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Development and characterization of an exposure generation system to investigate the health effects of particles from fresh and aged traffic emissions

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Abstract

Atmospheric photochemical reactions of vehicular primary emissions result in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). This is the first study that has investigated the toxicity of secondary particles based on fleet vehicular emissions. We developed methods for photochemical oxidation of traffic primary emissions to produce mixtures of primary and/or secondary particles suitable for animal exposures. The exposure generation system produced test atmospheres of primary (P), aged primary plus SOA (P + SOA), or SOA particles suitable for animal exposures. The system consists of (1) a sampling system to extract the traffic emissions from the plenum of a highway tunnel ventilation stack, (2) a photochemical chamber to simulate atmospheric aging, and (3) a nonselective diffusion denuder to remove gaseous pollutants prior to exposure. In the presence of traffic primary particles (P + SOA), a longer mean residence time resulted in a higher SOA yield. Higher baseline plenum primary particle mass concentration resulted in lower SOA yield. In the absence of primary particles (SOA), higher plenum gas concentrations resulted in higher SOA yield. Secondary aerosol was largely organic but contained some nitrate and sulfate. Formation of secondary aerosol is influenced significantly by reaction of primary gases with ·OH. The system (1) provides adequate flow and stable chamber output of P, P + SOA, and SOA for characterization and animal exposures and (2) generates reproducible exposure atmospheres of P, P + SOA, and SOA, all at consistent mass concentrations.

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Abbreviations

BC:

Black carbon

CAPs:

Concentrated ambient particles

O3 :

Ozone

SOA:

Secondary organic aerosol

TERESA:

Toxicological Evaluation of Realistic Emission Source Aerosols

CO:

Carbon monoxide

NO x :

Nitrogen oxides

FEP:

Fluorinated ethylene propylene

PFA:

Polyfluorinated alkene

UV:

Ultraviolet

HEPA:

High-efficiency particulate air

·OH:

Hydroxyl radical

MRT:

Mean residence time

VOCs:

Volatile organic compounds

NO:

Nitric oxide

SMPS:

Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer

CPC:

Condensation Particle Counter

APS:

Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

EC/OC:

Elemental carbon and organic carbon

TOR:

Thermal optical reflectance

PM:

Particle mass

PyrolC:

Pyrolyzed organic carbon concentration

NO2 :

Nitrogen dioxide

HNO3 :

Nitric acid

NH3 :

Ammonia

NH4NO3 :

Ammonium nitrate

·NO3 :

Nitrate radical

[NH4]2SO4 :

Ammonium sulfate

OC:

Organic Carbon

SO2 :

Sulfur dioxide

H2SO4 :

Sulfuric acid

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Acknowledgments

This publication was made possible by USEPA grants R-832416 and RD 83479801. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the grantee and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USEPA. Further, USEPA does not endorse the purchase of any commercial products or services mentioned in the publication. This work was also supported by the Harvard NIEHS Center for Environmental Health (grant P30ES00002). We thank Dr. Stephen Rudnick for reading the manuscript and providing helpful suggestions. We also thank Elena Austin, Samuel Pueringer, and Dr. Choong-Min Kang for technical assistance and/or analytical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Vasileios Papapostolou, Joy E. Lawrence, Stephen T. Ferguson, Jack M. Wolfson, Edgar A. Diaz, John J. Godleski & Petros Koutrakis

  2. Exposure, Epidemiology and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Landmark Center West, Room 420, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Vasileios Papapostolou

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  1. Vasileios Papapostolou
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  2. Joy E. Lawrence
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  3. Stephen T. Ferguson
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  4. Jack M. Wolfson
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  5. Edgar A. Diaz
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  6. John J. Godleski
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  7. Petros Koutrakis
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Correspondence to Vasileios Papapostolou.

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Papapostolou, V., Lawrence, J.E., Ferguson, S.T. et al. Development and characterization of an exposure generation system to investigate the health effects of particles from fresh and aged traffic emissions. Air Qual Atmos Health 6, 419–429 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-012-0178-3

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