SOURCE IDENTIFICATION OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER POLLUTION ACROSS CANBERRA, ACT.

Between January 2017 and September 2018, ACT Health conducted a study on the predominant sources of airborne fine particulate matter pollution across the Canberra region. The goal was to gain better understanding of particulate composition, insight into local emission sources, and to establish a baseline of the existing pollution inventory (for future assessments of effects from changes in air quality policies). Fine particulate matter samples were collected on PTFE filters at two locations in Canberra, in the north (Belconnen) and south (Tuggeranong), respectively. The sample’s chemical composition was determined by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Sydney, using accelerator-based ion-beam analysis. Resulting data was then used in a receptor model to statistically identify the predominant sources and look at both spatial and seasonal variations thereof. The main particulate pollution sources in Canberra were found to be wood smoke, secondary sulfates, traffic, soil dust, and salt. Overall, wood smoke constitutes the largest air pollution factor exhibiting the strongest seasonal pattern, while both traffic and secondary aerosols are constantly present over time. These three factors account for almost 90% of Canberra’s pollution inventory. Out of the remaining sources, soil dust represents the larger portion especially during the warmer months, while a marginal amount of salt, mainly calcium chloride, was found to be present all year round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]