Source contributions to PM2.5 and PM10 at an urban background and a street location

Abstract

h i g h l i g h t s < Urban PM emissions contribute less than 15% to the urban background. < Factor 2e3 higher EC, heavy metals and re-suspension concentrations in street canyons. < 14 C analysis indicates increasing contribution of biomass and biofuel to EC. C Rotterdam The Netherlands a b s t r a c tThe contribution of regional, urban and traffic sources to PM 2.5 and PM 10 in an urban area was investigated in this study. The chemical composition of PM 2.5 and PM 10 was measured over a year at a street location and up-and down-wind of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The 14 C content in EC and OC concentrations was also determined, to distinguish the contribution from "modern" carbon (e.g., biogenic emissions, biomass burning and wildfires) and fossil fuel combustion. It was concluded that the urban background of PM 2.5 and PM 10 is dominated by the regional background, and that primary and secondary PM emission by urban sources contribute less than 15%. The 14 C analysis revealed that 70% of OC originates from modern carbon and 30% from fossil fuel combustion. The corresponding percentages for EC are, respectively 17% and 83%. It is concluded that in particular the urban population living in street canyons with intense road traffic has potential health risks. This is due to exposure to elevated concentrations of a factor two for EC from exhaust emissions in PM 2.5 and a factor 2e3 for heavy metals from brake and tyre wear, and re-suspended road dust in PM 10 . It follows that local air quality management may focus on local measures to street canyons with intense road traffic.

Heavy metal contamination of topsoil and parts of peach-tree growing at different distances from a smelting complex

“…This supports the conclusion that Cu, Zn and Pb are concentrated in more coarse fractions, which are deposited closer to the emitting source, while As, Cd and Ni could be found in finer fractions, which under the influence of wind can be spread over longer distances. For instance, higher concentrations of Cu and Zn in PM 10 than in PM 2.5 have been confirmed at a street location in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (Keuken et al 2013). Additionally, more than 30 years of air quality control in Bor indicates consistently increased concentrations of As, Cu, Cd and Zn, and periodically increased concentrations of Pb and Ni, in ambient particulate and deposited matter (Dimitrijević et al 2009;Serbula et al 2012;Kovačević et al 2010).…”

Estimation of the direct and indirect impacts of fireworks on the physicochemical characteristics of atmospheric PM&lt;sub&gt;10&lt;/sub&gt; and PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;

“…It is interesting to find a higher percentage of nss Cl − in PM 2.5 (72 %) than in PM 10 (57 %), indicating the stronger influence of anthropogenic emissions on the Cl − in fine PM. This result is reasonable because sea salt contributes a higher fraction to the coarse fraction of PM (Keuken et al, 2013). To investigate the anthropogenic impacts of fireworks, a comparison was conducted between nss ions during the light-firework and heavy-firework periods.…”

Particulate matter, air quality and climate: lessons learned and future needs

“…Similarly, Keuken et al (2013) investigated the contribution of regional, urban and traffic sources to PM 2.5 and PM 10 at a street location and up-and down-wind of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. They concluded from their 1-year study that the urban background of PM 2.5 and PM 10 was dominated by the regional background and that primary and secondary PM emission by urban sources contributed less than 15 %.…”