Atmospheric particle dry deposition of major ions to the South Atlantic coastal area observed at Baía de Todos os Santos, Brazil

Abstract

The coastal atmosphere adjacent to large urban areas can be strongly affected by the emission of air pollutants, among them, major ions species. In this study, the chemical composition and sources of carboxylates and other water-soluble ions in fine and coarse aerosols as well as estimates of particle dry deposition fluxes were studied at a tropical coastal site affected by an urban environment. The mean concentrations of the total carboxylates were 78 ng m -3 in fine fraction and 81 ng m -3 in coarse fraction of particulate matter (PM). The corresponding values for the total inorganic ions were 2143 ng m -3 and 4880 ng m -3 respectively. Main sources for fine particles were: (i) photochemical formation of carboxylic acids in vapor phase and a posterior gas-to-particle conversion onto sea salt particles; (ii) emissions from anthropic sources with long range transportation processes; and (iii) the interchanging of volatile species among atmospheric phases. In turn, for coarse particles, the predominant sources were: (i) gas-phase species and ab/adsorbed onto preexisting particles afterwards; (ii) primary emission of coarse particles from anthropogenic sources; and (iii) sea salt spray and/or soil resuspension. Finally, particle dry deposition was a very important mechanism representing air-to-sea fluxes of major species.

Spatial, temporal and size distribution of particulate matter and its chemical constituents in Faisalabad, Pakistan

“…Ionic balance (as mole equivalents) can be a useful tool to determine any possible missing ionic species, so this method was applied to PM from the study area (Table II). The results of Σanions/Σcations for PM were well below one unit, which shows that there is a quite reasonable anion deficiency in PM, thus suggesting that positive charges from cations are not totally neutralized by negative charges from anions (Mkoma et al, 2014). The apparent anion deficiency shows that PM samples are, in fact, alkaline.…”

Spatial, temporal and size distribution of particulate matter and its chemical constituents in Faisalabad, Pakistan

“…The results of Σanions/Σcations for PM were well below one unit, which shows that there is a quite reasonable anion deficiency in PM, thus suggesting that positive charges from cations are not totally neutralized by negative charges from anions (Mkoma et al, 2014). The apparent anion deficiency shows that PM samples are, in fact, alkaline.…”

New parasite in a coprolite of 240 million years, biogeography of fossil coelacanths, and the influence of air pollutants in a coastal area of northeastern Brazil

“…Recently the AABC published some quite interesting papers on different kinds of pollution that occur in distinct areas (e.g., Lacerda et al 2012, Silva et al 2012, Fonseca et al 2013, Hermes et al 2013. Mkoma et al (2014) have studied major ion species in order to establish the degree in which the emission of pollutants have affected the atmosphere on the coast of the Baía de Todos os Santos, in Salvador, northeastern Brazil (Mkoma et al 2014). As has been pointed out before, the concentration of ionic species could affect the quality of the nearby ecosystem and consequently, human health (He and Balasubramanian 2008).…”