Characterisation of Particulate Matter Sampled during a Study of Children's Personal Exposure to Airborne Particulate Matter in a UK Urban Environment

The personal exposure of children aged 9 – 11 years to particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) was carried out between January and September 1997 in the London Borough of Barnet. Personal sampling along with home, garden and classroom microenvironmental monitoring was completed for all ten children. Each child was monitored for five days during winter, spring and summer. All children completed daily time activity diaries to provide information on any potential activities that could influence their exposure to particulate matter. Each evening a household activity questionnaire was also completed by the parents. Personal Environmental Monitors were used to sample personal exposure to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Harvard Impactors were used for the microenvironmental sampling of both size fractions. The children's mean personal exposure concentrations for PM₁₀ during winter, spring and summer were 72, 54 and 35 µg/m³ respectively and for PM_2.5 22, 17 and 18 µg/m³ respectively. In order to determine the potential sources of particulate matter, analysis of the Teflon filters has been undertaken. The physical characteristics of the particles have been identified using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The relationships between personal exposure concentrations and the different microenvironments will be discussed.     

北方沙尘对江苏环境空气中可吸入颗粒物浓度的影响

利用卫星遥感数据、气象观测资料和江苏省环境空气自动站的可吸入颗粒物的监测数据,对春季中国北方的沙尘暴过程对江苏环境空气中可吸入颗粒物浓度的影响分析发现,沙尘暴所含的沙尘粒子在冷空气的引导下可能进入江苏,对环境空气中可吸入颗粒物浓度将会产生较大的影响;北方沙尘暴所携带的沙尘粒子是春季江苏空气污染的重要来源之一,是预报空气质量异常偏高的重要依据之一。     

An Assessment on Variation of Sulphur Dioxide and Particulate Matter in Erzurum (Turkey)

Sulphur dioxide and PM₁₀ levels are investigated in Erzurum during the periods of 1990–2000 heating season to assess air pollution level. For that reason, emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter were calculated by using consumption of fuels and Turkish emission factors. These emission values were evaluated together with air pollution levels, which were measured at six stations in Erzurum atmosphere during 1990–2000 winter periods. Results reveal that in 1990–1994 heating period, there is an increasing trend in the emissions and air pollution levels over Erzurum, and the air quality limits were not met. The daily 24 h limit (short-term limit) was exceeded 127 days in 1992–1993 winter period. The reason for this increase was found to be the switching to use of low-quality fossil fuels instead of cleaner ones. Results also indicated that there was a considerable decrease in emissions of air pollutants and air pollution levels after 1995. This can be explained by the consumption of more high-quality fossil fuels. The correlation coefficient of SO₂ with PM₁₀ is obtained as r² = 0.85, which is a high value supporting the idea that both pollutants are emitted from the same source.     

颗粒物对污染源COD水质在线监测仪比对监测的影响

污水中的颗粒物是COD在线监测仪在比对监测时出现较大误差的原因之一,就颗粒物对COD在线监测仪是否产生影响以及影响效果进行了实验研究。研究结果表明,COD在线监测仪的预处理系统去除颗粒物会带来比对监测的误差,并且随着颗粒物浓度增加,误差增大;预处理系统过滤器尺寸也会对比对监测的误差产生影响,针对同一浓度水样,孔径越大误差越小,针对同一孔径过滤器则水样浓度越高误差越小。     

Benzene Exposure Assessment at Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Levels. The French Contribution to the Life MACBETH Programme

Many VOC represent hazards to human health through chronic exposure. Recent European and world-wide legislation proposes limit values for ambient concentrations of these compounds. However, very little experimental data exists for true population exposure. In 1996, the European MACBETH initiative set out to measure population exposure to benzene in six European cities. This study details the French contribution to this program. Six campaigns were carried out, each comprising measurements at 100 outdoor sites and the participation of 50 non-smoking volunteers who wore personal samplers and had passive monitors installed in their homes. Iso-concentration maps were drawn for each campaign and the results showed that outdoor concentrations were significantly lower than indoors. Almost 75% of the volunteers were exposed to mean concentrations higher than the limit value of 5µgm³. It is demonstrated that personal exposure levels cannot be deduced simply by combining indoor and outdoor background concentrations. It is also shown that there is need for better knowledge of the contributions to overall exposure of outdoor microenvironments and the authors hope that future European directives will take this into account.     

