This document discusses particulate air pollution and its health effects. It presents data from a 1982 smog event in Dublin that resulted in increased mortality rates. A Harvard study of six U.S. cities also found that particulate air pollution was associated with reduced life expectancy. The document then summarizes a study in Dublin that found a 7-13% reduction in mortality after a ban on coal sales reduced particulate levels by 36-71%. Similarly, cities in Ireland that implemented coal bans saw reductions in black smoke levels. The current study aims to measure particulate matter and PAH levels in several Irish cities to better understand the contribution of solid fuel use to air pollution. Interim results show some PM levels of concern.

1. Particulate Air pollution
Prof.
Pat Goodman
(On Behalf of the Project Team)

2. Why worry about Particulate air
pollution?
• Adverse health effects
• Death! (Dublin 1982)
• Harvard 6 cities (Reduced Life expectancy)
• The Environment itself

3. Dublin 1982SMOG 1982 Rates
Dublin Case Fatality
Kelly and Clancy, Irish Medical Journal; 77:10: 322-324. 1984
10
9
8
7
CFR
6
5
4
3
2
J a n '8 0 J a n '8 1 J a n '8 2 J a n '8 3
D a te

4. Harvard 6 cities study
Dr Pat Goodman EPA Conference
Portlaoise Oct 2006

5. Daytime in Dublin Jan. 1982

6. Effect of Air Pollution Control on
Mortality in Dublin
Clancy et al, Lancet
• Effect of ban on sale of • Effect on mortality
coal on air pollution in – 7% Total Mortality
Dublin – 13% Cardiovascular
– 36 g/m3 BS (-71%) – 16% Respiratory
– 11 g/m3 SO 2 (-34%) – 3% Other

7. Goodman, Rich, Zeka, Clancy and
Dockery. JAWMA 2009
1998 Ban Cities
100
Arklow Drogheda Dundalk Limerick Wexford
90
1998 Ban
80
70
Black Smoke ( g/m3)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
a
v
s
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

8. Goodman, Rich, Zeka, Clancy and Dockery. JAWMA 2009
2000 Ban Cities
100
Celbridge Galway Leixlip Naas waterford
90
2000 Ban
80
70
Black Smoke ( g/m3)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
s
a
v
198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006

9. The Current Study

10. The Contribution of Solid Fuel
Use to Particulate and PAH Air
Pollution in Ireland

11. Collaborative Team Project
• DIT
– Project lead
– Literature Review
– Chemical Analysis
• DCC
– Site selection
– Running of monitoring networks (BS and PM)
– Staff training
• HSE
– Local management of monitoring networks
Harvard Advisor
Prof. Doug Dockery

12. Study components
• Air pollution monitoring
– PM10/2.5
– Black Smoke
• Chemical analysis of samples
– BaP and PAHs
• Literature review
• Final report

13. Monitoring site selection and
Populations (2006 CSO)
• Navan 24,851
– Has natural gas and no coal ban
• Killarney 14,603
– No natural gas, no coal ban
• Tralee 22,744
– Coal ban but no natural gas
• Letterkenny 17,586
– No coal ban and no natural gas

14. Site selection
• Have support of local HSE staff
• Local staff have been trained to change filters and
check on the equipment
• Filters are sent to DCC/DIT for weighing and
chemical analysis
• Periodic site visits by DCC and DIT staff

15. Monitoring
• Measurement of Black Smoke throughout 12
month period
• Dichot Partisols used for measurement of
PM2.5 and PM10 at chosen sites, each for a
total of 6 months
• Monitoring split to measure during both
summer and winter periods
• Chemical analysis of PM filters and a selection
of Black Smoke filters

16. Chemical Analysis
• Quantitative Analysis is being undertaken for the 7 USEPA PAH
( Benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)
pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysen
e, dibenz(a,h)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene) all of
which are suspected carcinogens and known products of fossil
fuel combustion.
• The analysis is being conducted using High Performance
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with diode array and
programmable fluorescence detectors in series. Fluorescence
excitation and emission wavelengths will be optimised for
each PAH using PAH standards.

17. Site selection Navan
April 1st – June 27th
January 2012–March 2012
3 local staff involved

18. Site Selection - Tralee
24th March – 26th June
January 2012 – March 2012
1 local staff member involved

19. Site Selection - Killarney
28th June 2011 – January 2012
1 local staff member involved

20. Site Selection - Letterkenny
8th July 2011 – January 2012
4 local staff involved

21. Filter from 5th November - Letterkenny

22. PAH Analysis
Sample Treatment
• Extraction: filter sonicated for 60 min in 30 ml acetonitrile
• Volume Reduction: Turbovap at 40oC to 0.5 ml followed by
addition of internal standard (B(e)P) and made up to 1 ml.
• Analysis: HPLC with fluorescence detection

23. Interim Results
• Monitoring is not completed yet
• Data presented is based on a data gathered to
date (but not on a full year)

24. Town A B C D Dublin
Units all μgm-3
PM2.5
Average 14 7 14 5 11
Max 62 47 51 53 51
PM10
Average 46 11 19 22 14
Max 313 62 53 203 48
BS
Average 15 5 5 4 4
Max 32 34 25 21 32

25. PAH TEF Value in relation
to upcoming legislated limit during episodes
4.5
4
3.5
PAH - TEF Value
3
ngm-3
2.5
2 pm2.5
1.5 pm2.5-10
1 EU Limit
0.5 Linear (EU Limit)
0
A Annual B Annual C Annual D Annual
Urban Site

26. PAH Toxic Equivalency Factor Maximum Episodic Concentrations Determined (ngm-3)
(unitless)*
Site A Site B Site C Site D
Date of event: Date of event: 30/03/2011 Date of event: 03/04/2011 Date of event: 15/12/2011
15/07/2011
B(a)P 1.0 12.8 1.99 1.77 1.72
B(a)Anth 0.1 ND 0.20 ND 0.86
Chrys 0.01 ND 0.59 ND 0.42
B(b)Fl 0.1 12.9 2.07 0.21 3.26
B(k)Fl 0.1 5.6 0.33 0.41 0.84
Dibenz 1.0 ND ND ND ND
TEF Value (B(a)P) 13.49 2.26 1.83 2.22
(ngm-3)

27. Overlay of Filter Extract and PAH standard
Letterkenny pm2.5 14/10/2011
B(a)P
50 ppb PAH Standard

28. Overlay of Filter Extract and PAH standard
Letterkenny pm2.5 5/11/2011
Estimated at ~350ppb
B(a)P
50 ppb Standard

29. Issues and Problems
• Initial filters were faulty
• PM2.5-PM10 fraction need to do batch
analysis to for PAH work
• HPLC is limited, GC mass spec ordered
• Exploring possibility of x-Ray flour with Prof
Dockery

30. Discussion and Conclusions
• Work is ongoing, final report due end Nov
2012
• Some PM levels giving cause for concern
• As data is interim more detailed analysis
incorporating meteorological data is needed
• Domestic heating is most likely the source of
the higher levels observed

31. Any Questions?