On the historic exposure levels of Elemental Carbon from vehicle diesel exhaust based on diesel smoke concentrations

Air pollution by diesel traffic became a concern in the UK in the 1950s. Exposure levels were assessed via probing the light absorption of filter samples, which was translated to a mass concentration of diesel smoke (DS), based on the results of a measurements in the exhaust of a test diesel engine. We convert these DS values to concentrations of Elemental Carbon (EC), the current proxy for diesel exhaust. In a recent study in the literature and an earlier own investigation a high similarity (R-2 = 0.97) was found of the light absorption by aerosol collected in parallel on glass and quartz fibre filters and probed by smoke-stain reflectometers similar to those used historically. For samples on quartz fibre filters the relation between light absorption and EC was taken from recent studies. The shape of the absorption/EC curve is highly similar to the absorption/DS curve, with an equivalency factor of 1.6 +/- 20% between DS and EC concentration (expressed according to the EUSAAR2-TOT method). Converted EC concentrations for workday average 24-hr and morning rush hour samples were around 75 and 150 mu g m(-3) at the kerbside of the busy London Al ring-road in 1960. In 1961-1962 the average weekday daytime EC concentration at a traffic island in inner city Fleet Street was 200-250 mu g m(-3). Only 45 m into a side-street the concentration was an order of magnitude less. At the end of the 1990-ies EC concentrations at the nearby Marylebone Road were around 9 mu g m(-3), dropping to 3 mu g m(-3) in recent years. In addition, we found the correct factor to convert light absorption to EC mass concentration of samples obtained in the FH62 beta gauge monitors used in Germany in compliance measurements for the national soot law preceeding the EU PM10 regulation of 1997.

Automated summary

Air pollution by diesel traffic was a concern in the UK in the 1950s. This study investigates the measurement of light absorption by filter samples to assess exposure levels and convert them into diesel smoke concentration. The results suggest a high similarity between light absorption and elemental carbon concentration, as well as between light absorption and diesel smoke concentration. The findings also reveal a significant decrease in diesel emissions in London over the past few decades.