Chapter 10 New Considerations for PM, Black Carbon, and Particle Number Concentration for Air Quality Monitoring Across Different European Cities

Air Quality ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 177-218
Author(s):  
C. Reche ◽  
X. Querol ◽  
A. Alastuey ◽  
M. Viana ◽  
J. Pey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Particle Number Concentration ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
European Cities

scholarly journals A concept of an automated function control for ambient aerosol measurements using mobility particle size spectrometers

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 10551-10570
Author(s):  
A. Schladitz ◽  
M. Merkel ◽  
S. Bastian ◽  
W. Birmili ◽  
K. Weinhold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Particle Number Concentration ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Total Particle Number ◽  
Total Particle

Abstract. An automated function control unit was developed to regularly check the ambient particle number concentration derived from a mobility particle size spectrometer as well as its zero-point behaviour. The aim of the new feature is to conduct unattended quality control experiments under field conditions at remote air quality monitoring or research stations. The automated function control also has the advantage of being able to get a faster system stability response than the recommended on-site comparisons with reference instruments. The method is based on a comparison of the total particle number concentration measured by a mobility particle size spectrometer and a condensation particle counter removing the diffusive particles approximately smaller than 25 nm in diameter. In practice, the small particles are removed by a set of diffusion screens, as traditionally used in a diffusion battery. The other feature of the automated function control is to check the zero-point behaviour of the ambient aerosol passing through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. An exemplary one-year data set is presented for the measurement site Annaberg-Buchholz as part of the Saxon air quality monitoring network. The total particle number concentration derived from the mobility particle size spectrometer overestimates the particle number concentration by only 2% (grand average offset). Furthermore, tolerance criteria are presented to judge the performance of the mobility particle size spectrometer with respect to the particle number concentration. An upgrade of a mobility particle size spectrometer with an automated function control enhances the quality of long-term particle number size distribution measurements. Quality assured measurements are a precondition for intercomparison studies of different sites. Comparable measurements will improve cohort health and also climate-relevant research studies.

scholarly journals A concept of an automated function control for ambient aerosol measurements using mobility particle size spectrometers

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1065-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Schladitz ◽  
M. Merkel ◽  
S. Bastian ◽  
W. Birmili ◽  
K. Weinhold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Particle Number Concentration ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Condensation Particle Counter ◽  
Total Particle Number ◽  
Total Particle

Abstract. An automated function control unit was developed to regularly check the ambient particle number concentration derived from a mobility particle size spectrometer as well as its zero-point behaviour. The function control allows unattended quality assurance experiments at remote air quality monitoring or research stations under field conditions. The automated function control also has the advantage of being able to get a faster system stability response than the recommended on-site comparisons with reference instruments. The method is based on a comparison of the total particle number concentration measured by a mobility particle size spectrometer and a condensation particle counter while removing diffusive particles smaller than 20 nm in diameter. In practice, the small particles are removed by a set of diffusion screens, as traditionally used in a diffusion battery. Another feature of the automated function control is to check the zero-point behaviour of the ambient aerosol passing through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The performance of the function control is illustrated with the aid of a 1-year data set recorded at Annaberg-Buchholz, a station in the Saxon air quality monitoring network. During the period of concern, the total particle number concentration derived from the mobility particle size spectrometer slightly overestimated the particle number concentration recorded by the condensation particle counter by 2 % (grand average). Based on our first year of experience with the function control, we developed tolerance criteria that allow a performance evaluation of a tested mobility particle size spectrometer with respect to the total particle number concentration. We conclude that the automated function control enhances the quality and reliability of unattended long-term particle number size distribution measurements. This will have beneficial effects for intercomparison studies involving different measurement sites, and help provide a higher data accuracy for cohort health and climate research studies.

scholarly journals Measurement of nonvolatile particle number size distribution

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. Gkatzelis ◽  
D. K. Papanastasiou ◽  
K. Florou ◽  
C. Kaltsonoudis ◽  
E. Louvaris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Experimental Methodology ◽  
Particle Number Concentration ◽  
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer ◽  
Number Size Distribution ◽  
Particle Sizer

Abstract. An experimental methodology was developed to measure the nonvolatile particle number concentration using a thermodenuder (TD). The TD was coupled with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer, measuring the chemical composition and mass size distribution of the submicrometer aerosol and a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) that provided the number size distribution of the aerosol in the range from 10 to 500 nm. The method was evaluated with a set of smog chamber experiments and achieved almost complete evaporation (> 98 %) of secondary organic as well as freshly nucleated particles, using a TD temperature of 400 °C and a centerline residence time of 15 s. This experimental approach was applied in a winter field campaign in Athens and provided a direct measurement of number concentration and size distribution for particles emitted from major pollution sources. During periods in which the contribution of biomass burning sources was dominant, more than 80 % of particle number concentration remained after passing through the thermodenuder, suggesting that nearly all biomass burning particles had a nonvolatile core. These remaining particles consisted mostly of black carbon (60 % mass contribution) and organic aerosol (OA; 40 %). Organics that had not evaporated through the TD were mostly biomass burning OA (BBOA) and oxygenated OA (OOA) as determined from AMS source apportionment analysis. For periods during which traffic contribution was dominant 50–60 % of the particles had a nonvolatile core while the rest evaporated at 400 °C. The remaining particle mass consisted mostly of black carbon with an 80 % contribution, while OA was responsible for another 15–20 %. Organics were mostly hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) and OOA. These results suggest that even at 400 °C some fraction of the OA does not evaporate from particles emitted from common combustion processes, such as biomass burning and car engines, indicating that a fraction of this type of OA is of extremely low volatility.

scholarly journals Commuter Exposure to Black Carbon, Fine Particulate Matter and Particle Number Concentration in Ferry and at the Pier in Istanbul

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onat ◽  
Şahin ◽  
Uzun ◽  
Akın ◽  
Özkaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Particle Number Concentration ◽  
Total Exposure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Commuter Exposure

This paper presents measurements and analyses of the concentrations of black carbon (BC), particle number concentration (PNC), and PM2.5 (≤2.5 μm) while commuting by ferries in Istanbul. In this context, exposures to the mentioned pollutants were estimated for car ferry, fast ferry, and at the piers, and for two travel routes, for a total of 89 trips. BC, PNC, and PM2.5 measurements were simultaneously performed in a ferry and at the piers, and the correlation between pollutant concentrations, meteorological parameters, and environmental factors were analyzed. The mean concentrations for all pollutants in car ferry were lower than the average concentrations in fast ferry. The concentration ratios of fast ferry to car ferry for BC, PNC, and PM2.5 were 6.4, 1.2, and 1.3, respectively. High variability in the concentrations was observed at the piers and in ferry during berthing. The highest mean concentrations (±standard deviation) of BC (14.3 ± 10.1 µg m−3) and PNC (42,005 ± 30,899 pt cm−3) were measured at Yalova pier. The highest mean concentration (±standard deviation) of PM2.5 (26.1 ± 11.5) was measured at Bostancı pier. It was observed that the main external sources of BC, PNC, and PM2.5 at the piers were road transport, residential heating, and shipping activity. There were no significant correlations between BC, PNC, and PM2.5 in fast ferry, while BC was positively correlated with PNC (r = 0.61, p < 0.01) and PM2.5 (r = 0.76, p < 0.01) in car ferry. At the piers, significant relations between pollutants and meteorological variables were observed. It was noticed that there was no significant difference between summer and winter in ferry and at the pier concentrations of BC, PNC, and PM2.5 except for Yenikapı pier and Bakırköy pier. The highest total exposure to PNC and PM2.5 was in car ferry mode, while the highest total exposure to BC was in fast ferry mode.

scholarly journals Measurement of non-volatile particle number size distribution

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 6355-6393 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. Gkatzelis ◽  
D. K. Papanastasiou ◽  
K. Florou ◽  
C. Kaltsonoudis ◽  
E. Louvaris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Experimental Methodology ◽  
Particle Number Concentration ◽  
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer ◽  
Number Size Distribution ◽  
Volatile Particle

