Ultrafine particle size as a tracer for aircraft turbine emissions

Abstract

Ultrafine particle number (UFPN) and size distributions, black carbon, and nitrogen dioxide concentrations were measured downwind of two of the busiest airports in the world, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL - Atlanta, GA) using a mobile monitoring platform. Transects were located between 5 km and 10 km from the ATL and LAX airports. In addition, measurements were taken at 43 additional urban neighborhood locations in each city and on freeways. We found a 3–5 fold increase in UFPN concentrations in transects under the landing approach path to both airports relative to surrounding urban areas with similar ground traffic characteristics. The latter UFPN concentrations measured were distinct in size distributional properties from both freeways and across urban neighborhoods, clearly indicating different sources. Elevated concentrations of Black Carbon (BC) and NO2 were also observed on airport transects, and the corresponding pattern of elevated BC was consistent with the observed excess UFPN concentrations relative to other urban locations.

Nonvolatile Particulate Matter Emissions of a Business Jet Measured at Ground Level and Estimated for Cruising Altitudes

“…5,6 Aviation nvPM emissions absorb solar radiation, affect cloud formation, and deteriorate air quality at airports and in nearby communities. 3,4,[7][8][9][10][11] Due to their potential health and climate impacts, various research programs have focused on characterization of particle emissions from aircraft engines, development of measurement techniques and predictive models for estimating aviation nvPM emissions. [12][13][14][15][16][17] Recent research has been motivated also by the development of a certification standard for nvPM emissions of new commercial aircraft turbine engines.…”

Occupational Fine/Ultrafine Particles and Noise Exposure in Aircraft Personnel Operating in Airport Taxiway

“…Several studies have identified civil and military aircraft activity as a potential source of particulate matter emission near airport zones [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In particular, it was highlighted that aircraft activity could contribute to increasing the levels of fine and ultrafine particles (UFPs) in the surrounding environment, with potential effects on the health of the population in the vicinity of the emission source [8][9][10][11].…”

Preterm Birth among Infants Exposed to in Utero Ultrafine Particles from Aircraft Emissions

“…However, the smaller UFPs that are transported downward from this elevated source spend even less time interacting with potentially higher concentrations of existing particles that occur at ground level, such as those found on or near major roadways. It is therefore not surprising that the typical size of these UFPs in the downwind footprint shown in Figure 2 are typically very small 10-30 nm, indicating minimal coagulation losses (Hudda and Fruin 2016;Hudda et al 2014;Riley et al 2016;Shirmohammadi et al 2016). Furthermore, due to the consistency of daytime onshore breeze directions at LAX, the location of elevated, ground-level UFPs concentrations downwind and to the east of LAX is very stable (Hudda and Fruin 2016;Hudda et al 2014), producing relatively large contrasts in concentrations between residences inside the area of impact in comparison with those located outside.…”

“…Recent studies report adverse air quality impacts from landing jets over large areas downwind of major airports (Hudda et al , 2018(Hudda et al , 2014Keuken et al 2015;Masiol et al 2017bMasiol et al , 2017aRiley et al 2016). For example, jets approaching Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, produce ground-level UFP concentrations more than twice the nearby ambient levels at distances up to 16 km away from the airport (Hudda et al 2014).…”