Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of mixed anthropogenic and natural emissions on air quality and eco-environment—the major water-soluble components in aerosols from northwest to offshore isle

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on more than 300 atmospheric TSP and PM2.5 samples collected at five sites over China in 2007 and 2008, characteristics, sources, and interactions of the major water-soluble species were investigated for a better understanding of their role in urban air quality and offshore eco-environment. From the dust source regions in Northwestern China to an offshore isle over the East China Sea, concentration levels and fine/coarse particle distributions of five representative water-soluble components were well elucidated, reflecting the distinct differences of geo-history, location, and present economic situation among the target areas. NO3−/SO42− mass ratios reflected significant divergence of motorization among the studied regions. Specifically, a case study during the World Car-Free Day proved that traffic restriction measures could indeed help mitigate the aerosol species formed from vehicle emissions. Investigation on the molar concentration stoichiometry and mass percentage variations of particulate NO3−, SO42−, and NH4+ revealed that NH3 was a driving factor in the formation of major secondary water-soluble ions in atmospheric fine particles over urban areas. Based on the prevailing wind analysis, observation over an offshore isle clearly indicated the influence of the relative strength of anthropogenic sources and ocean-related natural sources on the formation and size distribution of MSA (methanesulfonic acid), a major water-soluble organic component in aerosol. Annual dry deposition flux of particulate NO3− and NH4+ over the East China Sea was estimated based on the strength of an improved calculation formula. Reductive nitrogen was found to be the major form of the deposited atmospheric inorganic nitrogen, accounting for ~ 69% of the total nitrogen depositions.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blanchard CL, Tanenbaum SJ (2003) Differences between weekday and weekend air pollutant levels in South California. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 53:816–828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang YH, Zhou Z, Deng CR, Huang K, Collett JL, Lin J, Zhuang GS (2016) The importance of vehicle emissions as a source of atmospheric ammonia in the megacity of Shanghai. Atmos Chem Phys 16:3577–3594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Davis DD, Kasibhatla P, Bandy AR, Thornton DC, Huebert BJ, Clarke AD, Blomquist BW (2000) A study of DMS oxidation in the tropics: comparison of Christmas Island field observations of DMS, SO2, and DMSO with model simulations. J Atmos Chem 37:137–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YL, Chen HY (2003) Nitrate-based new production and its relationship to primary production and chemical hydrography in spring and fall in the East China Sea. Deep Sea Res PT II 50:1249–1264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chinkin LR, Coe DL, Funk TH, Hafner HR, Roberts PT, Ryan PA, Lawson DR (2003) Weekday versus weekend activity patterns for ozone precursor emissions in California’s South Coast Air Basin. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 53:829–843

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornell S, Rendell A, Jickells T (1995) Atmospheric inputs of dissolved organic nitrogen to the oceans. Nature 376:243–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong YQ, Chen CH, Huang C, Wang HL, Li L, Dai P, Jia JH (2009) Anthropogenic emissions and distribution of ammonia over the Yangtze River Delta. Acta Scien Circum 29:1611–1617 (Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA (2003) National air Quality and emissions trends report. Office of air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC

  • Fraser MP, Cass GR (1998) Detection of excess ammonia emissions from in-use vehicles and the implications for fine particle control. Environ Sci Technol 32:1053–1057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway JN (1995) Acid deposition: perspectives in time and space. Water Air Soil Poll 85:15–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway JN, Howarth RW, Michaels AF, Nixon SW, Prospero JM, Dentener FJ (1996) Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets of the North Atlantic Ocean and its watershed. Biogeochemistry 35:3–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Arimoto R, Zhou MY, Merrill JT, Duce RA (1992) Relationships between the dust concentrations over eastern Asia and the remote North Pacific. J Geophys Res 97:9867–9872

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Arimoto R, Duce RA, Chen LQ, Zhou MY, Gu DY (1996) Atmospheric non-sea-salt sulfate, nitrate and methanesulfonate over the China Sea. J Geophys Res 101:12601–12611

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goebes MD, Strader R, Davidson C (2003) An ammonia emission inventory for fertilizer application in the United States. Atmos Environ 37:2539–2550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang K, Zhuang GS, Li J, Wang QZ, Sun YL, Lin YF (2010) Mixing of Asian dust with pollution aerosol and the transformation of aerosol components during the dust storm over China in spring 2007. J Geophys Res 115:1307–1314

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebert BJ, Zhuang L, Howell S, Noone K, Noone B (1996) Sulfate, nitrate, methanesulfonate, chloride, ammonium, and sodium measurements from ship, island, and aircraft during the Atlantic stratocumulus transition, experiment/marine aerosol gas exchange. J Geophys Res 101:4413–4423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jassby AD, Reuter JE, Axler RP, Goldman CR, Hackley SH (1994) Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus in the annual nutrient load of Lake Tahoe (California-Nevada). Water Resour Res 30:2207–2216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang YL, Zhuang GS, Wang QZ, Liu TN, Huang K, Fu JS, Li J, Lin YF, Zhang R, Deng CR (2014) Aerosol oxalate and its implication to haze pollution in Shanghai, China. Chin Sci Bull 59:227–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jickells TD (2002) Emissions from the oceans to the atmosphere, deposition from the atmosphere to the oceans and the interactions between them. In: Steffen W, Jager J, Carson DA, Bradshaw C (eds) Challenges of a changing earth. Springer, Berlin, pp 93–96

