Distinct Ultrafine Particle Profiles Associated with Aircraft and Roadway Traffic

Abstract

The Mobile ObserVations of Ultrafine Particles study was a two-year project to analyze potential air quality impacts of ultrafine particles (UFPs) from aircraft traffic for communities near an international airport. The study assessed UFP concentrations within 10 miles of the airport in the directions of aircraft flight. Over the course of four seasons, this study conducted a mobile sampling scheme to collect time-resolved measures of UFP, CO 2 , and black carbon (BC) concentrations, as well as UFP size distributions. Primary findings were that UFPs were associated with both roadway traffic and aircraft sources, with the highest UFP counts found on the major roadway (I-5). Total concentrations of UFPs alone (10–1000 nm) did not distinguish roadway and aircraft features. However, key differences existed in the particle size distribution and the black carbon concentration for roadway and aircraft features. These differences can help distinguish between the spatial impact of roadway traffic and aircraft UFP emissions using a combination of mobile monitoring and standard statistical methods.

Indoor Air Quality Intervention in Schools; Effectiveness of a Portable HEPA Filter Deployment in Five Schools Impacted by Roadway and Aircraft Pollution Sources

“…However in recent years, there have been special studies in Pittsburgh, the Netherlands, New York, Montreal, Seattle and Los Angeles that confirm UFPs are elevated near roadways, near industrial sites, in urban cores and in proximity to flight paths. 2,[69][70][71] There are strong gradients of exposure to UFPs observed in these studies, with UFP decreasing to background levels within 100 meters of sources. Because of the lack of health-based regulatory standards as well as limited long-term monitoring data, it is difficult to compare the magnitude of the outdoor concentrations observed in this study to typical outdoor concentrations.…”

“…In general, these special studies were either designed as short-term mobile monitoring studies or snapshot designs, where monitors are rotated among fixed sites for a year or less. 2,[72][73][74][75] The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) collected 1-minute UFP count data across seven sites in New York State over the year 2017 at near-road, urban, suburban and state park locations. This dataset was shared with the research team.…”

“…The recently completed MOV-UP study in King County, Washington, identified a clear, aircraft-associated footprint of ultrafine particles under flight paths. Monitoring campaigns conducted in communities near airports in Seattle, [2][3][4] Los Angeles, [5][6][7][8] , Atlanta, 9 Boston, 10 New York 11 and Amsterdam 12 have all identified elevated levels of total UFP in proximity to international airports. This work has also highlighted differences in the pollutant mixtures between aircraft and roadway traffic sources, 6,11,13,14 as well as differences in fuel-based emissions of UFP from aircraft and roadway traffic sources.…”

“…This work has also highlighted differences in the pollutant mixtures between aircraft and roadway traffic sources, 6,11,13,14 as well as differences in fuel-based emissions of UFP from aircraft and roadway traffic sources. 2,7 Evidence is emerging that exposure to aircraft emissions is associated with negative health impacts. A recent 10-year retrospective population-based study in Los Angeles found a significant increase in pre-term births in women exposed to aircraft-related pollution during gestation, and this effect was found to be independent of the effect of roadway traffic pollution.…”

Exploring the potential of electrostatic precipitation as an alternative particulate matter filtration system in aircraft cabins

“…Those non-volatile UFPs were found to present a particle size distribution (PSD) with a mode at 20 nm, notably smaller than typical PSD that can be monitored in urban locations. 10 Additionally, the formation of a secondary, volatile nano-aerosol, with a mode below 10 nm (nucleation mode), originating from conversion processes of sulfur and various organic gases, was also reported. 3 Since the intake air is usually not filtered before entering the cabin, the presence of high levels of airborne particles on airport area (reaching up to 10 7 particles cm −3 within runways vicinity 11 ) may drastically impair the CAQ when airplanes are operated at ground level.…”