Grantee Research Project Results
1998 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, 1997 through September 30, 1998
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 particulate matter (PM) monitoring package (prototype monitor) capable of continuous operation at our laboratories in New York City and Tuxedo, NY, 50 miles north-northwest of New York City. It will provide records of concentration data as a function of time for thoracic particles (PM10) and eight of their 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 (SO42 ), nitrate (NO3 ), ammonium (NH4+), hydrogen (H+), and particle-associated water (H2O). The monitoring system has been designed to support: (1) studies of 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 and second years 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 also will house all of the other components. A new mass monitor for ultrafine particles has been developed, and laboratory evaluations of a detector for measuring the particle-associated water are under way. Monitors for PM10 and PM2.5, developed by Koutrakis and associates at the Harvard School of Public Health, and New York University's 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 expect that Harvard will use our PM0.15 monitor design in their own ambient air mass concentration monitoring system.One notable accomplishment has been 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. Because 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.
A second notable accomplishment was the development and validation of a new technique for the second-continuous measurement of NO3 and NH4+ involving the continuous collection of concentrated ambient PM2.5 on a tungsten acid-impregnated silver membrane filter with intermittently applied heat to release nitric oxide in proportion to the concentration of the accumulated ions. Nitrate ion measurement was a major objective of the EPA's Request for Application (RFA) because of its volatility during day-long filter sample collection, especially at elevated ambient temperatures.
Future Activities:
The remaining laboratory developments, evaluations, and calibrations will be completed during the third year, as well as 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).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:
multicomponent PM2.5 analyses, PM sampling artifacts, particulate matter, monitoring., 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.