Deep Investigation of Ultrafine Particles in Urban Air

Pasquale Avino,Carla Fanizza,Maurizio Manigrasso,Stefano Casciardi

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2010.10.0086

Abstract

This work describes the results of a study which started in 2007 to investigate the ultrafine particle (UFP) pollution in the urban area of Rome. The sampling site was located in a street with high density of autovehicular traffic, where measurements have shown that carbonaceous particulate matter represented an important fraction of aerosol pollution. UFPs have been classified by means of an electrostatic classifier. Monodisperse aerosol was either counted by ultrafine water-based condensation particle counter or sampled by means of a nanometer aerosol sampler. Samples collected were investigated using energy filtered transmission electron microscope in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Electron transmission microscope observations revealed that carbonaceous UFPs were present also as nanotube related forms. The rapid evolution of aerosol from autovehicular exhaust plumes was observed by highly time-resolved aerosol size distribution measurements.

Highlights

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are recently attracting increasing attention due to their potential effects on human and environmental health (Chen et al, 2010)
A high deposition efficiency of UFPs in the pulmonary region was demonstrated in healthy subjects (Brown et al, 2002) and an increased deposition was observed in patients with asthma (Chalupa et al, 2004) or chronic obstructive lung diseases (Brown et al, 2002)
UFPs were investigated by Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS) analyzers and were collected by a Nanometer Aerosol Sampler (NAS) and observed by Energy Filtered Transmission Electron Microscope (EFTEM)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are recently attracting increasing attention due to their potential effects on human and environmental health (Chen et al, 2010). Their large surface-to-volume ratio and ability to deposit deep in the respiratory tract make UFPs potentially more toxic than their larger counterpart (Nel et al, 2006; Braniš and VČtviþka, 2010). In recent years several worldwide studies on aerosol particle number concentrations and size distribution have been published (Hussein et al, 2003; Buonanno et al, 2009; Buonanno et al, 2010; Chen et al, 2010; Liu et al, 2010; Zhu et al, 2010b). UFPs were investigated by Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS) analyzers and were collected by a Nanometer Aerosol Sampler (NAS) and observed by EFTEM

METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS