Size-resolved aerosol water-soluble ions at a regional background station of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, North China

The characteristics of water-soluble ions in size-resolved particulate matter were investigated usingion chromatography at Shangdianzi, a regional background station of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Seasonal total concentrations of ions （Na＋, Mg2＋, IC, Ca2＋, NH＋4, Cl-, SO2-4 and NO-3） were 75.5 ± 52.9 μg/m3 in spring, 26.5 ± 12.3 Bg/m3 in summer, 22.7 ± 20.4 μg/m3 in autumn, and 31.1 ± 23.9 μg/m3 in winter, respectively. The secondary ions （NO3, SO2-4 and NH＋4）, mainly associated with fine particles, accounted for 84.2% in spring, 82.1% in summer, 81.5% in autumn and 76.3% in winter of all ions. Strong correlations were found between NH＋4 and SO2-4 （r = 0.95, p 〈 0.01） as well as NH＋4 and NO-3 （r = 0.90, p 〈 0.01） in fine particles; while in coarse particles, correlations between Mg2＋ and NO-3 （r = 0.80, p 〈 0.01）, and Ca2＋ and NO2＋ （r = 0.85, p 〈 0.01） were found. The concentrations of Na＋, IC, Mg2＋, Ca2＋, NH＋4, Cl-, NO3, and SC2-4 were 2.02, 0.81, 0.36, 1.65, 9.58, 4.01, 18.9, and 18.4 μg/m3 in particulate matter from southeast-derived air masses, which were typically 1.58-3.37 times higher than in northwest trajectories. Thus, concentrations of water-soluble ions at this background station were heavily influenced by regional transport of serious pollution derived from biomass burning, coal combustion, industrial and vehicle exhaust emissions from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.

Size-resolved carbonaceous components and water-soluble ions measurements of ambient aerosol in Beijing

A MOUDI-120 sampler was used in Beijing to collect multi-stage samples in the summer and winter of 2013 to 2015. Thirty-three sample sets were collected during the daytime,nighttime, and different pollution levels. The actual relative humidity in the impactors was calculated for the first time. The carbonaceous components（organic and elemental carbon,OC and EC, respectively） and water-soluble inorganic ions（Na~＋, NH4~＋, K~＋, Mg^（2＋）, Ca^（2＋）, Cl^-, NO3^-,and SO4^（2-）） were analyzed in each sample. The characteristics of the mass concentration distribution and charge balance were discussed. On the basis of relative humidity in the impactors, aerosols less than 1.0 μm were sampled under relatively dry conditions in most cases. The concentration levels for the chemical species were higher in the winter than in the summer. Three modes（condensation mode, droplet mode, and coarse mode） could be identified from the distributions of NH4~＋, NO3^-, SO4^（2-）, Cl^-, K~＋, OC and EC. The distribution characteristics for the pollution dissipation process were different from the pollution accumulation process. NO3^-and NO2^-contributed most of the negative electric charges in the stage below 0.1 μm. In the condensation mode, the cations were dominated by NH4~＋, which was sufficient to balance the anions. In the droplet mode of the heavily polluted samples,the ammonium was not sufficient to balance the anions. In the coarse mode, the positive electric charges were primarily composed of metal cations. The analyzed anions were not sufficient to neutralize the measured cations.

Characterization of time-and size-dependent particle emissions and decay from cooking oil fumes in residence:Impacts of various intervention measures

The dynamic characteristics of cooking-related particle size distributions in real-world settings are not fully understood.Through a real-world campaign in a naturally-ventilated apartment in the northwest US,this study investigates the temporal profiles of size-resolved particle number concentrations(PNCs)ranging from 0.3 to 10µm from frying cooking activities.The cooking scenarios included various combinations of window ventilation,venting range hood(VRH)use,and portable air cleaner(PAC)utilization.Following a standardized pan-frying protocol throughout seven scenarios,real-time PNCs of 16-size bins were measured in the kitchen.The PNCs were empirically compared among size bins,periods,and scenarios.The most abundant size ranges of cooking-related particles were 0.3–0.579µm in number(45%–71%of the total)and 2.685–5.182µm in mass(48%–57%of the total).Compared with the scenario without any cooking-fume mitigating measures,keeping the kitchen windows open reduced the mean PNCs during and within 1-h after cooking for PM_(0.3-2.5),PM_(2.5-10),and PM_(0.3-10)by 78%,92%,and 79%,respectively.By contrast,utilizing a VRH during cooking reduced the corresponding levels by 21%,69%,and 25%,respectively.Combined with running the VRH,using a PAC in the kitchen led to additional reductions of 84%,88%,and 84%,respectively.Additionally,the removal efficiencies of the three strategies generally increased with particle sizes.

Size distribution of chemical elements and their source apportionment in ambient coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles in Shanghai urban summer atmosphere

Ambient coarse particles （diameter 1.8-10 μm）, fine particles （diameter 0.1-1.8 μm）, and ultrafine particles （diameter 〈 0.1 μm） in the atmosphere of the city of Shanghai were sampled during the summer of 2008 （from Aug 27 to Sep 08）. Microscopic characterization of the particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （SEM/EDX）. Mass concentrations of Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, and Pb in the size-resolved particles were quantified by using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence （SRXRF）. Source apportionment of the chemical elements was analyzed by means of an enrichment factor method. Our results showed that the average mass concentrations of coarse particles, fine particles and ultrafine particles in the summer air were 9.38 ± 2.18, 8.82 ± 3.52, and 2.02 ± 0.41 μg/m3, respectively. The mass percentage of the fine particles accounted for 51.47% in the total mass of PM10, indicating that fine particles are the major component in the Shanghai ambient particles. SEM/EDX results showed that the coarse particles were dominated by minerals, fine particles by soot aggregates and fly ashes, and ultrafine particles by soot particles and unidentified particles. SRXRF results demonstrated that crustal elements were mainly distributed in the coarse particles, while heavy metals were in higher proportions in the fine particles. Source apportionment revealed that Si, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Rb, and Sr were from crustal sources, and S, Cl, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, and Pb from anthropogenic sources. Levels of P, V, Cr, and Ni in particles might be contributed from multi-sources, and need further investigation.