Total Anthropogenic Suspended Particulate as Derived from Chemical Analysis of Chloride and Silicate on High-Volume Samples

Extensive chemical analysis of suspended particulate was undertaken by the Bay Area Air Pollution Control District, so that more meaningful interpretation of total mass loading data could be made and more serious problem areas detected. From high-volume samples taken with cellulose paper as the collection medium, analyses were performed for the five heavy metals and nitrate, sulfate, chloride, silicon, and total organics (loss on ignition at 550°C).

Two constituents considered primarily nonanthropogenic, silicate and chloride, were evaluated from eight sampling sites. The data were derived from over 600 individual samples, one sample per week per site. The locations have diverse geographical backgrounds, although they lie in a common air basin. For example, a 21 month average for chlorides ranged from 4.2 µ/m³ at San Francisco to 1.7 µg/m³ at Livermorè some 40 miles inland. Inversely, the total silicates increased from 5.7 µg/m³ at San Francisco to 22.6 µg/m³ at Livermore. The silicate values peak strongly in the dry season, with individual 24 hr silicate component values greater than 60 µg/m³ at inland stations. Wind-generated dust from the bare hills of the Coast Range is the most probable source.

Since the silicates and chlorides are primarily non-anthropogenic, they were excluded from the TSP values to give a total anthropogenic suspended particulate (TASP). The TASP values for the Bay Area show a geographic distribution in much closer conformity to visibility reduction and citizen complaint than do TSP values.     

Applications of GPS-tracked personal and fixed-location PM2.5 continuous exposure monitoring

Continued development of personal air pollution monitors is rapidly improving government and research capabilities for data collection. In this study, we tested the feasibility of using GPS-enabled personal exposure monitors to collect personal exposure readings and short-term daily PM_2.5 measures at 15 fixed locations throughout a community. The goals were to determine the accuracy of fixed-location monitoring for approximating individual exposures compared to a centralized outdoor air pollution monitor, and to test the utility of two different personal monitors, the RTI MicroPEM V3.2 and TSI SidePak AM510. For personal samples, 24-hr mean PM_2.5 concentrations were 6.93 μg/m³ (stderr = 0.15) and 8.47 μg/m³ (stderr = 0.10) for the MicroPEM and SidePak, respectively. Based on time–activity patterns from participant journals, exposures were highest while participants were outdoors (MicroPEM = 7.61 µg/m³, stderr = 1.08, SidePak = 11.85 µg/m³, stderr = 0.83) or in restaurants (MicroPEM = 7.48 µg/m³, stderr = 0.39, SidePak = 24.93 µg/m³, stderr = 0.82), and lowest when participants were exercising indoors (MicroPEM = 4.78 µg/m³, stderr = 0.23, SidePak = 5.63 µg/m³, stderr = 0.08). Mean PM_2.5 at the 15 fixed locations, as measured by the SidePak, ranged from 4.71 µg/m³ (stderr = 0.23) to 12.38 µg/m³ (stderr = 0.45). By comparison, mean 24-h PM_2.5 measured at the centralized outdoor monitor ranged from 2.7 to 6.7 µg/m³ during the study period. The range of average PM_2.5 exposure levels estimated for each participant using the interpolated fixed-location data was 2.83 to 19.26 µg/m³ (mean = 8.3, stderr = 1.4). These estimated levels were compared with average exposure from personal samples. The fixed-location monitoring strategy was useful in identifying high air pollution microclimates throughout the county. For 7 of 10 subjects, the fixed-location monitoring strategy more closely approximated individuals’ 24-hr breathing zone exposures than did the centralized outdoor monitor. Highlights are: Individual PM_2.5 exposure levels vary extensively by activity, location and time of day; fixed-location sampling more closely approximated individual exposures than a centralized outdoor monitor; and small, personal exposure monitors provide added utility for individuals, researchers, and public health professionals seeking to more accurately identify air pollution microclimates.

