Atmosphic pollutants study of particles ionic species during high wind speed (>7 m s(-1)) near Taiwan strait in central Taiwan from 2004 to 2005.

This study monitored atmospheric pollutants during high wind speed (> 7 m s(-1)) at two sampling sites: Taichung Harbor (TH) and Wuci traffic (WT) during March 2004 to January 2005 in central Taiwan. The correlation coefficient (R (2)) between TSP, PM(2.5), PM(2.5-10) particle concentration vs. wind speed at the TH and WT sampling site during high wind speed (< 7 m s(-1)) were also displayed in this study. In addition, the correlation coefficients between TSP, PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) of ionic species vs. high wind speed were also observed. The results indicated that the correlation coefficient order was TSP > PM(2.5-10) > PM(2.5) for particle at both sampling sites near Taiwan strait. In addition, the concentration of Cl(-), NO(3) (-), SO(4) (2-), NH(4) (+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Na(+) were also analyzed in this study.

Characteristic study of ionic species in nano, ultrafine, fine and coarse particle size mode at a traffic sampling site.

A micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and a nano-MOUDI were used to measure the atmospheric coarse (PM2.5-10), fine (PM2.5), ultrafine (PM0.056-1) and nano (<0.056 microm) particle concentrations at a traffic sampling site in central Taiwan during the winter period from November 2004 to January 2005. Meanwhile, concentrations of major ionic species (Cl-, NO3-, SO(2-)4, NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) were also extracted from various particle size modes (nano, ultrafine, fine and coarse) and analysed by ion chromatography (DIONEX-100). The mass size distribution of ambient suspended particles exhibited two modes. The size ranges of the particles at these two particle size modes were between 1.0 and 1.8 microm and 3.2 and 5.6 microm, respectively. The average mass media aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of suspended particles was 0.99 microm in this study. In addition, statistical methods, such as correlation coefficient and principal component analysis, were also used to identify the possible pollutant source for various particles size modes (nano, ultrafine, fine and coarse) during the winter months at a traffic sampling site in central Taiwan.

Characterization of atmospheric particulate and metallic elements at Taichung Harbor near Taiwan Strait during 2004-2005.

Air aerosol samples for TSP (total suspended particulate), coarse particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5-10 microm, PM(2.5-10)), fine particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm, PM(2.5)) and metallic elements were collected during March 2004 to January 2005 at TH (Taichung Harbor) in central Taiwan. The seasonal variation average concentration of TSP (total suspended particulate), coarse particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5-10 microm, PM(2.5-10)) and fine particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm, PM(2.5)) were in the range 132-171.1 microg m(-3) and 43-49.5 microg m(-3), respectively. Seasonal variation of metallic elements Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe in the TSP (total suspended particulate) shows that higher concentration was observed during spring. Seasonal variation of metallic elements Pb, Cr and Mg in the TSP (total suspended particulate) shows that higher concentration was observed during winter. The average metallic element TSP (total suspended particulate) concentration order was Fe>Zn>Mg>Cu>Cr>Mn>Pb in spring. In addition, at the TH sampling site, the average concentration variation of TSP (total suspended particulate) displayed the following order: spring>winter>autumn>summer. However, the average concentration variation of coarse particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5-10 microm, PM(2.5-10)) displayed the following order: spring>winter>summer>autumn. Finally, the average concentration variations of fine particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm, PM(2.5)) were in the following order: winter>spring>summer>autumn at the TH sample site.

Concentrations of ambient air particulates (TSP, PM2.5 and PM2.5-10) and ionic species at offshore areas near Taiwan Strait.

The concentrations of total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particles PM(2.5) (with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 microm), coarse particles PM(2.5-10) (with aerodynamic diameter 2.5-10 microm,), and water-soluble inorganic ions were studied at two offshore sampling sites, Taichung Harbor (TH) and Wuci Traffic (WT), near Taiwan Strait in central Taiwan during March 2004 to January 2005. Statistical analyses were also carried out to estimate the possible sources of particulate pollution. Experimental results showed that the average mass concentrations of TSP, PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) at TH and WT sampling sites were 154.54 +/- 31.45 and 113.59 +/- 31.94 microg m(-3), 54.03 +/- 16.92 and 42.76 +/- 12.52 microg m(-3), and 30.31+/- 9.79 and 24.16 +/- 7.27 microg m(-3), respectively. The dominant inorganic ions at two sampling sites were SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), and NH(4)(+) for TSP and PM(2.5), but that were Ca(2+), Cl(-), and Na(+) for PM(2.5-10). The concentrations of most particulates and inorganic ions were higher in winter at both two sampling sites, and were higher at TH than WT sampling site in each season. From statistical analysis, air-slake of crust surface, sea-salt aerosols, agriculture activities, coal combustion, and mobile vehicles were the possible emission sources of particulate pollution at TH and WT sampling sites.

Concentrations of nano and related ambient air pollutants at a traffic sampling site.

A micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and a nano-MOUDI were used to measure the atmospheric coarse (PM2.5 -10), fine (PM2.5), ultrafine (PM0.056-1) and nano (<0.056 microm) particle concentrations and size distributions at a traffic sampling site in winter in central Taiwan, from November 2004 to January 2005. Concentrations of metallic elements (Fe, Mg, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu) and major ion (SO4(2-), NO3(-), NH4(+)) in particles of various sizes (nano, ultrafine, fine and coarse) were measured. Ambient air particulates generally exhibited a bimodal size distribution in the range 0.056-10 microm. The results show that the concentrations followed the order, Fe>Mg>Cr>Zn>Pb> Cu in PM10, fine, ultrafine and nano-sized particles. Moreover, the data showed that the average metallic elements Fe and Zn have similar concentration distributions: the concentration decreased as the particle size fell in the nano size range.