Three air quality policy case studies: Evaluating mass balance closure and the federal reference method for PM2.5, impacts of light duty diesel vehicles for GHG emissions control, and fleet hybridization as a cost-effective carbon dioxide reduction approa

This dissertation examines several policy issues in air quality regarding fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. First, mass balance closure for the Federal Reference Method (FRM) for measuring PM2.5 is examined using extensive data available from the Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS). Evaluating the data from PAQS for different measurement techniques provides insight as to the measurement artifacts associated with the FRM, which is the legal definition of PM2.5. This insight is in turn helpful in evaluating effective control technologies to attain PM 2.5 regulatory standards. The second policy issue evaluated is that of light duty diesel vehicles, and whether they provide the reductions in GHG emissions promised. If so, whether they produce corresponding adverse air quality impacts, and how significant these are. Finally, the current trend of purchasing hybrid vehicles for government fleet use is examined using real time data from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Evaluating these data allows for a determination as to whether the fuel savings and GHG emission reductions achieved from the widespread use of hybrids in the fleet are worth the additional capital cost from the purchase of hybrids, and whether there are other strategies that could achieve similar reductions without incurring such capital costs.