD︱)年平均值为衢州丽水金华宁波温州杭州;春季PM2.5手工与自动监测值︱RD︱平均值高于夏季,秋季高于冬季;各采样城市PM2.5手工和自动监测值︱RD︱平均值在高质量浓度(PM2.5手工监测值(ρ1)0.150mg/m3)下最小,中质量浓度(0.050≤ρ1≤0.150mg/m3)下最大,低质量浓度(ρ10.050mg/m3)下介于两者之间。     

广州市夏、冬季室内外PM2.5质量浓度的特征

2004年7月2日至8月13日和2004年11月29日至2005年1月6日分别在广州市3种类型区域(一般城市区域、道路旁、工业源附近)9个居民住宅的室内和室外同步采集了PM2.5颗粒.采用标准称重法测定PM2.5质量浓度,得到广州市夏季住宅室内外PM2.5平均质量浓度分别为67.7、74.5 μg/m3,冬季室内外PM2.5平均质量浓度分别为109.9、123.7 μg/m3.广州市PM2.5平均质量浓度,与美国PM2.5标准相比,与国内PM10标准基础上假设的PM2.5限值相比,与其他一些国内、亚洲和欧美城市的文献记录相比,结果均显示广州市PM2.5处于相当严重污染状态.广州市PM2.5质量浓度呈现明显的空间分布特征和季节变化特征;PM2.5室内质量浓度并不总是低于室外质量浓度,反映了室内空气污染的存在.     

Continuous determination of fine particulate matter mass in the Salt Lake City Environmental Monitoring project: a comparison of real-time and conventional TEOM monitor results

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass was determined on a continuous basis at the Salt Lake City Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Monitoring for Public Awareness and Community Tracking monitoring site in Salt Lake City, UT, using three different monitoring techniques. Hourly averaged PM2.5 mass data were collected during two sampling periods (summer 2000 and winter 2002) using a real-time total ambient mass sampler (RAMS), sample equilibration system (SES)-tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM), and conventional TEOM monitor. This paper compares the results obtained from the various monitoring systems, which differ in their treatment of semivolatile material (SVM; particle-bound water, semivolatile ammonium nitrate, and semivolatile organic compounds). PM2.5 mass results obtained by the RAMS were consistently higher than those obtained by the SES-TEOM and conventional TEOM monitors because of the RAMS ability to measure semivolatile ammonium nitrate and semivolatile organic material but not particle-bound water. The SES-TEOM monitoring system was able to account for an average of 28% of the SVM, whereas the conventional TEOM monitor loses essentially all of the SVM from the single filter during sampling. Occasional mass readings by the various TEOM monitors that are higher than RAMS results may reflect particle-bound water, which, under some conditions, is measured by the TEOM but not the RAMS.     

Field evaluation of particulate matter measurements using tapered element oscillating microbalance in a layer house

The tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) is one type of continuous ambient particulate matter (PM) monitor. Adsorption and desorption of moisture and semivolatile species may cause positive or negative artifacts in TEOM PM mass measurement. The objective of this field study was to investigate possible uncertainties associated with TEOM measurements in the poultry operation environment. For comparisons of TEOM with filter-based gravimetric method, four instruments (TEOM-PM10, low-volume PM10 sampler TEOM-PM2.5, and PM2.5 speciation sampler) were collocated and tested inside a poultry house for PM2.5 and PM10 (PM with aerodynamic equivalent diameter < or =2.5 and < or =10 microm, respectively) measurements. Fifteen sets of 24-hr PM10 concentrations and 13 sets of 24-hr PM2.5 measurements were obtained. Results indicate that compared with filter-based gravimetric method, TEOM gave significantly lower values of both PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations. For PM10, the average ratio of TEOM to the gravimetric method was 0.936. For PM2.5, the average ratio of TEOM to the gravimetric method was 0.738. Particulate matter in the poultry houses possibly contains semivolatile compounds and moisture due to high levels of relative humidity (RH) and gas pollutants. The internal heating mechanism of the TEOM may cause losses in mass through volatilization. To investigate the effects of TEOM settings on concentration measurements, the heaters of two identical TEOMs were set at 50 degrees C, 30 degrees C, or no heating at all. They were collocated and tested for total suspended particle (TSP), PM10, and PM25 measurements in layer house for 6 weeks. For all TSR PM10, and PM2.5 measurements, the internal TEOM temperature setting had a significant effect (P < 0.05). Significantly higher PM mass concentrations were measured at lower temperature settings. The effects of environmental (i.e., temperature, RH, NH3 and CO2 concentrations) and instrumental (i.e., filter loading and noise) parameters on PM measurements were also assessed using regression analysis.     

