1. Characterization and Source Apportionment of Particulate Matter ⩽ 2.5 μm in Sumatra, Indonesia, during a Recent Peat Fire Episode.
- Author
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Siao Wei See, Balasubramanian, Rajasekhar, Rianawati, Elisabeth, Karthtkeyan, Sathrugnan, and Streets, David G.
- Subjects
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AIR pollution , *PEAT , *PARTICULATE matter , *EMISSIONS (Air pollution) , *POLYCYCLIC aromatic hydrocarbons - Abstract
An intensive field study was conducted in Sumatra, Indonesia, during a peat fire episode to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of particulate emissions in peat smoke and to provide necessary data for source- receptor analyses. Ambient air sampling was carried out at three different sites located at varying distances from the peat fires to determine changes in mass and number concentrations of PM2.5 and its chemical composition (carbonaceous and nitrogenous materials, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, water-soluble inorganic and organic ions, and total and water-soluble metals). The three sites represent a rural site directly affected by the local peat combustion, a semirural site, and an urban site situated downwind of the peat fires. The mass concentration of PM2.5 and the number concentration of airborne particles were as high as 1600 µg/m³ and 1.7 × 105 cm-3, respectively, in the vicinity of peat fires. The major components of PM2.5 in peat smoke haze were carbonaceous particles, particularly organic carbon, NO3-, and SO42-, while the less abundant constituents included ions such as NH4+, NO2-, Na+, K+ organic acids, and metals such as Al, Fe, and Ti. Source apportionment by chemical mass balance receptor modeling indicates that peat smoke can travel long distances and significantly affect the air quality at locations downwind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
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