Comparison of spatial and temporal variations in p-PAH, BC, and p-PAH/BC ratio in six US counties

Inkyu Han; Juan P. Ramos-Bonilla; Ana M. Rule; Jana N. Mihalic; Lisa M. Polyak; Patrick N. Breysse; Alison S. Geyh

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.10.042

Comparison of spatial and temporal variations in p-PAH, BC, and p-PAH/BC ratio in six US counties

Inkyu Han, Juan P. Ramos-Bonilla, Ana M. Rule, Jana N. Mihalic, Lisa M. Polyak, Patrick N. Breysse, Alison S. Geyh

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

An ambient air monitoring campaign was performed in six counties (Sacramento, CA; Maricopa, AZ; Anoka, MN; Jefferson, KY; Harris, TX; and Pinellas, FL) between January 2008 and September 2009. The purpose of this paper is to compare the spatial and temporal variability of black carbon (BC) and particlebound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p-PAHs), across these counties using continuous monitoring instruments - an Aethalometer and a Photoelectric Aerosol Sensor reporting in units of mg m^-3 and fA, respectively. We explored temporal trends in these measurements to assess the potential impact of local combustion sources on air quality. Median BC concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 0.53 μg m^-3; and median p-PAH values ranged from 0.31 to 4.18 fA. Hourly BC and p-PAH were elevated during morning rush hour and rapidly decreased later in the morning. Night-time increases in BC and p-PAH were also observed in most counties. Diurnal patterns of BC and p-PAH were different on weekdays compared to weekends. Profiles of hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC in combination with meteorological data can provide insight into potential sources across the sites. Hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC which peaked during early morning and late afternoon hours suggest a dominating contribution of motor vehicle sources in four of the six counties. In two counties, hourly ratios remained elevated for several hours after rush hour and did not show a distinctive peak suggesting additional sources of BC and p-PAH. Such profiles were seen in both Jefferson KY and Harris TX, and may be attributed to coal combustion, petro-chemical industry and shipping activities, respectively. These results suggest that measurements of BC and p-PAH, combined with meteorological information and emission data are potentially useful to identify combustion sources impacting air quality. More research combining BC and p-PAH measurements with detailed source apportionment data is needed to more fully evaluate the utility of these real-time measures.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	7644-7652
Number of pages	9
Journal	Atmospheric Environment
Volume	45
Issue number	40
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.10.042
State	Published - Dec 2011

Keywords

Black carbon
Combustion source
Particle-bound PAH
Ratio
Spatial variability
Temporal variability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Environmental Science
Atmospheric Science

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10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.10.042

Cite this

@article{2634ef573d484187b97f63a1320523a1,

title = "Comparison of spatial and temporal variations in p-PAH, BC, and p-PAH/BC ratio in six US counties",

abstract = "An ambient air monitoring campaign was performed in six counties (Sacramento, CA; Maricopa, AZ; Anoka, MN; Jefferson, KY; Harris, TX; and Pinellas, FL) between January 2008 and September 2009. The purpose of this paper is to compare the spatial and temporal variability of black carbon (BC) and particlebound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p-PAHs), across these counties using continuous monitoring instruments - an Aethalometer and a Photoelectric Aerosol Sensor reporting in units of mg m-3 and fA, respectively. We explored temporal trends in these measurements to assess the potential impact of local combustion sources on air quality. Median BC concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 0.53 μg m-3; and median p-PAH values ranged from 0.31 to 4.18 fA. Hourly BC and p-PAH were elevated during morning rush hour and rapidly decreased later in the morning. Night-time increases in BC and p-PAH were also observed in most counties. Diurnal patterns of BC and p-PAH were different on weekdays compared to weekends. Profiles of hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC in combination with meteorological data can provide insight into potential sources across the sites. Hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC which peaked during early morning and late afternoon hours suggest a dominating contribution of motor vehicle sources in four of the six counties. In two counties, hourly ratios remained elevated for several hours after rush hour and did not show a distinctive peak suggesting additional sources of BC and p-PAH. Such profiles were seen in both Jefferson KY and Harris TX, and may be attributed to coal combustion, petro-chemical industry and shipping activities, respectively. These results suggest that measurements of BC and p-PAH, combined with meteorological information and emission data are potentially useful to identify combustion sources impacting air quality. More research combining BC and p-PAH measurements with detailed source apportionment data is needed to more fully evaluate the utility of these real-time measures.",

keywords = "Black carbon, Combustion source, Particle-bound PAH, Ratio, Spatial variability, Temporal variability",

author = "Inkyu Han and Ramos-Bonilla, {Juan P.} and Rule, {Ana M.} and Mihalic, {Jana N.} and Polyak, {Lisa M.} and Breysse, {Patrick N.} and Geyh, {Alison S.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported in part by EPA {\textquoteright}s grant # RD83241701 . Data management of p-PAH and BC was conducted by Diane Levy, Columbia University supported by NIEHS ( ES009089 ). We would like to thank all local agencies and managers who made this work possible: Ken Lashbrook and John Ching (SMAQMD), Randy Redman (MAQD) and Ben Davis (ADEQ), Rick Strassman (MPCA), Earle Wright and Marc Wooten (TCEQ), and Thomas Stringfellow (PDEM) and Larry Garrison (LMAPCD). Funding Information: Although the research described in this manuscript has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through grant/cooperative agreement # RD-83241701 to Dr. Patrick Breysse, it has not been subjected to the Agency{\textquoteright}s required peer and policy review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred. ",

year = "2011",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.10.042",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "45",

pages = "7644--7652",

journal = "Atmospheric Environment",

issn = "1352-2310",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

number = "40",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparison of spatial and temporal variations in p-PAH, BC, and p-PAH/BC ratio in six US counties

AU - Han, Inkyu

AU - Ramos-Bonilla, Juan P.

