Abstract
In order to explore the emission characteristics of particulate and its particle-bound metal elements, eight construction sites in southem Taiwan were investigated during the period between Dec. 1996 and May 1997. Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected with PS-1 samplers, and the dry deposition particles were sampled by dry deposition plates with smooth surfaces. The emission factors of particulate matter from construction sites were estimated using a dispersion model. Twenty elements, including Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, Pb, Zn, Ni, V, Ba, Mn, Cr, Cu, Cd, Sr, Ag, Mo, Sb, As, and Ti, were analyzed in this study． The results indicated that dry deposition fluxes of TSP ranged between 762 and 3,760 mg/m(superscript 2)-day with an average of 2,230 mg/m(superscript 2)-day． The dry deposition velocities (V(subscript d)) of TSP varied in a narrow range between 2.63 to 5.55 cm/s with an average of 4.31cm/s and a standard deviation of l.21 cm/s. The major elemental components of particulate matter in the ambient air at construction sites were found to be crustal elements including Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and Na. These compositions were similar to those of road dust. Dry deposition fluxes of crustal metals were much higher than those measured at urban and suburban sites.
Highlights
Considerable attention has been focused on the air quality degradation caused by the particulate matter
The ambient air concentration of particulate matter is universally high in developing areas because of higher road dust loading attributed from on-going construction activities
The concentration of 500 μg/m3 is the regulation standard of Total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration at construction sites in Taiwan. Among these 100 samples, 34 samples did not satisfy the regulation standard. It showed that particulate matter emission from construction sites was serious
Summary
Considerable attention has been focused on the air quality degradation caused by the particulate matter. The ambient air concentration of particulate matter is universally high in developing areas because of higher road dust loading attributed from on-going construction activities. The effects of dust and deposits with large particles are both visible and tangible and are one of the main causes of complaint to air pollution [Hall et al, 1993]. The particulate matters emitted from the construction sites are characterized by large particle sizes. The particulates on the road and construction area are resuspended into the air by wind blow and mechanical disturbance. Study on the characteristics of particulate and metal dry deposition at construction sites remains to be conducted. Fugitive sources emitted large amount of metal elements, especially crustal elements. Twenty metal elements emitted from construction sites were measured. Particulate size distribution, particle-bound metal concentration, dry deposition flux and dry deposition velocity were evaluated
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