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Near-road modeling and measurement of cerium-containing particles generated by nanoparticle diesel fuel additive use
Citation:
Gantt, B., S. Hoque, R. Willis, K. Fahey, J. Degado-Saborit, R. Harrison, G. Erdakos, P. Bhave, K. Zhang, K. Kovalcik, AND H. Pye. Near-road modeling and measurement of cerium-containing particles generated by nanoparticle diesel fuel additive use. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis, IN, 48(18):19697-10613, (2014).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory’s Atmospheric Modeling Division (AMAD) conducts research in support of EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. AMAD’s research program is engaged in developing and evaluating predictive atmospheric models on all spatial and temporal scales for forecasting the Nation’s air quality and for assessing changes in air quality and air pollutant exposures, as affected by changes in ecosystem management and regulatory decisions. AMAD is responsible for providing a sound scientific and technical basis for regulatory policies based on air quality models to improve ambient air quality. The models developed by AMAD are being used by EPA, NOAA, and the air pollution community in understanding and forecasting not only the magnitude of the air pollution problem, but also in developing emission control policies and regulations for air quality improvements.
Description:
Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCe) are used as a fuel-borne catalyst in diesel engines to reduce particulate emissions, yet the environmental and human health impacts of the exhaust particles are not well understood. To bridge the gap between emission measurements and ambient impacts, size-resolved measurements of particle composition and mass concentration have been performed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom, where buses have used an nCe additive since 2005. These observations show that the noncrustal cerium fraction thought to be associated with the use of nCe has a mass s concentration ~0.3 ng m-3 with a size distribution peaking at 100-320 nm in aerodynamic diameter. Simulations with a near-roadway multi-component sectional aerosol dynamic model predict that the use of nCe additives increases the number concentration of nuclei mode particles (<50 nm in diameter) while decreasing the total mass concentration. The near-road model predicts a downwind mass size distribution of cerium-containing particles peaking ast 150 nm in aerodynamic diameter, a value similar to that measured for noncrustal cerium in Newcastle. This work shows that both the emission and atomspheric transormation of cerium-containing particles nedds to be taken into account by regional modelers, exposure scientists, and policymakers when determining potential environmental and human health impacts.
URLs/Downloads:
FINAL FINAL GANTT_NCE_EST_MANUSCRIPT WITH SUPPORTING INFO.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 1610.97 KB, about PDF)Environmental Science and Technology
