Abstract
Here we compare PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) mass and filter absorbance measurements with elemental carbon (EC) concentrations measured in parallel at the same site as well as collocated PM2.5 and PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) mass and absorbance measurements. The data were collected within the Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Childhood Asthma (TRAPCA) study in Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden. The study was designed to assess the health impact of spatial contrasts in long-term average concentrations. The measurement sites were distributed between background and traffic locations. Annual EC and PM2.5 absorbance measurements were at traffic sites on average 43–84% and 26–76% higher, respectively, compared to urban background sites. The contrast for PM2.5 mass measurements was lower (8–35%). The smaller contrast observed for PM2.5 mass in comparison with PM2.5 absorbance and EC documents that PM2.5 mass underestimates exposure contrasts related to motorized traffic emissions. The correlation between PM10 and PM2.5 was high, documenting that most of the spatial variation of PM10 was because of PM2.5. The measurement of PM2.5 absorbance was highly correlated with EC measurements and suggests that absorbance can be used as a simple, inexpensive and non-destructive method to estimate motorized traffic-related particulate air pollution. The EC/absorbance relation differed between countries and site type (background/traffic), supporting the need for site-specific calibrations of the simple absorbance method. While the ratio between PM2.5 and PM10 mass ranged from 0.54 to 0.68, the ratio of PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 absorbance was 0.96–0.97, indicating that PM2.5 absorbance captures nearly all of the particle absorbance.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 6 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $43.17 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bayram H., Devalia J.L., Sapsford R.J., Ohtoshi T., Miyabara Y., Sagai M., and, Davies R.J. The effect of diesel exhaust particles on cell function and release of inflammatory mediators from human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1998: 18: 441–448.
Brunekreef B., Janssen N.A.H., Hartog de J., Harssema H., Knape M., and, Vliet van P. Air pollution from truck traffic and lung function in children living near motorways. Epidemiology 1997: 8: 298–303.
Chow J. Measurement methods to determine compliance with ambient air quality standards for suspended particles. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 1995: 45: 320–382.
Ciccone G., Forastiere F., Agabiti N., Biggeri A., Bisanti L., Chelline E., Corbo G., Dell'Orco V., and, Dalmasso P. Road traffic and adverse respiratory effects in children. OccupEnviron Med 1998: 55: 771–778.
Countant B., and, Stetzer S. Evaluation of PM2.5 speciation sampler performance and related sample collection and stability issues: final report. US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 2001 Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards: (Report No. EPA-454/R-01-008) (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/pmspec.html).
Cyrys J., Heinrich J., Brauer M., and, Wichmann H.E. Spatial variability of acidic aerosols, sulfate and PM10 in Erfurt, Eastern Germany. J Expos Anal Environ Epidemiol 1998: 8(4): 447–464.
Delumyea R.G., Chu L.C., and, Macias E.S. Determination of elemental carbon component of soot in ambient samples. Atmos Environ 1980: 1: 647–652.
Diaz-Sanchez D. The role of diesel exhaust particles and their associated polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the induction of allergic airway disease. Allergy 1997: 52 (38 Suppl): 52–56.
Duhme H., Weiland S.K., Keil U., Kraemer B., Schmid M., Stender M., and, Chambless L. The association between self-reported symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis and self-reported traffic density on street of residence in Adolescents. Epidemiology 1996: 7 (6): 578–582.
English P., Neutra R., Scalf R., Sullivan M., Waller L., and, Zhu L. Examining associations between childhood asthma and traffic flow using a geographic information system. Environ Health Perspect 1999: 107: 761–767.
Fischer A., Gehrig R., and, Hofer P. 1997. Russmesungen in der Außenluft, Methodik und Resultate. Schriftenreihe Umwelt-Materialien Nr. 80 Luft. Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft (BUWAL), Bern.
Fischer P.H., Hoek G., van Reeuwiijk H., Briggs D.J., Lebret E., van Wijnen J.H., Kingham S., and, Elliott P.E. Traffic-related differences in outdoor and indoor concentrations of particles and volatile organic compounds in Amsterdam. Atmos Environ 2000: 34: 3713–3722.
Gray H.A., and, Cass G.R. Source contributions to atmospheric fine carbon particle concentrations. Atmos Environ 1998: 32 (22): 3805–3825.
Hamilton R., and, Mansfield T. Atmos Environ 1991: 25A: 715–723.
Hies T., Treffeisen R., Sebald L., and, Reimer E. Spectral analysis of air pollutants. Part 1: elemental carbon time series. Atmos Environ 2000: 34: 3495–3502.
Hoek G., Forsberg B., Borowska M., Hlawiczka S., Vaskövi E., Welinder H., Braniss M., Benes I., Kotesevec F., Hagen L.O., Cyrys J., Jantunen M.J., Roemer W., Brunekreef B. Wintertime PM10 and Black Smoke concentrations across Europe: results from the PEACE study. Atmos Environ 1997a: 31: 3609–3622.
Hoek G., Meliefste K., Cyrys J., Lewné M., Bellander T., Brauer B., Fischer P., Gehring G., Heinrich J., Vliet vad P., and, Brunekreef B. Spatial variability of fine particle concentrations in three European countries. Atmos Environ 2002: 36: 4077–4088.
Hoek G., Welinder H., Vaskovi E., Ciacchini G., Manalis N., Royset O., Reponen A., Cyrys J., and, Brunekreef B. Interlaboratory comparison of PM10 and Black Smoke measurements in the PEACE study. Atmos Environ 1997b: 31: 3341–3349.
Horvarth H. Atmospheric light absorption-a review. Atmos Environ 1993: 27A: 293–317.
ISO. Ambient air-determination of a black smoke index. International Organization for Standarization. International Standard 9835-1993 (E), 1993.
