PM10 CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENTS IN DUBLIN CITY

Mass Concentration of ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic d iameter less than 10 mu m (PM10) are reported for the first time for a range of sites in Dublin City over a 6 month period from January 1(st ) 1996 to June 30(th) 1996. PM10 gravimetric mass concentration measur ements are made with low now Partisol 2000 air samplers using an impac tion type PM10 inlet and 47mm diameter glass fibre filters. In additio n, much finer time resolution measurements (minimum sampling frequency of 30 minutes) are made using a tapered element oscillating microbala nce (TEOM) PM10 mass monitor. These PM10 mass concentrations methods a re also compared with mass concentration inferred using the standard b lack smoke method. Analysis of the ambient mass concentration data wit h reference to traffic density and meteorological influences are prese nted. Results for the first six months of 1996 show that the average P M10 values range from a high of 49 mu g m(-3) att he Dublin city centr e site to 14 mu g m(-3) at one of the suburban sites. Intercomparison between PM10 and black smoke mass concentrations show that the relatio nship is site specific. Statistical analysis between PM10 levels and c ar traffic number show a positive correlation while a weak negative co rrelation is found between PM10 levels and rainfall amount, wind speed and air temperature.