贵州某流域城市河段沉积物及悬浮物重金属污染研究

通过在丰水期对贵州省某流域城市河段悬浮物和沉积物中的重金属含量进行测定,运用单因子指数法、生态风险评价法、因子分析法,初步探讨了该河段Cu、Zn、Pb、Hg、Cd、Cr、Ni及As等8种重金属元素的含量分布、污染特征、潜在生态风险及主要来源。检测结果显示,沉积物和悬浮物中Hg、Cd、Zn、Pb、As的平均含量较高,是贵州省土壤背景值的1.02～16.97倍。单因子指数评价结果表明：在沉积物中,Zn、Pb、As为轻度污染,Hg和Cd为重度污染;在悬浮物中,Cu、Pb、As为轻度污染,Zn为中度污染,Hg和Cd为重度污染。潜在生态风险指数评价结果显示,Hg和Cd的生态风险最大,为主要污染元素。研究区沉积物样品综合生态风险指数(RI)介于183.27～1 393.96,平均值为912.06,总体处于严重生态风险等级;悬浮物样品RI值介于341.53～612.38,平均值为436.85,总体处于重度生态风险等级。其中,沉积物样品重金属平均生态风险等级高于悬浮物样品,支流样品重金属生态风险等级总体上低于干流下游样品。根据因子分析法分析结果,初步推测沉积物及悬浮物Hg、Cd、Cr、Ni含量主要受工...     

铵盐气溶胶对烟气排放连续监测系统颗粒物比对监测的影响研究

利用拉曼光谱对采样后的滤筒进行分析,发现废气中的硫酸铵-硫酸氢铵气溶胶是造成成都市部分企业烟气排放连续监测系统(CEMS)颗粒物比对监测结果不合格的主要原因。通过比较分析得出:在对含硫酸铵-硫酸氢铵气溶胶废气进行颗粒物浓度比对监测时,参比方法(重量法)测定的颗粒物浓度是一定标干采样体积下废气中固体微粒和硫酸铵-硫酸氢铵液体微粒结晶后产生的晶体的总质量,基于光散射法的CEMS颗粒物浓度测试系统测定的颗粒物浓度只是一定标干采样体积下废气中固体微粒的质量,由此导致参比方法测出的颗粒物浓度远大于CEMS测出的浓度,造成比对误差远超出允许值范围。     

大气颗粒物手工比对监测体系滤膜称量质控技术探讨

健全大气颗粒物手工比对监测体系是"十三五"环境空气自动监测质量管理的一项重点任务,其中颗粒物滤膜的称量直接影响手工监测数据质量。研究调研了国内各级环保部门所属环境监测机构颗粒物滤膜称量工作情况,结合国内外方法标准、技术规范等,重点探讨了称量实验室环境、称量设备、称量影响因素等滤膜称量质控要点,并针对环境管理与监测需求对大气颗粒物手工比对监测滤膜称量质控提出建议。     

Extension of the EUROS Integrated Air Quality Model to Fine Particulate Matter by Coupling to CACM/MADRID 2

The European Operational Smog (EUROS) integrated air quality modelling system has been extended to model fine particulate matter (PM). From an extended literature study, the Caltech Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism and the Model of Aerosol Dynamics, Reaction, Ionisation and Dissolution were selected and recently coupled to EUROS. Currently, modelling of mass and chemical composition of aerosols in two size fractions (PM_2.5 and PM_10–2.5) is possible. The chemical composition is expressed in terms of seven components: ammonium, nitrate, sulphate, elementary carbon, primary inorganic compounds, primary organic compounds and secondary organic compounds. Calculated PM₁₀ concentrations and chemical composition are presented for two summer months of the year 2003 (1 July to 31 August).     

