Seasonal and spatial changes of free and bound organic acids in total suspended particles in Guangzhou,China

The concentrations and compositions of free and bound organic acids in total suspended particles from typical urban, suburban and forest park sites of Guangzhou were determined in this study. The free form of organic acids (solvent extractable) in aerosols in Guangzhou varied with site and season. The suburban samples contained the highest contents of alkanoic, alkenoic and dicarboxylic acids. These findings were consistent with a higher supply of hydrocarbons and NOx in the suburban area. However, concentrations of aromatic acids were similar in the urban, suburban and forest park sites. Generally, winter season samples of the acids from anthropogenic sources contained more organic acids than summer season samples due to stronger removal by wet deposition in the summer. For the acids from botanic sources, the summer season samples were higher. In addition to the free acids, bound acids (solvent non-extractable) mainly formed by esterification of free acids were also found in the samples. In general, bound acids were higher than free acids. Esterification is mainly controlled by the pKa of organic acids and the atmospheric pH value. This explains why aromatic and dicarboxylic acids occur mainly as bound forms and why the samples from urban sites contained high levels of bound acids as the pH of rain water can reach 4.53.Concentrations of alkanoic and alkenoic acids in the aerosols of Guangzhou were much higher than those in the other areas studied.     

Hydroxyl radical (OH) yields from the ozonolysis of both double bonds for five monoterpenes

A new method has been applied to determine OH-radical yields from the ozonolysis of both double bonds from five selected, atmospherically relevant monoterpenes, namely terpinolene, α-phellandrene, limonene, α-terpinene and γ-terpinene. While OH-yields for the faster reacting double bond agreed with previous literature values, the yields from the second double bond were determined for the first time and are as follows: limonene 7–10%, terpinolene 39–48%, α-phellandrene 8–11% and α-terpinene 12–14%. Only for γ-terpinene the rate coefficient for the reaction of ozone with the two double bonds was too similar in order to distinguish the OH-yield with this method. In all cases the yield from the second double bond was significantly lower than the first. The reasons for this difference are discussed in terms of the Criegee-intermediate reactions, in particular the number of abstractable H-atoms and the number of possible hydroperoxide products.     

Vertical distributions of aerosols under different weather conditions: Analysis of in-situ aircraft measurements in Beijing,China

In this study, aerosol vertical distributions of 17 in-situ aircraft measurements during 2005 and 2006 springs are analyzed. The 17 flights are carefully selected to exclude dust events, and the analyses are focused on the vertical distributions of aerosol particles associated with anthropogenic activities. The results show that the vertical distributions of aerosol particles are strongly affected by weather and meteorological conditions, and 3 different types of aerosol vertical distributions corresponding to different weather systems are defined in this study. The measurement with a flat vertical gradient and low surface aerosol concentrations is defined as type-1; a gradual decrease of aerosols with altitudes and modest surface aerosol concentrations is defined as type-2; a sharp vertical gradient (aerosols being strongly depressed in the PBL) with high surface aerosol concentrations is defined as type-3. The weather conditions corresponding to the 3 different aerosol types are high pressure, between two high pressures, and low pressure systems (frontal inversions), respectively. The vertical mixing and horizontal transport for the 3 different vertical distributions are analyzed. Under the type-1 condition, the vertical mixing and horizontal transport were rapid, leading to strong dilution of aerosols in both vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, the aerosol concentrations in PBL (planetary boundary layer) were very low, and the vertical distribution was flat. Under the type-2 condition, the vertical mixing was strong and there was no strong barrier at the PBL height. The horizontal transport (wind flux) was modest. As a result, the aerosol concentrations were gradually reduced with altitude, with modest surface aerosol concentrations. Under the type-3 condition, there was a cold front near the region. As a result, a frontal inversion associated with weak vertical mixing appeared at the top of the inversion layer, forming a very strong barrier to prevent aerosol particles being exchanged from the PBL height to the free troposphere. As a result, the aerosol particles were strongly depressed in the PBL height, producing high surface aerosol concentrations. The measured vertical aerosol distributions have important implications for studying the effects of aerosols on photochemistry. The J[O₃] values are reduced by 11%, 48%, and 50%, under the type-1, type-2, and type-3 conditions, respectively. This result reveals that atmospheric oxidant capacity (OH concentrations) is modestly reduced under the type-1 condition, but is significantly reduced under the type-2 and type-3 conditions. This result also suggests that the effect of aerosol particles on surface solar flux is an integrated column effect, and detailed vertical distributions of aerosol particles are very important for assessing the impacts of aerosol on photochemistry.     

Novel bioavailability-based risk assessment of Cd in earthworms and leeches utilizing in vitro digestion/Caco-2 and MDCK cells

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the present study, the oral bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in earthworms and leeches was investigated through in vitro physiologically based...     

Inter-provincial responsibility allocation of carbon emission in China to coordinate regional development

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - To establish the carbon emission trading scheme and achieve the carbon emission reduction goals in China, it is critical to allocate the carbon...     

What drives green development in China: public pressure or the willingness of local government?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - With China already committing to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, green development is urgent....     

Can China’s national Five-Year Plan for environmental protection induce corporate green innovations?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study investigates the effect of China’s national Five-Year Plan for environmental protection (FYPEP) on corporate green innovations based...     

喜马拉雅东段错那地区雪中主要离子年际变化及来源分析

雪中阴阳离子化学记录可以提供关于大气环流、气候和环境变化的信息,喜马拉雅山因其独特的位置和丰富的冰川资源成为研究雪化学的重要地区。本论文基于两个年度(2018年2～3月和2018年12月～2019年1月)在喜马拉雅东段错那地区采集的新雪样品,对雪中主要离子的组成和浓度特征的年际变化进行分析,并结合相关分析法、海盐示踪法和气团后向轨迹法对其来源进行研究。结果表明,错那地区两年度雪中主要阳离子均为Ca²⁺,主要阴离子均为SO^2-₄。受2019年强降雪清除作用的影响,2019年度各离子的浓度明显低于2018年度。错那地区雪中Ca²⁺的含量明显高于喜马拉雅山其他研究区域,可能是由于其海拔较低,受近源陆地粉尘影响较大。离子来源分析结果表明,错那地区雪中离子以局地陆源物质输入为主,部分来源于海洋源(Cl^-、Na⁺)、盐湖矿物风化(Cl^-、Na⁺、K⁺和SO^2-₄)以及人为源(NH⁺₄、NO^-₃、SO^2-₄)。本文可为错那地区生态建设管理及喜马拉雅地区的雪化学和大气环流特征研究提供参考。     

Oxygen vacancy engineering of photocatalytic nanomaterials for enrichment,activation, and efficient removal of nitrogen oxides with high selectivity: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Air pollution by trace levels of nitric oxide (NO) pollution is threatening human health by causing acid rain and haze pollution through photochemical reactions....