Development and evaluation of a continuous coarse (PM10-PM2.5) particle monitor

In this paper, we describe the development and laboratory and field evaluation of a continuous coarse (2.5-10 microm) particle mass (PM) monitor that can provide reliable measurements of the coarse mass (CM) concentrations in time intervals as short as 5-10 min. The operating principle of the monitor is based on enriching CM concentrations by a factor of approximately 25 by means of a 2.5-microm cut point round nozzle virtual impactor while maintaining fine mass (FM)--that is, the mass of PM2.5 at ambient concentrations. The aerosol mixture is subsequently drawn through a standard tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM), the response of which is dominated by the contributions of the CM, due to concentration enrichment. Findings from the field study ascertain that a TEOM coupled with a PM10 inlet followed by a 2.5-microm cut point round nozzle virtual impactor can be used successfully for continuous CM concentration measurements. The average concentration-enriched CM concentrations measured by the TEOM were 26-27 times higher than those measured by the time-integrated PM10 samplers [the micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and the Partisol] and were highly correlated. CM concentrations measured by the concentration-enriched TEOM were independent of the ambient FM-to-CM concentration ratio, due to the decrease in ambient coarse particle mass median diameter with an increasing FM-to-CM concentration ratio. Finally, our results illustrate one of the main problems associated with the use of real impactors to sample particles at relative humidity (RH) values less than 40%. While PM10 concentrations obtained by means of the MOUDI and Partisol were in excellent agreement, CM concentrations measured by the MOUDI were low by 20%, and FM concentrations were high by a factor of 5, together suggesting particle bounce at low RH.     

Air quality measurements from the Fresno Supersite

The Fresno Supersite intends to 1) evaluate non-routine monitoring methods, establishing their comparability with existing methods and their applicability to air quality planning, exposure assessment, and health effects studies; 2) provide a better understanding of aerosol characteristics, behavior, and sources to assist regulatory agencies in developing standards and strategies that protect public health; and 3) support studies that evaluate relationships between aerosol properties, co-factors, and observed health end-points. Supersite observables include in-situ, continuous, short-duration measurements of 1) PM2.5, PM10, and coarse (PM10 minus PM2.5) mass; 2) PM2.5 SO4(-2), NO3-, carbon, light absorption, and light extinction; 3) numbers of particles in discrete size bins ranging from 0.01 to approximately 10 microns; 4) criteria pollutant gases (O3, CO, NOx); 5) reactive gases (NO2, NOy, HNO3, peroxyacetyl nitrate [PAN], NH3); and 6) single particle characterization by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Field sampling and laboratory analysis are applied for gaseous and particulate organic compounds (light hydrocarbons, heavy hydrocarbons, carbonyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH], and other semi-volatiles), and PM2.5 mass, elements, ions, and carbon. Observables common to other Supersites are 1) daily PM2.5 24-hr average mass with Federal Reference Method (FRM) samplers; 2) continuous hourly and 5-min average PM2.5 and PM10 mass with beta attenuation monitors (BAM) and tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOM); 3) PM2.5 chemical speciation with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) speciation monitor and protocol; 4) coarse particle mass by dichotomous sampler and difference between PM10 and PM2.5 BAM and TEOM measurements; 5) coarse particle chemical composition; and 6) high sensitivity and time resolution scalar and vector wind speed, wind direction, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and solar radiation. The Fresno Supersite is coordinated with health and toxicological studies that will use these data in establishing relationships with asthma, other respiratory disease, and cardiovascular changes in human and animal subjects.     

Long-term field characterization of tapered element oscillating microbalance and modified tapered element oscillating microbalance samplers in urban and rural New York State locations

Long-term field comparisons of continuous and integrated filter measurements of mass concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microm (PM2.5) were performed at rural and urban sites in New York State. Two versions of the continuous tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) mass monitor are deployed at each site, in addition to Federal Reference Method filter samplers. Data are grouped into monthly averages to retain and demonstrate seasonal differences. Strong seasonal dependence is observed-the TEOM monitors with the heated sensors are biased systematically low with respect to the Federal Reference Method measurements during the cold season. For the rural site, the average bias for the sample equilibration system (SES)-equipped and standard TEOM monitors is 14 and 24%, respectively. At this location, the TEOM monitor measurements were biased low for all 34 months. For the urban site, the average bias for the SES and standard TEOM monitors is 8 and 18%, respectively. At this location, the TEOM monitor measurements are as likely to be biased high as low during the warm-season months. The hour averaged data from the two versions of the TEOM monitor are also compared, and also indicate that the SES-equipped version of the TEOM monitor captures 7-11% more PM2.5 mass at these locations.     

