Size-segregated emissions and metal content of vehicle-emitted particles as a function of mileage: Implications to population exposure.
The study aims at investigating the characteristics (size distribution, active surface and metal content) of particles emitted by cars as a function of mileage using a novel methodology for characterizing particulate emissions captured by Exhaust Gas Suspension (EGS). EGS was obtained by passing the exhaust gases through a container of deionized water. EGS analysis was performed using laser granulometry, electron scanning microscopy, and high resolution mass spectrometry. Implications of the differences in key features of the emitted particles on population exposure were investigated using numerical simulation for estimating size-segregated PM deposition across human respiratory tract (HRT). It was found that vehicle mileage, age and the respective emissions class have almost no effect on the size distribution of the exhaust gas particulate released into the environment; about half of the examined vehicles with low mileage were found to release particles of aerodynamic diameter above 10 μm. The exhaust gas particulate detected in the EGS of all cars can be classified into three major size classes: (1) 0.1-5 µm - soot and ash particles, metals (Au, Pt, Pd, Ir); (2) 10-30 µm - metal (Cr, Fe, Cu, Zr, Ni) and ash particles; (3) 400-1,000 µm - metal (Fe, Cr, Pb) and ash particles. Newer vehicles with low mileage are substantial sources of soot and metal particles with median diameter of 200 nm with a higher surface area (up to 89,871.16 cm(2)/cm(3)). These tend to deposit in the lower part of the human respiratory tract.
Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
Kirill S
KS
Golokhvast
Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
Valery V
VV
Chernyshev
Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
Vladimir V
VV
Chaika
Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
Sergey M
SM
Ugay
National Research Irkutsk State Technical University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
Elena V
EV
Zelinskaya
University of Crete, Medical School, Department of Toxicology and Forensic Science, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Aristidis M
AM
Tsatsakis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Spyros P
SP
Karakitsios
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: denis@eng.auth.gr.
Denis A
DA
Sarigiannis
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004782:Environmental Health; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000592:standards; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012426:Russia; D013499:Surface Properties; D014507:Urbanization; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
Diesel; Exhaust; Gasoline; Human respiratory tract deposition; Microparticles; Mileage; Ultrafine particles