Janssen N.A.H., van Mansom D.F.M., van Jagt K., Harssema H., and, Hoek G. Mass concentration and elemental composition of airborne particulate matter at street and background locations. Atmos Environ 1997: 31: 1185–1193.
Janssen N.A.H., van Vliet P., van Aarts F., Harssema H., and, Brunekreef B. Assessment of exposure to traffic-related air pollution of children attending schools near motorways. Atmos Environ 2001: 35: 3875–3884.
Keeber G. The source of aerosols elemental carbon at Allerghery mountain. Atmos Environ 1990: 24A: 2795–2805.
Kinney P.L., Aggarwal M., Northridge M.A., Janssen N.A.H., and, Shepard P. Personal exposure to PM2.5 and diesel exhaust particles on Harlem sidewalks. Environ Health Perspect 2000: 108: 213–218.
Krämer U., Koch T., Ranft U., Ring J., and, Behrendt H. Traffic-related air pollution is associated with atopy in children living in urban areas. Epidemiology 2000: 11: 64–70.
Laden F., Neas L.M., Dockery D.W., and, Schwartz J. Association of fine particulate matter from different sources with daily mortality in six U.S. cities. Environ Health Perspect 2000: 108 (10): 941–947.
Marple V.A., Rubow K.L., Turner W., Spengler J.D. Low flow rate sharp cut impactors for indoor air sampling: design and calibration. J Air Pollut Control Assoc 1987: 37: 1303–1307.
Monn Ch., Carabias V., Junker R., Waeber R., Karrer M., and, Wanner H.U. Small-scale spatial variability of particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide. Atmos Environ 1997: 31: 2243–2247.
Nakai S., Nitta H. and Maeda K. Respiratory health associated with exposure to automobile exhaust. II. Personal NO2 Exposure Levels According to Distance from the Roadside. J Expos Anal Environ Epidemiol 1995: 5 (2): 125–136.
Nielsen T. Traffic contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the center of a large city. Atmos Environ 1996: 20: 3481–3490
Nyberg F., Gustavsson P., Järup L., Bellander T., Berglind N., Jakobsson R., and, Pershagen G. Urban air pollution and lung cancer in Stockholm. Epidemiology 2000: 11 (5): 487–495.
OECD. Method of Measuring Air Pollution. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 1964.
Oosterlee A., Drijver M., Lebret E., and, Brunekreef B. Chronic respiratory symptoms in children and adults living along streets with high traffic density. Occup Environ Med 1996: 53: 241–247.
Penttinen P., Alm S., Ruuskanen J., and, Pekkanen J. Measuring reflectance of TSP-filters for retrospective health studies. Atmos Environ 2000: 34: 2581–2586.
Schmid H., Laskus L., Abraham H.J., Baltensperger U., Levenchy V., Bizjak M., Burba P., Cachier H., Crow D., Chow J., Gnauk V., Even V., ten Brink H.M., Giesen K.P., Hitzenberger R., Hueglin C., Maenhaut W., Pio C., Carvalho V., Putaud J.P., Toom-Sauntry D. and, Puxbaum H. Results of the “carbon conference” international carbon round robin test stage I. Atmos Environ 2001: 35: 2111–2121.
Schwartz J., Dockery D.W., Neas L.M. Is daily mortality associated specifically with fine particles? J. Air Waste Manage Assoc 1996: 46: 927–939.
Tolocka M.P., Solomon P.A., Mitchell W., Norris G.A., Gemmill D.B., Wiener R.W., Vanderpool R.W., Homolya J.B., and, Rice J. East versus West in the US: chemical characteristics of PM2.5 during Winter of 1999. Aerosol Sci Technol 2001: 34: 88–96.
Ulrich E. and, Israel G.W. Diesel soot measurement under traffic conditions. J Aerosol Sci 1992: 1 (Suppl. 23): S925–928.
VDI. Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, 2465, Part 1: Measurements of Soot (Immission) — Chemical Analysis of Elemental Carbon by Extraction and Thermal Desorption of Organic Carbon. Bueth, Berlin, 1996.
Vliet van P., Knape M., Hartog de J., Janssen N., Harssema H., and, Brunekreef B. Motor vehicle exhaust and chronic respiratory symptoms in children living near motorways. Environ Res 1997: 74: 122–132.
Weiland S.K., Mundt K.A., Rueckmann A., and, Keil U. Self-reported wheezing and allergic rhinitis in children and traffic density on street of residence. Ann Epidemiol 1994: 4: 243–247.
Wjst M., Reitmeir P., Dold S., Wulff A., Nicola T., von Loeffelholz-Colberg E., von Mutius E. Road traffic and adverse effects on respiratory health in children. Br Med J 1993: 307: 596–600.
Wolff P., Korsog P., Stroup D., Ruthkorky M., and, Morrissey M. The influence of local and regional sources on the concentrations of inhalable particulate matter in South-eastern Michigan. Atmos Environ 1985: 19: 305–313.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cyrys, J., Heinrich, J., Hoek, G. et al. Comparison between different traffic-related particle indicators: Elemental carbon (EC), PM2.5 mass, and absorbance. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 13, 134–143 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500262
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500262
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Measurements of traffic-related air pollution at a U.S.–Mexico port of entry and its impacts on nearby community
Discover Environment (2023)
-
Vertical distribution of source apportioned PM2.5 using particulate-bound elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an urban area
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (2020)
-
The relationship between black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposures and mortality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health (2020)
-
Dependence of urban air pollutants on morning/evening peak hours and seasons
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2019)
-
A chronology of ratios between black smoke and PM10 and PM2.5 in the context of comparison of air pollution epidemiology concentration-response functions
Environmental Health (2017)