Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) is released in varying quantities from mobile sources depending on the type of fossil fuel used in combustion. According to the USEPA, PM exposure could cause a variety of problems such as premature deaths, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, asthma, reduced lung function, and respiratory issues. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the downwind concentrations near highways from mobile sources to protect the public from adverse health effects. The current study concentrates on developing an analytical line source dispersion model to account for different particle size ranges for particulate matter released from mobile sources. Available line source models do not explicitly consider different ranges of particle sizes present in the exhaust. The present study discusses the development of a dispersion model to predict downwind concentrations of PM by incorporating a range of particle sizes for an infinite and a finite-length mobile source. The dry deposition of particles is also considered during development. The emission rate, wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric turbulence, and dry deposition velocity of the particles are the model inputs. The sensitivity of the model is determined by simultaneously varying the independent input variables using Monte Carlo simulation by Crystal Ball software. The sensitivity analysis results generated using Crystal Ball are preliminary in nature and should be re-examined.