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treasure valley road dust study: final report - ResearchGate

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One-second emissions potentials (i.e. kT 1/3 /s) for each <strong>road</strong> section and heading were<br />

averaged. The number of 1-second measurements constituting the averages ranged from 14<br />

(Ponderay northbound after sweeping) to 300 (Quarter Horse westbound after sweeping). Figure<br />

4-18 shows the average emissions potential for each <strong>road</strong> segment and heading before and after<br />

sweeping. The results from these tests are counterintuitive. If the street sweeper is removing<br />

suspendable material from the <strong>road</strong>way, the emissions potential should decrease after sweeping.<br />

Instead, the emissions potential is observed to increase by up to 40% after sweeping. The<br />

average emissions potential increase measured on all five <strong>road</strong>s is 16%.<br />

1.8<br />

1.6<br />

Before Sweeping<br />

After Sweeping<br />

1.4<br />

Emissions Potential (g/vkt)/(m/s)<br />

1.2<br />

1<br />

0.8<br />

0.6<br />

0.4<br />

0.2<br />

0<br />

Clark East Clark West Ponderay<br />

North<br />

Ponderay<br />

South<br />

Ponderosa<br />

East<br />

Ponderosa<br />

West<br />

Quarter<br />

Horse East<br />

Quarter<br />

Horse West<br />

Wilcomb<br />

North<br />

Wilcomb<br />

South<br />

Figure 4-18. Comparison of emissions potential from 5 streets in Ada County before and after street<br />

sweeping.<br />

The reason for the increase in emissions potential after sweeping is unclear. It is possible<br />

that material displaced from the curb unto the street as the sweeper passes over the <strong>road</strong>.<br />

Alternatively, particles trapped in the cracks and pits of the <strong>road</strong> may be redistributedacross the<br />

<strong>road</strong> surface by the sweeper, making those particle available for suspension by passing vehicles.<br />

In this experiment, the application of the sand has been shown to increase PM 10<br />

emissions, though only for a short time after application. Sand applied to the <strong>road</strong> drifted to the<br />

shoulders within a few hours of application. On the short time-scale of these experiments, it was<br />

not possible to investigate whether or not sand blown to the side of the <strong>road</strong> can serve as a longterm<br />

reservoir for subsequent PM 10 emissions.<br />

At present, it is uncertain how sweeping affects the urban scale emissions inventory. The<br />

sweepers tested effectively capture large material (e.g. sand, trash, and leaf debris) but were not<br />

effective in lowering PM 10 emissions in the short-term. We note however that the large material<br />

on <strong>road</strong>ways may be precursors to PM 10 <strong>road</strong> <strong>dust</strong> emissions since vehicle tires can disaggregate<br />

4-28

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