Predicted changes in summertime organic aerosol concentrations due to increased temperatures

Changes in summertime organic aerosol (OA) concentrations in the Eastern U.S. are investigated for different temperature change scenarios using the chemical transport model PMCAMx-2008. OA is simulated using the volatility basis set approach, assuming that the primary emissions are semi-volatile and that the intermediate volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds are oxidized in the gas phase, resulting in products with lower volatility. For the basic temperature change scenario where biogenic emissions are kept constant, ground-level OA decreases by −0.3% K⁻¹ on average. Increases in the north (+0.1% K⁻¹) and decreases in the south (−0.5% K⁻¹) are predicted. The effect of the uncertain temperature dependence of the aging rate constant is modest, changing the OA by only 0.1% K⁻¹ over the temperature-independent case. For the more realistic scenario in which biogenic OA precursor emissions are allowed to increase with temperature (up to 10% K⁻¹), however, average OA increases by 4.1% K⁻¹, with even higher increases in southern regions. These results suggest that as temperature increases, complicated changes in production, partitioning and chemical aging will take place. Nevertheless, the change in biogenic emissions and subsequent production of biogenic OA is more than an order of magnitude more important than the changes in the rates of chemical and physical atmospheric processes.     

Secondary organic aerosol production from aqueous photooxidation of glycolaldehyde: Laboratory experiments

Organic particulate matter (PM) formed in the atmosphere (secondary organic aerosol; SOA) is a substantial yet poorly understood contributor to atmospheric PM. Aqueous photooxidation in clouds, fogs and aerosols is a newly recognized SOA formation pathway. This study investigates the potential for aqueous glycolaldehyde oxidation to produce low volatility products that contribute SOA mass. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmation that aqueous oxidation of glycolaldehyde via the hydroxyl radical forms glyoxal and glycolic acid, as previously assumed. Subsequent reactions form formic acid, glyoxylic acid, and oxalic acid as expected. Unexpected products include malonic acid, succinic acid, and higher molecular weight compounds, including oligomers. Due to (1) the large source strength of glycolaldehyde from precursors such as isoprene and ethene, (2) its water solubility, and (3) the aqueous formation of low volatility products (organic acids and oligomers), we predict that aqueous photooxidation of glycolaldehyde and other aldehydes in cloud, fog, and aerosol water is an important source of SOA and that incorporation of this SOA formation pathway in chemical transport models will help explain the current under-prediction of organic PM concentrations.     

Mass spectrometric study of secondary organic aerosol formed from the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons

From measurements by an Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS), secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed in laboratory chambers is believed to be less oxidized than well-oxidized ambient organic aerosol (OA). However, the mass spectrum of SOA formed from the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons has not been sufficiently studied by using AMS though these reactions are potential sources of urban SOA. In this study, we studied SOA formed from the photo-oxidation of seven aromatic hydrocarbons by using Time-of-Flight AMS. Strong mass signals from SOA were found at m/z 43 (m43) and 44 (m44) in all the experiments. The m44 to total organic aerosol mass ratio (m44/OA) increased with irradiation time. For example, the m44/OA ratio increased from 10.6% to 13.3% during irradiation for 11 h in an experiment with toluene. The average m44/OA ratios were determined to be 5.8–17.1% for all the experiments. The m44/OA decreased and the m43/OA increased with increasing number of alkyl substituents of precursor aromatic hydrocarbons. This is because low-reactive ketones are preferentially produced rather than aldehydes with increasing number of alkyl substituents. The m44/OA ratios of the benzene and monoalkylbenzene oxidation were 12.2–17.1% and were close to those of well-oxidized ambient OA. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons is a potential source of urban SOA. In addition to oxygenated organic compounds, organic nitrogen oxides were also shown to be present in SOA by high-resolution mass spectra.     

Evaluation of secondary organic aerosol formation in winter

Three different methods are used to predict secondary organic aerosol (SOA) concentrations in the San Joaquin Valley of California during the winter of 1995–1996 [Integrated Monitoring Study, (IMS95)]. The first of these methods estimates SOA by using elemental carbon as a tracer of primary organic carbon. The second method relies on a Lagrangian trajectory model that simulates the formation, transport, and deposition of secondary organic aerosol. The model includes a recently developed gas–particle partitioning mechanism. Results from both methods are in good agreement with the chemical speciation of organic aerosol during IMS95 and suggest that most of the OC measured during IMS95 is of primary origin. Under suitable conditions (clear skies, low winds, low mixing heights) as much as 15–20 μg C m⁻³ of SOA can be produced, mainly due to oxidation of aromatics. The low mixing heights observed during the winter in the area allow accumulation of SOA precursors and the acceleration of SOA formation. Clouds and fog slow down the production of secondary compounds, reducing their concentrations by a factor of two or three from the above maximum levels. In addition, it appears that there is significant diurnal variation of SOA concentration. A strong dependence of SOA concentrations on temperature is observed, along with the existence of an optimal temperature for SOA formation.     

