The Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study: Part II. Filter-Based Measurements of Fine and Coarse Particulate Matter Mass and Composition

Abstract The Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study (SEARCH) was implemented in 1998–1999 to provide data and analyses for the investigation of the sources, chemical speciation, and long-term trends of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10–2.5) in the Southeastern United States. This work is an initial analysis of 5 years (1999–2003) of filter-based PM2.5 and PM10–2.5 data from SEARCH. We find that annual PM2.5 design values were consistently above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 15 µg/m3 annual standard only at monitoring sites in the two largest urban areas (Atlanta, GA, and North Birmingham, AL). Other sites in the network had annual design values below the standard, and no site had daily design values above the NAAQS 65 µg/m3 daily standard. Using a particle composition monitor designed specifically for SEARCH, we found that volatilization losses of nitrate, ammonium, and organic carbon must be accounted for to accurately characterize atmospheric particulate matter. In particular, the federal reference method for PM2.5 underestimates mass by 3–7% as a result of these volatilization losses. Organic matter (OM) and sulfate account for ≥60% of PM2.5 mass at SEARCH sites, whereas major metal oxides (MMO) and unidentified components (“other”) account for ≥80% of PM10–2.5 mass. Limited data suggest that much of the unidentified mass in PM10–2.5 may be OM. For paired comparisons of urban-rural sites, differences in PM2.5 mass are explained, in large part, by higher OM and black carbon at the urban site. For PM10, higher urban concentrations are explained by higher MMO and “other.” Annual means for PM2.5 and PM10–2.5 mass and major components demonstrate substantial declines at all of the SEARCH sites over the 1999–2003 period (10–20% in the case of PM2.5, dominated by 14–20% declines in sulfate and 11–26% declines in OM, and 14–25% in the case of PM10–2.5, dominated by 17–30% declines in MMO and 14–31% declines in “ other”). Although declining national emissions of sulfur dioxide and anthropogenic carbon may account for a portion of the observed declines, additional investigation will be necessary to establish a quantitative assessment, especially regarding trends in local and regional emissions, primary carbon emissions, and meteorology.