Characterization of carbonaceous aerosols over Delhi in Ganga basin: seasonal variability and possible sources

The mass concentration of carbonaceous species, organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) using a semicontinuous thermo-optical EC-OC analyzer, and black carbon (BC) using an Aethalometer were measured simultaneously at an urban mega city Delhi in Ganga basin from January 2011 to May 2012. The concentrations of OC, EC, and BC exhibit seasonal variability, and their concentrations were ～2 times higher during winter (OC 38.1?±?17.9 μg m^?3, EC 15.8?±?7.3 μg m^?3, and BC 10.1?±?5.3 μg m^?3) compared to those in summer (OC 14.1?±?4.3 μg m^?3, EC 7.5?±?1.5 μg m^?3, and BC 4.9?±?1.5 μg m^?3). A significant correlation between OC and EC (R?=?0.95, n?=?232) indicate their common emission sources with relatively lower OC/EC ratio (range 1.0–3.6, mean 2.2?±?0.5) suggests fossil fuel emission as a major source of carbonaceous aerosols over the station. On average, mass concentration of EC was found to be ～38 % higher than BC during the study period. The measured absorption coefficient (b_abs) was significantly correlated with EC, suggesting EC as a major absorbing species in ambient aerosols at Delhi. Furthermore, the estimated mass absorption efficiency (σ_abs) values are similar during winter (5.0?±?1.5 m² g^?1) and summer (4.8?±?2.8 m² g^?1). Significantly high aerosol loading of carbonaceous species emphasize an urgent need to focus on air quality management and proper impact assessment on health perspective in these regions.     

Characterization of carbonaceous species in PM2.5 in Xi'an during spring

The characterization of carbonaceous species in PM_2.5 during a spring period in a suburb of Xi'an, China was investigated. PM_2.5 samples were collected on quartz filters and analyzed for organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). The thermal optical reflectance method was used. The minimum OC/EC ratio method was used to estimate the concentration of secondary organic carbon (SOC). The distribution of eight carbon fractions was investigated as well. The average mass concentrations of OC and EC were 15.90 and 8.38 μg/m³, respectively. The average OC/EC ratio ranged from 1.16 to 3.16 with an average value of 2.25. This implies the existence of SOC in PM_2.5. The mean SOC concentration was 7.20 μg/m³, accounting for 45.28% of total OC. This result suggests that SOC is a significant component of OC in the suburb of Xi'an. Results from the distribution of eight carbon fractions revealed that emissions from motor vehicle, coal combustion, and road dust were the main source of carbonaceous particles in the sampling period.     

Sources and characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols at Agra “World heritage site” and Delhi “capital city of India”

Agra, one of the oldest cities “World Heritage site”, and Delhi, the capital city of India are both located in the border of Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and heavily loaded with atmospheric aerosols due to tourist place, anthropogenic activities, and its topography, respectively. Therefore, there is need for monitoring of atmospheric aerosols to perceive the scenario and effects of particles over northern part of India. The present study was carried out at Agra (AGR) as well as Delhi (DEL) during winter period from November 2011 to February 2012 of fine particulate (PM_2.5: d?<?2.5 μm) as well as associated carbonaceous aerosols. PM_2.5 was collected at both places using medium volume air sampler (offline measurement) and analyzed for organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). Also, simultaneously, black carbon (BC) was measured (online) at DEL. The average mass concentration of PM_2.5 was 165.42?±?119.46 μg m^?3 at AGR while at DEL it was 211.67?±?41.94 μg m^?3 which is ~27 % higher at DEL than AGR whereas the BC mass concentration was 10.60 μg m^?3. The PM_2.5 was substantially higher than the annual standard stipulated by central pollution control board and United States Environmental Protection Agency standards. The average concentrations of OC and EC were 69.96?±?34.42 and 9.53?±?7.27 μm m^?3, respectively. Total carbon (TC) was 79.01?±?38.98 μg m^?3 at AGR, while it was 50.11?±?11.93 (OC), 10.67?±?3.56 μg m^?3 (EC), and 60.78?±?14.56 μg m^?3 (TC) at DEL. The OC/EC ratio was 13.75 at (AGR) and 5.45 at (DEL). The higher OC/EC ratio at Agra indicates that the formation of secondary organic aerosol which emitted from variable primary sources. Significant correlation between PM_2.5 and its carbonaceous species were observed indicating similarity in sources at both sites. The average concentrations of secondary organic carbon (SOC) and primary organic carbon (POC) at AGR were 48.16 and 26.52 μg m^?3 while at DEL it was 38.78 and 27.55 μg m^?3, respectively. In the case of POC, similar concentrations were observed at both places but in the case of SOC higher over AGR by 24 in comparison to DEL, it is due to the high concentration of OC over AGR. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was 42 % higher at AGR than DEL which confirms the formation of secondary aerosol at AGR due to rural environment with higher concentrations of coarse mode particles. The SOA contribution in PM_2.5 was also estimated and was ~32 and 12 % at AGR and DEL respectively. Being high loading of fine particles along with carbonaceous aerosol, it is suggested to take necessary and immediate action in mitigation of the emission of carbonaceous aerosol in the northern part of India.     

