Measuring particle size distribution and mass concentration of nanoplastics and microplastics: addressing some analytical challenges in the sub-micron size range

Abstract. Particle size distribution (size-range 3–900 nm) and PM10 was measured simultaneously at an urban background station in Copenhagen, a near-city background and a rural location during a period in September-November 2002. The study investigates the contribution from urban versus regional sources of particle number and mass concentration. The total particle number (ToN) and NOx are well correlated at the urban and near-city level and show a distinct diurnal variation, indicating the common traffic source. The average ToN at the three stations differs by a factor of 3. The observed concentrations are 2500 # cm−3, 4500 # cm−3 and 7700 # cm−3 at rural, near-city and urban level, respectively. PM10 and total particle volume (ToV) are well correlated between the three different stations and show similar concentration levels, in average within 30% relative difference, indicating a common source from long-range transport that dominates the concentrations at all locations. Measures to reduce the local urban emissions of NOx and ToN are likely to affect both the street level and urban background concentrations, while for PM10 and ToV only measurable effects at the street level are probable. Taking into account the supposed stronger health effects of ultrafine particles reduction measures should address particle number emissions. The traffic source contributes strongest in the 10–200 nm particle size range. The maximum of the size distribution shifts from about 20–30 nm at kerbside to 50–60 nm at rural level. We also observe particle formation events in the 3–20 nm size range at rural location in the afternoon hours, mainly under conditions with low concentrations of pre-existing aerosol particles. The maximum in the size distribution of the "traffic contribution" seems to be shifted to about 28 nm in the urban location compared to 22 nm at kerbside. Assuming NOx as an inert tracer on urban scale let us estimate that ToN at urban level is reduced by 15–30% compared to kerbside. Particle removal processes, e.g. deposition and coagulation, which are most efficient for smallest particle sizes (<20 nm) and condensational growth are likely mechanisms for the loss of particle number and the shift in particle size.

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Particle size distribution and particle mass measurements at urban,near-city and rural level in the Copenhagen area and Southern Sweden

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-4-281-2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 281-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

M. Ketzel ◽

P. Wåhlin ◽

A. Kristensson ◽

E. Swietlicki ◽

R. Berkowicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Particle Number ◽

Size Range ◽

Urban Background ◽

Rural Location ◽

Total Particle ◽

Urban Level ◽

Traffic Source

Abstract. Particle size distribution (size-range 3-900nm) and PM10 was measured simultaneously at an urban background station in Copenhagen, a near-city background and a rural location during a period in September-November 2002. The study investigates the contribution from urban versus regional sources of particle number and mass concentration. The total particle number (ToN) and NOx are well correlated at the urban and near-city level and show a distinct diurnal variation, indicating the common traffic source. The average ToN at the three stations differs by a factor of 3. The observed concentrations are 2500#cm, 4500#cm and 7700#cm at rural, near-city and urban level, respectively. PM10 and total particle volume (ToV) are well correlated between the three different stations and show similar concentration levels, in average within 30% relative difference, indicating a common source from long-range transport that dominates the concentrations at all locations. Measures to reduce the local urban emissions of NOx and ToN are likely to affect both the street level and urban background concentrations, while for PM10 and ToV only measurable effects at the street level are probable. Taking into account the supposed stronger health effects of ultrafine particles reduction measures should address particle number emissions. The traffic source contributes strongest in the 10-200nm particle size range. The maximum of the size distribution shifts from about 20-30nm at kerbside to 50-60nm at rural level. Particle formation events were observed in the 3-20nm size range at rural location in the afternoon hours, mainly under conditions with low concentrations of pre-existing aerosol particles. The maximum in the size distribution of the "traffic contribution" seems to be shifted to about 28nm in the urban location compared to 22nm at kerbside. Assuming NOx as an inert tracer on urban scale allows to estimate that ToN at urban level is reduced by 15-30% compared to kerbside. Particle removal processes, e.g. deposition and coagulation, which are most efficient for smallest particle sizes (20nm) and condensational growth are likely mechanisms for the loss of particle number and the shift in particle size.

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Transport Methods of Determining Particle Size Distributions in Colloidal Systems

Rubber Chemistry and Technology ◽

10.5254/1.3535841 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 882-891 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. D. Shuster ◽

J. R. Schroeder ◽

D. McIntyre

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Size Range ◽

Size Distributions ◽

Rotor Speed ◽

Colloidal Systems ◽

Particle Size Distributions ◽

Density Distributions ◽

Yield Information

Abstract The two techniques examined in this work yield information about the particle size distribution of the latexes studied. The ease of measurement is improved over previous methods used on broadly distributed latexes. The TPC curves for both the natural and synthetic latexes correlate with the centrifuge curves. Both techniques show the Hevea to have larger particles than the guayule. The techniques also show SBR latex samples 1 and 2 to have larger particles than samples 3 and 4. The TPC is useful only for particles between 0.3 µm and 20 µm in size. The centrifuge can be used for any size range of particles by altering the rotor speed or eluant density. By employing the proper mathematics, these data could be easily converted from optical density distributions to particle size distributions.

