Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements

Abstract Due to their small size and ability to penetrate deeply into the respiratory system, ultrafine particles (UFP) pose a significant health risk. Their concentrations and sources are not consistently monitored and regulated in urban areas, including Paris. This study aims at presenting an over...

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Main Authors: Grégory Abbou, Véronique Ghersi, François Gaie-Levrel, Anne Kauffmann, Mikael Reynaud, Christophe Debert, Philippe Quénel, Alexia Baudic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-10-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240093
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author Grégory Abbou
Véronique Ghersi
François Gaie-Levrel
Anne Kauffmann
Mikael Reynaud
Christophe Debert
Philippe Quénel
Alexia Baudic
author_facet Grégory Abbou
Véronique Ghersi
François Gaie-Levrel
Anne Kauffmann
Mikael Reynaud
Christophe Debert
Philippe Quénel
Alexia Baudic
author_sort Grégory Abbou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Due to their small size and ability to penetrate deeply into the respiratory system, ultrafine particles (UFP) pose a significant health risk. Their concentrations and sources are not consistently monitored and regulated in urban areas, including Paris. This study aims at presenting an overview of UFP measurements carried out in Paris from October 2019 to December 2022 using a mobility particle size spectrometer (MPSS). An averaged particle number concentration (PNC) of 8,100 ± 4,800 # cm−3 was recorded between 8 and 100 nm on the analysis period, which was consistent with UFP concentrations usually observed in urban background conditions (< 104 # cm−3). The maximum PNC often exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) indicative values (10,000 # cm−3 and 20,000 # cm−3 daily and hourly averages respectively), thus emphasizing the need for ongoing UFP monitoring in Paris city. At the annual scale, averaged UFP concentrations were lower in 2020 (6,600 ± 3,900 # cm−3) compared to 2021 and 2022 (8,100 ± 4,600 # cm−3 and 8,700 ± 4,700 # cm−3, respectively). This variability is depending on meteorological conditions and pollutant emissions, particularly during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase. UFP cycles can be attributed to anthropogenic emissions, mainly from road-traffic, with hourly maximum concentrations correlated with black carbon (BC, r = 0.50 with p ≤ 0.05). A correlation analysis with other pollutants also allowed to confirm road-traffic as a major UFP source in Paris due to high UFP associations with nitrogen dioxide (NO2, r = 0.58 with p ≤ 0.05) and organic matter (OM, r = 0.53 with p ≤ 0.05). Concerning particle number size distribution (PNSD) measurements, a predominant particle mode between 20 and 30 nm (Aitken mode) was observed and linked to vehicular emissions. Finally, this study is worthwhile to support policymakers and to supply future epidemiological studies to better assess UFP health impacts with the ultimate aim of defining regulation thresholds.
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spelling doaj-art-e6678292014448e78606c853506b93c82025-08-20T03:08:40ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092024-10-01241211910.4209/aaqr.240093Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions MeasurementsGrégory Abbou0Véronique Ghersi1François Gaie-Levrel2Anne Kauffmann3Mikael Reynaud4Christophe Debert5Philippe Quénel6Alexia Baudic7Airparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAirparif, The Air Quality Observatory within the Greater Paris AreaAbstract Due to their small size and ability to penetrate deeply into the respiratory system, ultrafine particles (UFP) pose a significant health risk. Their concentrations and sources are not consistently monitored and regulated in urban areas, including Paris. This study aims at presenting an overview of UFP measurements carried out in Paris from October 2019 to December 2022 using a mobility particle size spectrometer (MPSS). An averaged particle number concentration (PNC) of 8,100 ± 4,800 # cm−3 was recorded between 8 and 100 nm on the analysis period, which was consistent with UFP concentrations usually observed in urban background conditions (< 104 # cm−3). The maximum PNC often exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) indicative values (10,000 # cm−3 and 20,000 # cm−3 daily and hourly averages respectively), thus emphasizing the need for ongoing UFP monitoring in Paris city. At the annual scale, averaged UFP concentrations were lower in 2020 (6,600 ± 3,900 # cm−3) compared to 2021 and 2022 (8,100 ± 4,600 # cm−3 and 8,700 ± 4,700 # cm−3, respectively). This variability is depending on meteorological conditions and pollutant emissions, particularly during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase. UFP cycles can be attributed to anthropogenic emissions, mainly from road-traffic, with hourly maximum concentrations correlated with black carbon (BC, r = 0.50 with p ≤ 0.05). A correlation analysis with other pollutants also allowed to confirm road-traffic as a major UFP source in Paris due to high UFP associations with nitrogen dioxide (NO2, r = 0.58 with p ≤ 0.05) and organic matter (OM, r = 0.53 with p ≤ 0.05). Concerning particle number size distribution (PNSD) measurements, a predominant particle mode between 20 and 30 nm (Aitken mode) was observed and linked to vehicular emissions. Finally, this study is worthwhile to support policymakers and to supply future epidemiological studies to better assess UFP health impacts with the ultimate aim of defining regulation thresholds.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240093UFPUrban air qualityMPSSNumber size distributionParis city
spellingShingle Grégory Abbou
Véronique Ghersi
François Gaie-Levrel
Anne Kauffmann
Mikael Reynaud
Christophe Debert
Philippe Quénel
Alexia Baudic
Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
UFP
Urban air quality
MPSS
Number size distribution
Paris city
title Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements
title_full Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements
title_fullStr Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements
title_full_unstemmed Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements
title_short Ultrafine Particles Monitoring in Paris: From Total Number Concentrations to Size Distributions Measurements
title_sort ultrafine particles monitoring in paris from total number concentrations to size distributions measurements
topic UFP
Urban air quality
MPSS
Number size distribution
Paris city
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240093
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