Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical fingerprint and source apportionment of PM2.5 in highly polluted events of southern Taiwan

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To investigate the spatial distribution and diurnal variation of the chemical composition of PM2.5 pollution in an industrial city of southern Taiwan, 12-h PM2.5 was diurnally continuously collected simultaneously at the Kaoping Air Quality Zone (KAQZ) during one highly PM2.5-polluted episode. Water-soluble ions, metallic elements, carbonaceous contents, dicarboxylic acids, and anhydrosugars were analyzed to characterize the chemical fingerprint of PM2.5. Backward trajectory simulation and chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor modeling were applied to identify the potential sources of PM2.5 and their contributions. It showed that Chaozhou (rural area) accompanying the highest SORs and NORs suffered from the most severe PM2.5 pollution during the episode. Sulfate (SO42−) was probably formed by the atmospheric chemical reaction in the daytime, while NO3− processed at nighttime at the KAQZ. A homogeneous formation of NO3− occurred at Chaozhou. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Fe, Cu, V, and Al, mainly emitted from anthropogenic sources, increased significantly at the KAQZ. The highest OC, SOC/OC, and DA/OCs at Daliao (industrial area) were attributed to the transformation of primary VOCs to secondary OC via photo-oxidation during the episode. Oxalic acid was mainly produced through photochemical reactions since a high correlation between oxalic acid and Ca2+ was observed at Nanzi (urban area) and Daliao during the episode. During the episode, PM2.5 mostly originated from local primary or secondary aerosol than long-range overseas transport. The dominant source was anthropogenic emissions, accounting for 67.1% and 70.4% of PM2.5 at Nanzi and Daliao, respectively. At Chaozhou, the contribution of anthropogenic emissions was the lowest (42.4%), but secondary aerosols had the highest contribution of 38.3% of PM2.5 among the three areas during the episode.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashbaugh LL, Eldred RA (2004) Loss of particle nitrate from teflon sampling filters: effects on measured gravimetric mass in California and in the IMPROVE network. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 54:93–104

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao JJ, Lee SC, Ho KF, Zou SC, Fung K, Li Y, Chow JC (2004) Spatial and seasonal variations of atmospheric organic carbon and elemental carbon in Pearl River Delta Region, China. Atmos Environ 38(27):4447–4456

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng ZL, Lam KS, Chan LY, Wang T, Cheng KK (2000) Chemical characteristics of aerosols at coastal station in Hong Kong. I. Seasonal variation of major ions, halogens and mineral dusts between 1995 and 1996. Atmos Environ 34:2771–2783

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chuang MT, Chen YC, Lee CT, Cheng CH, Tsai YR, Chang SY, Su ZS (2016) Apportionment of the sources of high fine particulate matter concentration events in a developing aerotropolis in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Environ Pollut 214:273–281

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corbin JC, Mensah AA, Michalke B (2018) Trace metals in soot and PM2.5 from heavy-fuel-oil combustion in a marine engine. Environ Sci Technol 52:6714–6722

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engling ADG, Lee JJ, Sie HJ, Wu YC, I YP (2013) Anhydrosugar characteristics in biomass smoke aerosol-case study of environmental influence on particle-size of rice straw burning aerosol. J Aerosol Sci 56:2–14

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu XX, Guo H, Wang XM, Ding X, He QF, Liu TY, Zhang Z (2015) PM2.5 acidity at a background site in the Pearl River Delta region in fall-winter of 2007-2012. J Hazard Mater 286:484–492

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furukawa T, Takahashi Y (2011) Oxalate metal complexes in aerosol particles: implications for the hygroscopicity of oxalate-containing particles. Atmos Chem Phys 11:4289–4301

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao JJ, Tian HZ, Cheng K, Lu L, Zheng M, Wang SX, Hao JM, Wang K, Hua SB, Zhu CY, Wang Y (2015) The variation of chemical characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 and formation causes during two haze pollution events in urban Beijing, China. Atmos Environ 107:1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hjortenkrans DS, Bergbäck BG, Häggerud AV (2007) Metal emissions from brake linings and tires: case studies of Stockholm, Sweden, 1995/1998 and 2005. Environ Sci Technol 41(15):5224–5230

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh LY, Chen CL, Wan MW, Tsai CH, Tsai YI (2008) Speciation and temporal characterization of dicarboxylic acids in PM2.5 during a PM episode and a period of non-episodic pollution. Atmos Environ 42:6836–6850

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu GY, Zhang YM, Sun JY, Zhang LM, Shen XJ, Lin W, Yang Y (2014) Variability, formation and acidity of water-soluble ions in PM2.5 in Beijing based on the semi-continuous observations. Atmos Res 145-146:1–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneyasu N, Ohta S, Murao N (1995) Seasonal variation in chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols and gaseous species in Sapporo, Japan. Atmos Environ 29:1559–1568

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SF, Lu B, Ji YQ (2012) Risk assessment of heavy metals in road and soil dust within PM2.5, PM10 and PM100 fractions in Dongying city, Shandong Province, China. J Environ Monit 14:791–803

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SF, Li L, Li XX, Yin Y, Chen K, Liu DT, Yuan L, Zhang YJ, Shan YP, Ji YQ (2015) The impacts of firework burning at the Chinese spring festival on air quality: insights of tracers, source evolution and aging processes. Atmos Chem Phys 15:2167–2184

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ledoux F, Kfoury A, Delmaire G, Roussel G, El Zein A, Courcot D (2017) Contributions of local and regional anthropogenic sources of metals in PM2.5 at an urban site in northern France. Chemosphere 181:713–724

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SL, Chou CC, Cheung HC, Tsai CY, Huang WR, Huang SH, Chen MJ, Liao HT, Wu CF, Tsao TM, Tsai MJ, Su TC (2019) Seasonal variation of chemical characteristics of fine particulate matter at a high-elevation subtropical forest in East Asia. Environ Pollut 246:668–677

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li TC, Chen WH, Yuan CS (2013) Physicochemical characteristics and source apportionment of atmospheric particles in Kinmen-Xiamen Airshed. Aerosol Air Qual Res 13:308–323

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li TC, Yuan CS, Huang HC, Lee CL, Wu SP, Tong C (2017a) Clustered long-range transport routes and potential sources of PM2.5 and their chemical characteristics around the Taiwan Strait. Atmos Environ 148:152–166

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Ma YL, Duan FK, He KB, Zhu LD, Huang T, Kimoto T, Ma X, Ma T, Xu LL, Xu BY, Yang S, Ye SQ, Sun ZL, An JT, Zhang ZL (2017b) Typical winter haze pollution in Zibo, an industrial city in China: characteristics, secondary formation, and regional contribution. Environ Pollut 229:339–349

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JW, Chen YJ, Chao SH (2019) Levels and health risks of PM2.5-bound toxic metals from firework/firecracker burning during festival periods in response to management strategies. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety 171:406–413

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyu XP, Guo H, Cheng HR, Wang XM, Ding X, Lu HX, Xu C (2017) Observation of SOA tracers at a mountainous site in Hong Kong: chemical characteristics, origins and implication on particle growth. Sci Total Environ 605:180–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng JJ, Wang GH, Li JJ, Cheng CL, Cao JJ (2013) Atmospheric oxalic acid and related secondary organic aerosols in Qinghai Lake, a continental background site in Tibet plateau. Atmos Environ 79:582–589

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mochida M, Kawamura K, Fu P, Takemura T (2010) Seasonal variation of levoglucosan in aerosols over the western North Pacific and its assessment as a biomass-burning tracer. Atmos Environ 44:3511–3518

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nah T, Guo HY, Sullivan AP, Chen YL, Tanner DJ, Nenes A, Russell A, Ng NL, Huey LG, Weber RJ (2018) Characterization of aerosol composition, aerosol acidity, and organic acid partitioning at an agriculturally intensive rural southeastern US site. Atmos Chem Phys 18:11471–11491

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohta S, Okita T (1990) A chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosol in Sapporo. Atmos Environ 24:815–822

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathak RK, Wu WS, Wang T (2009) Summertime PM2.5 ionic species in four major cities of China: nitrate formation in an ammonia-deficient atmosphere. Atmos Chem Phys 9:1711–1722

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato K, Takami A, Isozaki T, Hikida T, Shimono A, Imamura T (2010) Mass spectrometric study of secondary organic aerosol formed from the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons. Atmos Environ 44:1080–1087

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shahid I, Kistler M, Mukhtar A, Ghauri BM, Cruz CR-S, Bauer H, Puxbaum H (2016) Chemical characterization and mass closure of PM10 and PM2.5 at an urban site in Karachi-Pakistan. Atmos Environ 128:114–123

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shon ZH, Ghosh S, Kim KH, Song SK, Jung K, Kim NJ (2013) Analysis of water-soluble ions and their precursor gases over diurnal cycle. Atmos Res 132:309–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Simoneit BR (2002) Biomass burning-a review of organic tracers for smoke from incomplete combustion. Appl Geochem 17:129–162

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolis EI, Saraga DE, Lytra MK, Papathanasiou AC, Bougaidis PN, Partroakis OE, Ioannodis II, Bartzis JG (2015) Concentration and chemical composition of PM2.5 for a one-year period at Thessaloniki, Greece: a comparison between city and port area. Atmos Environ 113:197–207

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai YI, Chen CL (2006) Atmospheric aerosol composition and source apportionments to aerosol in Southern Taiwan. Atmos Environ 40:4751–4763