Adsorption of NO2 on carbon aerosol particles in the low ppb range

The interaction of NO₂ on carbonaceous aerosol particles in an NO₂ concentration range relevant for the troposphere was studied. The adsorption as a function of NO₂ concentration (2.5–65 ppb) was investigated along with the dependence on time (1–600 s) and particle concentration. The results exhibit a zero-order process in NO₂ for the chemisorption over the measured time and concentration range. The results suggest that the chemisorption reaction is limited by a rapidly established steady-state coverage of a precursor in the form of reversibly adsorbed NO₂ which seems to be constant over the whole investigated NO₂ concentration range. Within the first 20 s, a chemisorption rate of 2.5×10¹¹ molecules cm^-2 s^-1 was calculated. To estimate a saturation value for the NO₂ adsorption on carbonaceous aerosol particles, bulk experiments were performed where the aerosol was deposited on a filter before exposure to NO₂. This gives a lower limit for the total NO₂ adsorption of about 1×10¹⁴ molecules cm^-2 of particle surface area. The measurements show that the concept of the often used sticking coefficient γ (i.e. the number of adsorbed molecules per number of the total gas–surface collisions) is not a useful parameter to describe the chemisorption of NO₂ at low ppb concentration on such complex surfaces as carbonaceous aerosol particles.     

Elemental carbon (EC) and black carbon (BC) measurements with a thermal method and an aethalometer at the high-alpine research station Jungfraujoch

A thermal method for the determination of ambient organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations in carbonaceous samples was further developed. Possible artifacts were investigated and were shown to be low. Good agreement of EC data with the German VDI reference method was found and detection limits were 1.3 μg for EC and 1.8 μg for OC. The method was applied to samples obtained with an aethalometer from an ongoing campaign at the high-alpine research station Jungfraujoch from July 1995 to June 1997. Measurements of EC concentration were used to derive a new site-specific calibration factor (instrumental absorption efficiency α_API) for the determination of the black carbon (BC) concentration. Despite a distinct seasonal cycle in BC, of around one order in magnitude with a maximum in summer and minimum in winter, α_API exhibited no significant seasonality. The derived calibration factor for the Jungfraujoch, α_API=9.3±0.4 m² g^-1, is lower than the manufacturer calibration by a factor ∼2. The results confirm the observation that the aethalometer determined BC concentration, underestimates the true value at remote sites, when the manufacturer calibration is used.     

