Mobile measurements of the horizontal variation of fine particulate matter in the state of North Rhine Westphalia in Germany – a case study
- Fine particulate matter is well known for its adverse health effects for the population. It is still one of the major problems of air pollution in Germany. The limit values of fine particulate matter PM10 are often exceeded in bigger German cities. Therefore the level of fine particulate matter and other air pollutants are routinely monitored at single hot spots in the cities by measurement stations of the environmental state agencies. However, it is of high interest, what levels of concentrations of fine particulate matter are to be found in those areas, where no measurement stations are placed. Moreover, it is important to know, how strong exceedings of fine particulate matter concentrations can be influenced by meteorological conditions. In this paper fine particulate matter concentrations are measured with a car, which was equipped with measurement systems for fine particulate matter and which was driving through industrial and rural areas of the state North Rhine Westphalia inFine particulate matter is well known for its adverse health effects for the population. It is still one of the major problems of air pollution in Germany. The limit values of fine particulate matter PM10 are often exceeded in bigger German cities. Therefore the level of fine particulate matter and other air pollutants are routinely monitored at single hot spots in the cities by measurement stations of the environmental state agencies. However, it is of high interest, what levels of concentrations of fine particulate matter are to be found in those areas, where no measurement stations are placed. Moreover, it is important to know, how strong exceedings of fine particulate matter concentrations can be influenced by meteorological conditions. In this paper fine particulate matter concentrations are measured with a car, which was equipped with measurement systems for fine particulate matter and which was driving through industrial and rural areas of the state North Rhine Westphalia in Germany. By this means it was possible to measure coarse and fine fractions of particulate matter continuously during driving. In this way the horizontal variation of fine particulate matter could be investigated throughout the state. The measurements comprised dust concentrations of the fractions PM10 (coarse), PM2.5 (more fine) and PM1(very fine), which are addressed within the European environmental legislation. Moreover, every second during driving the full size distribution of particles between 250 nm and 32 μm diameter was measured. Therefore it could be investigated, at what places more bigger or more smaller particles were present under specific meteorological conditions. The mobile car measurements were performed as a case study in a situation with a strong meteorological inversion layer. The mobile measurements of the horizontal variation of fine particulate matter in industrial and rural areas are compared with model prediction calculations. Moreover, using backward trajectories a source appointment of the fine particulate matter could be performed.…

