Abstract
Up to date, few attentions have been given to the special characterization of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIs) in the submicron atmospheric particles. In this study, to implement a highly size-resolved characterization of WSIs in the submicron atmospheric particles, ten sets of size-segregated submicron atmospheric particles were collected in Hangzhou (China) from November to December 2015, with cut-off diameters of 0.060, 0.108, 0.170, 0.260, 0.400, 0.650, and 1.000 μm. The particulate WSIs, including Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, Na+, NH4+, K+, and Ca2+ were analyzed by ion chromatography, and their mode distributions and potential sources were assessed. It was found that the particulate WSIs constituted a substantial part (40.4~70.9%) in each fraction of submicron particles, of which the secondary inorganic ions (SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+) were the dominant species. The sulfur oxidation rate (SOR) and nitrogen oxidation rate (NOR) were increased when the submicron particles became coarser, indicating the enhanced secondary formation processes of SO42− and NO3− in the coarser submicron particles, thus resulting in the higher fractional contribution of secondary inorganic aerosols in the coarser submicron atmospheric particles. The correlation coefficients between K+ and Cl−, NO3−, and SO42− were 0.9293 (P = 0.002), 0.9702 (P < 0.001), and 0.9723 (P < 0.001), suggesting their dominant contribution from the biomass burning. Furthermore, it was found that PM0.4–1 (aerodynamic diameter of 0.400–1.000 μm) was a substantial part (66.6%) of submicron atmospheric particles. Compared to PM0.4 (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 0.400 μm), the concentration of WSIs in PM0.4–1 was prominently higher, and the secondary formation processes of SO42− and NO3− in PM0.4–1 were significantly enhanced.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albuquerque M, Coutinho M, Borrego C (2016) Long-term monitoring and seasonal analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured over a decade in the ambient air of Porto, Portugal. Sci Total Environ 543:439–448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.064
Alves CA, Pio CA, Duarte AC (2000) Particulate size distributed organic compounds in a forest atmosphere. Environ Sci Technol 34:4287–4293
Begam GR, Vachaspati CV, Ahammed YN, Kumar KR, Reddy RR, Sharma SK, Saxena M, Mandal TK (2017) Seasonal characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous aerosols in total suspended particulate matter at a rural semi-arid site, Kadapa (India). Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:1719–1734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7917-1
Behera SN, Sharma M (2010) Investigating the potential role of ammonia in ion chemistry of fine particulate matter formation for an urban environment. Sci Total Environ 408:3569–3575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.04.017
Chen Y, Cao J, Zhao J, Xu H, Arimoto R, Wang G, Han Y, Shen Z, Li G (2014) n-Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in total suspended particulates from the southeastern Tibetan Plateau: concentrations, seasonal variations, and sources. Sci Total Environ 470-471:9–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.09.033
Cheng SH, Yang LX, Zhou XH, Xue LK, Gao XM, Zhou Y, Wang WX (2011) Size-fractionated water-soluble ions, situ pH and water content in aerosol on hazy days and the influences on visibility impairment in Jinan, China. Atmos Environ 45:4631–4640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.05.057
Đorđević D, Mihajlidi-Zelić A, Relić D, Ignjatović L, Huremović J, Stortini AM, Gambaro A (2012) Size-segregated mass concentration and water soluble inorganic ions in an urban aerosol of the Central Balkans (Belgrade). Atmos Environ 46:309–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.09.057
Galindo N, Yubero E (2017) Day-night variability of water-soluble ions in PM10 samples collected at a traffic site in southeastern Spain. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:805–812. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7836-1
Gonçalves C, Figueiredo BR, Alves CA, Cardoso AA, Vicente AM (2016) Size-segregated aerosol chemical composition from an agro-industrial region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Air Qual Atmos Health 10:483–496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-016-0441-0
Hays MD, Fine PM, Geron CD, Kleeman MJ, Gullett BK (2005) Open burning of agricultural biomass: physical and chemical properties of particle-phase emissions. Atmos Environ 39:6747–6764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.07.072
Hinds WC (1999) Aerosol technology: properties, behavior, and measurement of airborne particles, second ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.11.065
Huang M, Hao L, Gu X, Hu C, Zhao W, Wang Z, Fang L, Zhang W (2013) Effects of inorganic seed aerosols on the growth and chemical composition of secondary organic aerosol formed from OH-initiated oxidation of toluene. J Atmos Chem 70:151–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-013-9262-9
