Journal article
Spatial variation in diesel-related elemental and organic PM2.5 components during workweek hours across a downtown core
The Science of the total environment, v 573, pp 27-38
15 Dec 2016
PMID: 27544653
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Capturing intra-urban variation in diesel-related pollution exposures remains a challenge, given its complex chemical mix, and relatively few well-characterized ambient-air tracers for the multiple diesel sources in densely -populated urban areas. To capture fine-scale spatial resolution (50 x 50 m grid cells) in diesel-related pollution, we used geographic information systems (GIS) to systematically allocate 36 sampling sites across downtown Pittsburgh, PA, USA (2.8 km(2)), cross-stratifying to disentangle source impacts (i.e., truck density, bus route frequency, total traffic density). For buses, outbound and inbound trips per week were summed by route and a kernel density was calculated across sites. Programmable monitors collected fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples specific to workweek hours (Monday-Friday, 7 am-7 pm), summer and winter 2013. Integrated filters were analyzed for black carbon (BC), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon ( OC), elemental constituents, and diesel-related organic compounds [i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, steranes]. To our knowledge, no studies have collected this suite of pollutants with such high sampling density, with the ability to capture spatial patterns during specific hours of interest. We hypothesized that we would find substantial spatial variation for each pollutant and significant associations with key sources ( e.g. diesel and gasoline vehicles), with higher concentrations near the center of this small downtown core. Using a forward stepwise approach, we developed seasonal land use regression (LUR) models for PM2.5, BC, total-EC, OC, PAHs, hopanes, steranes, aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe). Within this small domain, greater concentration differences were observed in most pollutants across sites, on average, than between seasons. Higher PM2.5 and BC concentrations were found in the downtown core compared to the boundaries. PAHs, hopanes, and steranes displayed different spatial patterning across the study area by constituent. Most LUR models suggested a strong influence of bus-related emissions on pollution gradients. Buses were more dominant predictors compared to truck and vehicular traffic for several pollutants. Overall, we found substantial variation in diesel-related concentrations in a very small downtown area, which varied across elemental and organic components. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Details
- Title
- Spatial variation in diesel-related elemental and organic PM2.5 components during workweek hours across a downtown core
- Creators
- Brett J. Tunno - University of PittsburghJessie L. C. Shmool - University of PittsburghDrew R. Michanowicz - University of PittsburghSheila Tripathy - University of PittsburghLauren G. Chubb - University of PittsburghEllen Kinnee - University of PittsburghLeah Cambal - University of PittsburghCourtney Roper - University of PittsburghJane E. Clougherty - University of Pittsburgh
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, v 573, pp 27-38
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Clean Air Fund
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Drexel University; Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000390071000004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84982266724
- Other Identifier
- 991020099209004721
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