Source apportionment of secondary airborne particulate matter in a polluted atmosphere.
Secondary airborne particulate matter formed from gas-phase pollutants contributes significantly to the most severe particulate air quality events that occur in the United States each year. In this study, a mechanistic air quality model is demonstrated that can predict source contributions to the size distribution of secondary airborne particulate matter. Calculations performed for a typical air quality episode in Southern California show that NOx released from diesel engines and catalyst-equipped gasoline engines account for the majority of the secondary particulate nitrate aerosol measured at inland locations. NH3 released from catalyst-equipped gasoline engines, farm animals, and residential sources account for the majority of the secondary particulate ammonium ion at inland locations in the region. When both tailpipe and road dust emissions are considered, transportation sources dominate the size distribution of total (primary plus secondary) airborne particulate matter in the South Coast Air Basin during the episode studied. These findings suggest that the public health risk associated with air pollution released from transportation sources is significant relative to other public health threats such as traffic accidents.
Mysliwiec
Mitchell J
MJ
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Kleeman
Michael J
MJ
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D000465:Algorithms; D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D002140:California; D005742:Gasoline / Q000032:analysis; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005742:Gasoline; D009566:Nitrates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013431:Sulfates; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000641:Ammonia