Effectiveness of HVAC Duct Cleaning Procedures in Improving Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality has become one of the most seriousenvironmental concerns as an average person spends about 22 hrindoors on a daily basis. The study reported in this article, wasconducted to determine the effectiveness of three commercialHVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) duct cleaning processes in reducing the level of airborne particulate matterand viable bioaerosols. The three HVAC sanitation processeswere: (1) Contact method (use of conventional vacuum cleaning ofinterior duct surfaces); (2) Air sweep method (use of compressedair to dislodging dirt and debris); (3) Rotary brush method(insertion of a rotary brush into the ductwork to agitate anddislodge the debris). Effectiveness of these sanitationprocesses was evaluated in terms of airborne particulate andviable bioaerosol concentrations in residential homes. Eightidentical homes were selected in the same neighborhood. Twohomes were cleaned using each procedure and two were used ascontrols. It was found that both particle count readings andbioaerosol concentrations were higher when cleaning was beingperformed than before or after cleaning, which suggests thatdirt, debris and other pollutants may become airborne as aresult of disturbances caused by the cleaning processes.Particle count readings at 0.3 micron size were found to haveincreased due to cigarette smoking. Particle counts at 1.0micron size were reduced due to HVAC duct cleaning. Post-levelbioaerosol concentrations, taken two days after cleaning, werefound to be lower than the pre-level concentrations suggestingthat the cleaning procedures were effective to some extent.Homes cleaned with the Air Sweep procedure showed the highestdegree of reduction in bioaerosol concentration among the threeprocedures investigated.     

东北地区城市大气颗粒物中多环芳烃的污染特征

2008年4月至2009年1月期间,在东北三省(辽宁、吉林、黑龙江)设立30个观测点位,研究了东北城市大气颗粒物中PAHs的浓度水平、分布及来源.结果表明,不同季节14种PAHs总浓度的变化范围是16.3 ～712.1 ng/m3,呈冬季高、夏季低的季节变化特征;PAHs组成以4～5环化合物为主,3～4环化合物受温度的影响较大,表现出较强的季节波动;8个城市中抚顺和吉林PAHs污染最重,城市不同功能区中以工业区污染较重;燃煤和机动车尾气是区域PAHs的主要来源.     

Characterisation of PM10, PM2.5 and Benzene Soluble Organic Fraction of Particulate Matter in an Urban Area of Kolkata, India

In this study, the relationship between inhalable particulate (PM₁₀), fine particulate (PM_2.5), coarse particles (PM_{2.5 – 10}) and meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed were statistically analyzed and modelled for urban area of Kolkata during winter months of 2003–2004. Ambient air quality was monitored with a sampling frequency of twenty-four hours at three monitoring sites located near traffic intersections and in an industrial area. The monitoring sites were located 3–5 m above ground near highly trafficked and congested areas. The 24 h average PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples were collected using Thermo-Andersen high volume samplers and exposed filter papers were extracted and analysed for benzene soluble organic fraction. The ratios between PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were found to be in the range of 0.6 to 0.92 and the highest ratio was found in the most polluted urban site. Statistical analysis has shown a strong positive correlation between PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 and inverse correlation was observed between particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and wind speed. Statistical analysis of air quality data shows that PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are showing poor correlation with temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation. Regression equations for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 and meteorological parameters were developed. The organic fraction of particulate matter soluble in benzene is an indication of poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration present in particulate matter. The relationship between the benzene soluble organic fraction (BSOF) of inhalable particulate (PM₁₀) and fine particulate (PM_2.5) were analysed for urban area of Kolkata. Significant positive correlation was observed between benzene soluble organic fraction of PM₁₀ (BSM10) and benzene soluble organic fraction of PM_2.5 (BSM2.5). Regression equations for BSM10 and BSM2.5 were developed.     

Optimal Design of a Multi-Pollutant Air Quality Monitoring Network in a Metropolitan Region Using Kaohsiung, Taiwan as an Example

An air quality monitoring network (AQMN) usually performs the basic function of assessment of regional air quality and demonstration of compliance with ambient air quality standards in an urban area. Different pollutants, however, may present different characteristic variabilities due to their specific emission patterns, rates of diffusion, and transport and transformation behaviors. But the costs of siting in a pollutant-specific monitoring network would be higher than that for a common network with respect to several pollutants monitored simultaneously. This paper presents a survey of multi-pollutant design principles and optimal searches for siting patterns of an AQMN using both simulation and optimization models as a combined tool. While conservative, quasi-stable, and reactive pollutants are considered in the design principles, cost, coverage effectiveness, and spatial correlation characteristics are included in the multi-criteria decision making process. For illustrative purpose, a series of technical settings and two types of objectives were examined in the case study for the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan.