Organic and Elemental Carbon in Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter in an Animal Agriculture Intensive Area in North Carolina: Estimation of Secondary Organic Carbon Concentrations

Qian-Feng Li, Lingjuan Wang-Li, R. K. M. Jayanty, Sanjay B. Shah

Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojap.2013.21002                

Abstract

Carbonaceous components contribute significant fraction of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). Study of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in PM_2.5 may lead to better understanding of secondary organic carbon (SOC) formation. This year-long (December 2008 to December 2009) field study was conducted in an animal agriculture intensive area in North Carolina of United States. Samples of PM_2.5 were collected from five stations located in an egg production facility and its vicinities. Concentrations of OC/EC and thermograms were obtained using a thermal-optical carbon analyzer. Average levels of OC in the egg production house and at ambient stations were 42.7 μg/m³ and 3.26 - 3.47 μg/m³, respectively. Average levels of EC in the house and at ambient stations were 1.14 μg/m³ and 0.36 - 0.42 μg/m³, respectively. The OC to total carbon (TC) ratios at ambient stations exceeded 0.67, indicating a significant fraction of SOC presented in PM_2.5. Principal factor analysis results suggested that possible major source of in-house PM_2.5 was from poultry feed and possible major sources of ambient PM_2.5 was from contributions of secondary inorganic and organic PM. Using the OC/EC primary ratio analysis method, ambient stations SOC fractions ranged from 68% to 87%. These findings suggested that SOC could appreciably contribute to total PM_2.5 mass concentrations in this agriculture intensive area.

Keywords

Secondary Organic Carbon (SOC); Organic Carbon (OC); Elemental Carbon (EC); PM_2.5; Agriculture Area

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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