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U.S. Department of Energy
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Significance of regional source contributions to urban PM-10 (nominal 10 micrometers) concentrations

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5391183
Based on data collected in St. Louis, Philadelphia and other cities, this evaluation concludes that about 50-80% of the PM-10 concentrations is background. The bulk of the background appears to be of regional origin. The chemical makeup of the background is sulfate as SO4, 21-34%; crustal material, 14-36%; unknown (carbonaceous matter, ammonium, nitrate and water), 36-51%. Dispersion or receptor modeling using a local source inventory or elemental signatures can account only for the incremental contributions from local sources to the total PM-10 mass. It is argued that emission roll-back of local sources will have a limited effect on reducing total concentrations of PM-10.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Energy Lab.
OSTI ID:
5391183
Report Number(s):
PB-86-208725/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English