Sources and composition of PM2.5 at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh during July and August 2000

PM2.5 mass was measured daily with three batch samplers, a PM2.5 R&P Partisol-Plus FRM, an Andersen RAAS, and a BYU PC-BOSS, and continuously with a TEOM monitor during July and August 2000. PM2.5 composition was also determined. These data are part of an ongoing PM2.5 characterization program centered around a sampling site at the National Energy Technology Laboratory Pittsburgh campus. The composition and concentrations of PM2.5 were both highly variable during this time period. Likely sources of PM2.5 during low concentration periods were transportation, coal-fired boiler, and other emissions generated in the local area. For these periods, the average concentration of PM2.5 was 13 μg/m3 and 70% of the PM2.5 mass was carbonaceous material, including semivolatile organic material that was lost in varying degrees from both the TEOM and FRM samplers. In contrast, much higher concentrations of PM2.5 were associated with transport of pollutants to the site. Analysis of meteorological and back-trajectory data...