Observations of urban airborne particle number concentrations during rush-hour conditions: analysis of the number based size distributions and modal parameters

Effects of Road Dust Particle Size on Mineralogy, Chemical Bulk Content, Pollution and Health Risk Analyses

Because of the rising environmental and health concerns associated with atmospheric pollution caused by potentially toxic elements (PTEs), several road dust studies have been performed across the world in recent decades. This paper illustrates the effects of particle size on the PTE contents, mineralogical composition, environmental pollution and health risk assessments in road dust from Barcelona (Spain). The samples were sieved into five size fractions ranging from <45 to 500-800 µm. Although the major mineral contents (tectosilicates, phyllosilicates, and carbonates) were profuse in all fractions, the identified inhalable PTE particles (e.g., Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, and REE), with size < 10 µm, were more pervasive in the finest fraction (<45 μm). This is consistent with the concentrations measured: the finest fractions were richer in PTEs than the coarser ones, resulting in a direct correlation with the enrichment factor (EFx), geo-accumulation (Igeo), and non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic (CRI) values. Igeo and EFx values can be appropriate tracers for some common elements (e.g., Zn, Sb, Sn, Cu, and Cr), but they do not seem adequate for anthropogenic particles accumulated at concentrations similar to the geogenic background. Overall, the HI and CRI values obtained in Barcelona were acceptable, reflecting no serious health impacts in the study area, except for Cr. Our results suggest that fine dust particles are a more suitable fraction to conduct pollution and health risk assessments than coarser ones, although the EFx, Igeo, HI, and CRI threshold values should be redefined in the future to include all emergent pollutants as well. In summary, monitoring programs should include at least the road dust evaluation of <45 µm particles, which can be performed with a simple sieving method, which is both time- and cost-effective.

Contamination levels and source apportionment of potentially toxic elements in size-fractionated road dust of Moscow

The distributions of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) among PM₁, PM_1-10, PM_10-50, and PM_50-1000 fractions of the road dust were studied in the western and eastern parts of Moscow, impacted mainly by the road transport and the industrial sector, respectively. The partitioning of PTEs in road dust can provide more precise information on pollution sources and its further interpretation regarding human health risks. The concentrations of PTEs were analyzed by mass and atomic emission inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Differences in the results between the western and eastern parts of the city were caused by the dissimilarity between traffic and industrial emissions. The source apportionment of the PTEs was carried out using absolute principal component analysis with multiple linear regressions (PCA/APCS-MLR). The contribution from anthropogenic sources was significant to PM₁ and PM_1-10 particles. In coarser fractions (PM_10-50, PM_50-1000), it decreased due to the input with the wind-induced resuspension of soil and rock particles. In the eastern part of the city, the accumulation of PTEs (especially Mo, Sb, Cd, Sn, Bi, Co, and As) is the most active in PM_1-10, while in the western part, it is most pronounced in PM₁ (especially Pb, Cu, Cr, and W) which is associated with differences in the size of particles coming from traffic and industrial sources. In the eastern part of Moscow, in comparison with the western part, the contribution from industrial sources to the accumulation of PTEs in all particle size fractions was higher by 10-30%. In the western part of Moscow, the finest particles PM₁ and PM_1-10 demonstrate the trend of rising pollution levels with the increase in road size, while in the eastern part of the city, only coarse particles PM_50-1000 show the same trend. In the fractions PM₁ and PM_1-10 of road dust, a significant contribution was made by anthropogenic sources; however, its role decreased in the coarse fractions-PM_10-50 and especially in PM_50-1000- due to the influence of roadside soils and their parent material.

Seasonal variations of particle number concentration and its relationship with PM2.5 mass concentration in industrial-residential airshed

The smaller particles that dominate the particle number concentration (PNC) in the ambient air only contribute to a small percentage of particulate matter (PM) mass concentration although present in high particle number concentration. These small particles may be neglected upon assessing the health impacts of the PM. Hence, the knowledge on the particle number concentration size distribution deserves greater attention than the particulate mass concentration. This study investigates the measurement of the particle mass concentrations (PM_2.5) and PNC of 0.27 μm < Dp < 4.50 μm during the southwest (SW), inter-monsoon (IM) and northeast (NE) monsoons in the industrial-residential airshed of Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The PM_2.5 mass concentrations and PNC were measured using a multi-channel GRIMM Environmental Dust Monitor (GRIMM EDM-SVC 365) equipped with a global positioning system. Diurnal variations, statistical analysis and regression plots were utilised from a six-month hourly data set to examine the patterns of the PNC size distributions and its relationships with the PM_2.5 mass concentration. The overall mean PM_2.5 mass concentration was 21.85 μg m^-3, with the 24 h mean values of 26.80 μg m^-3, 26.08 μg m^-3 and 13.76 μg m^-3 for the SW, IM and NE monsoons, respectively. It was found that the hourly mean of PNC was recorded at the highest concentration during the SW monsoon (373.20 # cm^-3). The particles in the accumulation mode (Dp < 1.0 μm) were the prevalent form of the particle number concentration (94-98%). The scatter plots between the PM_2.5 mass concentration and particle number size distribution showed that the PNC mode of 0.27 < Dp < 1.0 μm has the highest correlation value of r² = 0.87 due to the emission from the anthropogenic activities. The results of this study highlight the importance of the PNC measurement in the seasonal variations of the PM_2.5 pollution, indicating the significance of the regional-scale emission control actions in the local air quality management.

Aerosol microphysics and chemistry reveal the COVID19 lockdown impact on urban air quality

Air quality in urban areas and megacities is dependent on emissions, physicochemical process and atmospheric conditions in a complex manner. The impact on air quality metrics of the COVID-19 lockdown measures was evaluated during two periods in Athens, Greece. The first period involved stoppage of educational and recreational activities and the second severe restrictions to all but necessary transport and workplace activities. Fresh traffic emissions and their aerosol products in terms of ultrafine nuclei particles and nitrates showed the most significant reduction especially during the 2nd period (40–50%). Carbonaceous aerosol both from fossil fuel emissions and biomass burning, as well as aging ultrafine and accumulation mode particles showed an increase of 10–20% of average before showing a decline (5 to 30%). It is found that removal of small nuclei and Aitken modes increased growth rates and migration of condensable species to larger particles maintaining aerosol volume.

Using miniaturised scanning mobility particle sizers to observe size distribution patterns of quasi-ultrafine aerosols inhaled during city commuting

Portable miniaturised scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) instruments measuring atmospheric particles within the 10-241 nm size range were used to track particle number size distributions and concentrations during near-simultaneous pedestrian, bicycle, bus, car, tram and subway commuting journeys in Barcelona, Spain on 4th-6th July 2018. The majority of particles in this size range were <100 nm, with k-means cluster analysis identifying peaks at 15-22 nm, 30-40 nm, and 45-75 nm. Around 10-25% of the particles measured however were >100 nm (especially in the subway environment) and so lie outside the commonly defined range of "ultrafine" particles (UFP, or <100 nm particles). The study demonstrated in detail how personal exposure to quasi-UFP (QUFP, <241 nm), most of which present in the city streets are produced by road traffic, varies greatly depending on the transport mode and route chosen. Proximity to fresh traffic exhaust sources, such as in a car with open windows, on-road cycling, walking downwind of busy roads, or in a subway station contaminated by roadside air, enhances commuter exposure to particles <30 nm in size. In contrast, travelling inside air-conditioned bus or tram offers greater protection to the commuter from high concentrations of fresh exhaust. Ultrafine number size distributions in traffic-contaminated city air typically peak in the size range 30-70 nm, but they can be shifted to finer sizes not only by increased content of fresh proximal exhaust emissions but also by bursts of new particle formation (NPF) events in the city. One such afternoon photochemical nucleation NPF event was identified during our Barcelona study and recognised in different transport modes, including underground in the subway system. The integration of static urban background air monitoring station information with particle number concentration and size distribution data obtained from portable miniaturised SMPS instruments during commuting journeys opens new approaches to investigating city air quality by offering a level of detail not previously available.

Evacuation characteristics of released airborne TiO2 nanomaterial particles under different ventilation rates in a confined environment

A specially designed 32 m³ airtight chamber that allows the implementation of various ventilation strategies was utilised to study the evacuation characteristics of airborne sub-micron particles generated from TiO₂ nanopowder in a potential indoor accidental release situation. Following the release using a heated line from a nebuliser system, the spatial and temporal variations in particle number concentration were recorded by three condensation particle counters (CPCs) distributed at specific locations in the chamber. A differential mobility spectrometer was co-located with one of the CPCs for the measurement of particle size distributions (PSDs). The different modal groups present within the measured PSDs were determined through a log₁₀-normal fitting program. Of the ventilation rates evaluated, the greatest relative improvement in particle concentration and clearance time occurred at the highest rate (12 air changes per hour, ACH). At the same time, indications of cross-contamination from regions with strong mixing conditions to regions where mixing was poor, were obtained showing that the latter could operate as particle traps where localised poor ventilation might occur. However, reducing the ventilation rate led to: i) an increase of leftover particles in the air of the chamber when the cleaning process had been completed, and more specifically to an increased ratio of ultrafine particles over fine ones, resulting in the potentially dangerous accumulation of contaminants with high exposure hazards, ii) a decrease in ventilation efficiency, which at low evacuation rates became independent of distance from the inlet diffuser, iii) slower clearance of resuspended particles, with the lowest efficiency at the moderate ventilation rate.

Dynamic calibration of agent-based models using data assimilation

A widespread approach to investigating the dynamical behaviour of complex social systems is via agent-based models (ABMs). In this paper, we describe how such models can be dynamically calibrated using the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), a standard method of data assimilation. Our goal is twofold. First, we want to present the EnKF in a simple setting for the benefit of ABM practitioners who are unfamiliar with it. Second, we want to illustrate to data assimilation experts the value of using such methods in the context of ABMs of complex social systems and the new challenges these types of model present. We work towards these goals within the context of a simple question of practical value: how many people are there in Leeds (or any other major city) right now? We build a hierarchy of exemplar models that we use to demonstrate how to apply the EnKF and calibrate these using open data of footfall counts in Leeds.

Number and size distribution of airborne nanoparticles during summertime in Kuwait: first observations from the Middle East

We made fast response measurements of size-resolved particle number concentrations (PNCs) and distributions (PNDs) in the 5-1000 nm range close to a busy roadside, continuously for 31 days, in Kuwait. The aims were to understand their dispersion characteristics during summertime and dust events, and association with trace pollutants (NOx, O3, CO, SO2, and PM10) and meteorological parameters. PNCs were found up to ∼19-times higher (5.98 × 10(5) cm(-3)) than those typically found in European roadside environments. Size distributions exhibited over 90% of PNCs in ultrafine size range (<100 nm) and a negligible fraction over 300 nm. Peak PNDs appeared at ∼12 nm, showing an unusually large peak in nucleation mode. Diurnal variations of PNCs coincided with the cyclic variations in CO, NOx, and traffic volume during morning and evening rush hours. Despite high traffic volume, PNC peaks were missing during noon hours due to high ambient temperature (∼48 °C) that showed an inverse relationship with the PNCs. Principal Component Analysis revealed three probable sources in the area--local road traffic, fugitive dust, and refineries. Dust events, categorized by PM10 with over 1000 μg m(-3), decreased PNCs by ∼25% and increased their geometric mean diameters (GMDs) by ∼66% compared with nondust periods.

Diesel exhaust induces systemic lipid peroxidation and development of dysfunctional pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory high-density lipoprotein

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether exposure to air pollutants induces oxidative modifications of plasma lipoproteins, resulting in alteration of the protective capacities of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs).

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We exposed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice to diesel exhaust (DE) at ≈ 250 µg/m(3) for 2 weeks, filtered air (FA) for 2 weeks, or DE for 2 weeks, followed by FA for 1 week (DE+FA). DE led to enhanced lipid peroxidation in the brochoalveolar lavage fluid that was accompanied by effects on HDL functionality. HDL antioxidant capacity was assessed by an assay that evaluated the ability of HDL to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation estimated by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence. HDL from DE-exposed mice exhibited 23,053 ± 2844 relative fluorescence units, higher than FA-exposed mice (10,282 ± 1135 relative fluorescence units, P<0.001) but similar to the HDL from DE+FA-exposed mice (22,448 ± 3115 relative fluorescence units). DE effects on HDL antioxidant capacity were negatively correlated with paraoxonase enzymatic activity, but positively correlated with levels of plasma 8-isoprostanes, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, liver malondialdehyde, and accompanied by perturbed HDL anti-inflammatory capacity and activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in the liver.

CONCLUSIONS

DE emissions induced systemic pro-oxidant effects that led to the development of dysfunctional HDL. This may be one of the mechanisms by which air pollution contributes to enhanced atherosclerosis.

Fingerprinting metals in urban street dust of Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong

Street dust samples were taken between July and December 2005 at 25 locations in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong and sieved to 63 microm particle size before elemental analyses by CHN analyzer, XRF and ICP-MS. About 60% of the particles from the Beijing and Shanghai sieved samples were < 10 microm mean diameter, and approximately 20% were < 2 microm mean diameter, so that they are readily resuspendable and respirable with increased risk of adverse health impacts. The optical size distributions determined by electron microscopy were reasonably similar to the mass size distributions of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) at these two megacities. Hong Kong street dust particles were coarser with only about 3% of the sieved samples being < 10 microm. The elemental composition profile of Hong Kong street dust differs considerably from those of Beijing and Shanghai, being more abundant in C, S, Cr, Cu, Ce, and Zn due to higher traffic density. In particular, the vehicle contribution to Hong Kong street dust is shown by order-of-magnitude relative enhancements of Fe and Cr compared with those in TSP sampled nearby, attributed to vehicle iron and stainless-steel wear and tear and rusting contributing to street dust in the street canyons. The concentrations of Cr in Hong Kong street dust, measured from 52Cr and 53Cr by ICP-DRC-MS after a modified three-stage microwave-assisted acid digestion, are higher than those reported elsewhere.

Factors influencing particle number concentrations, size distributions and modal parameters at a roof-level and roadside site in Leicester, UK

Measurements of urban particle number concentrations and size distributions in the range 5-1000 nm were taken at elevated (roof-level) and roadside sampling sites on Narborough Road in Leicester, UK, along with simultaneous measurements of traffic, NO(x), CO and 1,3-butadiene concentrations and meteorological parameters. A fitting program was used to determine the characteristics of up to five modal groups present in the particle size distributions. All particle modal concentrations peaked during the morning and evening rush hours. Additional events associated with the smallest mode, that were not observed to be connected to primary emissions, were also present suggesting that this mode consisted of newly formed secondary particles. These events included peaks in concentration which coincided with peaks in solar radiation, and lower concentrations of the larger modes. Investigation into the relationships between traffic flow and occupancy indicated three flow regimes; free-flow, unstable and congested. During free-flow conditions, positive linear relationships existed between traffic flow and particle modal number concentrations. However, during unstable and congested periods, this relationship was shown to break-down. Similar trends were observed for concentrations of the gas phase pollutants NO(x), CO and 1,3-butadiene. Strong linear relationships existed between NO(x), CO, 1,3-butadiene concentrations, nucleation and Aitken mode concentrations at both sampling locations, indicating a local traffic related emission source. At the roadside, both nucleation and Aitken mode are best represented by a decreasing exponential function with wind speed, whereas at the roof-level this relationship only occurred for Aitken mode particles. The differing relationships at the two sampling locations are most likely due to a combination of meteorological factors and distance from the local emission source.