Environmental Letters
ISSN: 0013-9300 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lesa17
Respirable Dust Content of Subway Air R. B. Trattner , A. J. Perna , H. S. Kimmel & R. Birch To cite this article: R. B. Trattner , A. J. Perna , H. S. Kimmel & R. Birch (1975) Respirable Dust Content of Subway Air, Environmental Letters, 10:3, 247-252, DOI: 10.1080/00139307509435826 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00139307509435826
Published online: 02 Sep 2009.
Submit your article to this journal
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Citing articles: 4 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=2esa20 Download by: [NUS National University of Singapore]
Date: 07 November 2015, At: 02:28
ENvIRONXENTAL LETTERS, 10(3),
247-252 (1975)
RESPIRABLE DUST CONTENT OF SUBWAY AIR
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
KEY WORDS:
RESPIRABLE DUST, SUBWAY PARTICULATES
R.B. Trattner, A.J. Perna, H.S. Kimel and R. Birch Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey 07102
ABSTRACT
During the non-heating months of June, July and August of 1974, the total and respirable dust content at an underground station of the Newark City Subway System was determined. Higher particulate levels than obtained for ambient Newark air were observed. Additionally, Federal Ambient Primary Air Quality Standards for suspended particulate matter was exceeded in two instances.
Qualitative elemental analysis of the particulate matter
collected is also reported.
In air quality determinations the total weight of suspended particulates has been considered a sufficient indication of particulate levels. Total weight however, is an inadequate measure of particulate pollution and
1 its effects. Respiratory active particles generally have a much greater impact on public health when compared with the same weight of larger particles and are an important but often ignored air pollutant.
Because the
degree of 'respiratory penetration and retention is a direct function of 247 Copyright 0 1976 by hlarcel Dekker. Inc. 1\11 Rights Reserved. Neilher this work nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical. including photocopying, microfilming. and recording.or by any information storage and retrieval system. wilhout permission in writing from the publisher.
TRATTNFX ET AL.
248
aerodynamic p a r t i c l e s i z e , knowledge of t h e p a r t i c l e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n of Suspended p a r t i c l e s i s e s s e n t i a l i n a s s e s s i n g t h e i n h a l a t i o n h e a l t h hazzard.
2 A i r q u a l i t y i n a subway system i s a l s o of c r i t i c a l importance t o p u b l i c
h e a l t h s i n c e a g r e a t number of people may b e exposed f o r prolonged t i m e
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
periods.
An examination of t h e a i r l i t e r a t u r e f u r n i s h e s o n l y a l i m i t e d
number of s t u d i e s on p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s i n a subway environment.
The New
York T r a n s i t Authority published t h r e e s t u d i e s on p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s a t Although
s e v e r a l underground s t a t i o n s i n t h e New York T r a n s i t sampling p e r i o d s were of s h o r t d u r a t i o n ( i . e .
7 t o 30 minutes), t o t a l par-
3 t i c u l a t e l e v e l s ranging from 400 t o 122 mg/m were obtained.
Further
a n a l y s i s of t h e d a t a i n d i c a t e s t h a t , on average, 49% by weight of t h e t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r c o l l e c t e d was d i s t r i b u t e d i n t h e s i z e range between one and f i v e microns.
Another s t u d y conducted by O'Connor6 sampled t h e
a i r w i t h i n subway cars of t h e Broadway-7th Avenue l i n e , which runs mainly
below ground.
3 An annual mean of 135mglm f o r r e s p i r a b l e s i z e p a r t i c l e s
( 8 p i n diameter) w a s obtained.
et.al.7
On t h e b a s i s of O'Connor's s t u d y , Scheiner
have e s t i m a t e d t h e t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s w i t h i n subway c a r s as
180-200mg/m
3
on a mean annual b a s i s .
The Newark C i t y Subway, (NCS) a small underground t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system
c o n s i s t i n g of s i n g l e e l e c t r i c a l l y powered c a r s , was s e l e c t e d as the model t o s y s t e m a t i c a l l y develop and e v a l u a t e t h e parameters necessary f o r t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and c o r r e l a t i o n of atmospheric p o l l u t a n t s w i t h l o c a t i o n and source.
