scholarly journals Quantification of secondary organic aerosol in an Australian urban location

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melita Keywood ◽  
Helen Guyes ◽  
Paul Selleck ◽  
Rob Gillett
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Combustion Source ◽  
First Time

Environmental contextParticulate matter is detrimental to human health necessitating air quality standards to ensure that populations are not exposed to harmful levels of air pollutants. We quantified, for the first time in an Australian city, secondary organic aerosol produced in the atmosphere by chemical reactions, and show that it constitutes a significant fraction of the fine particulate matter. Secondary organic aerosol should be considered in regulations to control particulate matter and ozone. AbstractThe contribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to particulate mass (PM) in an Australian urban airshed is quantified for the first time in this work. SOA is estimated indirectly using the elemental carbon tracer method. The contribution of primary organic carbon (OC) to PM is determined using ambient air quality data, which is used to indicate photochemical activity and as a tracer for a general vehicular combustion source. In addition, levoglucosan concentrations were used to determine the contribution of wood heater emissions to primary OC. The contribution of bushfire smoke to primary OC emissions was determined from the organic and elemental carbon (OC/EC) ratios measured in bushfire source samples. The median annual SOA concentration determined in this work was 1.1 µg m–3, representing ~13% of PM2.5 median concentrations on an annual basis (assuming a ratio of organic mass (OM) to OC of 1.6). Significantly higher SOA concentrations were determined when bushfire smoke affected the airshed; however, the SOA fraction of PM2.5 was greatest during the autumn and early winter months when the formation of inversions allows build up of particles produced by domestic wood-heater emissions.

scholarly journals Continuous mapping of fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) air quality in East Asia at daily 6×6 km<sup>2</sup> resolution by application of a random forest algorithm to 2011–2019 GOCI geostationary satellite data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew C. Pendergrass ◽  
Daniel J. Jacob ◽  
Shixian Zhai ◽  
Jhoon Kim ◽  
Ja-Ho Koo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Random Forest ◽  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Population Exposure ◽  
Fine Particulate

Abstract. We use 2011–2019 aerosol optical depth (AOD) observations from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) instrument over East Asia to infer 24-h daily surface fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations at continuous 6x6 km2 resolution over eastern China, South Korea, and Japan. This is done with a random forest (RF) algorithm applied to the gap-filled GOCI AODs and other data and trained with PM2.5 observations from the three national networks. The predicted 24-h PM2.5 concentrations for sites entirely withheld from training in a ten-fold crossvalidation procedure correlate highly with network observations (R2 = 0.89) with single-value precision of 26–32 % depending on country. Prediction of annual mean values has R2 = 0.96 and single-value precision of 12 %. The RF algorithm is only moderately successful for diagnosing local exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) because these exceedances are typically within the single-value precisions of the RF, and also because of RF smoothing of extreme PM2.5 concentrations. The area-weighted and population-weighted trends of RF PM2.5 concentrations for eastern China, South Korea, and Japan show steady 2015–2019 declines consistent with surface networks, but the surface networks in eastern China and South Korea underestimate population exposure. Further examination of RF PM2.5 fields for South Korea identifies hotspots where surface network sites were initially lacking and shows 2015–2019 PM2.5 decreases across the country except for flat concentrations in the Seoul metropolitan area. Inspection of monthly PM2.5 time series in Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo shows that the RF algorithm successfully captures observed seasonal variations of PM2.5 even though AOD and PM2.5 often have opposite seasonalities. Application of the RF algorithm to urban pollution episodes in Seoul and Beijing demonstrates high skill in reproducing the observed day-to-day variations in air quality as well as spatial patterns on the 6 km scale. Comparison to a CMAQ simulation for the Korean peninsula demonstrates the value of the continuous RF PM2.5 fields for testing air quality models, including over North Korea where they offer a unique resource.

scholarly journals In situ, satellite measurement and model evidence on the dominant regional contribution to fine particulate matter levels in the Paris megacity

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (16) ◽  
pp. 9577-9591 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Beekmann ◽  
A. S. H. Prévôt ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
S. N. Pandis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Satellite Measurement ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Wood Burning ◽  
Air Pollution Regulation

