Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Characterization and Modeling of Indoor Particulate Contaminants In a Heavily Industrialized Community

EPA Grant Number: R828598C749
Subproject: this is subproject number 749 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828598
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar)
Center Director: Ho, Tho C.
Title: Characterization and Modeling of Indoor Particulate Contaminants In a Heavily Industrialized Community
Investigators: Ho, Tho C. , Chu, Hsing-wei
Institution: Lamar University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2003
RFA: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (Lamar University) (1996) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research

Objective:

The objectives of the project are to carry out long-term experiments and model analyses to characterize both outdoor and indoor particulate contaminants and to develop dynamic models to describe the relationships between them in a heavily industrialized community, i.e., in the Golden Triangle Area. Specifically, the project milestones are to carry out the following tasks:

1.         Conduct long-term experiments to characterize both outdoor and indoor particulate contaminants and to assess the impact of outdoor contaminants on indoor levels;
2.         Perform source contribution analysis to identify major sources contributing to the outdoor particulate contaminants using chemical material balance models;
3.         Estimate the effects of air transport and other essential factors on outdoor particulate contaminants through backward trajectory simulations and neural networks modelling;
4.         Develop dynamic models to predict indoor contaminants based on outdoor contaminants, indoor sources, and measurable model parameters, e.g., penetration factor and rates of deposition, re-suspension, and filtration;
5.         Evaluate the effectiveness of various methods to reduce indoor particulate contaminants through model simulations based on the developed models; and
6.         Accomplish technology transfer through publications, presentations, workshops, short courses, and the development of computer packages.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

The project has provided the public and the particulate matter research community with scientific insights regarding PM behaviour in Southeast Texas.  The information is critically needed in the effective management of PM pollution leading to a cleaner environment.

1. Concentration and Chemical Analysis: Both the concentrations of outdoor PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are measured and observed to be highly fluctuating during the months from January to April in the region.  The average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are 28±8 and 13±5 µg/m³, respectively.  These observed values are below the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) annual average standards of 50 and 15 µg/m³ for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, respectively. The major constituents have been found to include: sulfate, organic carbon, elemental carbon, and geological material.  Efforts to characterize the detailed PM chemical composition are currently ongoing and the results will be reported in the next progress report.  In addition to outdoor PM, the corresponding indoor PM concentrations have also been measured.  Preliminary results have indicated that, under the minimum indoor activity conditions, the indoor PM concentrations are generally lower than those of outdoors.  However, certain pollutant concentrations, especially chloride, are observed to be higher in indoor PM than in outdoor PM.  The use of chlorine-containing cleaners apparently has contributed to the higher chloride concentrations found in indoor PM.         

2. Source Contribution Analysis: The analysis is to estimate the contribution of various potential sources on the measured particulate contaminants.  The approach is to perform chemical material balance calculations on each predominant species found in the measured PM against that found in the PM from various specific emission sources and formation mechanisms.  Mathematically, the concept of chemical material balance can be expressed as:

 

                        C =  Σ S_j                      j from 1 to J                                                      (1)
and
                        Ci =  ΣF_ij S_j                j from 1 to J                                                      (2)

where:              C:         measured ambient PM concentration, µg/m³
                        S_j:        concentration of source j, µg/m³
                        C_i:        concentration of chemical species i in the measured PM, µg/m³
                        F_ij:        mass fraction of chemical species i in source j, -

In this study, both the EPA endorsed CMB8 model and the currently developed linear goal programming model were involved in the analysis, where standard EPA source profiles, including vehicle exhaust, industry, road dust, and marine aerosol, were modified for the analysis based on types of vehicles and industries found in the region.  In addition, the formations of secondary aerosols of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate were also considered in the analysis. 

