TexAQS2000: Houston PM2.5 Organic Speciation Data, August-September 2000

24-hour integrated organic speciation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected from August 15, 2000 through September 30, 2000 at three Houston Supersite monitoring locations. The data was produced by the NARSTO/EPA partnership, with filters extracted and compounds analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study aimed to characterize PM composition and sources in Southeastern Texas and support health effects research.

Use Cases

• Source apportionment modeling based on detailed organic compound profiles.
• Temporal analysis of PM2.5 composition during a specific summer air quality study period.
• Method validation for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques in environmental monitoring.
• Health effects study support by linking speciated chemical data with exposure assessments.

Strengths

• Data covers a focused 47-day period during a major air quality study (TexAQS2000).
• Samples collected from three distinct monitoring sites (HRM Site 3, Aldine, La Porte).
• Analysis methods are explicitly described (hexane/benzene extraction, GC-MS quantification).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from a single study in 2000; temporal relevance for current conditions may be limited.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration via the NARSTO/EPA Supersite program.

Collection Method

24-hour integrated filter sampling with subsequent laboratory extraction and analysis.

Time Range

August 15, 2000 to September 30, -2000

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:31:54.358317; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Houston, Texas, USA (specifically HRM Site 3, Aldine, and La Porte monitoring locations).