THE MEASUREMENT OF ROADWAY PM10 EMISSION RATES USING TRACER TECHNIQUES

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated Spokane, Washington a non-attainment area for particulate matter with a diameter equal to or less than 10 micrometers (PM sub 10). Observed 24-hr PM sub 10 standard exceedances, neglecting windblown dust contributions from surrounding agricultural areas, stem primarily from residential wood combustion and unpaved and paved roads. Particulate matter emission rates from roadway related activities, that are used to develop emission inventories, are currently based on highly uncertain EPA approved empirical correlations. In this work, stationary and mobile point source tracer release techniques were used to determine PM sub 10 emission rates from 4-lane commercial/residential paved roads under sanded and unsanded conditions, and from unpaved roads relative to site specific vehicular and ambient parameters. Measured street (4+ lanes; >/=10,000 vehicles/day) emission factors for unsanded and sanded roads were respectively 40% and 10% lower than the EPA approved reference value. Notably the sanded condition was not four times greater than the unsanded case, as current EPA guidance suggests. Preliminary results indicate a consistent relationship between PM sub 10 and relative humidity under unsanded conditions. Evidence suggests that street sweeping has a negligible effect on PM sub 10 emission reduction. Considerable uncertainties were observed with the empirical emission factor equation. In fact, experimental observations were on average 90% lower than the empirical predictions. Within the constraints imposed by the variable experimental conditions, the deduced emission factors for unpaved roads agreed reasonably well with the unpaved road empirical formula. Limited correlations were observed with ambient meteorological parameters. The capability of the "upwind-downwind" concentration method to provide accurate emission factor predictions is also presented. Within a factor of two uncertainty limit, the SIMFLUX Gaussian dispersion model predictions agreed well with the experimentally determined emission factors. Lateral and vertical dispersion were seen to dominate roadway diffusion characteristics during periods of high and low wind speed, respectively.

• Record URL:
  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/397.1.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Washington State University, Pullman

  Washington State Transportation Center
  Pullman, WA  United States  99164

  Washington State Department of Transportation

  Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, P.O. Box 47300
  Olympia, WA  United States  98504-7300

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • KANTAMANENI, R
  • CLAIBORN, C
• Publication Date: 1996-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Alternatives analysis; Equations; Field tests; Forecasting; Four lane highways; Humidity; Nonattainment areas; Particulates; Pollutants; Streets; Sweepers; Unpaved roads; Wastes; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field measurements; Gaussian dispersion models
• Geographic Terms: Spokane (Washington)
• Old TRIS Terms: Emission rates; Empirical equations; Meteorological parameters
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00727221
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: WA-RD 397.1, Final Technical Report
• Contract Numbers: T9902-02
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 7 1996 12:00AM