The stable carbon isotope composition of PM2.5 and PM10 in Mexico City Metropolitan Area air

The sources and distribution of carbon in ambient suspended particles (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) of Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) air were traced using stable carbon isotopes (¹³C/¹²C). Tested potential sources included rural and agricultural soils, gasoline and diesel, liquefied-petroleum gas, volcanic ash, and street dust. The complete combustion of LP gas, diesel and gasoline yielded the lightest δ¹³C values (?27 to ?29‰ vs. PDB), while street dust (PM₁₀) represented the isotopically heaviest endmember (?17‰). The δ¹³C values of rural soils from four geographically separated sites were similar (?20.7 ± 1.5‰). δ¹³C values of particles and soot from diesel and gasoline vehicle emissions and agricultural soils varied between ?23 and ?26‰. Ambient PM samples collected in November of 2000, and March and December of 2001 at three representative receptor sites of industrial, commercial and residential activities had a δ¹³C value centered around ?25.1‰ in both fractions, resulting from common carbon sources. The predominant carbon sources to MCMA atmospheric particles were hydrocarbon combustion (diesel and/or gasoline) and particles of geological origin. The significantly depleted δ¹³C values from the industrial site reflect the input of diesel combustion by mobile and point source emissions. Based on stable carbon isotope mass balance, the carbon contribution of geological sources at the commercial and residential sites was approximately 73% for the PM₁₀ fraction and 54% for PM_2.5. Although not measured in this study, biomass-burning emissions from nearby forests are an important carbon source characterized by isotopically lighter values (?29‰), and can become a significant contributor (67%) of particulate carbon to MCMA air under the prevalence of southwesterly winds. Alternative sources of these ¹³C-depleted particles, such as cooking fires and municipal waste incineration, need to be assessed. Results show that stable carbon isotope measurements are useful for distinguishing between some carbon sources in suspended particles to MCMA air, and that wind direction has an impact on the distribution of carbon sources in this basin.     

Heterogeneous reactions of soot aerosols with nitrogen dioxide and nitric acid: atmospheric chamber and Knudsen cell studies

Heterogeneous chemical processes involving trace atmospheric gases with solid particulates, such as carbonaceous aerosol, are not well understood. In an effort to quantify some relevant carbon aerosol systems, the heterogeneous chemistry of NO₂ with both commercial and freshly prepared hexane soot was investigated in an atmospheric reaction chamber. At approximately an atmosphere of total pressure (760 Torr) and under dry conditions (relative humidities⩽1%), kinetic measurements gave an uptake coefficient of (2.4±0.6)×10⁻⁸ for n-hexane soot when referenced to the BET surface area of the sample. Commercial carbon black samples were found to yield a similar uptake coefficient. The reaction of HNO₃ with commercial carbon black was also investigated and gas phase NO₂ was detected as a reaction product. Low-pressure Knudsen cell experiments were carried out to facilitate a quantitative comparison between the two different techniques. The agreement between our current results and previously reported values of the uptake coefficient, with different soot samples and under varied pressure and surface coverage conditions, are discussed along with the possible implications for atmospheric chemistry.     

PM2.5 carbon measurements in two urban areas: Seoul and Kwangju,Korea

24-h PM_2.5 carbonaceous samples were collected between 27 November and 9 December 1999 in Seoul, and between 7 and 20 June 2000 in Kwangju to investigate characteristics of carbonaceous species, and the relationship between elemental carbon (EC) and Aethalometer-based black carbon (BC) measurements. 5-min PM_2.5 BC and criteria air pollutant data were also measured using the Aethalometer and ambient air monitoring system. The PM_2.5 samples were analyzed for EC and OC using a selective thermal manganese dioxide oxidation (TMO) method. The daily average EC and OC concentrations in Seoul were higher in the winter than in the summer (Atmos. Environ. 35 (2001a) 657). It was found that difference between ambient BC levels in the two cities was not directly proportional to the population ratio (∼8) or diesel traffic ratio (∼5.9) since particulate matter or BC concentration is strongly influenced by a result of varying traffic and meteorological conditions at the site. Using the primary OC/EC ratio approach, the results suggest that most of the measured OC in Kwangju is of primary origin during the summer. In Seoul, the observed OC includes additional secondary organic aerosol during the wintertime conditions. The relationship between the 24-h TMO-EC and Aethalometer BC measurements in PM_2.5 reflected very good agreement for the two urban sites, with correlation coefficients of R²=0.99 and 0.92, and BC/EC slopes of 0.93 and 1.07, respectively. It was found that comparing TMO-EC to BC at a different location in Korea, a different scaling factor was needed.     

