Abstract
Expected urban air concentrations of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) were calculated using volatile emissions estimates and screening transport models, and these predictions were compared with Boston, MA, area urban air measurements. The total volatile flux of MTBE into the Boston primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA) airshed was calculated based on estimated automobile nontailpipe emissions and the Universal Quasi-Chemical Functional-Group Activity Coefficient computed abundance of MTBE in gasoline vapor. The fate of MTBE in the Boston PMSA was assessed using both the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances, which is a steady-state multimedia box model, and a simple airshed box model. Both models were parameterized based on the meteorological conditions observed during air sampling in the Boston area. Measured average urban air concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μg/m3 MTBE during February and September of 2000, respectively, were comparable to corresponding model predictions of 0.3 and 1 gμ/m3 and could be essentially explained from estimated temperature-dependent volatile emissions rates, observed average wind speed (the airshed flushing rate), and reaction with ambient tropospheric hydroxyl radical (·OH), within model uncertainty. These findings support the proposition that one can estimate gasoline component source fluxes and use simple multimedia models to screen the potential impact of future proposed gasoline additives on urban airsheds.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1426-1435 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atmospheric Science
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
Cite this
Emission and Fate Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether in the Boston Area Airshed Using a Simple Multimedia Box Model : Comparison with Urban Air Measurements. / Kawamoto, Katsuya; Arey, J. Samuel; Gschwend, Philip M.
In: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Vol. 53, No. 12, 2003, p. 1426-1435.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Emission and Fate Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether in the Boston Area Airshed Using a Simple Multimedia Box Model
T2 - Comparison with Urban Air Measurements
AU - Kawamoto, Katsuya
AU - Arey, J. Samuel
AU - Gschwend, Philip M.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Expected urban air concentrations of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) were calculated using volatile emissions estimates and screening transport models, and these predictions were compared with Boston, MA, area urban air measurements. The total volatile flux of MTBE into the Boston primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA) airshed was calculated based on estimated automobile nontailpipe emissions and the Universal Quasi-Chemical Functional-Group Activity Coefficient computed abundance of MTBE in gasoline vapor. The fate of MTBE in the Boston PMSA was assessed using both the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances, which is a steady-state multimedia box model, and a simple airshed box model. Both models were parameterized based on the meteorological conditions observed during air sampling in the Boston area. Measured average urban air concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μg/m3 MTBE during February and September of 2000, respectively, were comparable to corresponding model predictions of 0.3 and 1 gμ/m3 and could be essentially explained from estimated temperature-dependent volatile emissions rates, observed average wind speed (the airshed flushing rate), and reaction with ambient tropospheric hydroxyl radical (·OH), within model uncertainty. These findings support the proposition that one can estimate gasoline component source fluxes and use simple multimedia models to screen the potential impact of future proposed gasoline additives on urban airsheds.
AB - Expected urban air concentrations of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) were calculated using volatile emissions estimates and screening transport models, and these predictions were compared with Boston, MA, area urban air measurements. The total volatile flux of MTBE into the Boston primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA) airshed was calculated based on estimated automobile nontailpipe emissions and the Universal Quasi-Chemical Functional-Group Activity Coefficient computed abundance of MTBE in gasoline vapor. The fate of MTBE in the Boston PMSA was assessed using both the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances, which is a steady-state multimedia box model, and a simple airshed box model. Both models were parameterized based on the meteorological conditions observed during air sampling in the Boston area. Measured average urban air concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μg/m3 MTBE during February and September of 2000, respectively, were comparable to corresponding model predictions of 0.3 and 1 gμ/m3 and could be essentially explained from estimated temperature-dependent volatile emissions rates, observed average wind speed (the airshed flushing rate), and reaction with ambient tropospheric hydroxyl radical (·OH), within model uncertainty. These findings support the proposition that one can estimate gasoline component source fluxes and use simple multimedia models to screen the potential impact of future proposed gasoline additives on urban airsheds.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0345166913&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0345166913&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 14700130
AN - SCOPUS:0345166913
VL - 53
SP - 1426
EP - 1435
JO - Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association
JF - Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association
SN - 1096-2247
IS - 12
ER -