1 

Particulate Matter (PM) Emission Factors 

For Processes/Equipment at 

Asphalt, Cement, Concrete, and Aggregate Product Plants 

June 2007 

This document provides emission factors for estimating total suspended particulate matter (PM) 

emissions (not PM10) for individual emission source at aggregate (sand and gravel), brick and tile, hot 

mix asphalt, cement, and concrete batch plants. These factors are also applicable to emission sources 

other than processes identified in recently adopted Rules 1156 and 1157. 

The factors and equations are extracted from the US EPA AP-42 document. Some of the complex 

equations are simplified with either default settings or assumptions that are applicable to the conditions 

and operations existing in the South Coast Air Basin as shown in the Reference column of the attached 

table. 

Facility is encouraged to apply specific parameters that are applicable to its operations to calculate 

emissions from the equipment/processes including the results from approved source tests. Supporting 

documents must be submitted with the Annual Emission Report to show the use of such parameters or 

source test results in calculating annual emissions. 

In the absence of specific parameters and/or source tests, facility can calculate its annual emissions using 

the factors provided in the attached table and the following equation. 

E = TP × EF

Where: E = Emission (tons/year) 

 TP = Annual Throughput 

 EF = Emission Factor 

The unit for TP in this equation must be consistent with the unit of EF. For example, if EF is in pound 

per ton of material transferred (lb/ton), then TP must be tons of transferred material. For unique emission 

sources, additional data must be used in determining the factor (EF or TP) before it can be used in 

emission calculation as discussed in the following notes: 

Note 1: For mining/quarrying, emission factor is expressed in pound per blast (lb/blast) and is 

calculated as: 

1.5 EF = 0.000014 × A

Where: A = Total horizontal blasted area in squared foot (ft2), provided that the blast 

depth is less than 70 ft. 

In this case, the throughput (TP) is number of blast per year. 
2

Note 2: For road emissions (E) caused by vehicle traffic, the throughput is expressed in annual 

vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as follows: 





 



  ×



 



 ×













 = = ×

5,280ft

1Mile

Year

# Days

Day

# Truck Trips TP VMT Road Length 

Where: Road Length = One-way distance in feet (ft) of paved or unpaved road within 

the facility, used by haul trucks and non-haul trucks. 

# Truck Trips = the number of roundtrips the vehicle made. 

Definitions: 

Haul Road: an unpaved road used by haul trucks to carry materials from the quarry to the 

unloading/processing area within the facility. 

 Non-Haul Road: unpaved and/or paved road used by non-haul trucks to carry materials from 

one location to another location within the facility, usually between the facility’s entrance/exit 

to loading/unloading/processing areas. 

Note 3: For PM emissions (E) at each conveyor transfer point, the emission factor (lb/ton of material 

transferred) can be determined using the following equation: 

1.4

1.3

2

5 EF k 0.0032





 









 





= × ×

M

U

Where: k = Particle Size Multiplier (dimensionless) 

 U = Average Wind Speed (mile per hour) 

 M. = Average Moisture Content (%) 

Note 4: In addition to PM emissions, VOC emissions are also expected from asphalt product during 

loading out and silo filling operations. Emission factor (lb/ton of product loaded) is expressed 

in as follows: 

ASPHALT LOAD-OUT

( ) (( 0.0251 ( 460 )) 20 .43 ) EF PM 0.000181 0.00141 - V × + − = + T

e

( ) (( 0.0251 ( 460 )) 20 .43 ) EF VOC 0.0172 - V × + − = T

e

SILO FILLING

( ) (( 0.0251 ( 460 )) 20 .43 ) EF PM 0.000332 0.00105 - V × + − = + T

e

( ) (( 0.0251 ( 460 )) 20 .43 ) EF VOC 0.0504 - V × + − = T

e

Where: V = Asphalt Volatility (in negative %); (Example -2.5%) 

 T = Asphalt Product Mix Temperature (degree F) 
Emission Factor References

 Operation/Emission Sources Unit And 

UNCONTROLLED CONTROLLED Assumptions

3

ROAD EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLE TRAFFIC• PAVED ROAD 

b W

3

a

2

sL k VMT E   ×   × × =

Where:  E = PM emissions  TP = VMT = annual vehicle mile traveled  (see Note 2) 

b W

3

a

2

sL k EF   ×   × =

 k = particle size multiplier  a, b = constants  sL = road surface silt loading (g/m2) 

 W = average weight (tons) of the vehicle 

Aggregate / Crushed Material Plants EF = 11.65 EF = 2.33Hot Mix Asphalt Plants EF = 14.73 EF = 2.95Concrete BatchingEF = 4.91 EF = 0.98Cement/Other Plants EF = 4.19 EF = 0.84

lb/VMT lb/VMT lb/VMT 

lb/VMT 

Chapter 13.2.1, Equation 1 Assumptions: k = 0.082, a = 0.65, b = 1.5 Aggregate / Crushed Material  sL = 53 g/m2 *Hot Mix Asphalt  sL = 76 g/m2 *Cement / Concrete / Others  sL = 11 g/m2 *Control Efficiency = 80% W Loaded = 30 tons W Unloaded = 5 tons 

W Unloaded for concrete Batching = 12 tons 

* Per agreement between the District & Industry 
Emission Factor References

 Operation/Emission Sources Unit And 

UNCONTROLLED CONTROLLED Assumptions

4

• UNPAVED ROAD 

b W

3

a S

12

k VMT E   ×   × × =

Where:  E = PM emissions  TP = VMT = annual vehicle mile traveled  (see Note 2) 

b W

3

a S

12

k EF   ×   × =

 k = particle size multiplier  a, b = constants  S = surface material silt content (%)  W = average weight (tons) of the vehicle 

Aggregate Plants  HAUL VEHICLE EF = 16.36 EF = 3.27

 NON-HAUL VEHICLE EF = 8.79 EF = 1.76Other Plant  HAUL VEHICLE EF = 14.66 EF = 2.93

 NON-HAUL VEHICLE EF = 5.26 EF =1.05

lb/VMT lb/VMT lb/VMT lb/VMT 

Assumptions: k = 4.9, a = 0.7, b = 0.45 HAUL  W Loaded = 120 tons  W Unloaded = 45 tons 

 S Aggregate = 8.3%  S Others = 7.1% NON-HAUL  W Loaded = 30 tons 

 W Unloaded = 5 tons 

 S Aggregate = 10%  S Others = 4.8 % Control Efficiency = 80%

OPEN STORAGE PILETP = annual tonnage of stored material = amount of material loaded into, or out of, the pile 

EF = 0.33 EF = 0.0165 lb/ton Chapter 11.19.1, Final Report, 

Table 4-1 Control Efficiency = 95%
Emission Factor References

 Operation/Emission Sources Unit And 

UNCONTROLLED CONTROLLED Assumptions

5

MINING/QUARRYING• DRILLING  TP = number of hole drilled • BLASTING (see Note 1)

 TP = number of blast

EF = 1.3 EF = 0.000014 (A) 1.5

lb/hole 

lb/blast 

Chapter 11.9, Table 11.9-4 Chapter 11.9, Table 11.9-1 

LOADING / UNLOADING• CONVEYOR TRANSFER POINT 

4. 1

3. 1

52

0032 . 0 k EF

 

  × × = U

M

k= Particle size multiplier M = Material moisture content U = Mean wind speed For a system of multiple transfer points, this EF must be multiplied by the number of transfer points (where materials drop from one point to another). Refer to Rule 1157 definition for more detail. Also see Note 3.