The NCS system extends f o r 4.7 m i l e s (one way).
m i l e s of t h e system are underground.
Approximately 1.5
I n o u r i n i t i a l s t u d i e s w e have d e t e r -
mined n o t o n l y t h e t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s which e x i s t i n a subway s t a t i o n b u t a l s o t h e f r a c t i o n of t h a t t o t a l which i s r e s p i r a t o r y a c t i v e . A 5-stage cascade impactor was set up a t a n underground s t a t i o n l o c a t e d beneath a h e a v i l y t r a v e l e d urban thoroughfare.
This f r a c t i o n a t i n g sampler
RESPIRABLE DUST CONTENT I N SUBWAY
249
s e g r e g a t e s a i r b o r n e p a r t i c l e s ranging from about 3.0 microns down t o 0.5 microns.
P a r t i c l e s s m a l l e r than 0.5 microns were c o l l e c t e d on a backup f i l -
The sampler w a s o p e r a t e d a t flow ranges between 4 and 5 cfm f o r 24
ter.
hour sampling c y c l e s during t h e non-heating months of June, J u l y and August of 1974.
S i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n s of suspended p a r t i c u l a t e s were g r a v i m e t r i c a l l y
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
determined. F i g u r e 1 shows t h e v a r i a t i o n of t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n pg/m
3
T o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o r am-
d u r i n g t h e summer months.
b i e n t Newark a i r o v e r t h e same p e r i o d i s a l s o presented i n F i g u r e 1. t a i n e d from Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency o f New J e r s e y . ) d a t a was o b t a i n e d u s i n g a hi-vol s a m p l e r .
(Ob-
This l a t t e r
Comparison of t h e two sets o f
d a t a shows t h a t , e x r e p t i n one i n s t a n c e (i.e. J u l y
lo),
h i g h e r l e v e l s of
p a r t i c u l a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n were observed i n t h e subway atmosphere t h a n i n t h e above ground ambient a i r .
In f a c t , i n n i n e o u t o f t h e f o u r t e e n sampling
p e r i o d s , t h e p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s i n t h e subways w a s found t o b e a t l e a s t twice as g r e a t a s t h a t r e p o r t e d f o r ambient Newark a i r .
F u r t h e r , i t is
noted t h a t t h e F e d e r a l Ambient Primary A i r Q u a l i t y Standard f o r suspended p a r t i c u l a t e matter8 of 260 pg/m
3
9 (NTBENTOPY) c o l l e c t e d of a 24 hour per-
i o d was exceeded twice d u r i n g t h e 3-month period. The e f f e c t i v e c u t o f f p a r t i c l e diameters f o r each of t h e f i v e s t a g e s o f t h e cascade impactor and t h e back-up f i l t e r (i.e. s t a g e 6 ) are as follows: 3.156 p , 2.344 p , 1.594 p , 0.969 p , 0.531 p and 0.313 p f o r s t a g e s 1 through 6, respectively.
F i g u r e 2 p r e s e n t s a p l o t o f percentage of t o t a l weight of
p a r t i c u l a t e matter c o l l e c t e d on each s t a g e v e r s u s t i m e . . s i t i o n i s n e g l i g i b l e f o r p a r t i c l e s below 1 p i n diameter" t o n o t e t h a t t h e range of percent'of
Since n a s a l depoi t i s important
t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e s f o r s t a g e s 4 , 5 and
6 combined w a s from 27.0 t o 52.6%, w i t h a n average v a l u e of 42.4%.
This
m a n s t h a t a s i g n i f i c a n t amount of p a r t i c u l a t e matter w i l l almost c e r t a i n l y b e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e pulmonary p o r t i o n of t h e r e s p i r a t o r y t r a c t .
TRATTNER ET At.
250
320
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
280
240
-
0
E 2
20Q
1
v
c rl L1
160 c U
g 0
U
\
I
V
12t
d U
d U
2
P4
8( Newark Subway Data 41
EPA Data for Newark
16
"
"
--LT-------(r--
1
I
I
I
I
I
I
24
2
10
18
26
3
11
June
July
August
FIG. 1. Summer Efonths Particulate Levels
The stage collecting the largest fraction of the total amount of particulate matter is seen, (i.e. 28.4% average for July 1 sampling) to b e stage one.
