Levels of particulate air pollution, its elemental composition, determinants and health effects in metro systems

Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark; Gómez-Perales, J.E.; Colvile, R.N.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.08.002

Cited by 205 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Previous attempts to assess the environmental conditions in the subway system have focused on the concentration and chemical composition of PM, with contradictory results (Aarnio et al, 2005;Boudia et al, 2006;Chillrud et al, 2004;Guo et al, 2014;Karlsson et al, 2005;Lu et al, 2015;Salma et al, 2007;Gómez-Perales et al, 2007;Querol et al, 2012) attributed to the different designs of the subway systems (Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Granulometric and magnetic properties of deposited particles in the Beijing subway and the implications for air quality management

Cui

Zhou

Dearing

2016

Science of The Total Environment

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The subway system is an important traffic facility in Beijing and its internal air quality is an environmental issue that could potentially affect millions of people every day. Due to the intrinsic nature of rail abrasion in subway tunnels, iron-containing particles can be generated and become suspended in the subway environment. While some studies (e.g. Li et al., 2006) have monitored the in-train levels of PM2.5s (particles < 2.5 μm), there is a lack of systematic assessment of the concentration and characteristics of iron-containing particles in the Beijing subway system. Here we report results of a study on the granulometric and magnetic properties of particulate samples collected at different localities of the Beijing subway system. Our results show that the subway samples are characterized by the presence of very fine particles. Volume proportions of 6.1 ± 1.3 % for PM2.5s and 27.5 ± 6.1 % for PM10s (particles < 10 μm) are found in the bulk subway particulate samples. These samples exhibit a strong magnetic signal, which is approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that in naturally deposited particles collected in Beijing. Fine grained ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic minerals (e.g. iron and magnetite, respectively) are identified from mineral magnetic measurements and scanning electric microscopy. The samples collected from the Beijing stations with platform screen doors are found to be magnetically stronger and finer than those without them, suggesting that platform screen doors have failed to block the fine iron-containing particulate matters released from the rail tunnel. Given the potential health consequences of fine suspended ironcontaining particles, our results have important implications for air quality management in the Beijing subway system. We here submit a manuscript entitled "Granulometric and magnetic properties of particulate matter in the Beijing subway and the implications for air quality management". This work reports our finding of very fine particle matters in the Beijing subway environment, which are characterized by distinctly strong magnetic signals compared to those in naturally deposited particles. We also found variation of magnetic PM in the subway environment with platform screen door designs.Considering the potential health consequences of fine suspended iron-containing particles identified with magnetic techniques, our results not only have important implications for air quality management in the Beijing subway system but also demonstrate a new way of assessing environmental quality in metropolitan cities with subways.Thank you for your consideration. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 2 ABSTRACT The subway system is an important traffic facility in Beijing and its internal air quality is an environmental issue that could potentially affect mill...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Granulometric and magnetic properties of deposited particles in the Beijing subway and the implications for air quality management

Cui

Zhou

Dearing

2016

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Some of the iron that can be expected in our monitoring locations, such as iron originated in car brakes, is originally in metallic form, which cannot catalyse the Fenton reaction. However, iron in particulates oxidizes quickly after emission, as has been observed for particles emitted from car [21] and train [22] brakes. The higher abundance of iron outdoors might explain the higher DP loss observed in outdoor samples such as the Apsley House window.…”

Section: Fig 2 Deposition Measurements Accumulation Of Particles Pementioning

confidence: 95%

The effect of particulate matter on paper degradation

Grau-Bové

Budič²,

Cigić

et al. 2016

Herit Sci

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Background: In this work we explore the chemical effects of particulate matter on paper. We exposed paper made of pure cellulose to the environment in different locations in central London, outdoors (in sheltered conditions) and indoors, for a period of up to 6 months. We monitored particulate matter (PM) deposition by counting the particles deposited every month with a scanning electron microscope. We analysed elemental composition of the deposited particles using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. After accelerated degradation of the exposed samples, we determined the degree of polymerisation using viscometry. Results:We observed higher deposition rates and higher metal concentration outdoors than indoors. Elemental analysis of the deposited particles revealed the presence of some transition metals (Fe, Cu, Cr) that can contribute to the degradation of cellulose fibres through the Fenton reaction. By comparing the degree of polymerisation of protected, unprotected and unexposed samples we could determine the relative contribution of PM deposition on the increase of the degradation rate. We found that the surface concentration of iron correlates with the reduction in the degree of polymerisation of the exposed paper. Conclusions:The results suggest that the presence of Fenton metals in PM has a significant effect on the acceleration of the degradation of cellulose. However, we estimate that this will unlikely occur at the levels of area coverage by PM that are typically avoided in indoor heritage through preventive maintenance and cleaning.

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“…The actual ventilation arises as a consequence of the interaction of ventilation system design, supply air, enclosure design, tunnel and train design, and climatic conditions. Furthermore, meteorological conditions, instrument specifications and characteristics, and measurement techniques are additional factors that influence the outcome of measurements for both exhaust and non-exhaust emissions (Maricq, 2007;Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2007;EPA RIN 2060-AM06, 2008Salma, 2009;Abbasi et al, 2012a). It is very important that researchers consider all of those effective factors in the future field studies or laboratory tests and report them in their work in order to achieve more repeatable and applicable results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover for particle concentrations also ventilation conditions largely determine concentration levels. Furthermore, meteorological conditions, instrument characteristics, and measurement techniques are additional factors that influence the outcome of measurements for both exhaust and non-exhaust emissions (Maricq, 2007;Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2007;EPA RIN 2060-AM06, 2008Salma, 2009;Abbasi et al, 2012a).…”

Section: Particle Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle Emissions From Rail Traffic: A Literature Review

Abbasi

Jansson

Sellgren

et al. 2013

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology

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Particle emissions are a drawback of rail transport. This work is a comprehensive presentation of recent research into particle emissions from rail vehicles. Both exhaust and non-exhaust particle emissions are considered when examining particle characteristics such as PM 10 , and PM 2.5 concentration levels, size, morphology, composition, as well as adverse health effects, current legislation, and available and proposed solutions for reducing such emissions. High concentration levels in enclosed rail traffic environments are reported and some toxic effects of the particles. We find that only a few limited studies have examined the adverse health effects of non-exhaust particle emissions and that no relevant legislation exists. Thus further research in this area is warranted.

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Levels of particulate air pollution, its elemental composition, determinants and health effects in metro systems

Cited by 205 publications

References 32 publications

Granulometric and magnetic properties of deposited particles in the Beijing subway and the implications for air quality management

Granulometric and magnetic properties of deposited particles in the Beijing subway and the implications for air quality management

The effect of particulate matter on paper degradation

Particle Emissions From Rail Traffic: A Literature Review

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