Investigation on the near-field evolution of industrial plumes from metalworking activities

Abstract

In a context where a significant fraction of the population lives near industrial areas, the main objectives of this study are to provide (a) new data on PM2.5 chemical compositions, heavy-metal concentrations and trace gases released by metalworking activities and (b) new information on the near-field evolution (up to about a thousand meters) of such industrial plumes in terms of particle chemical composition and size distribution. For that purpose, a one-month field campaign was performed in an industrial area near the city of Dunkirk (Northern France), combining measurements of atmospheric dynamics and physico-chemical characterization of air masses. Comparisons between several elemental ratios (mainly Mn/Fe), particle size distributions and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations at the stacks and at a near-field site suggest that plumes of a ferromanganese alloy plant were quickly mixed with pollutants emitted by other sources (mainly other industries, possibly traffic and sea spray), in particular a neighboring steelworks, before reaching the sampling site. This led to the emergence of secondary particles related to condensation and/or aggregation phenomena inside the plumes. Metalworking emissions were also identified as a source of new particle formation, formed through the emission of gaseous precursors and their fast transformation and condensation, over a timescale of minutes before reaching the near-field site 800 m downwind. Ultrafine particles emitted at the stacks also quickly agglomerated to form larger particles before reaching the near-field site. These results show that, even over short distances, the chemical composition and size distribution of metalworking plumes may evolve rapidly and the characteristics of particles at the boundary of an industrial area (especially in contiguous urban areas) may differ from those emitted directly at the stacks.