Frontier analysis in air pollution

Carbon containing aerosol is the most abundant particulate air pollutant species. It causes poor visibility and can be toxic. Tracing its origins is an important step in environmental management and control. This study analyses the carbon concentrations at Duarte, CA (a suburban site near Los Angeles) and in Lennox, CA (a site next to a Los Angeles freeway). Concentrations inside a tunnel are also available and used to derive a motor vehicle emission profile. A new approach is proposed for calculating the motor vehicle contribution to organic carbon and the amount of background carbon found at these two sites. Regression analysis provides insight in the formation of organic carbon and frontier analysis is used to calculate the motor vehicle contribution to organic carbon and the amount of background carbon in the atmosphere. The information obtained from this analysis can be used in the regulation of motor vehicle emissions and in air pollution control.