Source apportionment of airborne particulate matter using organic compounds as tracers

A chemical mass balance receptor model based on organic compounds has been developed that relates source contributions to airborne fine particle mass concentrations. Source contributions to the concentrations of specific organic compounds are revealed as well. The model is applied to four air quality monitoring sites in southern California using atmospheric organic compound concentration data and source test data collected specifically for the purpose of testing this model. The contributions of up to nine primary particle source types can be separately identified in ambient samples based on this method, and approximately 85% of the organic fine aerosol is assigned to primary sources on an annual average basis. The model provides information on source contributions to fine mass concentrations, fine organic aerosol concentrations and individual organic compound concentrations. The largest primary source contributors to fine particle mass concentrations in Los Angeles are found to include diesel engine exhaust, paved road dust, gasoline-powered vehicle exhaust, plus emissions from food cooking and wood smoke, with smaller contribution from tire dust, plant fragments, natural gas combustion aerosol, and cigarette smoke. Once these primary aerosol source contributions are added to the secondary sulfates, nitrates and organics present, virtually all of the annual average fine particle mass at Los Angeles area monitoring sites can be assigned to its source.     

Contribution of primary and secondary sources to organic aerosol and PM2.5 at SEARCH network sites

Chemical tracer methods for determining contributions to primary organic aerosol (POA) are fairly well established, whereas similar techniques for secondary organic aerosol (SOA), inherently complicated by time-dependent atmospheric processes, are only beginning to be studied. Laboratory chamber experiments provide insights into the precursors of SOA, but field data must be used to test the approaches. This study investigates primary and secondary sources of organic carbon (OC) and determines their mass contribution to particulate matter 2.5 microm or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) network samples. Filter samples were taken during 20 24-hr periods between May and August 2005 at SEARCH sites in Atlanta, GA (JST); Birmingham, AL (BHM); Centerville, AL (CTR); and Pensacola, FL (PNS) and analyzed for organic tracers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Contribution to primary OC was made using a chemical mass balance method and to secondary OC using a mass fraction method. Aerosol masses were reconstructed from the contributions of POA, SOA, elemental carbon, inorganic ions (sulfate [SO4(2-)], nitrate [NO3-], ammonium [NH4+]), metals, and metal oxides and compared with the measured PM2.5. From the analysis, OC contributions from seven primary sources and four secondary sources were determined. The major primary sources of carbon were from wood combustion, diesel and gasoline exhaust, and meat cooking; major secondary sources were from isoprene and monoterpenes with minor contributions from toluene and beta-caryophyllene SOA. Mass concentrations at the four sites were determined using source-specific organic mass (OM)-to-OC ratios and gave values in the range of 12-42 microg m(-3). Reconstructed masses at three of the sites (JST, CTR, PNS) ranged from 87 to 91% of the measured PM2.5 mass. The reconstructed mass at the BHM site exceeded the measured mass by approximately 25%. The difference between the reconstructed and measured PM2.5 mass for nonindustrial areas is consistent with not including aerosol liquid water or other sources of organic aerosol.     

Daily variation in the properties of urban ultrafine aerosol—Part I: Physical characterization and volatility

A summer air quality monitoring campaign focusing on the evolution of ultrafine (<180 nm in diameter) particle concentrations was conducted at an urban site in Los Angeles during June–July 2006. Previous observations suggest that ultrafine aerosol at this site are generally representative of the Los Angeles urban environment. Continuous and intermittent gas and aerosol measurements were made over 4 weeks with consistent daily meteorological conditions. Monthly averages of the data suggest the strong influence of commute traffic emissions on morning observations of ultrafine particle concentrations. By contrast, in the afternoon our measurements provide evidence of secondary photochemical reactions becoming the predominant formation mechanism of ultrafine aerosols. The ultrafine number concentration peak occurs in the early afternoon, before the maximum ozone concentration is observed. The source of this offset is unknown and requires further investigation. It is possible that the chemical mechanisms responsible for secondary organic aerosol formation evolve as atmospheric conditions change and/or secondary semi-volatile components of the aerosol re-volatilize due to the elevated peak temperatures observed (ca. 30–35 °C) combined with the increased atmospheric dilution during that time. Measurements of the volatility of the ultrafine aerosol are consistent with this interpretation as overall volatility increases in the afternoon and there is less evidence of external mixing. Composition data presented in the companion paper support these conclusions [Ning et al., 2007. Daily variation in chemical characteristics of urban ultrafine aerosols and inference of their sources. Environmental Science and Technology, in press].     

Overview of surface measurements and spatial characterization of submicrometer particulate matter during the DISCOVER-AQ 2013 campaign in Houston,TX

The sources of submicrometer particulate matter (PM₁) remain poorly characterized in the industrialized city of Houston, TX. A mobile sampling approach was used to characterize PM₁ composition and concentration across Houston based on high-time-resolution measurements of nonrefractory PM₁ and trace gases during the DISCOVER-AQ Texas 2013 campaign. Two pollution zones with marked differences in PM₁ levels, character, and dynamics were established based on cluster analysis of organic aerosol mass loadings sampled at 16 sites. The highest PM₁ mass concentrations (average 11.6 ± 5.7 µg/m³) were observed to the northwest of Houston (zone 1), dominated by secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass likely driven by nighttime biogenic organonitrate formation. Zone 2, an industrial/urban area south/east of Houston, exhibited lower concentrations of PM₁ (average 4.4 ± 3.3 µg/m³), significant organic aerosol (OA) aging, and evidence of primary sulfate emissions. Diurnal patterns and backward-trajectory analyses enable the classification of airmass clusters characterized by distinct PM sources: biogenic SOA, photochemical aged SOA, and primary sulfate emissions from the Houston Ship Channel. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that secondary biogenic organonitrates primarily related with monoterpenes are predominant in zone 1 (accounting for 34% of the variability in the data set). The relevance of photochemical processes and industrial and traffic emission sources in zone 2 also is highlighted by PCA, which identifies three factors related with these processes/sources (~50% of the aerosol/trace gas concentration variability). PCA reveals a relatively minor contribution of isoprene to SOA formation in zone 1 and the absence of isoprene-derived aerosol in zone 2. The relevance of industrial amine emissions and the likely contribution of chloride-displaced sea salt aerosol to the observed variability in pollution levels in zone 2 also are captured by PCA.

Implications: This article describes an urban-scale mobile study to characterize spatial variations in submicrometer particulate matter (PM₁) in greater Houston. The data set indicates substantial spatial variations in PM₁ sources/chemistry and elucidates the importance of photochemistry and nighttime oxidant chemistry in producing secondary PM₁. These results emphasize the potential benefits of effective control strategies throughout the region, not only to reduce primary emissions of PM₁ from automobiles and industry but also to reduce the emissions of important secondary PM₁ precursors, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds. Such efforts also could aid in efforts to reduce mixing ratios of ozone.     

Insights into the nature of secondary organic aerosol in Mexico City during the MILAGRO experiment 2006

This study targets understanding the secondary sources of organic aerosol in Mexico City during the Megacities Impact on Regional and Global Environment (MIRAGE) 2006 field campaign. Ambient PM_2.5 was collected daily at urban and peripheral locations. Particle-phase secondary organic aerosol (SOA) products of anthropogenic and biogenic precursor gases were measured by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Ambient concentrations of SOA tracers were used to estimate organic carbon (OC) from secondary origins (SOC). Anthropogenic SOC was estimated as 20–25% of ambient OC at both sites, while biogenic SOC was less abundant, but was relatively twice as important at the peripheral site. The OC that was not attributed secondary sources or to primary sources in a previous study showed temporal consistency with biomass-burning events, suggesting the importance of secondary processing of biomass-burning emissions in the region. The best estimate of biomass-burning-related SOC was in the range of 20–30% of ambient OC during peak biomass burning events. Low-molecular weight (MW) alkanoic and alkenoic dicarboxylic acids (C₂–C₅) were also measured, of which oxalic acid was the most abundant. The spatial and temporal trends of oxalic acid differed from tracers for primary and secondary sources, suggesting that it had different and/or multiple sources in the atmosphere.     

