AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
Investigation of Sources of Particulate Matter through Trace Metal Measurements Near the Oil Sands Field in the Athabasca Region, Alberta
CATHERINE PHILLIPS-SMITH, Cheol-Heon Jeong, Robert Healy, Ewa Dabek-Zlotorzynska, Valbona Celo, Jeff Brook, Greg J. Evans, SOCAAR, University of Toronto
Abstract Number: 267 Working Group: Source Apportionment
Abstract Trace metals in particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) have been measured as part of the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM) Program since 2010. Under the Enhanced Deposition Component of this program, measurements have been made by Environment Canada near oils sands activities at three sites run by the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association. An intensive measurement campaign was also executed at a location near one of these sites in the summer of 2013. Together these data should help elucidate and resolve the relative contributions of the multiple PM2.5 generating sources and activities in this region.
Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), combined with wind sector analysis was applied to determine the sources of metals in close proximity to oil sands processing activities. In addition to 24-hour filter collected PM2.5 (once every six days for two years), an Xact625 X-ray fluorescence based instrument provided hourly time-resolution measurements of trace metal species from August 10 to September 5, 2013. This higher time resolution enabled the investigation of short-lived events. Overall the elements examined included; Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, and Sr, with additional elements determined in the filter samples. Elements such as Se, V, and S, were examined for their relationships with different anthropogenic sources, including oil or coal combustion. Si, Ca, and Fe, usually associated with crustal material, were also examined due to the extensive mining, and other dust producing activities in the area. This poster will present the interpretation of these data in regards to the identification and apportionment of sources such as dust, road dust, oil combustion, mining, and coal combustion.