These particles of 73.156 p in diameter would be substantially
retained by nasopharyngeal deposition.
Nondestructive qualitative analysis
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
RESPIRABLE DUST CONTENT IN SUBWAY
FIG. 2.
251
Variation of Particulate Size as a Function of Percent Total Weight.
of the particulate matter by x-ray fluorescence indicates the presence of lh, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb.
More quantitative analytical data will be avail-
able shortly. REFERENCES
1.
The term respirable particulate matter is applied to particulate matter which can be deposited in the lung to a significant extent (i.e. c 7 p particle diameter).
2. Norrow, P. E. "Evaluation of Inhalation Hazards Based Upon the Respirable Dust Content and the Philosophy and Application of Selective Sampling", Am. Hyg. Assoc. J. 25:213, May-June 1964.
TRATTNER ET AL.
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
252
3.
Bennet, J. and Kane, C. F. "Analysis of Dust in Subway Air. 50th Street Station IND 6th Avenue Line", N.Y. Transit Authority Report, November 8, 1965.
4.
Bennet, J. and Radin, L. "Tests of Filter Efficiency. Roosevelt Avenue Station IND and Sroadway Lafayette Station IND", N.Y. Transit Authority Report, April 8, 1966.
5.
Bennet, J. F. and Radin, L. "Analysis of Ozone and Dust in Subway Air. Nevins Street Station. IRT.". N.Y. Transit Authority Report, June 17, 1966.
6. O'Connor, J. R.. "Levels of Selected Atmospheric Contaminants Encountered by Transit Workers in New York City", Environmental Protection Agency Report, Air Pollution Control Office, 1967.
7. Scheiner, P . , et, al. "Air Quality and the New York City Subway System, York College, CUNY, 1971. 8. "Rules and Regulations", Federal Register, 3 6 : 8 4 , 8187, April 30, 1971.
9. Not to b e exceeded more than once per year. 10. U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, "Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Elatter, NAPCA Publication #AP-49, 115 (1969).
Received July 17, 1975 Accepted August 8, 1975
ISSN: 0013-9300 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lesa17
Respirable Dust Content of Subway Air R. B. Trattner , A. J. Perna , H. S. Kimmel & R. Birch To cite this article: R. B. Trattner , A. J. Perna , H. S. Kimmel & R. Birch (1975) Respirable Dust Content of Subway Air, Environmental Letters, 10:3, 247-252, DOI: 10.1080/00139307509435826 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00139307509435826
Published online: 02 Sep 2009.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 2
View related articles
Citing articles: 4 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=2esa20 Download by: [NUS National University of Singapore]
Date: 07 November 2015, At: 02:28
ENvIRONXENTAL LETTERS, 10(3),
247-252 (1975)
RESPIRABLE DUST CONTENT OF SUBWAY AIR
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
KEY WORDS:
RESPIRABLE DUST, SUBWAY PARTICULATES
R.B. Trattner, A.J. Perna, H.S. Kimel and R. Birch Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey 07102
ABSTRACT
During the non-heating months of June, July and August of 1974, the total and respirable dust content at an underground station of the Newark City Subway System was determined. Higher particulate levels than obtained for ambient Newark air were observed. Additionally, Federal Ambient Primary Air Quality Standards for suspended particulate matter was exceeded in two instances.
Qualitative elemental analysis of the particulate matter
collected is also reported.
In air quality determinations the total weight of suspended particulates has been considered a sufficient indication of particulate levels. Total weight however, is an inadequate measure of particulate pollution and
1 its effects. Respiratory active particles generally have a much greater impact on public health when compared with the same weight of larger particles and are an important but often ignored air pollutant.
Because the
degree of 'respiratory penetration and retention is a direct function of 247 Copyright 0 1976 by hlarcel Dekker. Inc. 1\11 Rights Reserved. Neilher this work nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical. including photocopying, microfilming. and recording.or by any information storage and retrieval system. wilhout permission in writing from the publisher.
TRATTNFX ET AL.
248
aerodynamic p a r t i c l e s i z e , knowledge of t h e p a r t i c l e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n of Suspended p a r t i c l e s i s e s s e n t i a l i n a s s e s s i n g t h e i n h a l a t i o n h e a l t h hazzard.