Implications: Personal air pollution monitoring technology is advancing rapidly. Currently, personal monitors are primarily used in research settings, but could they also support government networks of centralized outdoor monitors? In this study, we found differences in performance and practicality for two personal monitors in different monitoring scenarios. We also found that personal monitors used to collect outdoor area samples were effective at finding pollution microclimates, and more closely approximated actual individual exposure than a central monitor. Though more research is needed, there is strong potential that personal exposure monitors can improve existing monitoring networks.     

1986 APCA Government Agencies Directory

Carbonaceous species (organic carbon [OC] and elemental carbon [EC]) and inorganic ions of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) were measured to investigate the chemical characteristics of long-range-transported (LTP) PM_2.5 at Gosan, Jeju Island, in Korea in the spring and fall of 2008–2012 (excluding 2010). On average, the non-sea-salt (nss) sulfate (4.2 µg/m³) was the most dominant species in the spring, followed by OC (2.6 µg/m³), nitrate (2.1 µg/m³), ammonium (1.7 µg/m³), and EC (0.6 µg/m³). In the fall, the nss-sulfate (4.7 µg/m³) was also the most dominant species, followed by OC (4.0 µg/m³), ammonium (1.7 µg/m³), nitrate (1.1 µg/m³), and EC (0.7 µg/m³). Both sulfate and OC were higher in the fall than in the spring, possibly due to more common northwest air masses (i.e., coming from China and Korea polluted areas) and more frequent biomass burnings in the fall. There was no clear difference in the EC between the spring and fall. The correlation between OC and EC was not strong; thus, the OC measured at Gosan was likely transported across a long distance and was not necessarily produced in a manner similar to the EC. Distinct types of LTP events (i.e., sulfate-dominant LTP versus OC-dominant LTP) were observed. In the sulfate-dominant LTP events, air masses directly arrived at Gosan without passing over the Korean Peninsula from the industrial area of China within 48 hr. During these events, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) increased to 1.63. Ionic balance data suggest that the long-range transported aerosols are acidic. In the OC-dominant LTP event, a higher residence time of air masses in Korea was observed (the air masses departing from the mainland of China arrived at the sampling site after passing Korea within 60–80 hr).

Implications:?In Northeast Asia, various natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to the complex chemical components and affect local/regional air quality and climate change. Chemical characteristics of long-range-transported (LTP) PM_2.5 were investigated during spring and fall of 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. Based on air mass types, sulfate-dominant LTP and OC-dominant LTP were observed. A long-term variation and chemical characteristics of PM_2.5 along with air mass and satellite data are required to better understand long-range-transported aerosols.     

Contribution of dust storms to PM10 levels in an urban arid environment

Quantitative information on the contribution of dust storms to atmospheric PM₁₀ (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm) levels is still lacking, especially in urban environments with close proximity to dust sources. The main objective of this study was to quantify the contribution of dust storms to PM₁₀ concentrations in a desert urban center, the city of Beer-Sheva, Negev, Israel, during the period of 2001–2012. Toward this end, a background value based on the “dust-free” season was used as a threshold value to identify potentially “dust days.” Subsequently, the net contribution of dust storms to PM₁₀ was assessed. During the study period, daily PM₁₀ concentrations ranged from 6 to over 2000 µg/m³. In each year, over 10% of the daily concentrations exceeded the calculated threshold (BV_t) of 71 µg/m³. An average daily net contribution of dust to PM₁₀ of 122 µg/m³ was calculated for the entire study period based on this background value. Furthermore, a dust storm intensity parameter (Ai) was used to analyze several storms with very high PM₁₀ contributions (hourly averages of 1000–5197 μg/m³). This analysis revealed that the strongest storms occurred mainly in the last 3 yr of the study. Finally, these findings indicate that this arid urban environment experiences high PM₁₀ levels whose origin lies in both local and regional dust events.

Implications:The findings indicate that over time, the urban arid environment experiences high PM₁₀ levels whose origin lies in local and regional dust events. It was noticed that the strongest storms have occurred mainly in the last 3 yr. It is believed that environmental changes such as global warming and desertification may lead to an increased air pollution and risk exposure to human health.     

Introduction to the Air & Waste Management Association's 29th Annual Critical Review

Abstract

On-road mobile sources contribute substantially to ambient air concentrations of the carcinogens 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The current study measured benzene and 1,3-butadiene at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel tollbooth over 3-hr intervals on seven weekdays (n = 56). Particle-bound PAH was measured on a subset of three days. The 3-hr outdoor 1,3-butadiene levels varied according to time of day and traffic volume. The minimum occurred at night (12 a.m.–3 a.m.) with a mean of 2 µg/m³ (SD = 1.3, n = 7), while the maximum occurred during the morning rush hour (6 a.m.–9 a.m.) with a mean of 11.9 µg/m³ (SD = 4.6, n = 7). The corresponding traffic counts were 1413 (SD = 144) and 16,893 (SD = 692), respectively. During the same intervals, mean benzene concentration varied from 3 µg/m³ (SD = 3.1, n = 7) to 22.3 µg/m³ (SD = 7.6, n = 7). Median PAH concentrations ranged from 9 to 199 ng/m³. Using multivariate regression, a significant association (p < 0.001) between traffic and curbside concentration was observed. Much of the pollutant variability (1,3-butadiene 62%, benzene 77%, and PAH 85%) was explained by traffic volume, class, and meteorology. Results suggest >2-axle vehicles emit 60, 32, and 9 times more PAH, 1,3-butadiene, and benzene, respectively, than do 2-axle vehicles. This study provides a model for estimating curbside pollution levels associated with traffic that may be relevant to exposures in the urban environment.     

On Evaluating Compliance With Air Pollution Levels “Not To Be Exceeded More Than Once A Year”

Five years (1969-1973) of sulfate and nitrate fractions were analyzed from high-volume particulate samples at 8 stations in the San Francisco Bay Area. These particulate data have been compared with simultaneous SO₂ and NO_x gas data and emission inventory data. On an annual basis, the sulfate and nitrate particulates closely track the emission inventory data, while the gas data vary more widely in response to local sources and to meteorological factors. The area-wide five year mean for sulfates is 2.68 µ/m³, only slightly above the remote nonurban sulfate background level. However, the similar five year nitrate mean of 2.78 µ/m³ is well above the national urban average. On isolated occasions, when extreme cold required "in-terruptible" sources to switch from natural gas to fuel oil, both sulfate and nitrate fractions showed 24 hour values in excess of 20 µ/m³.     

Personal exposure to fine particulate matter concentrations in central business district of a tropical coastal city

In the present study, personal exposure to fine particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm [PM_2.5]) concentrations in an urban hotspot (central business district [CBD]) was investigated. The PM monitoring campaigns were carried out at an urban hotspot from June to October 2015. The personal exposure monitoring was performed during three different time periods, i.e., morning (8 a.m.?9 a.m.), afternoon (12.30 p.m.–1.30 p.m.), and evening (4 p.m.–5 p.m.), to cover both the peak and lean hour activities of the CBD. The median PM_2.5 concentrations were 38.1, 34.9, and 40.4 µg/m³ during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours on the weekends. During weekdays, the median PM_2.5 concentrations were 59.5, 29.6, and 36.6 µg/m³ in the morning, afternoon, and evening hours, respectively. It was observed that the combined effect of traffic emissions, complex land use, and micrometeorological conditions created localized air pollution hotspots. Furthermore, the total PM_2.5 lung dose levels for an exposure duration of 1 hr were 8.7 ± 5.7 and 12.3 ± 5.2 µg at CBD during weekends and weekdays, respectively, as compared with 2.5 ± 0.8 µg at the urban background (UB). This study emphasizes the need for mobile measurement for short-term personal exposure assessment complementing the fixed air quality monitoring.

