Abstract
Seasonal characteristics of PM2.5, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were studied in Taiyuan from 2009 to 2010. PM2.5 samples were collected by pre-baked quartz filters with high-volume air sampler, and then OC and EC were analyzed by thermal/optical reflectance method. The annual average concentrations of PM2.5, OC and EC were 220.2, 37.4 and 19.6 µg/m3 respectively, which were higher than those in most regions in China. Total carbonaceous aerosol (TCA) accounted for more than one third of the total PM2.5 mass. The levels of PM2.5, OC and EC were the highest in winter, followed by spring, fall and summer. OC and EC were well correlated in summer compared with other seasons, indicating the presence of other additional sources such as biomass burning in fall, coal combustion for heating in winter and dust in spring. Higher OC/EC ratios in winter might be primarily attributed to the significant increase of direct emission of OC as a result of coal and biomass combustion, and also cooling effect of carbonaceous aerosols due to low temperature and stagnated atmospheric condition. These results showed that the pollution of carbonaceous particles in Taiyuan was serious, and might be an inducing factor of dust haze, especially in winter.
Highlights
In recent years, carbonaceous aerosol as a major component of atmospheric fine particles has caused wide concern due to its many adverse effects on human health, haze, hydrological cycle and climate change
organic carbon (OC) can be either released directly from combustion sources such as vehicular exhaust, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning and cooking [1,2,3,4], or formed through atmospheric oxidation of reactive organic gases followed by gas-to-particle conversion processesinvolving various physical, chemical and biological processes of extreme complexity, and being controlled by a number of factors such as temperature, sunlight intensity and O3 concentration [2,4]
This study investigated the characteristics of PM2.5, OC and elemental carbon (EC) in Taiyuan, the largest coal base of China
Summary
Carbonaceous aerosol as a major component of atmospheric fine particles has caused wide concern due to its many adverse effects on human health, haze, hydrological cycle and climate change. EC is released directly from the incomplete combustion of carbon-contained materials (i.e., coal, diesel, gasoline and biomass). OC can be either released directly from combustion sources (primary organic carbon, POC) such as vehicular exhaust, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning and cooking [1,2,3,4], or formed through atmospheric oxidation of reactive organic gases followed by gas-to-particle conversion processes (secondary organic carbon, SOC)involving various physical, chemical and biological processes of extreme complexity, and being controlled by a number of factors such as temperature, sunlight intensity and O3 concentration [2,4]. It is important to understand the characteristics of carbonaceous species in particulate matters in urban atmosphere [6,7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
