Source Apportionment of Daily Fine Particulate Matter at Jefferson Street, Atlanta, GA, during Summer and Winter

Abstract

The primary emission source contributions to fine organic carbon (OC) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) mass concentrations on a daily basis in Atlanta, GA, are quantified for a summer (July 3 to August 4, 2001) and a winter (January 2–31, 2002) month. Thirty-one organic compounds in PM_2.5 were identified and quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. These organic tracers, along with elemental carbon, aluminum, and silicon, were used in a chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model. CMB source apportionment results revealed that major contributors to identified fine OC concentrations include meat cooking (7–68%; average: 36%), gasoline exhaust (7–45%; average: 21%), and diesel exhaust (6– 41%; average: 20%) for the summer month, and wood combustion (0–77%; average: 50%); gasoline exhaust (14–69%; average: 33%), meat cooking (1–14%; average: 5%), and diesel exhaust (0–13%; average: 4%) for the winter month. Primary sources, as well as secondary ions, including sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium, accounted for 86 ± 13% and 112 ± 15% of the measured PM_2.5 mass in summer and winter, respectively.