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai YI, Kuo SC (2013) Contributions of low molecular weight carboxylic acids to aerosols and wet deposition in a natural subtropical broad-leaved forest environment. Atmos Environ 81:270–279

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai HH, Yuan CS, Hung CH, Lin C, Lin YC (2011a) Influence of sea-land breezes on the tempospatial distribution of atmospheric aerosols over coastal region. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 61:358–376

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai HH, Yuan CS, Hung CH, Lin YC (2011b) Physicochemical properties of PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 at inland and offshore sites over southeastern coastal region of Taiwan Strait. Aerosol Air Qual Res 11:663–677

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsai YI, Kuo SC, Young LH, Hsieh LY, Chen PT (2014) Atmospheric dry plus wet deposition and wet-only deposition of dicarboxylic acids and inorganic compounds in a coastal suburban environment. Atmos Environ 89:696–706

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • https://stat.epa.gov.tw/

  • Vo TDH, Lin CT, Weng CE, Yuan CS, Lee CW, Hung CH, Bui XT, Lo KC, Lin JX (2018) Vertical stratification of volatile organic compounds and their photochemical product formation potential in an industrial urban area. J Environ Manag 217:327–336

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QY, Cao JJ, Shen ZX (2013) Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 during dust storms and air pollution events in Chengdu, China. Particuology 11(1):70–77

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JY, Wang GH, Gao J, Wang H, Ren YQ, Li JJ, Zhou BH, Wu C, Zhang L, Wang SL, Chai FH (2017) Concentrations and stable carbon isotope compositions of oxalic acid and related SOA in Beijing before, during, and after the 2014 APEC. Atmos Chem Phys 17:981–992

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu L, Feng Y, Wu J, Zhu T, Bi X, Han B, Yang W, Yang Z (2009) Secondary organic carbon quantification and source apportionment of PM10 in Kaifeng, China. Environ Sci 21:1353–1362

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing L, Fu TM, Cao JJ, Lee SC, Wang GH, Ho KF, Cheng MC, You CF, Wang TJ (2013) Seasonal and spatial variability of the OM/OC mass ratios and high regional correlation between oxalic acid and zinc in Chinese urban organic aerosols. Atmos Chem Phys 13:4307–4318

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang HY, Tseng YL, Chuang HL, Li TC, Yuan CS, Lee JJ (2017) Chemical fingerprint and source identification of atmospheric fine particles sampled at three environments at the tip of southern Taiwan. Aerosol Air Qual Res 17:529–542

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao X, Fang M, Chan CK, Ho K, Lee S (2004) Characterization of dicarboxylic acids in PM2.5 in Hong Kong. Atmos Environ 38(7):963–970

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu JZ, Huang XF, Xu JH, Hu M (2005) When aerosol sulfate goes up, so does oxalate: implication for the formation mechanisms of oxalate. Environ Sci Technol 39:128–133

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan CS, Du K (2013) Aerosol and air quality research in Taiwan Cross-Strait areas. Aerosol Air Qual Res 13:1–2

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan CS, Hai CX, Zhao M (2006) Source profiles and fingerprints of fine and coarse sands resuspended from soils sampled in Central Inner Mongolia. Particuology 4(6):304–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZS, Gao J, Engling G, Tao J, Chai FH, Zhang LM, Zhang RJ, Sang XF, Chan CY, Lin ZJ, Cao JJ (2015) Characteristics and applications of size-segregated biomass burning tracers in China’s Pearl River Delta region. Atmos Environ 102:290–301

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was performed under the auspices of Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (TWEPA), and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) under contract number MOST105-EPA-F-009-002, as well as National Natural Science Foundation of China, under the contract number of 21477042. The authors received financial support from TWEPA, MOST, and NNSFC.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China

    Huazhen Shen, Guohua Jing & Gongren Hu

  2. Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Tsung-mou Yang, Chun-chung Lu & Chung-shin Yuan

  3. Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Juoyue Road, Nanzih District, Kaohsiung, 811, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chung-Hsuang Hung, Chia-wei Lee & Kuo-cheng Lo

  4. Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No. 142, Haijhuan Road, Nanzih District, Kaohsiung, 811, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chi-tsan Lin

Authors
  1. Huazhen Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tsung-mou Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chun-chung Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chung-shin Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chung-Hsuang Hung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chi-tsan Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chia-wei Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Guohua Jing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Gongren Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Kuo-cheng Lo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chung-shin Yuan.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Gerhard Lammel

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 137 kb)

ESM 2

(DOCX 2.22 mb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shen, H., Yang, Tm., Lu, Cc. et al. Chemical fingerprint and source apportionment of PM2.5 in highly polluted events of southern Taiwan. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 6918–6935 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07328-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07328-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation