Abstract
Knowing the vertical distribution of ambient particulate matter (PM) will help port authorities choose the optimal dust-suppression measures to reduce PM concentrations. In this study, we used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to assess the vertical distribution (0–120 m altitude) of PM in a dry bulk port along the Yangtze River, China. Total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations at different altitudes were measured at seven sites representing different cargo-handling sites and a background site. Variations in results across sites make it not suitable to characterize the vertical distribution of PM concentration at this port using simple representative distributions. Bulk cargo particle size, fog cannon use, and porous fence all affected the vertical distribution of TSP concentrations but had only minor impacts on PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. Optimizing porous fence layout according to weather conditions and cargo demand at port have the most potential for mitigating PM pollution related to port operation. As ground-based stations cannot fully measure vertical PM distributions, our methods and results represent an advance in assessing the impact of port activities on air quality and can be used to determine optimal dust-suppression measures for dry bulk ports.
Highlights
Ports are a critical node in the global logistics supply chain, playing an increasingly important role in economic integration and handling more than 80% of global commodity trading [1,2]
Total suspended particulates (TSP) concentrations ranged from 115–840 μg/m3, PM10 concentrations ranged from 35–135 μg/m3, and PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 35–125 μg/m3 (Figure 4)
TSP concentrations measured at Sites 2 and 6 (Figure 4a) and PM2.5 concentrations measured at Sites 5, 6, 7, and 8 (Figure 4c) all exceeded the average values specified in particulate matter (PM) concentration standards (Table 1), but PM10 levels were all below these standards
Summary
Ports are a critical node in the global logistics supply chain, playing an increasingly important role in economic integration and handling more than 80% of global commodity trading [1,2]. Considering the potential effects on the health of nearby residents [12,13,14,15], the environmental impact of port activities has become one of the main challenges of port development [16]. This fact has compelled the need to monitor PM concentrations in and near dry bulk ports, to design mitigation measures aimed at the green and sustainable development of the port [17,18,19]
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