Huang K, Zhuang G, Wang Q, Fu JS, Lin Y, Liu T, Han L, Deng C (2014) Extreme haze pollution in Beijing during January 2013: chemical characteristics, formation mechanism and role of fog processing. Atmos Chem Phys Discuss 14:7517–7556. https://doi.org/10.5194/acpd-14-7517-2014
Huang X, Liu Z, Zhang J, Wen T, Ji D, Wang Y (2016) Seasonal variation and secondary formation of size-segregated aerosol water-soluble inorganic ions during pollution episodes in Beijing. Atmos Res 168:70–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2015.08.021
Kang S, Mayewski PA, Qin D, Sneed SA, Ren J, Zhang D (2004) Seasonal differences in snow chemistry from the vicinity of Mt. Everest, Central Himalayas. Atmos Environ 38:2819–2829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.02.043
Kong S, Ji Y, Liu L, Chen L, Zhao X, Wang J, Bai Z, Sun Z (2013) Spatial and temporal variation of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in atmospheric PM10 and PM2.5 and the influence of ambient temperature in Tianjin, China. Atmos Environ 74:199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.02.053
Ladji R, Yassaa N, Balducci C, Cecinato A (2013) Particle size distribution of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) in urban and industrial aerosol of Algiers, Algeria. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:1819–1832. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2074-2
Li X, Wang L, Ji D, Wen T, Pan Y, Sun Y, Wang Y (2013) Characterization of the size-segregated water-soluble inorganic ions in the Jing-Jin-Ji urban agglomeration: spatial/temporal variability, size distribution and sources. Atmos Environ 77:250–259
Li L, Yin Y, Kong S, Wen B, Chen K, Yuan L, Li Q (2014) Altitudinal effect to the size distribution of water soluble inorganic ions in PM at Huangshan, China. Atmos Environ 98:242–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.08.077
Li K, Chen L, White SJ, Zheng X, Lv B, Lin C, Bao Z, Wu X, Gao X, Ying F, Shen J, Azzi M, Cen K (2018) Chemical characteristics and sources of PM1 during the 2016 summer in Hangzhou. Environ Pollut 232:42–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.09.016
Lin JJ, Lee L-C (2004) Characterization of n-alkanes in urban submicron aerosol particles (PM1). Atmos Environ 38:2983–2991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.02.048
Liu J, Wu D, Fan S, Mao X, Chen H (2017a) A one-year, on-line, multi-site observational study on water-soluble inorganic ions in PM2.5 over the Pearl River Delta region, China. Sci Total Environ 601-602:1720–1732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.039
Liu Z, Xie Y, Hu B, Wen T, Xin J, Li X, Wang Y (2017b) Size-resolved aerosol water-soluble ions during the summer and winter seasons in Beijing: formation mechanisms of secondary inorganic aerosols. Chemosphere 183:119–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.05.095
Meng CC, Wang LT, Zhang FF, Wei Z, Ma SM, Ma X, Yang J (2016) Characteristics of concentrations and water-soluble inorganic ions in PM2.5 in Handan City, Hebei province, China. Atmos Res 171:133–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2015.12.013
Okada K, Ikegami M, Zaizen Y, Makino Y, Jensen JB, Gras JL (2001) The mixture state of individual aerosol particles in the 1997 Indonesian haze episode. J Aerosol Sci 32:1269–1279
Park EH, Heo J, Hirakura S, Hashizume M, Deng F, Kim H, Yi S-M (2018) Characteristics of PM2.5 and its chemical constituents in Beijing, Seoul, and Nagasaki. Air Qual Atmos Health 11:1167–1178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0616-y
Sun Y, Zhuang G, Tang A, Wang Y, An Z (2006) Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 in haze-fog episodes in Beijing. Environ Sci Technol 40:3148–3155
Sun Y, Jiang Q, Wang Z, Fu P, Li J, Yang T, Yin Y (2014) Investigation of the sources and evolution processes of severe haze pollution in Beijing in January 2013. J Geophys Res-Atmo 119:4380–4398
Tan J, Duan J, He K, Ma Y, Duan F, Chen Y, Fu J (2009) Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 during a typical haze episode in Guangzhou. J Environ Sci 21:774–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1001-0742(08)62340-2
Taneepanichskul N, Gelaye B, Grigsby-Toussaint DS, Lohsoonthorn V, Jimba M, Williams MA (2018) Short-term effects of particulate matter exposure on daily mortality in Thailand: a case-crossover study. Air Qual Atmos Health 11:639–647. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0571-7
Tao Y, Ye X, Ma Z, Xie Y, Wang R, Chen J, Yang X, Jiang S (2016) Insights into different nitrate formation mechanisms from seasonal variations of secondary inorganic aerosols in Shanghai. Atmos Environ 145:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.09.012
Tian YZ, Shi GL, Han SQ, Zhang YF, Feng YC, Liu GR, Gao LJ, Wu JH, Zhu T (2013) Vertical characteristics of levels and potential sources of water-soluble ions in PM10 in a Chinese megacity. Sci Total Environ 447:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.12.071
