Sources of particle number concentration and noise near London Gatwick Airport

Anja H. Tremper; Calvin Jephcote; John Gulliver; Leon Hibbs; David C. Green; Anna Font; Max Priestman; Anna L. Hansell; Gary W. Fuller

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107092

Sources of particle number concentration and noise near London Gatwick Airport

Anja H. Tremper^*, Calvin Jephcote, John Gulliver, Leon Hibbs, David C. Green, Anna Font, Max Priestman, Anna L. Hansell, Gary W. Fuller

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is increasing evidence of potential health impacts from both aircraft noise and aircraft-associated ultrafine particles (UFP). Measurements of noise and UFP are however scarce near airports and so their variability and relationship are not well understood. Particle number size distributions and noise levels were measured at two locations near Gatwick airport (UK) in 2018–19 with the aim to characterize particle number concentrations (PNC) and link PNC sources, especially UFP, with noise. Positive Matrix Factorization was used on particle number size distribution to identify these sources. Mean PNC (7500–12,000 p cm⁻³) were similar to those measured close to a highly trafficked road in central London. Peak PNC (94,000 p cm⁻³) were highest at the site closer to the runway. The airport source factor contributed 17% to the PNC at both sites and the concentrations were greatest when the respective sites were downwind of the runway. However, the main source of PNC was associated with traffic emissions. At both sites noise levels were above the recommendations by the WHO (World Health Organisation). Regression models of identified UFP sources and noise suggested that the largest source of noise (LAeq-1hr) above background was associated with sources of fresh traffic and urban UFP depending on the site. Noise and UFP correlations were moderate to low suggesting that UFP are unlikely to be an important confounder in epidemiological studies of aircraft noise and health. Correlations between UFP and noise were affected by meteorological factors, which need to be considered in studies of short-term associations between aircraft noise and health.

Original language	English
Article number	107092
Number of pages	15
Journal	Environment International
Volume	161
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107092
Publication status	Published - Mar 2022
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This factor, however, had different characteristics at the two sites. During the Horley campaign this factor had a very small contribution to the total particle number concentration (1%) and was low in concentration (130 p cm −3 ). This factor was moderately correlated with BC 880 and BC 370 and volatile PM 10 , as well as the secondary aerosol factor. Meteorological data showed that the concentration was highest with easterly wind directions. The diurnal profile was predominantly influenced by mixing layer dynamics and thus this factor has also been interpreted as an additional secondary aerosol factor. The highest concentrations coincided with higher wind speeds than for the first secondary aerosol factor and thus this might indicate that the origins were less local. This interpretation was supported by the higher correlation with volatile PM fraction.

Funding Information:
This project was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC; Project Reference MR/P023673/1). We would like to thank Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) for providing data on flight numbers and runway direction for the measurement period. The authors would also like to thank Ioar Rivas and Jamie Soussan for their help with data analysis and data collection, respectively.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022

Keywords

AIR-POLLUTION
AIRCRAFT
Airport emissions
EMISSIONS
HEALTH
Noise
POLLUTANTS
Particle number size distributions
ROCHESTER
SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS
SOURCE APPORTIONMENT
SPECTRA
Source apportionment
Traffic
ULTRAFINE PARTICLES
Ultrafine particles

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10.1016/j.envint.2022.107092

Cite this

@article{30cc571730aa4d8fa5c13eb8621010b7,

title = "Sources of particle number concentration and noise near London Gatwick Airport",

abstract = "There is increasing evidence of potential health impacts from both aircraft noise and aircraft-associated ultrafine particles (UFP). Measurements of noise and UFP are however scarce near airports and so their variability and relationship are not well understood. Particle number size distributions and noise levels were measured at two locations near Gatwick airport (UK) in 2018–19 with the aim to characterize particle number concentrations (PNC) and link PNC sources, especially UFP, with noise. Positive Matrix Factorization was used on particle number size distribution to identify these sources. Mean PNC (7500–12,000 p cm−3) were similar to those measured close to a highly trafficked road in central London. Peak PNC (94,000 p cm−3) were highest at the site closer to the runway. The airport source factor contributed 17% to the PNC at both sites and the concentrations were greatest when the respective sites were downwind of the runway. However, the main source of PNC was associated with traffic emissions. At both sites noise levels were above the recommendations by the WHO (World Health Organisation). Regression models of identified UFP sources and noise suggested that the largest source of noise (LAeq-1hr) above background was associated with sources of fresh traffic and urban UFP depending on the site. Noise and UFP correlations were moderate to low suggesting that UFP are unlikely to be an important confounder in epidemiological studies of aircraft noise and health. Correlations between UFP and noise were affected by meteorological factors, which need to be considered in studies of short-term associations between aircraft noise and health.",

keywords = "AIR-POLLUTION, AIRCRAFT, Airport emissions, EMISSIONS, HEALTH, Noise, POLLUTANTS, Particle number size distributions, ROCHESTER, SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS, SOURCE APPORTIONMENT, SPECTRA, Source apportionment, Traffic, ULTRAFINE PARTICLES, Ultrafine particles",

author = "Tremper, {Anja H.} and Calvin Jephcote and John Gulliver and Leon Hibbs and Green, {David C.} and Anna Font and Max Priestman and Hansell, {Anna L.} and Fuller, {Gary W.}",

