Concentration variations in primary and secondary particulate matter near a major road in Korea

Abstract

Particle-phase concentrations were measured at 10, 80, and 200 m from the roadside of a national highway near Seoul in January and May 2008. The highway has two lanes each way, with an average hourly traffic volume of 1,070 vehicles. In January 2008, PM10 concentrations decreased from 10 to 80 m but increased at 200 m. Black carbon (BC) decreased only slightly with distance due to the influence of biomass burning and open burning from the surrounding areas. In May 2008, the effect of secondary formation on both PM10 and PM2.5 was significant due to high temperatures compared with January. Because on-road emissions had little effect on secondary formation for a short time, variations in PM10 concentrations became smaller, and PM2.5 concentrations increased with distance. The effects of fugitive dust on PM concentrations were greater in May than in January when the mean temperature was below freezing. In the composition variations, the amounts of primary ions, organic carbon (OC), and BC were larger in January, while those of secondary ions and others were larger in PM10, as well as PM2.5 in May.