Tsai JH, Tsai SM, Wang WC, Chiang HL (2016) Water-soluble ionic species of coarse and fine particulate matter and gas precursor characteristics at urban and rural sites of Central Taiwan. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:16722–16737. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6834-7
Vieira-Filho M, Pedrotti JJ, Fornaro A (2016) Water-soluble ions species of size-resolved aerosols: implications for the atmospheric acidity in São Paulo megacity, Brazil. Atmos Res 181:281–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.07.006
Voutsa D, Samara C, Manoli E, Lazarou D, Tzoumaka P (2014) Ionic composition of PM2.5 at urban sites of northern Greece: secondary inorganic aerosol formation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:4995–5006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2445-8
Wang Y, Zhuang G, Tang A, Yuan H, Sun Y, Chen S, Zheng A (2005) The ion chemistry and the source of PM2.5 aerosol in Beijing. Atmos Environ 39:3771–3784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.03.013
Wang G, Li J, Cheng C, Hu S, Xie M, Gao S, Zhou B, Dai W, Cao J, An Z (2011) Observation of atmospheric aerosols at Mt. Hua and Mt. Tai in central and East China during spring 2009—part 1: EC, OC and inorganic ions. Atmos Chem Phys 11:4221–4235. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-4221-2011
Wang X, Wang W, Yang L, Gao X, Nie W, Yu Y, Xu P, Zhou Y, Wang Z (2012) The secondary formation of inorganic aerosols in the droplet mode through heterogeneous aqueous reactions under haze conditions. Atmos Environ 63:68–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.09.029
Wang Q, Ma Y, Tan J, Zheng N, Duan J, Sun Y, He K, Zhang Y (2015) Characteristics of size-fractionated atmospheric metals and water-soluble metals in two typical episodes in Beijing. Atmos Environ 119:294–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.08.061
Yang Y, Zhou R, Wu J, Yu Y, Ma Z, Zhang L, Ya D (2015) Seasonal variations and size distributions of water-soluble ions in atmospheric aerosols in Beijing, 2012. J Environ Sci 34:197–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2015.01.025
Yang Y, Zhou R, Yan Y, Yu Y, Liu J, Ya D, Du Z, Wu D (2016) Seasonal variations and size distributions of water-soluble ions of atmospheric particulate matter at Shigatse, Tibetan Plateau. Chemosphere 145:560–567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.11.065
Ye X, Ma Z, Hu D, Yang X, Chen J (2011) Size-resolved hygroscopicity of submicrometer urban aerosols in Shanghai during wintertime. Atmos Res 99:353–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2010.11.008
Yin L, Niu Z, Chen X, Chen J, Zhang F, Xu L (2014) Characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ions in PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 in the coastal urban agglomeration along the Western Taiwan Strait Region, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:5141–5156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2134-7
Yue H, Yun Y, Gao R, Li G, Sang N (2015) Winter polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-bound particulate matter from Peri-urban North China promotes lung cancer cell metastasis. Environ Sci Technol 49:14484–14493. https://doi.org/10.1021/es506280c
Zhang L, Vet R, Wiebe A, Mihele C, Sukloff B, Chan E, Moran MD, Iqbal S (2008) Characterization of the size-segregated water-soluble inorganic ions at eight Canadian rural sites. Atmos Chem Phys 8:7133–7151
Zhang Y, Obrist D, Zielinska B, Gertler A (2013) Particulate emissions from different types of biomass burning. Atmos Environ 72:27–35
Zhang J, Tong L, Huang Z, Zhang H, He M, Dai X, Zheng J, Xiao H (2018) Seasonal variation and size distributions of water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous aerosols at a coastal site in Ningbo, China. Sci Total Environ 639:793–803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.183
Zhou Q, Liu B, Chen Y, Han X, Wei X, Zhu Y, Zhou X, Chen J (2017) Characterization of PAHs in size-fractionated submicron atmospheric particles and their association with the intracellular oxidative stress. Chemosphere 182:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.133
Zou Y, Wu Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Jin C (2017) Physicochemical properties, in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of PM1.0 and PM2.5 from Shanghai, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:19508–19516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9626-9
Zwozdziak A, Sówka I, Willak-Janc E, Zwozdziak J, Kwiecińska K, Balińska-Miśkiewicz W (2016) Influence of PM1 and PM2.5 on lung function parameters in healthy schoolchildren—a panel study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:23892–23901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7605-1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOC 45 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhou, Q., Wang, J., Yan, W. et al. Highly size-resolved characterization of water-soluble inorganic ions in submicron atmospheric particles. Air Qual Atmos Health 12, 683–692 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00687-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00687-8