A Semi-portable Enclosure to Measure Emission Rates from Small Fugitive Sources: Leaf Blower Dust Example

Abstract

Small fugitive particulate matter (PM) sources may make significant impacts to urban air pollution. The PM emission rates for most of these have not been measured due to the difficulty involved. The EPA addresses some fugitive emission rates in their AP-42 document and these generally were developed from upwind-downwind sampling. A semi-portable enclosure was designed and evaluated for determining PM emission rates from landscape cleaning operations such as leaf blowing, raking, and sweeping. The method consisted of an enclosure to confine PM emissions while performing these activities on actual in-use surfaces while making measurements using real-time PM analyzers. In this enclosure the cleaning equipment could be operated in the same way as normally done. To evaluate the enclosure’s mixing and exchange rates, propene gas was released and used as a tracer. PM emission rates were then calculated from measured concentrations, the dimensions of the enclosure, and area over which the cleaning operation was performed. To evaluate this method, cleaning operations were performed after the pavement floor was vacuumed and then spiked with surrogate debris. To make actual emission rate measurements, the enclosure was placed over landscape with debris from normal grounds maintenance activities. Emission rates were determined as a function of surface type and cleaning tool used. The method would be appropriate for many types of small fugitive dust sources.