Measuring Change in PM2.5 Emissions as NextGen Operational Procedures Are Implemented at Large U.S. Airports.

摘要

The aviation industry is a contributing source of particulate matter (PM), a pollutant known to negatively impact human health. The NextGen program has a focus on reducing aviation fuel burn. Since PM is a direct byproduct of jet fuel combustion, this study evaluated whether the operational procedures implemented as a part of NextGen can be correlated with measurable reductions in PM emissions. Recorded PM, number of aircraft operations, and annual average daily road traffic data from 2008-2012 were collected from a selection of seven U.S. metropolitan areas. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to see if any significant relationships could be found between aircraft operations and PM over the selected time. When the number of aircraft operations was held constant, PM showed a significant decrease over time. Nearby road traffic averages throughout this time show little change, so conclusions suggest that less PM is being produced by aviation operations.