Natural and anthropogenic environmental nanoparticulates: Their microstructural characterization and respiratory health implications

A wide range of environmental particulate matter (PM) both indoor and outdoor and consisting of natural and anthropogenic PM was collected by high volume air filters, electrostatic precipitation, and thermophoretic precipitation directly onto transmission electron microscope (TEM) coated grid platforms. These collected PM have been systematically characterized by TEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the El Paso, TX, USA/Juarez, Mexico metroplex 93% of outdoor PM₁ is crystalline while 40% of PM₁ is carbonaceous soot (including multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and multiconcentric fullerenes) PM. Multiply-replicated cytotoxicity (in vitro) assays utilizing a human epithelial (lung model) cell line (A549) consistently demonstrated varying degrees of cell death for essentially all PM which was characterized as aggregates of nanoparticulates or primary nanoparticles. Cytokine release was detected for Fe₂O₃, chrysotile asbestos, BC, and MWCNT PM while reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been detected for Fe₂O₃, asbestos, BC, and MWCNT aggregate PM as well as natural gas combustion PM.Nanoparticulate materials in the indoor and outdoor environments appear to be variously cytotoxic, especially carbonaceous nano-PM such as multiwall carbon nanotubes, black carbon, and soot nano-PM produced by natural gas combustion.     

Concentrations and distributions of carbonaceous species in ambient particles in Kaohsiung City,Taiwan

Concentrations and distributions of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in particles were measured in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples were collected using a dichotomous sampler from November 1998 to April 1999 and were analyzed for carbonaceous species with an elemental analyzer. The concentrations of carbonaceous species in Kaohsiung City were comparable to those at other urban locations in the world. On average, carbonaceous species accounted for 21.2% of the PM_2.5 and 18.1% of the PM₁₀. It was found that organic carbon dominated the carbonaceous species and was 72.2 and 70.4% of total carbon (TC) for PM_2.5 and PM₁₀. The secondary organic carbon formed through the volatile organic compound gas-to-particle conversion was estimated from the minimum ratio between elemental and organic carbon obtained in this study, and was found to constitute 40.0 and 32.4% of the total organic carbon particle for PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ (or 6.6 and 4.5% of the total particle mass).     

Stable isotope signatures reflect competitiveness between trees under changed CO2/O3 regimes

Here we synthesize key findings from a series of experiments to gain new insight on inter-plant competition between juvenile beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) under the influence of increased O₃ and CO₂ concentrations. Competitiveness of plants was quantified and mechanistically interpreted as space-related resource investments and gains. Stable isotopes were addressed as temporal integrators of plant performance, such as photosynthesis and its relation to water use and nitrogen uptake. In the weaker competitor, beech, efficiency in space-related aboveground resource investment was decreased in competition with spruce and positively related to Δ¹³C, as well as stomatal conductance, but negatively related to δ¹⁸O. Likewise, our synthesis revealed that strong belowground competition for water in spruce was paralleled in this species by high N assimilation capacity. We suggest combining the time-integrative potential of stable isotopes with space-related investigations of competitiveness to accomplish mechanistic understanding of plant competition for resources.     

Scenarios of global anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants and methane until 2030

We have used a global version of the Regional Air Pollution Information and Simulation (RAINS) model to estimate anthropogenic emissions of the air pollution precursors sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), primary carbonaceous particles of black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC) and methane (CH₄). We developed two scenarios to constrain the possible range of future emissions. As a baseline, we investigated the future emission levels that would result from the implementation of the already adopted emission control legislation in each country, based on the current national expectations of economic development. Alternatively, we explored the lowest emission levels that could be achieved with the most advanced emission control technologies that are on the market today. This paper describes data sources and our assumptions on activity data, emission factors and the penetration of pollution control measures. We estimate that, with current expectations on future economic development and with the present air quality legislation, global anthropogenic emissions of SO₂ and NO_x would slightly decrease between 2000 and 2030. For carbonaceous particles and CO, reductions between 20% and 35% are computed, while for CH₄ an increase of about 50% is calculated. Full application of currently available emission control technologies, however, could achieve substantially lower emissions levels, with decreases up to 30% for CH₄, 40% for CO and BC, and nearly 80% for SO₂.     

