Asian Journal of atmospheric environment
Asian Journal of atmospheric environment Asian Journal of atmospheric environment
Asian Journal of atmospheric environment
  Aims and Scope Type of Manuscripts Best Practices Contact Information  
  Editor-in-Chief Associate Editors Editorial Advisory Board  

Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment - Vol. 13 , No. 4

[ Research Article ]
Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment - Vol. 13, No. 4
Abbreviation: Asian J. Atmos. Environ
ISSN: 1976-6912 (Print) 2287-1160 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Dec 2019
Received 29 Aug 2019 Revised 24 Sep 2019 Accepted 24 Sep 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5572/ajae.2019.13.4.233

Chemical Composition and Size Distribution of Aerosol Particle in High Polluted Periods
Sun-Ju Byun ; Kum-Chan Choi*
Department of Environmental Engineering, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea

Correspondence to : * Tel: +82-51-200-7680 E-mail: kcchoi@dau.ac.kr


Copyright © 2019 by Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

In this study, PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations were investigated in Busan Metropolitan City on high pollution episode periods. PM10 and PM2.5 were collected from December 2013 to January 2015. The aerosol samples were collected during Asian dust season and high polluted periods in winter respectively. The collected samples were analyzed by some techniques such as comparison of mass concentration, correlation analysis, chemical composition and particle size distribution. Mass concentration of PM10 in spring season ranged from 62.6 μg/m3 to 131.5 μg/m3. High PM10 and PM2.5 concentration on spring were contributed mainly by Asian-Dust. In wintertime, PM10 and PM2.5 high concentrations were almost contributed by anthropogenic source such as house heating and stagnant meteorological conditions. But, PM2.5 mass concentration did not show any difference according to sampling sites. SEM-EDS results showed that high polluted periods have different chemical composition elements such as Al, Ca, Mo, Zn in spring and Cu, Cr, Mn, Ti, Zr in winter. Particle number distribution on Asian dust season showed that particle counts were increased to the factor of 2 in the size of 5 μm , the size of 3 μm was increased to the factor of 2, the size of 1 μm was increased the factor of 1.6 respectively. On the other hands, particle counts in the size of 1 μm and 0.5 μm were decreased to the factor of 1.6 and 0.3 μm was considerably decreased to the factor of 3.5. Finally, it is possible to establish the proper PM pollution control strategy to evaluate levels of high PM10 and PM2.5 pollution periods, chemical composition and size distribution by detail analysis.


Keywords: Mass concentration, Chemical composition, Particle counts, Particle size distribution, High polluted Periods, PM10 and PM2.5

1. INTRODUCTION

In general, high concentration pollutions for PM10 and PM2.5 appeared mainly from wintertime to next year spring for every year. The high concentration for PM pollution lasted one or two days and above more than two days when it was occurred. WHO warned that PM2.5 could affect man’s both lungs and heart including premature death, increased respiratory symptoms, aggravated bronchial asthma. WHO technical report revealed that ambient air PM2.5 policies affect 60-80% of the urban population exposure PM2.5 and outdoor air is responsible for 40-70% of total of the total population exposure to that (WHO, 2013). Recently, Ministry of Korea Government revised annual standard of PM2.5 to its concentration from 25 to 15 μg/m³ on March 2019. But, most of citizens experienced that PM2.5 pollution is more severe before revising annual standard. This is the reason that the reduction strategies for PM2.5 have focused on average annual concentration. But, average concentration for PM2.5 and its frequency were increased in high polluted period by year and year. The previous work reported that the frequency of the PM10 concentration over 50 μg/m³ has decreased while that less than 20 μg/m³ has changed little (Kim and Yeo, 2019). It was concluded that the frequency between 20 and 50 μg/m³ has increased. Other research showed that source contribution of PM2.5 in Republic of Korea was investigated during KORUS-AQ campaign (Choi et al., 2019). This research suggested that Chinese contributions are up to ~68% of PM2.5 in surface air in South Korea. Park and Kim (2016) reported characteristics of water-soluble inorganic species in PM10 and PM2.5 at two coastal sites during spring in Rep. of Korea. It was founded that ion concentrations of SO42-, NH4+ and NO3- in both PM10 and PM2.5 are high about two times.

The objective of this study was to evaluate PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration comparison in high polluted periods at Busan Metropolitan City. It is important to know the range of mass concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 in high polluted periods to establish control strategy. Also, chemical composition by SEM-EDS to identify aerosol sources for PM10 and PM2.5 in high polluted periods were reviewed. This study presents particle size distribution which was investigated by LPC counts in same periods. The data show particle number counts change which was observed in a special size range of high polluted period.


