title: Field study and source attribution for PM2.5 and PM10 with resulting reduction in concentrations in the neighborhood north of the Houston Ship Channel based on voluntary efforts.
abstract: When annual average PM2.5 (fine particulate matter sized 2.5 microns and less) data for 2005 became available in April 2006 and the 3-yr average PM2.5 concentration in an area just north of the Houston Ship Channel reached 15.0 microg/m3, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) initiated daily collection of quartz fiber as well as Teflon PM2.5 filter samples for chemical speciation analysis. The purpose of the chemical speciation analysis was to use the speciation data, together with meteorological data and hourly TEOM (tapered element oscillating microbalance) PM2.5 mass data, to identify the causes of the high PM2.5 concentrations affecting the monitoring site and the neighborhood. The ultimate purpose was to target emission reduction efforts to sources contributing to the high measured PM2.5 concentrations. After a year of data collection, it was recognized that a specific source, unpaved driveways and loading areas along the Ship Channel and dirt tracked onto Clinton Drive, the main artery running east-west north of the Ship Channel, were the primary cause for the Clinton Drive site's measuring PM2.5 concentrations significantly higher than other sites in Houston. The source characterization and remediation steps that have led to sustained reduced concentrations are described in this paper.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Center for Energy and Environmental Resources, 10100 Burnett Rd., Bldg. 133, MC R7100, Austin, TX 78758, USA. sullivan231@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lambeth
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sheedy
authors.forename: Kasey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savanich
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Tropp
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013781:Texas
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter