Characterization of ultrafine particles and benzene concentrations at the international bridge of the americas during winter

Hector A. Olvera, Veronica Guerrero, Mario Lopez, Daniel Perez, Sofia Escajeda, Mario Garcia, Wen Whai Li, Jose H. Garcia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Among the ports of entry between the US and Mexico, the International Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) connecting El Paso, TX, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, has the largest combined traffic of privately owned (mostly gasoline fueled) and commercially operated (mostly diesel fueled) vehicles. The air quality at the BOTA was studied in terms of particle mass, particle number, and benzene concentrations near the US customs inspection area at the BOTA. The results suggested that diesel emissions account for fraction of the variability of the total and particularly ultrafine particle number concentrations. Principle component analysis showed that the ultrafine particle (UFP) and benzene levels might be emitted by the same source, since component 3 showed correlations with both. The correlation analysis suggests that the impact of diesel traffic minimizes quickly with distance as southbound traffic was associated with PM2.5 levels at both sites while northbound traffic only correlated with PM2.5 levels at the Mexican site. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 102nd Air & Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition (Detroit, MI 6/16-19/2009).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication102nd Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2009
Pages3471-3488
Number of pages18
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event102nd Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2009 - Detroit, MI, United States
Duration: Jun 16 2009Jun 19 2009

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition, AWMA
Volume5
ISSN (Print)1052-6102

Conference

Conference102nd Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDetroit, MI
Period6/16/096/19/09

Keywords

  • Diesel particles
  • Mexico
  • Particle number concentration
  • Port of entry
  • Principal component analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Energy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of ultrafine particles and benzene concentrations at the international bridge of the americas during winter'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this