Citation:

LI, M., S. R. MCDOW, D. J. TOLLERUD, AND M. A. MAZUREK. SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF ORGANIC MOLECULAR MARKERS IN URBAN PARTICULATE MATTER FROM PHILADELPHIA, PA. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 40(13):2260-2273, (2005).

Impact/Purpose:

1) Develop a TOA protocol that meets the basic assumptions of the method and peer review of the method, 2) understand the role of sampling, analysis, and blank subtraction on the differences between the IMPROVE and STN OC and EC results 3) Evaluate the use of light absorbance methods to estimate EC on human exposure samples, 4) develop a sensitive analytical method suitable for analysis of STN and micro-environmental samples for organic molecular markers, and 5) develop an optimum list of organic molecular markers for source apportionment of particulate matter.

Description:

Organic molecular markers were measured in airborne particulate matter (PM₁₀) from the City of Philadelphia North Broad Street air quality monitoring site to identify the seasonal abundances of key tracer compounds together with their dominant sources. Daily PM₁₀ samples were collected seasonally in 2000 for 4 two-week periods (January, April, August, and October). Ambient concentrations of individual markers are similar to other reported levels for metropolitan Los Angeles, CA and Atlanta, GA. Seasonal and daily variations of marker compounds are consistent with motor vehicle exhaust, particularly in winter. Summer concentration patterns indicate the importance of secondary organic aerosol to the PM₁₀ ambient mass.

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