Quantification of Particulate Matter from Commercial Building Excavation Activities Using Life-Cycle Approach

Abstract

Construction activities generate large amounts of differing emissions, including particulate matter (PM). These particles are of various aerodynamic diameters—between 10 and 2.5 μm (PM10–2.5), or coarse particulates, and smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), or fine particulates. Coarse particulates are more commonly associated with fugitive dust releases, whereas fine particulates are generally from the combustion of fossil fuels. The combination of construction equipment and diesel fuel combustion emissions and excavated and then exposed earth on a construction site is of particular concern with respect to PM emissions. This research developed a life-cycle assessment model to quantitatively evaluate PM emissions at different scales. An illustrative case study is used to explore the excavation phase of an urban high-rise. The excavation phase includes excavation and hauling of soil, mobilizing and demobilizing of equipment, workers commuting, delivery of fuel, handling of soil at the soil disposal site and the nonregional activities of equipment manufacturing, and the production and distribution of fuels. The emissions generated at the excavation site accounted for 23% of PM10–2.5 and 13% of PM2.5 total life-cycle emissions by location, whereas the emissions generated over roadways accounted for 59 and 77% of total life-cycle PM10–2.5 and PM2.5, respectively. The remaining emissions by location were generated at the soil disposal site and outside of the regional boundary. The majority of regional PM10–2.5 (89%) and PM2.5 (90%) emissions were a direct result of soil-hauling activities. The results present a case for further discussion and analysis of the impacts of hauling soil on regional human health.