Use of statistical multivariate analysis to identify sources emitting particulate matter in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Particulate matter is the mixture of solid and liquid particles. It may at times cause adverse effects to human health, in the climate, ecosystem and materials. The objective of this study was to identify the sources emitting particulate matter that contributes to environmental pollution at two sites in Belo Horizonte city. The metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte is characterized by numerous mining activities and other industries, high population and, consequently, a high number of vehicles. There are therefore several sources emitting pollutants into the atmosphere. Airborne particulate matter was collected in air filters during approximately one year using a high-volume sampler in strategic points. The concentration of particulate matter results showed that, in general, the values were 40% higher than the values recommended by legislation. During the summer rainy season, no sample exceeded the recommended limits at both sampling sites. The elemental composition was determined through neutron activation analysis and these values were considered variables in the multivariate statistical analysis for the identification of the main sources of particle emission and their contributions. The results confirmed a significant influence of the soil and motor vehicles in the degradation of the region’s air quality.

Stable sulfur isotope measurements to trace the fate of SO₂ in the Athabasca oil sands region

Concentrations and δ34S values for SO2 and size-segregated sulfate aerosols were determined for air monitoring station 13 (AMS 13) at Fort MacKay in the Athabasca oil sands region, northeastern Alberta, Canada as part of the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM) campaign from 13 August to 5 September 2013. Sulfate aerosols and SO2 were collected on filters using a high-volume sampler, with 12 or 24 h time intervals. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) enriched in 34S was exhausted by a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) operated at the measurement site and affected isotope samples for a portion of the sampling period. It was realized that this could be a useful tracer and samples collected were divided into two sets. The first set includes periods when the CIMS was not running (CIMS-OFF) and no 34SO2 was emitted. The second set is for periods when the CIMS was running (CIMS-ON) and 34SO2 was expected to affect SO2 and sulfate high-volume filter samples. δ34S values for sulfate aerosols with diameter D>0.49 µm during CIMS-OFF periods (no tracer 34SO2 present) indicate the sulfur isotope characteristics of secondary sulfate in the region. Such aerosols had δ34S values that were isotopically lighter (down to −5.3 ‰) than what was expected according to potential sulfur sources in the Athabasca oil sands region (+3.9 to +11.5 ‰). Lighter δ34S values for larger aerosol size fractions are contrary to expectations for primary unrefined sulfur from untreated oil sands (+6.4 ‰) mixed with secondary sulfate from SO2 oxidation and accompanied by isotope fractionation in gas phase reactions with OH or the aqueous phase by H2O2 or O3. Furthermore, analysis of 34S enhancements of sulfate and SO2 during CIMS-ON periods indicated rapid oxidation of SO2 from this local source at ground level on the surface of aerosols before reaching the high-volume sampler or on the collected aerosols on the filters in the high-volume sampler. Anti-correlations between δ34S values of dominantly secondary sulfate aerosols with D< 0.49 µm and the concentrations of Fe and Mn (r = −0.80 and r = −0.76, respectively) were observed, suggesting that SO2 was oxidized by a transition metal ion (TMI) catalyzed pathway involving O2 and Fe3+ and/or Mn2+, an oxidation pathway known to favor lighter sulfur isotopes. Correlations between SO2 to sulfate conversion ratio (F(s)) and the concentrations of α-pinene (r = 0.85), β-pinene (r = 0.87), and limonene (r = 0.82) during daytime suggests that SO2 oxidation by Criegee biradicals may be a potential oxidation pathway in the study region.

Suitability of high-volume aerosol samplers for ultra-trace aerosol iron measurements in pristine air masses: blanks, recoveries and bugs

Atmospheric inputs of soluble iron (Fe) to the global ocean are an important factor determining marine primary productivity and nitrogen fixation. To investigate soluble aerosol Fe and fractional Fe solubility, marine aerosol sampling has been conducted from a number of platforms including aerosol towers, ship and buoy platforms. A number of these studies have used commercially available high-volume aerosol samplers to collect aerosols from large volumes of air. These samplers are attractive for sampling air from low Fe air masses since they can rapidly concentrate large volumes improving detection limits. Here we investigate the use of a high-volume sampler from the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station (CGBAPS), Tasmania, Australia to sample aerosol Fe from baseline Southern Ocean air-masses. The study followed the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for the sampling of ambient air using high-volume sampler, and the recommendations and protocols from GEOTRACES community for sampling, sample preparation and digestion of trace element aerosols. Analysis and inspection of exposure blank (one month exposure) filters for Fe, and other metals, revealed significant contamination resulting from passive deposition of local soil, plants and insects. The results of the study suggest that high-volume aerosol samplers may not be suitable for low concentration air masses over the Southern Ocean without some mechanism to hermetically seal the sampler when the baseline sampling criteria are not met.

Diurnal Air Quality Monitoring in Khumaltar Area, Lalitpur, Nepal

Air pollution is becoming a serious matter of concern from different aspects of our lives. It adversely affects the well being of the individuals or cause damages to properties. Pollutants identification requires measurements by standard methods of sampling and analysis. In this study, monitoring of TSP, PM10, SO2 and NO2 were performed during the months of April – August, 2008 by using high volume sampler, i. e. Envirotech APM 451 Model. Four hours (11:00 am to 3:00 pm) of monitoring for SO2 and NO2 , 24 hours of monitoring for TSP and PM10 were carried out. SO2 concentration ranged from 4.8 ?g/m3 to 20.5 ?g/m3 and NO2 concentration ranged from 1.2 ?g/m3 to 8.8 ?g/m3 for four hour monitoring period. TSP concentration ranged from 24.7 ?g/m3 to 82.0 ?g/m3 whereas PM10 concentration ranged from 25.4 ?g/m3 to 152.4 ?g/m3 for 24 hours of monitoring. Present study concluded that the air quality of Khumaltar area in Lalitpur, Nepal met WHO as well as NAAQS standards during the study period. Nepalese cities/towns have always been thought to be serious in terms of particulate matter pollution but consideration of the trend of gasesous pollutants emitted from vehicle exhaust is recommended for future research. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 17, July 2015

KADAR DEBU AMBIEN PADA JALUR YANG DILALUI DAN TIDAK DILALUI ANGKUTAN BATUBARA DI KOTA BANJARBARU KALIMANTAN SELATAN

Kalimantan Selatan mempunyai kasus transportasi yang jarang sekali ditemui pada kota-kota lain di dunia. Jalan raya tidak saja digunakan untuk melayani kepentingan umum tapi digunakan juga untuk usaha pertambangan salah satu yang paling dominan yaitu pertambangan batubara. Kegiatan ini mengakibatkan dampak terhadap kesehatan masyarakat, karena besarnya kadar debu yang ada di udara ambien pada jalur lintasan angkutan batubara. Tujuan penelitian untuk menentukan kadar debu di jalan yang dilintasi dan tidak oleh angkutan batubara dan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhinya. Metode penelitian bersifat deskriftif yang menggambarkan kadar debu ambien di sepanjang jalan trikora Banjarbaru dengan pengukuran secara purposive sampling. Pengukuran di lakukan pada jam 18.00-06.00 WITA karena pada saat itu banyak truk pengangkut batubara yang melintas. Alat yang digunakan Dust Sampler tipe high volume sampler (HVS-500). Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kadar debu rata-rata pada ruas jalan yang dilintasi angkutan batubara 92,6 – 305,6 µg/m3, sedangkan pada ruas jalan yang tidak dilintasi angkutan batubara rata-rata 58,9 – 255,3 µg/m3. Kadar debu tertinggi terukur pada periode jam 18.00-00.00 WITA karena pada jam-jam tersebut kendaraan yang melintas lebih banyak. South Kalimantan experienced a very district transportation case which is not found elsewhere in the world. The road was not only used for public purposes but also for mining bussiness purposes, dominantly coal mining. The activities affected human health because of particulate matter in the ambient along the road for coal transport. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine particulate matter (PM) concentration on the roads used for transporting coal and roads which were only for public. The analysis method is descriptive to picture PM content in the ambient along Trikora Banjarbaru St. Using purposive sampling. Meassurement were done betwen 6.00 PM – 6.00 AM WITA to accommodate coal truck traffic. The device used was high volume dust sampler (HVS-500). Research showed that PM average concentration on roads used for coal transport was 92.5 – 305.6 µg/m3, whereas on the roads speerfically only for public the value weere 58,9 – 255,3 µg/m3 . Higest PM content was monitored betwen 6.00 PM – 12.00 PM WITA due to traffic volume on that particular hour interval.

Levels and Distributions of Six Toxic PAHs in the Urban Air of Dalian, China During Heating Periods

Superscript text Superscript textThe concentration of six potential carcinogenic compounds (3-Methylcholanthrene, Dibenz(a,h)acridine, Dibenz(a,i)acridine, Dibenzo(a,e)pyrene, Dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, Dibenzo(a,i)pyrene ) in the urban air of Dalian, China were monitored from November 2009 to March 2010 with active high-volume sampler. They were detected in gaseous phase and particulate phase, respectively. The total concentration of them was 563.2 pg m-3, and they were mainly found in particulate phase with the concentration of 540.5 pg m-3 while the concentration in the gas phase only was 22.7 pg m-3. The concentration of them changed apparently in different month.