Seasonal and spatial trends in the sources of fine particle organic carbon in Israel,Jordan, and Palestine

A study of carbonaceous particulate matter (PM) was conducted in the Middle East at sites in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. The sources and seasonal variation of organic carbon, as well as the contribution to fine aerosol (PM_2.5) mass, were determined. Of the 11 sites studied, Nablus had the highest contribution of organic carbon (OC), 29%, and elemental carbon (EC), 19%, to total PM_2.5 mass. The lowest concentrations of PM_2.5 mass, OC, and EC were measured at southern desert sites, located in Aqaba, Eilat, and Rachma. The OC contribution to PM_2.5 mass at these sites ranged between 9.4% and 16%, with mean annual PM_2.5 mass concentrations ranging from 21 to 25 ug m^?3. These sites were also observed to have the highest OC to EC ratios (4.1–5.0), indicative of smaller contributions from primary combustion sources and/or a higher contribution of secondary organic aerosol. Biomass burning and vehicular emissions were found to be important sources of carbonaceous PM in this region at the non-southern desert sites, which together accounted for 30%–55% of the fine particle organic carbon at these sites. The fraction of measured OC unapportioned to primary sources (1.4 μgC m^?3 to 4.9 μgC m^?3; 30%–74%), which has been shown to be largely from secondary organic aerosol, is relatively constant at the sites examined in this study. This suggests that secondary organic aerosol is important in the Middle East during all seasons of the year.     

Anaerobic abiotic transformations of cis-1,2-dichloroethene in fractured sandstone

A fractured sandstone aquifer at an industrial site is contaminated with trichloroethene to depths greater than 244 m. Field data indicate that trichloroethene is undergoing reduction to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE); vinyl chloride and ethene are present at much lower concentrations. Transformation of cDCE by pathways other than reductive dechlorination (abiotic and/or biotic) is of interest. Pyrite, which has been linked to abiotic transformation of chlorinated ethenes, is present at varying levels in the sandstone. To evaluate the possible role of pyrite in transforming cDCE, microcosms were prepared with groundwater, ～40 mg L^?1 cDCE + [¹⁴C]cDCE, and crushed solids (pure pyrite, pyrite-rich sandstone, or typical sandstone). During 120 d of incubation, the highest level of cDCE transformation occurred with typical sandstone (11–14% ¹⁴CO₂, 1–3% ¹⁴C-soluble products), followed by pyrite-rich sandstone (2–4% ¹⁴CO₂, 1% ¹⁴C-soluble products) and even lesser amounts with pure pyrite. These results indicate pyrite is not likely the mineral involved in transforming cDCE. A separate experiment using only typical sandstone compared the rate of cDCE transformation in non-sterilized, autoclaved, and propylene-oxide sterilized treatments, with pseudo-first order rate constants of 8.7, 5.4, and 1.0 yr^?1, respectively; however, transformation stopped after several months of incubation. Autoclaving increased the volume of pores, adsorption pore diameter, and surface area in comparison to non-sterilized typical sandstone. Nevertheless, autoclaving was less disruptive than chemical sterilization. The results provide definitive experimental evidence that cDCE undergoes anaerobic abiotic and biotic transformation in typical sandstone, with formation of CO₂ and soluble products.     

Spatial distribution and seasonal variation of char-EC and soot-EC in the atmosphere over China

A previous study on PM_2.5 carbonaceous aerosols measured with the thermal optical reflectance (TOR) method in fourteen Chinese cities is extended by subdividing total EC into char-EC and soot-EC. Average char-EC concentrations show great differences between the fourteen cities and between winter and summer periods, with concentrations of 8.67 and 2.41 μg m^?3 in winter and summer, respectively. Meanwhile spatial and seasonal soot-EC variations are small, with average concentrations of 1.26 and 1.21 μg m^?3 in winter and summer, respectively. Spatial and temporal distributions of char-EC, similar to EC, are mainly influenced by local fuel consumption, as well as the East Asian monsoon and some meteorological factors such as the mixing height and wet precipitation. The small spatial and seasonal variation of soot-EC is consistent with its regional-to-global dispersion, which may suggest that soot carbon is not local carbon, but regional carbon. Char-EC/soot-EC ratios show summer minimum and winter maximum in all cities, which is in good agreement with the difference in source contributions between the two periods. As OC/EC ratio is affected by the formation of the secondary organic aerosol (SOA), char-EC/soot-EC ratio is a more effective indicator for source identification of carbonaceous aerosol than previously used OC/EC ratio.     

Effects of black carbon on bioturbation-induced benthic fluxes of polychlorinated biphenyls

It is unknown whether carbonaceous geosorbents, such as black carbon (BC) affect bioturbation by benthic invertebrates, thereby possibly affecting sediment-water exchange of sediment-bound contaminants. Here, we assess the effects of oil soot on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mass transfer from sediment to overlying water, for sediments with and without tubificid oligochaeta as bioturbators. PCB levels were so low that toxicity to the oligochaeta played no role, whereas soot levels and binding affinity of PCBs to soot were so low that pore water PCB concentrations were not significantly affected by binding of PCBs to soot. This setup left direct effects of BC on bioturbation activity as the only explanation for any observed effects on mass transfer. Mass transfer coefficients (K_L) for benthic boundary layer transport were measured by a novel flux method using Empore™ disks as a sink for PCBs in the overlying water. For the PCBs studied (logK_ow 5.2-8.2), K_L values ranged from 0.2 to 2 cm × d⁻¹ in systems without tubificids. Systems with tubificids showed K_L values that were a factor of 10-25 higher. However, in the presence of oil soot, tubificids did not cause an increase in mass transfer coefficients. This suggests that at BC levels as encountered under field conditions, the mechanism for reduction of sediment-water transfer of contaminants may be twofold: (a) reduced mass transfer due to strong binding of the contaminants to BC, and (b) reduced mass transfer of contaminants due to a decrease in bioturbation activity.     

Characterization of Carbonaceous Species of Ambient PM2.5 in Beijing,China

Abstract

One-week integrated fine particulate matter (i.e., particles <2.5 μm in diameter; PM_2.5) samples were collected continuously with a low-flow rate sampler at a downtown site (Chegongzhuang) and a residential site (Tsinghua University) in Beijing between July 1999 and June 2000. The annual average concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) at the urban site were 23.9 and 8.8 μg m^?3, much higher than those in some cities with serious air pollution. Similar weekly variations of OC and EC concentrations were found for the two sampling sites with higher concentrations in the winter and autumn. The highest weekly variations of OC and EC occurred in the winter, suggesting that combustion sources for space heating were important contributors to carbonaceous particles, along with a significant impact from variable meteorological conditions. High emissions coupled with unfavorable meteorological conditions led to the max weekly carbonaceous concentration the week of November 18–25, 1999. The weekly mass ratios of OC:EC ranged between 2 and 4 for most samples and averaged 2.9, probably suggesting that secondary OC (SOC) is present most weeks. The range of contemporary carbon fraction, based on the C14 analyses of eight samples collected in 2001, is 0.330–0.479. Estimated SOC accounted for ～38% of the total OC at the two sites. Average OC and EC concentrations at Tsinghua University were 25% and 18%, respectively, higher than those at Chegongzhuang, which could be attributed to different local emissions of primary carbonaceous particles and gaseous precursors of SOC, as well as different summer photochemical intensities between the two locations.     

