News Archive

A new publication from SPH & Collaborators: Development of Land Use Regression models for particulate matter
and associated components in a low air pollutant concentration airshed

This paper describes the development of LUR models for PM10, PM2.5, PM2.5Absorbance (PM2.5Abs), and PM-associated elements (Cu, Fe, K, V, S, Si, Zn, Ni, and Mn) for the Perth metropolitan area, WA, an area with lower air pollutant concentrations compared with most European and North American cities. The models were then used to assign exposures to PMand PM elements for a cohort of older men in Perth, the Health in Men Study (HIMS)

Despite the relatively low concentrations, LUR modelling for PM2.5 and PM2.5Abs and the elements of PM10 and PM2.5 is possible for such locations. The LUR models characterised the local traffic related air pollution as the predominant source to explain the spatial variability of airborne particulate matter and the associated elements in Metropolitan Perth. This study represents one of the few LUR studies investigating PM elements and it will assist researchers in assessing the health impacts of the components of PM as well as PM size fractions.

Highlights

• Development of LUR model in area with low air pollutant concentration is possible.

• Traffics are the main sources of airborne particulate matters and the elements.

• Most of LUR models explain more than 50% of the pollutant's spatial variability.

• Lack of specific predictor data for air pollutant limit the models' performance.

Media references

Fiona Maley (+61 8 6488 1299): [email protected]