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On the Origin of Carbonaceous Particles in American Cities: Results of Radiocarbon “Dating” and Chemical Characterization1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

L A Currie ,
G A Klouda ,
R E Continetti ,
I R Kaplan ,
W W Wong ,
T G Dzubay  and
R K Stevens
L A Currie
Affiliation:
Center for Analytical Chemistry, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC 20234
G A Klouda
Affiliation:
Global Geochemistry Corporation, Canoga Park, CA 91303
R E Continetti
Affiliation:
Global Geochemistry Corporation, Canoga Park, CA 91303
I R Kaplan
Affiliation:
Global Geochemistry Corporation, Canoga Park, CA 91303
W W Wong
Affiliation:
Global Geochemistry Corporation, Canoga Park, CA 91303
T G Dzubay
Affiliation:
Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
R K Stevens
Affiliation:
Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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Abstract

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During the past three years radiocarbon assay has emerged as a primary tool in the quantitative assignment of sources of urban and rural particulate pollution. Its use in several major field studies has come about because of its excellent (fossil/biogenic) discriminating power, because of advances in 14C measurements of small samples, and because of the increased significance of carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere. The problem is especially important in the cities, where increased concentrations of fine particles lead to pollution episodes characterized by poor visibility and changes in the radiation balance (absorption, scattering), and immediate and possibly long-term health effects. Efforts in source apportionment in such affected areas have been based on emissions inventories, dispersion modeling, and receptor modeling – ie, chemical and physical (and statistical) characterization of particles collected at designated receptor sites. It is in the last category that 14C has become quite effective in helping to resolve particle sources. Results are presented for studies carried out in Los Angeles, Denver, and Houston which incorporated 14C measurements, inorganic and organic chemical characterization, and receptor modeling. The 14C data indicated wide ranging contributions of biogenic and fossil carbon sources – eg, <10% to 60% contemporary (biogenic) in Houston – depending on meteorological, biological, and anthropological activity. The combined (chemical, isotopic, statistical) data point to sources such as vehicles, wood combustion, power plants, and vegetation.

Type
VI. Anthropogenic 14C Variations
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 25 , Issue 2: 11th International Radiocarbon Conference , 1983 , pp. 603 - 614
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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