Fine particulate matter source apportionment for the chemical speciation trends network site at Birmingham, Alabama, using positive matrix factorization

Journal Article · Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3155/1047-3289.58.1.27· OSTI ID:21017247

Baumann, K; Jayanty, R K; Flanagan, J B ^[1]

---

1. Research Triangle Institute International, NC (United States). Research Triangle Park

The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model version 1.1 was used with data from the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Chemical Speciation Trends Network (STN) to estimate source contributions to ambient PM2.5 in a highly industrialized urban setting in the southeastern United States. Model results consistently resolved 10 factors that are interpreted as two secondary, five industrial, one motor vehicle, one road dust, and one biomass burning sources. It was found that most PMF factors did not cleanly represent single source types and instead are 'contaminated' by other sources. Secondary particulate matter formed by atmospheric processes, such as sulfate and secondary OC, contribute the majority of ambient PM2.5 and exhibit strong seasonality 37 {+-} 10% winter vs. 55 {+-} 16% summer average. Motor vehicle emissions constitute the biggest primary PM2.5 mass contribution. In summary, this study demonstrates the utility of the EC tracer method to effectively blank-correct the OC concentrations in the STN dataset. In addition, examination of the effect of input uncertainty estimates on model results indicates that the estimated uncertainties currently being provided with the STN data may be somewhat lower than the levels needed for optimum modeling results. An appendix , available to members on the website www.awma lists stationary sources of PM2.5 within 10 km of the NHBM site and PM2.5 emissions greater than 1 ton per year. 71 refs., 7 figs., 9 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 21017247
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Vol. 58, Issue 1; Other Information: [e-mail]; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
09 BIOMASS FUELS
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION SOURCES
ALABAMA
USA
VEHICLES
ROADS
BIOMASS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
COMBUSTION
SULFATES
DATA ANALYSIS
COAL
COAL MINING
BUILDING MATERIALS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
BLAST FURNACES
DUSTS
COKE
STEELS
METAL INDUSTRY
SAMPLING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
URBAN AREAS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MATERIALS HANDLING
NITRATES
WIND
WOOD
ASPHALTS