This document discusses how PM10 and dust levels decrease with distance from the source. It provides graphs showing generic dust deposition and PM10 concentration reductions from mineral extraction sites out to 800 meters. The greatest impacts are commonly within 100 meters, with potential for elevated levels up to 400 meters. Particles can persist beyond 400 meters but dispersion minimizes their significance. Typical adverse impacts from sand and gravel sites are uncommon beyond 250 meters and hard rock quarries beyond 400 meters.

1. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
Ian Stone
IAQM Meeting
24th May 2016
London
1Advance Environmental

2. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
Advance Environmental 2
Dust that has become suspended in the air will dilute,
disperse and deposit from the air with the resultant
airborne PM concentration decreasing rapidly as a function
of distance from its source.
In general, smaller particles have the potential to be
entrained within airflow for longer, thereby dispersing over
a wider area.

3. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
Advance Environmental 3
The following graphs show the fall-off in dust deposition
and PM10 concentrations with distance from the source on
mineral sites.
The monitoring data were obtained from members of the
IAQM Mineral Guidance Working Group.

4. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
Advance Environmental 4
It must be emphasised that these graphs are generic, have
been provided in the absence of robust published data and
are not intended to be used in isolation from the source-
pathway receptor assessment approach for each distinct
site and its receptors.
Note that distances are from potentially ‘dust generating
activities’ rather than the site boundary.
Examples of activities include extraction and processing
areas, stocking areas or haul roads.

5. Dust Deposition
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The following graphs are a generic illustration of dust
deposition rates as a function of distance for a range of
granitic quarries in the UK.
The dust deposition data were collected monthly using
Frisbee dust deposit gauges over a period of several
years.
The data were derived from monitoring undertaken in
the vicinity of a number of quarries, and do not take into
consideration individual topographic and directional
factors.

6. Long-term Mean Rates of Dust
Deposition - Reduction With
Distance
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0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Meanrateofdeposition(mg/m2/day)
Distance from nearest source (m)
Granitic quarries: Mean rate of dust deposition as a function of
distance from quarry operations

7. Maximum Monthly Rates of
Dust Deposition - Reduction
With Distance
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0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Meanrateofdeposition(mg/m2/day)
Distance from nearest source (m)
Granitic quarries: Maximum monthly rate of dust deposition as
a function of distance from quarry operations

8. PM10 Reduction With Distance
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The following graph represents gravimetric and
equivalent PM10 measurements undertaken at a variety
of distances from assorted mineral site categories
(granitic, sand and gravel, limestone, opencast coal and
clay).
Each data point represents the PM10 values for
monitoring periods ranging from 4 months to annual
means. These generic values show dispersion of PM10
concentrations as a function of distance from nearest
potential sources.

9. PM10 Reduction With Distance
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
MeanPM10(µg/m3)
Distance from nearest source (m)
Mean gravimetric PM10 during periods of assessments vs distance
from potential sources - various mineral types

10. PM10 Reduction With Distance
Advance Environmental 10
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
AdditionalmeanPM10(µg/m3)
Distance from nearest source (m)
Mean additional PM10 above nearest AURN urban / rural background
during assessment periods vs distance from potential sources - various
mineral types

11. PM10 Reduction With Distance
Advance Environmental 11
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
AdditionalmeanPM10(µg/m3)
Distance from nearest source (m)
Mean additional PM10 above nearest AURN urban / rural background
during assessment periods vs distance from potential sources - various
mineral types
Clay granitic limestone
opencast coal sand & gravel Secondary aggregate
silica sand

12. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
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Typical Impacts with Distance
From the experience of the Working Group, adverse dust
impacts from sand and gravel sites are uncommon beyond
250m, and beyond 400m from hard rock quarries,
measured from the nearest dust generating activities

13. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
Advance Environmental 13
In the absence of other information it is commonly
accepted that the greatest impacts will be within 100m of a
source and this can include both large (>30µm) and small
dust particles.
The greatest potential for high rates of dust deposition and
elevated PM10 concentrations occurs within this distance.

14. PM10 & Dust Reduction With
Distance
Advance Environmental 14
Intermediate-sized particles (10 to 30µm) may travel up to
400m, with occasional elevated levels of dust deposition
and PM10 possible.
Particles less than 10µm have the potential to persist
beyond 400m but with minimal significance due to
dispersion.