Black Carbon Instead of Particle Mass Concentration as an Indicator for the Traffic Related Particles in the Brussels Capital Region

Peter Vanderstraeten, Michael Forton, Olivier Brasseur, Zvi Y. Offer

.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2011.25060                

Abstract

The Brussels Capital Region has difficulties in meeting the stringent EU daily limit value for PM10 in all its measuring sites. Postponing the attainment of the deadline was not granted by the EU Commission, mainly due to insufficient judged measures to reduce road traffic emissions. However, a thorough analysis of the data makes clear that neither the particle mass concentration (PM10 and PM2.5) nor the particle number concentration are specific metrics for evaluating the particle pollution originated by traffic. In fact, increased formation of secondary aerosol, together with adverse meteorological conditions and the (re) suspension of the coarser fraction are by far the three main explanations for the numerous PM10 exceeding values. From our experience, amongst the particles measured, only the results for Black Carbon (BC), mainly present in the lower submicron range, are reflective of the direct influence of local traffic. Measured at two traffic sites along with PM mass and number concentrations, the data for Black Carbon show a striking correlation with nitrogen monoxide, a parameter strongly related with the proximity of the local traffic. The correlation factor between Black Carbon data and NO or NO_X is much higher than between Black Carbon and the PM mass or number concentration. Therefore the assessment of traffic related particles should consider Black Carbon rather than PM10 or PM2.5.

Keywords

Black Carbon, PM10, PM2.5, Particle Mass Concentration, Particle Number Concentration

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	[1] OECD, “Methods of Measuring Air Pollution,” Report of the Working Party on Methods of Measuring Air Pollution and Survey Techniques, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, 1964.
[2]	P. Vanderstraeten, O. Brasseur, M. Forton, A. Cheymol and M. Squilbin, “Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Dioxide in the Brussels Ambient Air,” Geographical Forum and Environmental Protection Journal, Vol. 9, 2010, pp. 75-86.
[3]	P. Vanderstraeten, M. Forton, Y. Lénelle, A. Meurrens, D. Carati, L. Brenig, Z. Y. Offer and E. Zaady, “Elevated PM10 Concentration and High PM2.5/PM10 Ratio in the Brussels Urban Area during the 2006 Car Free Sunday,” International Journal for Environment and Waste Management. Vol. 6, No. 3-4, 2010, pp. 264-279. doi:10.1504/IJEWM.2010.035062
[4]	K. L. Demirjian and V. A. Mohnen, “Synopsis of the Temporal Variation of Particle Matter Composition and Size,” Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 58, No. 2, 2008, pp. 216-233. doi:10.3155/1047-3289.58.2.216
[5]	T. E. Kleindienst, M. Lewandowski, J. H. Offenberg, E. O. Edney, M. Jaoui, M. Zheng, X. Ding, E. S. Edegerton, “Contribution of Secondary Sources to Organic Aerosol and PM2.5 at Search Network Sites,” Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 60, No. 11, 2010, pp. 1388-1399. doi:10.3155/1047-3289.60.11.1388
[6]	J.-P. Putaud, et al. “A European Aerosol Phenomenology – 3: Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Particulate Matter from 60 Rural, Urban and Kerbside Sites across Europe,” Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 44, No. 10, 2010, pp. 1308-1320. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.12.011
[7]	M. Sillanp??, et al. “Chemical Composition and Mass Closure of Particulate Matter at Six Urban Sites in Europe,” Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 40, Suppl. 2, 2006, pp. 212-223. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.01.063
[8]	X. Querol, A. Alastuey, C. R. Ruiz, B. Artinano, H. C. Hansson, R. M. Harisson, E. Buringh, H. M. ten Brink, M. Lutz, P. Bruckmann, P. Straehl, J. Schneider, “Specifiation and Origin of PM10 and PM2.5 in Selected European Cities,” Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 38, No. 38, 2004, pp. 6547-6555. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.08.037
[9]	M. Schaap and H. A. C. Denier van der Gon, “On the Variability of Black Smoke and Carbonaceous Aerosols in the Netherlands,” Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 41, No. 28, 2007, pp. 5908-5920. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.03.042
[10]	P. Quincey, “A Relationship between Black Smoke Index and Black Carbon concentration,” Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 41, No. 36, 2007, pp. 7964-7968. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.09.033