Ambient mercury sources in Rochester, NY: results from Principle Components Analysis (PCA) of Mercury Monitoring Network Data.
Continuous atmospheric measurements of speciated mercury (Hg) (elemental mercury (Hg⁰), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate mercury (Hgp)) were made in Rochester, NY from Dec 2007 to May 2009. Continuous measurements of ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbonmonoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM₂.₅), and meteorological data were also available. A principle components analysis (PCA) of 3886 observations of 13 variables for the period identified six major factors. Melting snow was observed to be a source of Hg⁰in winters. Positive correlations between RGM and O₃ in the spring and summer may be indicative of Hg⁰ oxidation. RGM concentrations increased simultaneously with SO₂ suggesting the influence of coal fired power plants (CFPP). The ﬁfth factor (F5) containing O₃ (high negative loading), CO (positive loading), Hg⁰ and Hg(p) (positive), and/or RGM (negative) was identified as a mobile source which was usually observed during morning rush hours (6:00-9:00 a.m.). The concentrations of the three mercury species from the direction of the CFPP were significantly reduced following the shutdown of this source.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13699-5712, USA.
Jiaoyan
J
Huang
Hyun-Deok
HD
Choi
Philip K
PK
Hopke
Thomas M
TM
Holsen
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D009518:New York; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011210:Power Plants; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D008628:Mercury