Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Chicago: Characteristics and receptor modeling
Twenty polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured by GC and GC/MS in 80 ambient samples in Chicago during the year 1990-1991. Using PAHs as fitting components, a chemical mass balance receptor modeling (CMB) was developed to determine source apportionment to the atmospheric PAH and PM10 concentration in Chicago. The CMB modeling for PAHs found that coke ovens, gasoline engine vehicles, and diesel engine vehicles are the major sources of ambient PAH concentrations in the Chicago area, and are responsible for 29, 9, and 1.2% of the total measured PAHs, respectively. The CMB modeling calculations were also developed for the source apportionment of atmospheric PM10, using PAHs as the fitting components. The result indicated that 24.3, 6.4, and 5.8% of the total ambient PM10 concentrations were due to gasoline engine vehicles, coke ovens, and diesel engine vehicles respectively. Coke ovens had higher coefficients when wind was from the south. However, diesel and gasoline engine vehicles coefficients were statistically similar for north and south wind. CMB modeling for ambient data showed that the model can predict between 2 to 90% of the total measured PAH concentrations with an average of 39%. Overall, the model predicted that automobile and industries located in south side of Chicago are responsible for 36% of the PM10 concentration in the Chicago ambient air. CMB modeling results for PAHs and PM10 were reasonable with respect to the wind direction.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago, IL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6089514
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AROMATICS
CHICAGO
COKE OVENS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIESEL ENGINES
ENGINES
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
ILLINOIS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
URBAN AREAS
USA