Grantee Research Project Results
1997 Progress Report: Development of a Continuous Monitoring System for PM10 and Components of PM2.5
EPA Grant Number: R825305Title: Development of a Continuous Monitoring System for PM10 and Components of PM2.5
Investigators: Lippmann, Morton
Institution: New York University Medical Center
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997
Project Amount: $436,262
RFA: Analytical and Monitoring Methods (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Environmental Statistics , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Water , Air , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The objective of this research is to assemble, test, and validate an ambient PM monitoring package (prototype monitor) capable of continuous operation at our laboratories in New York City and in Tuxedo, NY, a location 50 miles north-northwest (NNW) of New York City. It will provide records of concentration data as a function of time for thoracic particles (PM10) and eight of its components, including coarse mode particles (PM10-PM2.5), fine particles (PM2.5), ultrafine particles (PM0.15) and the constituents of the accumulation mode aerosol (PM2.5-PM0.15) of primary interest, including sulfate (SO4=), nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), hydrogen (H+), particle associated water (H2O), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC). The monitoring system has been designed to support: 1) studies of particulate matter (PM) exposures and their health effects; and 2) studies of PM source attribution and control efficacy. Such studies are needed for the periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) mandated by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977.Progress Summary:
During the first year of this research program, the monitoring elements for the measurement of the sulfur, ammonium, and nitrate components of the accumulation mode aerosol have been adapted, calibrated, and installed in an instrument cart that will also house all of the other components. A new mass monitor for the ultrafine particles has been developed in prototype, and the basic design for the operational unit has been developed. In addition, laboratory evaluations of detectors that can be used for measuring the particle associated water have been undertaken, and an operational unit that can meet the stringent requirements that we have established is on order. Finally, we have established a collaborative program of evaluation of the monitors for PM10 and PM2.5 being developed by Koutrakis and associates at the Harvard School of Public Health. These monitors, and our own ultrafine mass (PM0.15) monitor determine sampled mass on the basis of change in flow resistance across a microporous sampling filter. We will incorporate Harvard designed PM10 and PM2.5 units in our monitoring system, and Harvard plans to use our PM0.15 monitor design in their own ambient air mass concentration monitoring system.Accomplishments: Our most notable accomplishment so far was our demonstration of the technical feasibility for the accurate and precise measurement of the very low mass concentration of ultrafine particles in ambient air over averaging times of one to several hours. Since particle number concentration and mass concentration are highly correlated for such ultrafine particles (while not being correlated for larger particles), it will be possible, using this monitor, to conveniently examine the correlations between the ambient concentration of ultrafine particles and health effects measures such as daily mortality, hospital admissions, emergency room admissions, and respiratory function in time-series analyses. The use of the alternate ultrafine monitor, i.e., the condensation nucleus counter (CNC), involves numerous grab sample measurements of number concentration and more frequent adjustments and calibrations.
Future Activities:
The remaining laboratory developments, evaluations and calibrations will be completed during the second year, and the field testing operations and validations at our monitoring sites in Tuxedo, NY (regional background site) and at midtown Manhattan in New York City (urban high population density site) will be completed in the third year.Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 2 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Lippmann M, Xiong JQ, Li W. Development of a continuous monitoring system for PM10 and components of PM2.5. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2000;15(1):57-67. |
R825305 (1997) R825305 (1998) R825305 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
accumulation mode aerosol, particle associated water, ammonium ion, nitrate ion, sulfate ion, ultrafine particles (PM0.15), fine particles (PM2.5), thoracic particles (PM10), continuous aerosol monitor, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air, Geographic Area, Toxics, Engineering, State, Chemistry, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, EPCRA, Physics, aerosols, particle size, atmospheric chemistry, environmental monitoring, fine particles, ammonium nitrate, ambient particle properties, monitoring, PM10, Ammonia, New York (NY), particulates, analytical chemistry, flame ionization, particulate, continuous measurement, PM2.5, semi-volatile particulate speciesProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.