The TNRCC’s 1997 Houston-Clinton site PM data were first selected for the analysis due to the availability of complete PM measurements.  Typical simulation results have indicated that the major sources contributed to the site’s PM contaminants are: (1) Secondary Formation of Ammonium Sulfate (30±7%); (2) Petroleum Industry (29±19%); (3) Vehicle Exhaust (29±9%); (4) Paved Road Dust (7±2%); (5) Secondary Formation of Ammonium Nitrate (3±5%); and (6) Marine Aerosol (2±13%).  The detailed results in this analysis are reported in the paper accepted for presentation at the upcoming International Conference on Information Systems in Engineering and Construction to be held in Cocoa Beach, FL, June 7-8, 2001.  The paper is entitled "Using Linear Goal Programming to Solve Chemical Mass Balance Model."     

3. Backward Trajectory Analysis: As reported previously, the observed PM concentrations are highly fluctuating during   the sampling period.  An analysis of Pearson Correlation has revealed that the fluctuating patterns are well-correlated among PM data measured from different monitoring locations in the region. This suggests that the observed PM fluctuations in the region may be originated from the same common air transport effect.  In this study, our first attempt to investigate the effect of air transport on PM concentrations was performed using the TNRCC’s 1997 Houston-Clinton site PM measurements, again due to the availability of the complete data set.  The analysis was carried out through running the HYSPLIT4 Model (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory, version 4.0) developed by NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration). In the simulation, backward trajectory was performed up to 48 hours prior to the day of PM measurement at three altitudes of 10, 50 and 100 meters above the ground.  The 48 hours was selected because small PM particles, especially PM2.5, can be suspended in air for up to 48 hours.

The HYSPLIT4 simulation results have indicated that a major air transport pattern corresponding to low PM concentrations found in Houston is when the air parcels come from the south, i.e., from the Gulf of Mexico where the air is relatively clean (see, e.g., Figure 1).  On the other hand, an air transport pattern corresponding to high PM concentrations found in Houston is when the air parcels come from the east where various heavy industries are concentrated (see, e.g., Figure 2).  The detailed results of the effect of air transport on PM concentrations are reported in the paper accepted for presentation at the upcoming International Conference on Information Systems in Engineering and Construction to be held in Cocoa Beach, FL, June 7-8, 2001.  The paper is entitled "Analysis of the Effect of Air Transport on PM2.5 Using NOAA HYSPLIT4 through Internet Applications."     

4. Neural Networks Modeling: An attempt has been carried out to incorporate the backward trajectory results as well as other essential parameters into a neural network model for predicting and forecasting PM concentrations in the region.  The "Process Insight" neural networks package developed by Pavilion Incorporation is available for this modeling development.  In addition to air transport, the local wind speed, temperature, humidity, and time of day have all been identified to contribute to the observed PM based on preliminary simulations.  One of the major goals for the second year investigation is to complete the development of this neural networks model for forecasting PM pollution in the region.

5. CMAQ Development: The CMAQ modeling system for regional haze simulations is far from being perfect and is constantly being updated by EPA for improved reaction mechanisms, aerosol dynamics and chemistry, and computational efficiency.  In this task, we have continued to keep up with EPA’s development of CMAQ modeling system by implementing new CMAQ releases for regional haze simulation once they become available.  For example, on April 26, 2004, the EPA released the most updated version of NEI99 (final version 3) in IDA format.  In this version of NEI, the ammonium emission inventory has been greatly improved and the mobile emission has been prepared for monthly specific emission. The emission files have been generated using MOBILE6 with a single set of month-specific min/max temperatures per state. The VOC emissions have been split from the MOBIL6 results into EVP (evaporative) and EXH (exhaust) for better assignment of speciation profile.

In addition, in May 2004, the EPA released a new aerosol model in CMAQ called CMAQ-MADRID (Community Multiscale Air Quality - Model of Aerosol Dynamics, Reaction, Ionization and Dissolution). The model treats the aerosol dynamics using a sectional size scheme as compared to the modal (log-normal distribution) size scheme in AERO2 and AERO3. The aerosol chemistry including SOA formation has been improved and the chemical species has also been expanded in the model. The dissolution of gaseous phase species also considers the ionization in the aqueous phase using effective Henry’s constants.

The accomplishments of the project have included seven additional funded projects from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Air Research Center, and the Department of Agriculture through Sul-Ross University worth $722,050.  The title and the detailed information are:

(1).     “Field and Mechanistic Studies for Texas Upper Gulf Coast Air Quality,” $110,300 from the Texas Air Research Center, 12/1/2001- 11/30/2002.