Implications: Personal exposure monitoring at an urban hotspot indicated space and time variation in PM concentrations that is not captured by the fixed air quality monitoring networks. The short-term exposure to higher concentrations can have a significant impact on health that need to be considered for the health risk–based air quality management. The study emphasizes the need of hotspot-based monitoring complementing the already existing fixed air quality monitoring in urban areas. The personal exposure patterns at hotspots can provide additional insight into sustainable urban planning.     

Ambient Oxidant Exposure andHealth Costs in the United States—1973

The body of information presented in this paper is directed to policy makers and administrators involved in the evaluation and assessment of damages caused by oxidant air pollution on human health and welfare and of possible benefits of control.

To provide a comparison of some of the benefits that can be obtained by reducing photochemical oxidant levels, estimated health costs were derived from data relating adverse health effects to hourly oxidant concentrations. Hourly oxidant or ozone concentrations were measured at approximately 400 monitoring stations scattered throughout the U.S. Most of these sites were located in major urban areas or in other areas where high oxidant concentrations prevailed. Estimates of populations at risk and per capita health costs were generated for those areas where oxidant data was available.

During the period 1971-1973, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population resided in areas where the hourly primary standard for oxidants of 160 µg/m³ was exceeded. The total annual health cost attributable to oxidants was estimated to range from $120 to over $240 million in the U.S.     

Factors determining the fluctuation of fluoride concentrations in PM10 aerosols in the urbanized coastal area of the Baltic Sea (Gdynia, Poland)

Fluoride concentrations were determined in PM10 samples collected in the urbanized coastal area of the Baltic Sea (Gdynia) in the period between 1 August 2008 and 8 January 2010. F^? concentrations remained within the range of 0.4–36.6 ng?·?m^?3. The economic transformations which have taken place in Poland increasing ecological awareness have had an excellent effect on the levels of fluoride pollution in the air of the studied region. In our measurements, fluoride concentrations increased in wintertime, when air temperature dropped, at low wind speeds (<1 m?·?s^?1) and with low dispersion of pollutants originating from local sources (traffic, industry, domestic heating). At times when wind speed grew to >10 m?·?s^?1, fluorides were related to marine aerosols or else brought from distant sources. Apart from wind speed and air temperature, other significant meteorological parameters which determined the variability of F^? turned out to be air humidity and precipitation volume. Aerosols were washed out effectively, even with small precipitation (h?=?4 mm), and if a dry period lasted for several days, their concentrations grew rapidly to over 30.0 ng?·?m^?3.     

Evaluation of the Sodium Arsenite Method for Measurement of NO2 in Ambient Air

The sodium arsenite method for measurement of nitrogen dioxide in ambient air was evaluated. The method has a constant-high collection efficiency (82%) for nitrogen dioxide, and is insensitive to normal variations in operating parameters. Nitric oxide and carbon dioxide are positive and negative interferents, respectively. The combined average effect of these interferents, over ambient levels, is a positive bias of 9.9 µg/m³. This bias, although statistically significant, is minor ( 10 % ) in relation to the ambient air standard of 100 µg NO₂/m³ and does not warrant modification of the method to remove the interference.     

Feasibility of using low-cost portable particle monitors for measurement of fine and coarse particulate matter in urban ambient air

Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is known as a significant risk factor for mortality and morbidity due to cardiorespiratory causes. Owing to increased interest in assessing personal and community exposures to PM, we evaluated the feasibility of employing a low-cost portable direct-reading instrument for measurement of ambient air PM exposure. A Dylos DC 1700 PM sensor was collocated with a Grimm 11-R in an urban residential area of Houston Texas. The 1-min averages of particle number concentrations for sizes between 0.5 and 2.5 µm (small size) and sizes larger than 2.5 µm (large size) from a DC 1700 were compared with the 1-min averages of PM_2.5 (aerodynamic size less than 2.5 µm) and coarse PM (aerodynamic size between 2.5 and 10 µm) concentrations from a Grimm 11-R. We used a linear regression equation to convert DC 1700 number concentrations to mass concentrations, utilizing measurements from the Grimm 11-R. The estimated average DC 1700 PM_2.5 concentration (13.2 ± 13.7 µg/m³) was similar to the average measured Grimm 11-R PM_2.5 concentration (11.3 ± 15.1 µg/m³). The overall correlation (r²) for PM_2.5 between the DC 1700 and Grimm 11-R was 0.778. The estimated average coarse PM concentration from the DC 1700 (5.6 ± 12.1 µg/m³) was also similar to that measured with the Grimm 11-R (4.8 ± 16.5 µg/m³) with an r² of 0.481. The effects of relative humidity and particle size on the association between the DC 1700 and the Grimm 11-R results were also examined. The calculated PM mass concentrations from the DC 1700 were close to those measured with the Grimm 11-R when relative humidity was less than 60% for both PM_2.5 and coarse PM. Particle size distribution was more important for the association of coarse PM between the DC 1700 and Grimm 11-R than it was for PM_2.5.

Implications: The performance of a low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensor was evaluated in an urban residential area. Both PM_2.5 and coarse PM (PM_10-2.5) mass concentrations were estimated using a DC1700 PM sensor. The calculated PM mass concentrations from the number concentrations of DC 1700 were close to those measured with the Grimm 11-R when relative humidity was less than 60% for both PM_2.5 and coarse PM. Particle size distribution was more important for the association of coarse PM between the DC 1700 and Grimm 11-R than it was for PM_2.5.     

Gaseous Pollutants in St. Louis and Other Cities

During the fall of 1972, a study was undertaken to characterize gaseous air pollutants in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Information obtained in this study will be used in planning air pollution modeling studies to be carried out over the next 4 or 5 years under the Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) of the Environmental Protection Agency. From analyses of roadway samples, it was found that certain compounds in automotive emissions such as acetylene, carbon monoxide, o-xylene, ethylene, and 2-methylpentane occur in consistent proportions to other compounds. The concentrations of these indicator compounds in atmospheric samples were used to estimate the amounts of other hydrocarbons present that are attributable to automotive related emissions. Methane, ethane, and propane were found to originate principally from nonautomotive sources, both at St. Louis University and the St. Louis CAMP station. Similar concentrations were found in urban and non-urban areas. A comparison of ethylene-CO and propyl-ene-CO ratios in urban and non-urban areas indicates that CO can serve as an indicator of transport of urban pollutants. Sunlight irradiations of captured air samples showed increasing ozone production with increasing initial concentrations of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Substantial ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate were formed from a total non-methane hydrocarbon concentration of only ¹/₄ ppm C.     

Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for PM10 and Size-Segregated Samples in Bangkok

Abstract

Air samples of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm (PM₁₀) were collected from six sites in Bangkok, Thailand, using high-volume air samplers. Daily samples were taken at intervals of 12 days from November 1999 to November 2000. Size-selected sampling using a multislit Andersen size-fractionated cascade impactor was undertaken at one site in central Bangkok to identify particulate size distribution. The annual average PM₁₀ concentration at all six sites exceeded the Thailand National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m³. The daily PM₁₀ concentrations at heavy traffic roadside areas ranged between 30 and 160 µg/m³. The highest PM₁₀ level occurred during the winter period (November–February), which is the dry season. From our results, which are based on a 1-yr survey, it can be observed that the particulate concentrations are associated with traffic volumes and seasonal factors (temperature and rainfall). The relative importance of size fractions in contributing to PM load is presented and discussed. Twenty polycyclic aromatic hydro-carbons (PAHs) associated with PM have been identified and quantified. The summed PAHs based on the 20 species had an average concentration of 60 ng/m³. Benzo(e)pyrene, indeno(123cd)pyrene, and benzo(ghi)perylene were the major compounds with average concentrations of 8, 10, and 13 ng/m³, respectively. Results indicate that more than 97% of PAHs were found in the small particulate size range of <0.95 µm.     

