Fine and ultrafine particulate organic carbon in the Los Angeles basin: Trends in sources and composition

Abstract

In this study, PM2.5 and PM0.18 (particles with dp<2.5 μm and dp<0.18 μm, respectively) were collected during 2012-2013 in Central Los Angeles (LA) and 2013-2014 in Anaheim. Samples were chemically analyzed for carbonaceous species (elemental and organic carbons) and individual organic compounds. Concentrations of organic compounds were reported and compared with many previous studies in Central LA to quantify the impact of emissions control measurements that have been implemented for vehicular emissions over the past decades in this area. Moreover, a novel hybrid approach of molecular marker-based chemical mass balance (MM-CMB) analysis was conducted, in which a combination of source profiles that were previously obtained from a Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model in Central LA, were combined with some traditional source profiles. The model estimated the relative contributions from mobile sources (including gasoline, diesel, and smoking vehicles), wood smoke, primary biogenic sources (including emissions from vegetative detritus, food cooking, and re-suspended soil dust), and anthropogenic secondary organic carbon (SOC). Mobile sources contributed to 0.65 ± 0.25 μg/m(3) and 0.32 ± 0.25 μg/m(3) of PM2.5 OC in Central LA and Anaheim, respectively. Primary biogenic and anthropogenic SOC sources were major contributors to OC concentrations in both size fractions and sites. Un-apportioned OC ("other OC") accounted for an average 8.0 and 26% of PM2.5 OC concentration in Central LA and Anaheim, respectively. A comparison with previous studies in Central LA revealed considerable reduction of EC and OC, along with tracers of mobile sources (e.g. PAHs, hopanes and steranes) as a result of implemented regulations on vehicular emissions. Given the significant reduction of the impacts of mobile sources in the past decade in the LA Basin, the impact of SOC and primary biogenic emissions have a larger relative impact and the new hybrid model allows the impact of these sources to be better quantified.

Keywords: Fine and ultrafine particles; Organic compounds; Particulate matter; Source apportionment; Vehicular emissions.

Figure 1. a-b. Monthly average concentration of Elemental Carbon (EC) and Organic Carbon (OC) (μg/m³) for PM_2.5 and PM_0.18 in a) Central Los Angeles and b) Anaheim

Figure 2. a-b. Monthly average concentration of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (ng/m³) for PM_2.5 and PM_0.18 in a) Central Los Angeles and b) Anaheim

Figure 3. a-b. Monthly average concentration of selected hopanes and steranes (ng/m³) for PM_2.5 and PM_0.18 in a) Central Los Angeles and b) Anaheim

Figure 4

a-b. Monthly average concentration of n-alkanes (ng/m³) for PM_2.5 and PM_0.18 in a) Central Los Angeles and b) Anaheim. Black dots are the Carbon Preference Index (CPI). Error bars correspond to one standard deviation.

Figure 5

a-b. Monthly average concentration of levoglucosan (ng/m³) for PM_2.5 and PM_0.18 in a) Central Los Angeles and b) Anaheim. Error bars correspond to one standard deviation.

Figure 6

a-b. Monthly average source contributions (μg/m³) to ambient OC for PM_2.5 and PM_0.18 in a) Central Los Angeles and b) Anaheim. Primary biogenic source accounts for emissions from vegetative detritus, food cooking and re-suspended soil dust.