AU - Rule, Ana M.

AU - Mihalic, Jana N.

AU - Polyak, Lisa M.

AU - Breysse, Patrick N.

AU - Geyh, Alison S.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported in part by EPA ’s grant # RD83241701 . Data management of p-PAH and BC was conducted by Diane Levy, Columbia University supported by NIEHS ( ES009089 ). We would like to thank all local agencies and managers who made this work possible: Ken Lashbrook and John Ching (SMAQMD), Randy Redman (MAQD) and Ben Davis (ADEQ), Rick Strassman (MPCA), Earle Wright and Marc Wooten (TCEQ), and Thomas Stringfellow (PDEM) and Larry Garrison (LMAPCD). Funding Information: Although the research described in this manuscript has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through grant/cooperative agreement # RD-83241701 to Dr. Patrick Breysse, it has not been subjected to the Agency’s required peer and policy review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.

PY - 2011/12

Y1 - 2011/12

N2 - An ambient air monitoring campaign was performed in six counties (Sacramento, CA; Maricopa, AZ; Anoka, MN; Jefferson, KY; Harris, TX; and Pinellas, FL) between January 2008 and September 2009. The purpose of this paper is to compare the spatial and temporal variability of black carbon (BC) and particlebound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p-PAHs), across these counties using continuous monitoring instruments - an Aethalometer and a Photoelectric Aerosol Sensor reporting in units of mg m-3 and fA, respectively. We explored temporal trends in these measurements to assess the potential impact of local combustion sources on air quality. Median BC concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 0.53 μg m-3; and median p-PAH values ranged from 0.31 to 4.18 fA. Hourly BC and p-PAH were elevated during morning rush hour and rapidly decreased later in the morning. Night-time increases in BC and p-PAH were also observed in most counties. Diurnal patterns of BC and p-PAH were different on weekdays compared to weekends. Profiles of hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC in combination with meteorological data can provide insight into potential sources across the sites. Hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC which peaked during early morning and late afternoon hours suggest a dominating contribution of motor vehicle sources in four of the six counties. In two counties, hourly ratios remained elevated for several hours after rush hour and did not show a distinctive peak suggesting additional sources of BC and p-PAH. Such profiles were seen in both Jefferson KY and Harris TX, and may be attributed to coal combustion, petro-chemical industry and shipping activities, respectively. These results suggest that measurements of BC and p-PAH, combined with meteorological information and emission data are potentially useful to identify combustion sources impacting air quality. More research combining BC and p-PAH measurements with detailed source apportionment data is needed to more fully evaluate the utility of these real-time measures.

AB - An ambient air monitoring campaign was performed in six counties (Sacramento, CA; Maricopa, AZ; Anoka, MN; Jefferson, KY; Harris, TX; and Pinellas, FL) between January 2008 and September 2009. The purpose of this paper is to compare the spatial and temporal variability of black carbon (BC) and particlebound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p-PAHs), across these counties using continuous monitoring instruments - an Aethalometer and a Photoelectric Aerosol Sensor reporting in units of mg m-3 and fA, respectively. We explored temporal trends in these measurements to assess the potential impact of local combustion sources on air quality. Median BC concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 0.53 μg m-3; and median p-PAH values ranged from 0.31 to 4.18 fA. Hourly BC and p-PAH were elevated during morning rush hour and rapidly decreased later in the morning. Night-time increases in BC and p-PAH were also observed in most counties. Diurnal patterns of BC and p-PAH were different on weekdays compared to weekends. Profiles of hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC in combination with meteorological data can provide insight into potential sources across the sites. Hourly ratios of p-PAH/BC which peaked during early morning and late afternoon hours suggest a dominating contribution of motor vehicle sources in four of the six counties. In two counties, hourly ratios remained elevated for several hours after rush hour and did not show a distinctive peak suggesting additional sources of BC and p-PAH. Such profiles were seen in both Jefferson KY and Harris TX, and may be attributed to coal combustion, petro-chemical industry and shipping activities, respectively. These results suggest that measurements of BC and p-PAH, combined with meteorological information and emission data are potentially useful to identify combustion sources impacting air quality. More research combining BC and p-PAH measurements with detailed source apportionment data is needed to more fully evaluate the utility of these real-time measures.

KW - Black carbon

KW - Combustion source

KW - Particle-bound PAH

KW - Ratio

KW - Spatial variability

KW - Temporal variability

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VL - 45

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JO - Atmospheric Environment

JF - Atmospheric Environment

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ER -

Comparison of spatial and temporal variations in p-PAH, BC, and p-PAH/BC ratio in six US counties

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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