Determination of primary and secondary sources of organic acids and carbonaceous aerosols using stable carbon isotopes

Stable carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C) data can provide important information regarding the sources and the processing of atmospheric organic carbon species. Formic, acetic and oxalic acid were collected from Zurich city in August–September 2002 and March 2003 in the gas and aerosol phase, and the corresponding δ¹³C analysis was performed using a wet oxidation method followed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. In August, the δ¹³C values of gas phase formic acid showed a significant correlation with ozone (coefficient of determination (r²) = 0.63) due to the kinetic isotope effect (KIE). This indicates the presence of secondary sources (i.e. production of organic acids in the atmosphere) in addition to direct emission. In March, both gaseous formic and acetic acid exhibited similar δ¹³C values and did not show any correlation with ozone, indicating a predominantly primary origin. Even though oxalic acid is mainly produced by secondary processes, the δ¹³C value of particulate oxalic acid was not depleted and did not show any correlation with ozone, which may be due to the enrichment of ¹³C during the gas - aerosol partitioning.The concentrations and δ¹³C values of the different aerosol fractions (water soluble organic carbon, water insoluble organic carbon, carbonate and black carbon) collected during the same period were also determined. Water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) contributed about 60% to the total carbon and was enriched in ¹³C compared to other fractions indicating a possible effect of gas - aerosol partitioning on δ¹³C of carbonaceous aerosols. The carbonate fraction in general was very low (3% of the total carbon).     

Characterization of size segregated particles collected over Alaska and the CAnadian high Arctic,AGASP-II flights 204–206

Ten aircraft-collected cascade impactor samples from the North American Arctic were analyzed using analytical electron microscopy. Morphological, mineralogical and elemental information were obtained from individual particles, as well as compositional data and size distribution estimates of the bulk aerosol. Categorization of carbonaceous material into organic-type and combustion-type carbon particles was performed in this study. This was accomplished through the use of a new ultra-thin window X-ray spectrometer, which can directly detect carbon X-rays emitted from particles, and through interpretation of morphological and electron diffraction data. Verification of graphite as a specific carbon mineral phase present in Arctic soot particles was performed in this manner.Several classes of particles were present in most of the aerosol samples and size fractions. These included liquid H₂SO₄ droplets, which were always present in the highest numbers, and crustal-type and composite SO₄⁻² particles. A small fraction (0–30%) of a random sampling of SO²⁻₄particles from all impactor stages were found to contain detectable nitrogen, suggesting that partial neutralization by NH₃ may have occurred in this minority of the SO²⁻₄ droplets. Particles rich in non-combustion carbon and thought to be composed of organic material were also observed in most samples. Haze samples collected off the coast of Alert, NWT, show moderate loadings of H₂SO₄ droplets. Judging from these loadings and those from higher-altitude samples, ambient aerosol particle concentrations must have been considerably higher in the haze. The extent to which local activity at Alert has influenced these haze samples is not known, although a major contribution is not expected. Stratospheric samples did not contain several classes of particles thought to have major anthropogenic source inputs to the Arctic, such as black carbon and coal-fired combustion spheres. The lightest particle loadings in any samples were collected in the upper troposphere near the tropopause, where condensation nuclei counts during sampling fell to as low as 10 cm⁻³.     

Sources and characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol in two largest cities in Pearl River Delta Region,China

PM_2.5 samples were collected at five sites in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR), China in both summer and winter during 2004–2005. Elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in these samples were measured. The OC and EC concentrations ranked in the order of urban Guangzhou > urban Hong Kong > background Hong Kong. Total carbonaceous aerosol (TCA) contributed less to PM_2.5 in urban Guangzhou (32–35%) than that in urban Hong Kong (43–57%). The reason may be that, as an major industrial city in South China, Guangzhou would receive large amount of inorganic aerosol from all kinds of industries, however, as a trade center and seaport, urban Hong Kong would mainly receive organic aerosol and EC from container vessels and heavy-duty diesel trucks. At Hong Kong background site Hok Tsui, relatively lower contribution of TCA to PM_2.5 may result from contributions of marine inorganic aerosol and inland China pollutant. Strong correlation (R²=0.76–0.83) between OC and EC indicates minor fluctuation of emission and the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in urban Guangzhou. Weak correlation between OC and EC in Hong Kong can be related to the impact of the long-range transported aerosol from inland China. Averagely, secondary OC (SOC) concentrations were 3.8–5.9 and 10.2–12.8 μg m⁻³, respectively, accounting for 21–32% and 36–42% of OC in summer and winter in Guangzhou. The average values of 4.2–6.8% for SOA/ PM_2.5 indicate that SOA was minor component in PM_2.5 in Guangzhou.