(2).     “Development of CMAQ Air Quality Modeling”, $219,000 from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Air Research Center, 1/1/02 to 8/31/02.

(3).     “Characterization of Airborne Particulate Matter in a Heavily Industrialized Community,” $132,000 from the Texas Air Research Center, 12/04/02 to 12/03/04.

(4).    “Satellite Assimilation in Meteorological and Air Quality Models for the TEXAQS2000 Study Period,” $60,500 from the Texas Air Research Center, 9/1/02 to 8/31/04.

(5).     “CMAQ One-Atmosphere Modeling,” $100,000 from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 12/09/03 to 8/31/04.

(6).     “Development of Modeling and Field Measurement Infrastructure for Regional Haze Analyses,” $74,000 from the Texas Air Research Center, 9/1/04 to 8/31/05.

(7).     “Assessing the Impact of Airborne Pollutants on the Rio Grande Basin,” $26,250 from the Department of Agriculture through Sul-Ross University, 9/1/04 to 8/31/05. 

Future Activities: The PIs have developed several air quality analysis models and gained significant knowledge and experience from this project for carrying out particulate matter research.  We will continue to seek research funding for future research activities related to PM analysis and modeling.  

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 10 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health, Air, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air Quality, Air Pollution Monitoring, particulate matter, Physics, air toxics, Chemistry, State, Analytical Chemistry, Risk Assessments, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, indoor air, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, model, monitoring, particle size, air quality modeling, particulates, PM10, measurement , mass balance model, deposition velocity curves, PM 2.5, ambient air monitoring, air quality models, air modeling, particulate emissions, continuous monitoring, air sampling, modeling, air pollution, particles, Texas (TX), particulate matter formation, human exposure, PM, continuous emissions monitoring, measurement, PM2.5, quantification, size distribution, indoor air quality, indoor/outdoor relationships, measurement methods, quantitative analysis, particle size measurement, particle transport

Relevant Websites:

None.

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2001 Progress Report

2002

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R828598    Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar)

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
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R828598C002 Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactors for Treating Water and Air Streams Contaminated with Chlorinated Solvents
R828598C003 Fugitive Emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants from On-Site Industrial Sewers
R828598C004 Biofiltration Technology Development
R828598C005 A Risk-Based Decision Analysis Approach for Aquifers Contaminated with DNAPLs
R828598C006 In-Situ Remediation for Contaminated Soils Using Prefabricated Vertical Drains
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R828598C009 Waste Minimization in the Magnetic Tape Industry: Waterborne Coating Formulations for Magnetic Tape Manufacture
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R828598C011 Recovery of Dilute Phosphoric Acid in Waste Streams Using Waste Gas Ammonia: The Regenerative MAP/DAP Process
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R828598C014 Optimization of Treatment Technologies for Detoxification of PCB Contaminated Soils
R828598C015 Wastewater Remediation by Catalytic Wet Oxidation
R828598C016 Permanence of Metals Containment in Solidified and Stabilized Wastes
R828598C017 Combustion Enhancement by Radial Jet Reattachment - Low Generation of Hazardous Gases and High Thermal Efficiency
R828598C018 A Process To Convert Industrial Biosludge and Paper Fines to Mixed Alcohol Fuels
R828598C019 Homogeneous Catalysis in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
R828598C020 Ultrasonic Enhancement of the Removal of Heavy Metals
R828598C021 The Binding Chemistry and Leaching Mechanisms of Advanced Solidification/Stabilization Systems for Hazardous Waste Management
R828598C022 Development of an Air-Stripping and UV/H2O2 Oxidation Integrated Process To Treat a Chloro-Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Ground Water
R828598C023 A Comparative Study of Siting Opposition in Two Counties
R828598C024 Sonochemical Treatment of Hazardous Organic Compounds II: Process Optimization and Pathway Studies
R828598C025 Laser Diagnostics of the Combustion Process within a Rotary Kiln Incinerator
R828598C026 Use of Inorganic Ion Exchangers for Hazardous Waste Remediation
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