Spatial and Temporal Variation in PM 2.5 Chemical Composition in the United States for Health Effects Studies

Although numerous studies have demonstrated links between particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects, the chemical components of the PM mixture that cause injury are unknown.

This work characterizes spatial and temporal variability of PM(2.5) (PM with aerodynamic diameter /= 1% to total mass for yearly or seasonal averages [ammonium (NH(4) (+)), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon matter (OCM), nitrate (NO(3) (-)), silicon, sodium (Na(+)), and sulfate (SO(4) (2-))]. Strongest correlations with PM(2.5) total mass were with NH(4) (+) (yearly), OCM (especially winter), NO(3) (-) (winter), and SO(4) (2-) (yearly, spring, autumn, and summer), with particularly strong correlations for NH(4) (+) and SO(4) (2-) in summer. Components that co-varied with PM(2.5) total mass, based on daily detrended data, were NH(4) (+), SO(4) (2-) (,) OCM, NO(3) (2-), bromine, and EC.