Differences among black smoke, PM10, and PM1.0 levels at urban measurement sites

Abstract

In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we measured airborne particulate matter (PM) during winter 1998-1999, taking daily average measurements at an urban background site, at a busy street, and at a motorway. Comparison of black smoke, PM10, and PM1.0 levels showed that daily averages were highly correlated over time. Median daily concentrations were elevated at sites affected by traffic. The highest increase relative to the background in median daily concentration was noted for black smoke at the motorway (300%), whereas for PM10 and PM1.0 the increase was only 37% and 30%. These results indicate that mass measurements of ambient particulate matter underestimate the exposure to particles generated by traffic.