Particulate matter in the rural settlement during winter time

Tomasz Olszowski

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20171902004

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyzed the variability of the ambient particulates mass concentration in an area occupied by rural development. The analysis applied daily and hourly PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels. Data were derived on the basis of measurement results with the application of stationary gravimetric samplers and optical dust meter. The obtained data were compared with the results from the urban air quality monitoring network in Opole. Principal Component Analysis was used for data analysis. Research hypotheses were checked using U Mann-Whitney. It was indicated that during the smog episodes, the ratio of the inhalable dust fraction in the rural aerosol is greater than for the case of the urban aerosol. It was established that the principal meteorological factors affecting the local air quality. Air temperature, atmospheric pressure, movement of air masses and occurrence of precipitation are the most important. It was demonstrated that the during the temperature inversion phenomenon, the values of the hourly and daily mass concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 are very improper. The decrease of the PM's concentration to a safe level is principally relative to the occurrence of wind and precipitation.

Highlights

During the cold months of the year, anthropogenic activity leads to a considerable deterioration of air quality [1]
The atmospheric pressure and relative humidity were characterized by the lowest variability coefficients (0.01 and 0.12, respectively) and their mean values were characteristic for the analyzed period
The conducted research demonstrated that throughout the winter season, the ground-level troposphere in the rural areas is considerably enriched by particulate matter emission and the values of the mass concentration of PMs does not statistically differ from the levels recorded in the urban areas

Summary

Introduction

During the cold months of the year, anthropogenic activity leads to a considerable deterioration of air quality [1] This situation is relevant for geographical the area of the former Eastern Bloc, where household heating is based on useful energy supply from outdated systems. This problem is not limited only to urban areas [2, 3]. The main source of ambient aerosol is uncontrolled emission from local individual heating systems. These systems are commonly outdated, which leads to the larger degree of enriching the troposphere with a load of hazardous substances

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Conclusion