Sources of Fine Organic Aerosol. 3. Road Dust, Tire Debris, and Organometallic Brake Lining Dust: Roads as Sources and Sinks
Abstract
Particulate matter emitted to the atmosphere due to motor vehicles arises from several sources in addition to tailpipe exhaust. In this study, the organic constituents present in fine particulate (d_p ≤ 2.0 µm) road dust, brake lining wear particles, and tire tread debris (not size segregated) are analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The objective is to characterize such traffic-related sources on an organic compound basis and to search for molecular markers that will assist the identification of traffic-associated dusts in the urban atmosphere. More than 100 organic compounds are quantified in these samples, including n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkenoic acids, n-alkanals, n-alkanols, benzoic acids, benzaldehydes, polyalkylene glycol ethers, PAH, oxy-PAH, steranes, hopanes, natural resins and other compound classes. Paved road dust acts as a repository for vehicle-related particles, which can then be resuspended by the passing traffic. To evaluate the contributions from major urban sources to the road dust complex, source profiles representing different types of vehicle exhaust, brake dust, tire debris, and vegetative detritus are compared, and their fractional contributions are estimated using several groups of organic tracer compounds. Likewise, the close relationship between airborne fine particulate organic constituents and road dust organic matter is discussed.
Additional Information
© 1993 American Chemical Society. Received for review December 15, 1992. Accepted April 20, 1993. We thank Ed Ruth for his assistance with the acquisition of the mass spectrometry data and the staff of Caltech's Physical Plant Department for their cooperation during paved road dust and brake dust sampling. This research was supported by the California Air Resources Board under Agreement A932-127. Portions of the work benefited from research supported by the US. Environmental Protection Agency under Agreement R-813277-01-0 and by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Partial funding also was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC02-76CH00016. The statements and conclusions in the report are those of the contractor and not necessarily those of the California Air Resources Board. The mention of commercial products, their source, or their use in connection with material reported herein is not to be construed as actual or implied endorsement of such products. This manuscript has not been subject to the EPA's peer and policy review and, hence, does not necessarily reflect the views of the EPA.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 68749
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20160629-120258447
- A932-127
- California Air Resources Board
- R-813277-01-0
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
- DE-AC02-76CH00016
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Created
-
2016-06-29Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-11Created from EPrint's last_modified field