Physicochemical Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Aerosol Particles in Kinmen-Xiamen Airshed

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical properties of atmospheric particles sampled in the KinmenXiamen Airshed located on the west bank of the Taiwan Strait. Seven particulate matter (PM) sampling sites in the KinmenXiamen Airshed, including three sites at Kinmen Island and four in urban Xiamen, were selected for this particular study. Regular sampling was conducted to collect PM 10 with high-volume samplers twice a month from March 2008, while intensive sampling was conducted to collect PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-10 with dichotomous samplers and PM 10 with high-volume samplers in the spring and winter of [2008][2009]. After sampling, the metallic contents of PM 10 were analyzed with an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Ionic species and carbonaceous contents of PM 10 were analyzed with an ion chromatograph (IC) and elemental analyzer (EA), respectively. Finally, the source identification and apportionment of PM were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and receptor modeling (CMB), respectively. The results from PM 10 sampling indicated that atmospheric aerosol particles had a tendency to accumulate in Xiamen Bay all year round, particularly in spring and winter. The five sampling sites at the center of Xiamen Bay had relatively higher PM 10 concentrations than the two sampling sites outside Xiamen Bay, suggesting that local emissions from Xiamen Bay were more significant than emissions transported over a long distance by the Northeastern Monsoon. The phenomenon of superimposition was regularly observed during air pollution episodes at Xiamen Bay. Moreover, the results of chemical analysis showed that the main chemical components of the PM were SO 4 2-, NO 3 -, NH 4 + , OC, and EC and crustal elements (Ca, Mg, Fe, and Al) in the aerosol particles in the Kinmen-Xiamen Airshed. The neutralization ratios (NR) of PM were generally smaller than unity, indicating that the atmospheric particulates were mostly acidic. The averaged sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) ranged from 0.20 to 0.51, and the nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR) ranged from 0.10 to 0.41 for all seasons. The ratios of sulfur and nitrogen oxidation were generally higher than 0.25 and 0.10, respectively, suggesting that secondary sulfate and nitrate aerosols came mainly from across-boundary transportation and could be further accumulated in the Kinmen-Xiamen Airshed. The results from CMB receptor modeling showed that the major sources of atmospheric PM 10 in the Kinmen-Xiamen Airshed were soil dusts, secondary aerosols, the petroleum industry, motor vehicle exhausts, the iron and steel industry, the cement industry, diesel vehicle exhausts, marine aerosols, and biomass burning.

Seasonal Variation and Chemical Characteristics of Atmospheric Particles at Three Islands in the Taiwan Strait

“…PM 10 was mainly transported from the coastal regions of China, Korean Peninsula, or Japan Islands toward the Penghu Islands . Previous studies reported that cyclonic air circulation was generally observed at the Xiamen Bay due to the topography of Bay Area, which inhibited the dispersion of PM 10 (Li et al, 2013a). Although both long-range transport and local emissions were the main causes for the accumulation of atmospheric particles at the Xiamen Bay, the contribution of local emissions was generally higher than that of long-rang transport.…”

“…The PM 10 concentrations were significantly increased at the southern Taiwan Strait. A superimposition phenomenon was regularly observed around the southern Taiwan Strait, which means local emissions and long-range transport were both important at the southern Taiwan Strait (Li et al, 2013a). Long-range transportation from northeastern coastal regions of North mainland China Korea Peninsula, and Japan Islands were significantly might affected the ambient atmospheric at northern than those at the southern Taiwan Strait.…”

Composition Variation of Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matters in Accordance with Air Mass Transport Pathways at Background Site of Korea in 2013

“…(Park et al, 2011;Sahu et al, 2009). Kim et al, 2007; c) Kim et al, 2000; Zhou b) Li et al, 2013; c) Zhou et al, 2012; d) Zhao et al, 2013; Tan et al, 2009 석은 총 54일의 역궤적 분석일 중 객체 간 유사성이 …”

How Aeolian Dust Deteriorate Ambient Particulate Air Quality along an Expansive River Valley in Southern Taiwan? A Case Study of Typhoon Doksuri

“…Many source apportionment studies have attempted to develop and implement air pollution control strategies for urban areas (Li et al, 2013a;Ni et al, 2013;Taiwo et al, 2016). Receptor models have been widely used to estimate the contribution from various types of sources, except for aeolian dust, to ambient air quality.…”