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Sensitivity of Ambient Atmospheric Formaldehyde and Ozone to Precursor Species and Source Types Across the United States.

ABSTRACT: Formaldehyde (HCHO) is an important air pollutant from both an atmospheric chemistry and human health standpoint. This study uses an instrumented photochemical Air Quality Model, CMAQ-DDM, to identify the sensitivity of HCHO concentrations across the United States (U.S.) to major source types and hydrocarbon speciation. In July, biogenic sources of hydrocarbons contribute the most (92% of total hydrocarbon sensitivity), split between isoprene and other alkenes. Among anthropogenic sources, mobile sources of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NO x) dominate. In January, HCHO is more sensitive to anthropogenic hydrocarbons than biogenic sources, especially mobile sources and residential wood combustion (36% of national hydrocarbon sensitivity). While ozone (O3) is three times more sensitive to NO x than hydrocarbons across most areas of the U.S., HCHO is six times more sensitive to hydrocarbons than NO x, largely due to sensitivity to biogenic precursors and the importance of low-NO x chemistry. In winter, both HCHO and O3 show negative sensitivity to NO x (increases with the removal of NO x), although O3 increases are larger. Relative sensitivities do not change substantially across different regions of the country.

SUBMITTER: Luecken DJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6147010 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sensitivity of Ambient Atmospheric Formaldehyde and Ozone to Precursor Species and Source Types Across the United States.

Luecken D J DJ Napelenok S L SL Strum M M Scheffe R R Phillips S S

Environmental science & technology 20180404 8

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is an important air pollutant from both an atmospheric chemistry and human health standpoint. This study uses an instrumented photochemical Air Quality Model, CMAQ-DDM, to identify the sensitivity of HCHO concentrations across the United States (U.S.) to major source types and hydrocarbon speciation. In July, biogenic sources of hydrocarbons contribute the most (92% of total hydrocarbon sensitivity), split between isoprene and other alkenes. Among anthropogenic sources, mobil ...[more]

PMID: 29570979

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Project description:The contribution of precursor emissions from 17 mobile source sectors to ambient ozone and fine particulate matter levels across the U.S. were evaluated, using the CAMx photochemical model, to identify which mobile source sectors are projected to have the largest impacts on air pollution in 2025. Both onroad and nonroad sectors contribute considerably to projected air pollution across much of the country. Summer ozone season ozone contributions between 2 and 5 ppb, which are among the highest levels presented on the maps of mobile source sectors, are largely found in the southeast United States from the onroad sectors, most notably light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and along the coastline from the Category 3 (C3) marine sector. Annual average PM2.5 contributions between 0.5 to 0.9 μg/m3, which are among the highest levels presented on the maps of mobile source sectors, are found throughout the Midwest and along portions of the east and west coast from onroad sectors as well as nonroad diesel and rail sectors. Additionally, contributions of precursor emissions to ambient ozone and PM2.5 levels were evaluated to understand the range of impacts from precursors in the various mobile source sectors. For most mobile source sectors, in most locations, NOX emissions contributed more to ozone than VOC emissions, and secondary PM2.5 contributed more to ambient PM2.5 than primary PM2.5. The largest ozone levels on the maps showing contributions from mobile source NOX emissions tended to be between 2 and 5 ppb, while the largest ozone levels on the maps showing contributions from mobile source VOC emissions tended to be between 0.9 and 2 ppb, except for southern California where ozone contributions from VOC emissions from onroad light duty vehicles were between 2 and 5 ppb. The largest contributions to ambient PM2.5 on the maps showing primary and secondary contributions from mobile source sectors tended to be between 0.1 and 0.5 μg/m3. The contribution from primary PM2.5 extended over localized areas (urban-scale) and the contribution from secondary PM2.5 extended over more regional (multi-state) areas.

Dataset Information

Sensitivity of Ambient Atmospheric Formaldehyde and Ozone to Precursor Species and Source Types Across the United States.

Publications

Sensitivity of Ambient Atmospheric Formaldehyde and Ozone to Precursor Species and Source Types Across the United States.

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