The Effect of Rapid Transit on San Francisco Bay Air Quality

Classical procedures for the microdetermination of fluoride in vegetation are extremely time consuming. They generally involve ashing, fusion with alkali, distillation, and finally fluoride estimation. Sample size requirements for such procedures are on the order of a gram or more, making the procedure useless for determining low fluoride concentrations in small samples. A procedure for micro-fluoride determination in vegetation is proposed which utilizes the oxygen flask combustion technique (Schoniger flask). The gaseous products of combustion are absorbed in 10.0 ml of 0.05N sodium hydroxide containing 1.00 µg of fluoride. The analysis of the fluoride is performed directly on the absorption solution after addition of a combination complexing-buffer solution, using a specific fluoride ion electrode. The sensitivity of the electrode is such that 0.2 µg of fluoride can be easily detected in this volume. Added oxidant was required in the combustion step for some vegetation samples to completely free the fluoride from its organic matrix. Comparisons with the standard Willard-Winter procedure gave excellent results. Combustion of sodium fluoride standards as well as submicrogram quantities of a fluoro-organic compound showed recoveries greater than 90%. The direct combustion, coupled with fluoride ion electrode determination, reduces analysis time drastically. A complete analysis can be performed in 1/2 hr, with a minimum amount of equipment.     

Investigation of PM2.5 and carbon dioxide levels in urban homes

PM_2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) samples were collected in the indoor environments of 15 urban homes and their adjacent outdoor environments in Alexandria, Egypt, during the spring time. Indoor and outdoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels were also measured concurrently. The results showed that indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations in the 15 sites, with daily averages of 45.5 ± 11.1 and 47.3 ± 12.9 µg/m³, respectively, were significantly higher than the ambient 24-hr PM_2.5 standard of 35 µg/m³ recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The indoor PM_2.5 and CO₂ levels were correlated with the corresponding outdoor levels, demonstrating that outdoor convection and infiltration could lead to direct transportation indoors. Ventilation rates were also measured in the selected residences and ranged from 1.6 to 4.5 hr^?1 with median value of 3.3 hr^?1. The indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of the monitored homes varied from 0.73 to 1.65 with average value of 0.99 ± 0.26 for PM_2.5, whereas those for CO₂ ranged from 1.13 to 1.66 with average value of 1.41 ± 0.15. Indoor sources and personal activities, including smoking and cooking, were found to significantly influence indoor levels.

Implications: Few studies on indoor air quality were carried out in Egypt, and the scarce data resulted from such studies do not allow accurate assessment of the current situation to take necessary preventive actions. The current research investigates indoor levels of PM_2.5 and CO₂ in a number of homes located in the city of Alexandria as well as the potential contribution from both indoor and outdoor sources. The study draws attention of policymakers to the importance of the establishment of national indoor air quality standards to protect human health and control air pollution in different indoor environments.     

An Assessment of Source Contributions to Ambient Aerosols in Central Taiwan

Ambient aerosols were sampled at three selected sites in the coastal region of central Taiwan to obtain composition data for use in receptor modeling. All the samples were analyzed for 20 elements with an x&#x0002D;ray fluorescence spectrometer. The mass percentage of sulfates in particle samples was determined by ion chromatography, and mass percentages of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) were determined by an elemental analyzer.

Because the three sampling sites were located within 25 km of each other, the average chemical compositions were similar for particle samples taken at the three sites on the same day. However, the variation in composition from day to day was significantly influenced by wind direction and change in local sources, such as the burning of agricultural wastes. The abundant species in the coarse fraction (2.5&#x0002D;10 µm) were Al (0.5&#x0002D;4.0 µg/m³), Cl (0.1&#x0002D;4.8 µg/m³), Ca (0.2&#x0002D;3.4 µg/m³), Fe (0.2&#x0002D;2.8 µg/ m³), and K (0.1&#x0002D;1.4 µg/m³), while the abundant species in the fine fraction (<2.5 µm) were S (0.3&#x0002D;3.5 µg/m³), Cl (0.01&#x0002D;1.9 µg/ m³), K (0.04&#x0002D;0.98 µg/m³), organic carbon (0.01&#x0002D;10.5 µg/m³), elemental carbon (0&#x0002D;10.7 µg/m³), and sulfates (1.2&#x0002D;15.7 µg/m³).

