Estimation of Atmospheric Particulates and Dry Deposition Particulate-bound Mercury Hg(p) in Sha-Lu, Taiwan

Self Cite

This study investigated the feasibility of monitoring arsenic (As) levels in total suspended particulates (TSP), in both dry deposition and dry deposition flux at five sampling sites located in central Taiwan during the years of 2009-2010. Experimental results indicate that the average As concentration in TSP and dry deposition was highest in Quan-xing (industrial) and lowest in Gao-mei (wetland). The mean As composition in TSP was highest in Hei-mei (residential) and lowest in Gao-mei (wetland). The average highest arsenic (As) of seasonal concentrations and compositions in TSP, dry deposition were occurred in winter and fall denotes that fossil fuel combustion by Taichung thermal power plant (TTPP) emissions and heating by household were the main reasons responsible for the high data values measured. Atmospheric concentrations of arsenic (As) were analyzed by a ICP-MS (Perkin Elmer Sciex ELAN DRC II). Finally, best-fit model can be used successfully in the prediction of ambient air pollutants around suburban/coastal, downtown, residential, industrial and wetland areas.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Measurement of Ambient Air Arsenic (As) Pollutant Concentration and Dry Deposition Fluxes in Central Taiwan

Fang

Lin

Huang

et al. 2011

Self Cite

“…To date, not many field studies have been conducted for atmospheric mercury measurements in Taiwan (Kuo et al, 2006;Sheu et al, 2010;Fang et al, 2010;Jen et al, 2010;Fang et al, 2012, Jen et al, 2012), yet none have been done for measuring atmospheric mercury speciation and concentration at Taiwan's offshore islands. In this study, continuous field monitoring of TGM was conducted to investigate its seasonal and daily variations at the Penghu Islands, as the correlations of TGM concentrations with the meteorological parameters and several criteria air pollutants being further examined and discussed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Field Measurement of Total Gaseous Mercury and Its Correlation with Meteorological Parameters and Criteria Air Pollutants at a Coastal Site of the Penghu Islands

Jen

Chen

Hung

et al. 2014

This study investigated the seasonal and daily variations of the total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentration in the ambient atmosphere, the correlation of TGM concentration with meteorological parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity, and wind speed) and criteria air pollutant concentrations (e.g., SO 2 , NO x , CO, O 3 , PM 10 , and PM 2.5 ), as well as the transportation routes, at the Penghu Islands. The field measurement results showed that the average TGM concentration during the monitoring period was 3.17 ± 1.17 ng/m 3 , within the range of 1.17-8.63 ng/m 3 , with the highest concentration being observed in spring, while the TGM concentration typically increased in the morning, reached its peak concentration, and then started to decrease at nightfall. Moreover, the lowest average TGM concentration of 1.81 ± 0.15 ng/m 3 was observed in summer, and this figure is close to the background TGM concentration of the Northern Hemisphere (1.6-1.8 ng/m 3 ). The correlation analysis indicated that TGM concentration correlated positively with SO 2 , NO x , CO, O 3 , PM 10 , PM 2.5 and negatively with ambient temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. In addition, the transportation route analysis showed that elevated TGM concentrations could be transported from either North China, East China, or South China to the Penghu Islands, while those originating from the South China Sea had the lowest contribution to the TGM levels at the Penghu Islands. Therefore, local sources and open burning might be mainly influenced by the long-range transportation of air masses, as the prevailing wind direction and air mass transportation routes potentially play critical roles in the variation of TGM concentration at the Penghu Islands.

“…Elemental mercury and most of its derivatives are metabolic poisons causing neurological and reproductive damage in terrestrial and aquatic organisms (USEPA, 1999). To date, many field studies have been conducted for atmospheric mercury measurements (Mason et al, 2000;Malcolm et al, 2002;Friedli et al, 2003;Golubeva et al, 2003;Poissant et al, 2004Poissant et al, , 2005Kuo, et al, 2006;Shon et al, 2008;Sheu et al, 2009;Fang et al, 2010Fang et al, , 2012), yet none have been done for measuring atmospheric mercury speciation and concentration around the boundary of iron/steel or petrochemical industrial area. In this study, field measurement of atmospheric mercury was designated to investigate the tempospatial variation and partition of gaseous and particulate mercury during wet and dry seasons, and further correlated atmospheric mercury with meteorological parameters and air pollutants in Kaohsiung City, the largest industrial city in Taiwan, located at the coastal region of southern Taiwan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tempospatial Variation and Partition of Atmospheric Mercury during Wet and Dry Seasons at Sensitivity Sites within a Heavily Polluted Industrial City

Jen

Yuan

Hung

et al. 2013

This study investigated the seasonal variation and spatial distribution of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and particulate mercury (Hg p ) in the ambient atmosphere of Kaohsiung City, the largest industrial city in Taiwan, located at the coastal region of southern Taiwan. TGM and Hg p were measured at six sensitivity sites and one coastal background site, from June to December, 2010. Field measurement results showed that the seasonal averaged concentrations of TGM and Hg p were in the range of 2.38-9.41 and 0.02-0.59 ng/m 3 with the highest concentrations of 9.41 and 0.59 ng/m 3 , respectively. Moreover, the partition of atmospheric mercury was found to be 92.71-99.17% TGM and 0.83-7.29% Hg p . As a whole, the concentrations of mercury species in the dry season were higher than those in the wet season, for both TGM or Hg p concentrations. The TGM and Hg p concentrations at the Hsiao-kang site was the highest in Kaohsiung City. Hot spots of atmospheric mercury were found at two regions in Kaohsiung City, including a steel industrial complex in the south and a petrochemical industrial complex in the north. The correlation of atmospheric mercury with meteorological parameters (e.g., ambient temperature, relative humidity, and UV intensity) and air pollutants (e.g., CO, SO 2 , NO x , and O 3 ) was further discussed. The results indicated that TGM and Hg p concentrations correlated positively with SO 2 , NO x , CO, ambient temperature, and UV B , and negatively with relative humidity, O 3 , and wind speed.