HR: 0800h
AN: A51A-0032    [Abstracts]
TI: Spatial Variation and Source Characterization of Size Fractionated Particulate Matter in Long Beach
AU: * Geller, M D
EM: mgeller@usc.ed
AF: University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
AU: Arhami, M
EM: arhami@usc.edu
AF: University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
AU: Polidori, A
EM: polidori@usc.edu
AF: University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
AU: Sioutas, C
EM: sioutas@usc.edu
AF: University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
AB: The Los Angeles Ports complex (the largest in the US) consists of the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles. Due to the high levels of particulate matter (PM) emitted from many sources (some unregulated) in the vicinity of these ports (e.g. marine vessels, diesel and gasoline vehicles, refineries, and power plants) and projected massive expansion, the ports have been the focus of future governmental regulation. The focus of this study is to characterize the composition and distribution of PM at various locations influenced by port-affiliated sources. Size fractionated PM samples were collected concurrently at seven sites in Southern California for two six-week periods in the summer and winter of 2007. Personal cascade impactor samplers (PCISs) were used to collect weekly coarse, accumulation, and quasi-ultrafine mode particles at each site. Four sites were located within the communities of Wilmington and Long Beach and two sites were located at background locations near the harbors of each port. The seventh sampler, operated at the University of Southern California (near downtown Los Angeles), was used as a reference of a typical urban site. Each PCIS was accompanied by a CPC and a meteorological station to identify local sources based on wind speed and direction correlated to particle counts. Coefficients of divergence (COD) calculated based on PM levels were highly variable between different sites (0.12 to 0.7), with higher CODs resulting from comparisons between background and inland sites. In addition, accumulation mode particles showed lower CODs compared to other size fractions, which is due to high atmospheric residence times and greater spatial dispersion of this size range. Weekly filter-based samples are being analyzed for chemical composition, including elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC, respectively) and inorganic ions. Samples will then be composited and analyzed for organic species, trace metals, and redox potential. This information will be used to decouple the source signatures of ports, local freeways and other industries. Such information is essential in the implementation of future control measures and particle standards that aim to reduce the public health risk.
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
DE: 0345 Pollution: urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting