PM(2.5) source profiles for black and organic carbon emission inventories

Emission inventories for black or elemental (BC or EC) and organic (OC) carbon can be derived by multiplying PM(2.5) emission estimates by mass fractions of these species in representative source profiles. This study examines the variability of source profiles and its effect on EC emission estimates. An examination of available profiles shows that EC and OC ranged from 6-13% and 35-40% for agricultural burning, 4-33% and 22-68% for residential wood combustion, 6-38% and 24-75% for on-road gasoline vehicles, and 33-74% and 20-47% for on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles, respectively. Source profiles from the U.S. EPA SPECIATE data base were applied to PM(2.5) emissions from the U.S. EPA National Emissions Inventory for 2005. The total estimated EC emissions of 432 Gg yr(-1) was apportioned as 42.5% from biomass burning, 35.4% from non-road mobile sources, 15% from on-road mobile sources, 5.4% from fossil fuel (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas) combustion in stationary sources, 1% from other stationary industrial sources, and 0.5% from fugitive dust. Considering the variability in available source profiles, BC emission estimates for major sources such as open fires and non-road diesels ranged from 42 to 133 (a factor of 3) and 25 to 100 (a factor of 4) Gg yr(-1), respectively. The choice of source profiles can be a major source of uncertainty in national and global BC/EC emission inventories.</p

Aerosol and Air Toxics Exposure in El Paso, Texas: A Pilot Study

The Paso del Norte (PdN) region is one of the largest metropolitan areas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Different emission regulations between the two countries, particularly with respect to on-road vehicle and domestic burning, have impacted the regional concentration and human exposure of air toxics (e. g., metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], and carbonyls). Comprehensive air quality measurements were conducted using a mobile monitoring system at two urban-scale sites within El Paso, Texas in December 2008 as a pilot study to understand aerosol and air toxics exposure and sources in the PdN region. The measurements show clear diurnal variations due to traffic emissions and a major pollution episode likely caused by both motor vehicles and domestic burning. Wind analysis further confirms the importance of cross-border transport on elevated pollutant concentrations at the monitoring sites. The traffic-dominated periods are characterized by high fractions of black carbon, particle-bound PAHs (p-PAHs), and carbonyls in comparison with dust-related periods. During the particular pollution episode, high levels of elemental chlorine and vinyl chloride were observed that might relate to unregulated domestic burning of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. Although most pollution indicators show a substantial improvement in air quality over the last decade, short-term exposure to some p-PAHs, e.g., benzo[a] pyrene, is still close to the health effects screening level. Bi-national efforts are required to further reduce air toxics emissions.</p

Quality assurance and quality control for thermal/optical analysis of aerosol samples for organic and elemental carbon

Accurate, precise, and valid organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC, respectively) measurements require more effort than the routine analysis of ambient aerosol and source samples. This paper documents the quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures that should be implemented to ensure consistency of OC and EC measurements. Prior to field sampling, the appropriate filter substrate must be selected and tested for sampling effectiveness. Unexposed filters are pre-fired to remove contaminants and acceptance tested. After sampling, filters must be stored in the laboratory in clean, labeled containers under refrigeration (&lt; 4 A degrees C) to minimize loss of semi-volatile OC. QA activities include participation in laboratory accreditation programs, external system audits, and interlaboratory comparisons. For thermal/optical carbon analyses, periodic QC tests include calibration of the flame ionization detector with different types of carbon standards, thermogram inspection, replicate analyses, quantification of trace oxygen concentrations (&lt; 100 ppmv) in the helium atmosphere, and calibration of the sample temperature sensor. These established QA/QC procedures are applicable to aerosol sampling and analysis for carbon and other chemical components.</p

Elemental and morphological analyses of filter tape deposits from a beta attenuation monitor

