AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Houston Aerosol Characterization and Health Experiment: A Two-year Health Impacts Survey of Chemically Resolved, Non-refractory PM1 in the Houston, TX Metropolitan Area
HENRY WALLACE, Yu Jun Leong, Nancy Sanchez, Ben Schulze, James Flynn, Barry Lefer, Robert Griffin, Rice University
Abstract Number: 111 Working Group: Urban Aerosols
Abstract Houston is the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States, with over seven million people living in the greater metropolitan area and a rapidly expanding population, The city is coming up against the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM). Houstonians are exposed to a wide variety of air pollutants, including PM, as a result of the many emission sources in the region. In the Southeast, particularly near the Houston Ship Channel, resides one of the largest petrochemical refining complexes in the world, accounting for 40% of the US base petrochemical capacity. The northern part of Houston is heavily influenced by biogenic emissions, and emissions from vehicles are found throughout, with Houston area drivers logging an average of 183 million vehicle miles traveled per day.
We present measurements and analysis of sub-micron PM (PM$_1) during the two-year (2013-2015) Houston Aerosol Characterization and Health Experiment (HACHE). This work is the first of its scope and magnitude in the city and will help air quality managers site future PM monitors and mitigate PM as Houston comes up against the NAAQS. During this extended campaign we quantified the chemical composition of non-refractory, PM$_1 using an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer at over twelve stationary locations spanning the Houston metropolitan area. Initial findings indicate that there is significant variability in particle composition and concentration both spatially and seasonally. We will present our observations of PM$_1 loadings, PM$_1 composition, O:C and H:C ratios, organic and inorganic particulate nitrate, particle acidity, positive matrix factors and diurnal variability at each of the sites. These measurements will help to better understand how this variability impacts Houstonians.