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Chemical Variability of PM10 and PM2.5 in Southwestern Rural Nevada, USA

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Abstract

The levels and composition of particulate matter in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) that hosts the only population of the endangered Devil’s Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) were examined to obtain baseline air quality information. PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations were measured using continuous monitors over a period of 12 months. In addition, integrated PM10 and PM2.5 filter samples were collected and a subset chemically analyzed for elements, ions, elemental carbon, and organic carbon. The average filter-based PM10 (10.9 μg m−3) and PM2.5 (5.1 μg m−3) levels at Ash Meadows NWR are similar to those previously measured at rural and continental background sites in the southwestern USA. Mineral dust accounted for the largest percentage of aerosol mass, with the highest concentrations being measured during fall months of 2009. Elemental and organic carbon levels were generally low, except for August 29, 2009. During this event, transport of wildfire smoke was suggested, by the passage of air masses over wildfires in California, Utah, and Arizona. Ammonium sulfate varied with season, with the highest concentrations in spring and the lowest in fall and winter. Halite (NaCl) quantities were very low, except for the filter samples collected during a windy period on October 4, 2009 indicating the possible contribution of alkaline playa dust upwind of the site. Above average concentrations of crustal calcium compounds, including carbonates and gypsum, were measured in the PM10 sample collected on November 9, 2009 as well as the two preceding months, ascribed to wind-driven dusty conditions prevailing throughout the late summer and fall of 2009.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and their personnel at the Ash Meadows NWR for providing assistance and support with the deployment of the trailer. Funding for this study was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada Site Office through Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA26383.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA

    Johann P. Engelbrecht, Ilias G. Kavouras, David S. Shafer, Dave Campbell, Scott Campbell, Greg McCurdy, Steven D. Kohl, George Nikolich, Larry Sheetz & Alan W. Gertler

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  1. Johann P. Engelbrecht
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  2. Ilias G. Kavouras
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  3. David S. Shafer
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  4. Dave Campbell
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  9. Larry Sheetz
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Correspondence to Johann P. Engelbrecht.

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Table S1

Chemical and calculated mineral compositions for summer 2009 samples (DOCX 55 kb)

Table S2

Chemical and calculated mineral compositions for summer and fall 2009 samples (DOCX 55 kb)

Table S3

Chemical and calculated mineral compositions for fall 2009 samples (DOCX 54 kb)

Table S4

Chemical and calculated mineral compositions for fall 2009 and winter 2009/10 (DOCX 50 kb)

Table S5

Chemical and calculated mineral compositions for spring 2010 samples (DOCX 56 kb)

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Engelbrecht, J.P., Kavouras, I.G., Shafer, D.S. et al. Chemical Variability of PM10 and PM2.5 in Southwestern Rural Nevada, USA. Water Air Soil Pollut 226, 217 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2481-8

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