Kerb and urban increment of highly time-resolved trace elements in PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 winter aerosol in London during ClearfLo 2012
- Paul Scherrer Inst., Villigen (Switzerland). Lab. of Atmospheric Chemistry
- Paul Scherrer Inst., Villigen (Switzerland). Lab. of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry
- Paul Scherrer Inst. (PSI), Villigen (Switzerland). Swiss Light Source
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany). HASYLAB, DESY Photon Science
- King’s College London, London (United Kingdom). School of Biomedical Sciences
- Univ. of Manchester (United Kingdom). School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
- Univ. of Manchester (United Kingdom). School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences; Univ. of Manchester (United Kingdom). National Centre for Atmospheric Science
- Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica, MA (United States)
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States). Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences
- Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Penicuik, Midlothian (United Kingdom)
- Univ. of Reading, Reading (United Kingdom). Dept. of Meteorology
- Univ. of Manchester (United Kingdom). National Centre for Atmospheric Science; Univ. of Leicester (United Kingdom). Dept. of Chemistry
Ambient concentrations of trace elements with 2 h time resolution were measured in PM10–2.5, PM2.5–1.0 and PM1.0–0.3 size ranges at kerbside, urban background and rural sites in London during winter 2012. Samples were collected using rotating drum impactors (RDIs) and subsequently analysed with synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SR-XRF). Quantification of kerb and urban increments (defined as kerb-to-urban and urban-to-rural concentration ratios, respectively), and assessment of diurnal and weekly variability provided insight into sources governing urban air quality and the effects of urban micro-environments on human exposure. Traffic-related elements yielded the highest kerb increments, with values in the range of 10.4 to 16.6 for SW winds (3.3–6.9 for NE) observed for elements influenced by brake wear (e.g. Cu, Sb, Ba) and 5.7 to 8.2 for SW (2.6–3.0 for NE) for other traffic-related processes (e.g. Cr, Fe, Zn). Kerb increments for these elements were highest in the PM10–2.5 mass fraction, roughly twice that of the PM1.0–0.3 fraction. These elements also showed the highest urban increments (~ 3.0), although no difference was observed between brake wear and other traffic-related elements. All elements influenced by traffic exhibited higher concentrations during morning and evening rush hours, and on weekdays compared to weekends, with the strongest trends observed at the kerbside site, and additionally enhanced by winds coming directly from the road, consistent with street canyon effects. Elements related to mineral dust (e.g. Al, Si, Ca, Sr) showed significant influences from traffic-induced resuspension, as evidenced by moderate kerb (3.4–5.4 for SW, 1.7–2.3 for NE) and urban (~ 2) increments and increased concentrations during peak traffic flow. Elements related to regional transport showed no significant enhancement at kerb or urban sites, with the exception of PM10–2.5 sea salt (factor of up to 2), which may be influenced by traffic-induced resuspension of sea and/or road salt. Heavy-duty vehicles appeared to have a larger effect than passenger vehicles on the concentrations of all elements influenced by resuspension (including sea salt) and wearing processes. In conclusion, trace element concentrations in London were influenced by both local and regional sources, with coarse and intermediate fractions dominated by traffic-induced resuspension and wearing processes and fine particles influenced by regional transport.
- Research Organization:
- Paul Scherrer Inst., Villigen (Switzerland). Lab. of Atmospheric Chemistry; Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC); Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0006002; 00021_132467/1; NE/H00324X/1; 312284; PX00P2_31673
- OSTI ID:
- 1457385
- Journal Information:
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online), Vol. 15, Issue 5; ISSN 1680-7324
- Publisher:
- European Geosciences UnionCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
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