title: Chemical characterization of outdoor and subway fine (PM(2.5-1.0)) and coarse (PM(10-2.5)) particulate matter in Seoul (Korea) by computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM).
abstract: Outdoor and indoor (subway) samples were collected by passive sampling in urban Seoul (Korea) and analyzed with computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (CCSEM-EDX). Soil/road dust particles accounted for 42%-60% (by weight) of fine particulate matter larger than 1 µm (PM(2.5-1.0)) in outdoor samples and 18% of PM2.5-1.0 in subway samples. Iron-containing particles accounted for only 3%-6% in outdoor samples but 69% in subway samples. Qualitatively similar results were found for coarse particulate matter (PM(10-2.5)) with soil/road dust particles dominating outdoor samples (66%-83%) and iron-containing particles contributing most to subway PM(10-2.5) (44%). As expected, soil/road dust particles comprised a greater mass fraction of PM(10-2.5) than PM(2.5-1.0). Also as expected, the mass fraction of iron-containing particles was substantially less in PM(10-2.5) than in PM(2.5-1.0). Results of this study are consistent with known emission sources in the area and with previous studies, which showed high concentrations of iron-containing particles in the subway compared to outdoor sites. Thus, passive sampling with CCSEM-EDX offers an inexpensive means to assess PM(2.5-1.0) and PM(10-2.5) simultaneously and by composition at multiple locations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 136-703, Korea. shbyeon@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.affiliation: National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA. willis.robert@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, 100 Oakdale Campus, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. thomas-m-peters@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011890:Railroads; D066106:Seoul; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter; D007501:Iron