PM10 Concentration Measurements in Dublin City

Mass Concentration of ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10µm (PM10) are reported for the first time for a range of sites in Dublin City over a 6 month period from January 1st 1996 to June 30th 1996. PM10 gravimetric mass concentration measurements are made with low flow Partisol 2000 air samplers using an impaction type PM10 inlet and 47mm diameter glass fibre filters. In addition, much finer time resolution measurements (minimum sampling frequency of 30 minutes) are made using a tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) PM10 mass monitor. These PM10 mass concentrations methods are also compared with mass concentration inferred using the standard black smoke method. Analysis of the ambient mass concentration data with reference to traffic density and meteorological influences are presented. Results for the first six months of 1996 show that the average PM10 values range from a high of 49 µg m-3 at the Dublin city centre site to 14 µg m-3 at one of the suburban sites. Intercomparison between PM10 and black smoke mass concentrations show that the relationship is site specific. Statistical analysis between PM10 levels and car traffic number show a positive correlation while a weak negative correlation is found between PM10 levels and rainfall amount, wind speed and air temperature.