Low-wind and other microclimatic factors in near-road black carbon variability: A case study and assessment implications.

ABSTRACT: Airborne black carbon from urban traffic is a climate forcing agent and has been associated with health risks to near-road populations. In this paper, we describe a case study of black carbon concentration and compositional variability at and near a traffic-laden multi-lane highway in Cincinnati, Ohio, using an onsite aethalometer and filter-based NIOSH Method 5040 measurements; the former measured 1-min average black carbon concentrations and the latter determined the levels of organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) averaged over an approximately 2-h time interval. The results show significant wind and temperature effects on black carbon concentration and composition in a way more complex than predicted by Gaussian dispersion models. Under oblique low winds, namely u_x

SUBMITTER: Liang MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4639473 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature