Preliminary investigation of PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and its metal elemental composition in tunnels at a subway station in Shanghai, China

In this study, real-time monitoring campaigns were conducted in two tunnels (Line A and Line B) at a subway station in Shanghai, including temperature, relative humidity, PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, in order to understand the climate and PM characteristics in the transportation microenvironment. In addition, collected floor dust particles in the tunnel were analyzed by ICP for their metal elemental composition. Strong correlations occurred between all PM levels and meteorological parameters in the tunnel of Line A (with platform screen doors), in comparison with the weak correlations between such parameters in the tunnel of Line B (without platform screen doors). PM2.5 and PM10 between peak hours and off-peak hours for both lines presented significant differences (p < 0.05), respectively. Nevertheless, PM1 showed a different pattern, with p > 0.05 for Line A and p < 0.05 for Line B, respectively. In addition, statistical results concluded that PM had an evident weekly variation for both lines. Friday was the highest day of all particulate matters in monitoring periods for both lines. Ratios of PM1/PM10 and PM2.5/PM10 were high when trains were out of service and low when trains were in service. Relative abundance of metal elements detected from floor dust particles proved that floor dust particles in tunnels might be a major source of airborne PM in the subway microenvironments, with Fe as the most abundant metal element, followed by Ca, Al, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Hg.