Spatiotemporal aspects of real-time PM(2.5): low- and middle-income neighborhoods in Bangalore, India

Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Jul 1;45(13):5629-36. doi: 10.1021/es104331w. Epub 2011 Jun 14.

Abstract

We measured outdoor fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) concentrations in a low- and a nearby middle-income neighborhood in Bangalore, India. Each neighborhood included sampling locations near and not near a major road. One-minute average concentrations were recorded for 168 days during September 2008 to May 2009 using a gravimetric-corrected nephelometer. We also measured wind speed and direction, and PM(2.5) concentration as a function of distance from road. Average concentrations are 21-46% higher in the low- than in the middle-income neighborhood, and exhibit differing spatiotemporal patterns. For example, in the middle-income neighborhood, median concentrations are higher near-road than not near-road (56 versus 50 μg m(-3)); in the low-income neighborhood, the reverse holds (68 μg m(-3) near-road, 74 μg m(-3) not near-road), likely because of within-neighborhood residential emissions (e.g., cooking; trash combustion). A moving-average subtraction method used to infer local- versus urban-scale emissions confirms that local emissions are greater in the low-income neighborhood than in the middle-income neighborhood; however, relative contributions from local sources vary by time-of-day. Real-time relative humidity correction factors are important for accurately interpreting real-time nephelometer data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cities*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Environmental Monitoring / statistics & numerical data*
  • India
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry
  • Particulate Matter / analysis*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Wind

Substances

  • Particulate Matter