EVALUATING PARTICULATE EMISSIONS FROM JET ENGINES: ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS AND HUMAN HEALTH

The results of this study suggest that the range of size of particulate emissions from some jet engines clusters below 1.5 micrometers and that the emissions contain heavy metals. Therefore, jet exhaust particulates (JEPs) have the potential to adversely affect both the environment and human health. Little is known about the particulate component of jet engine emissions. Baseline physical and chemical data on JEPs were obtained to evaluate their potential effects on the environment. Particles collected from the exhaust stream of two types of jet engines were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Analysis indicated that 100% of the particles collected were below 1.5 micrometers in size. Particles in this size range can penetrate to the alveoli of human lungs. Chemical analyses of jet engine exhaust were conducted in an attempt to identify chemical fingerprints that would distinguish aviation emissions in the environment from other anthropogenic emissions. Certain heavy metals, especially vanadium, were found in jet exhaust and may be useful chemical fingerprints. Analysis of JP-5 fuel standards revealed a suite of alkylbenzene hydrocarbons, which may also aid in fingerprinting aviation emissions. Sediment samples taken at coastal wetlands near airports indicated the presence of the same heavy metals as those found in jet exhaust samples. Field sites exposed to higher volumes of air traffic contained higher levels of sediment heavy metals, supporting the hypothesis that aerial deposition of heavy metals is occurring in areas near some airports.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: p. 1-9
  • Monograph Title: Public-sector aviation issues: graduate research award papers 1994-1995
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00725602
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 309062128
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Sep 18 1996 12:00AM