Internal Combustion Engines as the Main Source of Ultrafine Particles in Residential Neighborhoods: Field Measurements in the Czech Republic

Atmosphere

Jitka Stolcpartova⁵  Martin Pechout¹  Lubos Dittrich¹  Martin Mazac¹  Michael Fenkl³  Kristyna Vrbova²  Jakub Ondracek⁴  Michal Vojtisek-Lom⁶ 

[1] Department of Vehicles and Engines, Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic; E-Mails:;Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; E-Mail:;Department of Energy Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic; E-Mail:;Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Rozvojova 2/135, 165 02 Praha 6, Czech Republic; E-Mail:;Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benatska 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic;Department of Automotive, Combustion Engine and Railway Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technicka 4, 166 07 Prague, Czech Republic; E-Mail:

关键词: ultrafine particles;    nanoparticles;    UFP;    air pollution;    traffic load;    spatial distribution;    UFP source;    mobile measurement;    field study;   

DOI  :  10.3390/atmos6111714

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Ultrafine particles (UFP, diameter < 100 nm) exposure has already been associated with adverse effects on human health. Spatial distribution of UFP is non-uniform; they concentrate in the vicinity of the source, e.g. traffic, because of their short lifespan. This work investigates spatial distribution of UFP in three areas in the Czech Republic with different traffic load: High traffic (Prague neighborhood—Sporilov), commuter road vicinity (Libeznice), and a small city with only local traffic (Celakovice). Size-resolved measurements of particles in the 5–500 nm range were taken with a particle classifier mounted, along with batteries, GPS and other accessories, on a handcart and pushed around the areas, making one-minute or longer stops at places of interest. Concentrations along main roads were elevated in comparison with places farther from the road; this pattern was observed in all sites, while particle number distributions both close and away from main roads had similar patterns. The absence of larger particles, the relative absence of higher concentrations of particles away from the main roads, and similar number distributions suggest that high particle number concentrations cannot be readily attributed to sources other than internal combustion engines in vehicles and mobile machinery (i.e., mowers and construction machines).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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