Nonvolatile,semivolatile, or volatile: Redefining volatile for volatile organic compounds

Although widely used in air quality regulatory frameworks, the term “volatile organic compound” (VOC) is poorly defined. Numerous standardized tests are currently used in regulations to determine VOC content (and thus volatility), but in many cases the tests do not agree with each other, nor do they always accurately represent actual evaporation rates under ambient conditions. The parameters (time, temperature, reference material, column polarity, etc.) used in the definitions and the associated test methods were created without a significant evaluation of volatilization characteristics in real world settings. Not only do these differences lead to varying VOC content results, but occasionally they conflict with one another. An ambient evaporation study of selected compounds and a few formulated products was conducted and the results were compared to several current VOC test methodologies: SCAQMD Method 313 (M313), ASTM Standard Test Method E 1868-10 (E1868), and U.S. EPA Reference Method 24 (M24). The ambient evaporation study showed a definite distinction between nonvolatile, semivolatile, and volatile compounds. Some low vapor pressure (LVP) solvents, currently considered exempt as VOCs by some methods, volatilize at ambient conditions nearly as rapidly as the traditional high-volatility solvents they are meant to replace. Conversely, bio-based and heavy hydrocarbons did not readily volatilize, though they often are calculated as VOCs in some traditional test methods. The study suggests that regulatory standards should be reevaluated to more accurately reflect real-world emission from the use of VOC containing products.

Implications:The definition of VOC in current test methods may lead to regulations that exclude otherwise viable alternatives or allow substitutions of chemicals that may limit the environmental benefits sought in the regulation. A study was conducted to examine volatility of several compounds and a few formulated products under several current VOC test methodologies and ambient evaporation. This paper provides ample evidence to warrant a reevaluation of regulatory standards and provides a framework for progressive developments based on reasonable and scientifically justifiable definitions of VOCs.     

Temporal Variations of PM2.5, PM10, and Gaseous Precursors during the 1995 Integrated Monitoring Study in Central California

ABSTRACT

The spatial and temporal distributions of particle mass and its chemical constituents are essential for understanding the source-receptor relationships as well as the chemical, physical, and meteorological processes that result in elevated particulate concentrations in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Fine particulate matter ₍PM_2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀), and aerosol precursor gases were sampled on a 3-hr time base at two urban (Bakersfield and Fresno) and two non-urban (Kern Wildlife Refuge and Chowchilla) core sites in the SJV during the winter of 1995–1996.

Day-to-day variations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ and their chemical constituents were influenced by the synoptic-scale meteorology and were coherent among the four core sites. Under non-rainy conditions, similar diurnal variations of PM_2.5 and coarse aerosol were found at the two urban sites, with concentrations peaking during the nighttime hours. Conversely, PM_2.5 and coarse aerosol peaked during the morning and afternoon hours at the two non-urban sites. Under rainy and foggy conditions, these diurnal patterns were absent or greatly suppressed.

In the urban areas, elevated concentrations of primary pollutants (e.g., organic and elemental carbons) during the late afternoon and nighttime hours reflected the impact from residential wood combustion and motor vehicle exhaust. During the daytime, these concentrations decreased as the mixed layer deepened. Increases of secondary nitrate and sulfate concentrations were found during the daylight hours as a result of photochemical reactions. At the non-urban sites, the same increases in secondary aerosol concentrations occurred during the daylight hours but with a discernable lag time. Concentrations of the primary pollutants also increased at the non-urban sites during the daytime. These observations are attributed to mixing aloft of primary aerosols and secondary precursor gases in urban areas followed by rapid transport aloft to non-urban areas coupled with photochemical conversion.     

Characterization of organic aerosol in Big Bend National Park,Texas

The Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational (BRAVO) Study was conducted in Big Bend National Park, Texas, July through October 1999. Daily PM_2.5 organic aerosol samples were collected on pre-fired quartz fiber filters. Daily concentrations were too low for detailed organic analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were grouped based on their air mass trajectories. A total of 12 composites, each containing 3–10 daily samples, were analyzed. Alkane carbon preference indices suggest primary biogenic emissions were small contributors to primary PM_2.5 organic matter (OM) during the first 3 months, while in October air masses advecting from the north and south were more strongly influenced by biogenic sources. A series of trace organic compounds previously shown to serve as particle phase tracers for various carbonaceous aerosol source types were examined. Molecular tracer species were generally at or below detection limits, except for the wood smoke tracer levoglucosan in one composite, so maximum possible source influences were calculated using the detection limit as an upper bound to the tracer concentration. Wood smoke was found not to contribute significantly to PM_2.5 OM, with contributions for most samples at <1% of the total organic particulate matter. Vehicular exhaust also appeared to make only minor contributions, with maximum possible influences calculated to be 1–4% of PM_2.5 OM. Several factors indicate that secondary organic aerosol formation was important throughout the study, and may have significantly altered the molecular composition of the aerosol during transport.     

Characterization and source presumption of wintertime submicron organic aerosols at Saitama,Japan, using the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer

The chemical composition and size distribution of submicron aerosols were analyzed at a suburban site at Saitama, Japan, in the winter of 2004/2005, using an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer. Although organics and nitrate were the dominant species during the sampling period, a large fraction of sulfate was observed at the accumulation mode when mass loading was low and wind speed was high. The size distributions of m/z 44 (mostly CO₂⁺) and sulfate aerosols during periods of high wind speed showed remarkable similarities in the accumulation mode, indicating that oxygenated organics were aged aerosols and internally mixed with sulfate. Ozone concentrations were also increased during these high wind speed periods although nighttime (e.g., 12/17 2004), indicating that the oxygenated compounds were strongly influenced by transported and aged air masses. The diurnal profiles of ultrafine-mode organics and hydrocarbon-like organic aerosols (HOA) were similar to NO_X derived from traffic and other combustion sources. The temporal variation of oxygenated organic aerosols (OOA) agreed well with that of nitrate as a secondary aerosol tracer, and the diurnal profile of the OOA fraction of organics increased during the day associated with higher UV light intensity. The result of time and size-resolved chemical composition of submicron particles indicated that the OOA is associated with both photochemical activity and transboundary pollution, and ultrafine-mode organic and HOA aerosols are mainly associated with combustion sources.     

Formation of organic tracers for isoprene SOA under acidic conditions

The chemical compositions of a series of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) samples, formed by irradiating mixtures of isoprene and NO in a smog chamber in the absence or presence of acidic aerosols, were analyzed using derivatization-based GC–MS methods. In addition to the known isoprene photooxidation products 2-methylglyceric acid, 2-methylthreitol, and 2-methylerythritol, three other peaks of note were detected: one of these was consistent with a silylated-derivative of sulfuric acid, while the remaining two were other oxidized organic compounds detected only when acidic aerosol was present. These two oxidation products were also detected in field samples, and their presence was found to be dependent on both the apparent degree of aerosol acidity as well as the availability of isoprene aerosol. The average concentrations of the sum of these two compounds in the ambient PM_2.5 samples ranged from below the GC–MS detection limit during periods when the isoprene emission rate or apparent acidity were low to approximately 200 ng m^?3 (calibrations being based on a surrogate compound) during periods of high isoprene emissions. These compounds presently unidentified have the potential to serve as organic tracers of isoprene SOA formed exclusively in the presence of acidic aerosol and may also be useful in assessments in determining the importance and impact of aerosol acidity on ambient SOA formation.     

Model evidence for a significant source of secondary organic aerosol from isoprene

We investigate how a recently suggested pathway for production of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) affects the consistency of simulated organic aerosol (OA) mass in a global three-dimensional model of oxidant-aerosol chemistry (GEOS-Chem) versus surface measurements from the interagency monitoring of protected visual environments (IMPROVE) network. Simulations in which isoprene oxidation products contribute to SOA formation, with a yield of 2.0% by mass reduce a model bias versus measured OA surface mass concentrations. The resultant increase in simulated OA mass concentrations during summer of 0.6–1.0 μg m⁻³ in the southeastern United States reduces the regional RMSE to 0.88 μg m⁻³ from 1.26 μg m⁻³. Spring and fall biases are also reduced, with little change in winter when isoprene emissions are negligible.     

Secondary organic aerosol formation from the irradiation of simulated automobile exhaust

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the potential for secondary organic aerosol formation from emissions from automotive exhaust. The goal was to determine to what extent photochemical oxidation products of these hydrocarbons contribute to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and how well their formation is described by recently developed models for SOA formation. The quality of a surrogate was tested by comparing its reactivity with that from irradiations of authentic automobile exhaust. Experiments for secondary particle formation using the surrogate were conducted in a fixed volume reactor operated in a dynamic mode. The mass concentration of the aerosol was determined from measurements of organic carbon collected on quartz filters and was corrected for the presence of hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms in the organic species. A functional group analysis of the aerosol made by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated     

Insights into the primary–secondary and regional–local contributions to organic aerosol and PM2.5 mass in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania

This paper presents chemical mass balance (CMB) analysis of organic molecular marker data to investigate the sources of organic aerosol and PM_2.5 mass in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The model accounts for emissions from eight primary source classes, including major anthropogenic sources such as motor vehicles, cooking, and biomass combustion as well as some primary biogenic emissions (leaf abrasion products). We consider uncertainty associated with selection of source profiles, selection of fitting species, sampling artifacts, photochemical aging, and unknown sources. In the context of the overall organic carbon (OC) mass balance, the contributions of diesel, wood-smoke, vegetative detritus, road dust, and coke-oven emissions are all small and well constrained; however, estimates for the contributions of gasoline-vehicle and cooking emissions can vary by an order of magnitude. A best-estimate solution is presented that represents the vast majority of our CMB results; it indicates that primary OC only contributes 27±8% and 50±14% (average±standard deviation of daily estimates) of the ambient OC in the summer and winter, respectively. Approximately two-thirds of the primary OC is transported into Pittsburgh as part of the regional air mass. The ambient OC that is not apportioned by the CMB model is well correlated with secondary organic aerosol (SOA) estimates based on the EC-tracer method and ambient concentrations of organic species associated with SOA. Therefore, SOA appears to be the major component of OC, not only in summer, but potentially in all seasons. Primary OC dominates the OC mass balance on a small number of nonsummer days with high OC concentrations; these events are associated with specific meteorological conditions such as local inversions. Primary particulate emissions only contribute a small fraction of the ambient fine-particle mass, especially in the summer.     

Estimations of primary and secondary organic carbon formation in PM2.5 aerosols of Santiago City,Chile

High concentration of fine airborne particulates is considered one of the major environmental pollutants in Santiago, the Chilean Capital city, which in 1997 was declared a PM₁₀ saturated zone. To date there is no control of the amounts of fine and coarse aerosols concentrations and the source and chemical characterizations of the PM_2.5 particulates in the carbonaceous fractions are not well known even though this fraction could be represented almost the 50% in mass of the PM_2.5.In this work, we present for the first time determinations of primary organic aerosol (POA) and secondary organic aerosol composition (SOA) fractions of the total mass of PM_2.5 particulates collected in the urban atmosphere of Santiago City. Our purpose is to know the anthropogenic contributions to the formation of SOA. To accomplish this we used the elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) determinations developed by automatic monitoring stations installed in the city during the period 2002–2005, with a particular analysis of the summer time occurred in February 2004. Based on the EC tracer method, we have estimated the POA and SOA fraction and our data permit us to estimate the SOA reaching up to 20% of total organic aerosol matter, in good agreement to other measurements observed in large cities of Europe and U.S.A.     

The inportance of organic and elemental carbon in the fine atmospheric aerosol particles

During a field campaign the chemical character of fine (d<2.5 μm) aerosol particles was studied at K-puszta, Hungary within the framework of a project of the European Union. The organic and elemental carbon fraction, as well as the concentration of major inorganic constituents with respect to the total fine aerosol mass are presented in this paper. It was found that organic compounds constituted a significant fraction of the total fine aerosol mass, their contribution is comparable to or larger than that of the major water soluble ions. The diurnal variation of aerosol composition was also studied. It can be concluded that the relative abundance of the major constituents is practically the same during the day and at night. The samples were also classified and studied according to the air mass history. It is stated that the aerosol can be separated into two populations with different regression lines between organic and elemental carbon.     

Apportionment of ambient primary and secondary pollutants during a 2001 summer study in Pittsburgh using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency UNMIX

Apportionment of primary and secondary pollutants during the summer 2001 Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS) is reported. Several sites were included in PAQS, with the main site (the supersite) adjacent to the Carnegie Mellon University campus in Schenley Park. One of the additional sampling sites was located at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, located approximately 18 km southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass, gas-phase volatile organic material (VOM), particulate semivolatile and nonvolatile organic material (NVOM), and ammonium sulfate were apportioned at the two sites into their primary and secondary contributions using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency UNMIX 2.3 multivariate receptor modeling and analysis software. A portion of each of these species was identified as originating from gasoline and diesel primary mobile sources. Some of the organic material was formed from local secondary transformation processes, whereas the great majority of the secondary sulfate was associated with regional transformation contributions. The results indicated that the diurnal patterns of secondary gas-phase VOM and particulate semivolatile and NVOM were not correlated with secondary ammonium sulfate contributions but were associated with separate formation pathways. These findings are consistent with the bulk of the secondary ammonium sulfate in the Pittsburgh area being the result of contributions from distant transport and, thus, decoupled from local activity involving organic pollutants in the metropolitan area.