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Estimating the Average Steelworks Particulate Matter Increments Associated with Wind Sectors at a Steel Complex in the UK

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Abstract

The present work calculates the steelworks increments of particulate matter (PM) mass and chemical composition of Partisol, Filter Dynamic Measurement System (FDMS), and Streaker data using wind sector analysis. Particulate matter sampling took place at the perimeter of a steelworks complex in Port Talbot, Wales, UK, between April 17 and May 16, 2012. Two sampling sites were selected representing the upwind and downwind sectors. Daily Partisol, hourly FDMS, and Streaker PM samples were analysed for mass and chemical composition using standard procedures. Wind-determined analysis was carried out on the daily and hourly PM results by finding the differences between the downwind and upwind PM data that were associated with the steelworks production units. Little Warren (LW) monitoring site located at the coastal site of Port Talbot represents the upwind site when the prevailing wind blows from westerly and south-westerly across the steelworks complex to the fire station (FS), the upwind site. When the prevailing wind blows from the southeast and south, LW represents the downwind sector. Results indicated common episodic days where both the FDMS and Partisol PM10 data exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) limit of 50 µg m−3 (24-h mean). The Partisol PM2.5/PM10 ratios revealed elevated coarse particle concentrations, whilst the FDMS PM2.5/PM10 ratios showed domination by PM2.5 particles. Wind-determined profiles of PM during the 1-month campaign provided useful information about the tracer elements specific to a particular processing unit of the steelworks industry. The annual PM steelworks increments at Port Talbot by Partisol and FDMS are approximately 2.0 µg m−3.

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledged the financial support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund, Nigeria) during the author’s Ph.D. studies at the University of Birmingham, UK. The supervisory contributions from R.M. Harrison, D.C.S Beddows, and Z. Shi are highly appreciated.

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  1. Division of Environmental Health Risk Management, University of Birmingham B2T, Birmingham, UK

    Adewale M. Taiwo

  2. Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun State, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria

    Adewale M. Taiwo

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Correspondence to Adewale M. Taiwo.

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Taiwo, A.M. Estimating the Average Steelworks Particulate Matter Increments Associated with Wind Sectors at a Steel Complex in the UK. Water Air Soil Pollut 233, 325 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05814-3

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