Calculations for source apportionment were carried out using the CMB7 software developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The main sources for the coarse fraction of ambient aerosols in the region were found to be marine aerosol, coal and fuel oil combustion, burning

of agricultural wastes, and paved road dust. The main sources for the fine fraction were burning of agricultural wastes, diesel exhaust, coal and oil combustion, and sulfates. Source apportionment for the fine fraction was relatively sensitive to the types of sources selected for calculations and the compositions of the sources. The problem can be ameliorated by careful examination of possible sources and by use of local source profiles.     

An Assessment of Source Contributions to Ambient Aerosols in Central Taiwan

Ambient aerosols were sampled at three selected sites in the coastal region of central Taiwan to obtain composition data for use in receptor modeling. All the samples were analyzed for 20 elements with an x&#x002D;ray fluorescence spectrometer. The mass percentage of sulfates in particle samples was determined by ion chromatography, and mass percentages of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) were determined by an elemental analyzer.

Because the three sampling sites were located within 25 km of each other, the average chemical compositions were similar for particle samples taken at the three sites on the same day. However, the variation in composition from day to day was significantly influenced by wind direction and change in local sources, such as the burning of agricultural wastes. The abundant species in the coarse fraction (2.5&#x002D;10 µm) were Al (0.5&#x002D;4.0 µg/m³), Cl (0.1&#x002D;4.8 µg/m³), Ca (0.2&#x002D;3.4 µg/m³), Fe (0.2&#x002D;2.8 µg/ m³), and K (0.1&#x002D;1.4 µg/m³), while the abundant species in the fine fraction (&#x003C;2.5 µm) were S (0.3&#x002D;3.5 µg/m³), Cl (0.01&#x002D;1.9 µg/ m³), K (0.04&#x002D;0.98 µg/m³), organic carbon (0.01&#x002D;10.5 µg/m³), elemental carbon (0&#x002D;10.7 µg/m³), and sulfates (1.2&#x002D;15.7 µg/m³).

Calculations for source apportionment were carried out using the CMB7 software developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The main sources for the coarse fraction of ambient aerosols in the region were found to be marine aerosol, coal and fuel oil combustion, burning of agricultural wastes, and paved road dust. The main sources for the fine fraction were burning of agricultural wastes, diesel exhaust, coal and oil combustion, and sulfates. Source apportionment for the fine fraction was relatively sensitive to the types of sources selected for calculations and the compositions of the sources. The problem can be ameliorated by careful examination of possible sources and by use of local source profiles.     

Characterization of Particulate Matter for Three Sites in Kuwait

Abstract

Many studies have shown strong associations between particulate matter (PM) levels and a variety of health outcomes, leading to changes in air quality standards in many regions, especially the United States and Europe. Kuwait, a desert country located on the Persian Gulf, has a large petroleum industry with associated industrial and urban land uses. It was marked by environmental destruction from the 1990 Iraqi invasion and subsequent oil fires. A detailed particle characterization study was conducted over 12 months in 2004–2005 at three sites simultaneously with an additional 6 months at one of the sites. Two sites were in urban areas (central and southern) and one in a remote desert location (northern). This paper reports the concentrations of particles less than 10 µm in diameter (PM₁₀) and fine PM (PM_2.5), as well as fine particle nitrate, sulfate, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and elements measured at the three sites. Mean annual concentrations for PM₁₀ ranged from 66 to 93 µg/m³ across the three sites, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines for PM₁₀ of 20 µg/m³. The arithmetic mean PM_2.5 concentrations varied from 38 and 37 µg/m³ at the central and southern sites, respectively, to 31 µg/m³ at the northern site. All sites had mean PM_2.5 concentrations more than double the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM_2.5. Coarse particles comprised 50–60% of PM₁₀. The high levels of PM₁₀ and large fraction of coarse particles comprising PM₁₀ are partially explained by the resuspension of dust and soil from the desert crust. However, EC, OC, and most of the elements were significantly higher at the urbanized sites, compared with the more remote northern site, indicating significant pollutant contributions from local mobile and stationary sources. The particulate levels in this study are high enough to generate substantial health impacts and present opportunities for improving public health by reducing airborne PM.     

