The contribution of sea salt to PM10 and PM2.5 in the Netherlands

Sea salt contribution to particulate matter in the Netherlands is small when PM concentrations are high

Research on the contribution of sea salt to PM₁₀ and PM2.5

Sea salt aerosol makes a natural contribution to particulate matter (PM₁₀), and cannot be influenced by abatement strategies. In the Netherlands the sea salt contribution is subtracted from PM₁₀ according European regulations when checking compliance to PM₁₀ limit values. The report has improved the so-far limited knowledge on sea salt and its contribution to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in the Netherlands. We focused on one year of sodium measurements, which is a good indicator for sea salt, and combined these with results from the LOTOS–EUROS model, which describes the generation and transport of sea salt aerosol.

Contribution sea salt very variable

Average concentrations over the observation period varied from 4 μg/m³ close to the coast in Rotterdam, to 2 μg/m³ land inwards, in Vredepeel. Average daily concentrations, sometimes, would be much higher or much lower. When, for PM₁₀, the European limit vale of 50 μg/m³ was exceeded, the contribution of sea salt aerosol, generally, was less than the average annual concentration. Because contributions of sea salt to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 vary strongly from day to day, and also from year to year, our conclusions from the one-year observation period cannot simply be extrapolated onto other years. Therefore, we recommend that the current analysis is extended with routine sodium measurements, which recently have started in the National Air quality Monitoring Network, and combined with model calculations.

more information

The study was carried out by TNO in cooperation with the ECN, the RIVM and the PBL as part of the Netherlands Research Program on Particulate Matter (BOP).

• Netherlands Research Program on Particulate Matter (BOP)