An hourly average PM10 concentration of 1402 mu g m(-3) was registered at 1400 Pacific Standard Time (PST), 1/11/2007, on the beta attenuation monitor (BAM) at a North Las Vegas, Nevada sampling site. The high PM10 concentration at similar to 1245-similar to 1331 PST was a microscale event, limited strictly to the PM10 sampler; it did not affect the adjacent PM2.5 concentrations. A method was developed for retrospective compositional analysis of BAM glass-fiber filter tape sample deposits. Sample punches were submitted for optical examination, followed by elemental and morphological analyses with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses, respectively. Geological samples surrounding the sampling site were acquired to establish source profiles and identify source markers. Although blank levels for many elements were high on the glass-fiber filter tape from the BAM, they were consistent enough to allow background subtraction from the deposit concentrations for most chemical components. Chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model source apportionment for the event closely matched the paved road dust sample collected adjacent to the sampling site. It is likely that this high mass event was the result of environmental vandalism. This study demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing BAM filter tape deposits for source attribution, especially for short-duration fugitive dust events. Filter tapes should be time-stamped and immediately retained after an event for future analysis.</p

Source apportionment of atmospheric particulate carbon in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

A study was conducted to quantify wintertime contributions of source types to carbonaceous PM2.5 at four urban sites in the Las Vegas Valley, one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the southwestern United States. Twenty-four hour average ambient samples were collected for mass, ions, elements, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and trace organic markers analysis. Additional measurements were made to determine diurnal patterns in light-absorbing black carbon (BC) as a marker for combustion sources. Carbonaceous PM sources of on-road gasoline vehicles, on-road diesel vehicles, and off-road diesel engines were characterized with their chemical profiles, as well as fuel-based emission factors, using an In-Plume Sampling System. The Effective Variance Chemical Mass Balance (EV-CMB) source apportionment model was applied to the ambient samples collected, using source profiles developed in this study as well as profiles from other relevant studies. Four main sources contributed to PM2.5 carbon within the Las Vegas Valley: (1) paved road dust, (2) on-road gasoline vehicles, (3) residential wood combustion, and (4) on-road diesel vehicles. CMB estimated that on-road mixed fleet gasoline vehicles are the largest source for OC and EC at all the sites. The contribution of paved road dust to both OC and EC was 5-10% at the four sites. On-road diesel vehicles contribute 22% of the OC and 34% of the EC at a site near the city center, which is located immediately downwind of a major freeway. Residential wood combustion is a more important source than on-road diesel vehicles for two residential neighborhood sites. These results are consistent with our conceptual model, and the research methodology may be applied to studying other urban areas.</p

Long-Term Trends in Visibility and at Chengdu, China

Long-term (1973 to 2010) trends in visibility at Chengdu, China were investigated using meteorological data from the U.S. National Climatic Data Center. The visual range exhibited a declining trend before 1982, a slight increase between 1983 and 1995, a sharp decrease between 1996 and 2005, and some improvements after 2006. The trends in visibility were generally consistent with the economic development and implementation of pollution controls in China. Intensive PM2.5 measurements were conducted from 2009 to 2010 to determine the causes of visibility degradation. An analysis based on a modification of the IMPROVE approach indicated that PM2.5 ammonium bisulfate contributed 27.7% to the light extinction coefficient (bext); this was followed by organic mass (21.7%), moisture (20.6%), and ammonium nitrate (16.3%). Contributions from elemental carbon (9.4%) and soil dust (4.3%) were relatively minor. Anthropogenic aerosol components (sulfate, nitrate, and elemental carbon) and moisture at the surface also were important determinants of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm, and the spatial distributions of both bext and AOD were strongly affected by regional topography. A Positive Matrix Factorization receptor model suggested that coal combustion was the largest contributor to PM2.5 mass (42.3%) and the dry-air light-scattering coefficient (47.7%); this was followed by vehicular emissions (23.4% and 20.5%, respectively), industrial emissions (14.9% and 18.8%), biomass burning (12.8% and 11.9%), and fugitive dust (6.6% and 1.1%). Our observations provide a scientific basis for improving visibility in this area.</p