Fugitive Dust Emission Source Profiles and Assessment of Selected Control Strategies for Particulate Matter at Gravel Processing Sites in Taiwan

Abstract

Particles emitted from gravel processing sites are one contributor to worsening air quality in Taiwan. Major pollution sources at gravel processing sites include gravel and sand piles, unpaved roads, material crushers, and bare ground. This study analyzed fugitive dust emission characteristics at each pollution source using several types of particle samplers, including total suspended particulates (TSP), suspended particulate (PM₁₀), fine suspended particulate (PM_2.5), particulate sizer, and dust-fall collectors. Furthermore, silt content and moisture in the gravel were measured to develop particulate emission factors. The results showed that TSP (<100 µm) concentrations at the boundary of gravel sites ranged from 280 to 1290 µg/m³, which clearly exceeds the Taiwan hourly air quality standard of 500 µg/m³. Moreover, PM₁₀ concentrations, ranging from 135 to 550 µg/m³, were also above the daily air quality standard of 125 µg/m³ and approximately 1.2 and 1.5 times the PM_2.5 concentrations, ranging from 105 to 470 µg/m³. The size distribution analysis reveals that mass mean diameter and geometric standard deviation ranged from 3.2 to 5.7 µm and from 2.82 to 5.51, respectively. In this study, spraying surfactant was the most effective control strategy to abate windblown dust from unpaved roads, having a control efficiency of approximately 93%, which is significantly higher than using paved road strategies with a control efficiency of approximately 45%. For paved roads, wet suppression provided the best dust control efficiencies ranging from 50 to 83%. Re-vegetation of disturbed ground had dust control efficiencies ranging from 48 to 64%.     

Characterization of air manganese exposure estimates for residents in two Ohio towns

This study was conducted to derive receptor-specific outdoor exposure concentrations of total suspended particulate (TSP) and respirable (d_ae ≤ 10 µm) air manganese (air-Mn) for East Liverpool and Marietta (Ohio) in the absence of facility emissions data, but where long-term air measurements were available. Our “site-surface area emissions method” used U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AERMOD (AMS/EPA Regulatory Model) dispersion model and air measurement data to estimate concentrations for residential receptor sites in the two communities. Modeled concentrations were used to create ratios between receptor points and calibrated using measured data from local air monitoring stations. Estimated outdoor air-Mn concentrations were derived for individual study subjects in both towns. The mean estimated long-term air-Mn exposure levels for total suspended particulate were 0.35 μg/m³ (geometric mean [GM]) and 0.88 μg/m³ (arithmetic mean [AM]) in East Liverpool (range: 0.014–6.32 μg/m³) and 0.17 μg/m³ (GM) and 0.21 μg/m³ (AM) in Marietta (range: 0.03–1.61 μg/m³). Modeled results compared well with averaged ambient air measurements from local air monitoring stations. Exposure to respirable Mn particulate matter (PM₁₀; PM <10 μm) was higher in Marietta residents.

Implications: Few available studies evaluate long-term health outcomes from inhalational manganese (Mn) exposure in residential populations, due in part to challenges in measuring individual exposures. Local long-term air measurements provide the means to calibrate models used in estimating long-term exposures. Furthermore, this combination of modeling and ambient air sampling can be used to derive receptor-specific exposure estimates even in the absence of source emissions data for use in human health outcome studies.