2 A i r q u a l i t y i n a subway system i s a l s o of c r i t i c a l importance t o p u b l i c
h e a l t h s i n c e a g r e a t number of people may b e exposed f o r prolonged t i m e
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
periods.
An examination of t h e a i r l i t e r a t u r e f u r n i s h e s o n l y a l i m i t e d
number of s t u d i e s on p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s i n a subway environment.
The New
York T r a n s i t Authority published t h r e e s t u d i e s on p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s a t Although
s e v e r a l underground s t a t i o n s i n t h e New York T r a n s i t sampling p e r i o d s were of s h o r t d u r a t i o n ( i . e .
7 t o 30 minutes), t o t a l par-
3 t i c u l a t e l e v e l s ranging from 400 t o 122 mg/m were obtained.
Further
a n a l y s i s of t h e d a t a i n d i c a t e s t h a t , on average, 49% by weight of t h e t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r c o l l e c t e d was d i s t r i b u t e d i n t h e s i z e range between one and f i v e microns.
Another s t u d y conducted by O'Connor6 sampled t h e
a i r w i t h i n subway cars of t h e Broadway-7th Avenue l i n e , which runs mainly
below ground.
3 An annual mean of 135mglm f o r r e s p i r a b l e s i z e p a r t i c l e s
( 8 p i n diameter) w a s obtained.
et.al.7
On t h e b a s i s of O'Connor's s t u d y , Scheiner
have e s t i m a t e d t h e t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s w i t h i n subway c a r s as
180-200mg/m
3
on a mean annual b a s i s .
The Newark C i t y Subway, (NCS) a small underground t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system
c o n s i s t i n g of s i n g l e e l e c t r i c a l l y powered c a r s , was s e l e c t e d as the model t o s y s t e m a t i c a l l y develop and e v a l u a t e t h e parameters necessary f o r t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and c o r r e l a t i o n of atmospheric p o l l u t a n t s w i t h l o c a t i o n and source.
The NCS system extends f o r 4.7 m i l e s (one way).
m i l e s of t h e system are underground.
Approximately 1.5
I n o u r i n i t i a l s t u d i e s w e have d e t e r -
mined n o t o n l y t h e t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s which e x i s t i n a subway s t a t i o n b u t a l s o t h e f r a c t i o n of t h a t t o t a l which i s r e s p i r a t o r y a c t i v e . A 5-stage cascade impactor was set up a t a n underground s t a t i o n l o c a t e d beneath a h e a v i l y t r a v e l e d urban thoroughfare.
This f r a c t i o n a t i n g sampler
RESPIRABLE DUST CONTENT I N SUBWAY
249
s e g r e g a t e s a i r b o r n e p a r t i c l e s ranging from about 3.0 microns down t o 0.5 microns.
P a r t i c l e s s m a l l e r than 0.5 microns were c o l l e c t e d on a backup f i l -
The sampler w a s o p e r a t e d a t flow ranges between 4 and 5 cfm f o r 24
ter.
hour sampling c y c l e s during t h e non-heating months of June, J u l y and August of 1974.
S i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n s of suspended p a r t i c u l a t e s were g r a v i m e t r i c a l l y
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
determined. F i g u r e 1 shows t h e v a r i a t i o n of t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n pg/m
3
T o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o r am-
d u r i n g t h e summer months.
b i e n t Newark a i r o v e r t h e same p e r i o d i s a l s o presented i n F i g u r e 1. t a i n e d from Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency o f New J e r s e y . ) d a t a was o b t a i n e d u s i n g a hi-vol s a m p l e r .
(Ob-
This l a t t e r
Comparison of t h e two sets o f
d a t a shows t h a t , e x r e p t i n one i n s t a n c e (i.e. J u l y
lo),
h i g h e r l e v e l s of
p a r t i c u l a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n were observed i n t h e subway atmosphere t h a n i n t h e above ground ambient a i r .
In f a c t , i n n i n e o u t o f t h e f o u r t e e n sampling
p e r i o d s , t h e p a r t i c u l a t e l e v e l s i n t h e subways w a s found t o b e a t l e a s t twice as g r e a t a s t h a t r e p o r t e d f o r ambient Newark a i r .
