AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Wood Smoke Exposure as Measured by Low-cost Air Quality Monitors
Nadezda Zikova, Thomas Twomey, PHILIP K. HOPKE, David C. Chalupa, David Rich, Andrea R. Ferro, Clarkson University
Abstract Number: 231 Working Group: Aerosol Exposure
Abstract Particulate matter (PM) has been linked to adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Enforcement measures for reducing PM or gaseous emissions that form secondary PM have generally reduced contributions from power production, industry, traffic, etc. However, PM concentrations from wood combustion (WS) have been increasing with the increasing use of wood for heating in the United States. Evidence to date suggests that wood combustion particles do not have toxicity that differs from that of urban PM. However, the emissions and chemical composition of wood smoke particles depend strongly on the combustion device, type of wood, and operating conditions. The current regulatory measurement network is not able to cover large spatial variability in WS concentrations, nor predict indoor concentrations strongly associated with human exposures.
We conducted a measurement campaign in Rochester, NY (pop. 210,000) where prior work found up to 30% of the winter PM2.5 was from wood burning. 52 low cost PM monitors (Speck; Airviz Inc., Pittsburgh, PA), were located at 25 residential sampling sites (1 indoor, 1 outdoors) with wood burning appliances between November 2015 and March 2016.They measured 1-minute particle number concentrations and estimated particle mass concentrations between 0.5 and 3 micro-meter. Additionally, a CO monitor was placed in each house to help distinguish between combustion and non-combustion sources of indoor PM. The study participants also completed a survey on house type and age, heating fuel and frequency, and other activities influencing indoor air quality data. Data analysis includes indoor/outdoor and spatial-temporal relationships of PM in the area and the contribution of WS to personal PM exposures. The indoor/outdoor ratio is calculated and compared to house type, ventilation etc. The spatial variability of outdoor PM concentrations in the county is described, and the proportion of wood smoke in the outdoor and indoor PM concentrations is estimated.