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Particle size distribution factor as an indicator for the impact of the Eyjafjallajökull ash plume at ground level in Augsburg, Germany

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-11-16417-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 16417-16437 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. Pitz ◽

J. Gu ◽

J. Soentgen ◽

A. Peters ◽

J. Cyrys

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Long Range ◽

Mass Concentration ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

Size Range ◽

Ground Level ◽

Saharan Dust ◽

Ash Plume ◽

The Impact

Abstract. During the time period of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in 2010 increased mass concentration of PM10 (particulate matter, diameter <10 μm) were observed at ground level in Augsburg, Germany. In particular on 19 and 20 April 2010 the daily PM10 limit value of 50 μg m−3 was exceeded. Because ambient particles are in general a complex mixture originating from different sources, a source apportionment method (positive matrix factorization; PMF) was applied to particle size distribution data in the size range from 3 nm to 10 μm to identify and estimate the volcanic ash contribution to the overall PM10 load in the ambient air in Augsburg. A PMF factor with relevant particle mass concentration in the size range between 1 and 4 μm (maximum at 2 μm) was associated with long range transported dust. This factor increased from background concentration to high levels simultaneously with the arrival of the volcanic ash plume in the planetary boundary layer. Hence, we assume that this factor could be used as an indicator for the impact of the Eyjafjallajökull ash plume on ground level in Augsburg. From 17 to 22 April 2010 long range transported dust factor contributed on average 30.2 % (11.6 μg m−3) to PM10. On 19 April 2010 at 20:00 UTC+1 the maximum percentage of the long range transported dust factor accounted for around 65 % (35 μg m−3) to PM10 and three hours later the maximum absolute value with around 48 μg m−3 (61 %) was observed. Additional PMF analyses for a Saharan dust event occurred in May and June 2008 suggest, that the long range transported dust factor could also be used as an indicator for Saharan dust events.

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Effect of electronic cigarette (EC) aerosols on particle size distribution in indoor air and in a radon chamber

Nukleonika ◽

10.2478/nuka-2019-0004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 31-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hyam Nazmy Khalaf ◽

Mostafa Y. A. Mostafa ◽

Michael Zhukovsky

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Size Range ◽

Aerosol Particles ◽

Ultrafine Particle ◽

Decay Product ◽

Electronic Cigarette ◽

Particle Size Range

Abstract Particle size distribution is an important factor governing whether aerosols can be deposited in various respiratory tract regions in humans. Recently, electronic cigarette (EC), as the alternative of tobacco cigarette, has become increasingly popular all over the world. However, emissions from ECs may contribute to both indoor and outdoor air pollution; moreover, comments about their safety remain controversial, and the number of users is increasing rapidly. In this investigation, aerosols were generated from ECs and studied in the indoor air and in a chamber under controlled conditions of radon concentration. The generated aerosols were characterized in terms of particle number concentrations, size, and activity distributions by using aerosol diffusion spectrometer (ADS), diffusion battery, and cascade impactor. The range of ADS assessment was from 10−3 μm to 10 μm. The number concentration of the injected aerosol particles was between 40 000 and 100 000 particles/cm3. The distribution of these particles was the most within the ultrafine particle size range (0–0.2 μm), and the other particle were in the size range from 0.3 μm to 1 μm. The surface area distribution and the mass size distribution are presented and compared with bimodal distribution. In the radon chamber, all distributions were clearly bimodal, as the free radon decay product was approximately 1 nm in diameter, with a fraction of ~0.7 for a clean chamber (without any additional source of aerosols). The attached fraction with the aerosol particles from the ECs had a size not exceeding 1.0 μm.

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Analysis of Aerosol Particle Size Distribution,Visibility and Mass Concentration of PM10 in Beijing City During Beijing 2008 Olympics

Acta Optica Sinica ◽

10.3788/aos20103007.1931 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 1931-1937

Author(s):

王杰 Wang Jie ◽

刘建国 Liu Jianguo ◽

陆亦怀 Lu Yihuai ◽

刘文清 Liu Wenqing ◽

伍德侠 Wu Dexia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Aerosol Particle ◽

Mass Concentration ◽

Beijing City ◽

Aerosol Particle Size

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Particle size distribution factor as an indicator for the impact of the Eyjafjallajökull ash plume at ground level in Augsburg, Germany

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-11-9367-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (17) ◽

pp. 9367-9374 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

M. Pitz ◽

J. Gu ◽

J. Soentgen ◽

A. Peters ◽

J. Cyrys

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Long Range ◽

Mass Concentration ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

Size Range ◽

Ground Level ◽

Saharan Dust ◽

Ash Plume ◽

The Impact

Abstract. During the time period of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in 2010 increased mass concentration of PM10 (particulate matter, diameter <10 μm) were observed at ground level in Augsburg, Germany. In particular on 19 and 20 April 2010 the daily PM10 limit value of 50 μg m−3 was exceeded. Because ambient particles are in general a complex mixture originating from different sources, a source apportionment method (positive matrix factorization (PMF)) was applied to particle size distribution data in the size range from 3 nm to 10 μm to identify and estimate the volcanic ash contribution to the overall PM10 load in the ambient air in Augsburg. A PMF factor with relevant particle mass concentration in the size range between 1 and 4 μm (maximum at 2 μm) was associated with long range transported dust. This factor increased from background concentration to high levels simultaneously with the arrival of the volcanic ash plume in the planetary boundary layer. Hence, we assume that this factor could be used as an indicator for the impact of the Eyjafjallajökull ash plume on ground level in Augsburg. From 17 to 22 April 2010 long range transported dust factor contributed on average 30 % (12 μg m−3) to PM10. On 19 April 2010 at 20:00 UTC+1 the maximum percentage of the long range transported dust factor accounted for around 65 % (35 μg m−3) to PM10 and three hours later the maximum absolute value with around 48 μg m−3 (61 %) was observed. Additional PMF analyses for a Saharan dust event occurred in May and June 2008 suggest, that the long range transported dust factor could also be used as an indicator for Saharan dust events.

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