2. EXPERIMENTAL
2. 1 Experimental Method and Periods

In this experiment, Fig. 1 shows the sampling point which is located at 5 floor of Donga University at Sahagu. This university was surrounded by small mountains with maximum height of 497 m. In the west side of the point, Nak-Dong River flows from north to south side of sea. In the north side, about 4-5 km of the sampling point, Sasang Industrial Complex is located. This industrial complex has iron manufacture, nonferrous manufacture, parts-component industry. In wintertime, this sampling point is strongly impacted by these industrial sources. In contrast to summertime, sea-salt concentration is high because of impact by southeast wind direction. In this study, sampling period was planned to 2 years from Dec. 2013 to Feb. 2015. Sampling condition was controlled by meteorological conditions such as high concentration pollution period and Asian dust season. Table 1 indicates aerosol sampling conditions for PM10 and PM2.5.


Fig. 1. 
Location of the sampling point.

Table 1. 
Aerosol sampling conditions.
Sampling site Busan, Donga Univ.
N35.116 E128.968
Sampling period Dec. 2013~Feb. 2015
Sampling intervals Depends on weather condition
Sampling number PM10 PM2.5
20 20

2. 2 Aerosol Sampling Method

High concentration PM10 and PM2.5 samples were collected by URG cyclone sampler (URG-2000-30 ENB PM10, URG-2000-30EH PM2.5) individually. This URG cyclone sampler consist of 3 stage filter pack and sampling flow late is 17.6 L/min. Nuclepore filter (Whatman Φ47 mm, pore size 0.2 μm) was used for collecting PM10 and PM2.5 samples. This nuclepore filter is suitable for aerosol sampling because of hydrophilic and low cohesiveness with protein. Sampling time was set to 4 hours intervals basically, the time was controlled by ambient aerosol concentration. The collected aerosol samples were saved and dehumidified in desiccator on 24 hours and weighted its mass by digital electronic balance (M2P, SATORIUS Co.). Particle counts were monitored by Lase Particle Counter (LPC, TF500, KANOMAX Co.). This laser particle counter is possible to measure particle counts at the size of 5 range (0.3 μm, 0.5 μm, 1.0 μm, 3.0 μm, 5.0 μm). As the particle pass through the laser light, the particle blocks the laser light scattering and loss of light is detected by a photo detector if light scattering is used.

2. 3 Sample Analysis

It is important to know aerosol chemical composition to identify emission sources. It was used to identify emission source by PM10 and PM2.5 chemical composition data which were determined by SEM-EDS. SEM-EDS is one of the excellent analysis tools for physical and chemical analysis of multiple aerosol samples to detect trace elements economically. Aerosol samples were analyzed by FE-SEM for image data and obtained chemical composition data by EDS (Energy Disperse X-ray Spectrometer). Test sample was coated with Pt by vacuum evaporation through cutting the size of 5 mm×5 mm. Table 2 summarized FE-SEM analysis conditions, individual aerosol particle was observed by SEM with microscopic magnification of 500 to 10000.

Table 2. 
Specification of SEM-EDS.
Model SEM EDS
JSM-6700F OXFORD instrument 7421
Production company JEOL (JAPAN) OXFORD (U.K)
Resolution 1.0 nm (at 15 kV), 2.2 nm (at 1 kV) 30 mm,138 eV at Mn Ka
Magnification 25 to 19,000 (LM mode), 100 to 650,000 (SEM mode)
Accelerating voltage 0.5 to 30 kV
Electron gun Cold cathode field emission type
Alignment Electromagnetic deflection system
Objective lens Strongly excited conical lens
Specimen chamber Large chamber for 200 mm specimen
Light element detector resolution Crystal: Silicon
Window: Super ATW
Detectable element: 5B to 92U
7.5 liter liquid nitrogen dewater


3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3. 1 Comparison of High Polluted PM10 and PM2.5 Concentration Data

In this study, high concentrations were established at 80 μg/m3 (PM10) and 50 μg/m3 (PM2.5) individually. The reason is that good level of PM10 was ranged the concentration from 30 μg/m3 to 80 μg/m3. But severe level of PM10 starts with the concentration from 80 μg/m3 by Korea Ministry of Environment 6 stage action guideline. But there is no guideline about PM2.5 on severe stage. Therefore, 50 μg/m3 for 24 hr average concentration (2015 standard) was used for the severe level for high concentration of PM2.5 . Fig. 2 shows PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration on high polluted periods in spring and winter, which were sampled at the point of this study and 4 sites in Busan air monitoring stations separately. Aerosol samples in high polluted periods were collected from March to May 2014 in spring season, and sampled two times from Dec. 2013 to Feb. 2014 firstly, from Jan. 2015 to Feb. 2015 secondly in winter. In this study, PM10 mass concentration in high polluted season of spring ranged from 62.6 μg/m3 to 131.5 μg/m3, average concentration was 80.4 μg/m3. The data from other 4 sites in Busan air monitoring stations showed PM10 average concentration were ranged from 134.9 μg/m3 to 153.5 μg/m3, and indicated 1.67-1.9 times higher than the data of this study. This is contributed by the site of this study is located on the 150 m high from the ground level of traffic road. Because of coarse aerosol particles are reduced by its count concentrations to compare with roadside. PM2.5 mass concentration in high polluted season of spring ranged from 45.8 μg/m3 to 127.8 μg/m3, and average concentration was 75.2 μg/m3. The data from other 4 sites in Busan air monitoring stations show PM2.5 average concentration were ranged from 72.2 μg/m3 to 75.7 μg/m3, PM2.5 mass concentration were not showed any difference of their concentrations to compare with PM2.5 data with other sites.


