Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations
There is a paucity of comprehensive air quality data from urban areas in the Middle East. In this study, portable instrumentation was used to measure size-fractioned aerosol number, mass, and black carbon concentrations in Amman and Zarqa, Jordan. Submicron particle number concentrations at stationa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/10/6/323 |
| _version_ | 1811267851755978752 |
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| author | Tareq Hussein Shatha Suleiman Ali Saleh Vanessa N. dos Santos Huthaifah Abdullah Brandon E. Boor |
| author_facet | Tareq Hussein Shatha Suleiman Ali Saleh Vanessa N. dos Santos Huthaifah Abdullah Brandon E. Boor |
| author_sort | Tareq Hussein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a paucity of comprehensive air quality data from urban areas in the Middle East. In this study, portable instrumentation was used to measure size-fractioned aerosol number, mass, and black carbon concentrations in Amman and Zarqa, Jordan. Submicron particle number concentrations at stationary urban background sites in Amman and Zarqa exhibited a characteristic diurnal pattern, with the highest concentrations during traffic rush hours (2−5 × 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup> in Amman and 2−7 × 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup> in Zarqa). Super-micron particle number concentrations varied considerably in Amman (1−10 cm<sup>−3</sup>). Mobile measurements identified spatial variations and local hotspots in aerosol levels within both cities. Walking paths around the University of Jordan campus showed increasing concentrations with proximity to main roads with mean values of 8 × 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>, 87 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, 62 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, and 7.7 µg/m<sup>3</sup> for submicron, PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and black carbon (BC), respectively. Walking paths in the Amman city center showed moderately high concentrations (mean 10<sup>5</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>, 120 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, 85 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, and 8.1 µg/m<sup>3</sup> for submicron aerosols, PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and black carbon, respectively). Similar levels were found along walking paths in the Zarqa city center. On-road measurements showed high submicron concentrations (>10<sup>5</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>). The lowest submicron concentration (<10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>) was observed near a remote site outside of the cities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:10:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12843ea6ca504aaa887437a649bbf00d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:10:10Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-12843ea6ca504aaa887437a649bbf00d2022-12-22T03:16:36ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332019-06-0110632310.3390/atmos10060323atmos10060323Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile ObservationsTareq Hussein0Shatha Suleiman Ali Saleh1Vanessa N. dos Santos2Huthaifah Abdullah3Brandon E. Boor4Department of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, JordanDepartment of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, JordanInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014 UHEL Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, JapanLyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAThere is a paucity of comprehensive air quality data from urban areas in the Middle East. In this study, portable instrumentation was used to measure size-fractioned aerosol number, mass, and black carbon concentrations in Amman and Zarqa, Jordan. Submicron particle number concentrations at stationary urban background sites in Amman and Zarqa exhibited a characteristic diurnal pattern, with the highest concentrations during traffic rush hours (2−5 × 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup> in Amman and 2−7 × 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup> in Zarqa). Super-micron particle number concentrations varied considerably in Amman (1−10 cm<sup>−3</sup>). Mobile measurements identified spatial variations and local hotspots in aerosol levels within both cities. Walking paths around the University of Jordan campus showed increasing concentrations with proximity to main roads with mean values of 8 × 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>, 87 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, 62 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, and 7.7 µg/m<sup>3</sup> for submicron, PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and black carbon (BC), respectively. Walking paths in the Amman city center showed moderately high concentrations (mean 10<sup>5</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>, 120 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, 85 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, and 8.1 µg/m<sup>3</sup> for submicron aerosols, PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and black carbon, respectively). Similar levels were found along walking paths in the Zarqa city center. On-road measurements showed high submicron concentrations (>10<sup>5</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>). The lowest submicron concentration (<10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>) was observed near a remote site outside of the cities.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/10/6/323urban air qualityultrafine particleshuman exposureurban aerosolsMiddle East and North Africa (MENA) |
| spellingShingle | Tareq Hussein Shatha Suleiman Ali Saleh Vanessa N. dos Santos Huthaifah Abdullah Brandon E. Boor Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations Atmosphere urban air quality ultrafine particles human exposure urban aerosols Middle East and North Africa (MENA) |
| title | Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations |
| title_full | Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations |
| title_fullStr | Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations |
| title_short | Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations |
| title_sort | black carbon and particulate matter concentrations in eastern mediterranean urban conditions an assessment based on integrated stationary and mobile observations |
| topic | urban air quality ultrafine particles human exposure urban aerosols Middle East and North Africa (MENA) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/10/6/323 |
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