Outdoor and indoor particle characterization from a large and uncontrolled combustion of a tire landfill

Abstract

A large and uncontrolled fire of a tire landfill started in Seseña (Toledo, Spain) on May 13, 2016. An experimental deployment was immediately launched in the area for measuring regulated and non-standard air quality parameters to assess the potential impact of the plume at local and regional levels. Outdoor and indoor measurements of different parameters were carried out at a near school, approximately 700 m downwind the burning tires. Real time measurements of ambient black carbon (BC) and total number particle concentrations were identified as good tracers of the smoke plume. Simultaneous peaks allowed us to characterize situations of the plume impact on the site. Outdoor total particle number concentrations reached in these occasions 3.8 × 105 particles cm−3 (on a 10 min resolution) whereas the indoor concentration was one order of magnitude lower. BC mass concentrations in ambient air were in the range of 2 to 7 μg m−3, whereas concentrations < 2 μg m−3 were measured indoor. Indoor and outdoor deposited inhalable dust was sampled and chemically characterized. Both indoor and outdoor dust was enriched in tire components (Zn, sulfate) and PAHs associated to the tire combustion process. Infiltration processes have been documented for BC and particle number concentrations causing increases in indoor concentrations.