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IDENTIFICATION OF FMC EMISSION SOURCES CONTRIBUTING TO AMBIENT PM10 ON THE FORT HALL RESERVATION
Citation:
Willis, R. D., W. D. Ellenson, AND T L. Conner. IDENTIFICATION OF FMC EMISSION SOURCES CONTRIBUTING TO AMBIENT PM10 ON THE FORT HALL RESERVATION. Presented at Pacific Northwest Tribal Air Network Quarterly Meeting, Pocatello, ID, August 9-10, 2001.
Impact/Purpose:
The NERL SEM/EDX facility was established to provide a state-of-the-art resource for individual particle analysis. Specific goals of the laboratory are as follows: 1) Provide chemical, morphological, and size characterization of particles in support of ambient air characterization studies, source apportionment, exposure and health studies, and other particulate matter research.; 2) Develop analytical capabilities to support research objectives; 3) Communicate results to clients and the scientific community.
Description:
More than 300 air change rate experiments were completed in two occupied residences: a two-story detached house in Redwood City, CA, and a three-story townhouse in Reston, VA. A continuous monitor was used to measure the decay of SF6 tracer gas over periods of 1-18 hr. Each experiment first included a measurement of the air change rate with all exterior doors and windows closed (State O), then a measurement with the single change from State O conditions of opening one or more windows. The overall average State O air change rate was 0.37 air changes per hour (hr-1) (SD = 0.10 hr-1; n = 112) for the California house and 0.41 hr-1 (SD = 0.19 hr-1; n = 203) for the Virginia house. Indoor/outdoor temperature differences appeared to be responsible for the variation at the Virginia house of 0.15-0.85 hr-1 when windows were closed. Opening a single window increased the State O air change rate by an amount roughly proportional to the width of the opening, reaching increments as high as 0.80 hr-1 in the California house and 1.3 hr-1 in the Virginia house. Multiple window openings increased the air change rate by amounts ranging from 0.10 to 2.8 hr-1 in the California house and from 0.49 to 1.7 hr-1 in the Virginia house. Compared with temperature differences and wind effects, opening windows produced the greatest increase in the air change rates measured in both homes. Results of this study indicate the importance of occupant window-opening behavior on home's air change rate and the consequent need to incorporate this factor when estimating human exposure to indoor air pollutants.
This research was partially funded by the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program on the State of California Grant No. 6RT-0118 and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) University Partnership Agreement No. DW89931890 with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stanford University. EPA, through its Office of Research and Development, funded and managed part of the research described herein. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use.