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Communities near transportation sources can be impacted by higher concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other air pollutants. Few studies have reported on air quality in complex urban environments with multiple transportation sources. To better understand these environments, the Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS) was conducted in three neighborhoods in Southeast Kansas City, Kansas. This area has several emissions sources including transportation (railyards, vehicles, diesel trucks), light industry, commercial facilities, and residential areas. Stationary samples were collected for 1-year (October 24, 2017, to October 31, 2018) at six sites using traditional sampling methods and lower-cost air sensor packages. This work examines PM less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and trace metals data collected during KC-TRAQS. PM2.5 filter samples showed the highest 24-h mean concentrations (9.34 μg/m3) at the sites located within 20–50 m of the railyard. Mean 24-h PM2.5 concentrations, ranging from 7.96 to 9.34 μg/m3, at all sites were lower than that of the nearby regulatory site (9.83 μg/m3). Daily maximum PM2.5 concentrations were higher at the KC-TRAQS sites (ranging from 25.31 to 43.76 μg/m3) compared to the regulatory site (20.50 μg/m3), suggesting short-duration impacts of localized emissions sources. Across the KC-TRAQS sites, 24-h averaged PM2.5 concentrations from the sensor package (P-POD) ranged from 3.24 to 5.69 µg/m3 showing that, out-of-the-box, the PM sensor underestimated the reference concentrations. KC-TRAQS was supplemented by elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC) and trace metal analysis of filter samples. The EC/OC data suggested the presence of secondary organic aerosol formation, with the highest mean concentrations observed at the site within 20 m of the railyard. Trace metals data showed daily, monthly, and seasonal variations for iron, copper, zinc, chromium, and nickel, with elevated concentrations occurring during the summer at most of the sites. Implications: This work reports on findings from a year-long air quality study in Southeast Kansas City, Kansas to understand micro-scale air quality in neighborhoods impacted by multiple emissions sources such as transportation sources (including a large railyard operation), light industry, commercial facilities, and residential areas. While dozens of studies have reported on air quality near roadways, this work will provide more information on PM2.5, black carbon, and trace metals concentrations near other transportation sources in particular railyards. This work can also inform additional field studies near railyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored a workshop in Research Triangle Park, NC, USA to review the current state of the science one missions, air quality impacts, and health effects associated with exposures to ultrafine particles[1].[...].

ABSTRACT Mobile sources significantly contribute to ambient concentrations of airborne particulate matter (PM). Source apportionment studies for [PM.sub.10] (PM ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter) and [PM.sub.2.5] (PM ≤ 2.5 [...]

ABSTRACT Assessment of near-road air quality is challenging in urban environments that have roadside structures, elevated road sections, or depressed roads that may impact the dispersion of traffic emissions. Vehicles [...]

ABSTRACT Understanding motor vehicle emissions, near-roadway pollutant dispersion, and their potential impact to near-roadway populations is an area of growing environmental interest. As part of ongoing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [...]

ABSTRACT Field data for coarse particulate matter ([PM] P[M.sub.10]) and fine particulate matter (P[M.sub.2.5]) were collected at selected sites in Southeast Kansas from March 1999 to October 2000, using portable [...]

ABSTRACT In siting a monitor to measure compliance with U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), there is a need to characterize variations in PM concentration [...]

Representative profiles for particulate matter particles less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5) are developed from the Kansas City Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions Study for use in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vehicle emission model, the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES), and for inclusion in the EPA SPECIATE database for speciation profiles. The profiles are compatible with the inputs of current photochemical air quality models, including the Community Multiscale Air Quality Aerosol Module Version 6 (AE6). The composition of light-duty gasoline PM2.5emissions differs significantly between cold start and hot stabilized running emissions, and between older and newer vehicles, reflecting both impacts of aging/deterioration and changes in vehicle technology. Fleet-average PM2.5profiles are estimated for cold start and hot stabilized running emission processes. Fleet-average profiles are calculated to include emissions from deteriorated high-emitting vehicles that are expected to continue to contribute disproportionately to the fleet-wide PM2.5emissions into the future. The profiles are calculated using a weighted average of the PM2.5composition according to the contribution of PM2.5emissions from each class of vehicles in the on-road gasoline fleet in the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The paper introduces methods to exclude insignificant measurements, correct for organic carbon positive artifact, and control for contamination from the testing infrastructure in developing speciation profiles. The uncertainty of the PM2.5species fraction in each profile is quantified using sampling survey analysis methods. The primary use of the profiles is to develop PM2.5emissions inventories for the United States, but the profiles may also be used in source apportionment, atmospheric modeling, and exposure assessment, and as a basis for light-duty gasoline emission profiles for countries with limited data.Implications: PM2.5 speciation profiles were developed from a large sample of light-duty gasoline vehicles tested in the Kansas City area. Separate PM2.5 profiles represent cold start and hot stabilized running emission processes to distinguish important differences in chemical composition. Statistical analysis was used to construct profiles that represent PM2.5 emissions from the U.S. vehicle fleet based on vehicles tested from the 2005 calendar year Kansas City metropolitan area. The profiles have been incorporated into the EPA MOVES emissions model, as well as the EPA SPECIATE database, to improve emission inventories and provide the PM2.5 chemical characterization needed by CMAQv5.0 for atmospheric chemistry modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A study, conducted in Las Vegas, NV from mid-December 2008 to mid-December 2009 along an interstate highway, collected continuous and integrated samples for a wide variety of air pollutant species including NO2and NOXassociated with roadway traffic. This study examined long-term trends of NO2and NOXin a near-road environment compared with previous near-road studies typically lasting only a few days to months. Study results revealed concentration gradients for NO2and NOXwith highest absolute and average concentrations at distances closest to the roadway throughout the year. Diurnal ambient temperature changes also influenced concentrations due to atmospheric chemistry activity as well as concentration changes due to seasonal effects. These concentration gradients were observed for all wind conditions; however under downwind conditions (winds from highway), the concentration gradients are more pronounced. Higher pollutant concentrations are generally observed during low wind speed conditions especially when those winds were from the highway. Understanding long-term, seasonal variability and levels of pollutant concentrations in the near-road environment is important to researchers and decision-makers evaluating exposures and risks for near-road populations; identifying locations for future near-road monitoring sites; and determining the viability and effectiveness of mitigation strategies. Supplemental Materials:Supplemental materials are available for this paper. Go to the publisher's online edition of theJournal of the Air & Waste Management Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have reported an association between proximity to highway traffic and increased cardiopulmonary illnesses. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of size-fractionated particulate matter (PM), obtained at different distances from a highway, on acute cardiopulmonary toxicity in mice. METHODS: We collected PM for 2 weeks in July-August 2006 using a three-stage (ultrafine, < 0.1 μm; fine, 0.1-2.5 μm; coarse, 2.5-10 μm) high-volume impactor at distances of 20 m [near road (NR)] and 275 m [far road (FR)] from an interstate highway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Samples were extracted in methanol, dried, diluted in saline, and then analyzed for chemical constituents. Female CD-1 mice received either 25 or 100 μg of each size fraction via oropharyngeal aspiration. At 4 and 18 hr postexposure, mice were assessed for pulmonary responsiveness to inhaled methacholine, biomarkers of lung injury and inflammation; ex vivo cardiac pathophysiology was assessed at 18 hr only. RESULTS: Overall chemical composition between NR and FR PM was similar, although NR samples comprised larger amounts of PM, endotoxin, and certain metals than did the FR samples. Each PM size fraction showed differences in ratios of major chemical classes. Both NR and FR coarse PM produced significant pulmonary inflammation irrespective of distance, whereas both NR and FR ultrafine PM induced cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury. CONCLUSIONS: On a comparative mass basis, the coarse and ultrafine PM affected the lung and heart, respectively. We observed no significant differences in the overall toxicity end points and chemical makeup between the NR and FR PM. The results suggest that PM of different size-specific chemistry might be associated with different toxicologic mechanisms in cardiac and pulmonary tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor and a response are presented regarding the article on the significance of the fraction analysis on particle size in suspensions by S.H. Cho and colleagues in the November 2009 issue.

Abstract: A thermal extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TE-GC-MS) method was utilized to quantitatively examine semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected from light-duty, gasoline-powered vehicle (LDGV) exhaust. Emissions were analyzed from a subset of 18 vehicles tested in the Kansas City Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions Study (KCVES). The KCVES applied the LA92 Unified Driving Cycle (UDC), consisting of “cold start”, “hot stabilized running”, and “warm start” phases. The sensitivity of the TE-GC-MS analysis provided the opportunity to examine the emission rates and proportions of SVOCs (including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, and steranes) in PM2.5 on an individual vehicle basis for each UDC phase. Mean target SVOC emissions rates of 5.01μgkm−1, 0.28μgkm−1, and 0.63μgkm−1 were reported for the cold start, hot stabilized running, and warm start phases, respectively. Operating conditions as depicted by each UDC phase significantly affected SVOC emission rates and proportions in PM2.5. The cold start phase emission rates were significantly higher than the hot stabilized running and warm start phases for 89% of the target SVOCs. An increase in SVOC proportions in PM2.5 was observed during the warm start phase compared with the cold start and hot stabilized running phase. This observation was significant for 31% of the target compounds, including chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, and pyrene. Vehicles tested in both summer and winter provided emissions data describing ambient temperature effects. Emission rates were significantly higher in the winter for 92% of the target SVOCs. Until now, observations of specific SVOCs in motor vehicle emissions produced under changing operating conditions were scant. Such emissions data may be useful for emissions modeling, source apportionment studies, and human exposure assessments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Communities near transportation sources can be impacted by higher concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other air pollutants. Few studies have reported on air quality in complex urban environments with multiple transportation sources. To better understand these environments, the Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS) was conducted in three neighborhoods in Southeast Kansas City, Kansas. This area has several emissions sources including transportation (railyards, vehicles, diesel trucks), light industry, commercial facilities, and residential areas. Stationary samples were collected for 1-year (October 24, 2017, to October 31, 2018) at six sites using traditional sampling methods and lower-cost air sensor packages. This work examines PM less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM 2.5 ), black carbon (BC), and trace metals data collected during KC-TRAQS. PM 2.5 filter samples showed the highest 24-h mean concentrations (9.34 μg/m 3 ) at the sites located within 20-50 m of the railyard. Mean 24-h PM 2.5 concentrations, ranging from 7.96 to 9.34 μg/m 3 , at all sites were lower than that of the nearby regulatory site (9.83 μg/m 3 ). Daily maximum PM 2.5 concentrations were higher at the KC-TRAQS sites (ranging from 25.31 to 43.76 μg/m 3 ) compared to the regulatory site (20.50 μg/m 3 ), suggesting short-duration impacts of localized emissions sources. Across the KC-TRAQS sites, 24-h averaged PM 2.5 concentrations from the sensor package (P-POD) ranged from 3.24 to 5.69 µg/m 3 showing that, out-of-the-box, the PM sensor underestimated the reference concentrations. KC-TRAQS was supplemented by elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC) and trace metal analysis of filter samples. The EC/OC data suggested the presence of secondary organic aerosol formation, with the highest mean concentrations observed at the site within 20 m of the railyard. Trace metals data showed daily, monthly, and seasonal variations for iron, copper, zinc, chromium, and nickel, with elevated concentrations occurring during the summer at most of the sites. Implications : This work reports on findings from a year-long air quality study in Southeast Kansas City, Kansas to understand micro-scale air quality in neighborhoods impacted by multiple emissions sources such as transportation sources (including a large railyard operation), light industry, commercial facilities, and residential areas. While dozens of studies have reported on air quality near roadways, this work will provide more information on PM 2.5 , black carbon, and trace metals concentrations near other transportation sources in particular railyards. This work can also inform additional field studies near railyards.