Source apportionment of daily fine particulate matter at Jefferson Street, Atlanta, GA, during summer and winter

J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2007 Feb;57(2):228-42. doi: 10.1080/10473289.2007.10465322.

Abstract

The primary emission source contributions to fine organic carbon (OC) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass concentrations on a daily basis in Atlanta, GA, are quantified for a summer (July 3 to August 4, 2001) and a winter (January 2-31, 2002) month. Thirty-one organic compounds in PM2.5 were identified and quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. These organic tracers, along with elemental carbon, aluminum, and silicon, were used in a chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model. CMB source apportionment results revealed that major contributors to identified fine OC concentrations include meat cooking (7-68%; average: 36%), gasoline exhaust (7-45%; average: 21%), and diesel exhaust (6-41%; average: 20%) for the summer month, and wood combustion (0-77%; average: 50%); gasoline exhaust (14-69%; average: 33%), meat cooking (1-14%; average: 5%), and diesel exhaust (0-13%; average: 4%) for the winter month. Primary sources, as well as secondary ions, including sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium, accounted for 86 +/- 13% and 112 +/- 15% of the measured PM2.5 mass in summer and winter, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants, Occupational / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / analysis*
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry, Physical
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Filtration
  • Georgia
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis
  • Particle Size
  • Seasons*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Occupational
  • Organic Chemicals