Abstract. A detailed characterization of air quality in the megacity of Paris (France) during two 1-month intensive campaigns and from additional 1-year observations revealed that about 70 % of the urban background fine particulate matter (PM) is transported on average into the megacity from upwind regions. This dominant influence of regional sources was confirmed by in situ measurements during short intensive and longer-term campaigns, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from ENVISAT, and modeling results from PMCAMx and CHIMERE chemistry transport models. While advection of sulfate is well documented for other megacities, there was surprisingly high contribution from long-range transport for both nitrate and organic aerosol. The origin of organic PM was investigated by comprehensive analysis of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), radiocarbon and tracer measurements during two intensive campaigns. Primary fossil fuel combustion emissions constituted less than 20 % in winter and 40 % in summer of carbonaceous fine PM, unexpectedly small for a megacity. Cooking activities and, during winter, residential wood burning are the major primary organic PM sources. This analysis suggests that the major part of secondary organic aerosol is of modern origin, i.e., from biogenic precursors and from wood burning. Black carbon concentrations are on the lower end of values encountered in megacities worldwide, but still represent an issue for air quality. These comparatively low air pollution levels are due to a combination of low emissions per inhabitant, flat terrain, and a meteorology that is in general not conducive to local pollution build-up. This revised picture of a megacity only being partially responsible for its own average and peak PM levels has important implications for air pollution regulation policies.

scholarly journals Trend of Particulate Matter PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Dhaka City

1970 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Rouf ◽  
M Nasiruddin ◽  
AMS Hossain ◽  
MS Islam
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Dhaka City ◽  
Monsoon Period ◽  
Pm 2.5 ◽  
Pm 10

Dhaka City has been affecting with severe air pollution particularly by particulate matter. The ambient air quality data for particulate matter were collected during April 2002 to September 2005 at the Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAMS) located at Sangshad Bhaban, Dhaka. Data reveal that the pollution from particulate matter greatly varies with climatic condition. While the level comes down the limit value in the monsoon period (April-October), it goes beyond the limit during non-monsoon time (November-March). The latest data show that during monsoon period PM 10 concentration varies from 50 μg/m3 to 80 μg/m3 and PM 2.5 concentration from 20 μg/m3 to 60 μg/m3 and during non monsoon period PM 10 varies from 100 μg/m3 to 250 μg/m3 and PM 2.5 varies from 70 μg/m3 to 165 μg/m3. The seasonal variation clearly indicates the severe PM 10 pollution during the dry winter season and also sometime during post-monsoon season in Dhaka City. Keywords: Air pollution; PM 2.5; PM 10; Air quality DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i3.9049 BJSIR 2011; 46(3): 389-398

scholarly journals Results of Three Years of Ambient Air Monitoring Near a Petroleum Refinery in Richmond, California, USA

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy P. Sanchez ◽  
Arian Saffari ◽  
Stephanie Barczyk ◽  
Beverly K. Coleman ◽  
Ziad Naufal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Petroleum Refinery ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Criteria Air Pollutants ◽  
Petroleum Refineries

Recent regulatory and legislative developments in the state of California (e.g., Assembly Bill (AB) 1647 and AB 617) will increase the extent of air quality monitoring in communities near petroleum refineries and at facility fencelines. This work reports results over a three-year period for currently-installed community and fenceline air quality monitoring for the Chevron refinery in Richmond, California, USA. This paper presents the most comprehensive air quality dataset that has been published to date for a community near a petroleum refinery, including concentration of different air toxics (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes, etc.) and criteria air pollutants (e.g., ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM)). Instrumental techniques such as ultra-violet differential absorption spectroscopy (UV-DOAS), laser-based spectroscopy and real-time gas chromatography (GC) were used in the community and fenceline monitors. From 2015 to 2017, measured concentrations at community monitors near the Richmond refinery were generally below California thresholds for acute and chronic health (only two exceedances were observed for 8-h average benzene concentrations during the three-year monitoring period). Although more detailed speciation for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) would be needed to confirm certain source profile identities, preliminary application of source apportionment methods indicates the prevalence of typical urban emission profiles, such as from traffic, in the measured community data.