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jung J, Lee H, Kim YJ, Liu X, Zhang Y, Gu J, Fan S (2009) Aerosol chemistry and the effect of aerosol water content on visibility impairment and radiative forcing in Guangzhou during the 2006 Pearl River Delta campaign. J Environ Manag 90:3231–3244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang CM, Lee HS, Kang BW, Lee SK, Sunwoo Y (2004) Chemical characteristics of acidic gas pollutants and PM2.5 species during hazy episodes in Seoul, South Korea. Atmos Environ 38:4749–4760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kean AJ, Littlejohn D, Ban-Weiss GA, Harley RA, Kirchstetter TW, Lunden MM (2009) Trends in on-road vehicle emissions of ammonia. Atmos Environ 43:1565–1570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Legrand M, Sciare J, Jourdian B, Genthon C (2001) Subdaily variations of atmospheric dimethylsulfide, dimethylsulfoxide, methanesulfonate, and non- sea-salt sulfate aerosols in the atmospheric boundary layer at Dumont d’Urvile (coastal Antarctica) during summer. J Geophys Res 106:14409–14422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J (2009) Characteristics, source, long-range transport of dust aerosol over the central Asia and its potential effect on global change. Fudan University (Chinese), Dissertation

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackey KRM, Hunter D, Fischer EV, Jiang YL, Allen B, Chen Y, Liston A, Reuter J, Schladow G, Paytan A (2013) Aerosol-nutrient-induced picoplankton growth in Lake Tahoe. J Geophys Res 118:1054–1067

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moeckli MA, Fierz M, Sigrist MW (1996) Emission factors for ethene and ammonia from a tunnel study with a photoacoustic trace gas detection system. Environ Sci Technol 30:2864–2867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura T, Matsumoto K, Uematsu M (2005) Chemical characteristics of aerosols transported from Asia to the East China Sea: an evaluation of anthropogenic combined nitrogen deposition in autumn. Atmos Environ 39:1749–1758

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl HW (1995) Coastal eutrophication in relation to atmospheric nitrogen deposition—current perspectives. Ophelia 41:237–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl HW, Whittal DR (1999) Anthropogenically-derived atmospheric nitrogen deposition, marine eutrophication and harmful algal bloom expansion: is there a link? Ambio 28:307–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Pakkanen TA, Kerminen VM, Korhonen CH, Hillamo RE, Aarnio P, Koskentalo T, Maenhaut W (2001) Urban and rural ultrafine (PM0.1) particles in the Helsinki area. Atmos Environ 35:4593–4607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park SJ, Yoon TI, Bae JH, Seo HJ, Park HJ (2001) Biological treatment of waste-water containing dimethyl sulphoxide from the semiconductor industry. Process Biochem 36:579–589

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero JM, Barrett K, Church T, Dentener F, Duce RA, Galloway JN, Levy H, Moody J, Quinn P (1996) Atmospheric deposition of nutrients to the North Atlantic. Biogeochemistry 35:27–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saltzman ES, Savoie DL, Zika RG, Prospero JM (1983) Methane sulfonic acid in the marine atmosphere. J Geophys Res 88:10897–10902

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savioe DL, Prospero JM, Arimoto M, Duce RA (1994) Non-sea-salt sulfate and methanesulfonate at American Samoa. J Geophys Res 99:3587–3596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seinfeld JH, Pandis SN (2006) Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change. Wiley-Interscience, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Shon ZH, Kim KH, Song SK (2011) Long-term trend in NO2 and NOx levels and their emission ratio in relation to road traffic activities in East Asia. Atmos Environ 45:3120–3131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spokes LJ, Jickells TD (2005) Is the atmosphere really an important source of reactive nitrogen to coastal waters? Cont Shelf Res 25:2022–2035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens RK, King F, Bell J, Whitfield J (1988) Measurement of the chemical species that contribute to urban haze. 81st Annual Meeting of Air Pollution Control Association. Dallas, Texas

  • Sun J, Liu T (2006) The age of the Taklimakan Desert. Science 312:1621

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun YL, Zhuang GS, Wang Y, Han LH, Guo JH, Dan M, Zhang WJ, Wang ZF (2004) The air-borne particulate pollution at Beijing-concentrations, composition, distribution, and sources of Beijing aerosol. Atmos Environ 38:5991–6004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun YL, Zhuang GS, Tang AH, Wang Y, An ZS (2006) Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 in haze-fog episodes in Beijing. Environ Sci Technol 41:3148–3155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QZ, Zhuang GS, Li J, Huang K, Zhang R, Jiang YL, Lin YF, Fu JS (2011) Mixing of dust with pollution on the transport path of Asian dust—revealed from the aerosol over Yulin, the north edge of loess plateau. Sci Total Environ 409:573–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SL, Chai FH, Zhang YH, Zhou LD, Wang QL (2004) Analysis on the sources and characters of particles in Chengdu. Sci Geogr Sin 24:488–492

  • Wang QZ, Zhuang GS, Huang K, Liu TN, Deng CR, Xu J, Lin YF, Guo ZG, Chen Y, Fu QY, Fu JS, Chen JK (2015) Probing the severe haze pollution in three typical regions of China: characteristics, sources and regional impacts. Atmos Environ 120:76–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QZ, Zhuang GS, Huang K, Liu TN, Lin YF, Deng CR, Fu QY, Fu JS, Chen JK, Zhang WJ, Yiming M (2016) Evolution of particulate sulfate and nitrate along the Asian dust pathway: secondary transformation and primary pollutants via long-range transport. Atmos Res 169:86–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warneck P (1999) Chemistry of the natural atmosphere. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao HY, Liu CQ (2004) Chemical characteristics of water-soluble components in TSP over Guiyang, SW China, 2003. Atmos Environ 38:6297–6306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu J, Wang Q, Deng C, McNeill VF, Fankhauser A, Wang F, Zheng X, Shen J, Huang K, Zhuang G (2018) Insights into the characteristics and sources of primary and secondary organic carbon: high time resolution observation in urban Shanghai. Environ Pollut 233:1177–1187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu L, Zhou J, Guo Y, Wu T, Chen T, Zhong Q, Yuan D, Chen P, Ou C (2017) Spatiotemporal pattern of air quality index and its associated factors in 31 Chinese provincial capital cities. Air Qual Atmos Health 10(5):601–609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Y, He Q, Song Q, Guo L, He Q, Wang X (2017) Exposure to hazardous air pollutants in underground car parks in Guangzhou, China. Air Qual Atmos Health 10(5):555–563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao J, Wang G, Lin J, Fan X, Geng Y, Wei N, Shan J, Li Y, Lu W (2010) Relationships between atmospheric particles and visibility in Shanghai. J Meteor Environ 26:17–21 (Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao XH, Chan CK, Fang M, Cadle S, Chan T, Mulawa P, He KB, Ye BM (2002) The water-soluble ionic composition of PM2.5 in Shanghai and Beijng, China. Atmos Environ 36:4223–4234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin F, Grosjean D, Flagan RC, Seinfeld JH (1990a) Photooxidation of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. II: mechanism evaluation. J Atmos Chem 11:365–399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin F, Grosjean D, Seinfeld JH (1990b) Photooxidation of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. I: mechanism development. J Atmos Chem 11:309–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan H, Wang Y, Zhuang GS (2004) MSA in Beijing aerosol. Chin Sci Bull 49:1020–1025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Yu Q, Ma WC, Chen LM (2010) Atmospheric deposition of inorganic nitrogen to the eastern China seas and its implications to marine biogeochemistry. J Geophys Res 115:D00K10. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao B, Wang SX, Liu H, Xu JY, Fu K, Klimont Z, Hao JM, He KB, Cofala J, Amann M (2013) NOx emissions in China: historical trends and future perspective. Atmos Chem Phys 13:9869–9897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L, Chen Y, Guo L, Wang FJ (2013) Estimate of dry deposition fluxes of nutrients over the East China Sea: the implication of aerosol ammonium to non-sea-salt sulfate ratio to nutrient deposition of coastal oceans. Atmos Environ 69:131–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41429501 (fund for collaboration with overseas scholars), 91644105, and 41405115). Y.L.J., M.L., and Z.Z. would like to acknowledge the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21607056) and Natural Fund of Guangdong Province (2015A030313339). C.X. is sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (15ZR1434900).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Atmospheric Chemistry Study, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Yilun Jiang, Guoshun Zhuang, Qiongzhen Wang, Kan Huang, Congrui Deng, Guangyuan Yu & Chang Xu

  2. Institute of Mass Spectrometer and Atmospheric Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Yilun Jiang, Mei Li & Zhen Zhou

  3. Baosteel Environmental Monitoring Center, Shanghai, 201900, China

    Yilun Jiang

  4. Environmental Science Research and Design Institute of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China

    Qiongzhen Wang & Congrui Deng

  5. Institue of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Kan Huang

  6. Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming (SIEC), No.3663 Northern Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China

    Kan Huang

  7. Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Chang Xu

  8. Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Qingyan Fu & Yanfen Lin

  9. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Joshua S. Fu

Authors
  1. Yilun Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guoshun Zhuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qiongzhen Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kan Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Congrui Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Guangyuan Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chang Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Qingyan Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yanfen Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Joshua S. Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Mei Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Zhen Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Y.J., K.H., and C.D. conceived the study. Y.J., K.H., G.Z., and G.Y. conducted the data analysis and wrote the paper. All authors contributed to interpreting the results and writing the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kan Huang or Congrui Deng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiang, Y., Zhuang, G., Wang, Q. et al. Impact of mixed anthropogenic and natural emissions on air quality and eco-environment—the major water-soluble components in aerosols from northwest to offshore isle . Air Qual Atmos Health 11, 521–534 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0557-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0557-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation