title: Characteristics of water-soluble ionic species in fine (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10-2.5) in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.
abstract: Eleven ionic species and fine and coarse particle mass concentrations of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5) particulate matter were investigated in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. The PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 particulate concentrations were 49-64 and 34-37 microg x m(-3), respectively. Fifty-five to 64% of the particulate matter less than 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) mass was attributed to the PM2.5. PM2.5 concentrations at Daliao (a rural and industrial complex area) were higher than at Tzuoying (an urban and industrial complex area). Ionic species contributed 45-53% and 42-45% of PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. Potassium ions (K+), sulfate (SO4(2-)), and ammonium (NH4+) were predominant in PM2.5, whereas sodium, calcium, and magnesium ions were foremost in PM10-2.5. Nitrate (NO3-) existed in both the PM2.5 and PM10-2.5. Chloride (Cl-), NO3-, and NH4+ concentrations were higher at night than during the day, and they were easily transferred into the gas phase by photochemical reactions and temperature-induced volatilization. The NH4+/SO4(2-) ratios were 2.6 and 2.5 at Daliao and Tzuoying, respectively, which indicated that both sampling sites were rich in NH4+. Therefore, ammonium nitrate would be present in the area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun-Shan University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi-Chyun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Mei-Hsiu
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wei-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hung-Lung
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Zhu-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Shieh
mesh_terms: D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D014867:Water