Size,composition,and mixing state of individual aerosol particles in a South China coastal city

Aerosol samples were collected in summer in Macao, a coastal city of the Pearl River Delta Region in China. Morphology, size, elemental composition, and mixing state of individual aerosol particles were determined by scanning electron microscopy coupled energy dispersive X-ray （SEM/EDX） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. Based on the morphologies of 5711 aerosol particles, they consist of soot （32%）, mineral （17%）, secondary-（22%）, and unknown fine particles （29%）. The sizes of these particles were mostly distributed between 0.1 and 0.4 μm. Compositions of 202 mineral particles were obtained by SEM/EDX. Mineral particles were mainly classified into three types： Si-rich, Ca-rich, and Na-rich. The compositions of typical mineral particles can indicate their sources in sampling location. For example, mineral particles, collected along the main street, were associated with trace amounts of heavy metals, such as Zn, Ti, Mn, Ba, Pb, and As. TEM observations indicate that most Na-rich particles were aged sea salt particles （e.g., Na2SO4 and NaNO3） which formed through heterogeneous chemical reactions between sea salt and acidic gases. Additionally, aging time of soot was short in Macao due to high humidity, high temperature, and high levels of sunlight in Macao. Most of soot and fine mineral dust particles were internally mixed with secondary particles.

Trends in particulate matter and its chemical compositions in China from 2013–2017

Accurate determination of the atmospheric particulate matter mass concentration and chemical composition is helpful in exploring the causes and sources of atmospheric enthalpy pollution and in evaluating the rationality of environmental air quality control strategies.Based on the sampling and chemical composition data of PM2.5 in different key regions of China in the CARE-China observation network,this research analyzes the environmental air quality data released by the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre during the studied period to determine the changes in the particulate matter mass concentration in key regions and the evolution of the corresponding chemical compositions during the implementation of the Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Air Pollution from 2013-2017.The results show the following.(1)The particulate matter mass concentration in China showed a significant downward trend;however,the PM2.5 annual mass concentration in 64%of cities exceeds the New Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standard(CAAQS)GradeⅡ(GB3095-2012).The region to the east of the Taihang Mountains,the Fenhe and Weihe River Plain and the Urumqi-Changji regions in Xinjiang,all have PM2.5 concentration loading that is still high,and heavy haze pollution occurred frequently in the autumn and winter.(2)During the heavy pollution in the autumn and winter,the concentrations of sulfate and organic components decreased significantly.The mean SO42-concentration in PM2.5 decreased by 76%,12%,81%and 38%in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH),the Pearl River Delta(PRD),the Sichuan-Chongqing region(SC)and the Fenhe and Weihe River Plain,respectively.The mean organic matter(OM)concentration decreased by 70%,44%,48%and 31%,respectively,and the mean concentration of NH4+decreased by 68%,1.6%,38%and 25%,respectively.The mean elemental carbon(EC)concentration decreased by 84%and 20%in BTH and SC,respectively,and it increased by 61%and 11%in the PRD and Fenhe and Weihe River Plain,respectively.The mean concentration of mineral and unresolved chemical components(MI)dropped by 70%,24%and 13%in BTH,the PRD and the Fenhe and Weihe River Plain,respectively.The change in the PM2.5 chemical composition is consistent with the decrease of the PM2.5mass concentration.(3)In 2015,the mean OM concentration contributions to fine particles and coarse particles were 13-46%and 46-57%,respectively,and the mean MI concentration contributions to fine particles and coarse and particles were 31-60%and 39-73%,respectively;these values are lower than the 2013 values from the key regions,which is the most important factor behind the decrease of the particulate matter mass concentration.From 2013 to 2015,among the chemical components of different particle size fractions,the peak value of the coarse particle size fraction decreased significantly,and the fine particle size fractions of SO42-,NO3-,and NH4+decreased with the decrease of the particulate matter mass concentration in different particle size fractions.The fine-particle size peaks of SO42-,NO3-and NH4+shifted from 0.65-1.1μm to the finer size range of0.43-0.65μm during the same time frame.

Seasonal variation and sources of derivatized phenols in atmospheric fine particulate matter in North China Plain

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of derivatized phenols in Beijing and in Xinglong were performed from 2016 to 2017 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The results showed substantially more severe pollution in Beijing.Of the 14 compounds detected,the total average concentration was 100 ng/m^3 in Beijing,compared with 11.6 ng/m^3 in Xinglong.More specifically,concentration of nitro-aromatic compounds(NACs)(81.9 ng/m^3 in Beijing and 8.49 ng/m^3 in Xinglong) was the highest,followed by aromatic acids(14.6 ng/m^3 in Beijing and 2.42 ng/m^3 in Xinglong) and aromatic aldehydes(3.62 ng/m^3 in Beijing and 0.681 ng/m^3 in Xinglong).In terms of seasonal variation,the highest concentrations were found for 4-nitrocatechol in winter in Beijing(79.1±63.9 ng/m^3) and 4-nitrophenol in winter in Xinglong(9.72±8.94 ng/m^3).The analysis also revealed diurnal variations across different seasons.Most compounds presented higher concentrations at night in winter because of the decreased boundary layer height and increased heating intensity.While some presented higher levels during the day,which attributed to the photo-oxidation process for summer and more biomass burning activities for autumn.Higher concentrations appeared in winter and autumn than in spring and summer,which resulted from more coal combustions and adverse meteorological conditions.The significant correlations among NACs indicated similar sources of pollution.Higher correlations presented within each subgroup than those between the subgroups.Good correlations between levoglucosan and nitrophenols,nitrocatechols,nitro salicylic acids,with correlation coefficients(r) of 0.66,0.69 and 0.69,respectively,indicating an important role of biomass burning among primary sources.