TY - JOUR
T1 - Interannual variation of air quality across an international airshed in Detroit (USA) and Windsor (Canada)
T2 - A comparison of two sampling campaigns in both cities
AU - Miller, Lindsay
AU - Xu, Xiaohong
AU - Lemke, Lawrence D.
AU - Wheeler, Amanda J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this project was provided by the Wayne State University Research Enhancement Program (REP) for Clinical Translational Science in Urban Health, the University of Windsor , Health Canada , and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada . Funding for Dr. Amanda Wheeler's research fellowship was provided by The Centre for Air quality and health Research and evaluation (CAR, Australia) . The authors sincerely thank Wayne State and University of Windsor students for data collection; the Detroit Fire Department and participating organizations in Windsor for active sampler site access; Detroit Public Lighting and James Brown at EnWin Utilities in Windsor for permission to place passive samplers on light poles; Ryan Kulka and Keith Van Ryswyk from Health Canada, Jeffery Brook and Sandy Benetti from Environment Canada, Crystal Gilbert and Ray Scott from the Detroit Department of Environmental Affairs, and David Lowrie from Wayne State University for essential technical and logistical support. The authors thank colleagues in the Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium (GeoDHOC) for intellectual and technical support. We gratefully acknowledge the NOAA Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport model used in this publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2019/2/1
Y1 - 2019/2/1
N2 - This study investigates air pollutant concentrations across the international airshed spanning Detroit, Michigan, USA and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium (GeoDHOC) measured air quality concurrently in Detroit and Windsor using consistent sampling methods and locations during separate, two-week periods in September 2008 and May/June 2009. This paper presents 2009 results and compares them to previously reported 2008 campaign results to assess spatial and temporal variability. A high-density array of 100 passive and 50 active samplers was used to measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 26 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 23 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and three size fractions of particulate matter (PM) in both campaigns. Geospatial and non-spatial tools were used to investigate changes in concentration distributions and site classification into low/medium/high tertiles between the campaigns. During the two-week 2009 campaign, general pollution patterns remained consistent with those observed during 2008. Higher concentrations in Detroit, strong correlations amongst the BTEX group, and consistency of sites falling into the low and high tertiles were observed. Similar spatial patterns for NO2, VOCs, BTEX, and PAHs were also found during both campaigns. Conversely, PM1-2.5 and PM2.5-10 distributions showed greater variability, as did toluene/benzene ratios. Observed differences are attributable to changes in point source emissions associated with changes in localized activities, possibly related to decreased economic and industrial activity in response to the downturn that began in late 2008. Repeated sampling at multiple locations is important to determine spatial and temporal variability in absolute concentrations. However, if the definition of relatively high and low concentrations regions within a well-established urban area is adequate to estimate future air pollutant exposures, a single multi-location campaign may suffice.
AB - This study investigates air pollutant concentrations across the international airshed spanning Detroit, Michigan, USA and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium (GeoDHOC) measured air quality concurrently in Detroit and Windsor using consistent sampling methods and locations during separate, two-week periods in September 2008 and May/June 2009. This paper presents 2009 results and compares them to previously reported 2008 campaign results to assess spatial and temporal variability. A high-density array of 100 passive and 50 active samplers was used to measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 26 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 23 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and three size fractions of particulate matter (PM) in both campaigns. Geospatial and non-spatial tools were used to investigate changes in concentration distributions and site classification into low/medium/high tertiles between the campaigns. During the two-week 2009 campaign, general pollution patterns remained consistent with those observed during 2008. Higher concentrations in Detroit, strong correlations amongst the BTEX group, and consistency of sites falling into the low and high tertiles were observed. Similar spatial patterns for NO2, VOCs, BTEX, and PAHs were also found during both campaigns. Conversely, PM1-2.5 and PM2.5-10 distributions showed greater variability, as did toluene/benzene ratios. Observed differences are attributable to changes in point source emissions associated with changes in localized activities, possibly related to decreased economic and industrial activity in response to the downturn that began in late 2008. Repeated sampling at multiple locations is important to determine spatial and temporal variability in absolute concentrations. However, if the definition of relatively high and low concentrations regions within a well-established urban area is adequate to estimate future air pollutant exposures, a single multi-location campaign may suffice.
KW - Air quality
KW - International airshed
KW - Multi-pollutants
KW - Spatial variability
KW - Temporal variability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056592240&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.11.017
DO - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.11.017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85056592240
SN - 1352-2310
VL - 198
SP - 417
EP - 426
JO - Atmospheric Environment
JF - Atmospheric Environment
ER -
