Characteristics of heavy metals in airborne particulate matter on misty and clear days.
This study identified characteristics of heavy metals in ambient total suspended particulates (TSP) and air pollutants (PM(10), CO, NO(x), SO(2) and O(3)) collected on clear and misty days at an urban-residential area and an industrial area in the largest industrial city, Korea, for one-year study period. Average concentrations of TSP at the urban-residential (130 μg/m(3)) and industrial (141 μg/m(3)) areas on misty days were 1.9-2.1 (p<0.05) times higher than those on clear days. Concentrations of heavy metals in the TSP from both areas on misty days were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on clear days. In particular, Pb and Mn concentrations on misty days were 2.4-2.6 (p<0.05) and 1.7-1.8 (p<0.05) times, respectively, higher at both areas as compared to clear days. Clear days showed higher correlations between TSP and heavy metal concentrations than on misty days at both areas. Average concentrations of PM(10), CO and NO(2) simultaneously measured at/near the sampling sites on misty days were significantly (p<0.05) higher than on clear days at both areas. Average O(3) and SO(2) concentrations showed a similar increase pattern at only one area.
Lee
Byeong-Kyu
BK
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 680-749, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bklee@ulsan.ac.kr.
Park
Gee-Hyeong
GH
Busan Institute of Health and Environmental Research, Busan, Republic of Korea.
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D014507:Urbanization
D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy