Number and Size Distribution of Airborne Nanoparticles during Summertime in Kuwait: First Observations from the Middle East

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• 作者：Abdullah N. Al-Dabbous ; Prashant Kumar
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2014
• 出版时间：December 2, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：48
• 期：23
• 页码：13634-13643
• 全文大小：424K
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

We made fast response measurements of size-resolved particle number concentrations (PNCs) and distributions (PNDs) in the 5鈥?000 nm range close to a busy roadside, continuously for 31 days, in Kuwait. The aims were to understand their dispersion characteristics during summertime and dust events, and association with trace pollutants (NO_x, O₃, CO, SO₂, and PM₁₀) and meteorological parameters. PNCs were found up to 鈭?9-times higher (5.98 脳 10⁵ cm^鈥?) than those typically found in European roadside environments. Size distributions exhibited over 90% of PNCs in ultrafine size range (<100 nm) and a negligible fraction over 300 nm. Peak PNDs appeared at 鈭?2 nm, showing an unusually large peak in nucleation mode. Diurnal variations of PNCs coincided with the cyclic variations in CO, NO_x, and traffic volume during morning and evening rush hours. Despite high traffic volume, PNC peaks were missing during noon hours due to high ambient temperature (鈭?8 掳C) that showed an inverse relationship with the PNCs. Principal Component Analysis revealed three probable sources in the area鈥攍ocal road traffic, fugitive dust, and refineries. Dust events, categorized by PM₁₀ with over 1000 渭g m^鈥?, decreased PNCs by 鈭?5% and increased their geometric mean diameters (GMDs) by 鈭?6% compared with nondust periods.