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Chemical Characterization of Outdoor and Subway Fine (PM2.5-1.0) and Coarse (PM10-2.5) Particulate Matter in Seoul (Korea) Computer-Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM)
Citation:
Byeon, S., R. Willis, AND T. Peters. Chemical Characterization of Outdoor and Subway Fine (PM2.5-1.0) and Coarse (PM10-2.5) Particulate Matter in Seoul (Korea) Computer-Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland, 12(2):2090--2104, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL′s) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD′s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA′s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Outdoor and indoor (subway) samples were collected by passive sampling in urban Seoul and analyzed with computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (CCSEM-EDX). Soil/road dust particles accounted for 42-60% (by weight) of fine particulate matter larger than 1 micrometer (PM2.5-1.0) in outdoor samples and 18% of PM2.5-1.0 in subway samples. Iron-containing particles accounted for only 3-6% in outdoor samples but 69% in subway samples. Qualitatively similar results were found for coarse particulate matter (PM10-2.5) with soil/road dust particles dominating outdoor samples (66-83%) and iron-containing particles contributing most to subway PM10-2.5 (44%). As expected, soil/road dust particles comprised a greater mass fraction of PM10-2.5 than PM2.5-1.0. Also as expected, the mass fraction of iron-containing particles was substantially less in PM10-2.5 than in PM2.5-1.0. Results of this study are consistent with previous studies which showed high concentrations of iron-containing particles in the subway compared to outdoor sites. Passive sampling with CCSEM-EDX offers an inexpensive means to assess PM2.5-1.0 and PM10-2.5 simultaneously and by composition at multiple locations.
URLs/Downloads:
PAPER - WILLIS .PDF (PDF, NA pp, 1239.078 KB, about PDF)Int. j. Environ. Res. Public Health