note = "Funding Information: This factor, however, had different characteristics at the two sites. During the Horley campaign this factor had a very small contribution to the total particle number concentration (1%) and was low in concentration (130 p cm −3 ). This factor was moderately correlated with BC 880 and BC 370 and volatile PM 10 , as well as the secondary aerosol factor. Meteorological data showed that the concentration was highest with easterly wind directions. The diurnal profile was predominantly influenced by mixing layer dynamics and thus this factor has also been interpreted as an additional secondary aerosol factor. The highest concentrations coincided with higher wind speeds than for the first secondary aerosol factor and thus this might indicate that the origins were less local. This interpretation was supported by the higher correlation with volatile PM fraction. Funding Information: This project was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC; Project Reference MR/P023673/1). We would like to thank Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) for providing data on flight numbers and runway direction for the measurement period. The authors would also like to thank Ioar Rivas and Jamie Soussan for their help with data analysis and data collection, respectively. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2022.107092",

language = "English",

volume = "161",

journal = "Environment International",

issn = "0160-4120",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sources of particle number concentration and noise near London Gatwick Airport

AU - Tremper, Anja H.

AU - Jephcote, Calvin

AU - Gulliver, John

AU - Hibbs, Leon

AU - Green, David C.

AU - Font, Anna

AU - Priestman, Max

AU - Hansell, Anna L.

AU - Fuller, Gary W.

N1 - Funding Information: This factor, however, had different characteristics at the two sites. During the Horley campaign this factor had a very small contribution to the total particle number concentration (1%) and was low in concentration (130 p cm −3 ). This factor was moderately correlated with BC 880 and BC 370 and volatile PM 10 , as well as the secondary aerosol factor. Meteorological data showed that the concentration was highest with easterly wind directions. The diurnal profile was predominantly influenced by mixing layer dynamics and thus this factor has also been interpreted as an additional secondary aerosol factor. The highest concentrations coincided with higher wind speeds than for the first secondary aerosol factor and thus this might indicate that the origins were less local. This interpretation was supported by the higher correlation with volatile PM fraction. Funding Information: This project was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC; Project Reference MR/P023673/1). We would like to thank Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) for providing data on flight numbers and runway direction for the measurement period. The authors would also like to thank Ioar Rivas and Jamie Soussan for their help with data analysis and data collection, respectively. Publisher Copyright: © 2022

PY - 2022/3

Y1 - 2022/3

N2 - There is increasing evidence of potential health impacts from both aircraft noise and aircraft-associated ultrafine particles (UFP). Measurements of noise and UFP are however scarce near airports and so their variability and relationship are not well understood. Particle number size distributions and noise levels were measured at two locations near Gatwick airport (UK) in 2018–19 with the aim to characterize particle number concentrations (PNC) and link PNC sources, especially UFP, with noise. Positive Matrix Factorization was used on particle number size distribution to identify these sources. Mean PNC (7500–12,000 p cm−3) were similar to those measured close to a highly trafficked road in central London. Peak PNC (94,000 p cm−3) were highest at the site closer to the runway. The airport source factor contributed 17% to the PNC at both sites and the concentrations were greatest when the respective sites were downwind of the runway. However, the main source of PNC was associated with traffic emissions. At both sites noise levels were above the recommendations by the WHO (World Health Organisation). Regression models of identified UFP sources and noise suggested that the largest source of noise (LAeq-1hr) above background was associated with sources of fresh traffic and urban UFP depending on the site. Noise and UFP correlations were moderate to low suggesting that UFP are unlikely to be an important confounder in epidemiological studies of aircraft noise and health. Correlations between UFP and noise were affected by meteorological factors, which need to be considered in studies of short-term associations between aircraft noise and health.

AB - There is increasing evidence of potential health impacts from both aircraft noise and aircraft-associated ultrafine particles (UFP). Measurements of noise and UFP are however scarce near airports and so their variability and relationship are not well understood. Particle number size distributions and noise levels were measured at two locations near Gatwick airport (UK) in 2018–19 with the aim to characterize particle number concentrations (PNC) and link PNC sources, especially UFP, with noise. Positive Matrix Factorization was used on particle number size distribution to identify these sources. Mean PNC (7500–12,000 p cm−3) were similar to those measured close to a highly trafficked road in central London. Peak PNC (94,000 p cm−3) were highest at the site closer to the runway. The airport source factor contributed 17% to the PNC at both sites and the concentrations were greatest when the respective sites were downwind of the runway. However, the main source of PNC was associated with traffic emissions. At both sites noise levels were above the recommendations by the WHO (World Health Organisation). Regression models of identified UFP sources and noise suggested that the largest source of noise (LAeq-1hr) above background was associated with sources of fresh traffic and urban UFP depending on the site. Noise and UFP correlations were moderate to low suggesting that UFP are unlikely to be an important confounder in epidemiological studies of aircraft noise and health. Correlations between UFP and noise were affected by meteorological factors, which need to be considered in studies of short-term associations between aircraft noise and health.

KW - AIR-POLLUTION

KW - AIRCRAFT

KW - Airport emissions

KW - EMISSIONS

KW - HEALTH

KW - Noise

KW - POLLUTANTS

KW - Particle number size distributions

KW - ROCHESTER

KW - SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS

KW - SOURCE APPORTIONMENT

KW - SPECTRA

KW - Source apportionment

KW - Traffic

KW - ULTRAFINE PARTICLES

KW - Ultrafine particles

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U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107092

DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107092

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85123110173

SN - 0160-4120

VL - 161

JO - Environment International

JF - Environment International

M1 - 107092

ER -

Sources of particle number concentration and noise near London Gatwick Airport

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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