Particulate matter emissions over the oil sands regions in Alberta, Canada

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenyu Xing ◽  
Ke Du
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mining ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Secondary Aerosol

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from the expanded oil sands development in Alberta are becoming a focus among the aerosol science community because of its significant negative impact on the regional air quality and climate change. Open-pit mining, petroleum coke (petcoke) dust, and the transportation of oil sands and waste materials by heavy-duty trucks on unpaved roads could release PM into the air. Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels by engines and stationary boilers leads to the formation of carbonaceous aerosols. In addition, wildfire and biogenic emissions surrounding the oil sands regions also have the potential to contribute primary PM to the ambient air. Secondary organic aerosol formation has been revealed as an important source of PM over nearby and distant areas from the oil sands regions. This review summarizes the primary PM sources and some secondary aerosol formation mechanisms that are linked to oil sands development. It also reviews the approaches that can be applied in aerosol source apportionment. Meteorological condition is an important factor that may influence the primary PM emission and secondary aerosol formation in Alberta’s oil sands regions. Current concern should not be limited to the primary emission of atmospheric PM. Secondary formation of aerosols, especially secondary organic aerosol originating from photochemical reaction, should also be taken into consideration. To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the sources and amount of PM emissions based on the bottom-up emission inventory approach, investigations on how to reduce the uncertainty in determination of real-world PM emission factors for the variable sources are needed. Long-range transport trajectories of fine PM from Alberta’s oil sands regions remain unknown.

scholarly journals Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Ambient Air Quality in Northwest China (NWC)

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 518
Author(s):  
Shah Zaib ◽  
Jianjiang Lu ◽  
Muhammad Zeeshaan Shahid ◽  
Sunny Ahmar ◽  
Imran Shahid
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Coarse Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality Improvement ◽  
Grade Ii

SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in Wuhan (Hubei) in late 2019 and covered the globe by March 2020. To prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, China imposed a countrywide lockdown that significantly improved the air quality. To investigate the collective effect of SARS-CoV-2 on air quality, we analyzed the ambient air quality in five provinces of northwest China (NWC): Shaanxi (SN), Xinjiang (XJ), Gansu (GS), Ningxia (NX) and Qinghai (QH), from January 2019 to December 2020. For this purpose, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) were obtained from the China National Environmental Monitoring Center (CNEMC). In 2020, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 improved by 2.72%, 5.31%, 7.93%, 8.40%, 8.47%, and 2.15%, respectively, as compared with 2019. The PM2.5 failed to comply in SN and XJ; PM10 failed to comply in SN, XJ, and NX with CAAQS Grade II standards (35 µg/m3, 70 µg/m3, annual mean). In a seasonal variation, all the pollutants experienced significant spatial and temporal distribution, e.g., highest in winter and lowest in summer, except O3. Moreover, the average air quality index (AQI) improved by 4.70%, with the highest improvement in SN followed by QH, GS, XJ, and NX. AQI improved in all seasons; significant improvement occurred in winter (December to February) and spring (March to May) when lockdowns, industrial closure etc. were at their peak. The proportion of air quality Class I improved by 32.14%, and the number of days with PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 as primary pollutants decreased while they increased for PM10, CO, and O3 in 2020. This study indicates a significant association between air quality improvement and the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020.

scholarly journals In-situ, satellite measurement and model evidence for a~dominant regional contribution to fine particulate matter levels in the Paris Megacity

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 8647-8686 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Beekmann ◽  
A. S. H. Prévôt ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
S. N. Pandis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Satellite Measurement ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Wood Burning ◽  
Air Pollution Regulation

Abstract. A detailed characterization of air quality in Paris (France), a megacity of more than 10 million inhabitants, during two one month intensive campaigns and from additional one year observations, revealed that about 70% of the fine particulate matter (PM) at urban background is transported on average into the megacity from upwind regions. This dominant influence of regional sources was confirmed by in-situ measurements during short intensive and longer term campaigns, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from ENVISAT, and modeling results from PMCAMx and CHIMERE. While advection of sulfate is well documented for other megacities, there was surprisingly high contribution from long-range transport for both nitrate and organic aerosol. The origin of organic PM was investigated by a comprehensive analysis of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), radiocarbon and tracer measurements during two intensive campaigns. Primary fossil fuel combustion emissions contributed less than 20% in winter and 40% in summer to carbonaceous fine PM, unexpectedly little for a megacity. Cooking activities and, during winter, residential wood burning are the major primary organic PM sources. This analysis suggests that the major part of secondary organic aerosol is of modern origin, i.e. from biogenic precursors and from wood burning. Black carbon concentrations are on the lower end of values encountered in megacities worldwide, but still represent an issue for air quality. These comparatively low air pollution levels are due to a combination of low emissions per inhabitant, flat terrain, and a meteorology that is in general not conducive to local pollution build-up. This revised picture of a megacity only controlling part of its own average and peak PM levels has important implications for air pollution regulation policies.

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