title: Characterization and source apportionment of particulate matter < or = 2.5 micrometer in Sumatra, Indonesia, during a recent peat fire episode.
abstract: An intensive field study was conducted in Sumatra, Indonesia, during a peat fire episode to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of particulate emissions in peat smoke and to provide necessary data for source-receptor analyses. Ambient air sampling was carried out at three different sites located at varying distances from the peatfires to determine changes in mass and number concentrations of PM2.5 and its chemical composition (carbonaceous and nitrogenous materials, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, water-soluble inorganic and organic ions, and total and water-soluble metals). The three sites represent a rural site directly affected by the local peat combustion, a semirural site, and an urban site situated downwind of the peat fires. The mass concentration of PM2.5 and the number concentration of airborne particles were as high as 1600 microg/m3 and 1.7 x 10(5) cm(-3), respectively, in the vicinity of peat fires. The major components of PM2.5 in peat smoke haze were carbonaceous particles, particularly organic carbon, NO3-, and SO4(2-), while the less abundant constituents included ions such as NH4+, NO2-, Na+, K+, organic acids, and metals such as Al, Fe, and Ti. Source apportionment by chemical mass balance receptor modeling indicates that peat smoke can travel long distances and significantly affect the air quality at locations downwind.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Block E5, #02-11, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Siao Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: Rajasekhar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rianawati
authors.forename: Sathrugnan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Streets
mesh_terms: D005390:Fires; D005843:Geography; D007214:Indonesia; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D012987:Soil; D014131:Trace Elements