Measurement of PM2.5 emission potential from soil using the UC Davis resuspension test chamber

Human health effects have been linked to airborne concentrations of fine particulate matter. One source of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere is resuspended soil dust from a variety of activities, including agricultural operations. We have established a method to measure the potential of soil to emit fugitive dust in the PM10 or PM2.5 size range. The method is repeatable, and provides an index of PM10 or PM2.5 dust that is highly correlated to the soil texture. The ratio of the PM2.5 Index to the PM10 Index produced by this method is similar to field observations of ambient PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations downwind of agricultural operations in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The PM2.5 or PM10 Index will be a more useful parameter to estimate the potential of a soil to emit fugitive dust than the currently used dry silt content of soil. Research is currently underway to relate the PM10 and PM2.5 Index to measured emission factors, accounting for soil moisture and type of agricultural operation, so that a more reliable predictive equation can be developed for agricultural practices.