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Source apportionment of airborne nanoparticles in a Middle Eastern city using positive matrix factorization
Abdullah N Al-Dabbous1, Prashant Kumar
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK. P.Kumar@surrey.ac.uk Prashant.Kumar@cantab.net.
Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts
|March 10, 2015
Summary
This study identifies major airborne nanoparticle sources in Kuwait, revealing traffic emissions as the primary contributor. Findings provide crucial data for future air quality research and health impact assessments in the Middle East.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Aerosol Science
Background:
- Airborne nanoparticles are globally studied, but their sources in the Middle East, characterized by hot, arid, and dusty conditions, remain largely unknown.
- Understanding nanoparticle origins is critical for regional air quality management and health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct the first size-resolved measurements of particle number distributions (PNDs) and concentrations (PNCs) in Kuwait.
- To identify and quantify the major sources contributing to airborne nanoparticles in the region.
Main Methods:
- Continuous 31-day measurements of particle size distributions (5-1000 nm) using a differential mobility spectrometer (DMS500).
- Application of the positive matrix factorization (PMF) approach to PND data for source apportionment.
- Simultaneous monitoring of gaseous pollutants, PM10, and meteorological parameters.
Main Results:
- Six major nanoparticle sources were identified, with fresh traffic emissions (46%) and aged traffic emissions (27%) being the most significant contributors.
- Industrial emissions and regional background accounted for 9% each, while miscellaneous sources and Arabian dust transport contributed 6% and 3%, respectively.
- Particle number distributions (PNDs) and profiles for each identified source were characterized.
Conclusions:
- This research provides the first comprehensive source identification of airborne nanoparticles in Kuwait.
- The identified sources and their profiles serve as valuable reference data for future studies, dispersion modeling, and health impact assessments in the region.