Fig. 2. 
PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration on high polluted season at 5 points (spring).

In contrast to winter, PM10 mass concentration ranged from 59.7 μg/m3 to 156.8 μg/m3 of this study, average concentration was 93.0 μg/m3. Other monitoring sites data showed PM10 mass concentration in high polluted season of winter ranged from 116.5 μg/m3 to 129.9 μg/m3. In this study, PM2.5 mass concentration in high polluted season of winter ranged from 33.5 μg/m3 to 78.5 μg/m3, and average concentration was 52.4 μg/m3, other monitoring sites data showed PM2.5 mass concentration in high polluted season of winter ranged from 60.8 μg/m3 to 66.9 μg/m3. PM2.5 did not show any difference for mass concentration according to sampling sites. This result was contributed by meteorological factors of no winds and stable condition at all sites of the city in winter.

3. 2 Chemical Composition on High Polluted PM10 and PM2.5 Concentrations

Chemical composition data are very useful tools to source identification. To determine chemical elements, SEM-EDS analysis was used for determining in collected aerosol samples. SEM-EDS analysis was conducted to PM10 and PM2.5 about 30 samples, the chemical composition data was obtained 10 times in one filter repeatedly by scatter electron beam radiation. Target elements for SEM-EDS analysis are 22 elements like as Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Ti, V, Zn, Zr. Fig. 4 indicates high atomic (%) elements in order such as Si, Fe, Ca, Cl, Al, Mg, Na, K in spring, Si was higher 2 times than winter data in specially. This result can be explained that the Si, Fe, Ca were almost included in Asian dust in spring, and combined with other elements Cl, Mg, Na which were generated from sea-salt particles. Fig. 5 shows the different type elements pattern of Fe, Zn, Ti, Cu, S, Si, these elements mainly come from fossil fuel incineration facility in winter. Sulfur is good indicator of fossil fuel incineration. SO2 can be emitted from incineration sources and converted to sulfate in fine particles. Hsu et al. (2016) reported that health-related particulate metals for PM10 and PM2.5 were related to the traffic emission and coal combustion sources in winter. In Beijing, elevated concentrations of elements and water-soluble inorganic ions were founded on haze days for both PM10 and PM2.5 (Gao et al., 2015). He et al. (2015) reported impacts of biomass-burning on aerosol properties of a severe haze event over Shanghai to Korean Peninsula.


Fig. 3. 
PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration on high polluted season at 5 points (winter).


Fig. 4. 
Result of elemental composition by SEM-EDS in spring.


Fig. 5. 
Result of elemental composition by SEM-EDS in winter.

3. 3 Particle Size Distribution of High Polluted Periods

Fig. 6 indicates particle counts measured by LPC collected on Asian dust period and non-Asian dust period. Particle counts were increased in size over than 3 μm and 5 μm. The particle counts (3 μm) were measured to 251, 224, 226, 279 on non-Asian dust period, it was increased to 533 about two times on Asian dust period. Also, the particle counts (5 μm) were measured to 73, 71, 76, 82 on non-Asian dust period, it was increased to 167 about two times on Asian dust period. Ma and Choi (2007) reported the number concentrations were increased in the size range of PM2.5-5.0 and PM5.0 during Asian Dust Period in April 2005. These results can be explained that Asian dust carried massive desert sands larger than 1 μm to sampling point by winds. This tendency was found inversely at the particle size below 1 μm. In particle size of 0.3 μm, the particle counts were measured to 219338, 346129, 410075, 346192 at non-Asian dust period. And the particle counts were decreased to 94754 on Asian dust period. In similar, the size of 0.5 μm, particle counts were measured to 15633, 16809, 24830, 16734, it was decreased to 11321 at Asian dust period. Jeon et al. (2000) reported particle counts measured by OPC also decreased too much in the range of 0.3 μm and 0.5 μm on Asian dust period. Kim et al. (2008) reported that some elements including cadmium showed its fine-fraction counterpart a contrary pattern with more enhanced values during Non-Asian Dust (2.60±1.64 ng m-3) than Asian Dust (1.60±0.65 ng m-3). Park and Kim (2006) also reported particle size shifted towards larger particles compared to smaller particles during the Asian dust period. It was supposed that particles size smaller than 1 μm can adhere to large particles through transportation from Asian deserts. In general, in the range of particles size below 0.1 μm, the gaseous pollutants and fine particles were conversed to new particles by homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. It was assumed that the reaction did not occur that the AD event was not the main route of the Cd transport into Korea, or slowly progressed because of not too much gaseous pollutants and fine particles, this result showed that 50-70% reduction of total particles counts in this range.