Aggregate/Crushed Miscellaneous Base/ Asphalt Plants EF = 0.00234 EF = 0.00012Concrete Batching and Others  SAND: EF = 0.0021 EF = 0.00011 AGGREGATE: EF = 0.0069 EF = 0.00035

lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton 

Chapter 13.2.4, Equation 1(b) Assumptions:  k = 0.74  U = 6.3 mph  M = 2.5% Control Efficiency = 95% 
Emission Factor References

 Operation/Emission Sources Unit And 

UNCONTROLLED CONTROLLED Assumptions

6

• WEIGHT HOPPER / SURGE BIN • SILOS  Cement Cement Supplements (Fly Ash) • CONCRETE TRUCK MIX 

LOADING 

• CONCRETE CENTRAL MIX 

LOADING 

• ASPHALT PRODUCTS LOAD OUT

(see Note 4) 

• ASPHALT SILO FILLING  (see Note 4) 

EF = 0.0051 EF = 0.00026EF = 0.72 EF = 0.00099EF = 3.14 EF = 0.0089EF = 0.995 EF = 0.0568EF = 0.544 EF = 0.0173 PM: EF = 0.00052

VOC: EF = 0.0042

 PM: EF = 0.00059

VOC: EF = 0.0122

lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton 

Chapter 11.12, Table 11.12-2 Control Efficiency = 95% Chapter 11.12, Table 11.12-2Control Efficiency = 99% Chapter 11.12, Table 11.12-2Chapter 11.12, Table 11.12-2Chapter 11.1, Table 11.1-14V=-0.5, T=325 oF Chapter 11.1, Table 11.1-14V=-0.5, T=325 oF 
Emission Factor References

 Operation/Emission Sources Unit And 

UNCONTROLLED CONTROLLED Assumptions

7

CRUSHING• PRIMARY CRUSHER • TERTIARY CRUSHER • FINE CRUSHER 

EF = 0.014* EF = 0.00031EF = 0.055* EF = 0.0012

EF = 0.136* EF = 0.003* Based on using controlled EF & control efficiency of 97.8% 

lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton 

Chapter 11.6, Table 11.6-4 Control Efficiency = 97.8% Chapter 11.19.2, Table 11.19.2-2 Control Efficiency = 97.8% Chapter 11.19.2, Table 11.19.2-2 Control Efficiency = 97.8%

SCREENING

• COARSE • FINE • SAND 

EF = 0.056* EF = 0.0022

EF = 0.092* EF = 0.0036EF = 0.21* EF = 0.0083* Based on using controlled EF & control efficiency of 96.1%

lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton 

Chapter 11.19.2, Table 11.19.2-2 Control Efficiency = 96.1% Chapter 11.19.2, Table 11.19.2-2 Control Efficiency = 96.1% Chapter 11.19.1, Final Report, Table 4-3 Control Efficiency = 96.1%
Emission Factor References

 Operation/Emission Sources Unit And 

UNCONTROLLED CONTROLLED Assumptions

8

MILLING

• GENERAL • CEMENT 

Raw Mill 

 Finish Grinding Mill 

EF = 0.62* EF = 0.0062EF = 1.2* EF = 0.012EF = 0.8* EF = 0.008* Based on using controlled EF & control efficiency of 99%

lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton 

Chapter 11.3, Table 11.3-1 Control Efficiency = 99%

Chapter 11.6, Table 11.6-4 Control Efficiency = 99%

OTHER PROCESS/EQUIPMENT• MATERIAL DRYER  SAND and GRAVEL  BATCH MIX ASPHALT  DRUM MIX ASPHALT  BRICK MANUFACTURING • KILNS  BRICK  CEMENT  CLINKER COOLER 

EF = 2.0 EF = 0.039

EF = 32 EF = 0.042EF = 28 EF = 0.033EF = 0.187 EF = 0.96 EF = 109* EF = 1.09

EF = 14.7* EF = 0.147

* Based on using controlled EF & control efficiency of 99%

lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton lb/ton 

Chapter 11.19.1, Table 11.19.1-1 Chapter 11.1, Table 11.1-1 Chapter 11.1, Table 11.1-3 Chapter 11.3., Table 11.3-1 Chapter 11.3., Table 11.3-1 Chapter 11.6, Table 11.6-2 Control Efficiency = 99%