Comparison and Seasonal Evaluation of the Rural and Urban Ambient Pm2.5 and Pm10 Mass Concentrations Based on Meteorological Parameters

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown a significant impact of fine particles below 10 w square m (PM10) on human health. Due to the increasing interest for the fine particles (PM2.5) the measurement program of the network has been extended to include PM2.5 measurements into the measurement program at several countries. It has well know that the effect of air pollution on health depends on pollutant concentrations and the type of exposure and city-wide health risk assessment. In this study, PM levels and their sources, fractions, temporal and spatial variations and relation with meteorological factors have been determined in both of urban and rural areas. PM samplers were collected during this study period using Anderson Dichotomous sampler. During October 2009-October 2010 the collected PM-fine, PM-coarse, and PM10 mass concentrations were 31.07, 15,52 and 46.53 mu g/m(3) for city atmosphere and 20.57, 14.34 and 34.92 mu g/m(3) in rural atmosphere, respectively. The concentration of PM2.5, and PM10 were higher in heating seasons than in summer time, in urban areas. Size fraction ratios of PM2.5 and PM2.5-10, were estimated in both stations. In urban area, Seasonal variations in the rate of PM2,5/PM10 which is an expression of the relative contribution to total inhalable particles were analyzed and found that this ratio is higher during the winter season than summer season. But, in rural areas, the rate of PM fractions did not significantly change seasonally. As expected, the low PM concentrations are associated with rural atmospheric conditions. This is a probably result of due to nan-stagnant air masses formed because of low temperature and low wind speed over the rural areas