Fig. 6. 
Particle Counts by LPC collected on Asian dust period and non-Asian dust period.


4. CONCLUSIONS

We have evaluated mass concentration, chemical composition and size distribution of aerosol particles in high polluted periods of spring and winter. In comparison with PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration data, Asian dust increased both PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration in high polluted periods of spring. But, PM2.5 did not show any difference for mass concentration according to sampling sites. This result was caused by meteorological factors of no winds and stable condition at all sampling sites of the city in winter. SEM-EDS analysis was used to determine metal elements in collected PM10 and PM2.5 samples. Chemical composition data shows that crustal elements such as Si, Fe, Ca, Cl, Al, Mg, Na, K were abundant in aerosol samples, and which were originated from Asian dust in spring. The data shows that the different type elements pattern of Fe, Zn, Ti, Cu, S, Si, these elements mainly come from fossil fuel incineration facility in winter. Particle counts were increased in the size of 3 μm and 5 μm in Asian dust periods. Adversely, particle counts in the size less than 1 μm (0.3 μm, 0.5 μm) decreased too much in same periods. It seemed that particles size smaller than 1 μm can adhere to large particles by coagulation effects through transportation from Asian deserts.

It is important to consider particle size distribution by measured particle counts in high polluted periods of PM10 and PM2.5. Because of adverse health effects of fine particles, it is a good index to check particle counts in high polluted PM10 and PM2.5 periods for increasing of particle counts in size less than 1 μm.


References
1. Choi, J.-K., Park, R.-J., Lee, H.-M., Lee, S.-G., Jo, D.-S., Jeong, J.-I., Henze, D.-K., Woo, J.-H., Ban, S.-J., Lee, M.-D., Lim, C.-S., Park, M.-K., Shin, H.-J., Jo, S.-J., Peterson, D., Song, C.-K. (2019) Impacts of local vs. trans-boundary emissions from different sectors on PM2.5 exposure in South Korea during the KORUS-AQ campaign. Atmospheric Eenvironment 203, 196-205
2. Gao, J., Tian, H., Cheng, K., Lu, L., Zheng, M., Wang, S., Hao, J., Wang, K., Hua, S., Zhu, C., Wang, Y. (2015) The variation of chemical characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 formation causes during two haze pollution events in urban Beijing, China. Atmospheric Environment 107, 1-8
3. He, Q., Zhao, X., Lu, J., Zhou, G., Yang, H., Gao, W., Yu, W., Cheng, T. (2015) Impacts of biomass-burning on aerosol properties of a severe haze event over Shanghai. Atmospheric Environment 20, 52-60
4. Hsu, C.-Y., Chiang, H.-C., Lin, S.-L., Chen, M.-J., Lin, T.-Y., Chen, Y.-C. (2016) Elemental characterization and source apportionment of PM10 and PM2.5 in the western coastal area of central Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment 541, 1139-1150
5. Jeon, Y.-S., Kim, J.-Y., Boo, K.-O., Kim, N.-W. (2000) The features associated with the yellow sand phenomenon observed in Korea in wintertime. Journal of Korean Society of Atmospheric Environment 16(5), 487-497.
6. Kim, K.-H., Kang, C.-H., Ma, C.-J., Lee, J.-H., Choi, K.-C., Youn, Y.-H. (2008) Airborne cadmium in spring season between Asian dust and non-Asian dust periods in Korea. Atmospheric Environment 42(4), 623-631
7. Kim, Y.-P., Yeo, M.-J. (2019) Trends of the PM10 concentrations and high PM10 concentration cases in Korea. Journal of Korean Society of Atmospheric Environment 35(2), 249-264.
8. Ma, C.-J., Choi, K.-C. (2007) A combination of bulk and single particle analyses for Asian dust. Water Air and Soil Pollution 183(1), 3-13.
9. Park, S.-U., Kim, J.-W. (2006) Aerosol size distributions observed at the Seoul National University campus in Korea during the Asian dust and non-Asian dust periods. Atmospheric Environment 40, 1722-1730
10. WHO Technical Report (2013) Review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution-REVIHAAP Project.