Ionic imbalance due to hydrogen carbonate from Asian dust

In an attempt to identify the ionic imbalance, hydrogen carbonate, HCO₃⁻ (bicarbonate), was determined together with the commonly determined nine major ions because the imbalance was frequently encountered in the chemical analysis of samples with high pHs. Titration method was applied for the determination of the samples with pH higher than 5.6. These samples amounted to 102 of the 1536 samples collected in Hokkaido, Northern Japan, from April 1998 to December 2002. Of the 102 samples, 74 (Group A) showed an acceptable ion balance without including HCO₃⁻. In the other 28 (Group B), however, inclusion of HCO₃⁻ successfully improved the ion balance. These results suggested that hydrogen carbonate was a potential candidate for explaining the imbalance. The hydrogen carbonate concentrations showed a strong correlation with the corresponding non-sea salt calcium (nss-Ca²⁺) concentrations, which implied that hydrogen carbonate was derived from calcium carbonate particles incorporated into falling raindrops or cloud droplets. For Group A, the relationship between hydrogen carbonate and the nss-calcium ion concentration was very similar to that for commonly suspended particles in Hokkaido. On the other hand, Group B exhibited a stronger but significantly different correlation. To the samples of Group B, a back-trajectory analysis was applied to demonstrate that the samples were associated with aerosol travelling from Northern China or Mongolia, which indicated that alkaline aerosol affected the chemistry. In consideration of these findings, the current standard of the ion balance should be critically reviewed for modification in regard to the contribution of hydrogen carbonate not only in source areas but also in receptor areas of alkaline aerosol.     

Exploratory Analysis of the Winter Chemistry of Five Lakes on the North Slope of Alaska1

Abstract: Lakes are important water resources on the North Slope of Alaska. Freshwater is required for oilfield production as well as exploration, which occurs largely on ice roads and pads. Since most North Slope lakes are shallow, the quantity and quality of the water under ice at the end of winter are important environmental management issues. Currently, water‐use permits are a function of the presence of overwintering fish populations, and their sensitivity to low oxygen concentrations. Sampling of five North Slope lakes during the winter of 2004‐2005 shed some light on the winter chemistry of four lakes that were used as water supplies and one undisturbed lake. Field analysis was conducted for oxygen, conductivity, pH, and temperature throughout the lake depth, as well as ice thickness and water depth. Water samples were retrieved from the lakes and analyzed for Na, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, dissolved‐organic carbon, and alkalinity in the laboratory. Lake properties, rather than pumping, were the best predictors of oxygen depletion, with the highest dissolved‐oxygen levels maintained in the lake with the lowest concentration of constituents. Volume weighted mean dissolved‐oxygen concentrations ranged from 4 to 94% of saturation in March. Dissolved oxygen and specific conductance data suggested that the lakes began to refresh in May.     

Long term changes in atmospheric N and S throughfall deposition and effects on soil solution chemistry in a Scots pine forest in the Netherlands

In a Scots pine forest the throughfall deposition and the chemical composition of the soil solution was monitored since 1984. (Inter)national legislation measures led to a reduction of the deposition of nitrogen and sulphur. The deposition of sulphur has decreased by approximately 65%. The total mineral-nitrogen deposition has decreased by ca. 25%, which is mainly due to a reduction in ammonium-N deposition (−40%), since nitrate-N deposition has increased (+50%). The nitrogen concentration in the upper mineral soil solution at 10 cm depth has decreased, leading to an improved nutritional balance, which may result in improved tree vitality. In the drainage water at 90 cm depth the fluxes of NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ have decreased, resulting in a reduced leeching of accompanying base cations, thus preserving nutrients in the ecosystem. It may take still several years, however, before this will meet the prerequisite of a sustainable ecosystem.     

Using Lichen Chemistry to Assess Airborne Tungsten and Cobalt in Fallon, Nevada

This paper describes the use of lichen chemistry to assess airborne tungsten and cobalt in Fallon, Nevada, where a cluster of childhood leukemia has been on going since 1997. Lichens and their rock substrates were collected from Rattlesnake Hill within Fallon as well as from four different rock outcrops located north, east, south, and west of Fallon and at least 20 km away from the town center. In the lichens themselves, W and Co are significantly higher within Fallon than in the combined control site outside of Fallon. In the rock substrates of the lichens, no differences exist in W and Co. The W and Co differences in lichens cannot be attributed to substrate geochemistry. Fallon is distinctive in west central Nevada for high airborne W and Co, and given its cluster of childhood leukemia, it stands to reason that additional biomedical research is in order to test directly the leukogenicity of combined airborne W and Co.     

鄂东鸭儿湖地区大气中有机氯农药特征及土-气交换

采用聚氨酯泡沫-被动采样法（PUF-PAS）采集鸭儿湖地区大气样,研究典型污染源地区大气中有机氯农药（OCPs）组成、来源及土-气交换现状。鸭儿湖地区大气中OCPs主要组成为艾氏剂（Aldrin）、滴滴涕（DDTs）、六六六（HCHs）、六氯苯（HCB）、甲氧滴滴涕（Methoxychlor）和a-硫丹（α-Endosulfan）,约占OCPs总量的84%。较高浓度Aldrin（平均浓度为161.25 pg/m³）广泛存在应引起高度重视。HCHs（平均浓度为89.64 pg/m³）和DDTs（平均浓度为92.29 pg/m³）普遍存在且含量高,污染程度比较明显。HCHs异构体中β-HCH高于α-HCH,远远高于γ-HCH和δ-HCH,说明HCHs经过长期降解已逐渐稳定下来;来源分析推测存在工业HCHs的使用或者受大气长距离传输影响。DDTs在各点位分布明显不同于HCHs,且各点位DDTs的六种组成均存在很大差别,可能由于点位地理位置以及农药使用情况导致;来源分析推测大气中DDTs主要来自历史残留。鸭儿湖地区OCPs土气交换研究表明,HCHs主要表现为从大气向土壤中沉降;DDTs在大多数点位源于土壤中历史残留的挥发,部分点位受到大气长距离传输影响。     

北京市近地层气象要素与大气细菌浓度分布规律的调查研究

以1998年10月的观测资料为例,分析了北京市某地气象要素的变化规律以及该地区大气细菌浓度的分布特征,对两者之间的相互关系进行了初步探讨,发现一天内气象要素及细菌浓度均是周期变化,且两者有一定的相关性。     

活性炭法测量室内空气中氡浓度的影响因素研究

探讨了各种因素对活性炭法测量室内空气中氡浓度的影响,并提出既能保证检测质量,又能符合工程检测需要、提高检测效率的检测条件范围。     

Seasonal characteristics of haze observed by continuous visibility monitoring in the urban atmosphere of Kwangju, Korea

Continuous visibility monitoring has been carried out inKwangju, Korea since May 1999. The total light extinctioncoefficient b _ext measured by a transmissometer andreveals seasonal trends in urban visual air quality,especially under hazy conditions with a visual range of lessthan 15 km. Seasonal atmospheric visibility under lowrelative humidity during the winter was observed to be betterthan during any other seasons. Summertime visibility wasseverely degraded due to highly increased light scattering byhygroscopic particles under high humidity atmosphericconditions. Visibility during spring and fall was alsomoderate. However, yellow sand in spring caused the lowestvisibility conditions over the measurement area for a fewdays. With continuous monitoring using the transmissometer,the daily average seasonal visual range was measured to be13.1, 9.2, 11.0, and 13.9 km in spring, summer, falland winter, respectively. Under the atmospheric humiditycondition less than 60%, visual range was observed tobe 16.1, 13.9, 15.1, and 16.6 km in spring, summer,fall, and winter, respectively. The mean light extinctionbudget by sulfate and nitrate aerosols was determined to bethe highest value of 63.71% during the summer and thelowest value of 27.08% during spring. During the `yellow sand dust' period, a mean light extinction budget by soil particles was estimated to be at an unusually high value of 44.22%.     

博乐市空气质量变化趋势分析

分析了博乐市2001-2005年空气质量监测数据在不同月份、不同年份、不同污染因子的变化趋势，并结合当地能源结构、地理位置、气候特征、城市环境综合发展水平。指出影响博乐市空气质量的主要因素，为防治或减轻博乐地区的空气污染提供了科学依据。     

中国海洋大气监测方案的设想

概述了国内外海洋大气环境监测的基本情况，提出了我国开展海洋大气环境监测的必要性，在我国开展海洋大气环境监测必须解决的几个新课题，并根据国家海洋局《海洋大气监测方案》（讨论稿）提出了我国开展海洋大气监测的设想。