F u r t h e r , i t is
noted t h a t t h e F e d e r a l Ambient Primary A i r Q u a l i t y Standard f o r suspended p a r t i c u l a t e matter8 of 260 pg/m
3
9 (NTBENTOPY) c o l l e c t e d of a 24 hour per-
i o d was exceeded twice d u r i n g t h e 3-month period. The e f f e c t i v e c u t o f f p a r t i c l e diameters f o r each of t h e f i v e s t a g e s o f t h e cascade impactor and t h e back-up f i l t e r (i.e. s t a g e 6 ) are as follows: 3.156 p , 2.344 p , 1.594 p , 0.969 p , 0.531 p and 0.313 p f o r s t a g e s 1 through 6, respectively.
F i g u r e 2 p r e s e n t s a p l o t o f percentage of t o t a l weight of
p a r t i c u l a t e matter c o l l e c t e d on each s t a g e v e r s u s t i m e . . s i t i o n i s n e g l i g i b l e f o r p a r t i c l e s below 1 p i n diameter" t o n o t e t h a t t h e range of percent'of
Since n a s a l depoi t i s important
t o t a l p a r t i c u l a t e s f o r s t a g e s 4 , 5 and
6 combined w a s from 27.0 t o 52.6%, w i t h a n average v a l u e of 42.4%.
This
m a n s t h a t a s i g n i f i c a n t amount of p a r t i c u l a t e matter w i l l almost c e r t a i n l y b e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e pulmonary p o r t i o n of t h e r e s p i r a t o r y t r a c t .
TRATTNER ET At.
250
320
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
280
240
-
0
E 2
20Q
1
v
c rl L1
160 c U
g 0
U
\
I
V
12t
d U
d U
2
P4
8( Newark Subway Data 41
EPA Data for Newark
16
"
"
--LT-------(r--
1
I
I
I
I
I
I
24
2
10
18
26
3
11
June
July
August
FIG. 1. Summer Efonths Particulate Levels
The stage collecting the largest fraction of the total amount of particulate matter is seen, (i.e. 28.4% average for July 1 sampling) to b e stage one.
These particles of 73.156 p in diameter would be substantially
retained by nasopharyngeal deposition.
Nondestructive qualitative analysis
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
RESPIRABLE DUST CONTENT IN SUBWAY
FIG. 2.
251
Variation of Particulate Size as a Function of Percent Total Weight.
of the particulate matter by x-ray fluorescence indicates the presence of lh, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb.
More quantitative analytical data will be avail-
able shortly. REFERENCES
1.
The term respirable particulate matter is applied to particulate matter which can be deposited in the lung to a significant extent (i.e. c 7 p particle diameter).
2. Norrow, P. E. "Evaluation of Inhalation Hazards Based Upon the Respirable Dust Content and the Philosophy and Application of Selective Sampling", Am. Hyg. Assoc. J. 25:213, May-June 1964.
TRATTNER ET AL.
Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 02:28 07 November 2015
252
3.
Bennet, J. and Kane, C. F. "Analysis of Dust in Subway Air. 50th Street Station IND 6th Avenue Line", N.Y. Transit Authority Report, November 8, 1965.
4.
Bennet, J. and Radin, L. "Tests of Filter Efficiency. Roosevelt Avenue Station IND and Sroadway Lafayette Station IND", N.Y. Transit Authority Report, April 8, 1966.
5.
Bennet, J. F. and Radin, L. "Analysis of Ozone and Dust in Subway Air. Nevins Street Station. IRT.". N.Y. Transit Authority Report, June 17, 1966.
6. O'Connor, J. R.. "Levels of Selected Atmospheric Contaminants Encountered by Transit Workers in New York City", Environmental Protection Agency Report, Air Pollution Control Office, 1967.
7. Scheiner, P . , et, al. "Air Quality and the New York City Subway System, York College, CUNY, 1971. 8. "Rules and Regulations", Federal Register, 3 6 : 8 4 , 8187, April 30, 1971.
9. Not to b e exceeded more than once per year. 10. U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, "Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Elatter, NAPCA Publication #AP-49, 115 (1969).
Received July 17, 1975 Accepted August 8, 1975