Abstract. An experimental methodology was developed to measure the non-volatile particle number concentration using a thermodenuder (TD). The TD was coupled with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer, measuring the chemical composition and mass size distribution of the submicrometer aerosol and a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) that provided the number size distribution of the aerosol in the range from 10 to 500 nm. The method was evaluated with a set of smog chamber experiments and achieved almost complete evaporation (> 98 %) of secondary organic as well as freshly nucleated particles, using a TD temperature of 400 °C and a centerline residence time of 15 s. This experimental approach was applied in a winter field campaign in Athens and provided a direct measurement of number concentration and size distribution for particles emitted from major pollution sources. During periods in which the contribution of biomass burning sources was dominant, more than 80 % of particle number concentration remained after passing through the thermodenuder, suggesting that nearly all biomass burning particles had a non-volatile core. These remaining particles consisted mostly of black carbon (60 % mass contribution) and organic aerosol, OA (40 %). Organics that had not evaporated through the TD were mostly biomass burning OA (BBOA) and oxygenated OA (OOA) as determined from AMS source apportionment analysis. For periods during which traffic contribution was dominant 50–60 % of the particles had a non-volatile core while the rest evaporated at 400 °C. The remaining particle mass consisted mostly of black carbon (BC) with an 80 % contribution, while OA was responsible for another 15–20 %. Organics were mostly hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) and OOA. These results suggest that even at 400 °C some fraction of the OA does not evaporate from particles emitted from common combustion processes, such as biomass burning and car engines, indicating that a fraction of this type of OA is of extremely low volatility.

scholarly journals Air quality monitoring in communities of the Canadian Arctic during the high shipping season with a focus on local and marine pollution

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 29547-29613 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Aliabadi ◽  
R. M. Staebler ◽  
S. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Mixing Ratio ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
The North ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The Canadian Arctic has experienced decreasing sea ice extent and increasing shipping activity in the recent decades. While there are economic incentives to develop resources in the North, there are environmental concerns that increasing marine traffic will contribute to declining air quality in Northern communities. In an effort to characterize the relative impact of shipping on air quality in the North, two monitoring stations have been installed in Cape Dorset and Resolute, Nunavut, and have been operational since 1 June 2013. The impact of shipping and other sources of emissions on NOx, O3, SO2, BC, and PM2.5 pollution have been characterized for the 2013 shipping season from 1 June to 1 November. In addition, a high resolution Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for both sites was computed. Shipping consistently increased O3 mixing ratio and PM2.5 concentration. The 90% confidence interval for mean difference in O3 mixing ratio between ship and no ship-influenced air masses were up to 4.6–4.7 ppb and 2.5–2.7 ppb for Cape Dorset and Resolute, respectively. The same intervals for PM2.5 concentrations were up to 1.8–1.9 μg m−3 and 0.5–0.6 μg m−3. Ship-influenced air masses consistently exhibited degraded air quality by an increase of 0.1 to 0.3 in the high resolution AQHI compared to no ship-influenced air masses. Trajectory cluster analysis in combination with ship traffic tracking provided an estimated range for percent ship contribution to NOx, O3, SO2, and PM2.5 that were 12.9–17.5%, 16.2–18.1%, 16.9–18.3%, and 19.5–31.7% for Cape Dorset and 1.0–7.2%, 2.9–4.8%, 5.5–10.0%, and 6.5–7.2% for Resolute during the 2013 shipping season. Additional measurements in Resolute suggested that percent ship contribution to black carbon was 4.3–9.8% and that black carbon constituted 1.3–9.7% of total PM2.5 mass in ship plumes. Continued air quality monitoring in the above sites for future shipping seasons will improve the statistics in our analysis as well as characterize repeating seasonal patterns in air quality due to shipping, local pollution, and long-range transport.

scholarly journals A New Black Carbon Sensor for Dense Air Quality Monitoring Networks

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Caubel ◽  
Troy Cados ◽  
Thomas Kirchstetter
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Networks
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