Quality-assured measurements of animal building emissions: particulate matter concentrations

Federally funded, multistate field studies were initiated in 2002 to measure emissions of particulate matter (PM) < 10 microm (PM10) and total suspended particulate (TSP), ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, nonmethane hydrocarbons, and odor from swine and poultry production buildings in the United States. This paper describes the use of a continuous PM analyzer based on the tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM). In these studies, the TEOM was used to measure PM emissions at identical locations in paired barns. Measuring PM concentrations in swine and poultry barns, compared with measuring PM in ambient air, required more frequent maintenance of the TEOM. External screens were used to prevent rapid plugging of the insect screen in the PM10 preseparator inlet. Minute means of mass concentrations exhibited a sinusoidal pattern that followed the variation of relative humidity, indicating that mass concentration measurements were affected by water vapor condensation onto and evaporation of moisture from the TEOM filter. Filter loading increased the humidity effect, most likely because of increased water vapor adsorption capacity of added PM. In a single layer barn study, collocated TEOMs, equipped with TSP and PM10 inlets, corresponded well when placed near the inlets of exhaust fans in a layer barn. Initial data showed that average daily mean concentrations of TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations at a layer barn were 1440 +/- 182 microg/m3 (n = 2), 553 +/- 79 microg/m3 (n = 4), and 33 +/- 75 microg/m3 (n = 1), respectively. The daily mean TSP concentration (n = 1) of a swine barn sprinkled with soybean oil was 67% lower than an untreated swine barn, which had a daily mean TSP concentration of 1143 +/- 619 microg/m3. The daily mean ambient TSP concentration (n = 1) near the swine barns was 25 +/- 8 microg/m3. Concentrations of PM inside the swine barns were correlated to pig activity.     

The Steubenville comprehensive air monitoring program (SCAMP): overview and statistical considerations

Average concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microm (PM2.5) in Steubenville, OH, have decreased by more than 10 microg/m3 since the landmark Harvard Six Cities Study associated the city's elevated PM2.5 concentrations with adverse health effects in the 1980s. Given the promulgation of a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 in 1997, a current assessment of PM2.5 in the Steubenville region is warranted. The Steubenville Comprehensive Air Monitoring Program (SCAMP) was conducted from 2000 through 2002 to provide such an assessment. The program included both an outdoor ambient air monitoring component and an indoor and personal air sampling component. This paper, which is the first in a series of four that will present results from the outdoor portion of SCAMP, provides an overview of the outdoor ambient air monitoring program and addresses statistical issues, most notably autocorrelation, that have been overlooked by many PM2.5 data analyses. The average PM2.5 concentration measured in Steubenville during SCAMP (18.4 microg/m3) was 3.4 microg/m3 above the annual PM2.5 NAAQS. On average, sulfate and organic material accounted for approximately 31% and 25%, respectively, of the total PM2.5 mass. Local sources contributed an estimated 4.6 microg/m3 to Steubenville's mean PM2.5 concentration. PM2.5 and each of its major ionic components were significantly correlated in space across all pairs of monitoring sites in the region, suggesting the influence of meteorology and long-range transport on regional PM2.5 concentrations. Statistically significant autocorrelation was observed among time series of PM2.5 and component data collected at daily and 1-in-4-day frequencies during SCAMP. Results of spatial analyses that accounted for autocorrelation were generally consistent with findings from previous studies that did not consider autocorrelation; however, these analyses also indicated that failure to account for autocorrelation can lead to incorrect conclusions about statistical significance.     

Time-resolved mass concentration,composition and sources of aerosol particles in a metropolitan underground railway station

Aerosol samples were collected using a stacked filter unit (SFU) for PM10-2.0 and PM2.0 size fractions on the platform of a metropolitan underground railway station in downtown Budapest. Temporal variations in the PM10 mass concentration and wind speed and direction were determined with time resolutions of 30 and 4 s using a tapered-element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) and a wind monitor, respectively. Sample analysis involved gravimetry for particulate mass, and particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry (PIXE) for elemental composition. Diurnal variation of the PM10 mass concentration exhibited two peaks, one at approximately 07:00 h and the other at approximately 17:00 h. The mean±SD PM10 mass concentration for working hours was 155±55 μg m⁻³. Iron, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Cr concentrations were higher than in outdoor air by factors between 5 and 20, showing substantial enrichment compared to both the average crustal rock composition and the average outdoor aerosol composition. Iron accounted for 40% and 46% of the PM10-2.0 and PM2.0 masses, respectively, and 72% of the PM10 mass was associated with the PM10-2.0 size fraction. The aerosol composition in the metro station (in particular the abundance of the metals mentioned above) is quite different from the average outdoor downtown composition. Mechanical wear and friction of electric conducting rails and bow sliding collectors, ordinary rails and wheels, as well as resuspension, were identified as the primary sources. Possible health implications based on comparison to various limit values and to data available for other underground railways are discussed.     

Evaluation and comparison of continuous fine particulate matter monitors for measurement of ambient aerosols

To provide a scientific basis for the selection and use of continuous monitors for exposure and/or health effects studies, and for compliance and episode measurements at strategic locations in the State of New Jersey, we evaluated the performance of seven continuous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitors in the present study. Gravimetric samplers, as reference methods, were collocated with realtime instruments in both laboratory and field tests. The results of intercomparison of real-time monitors showed that the two nephelometers used in this study correlated extremely well (r2 approximately 0.97), and two tapered element oscillating monitors (TEOM 1400 and TEOM filter dynamics measurement system [FDMS]) correlated well (r2 > 0.85), whereas two beta gauges displayed a weaker correlation (r2 < 0.6). During a summertime controlled (laboratory) evaluation, the measurements made with the gravimetric method correlated well with the 24-hr integrated measurements made with the real-time monitors. The SidePak nephelometer overestimated the particle concentration by a factor of approximately 3.4 compared with the gravimetric method. During a summertime field evaluation, the TEOM FDMS monitor reported approximately 30% higher mass concentration than the Federal Reference Method (FRM); and the difference could be explained by the loss of semi-volatile materials from the FRM sampler. Results also demonstrated that 24-hr average PM2.5 mass concentrations measured by beta gauges and TEOM (50 degrees C) in winter correlated well with the integrated gravimetric method. Seasonal differences were observed in the performance of the TEOM (50 degrees C) monitor in measuring the particle mass attributed to the higher semi-volatile material loss in the winter weather. In applying the realtime particulate matter monitoring data into Air Quality Index (AQI) reporting, the Conroy method and the 8-hr end-hour average method were both found to be suitable.     

Elemental and organic carbon in urban canyon and background environments in Budapest,Hungary

As part of an international research project, aerosol samples were collected by several filter-based devices on Nuclepore polycarbonate membrane, Teflon membrane and quartz fibre filters over separate daylight periods and nights, and on-line aerosol measurements were performed by TEOM and aethalometer within an urban canyon (kerbside) and at a near-city background site in Budapest, Hungary from 23 April–5 May 2002. Aerosol masses in PM2.0, PM10–2.0, PM2.5, PM10 size fractions and of TSP were determined gravimetrically; atmospheric concentrations of organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) for PM2.5 (or PM2.0), PM10 fractions and for TSP were measured by thermal–optical transmission method. Repeatability of the mass determination by Nuclepore filters seems to be 5–6%. Collections on Teflon filters yielded smaller mass on average by 8(±12)% than that for the Nuclepore filters. Quartz filters overestimated the PM10 mass in comparison with the Nuclepore filters due primarily to sampling artefacts on average by 10(±16)% at the kerbside. Tandem filter set-ups were utilised for correcting the sampling artefacts for OC by subtraction method. At the kerbside, the aerosol mass was made up on average of 35(±4)% of organic matter (OM) in the PM10 fraction, while the contribution of OM to the PM2.5 mass was 43(±9)%. At the background, OM also accounted for 43(±13)% of the PM2.0 mass. On average, EC made up 14(±6)%, 7(±2)% and 4.5(±1.1)% of the mass in the PM2.5, PM10 fractions and TSP, respectively, at the kerbside; while its contribution was only 2.1(±0.5)% in the PM2.0 fraction in the near-city background. Temporal variability for PM mass, OC and EC concentrations was related to road traffic, local meteorology and long-range transport of air masses. It was concluded that a direct coupling between the atmospheric concentration levels and vehicle circulation can be identified within the urban canyon, nevertheless, the local meteorology in particular and long-range transport of air masses have much more influence on the air quality than changes in the source intensity of road traffic. Concentration ratios of OC/EC were evaluated, and the amount of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was estimated by using EC as tracer for the primary OC emissions. Mean contribution and standard deviation of the SOA to the OM in the PM2.5 size fraction at the kerbside over daylight periods and nights were of 37(±18) and 46(±16)%, respectively.