PMF Analysis of Wide-Range Particle Size Spectra Collected on a Major Highway

Particle number concentration data have been collected on a very busy road in central London (Marylebone Road). Continuous size distributions from 15 nm to 10 μm diameter, collected over 21 days, were analyzed using positive matrix factorization which identified 10 factors, five of which were observ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2011-07, Vol.45 (13), p.5522-5528
Main Authors: Harrison, Roy M, Beddows, David C. S, Dall’Osto, Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Airborne particulates
Applied sciences
Atmospheric pollution
Characterization of Natural and Affected Environments
Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data
Environmental science
Exact sciences and technology
London
Particle Size
Particulate Matter - analysis
Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution
Pollution
Principal Component Analysis
Roads & highways
Vehicle emissions
Vehicle Emissions - analysis
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Summary:Particle number concentration data have been collected on a very busy road in central London (Marylebone Road). Continuous size distributions from 15 nm to 10 μm diameter, collected over 21 days, were analyzed using positive matrix factorization which identified 10 factors, five of which were observed to make major contributions (greater than 8%) to either the total number or volume of particulate matter. The sources associated with each factor were identified from the size distribution, directional association, diurnal variation and their relationship to meteorological pollution and traffic volume variables. The factors related to the emissions on Marylebone Road accounted for 40.5% of particle volume and 71.9% of particle number. These comprised nucleation mode exhaust particles (3.6% of total volume and 27.4% of total number), solid mode exhaust particles (18.8% of total volume and 38.0% of total number), brake dust (13.7% of total volume and 1.7% of total number and resuspension (4.4% of total volume and 4.8% of total number). Another six factors were associated with the urban background accounting for 59.5% of total volume and 28.2% of total particle number count. The method is extremely successful at separating the components of on-road emissions including brake wear and resuspension.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es2006622