TITLE:
Spatial Analysis of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in South St. Boniface and Mission Industrial Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
AUTHORS:
Folarin Solademi, Shirley Thompson
KEYWORDS:
Particulate Matter, Air Monitor, CAAQS, ArcGIS, Scrap Metal Shredder, Kriging, and Mapping, Citizen Science
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.8,
August
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Particulate
matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) stays airborne for long
periods and can enter the lungs, increasing respiratory and cardiovascular
risks. Metal shredders are known sources of PM2.5, lead and other
heavy metals. Winnipeg residents of South Saint Boniface (SSB) in Manitoba,
Canada, live downwind of the Mission Industrial Area (MIA), which includes a
metal shredder, train tracks and other industries. Residents are concerned about the MIA air and noise
pollution and wanted ambient air quality monitoring in their mixed land-use
area to understand its impact on their health. We measured and mapped the
daytime PM2.5, from the MIA and South St. Boniface (SSB)
neighborhoods using the Dylos DC 1700 PM over seven months. The Dylos air
quality data for PM2.5 was validated by the two federal reference
monitors in the city, finding a moderate to very strong correlation (r = 0.52
to 0.83; p-value
0.001), confirming good accuracy. A spatial analysis
of the emission data showed that the highest pollution concentration was
downwind of the scrap metal shredder in MIA. One-way ANOVA and Pearson
correlation analysis revealed significantly higher levels of PM2.5 at MIA and SSB than at the reference sites, which are away from pollution
sources. The PM2.5 Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) of
27 μg/m3 was exceeded downwind of the property line of the scrap metal shredder in the MIA for five of the
35 monitoring days averaging between 28.9 μg/m3 to 38.1 μg/m3 over eight hours. The standard was not exceeded in the
residential area, although PM2.5 levels higher than background
levels increased SSB residents exposure levels. This exceedance of regulatory
standards requires action to reduce emissions.