Title: | To what extent can biogenic SOA be controlled? |
Author(s): | Carlton AG; Pinder RW; Bhave PV; Pouliot GA; |
Address: | "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, North Carolina 27711, USA. carlton.annmarie@epa.gov" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0013-936X (Print) 0013-936X (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The implicit assumption that biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is natural and can not be controlled hinders effective air quality management. Anthropogenic pollution facilitates transformation of naturally emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the particle phase, enhancing the ambient concentrations of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA). It is therefore conceivable that some portion of ambient biogenic SOA can be removed by controlling emissions of anthropogenic pollutants. Direct measurement of the controllable fraction of biogenic SOA is not possible, but can be estimated through 3-dimensional photochemical air quality modeling. To examine this in detail, 22 CMAQ model simulations were conducted over the continental U.S. (August 15 to September 4, 2003). The relative contributions of five emitted pollution classes (i.e., NO(x), NH(3), SO(x), reactive non methane carbon (RNMC) and primary carbonaceous particulate matter (PCM)) on biogenic SOA were estimated by removing anthropogenic emissions of these pollutants, one at a time and all together. Model results demonstrate a strong influence of anthropogenic emissions on predicted biogenic SOA concentrations, suggesting more than 50% of biogenic SOA in the eastern U.S. can be controlled. Because biogenic SOA is substantially enhanced by controllable emissions, classification of SOA as biogenic or anthropogenic based solely on VOC origin is not sufficient to describe the controllable fraction" |
Keywords: | "*Aerosols Air Pollutants/chemistry Air Pollution Atmosphere Carbon/chemistry Computer Simulation Environmental Pollutants/chemistry Environmental Pollution Methane/chemistry Models, Chemical Models, Statistical Organic Chemicals/*chemistry Particulate Mat;" |
Notes: | "MedlineCarlton, Annmarie G Pinder, Robert W Bhave, Prakash V Pouliot, George A eng 2010/04/15 Environ Sci Technol. 2010 May 1; 44(9):3376-80. doi: 10.1021/es903506b" |