Characteristics of Respirable Particulate Metals Emitted by a Beehive Firework Display in YanShuei Area of Southern Taiwan

Chih-Chung Lin,Yi-Chin Hsieh,Jia-Twu Lee,Shui-Jen Chen,Jen-Hsiung Tsai,Kuo-Lin Huang,C Kuei-Jyum Yeh,Hsiu-Lin Chen

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2016.08.0346

Abstract

This study investigates metals in the PM_(1.0) and PM_(2.5) collected using a micro-orifice uniform deposition impactor (MOUDI) sampler in the YanShuei area of southern Taiwan during a beehive firework display. The results of sample analyses indicate that during the beehive firework display, the ratios of metal concentrations in PM_(2.5) (D) to the background level (B) at leeward sampling site were 1,828 for Ba, 702 for K, 534 for Sr, 473 for Cu, 104 for Mg, 121 for Al, and 98 for Pb. The corresponding data for PM_(1.0) were 3036, 838, 550, 676, 594, 190, and 126, respectively. According to the results of metal composition ratio, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and upper continental crust (UCC) analyses, the concentrations of particle-bound Al, Ba, Cu, K, Mg, Pb, and Sr increased during the beehive firework displays, suggesting that firework-display aerosols contained abundant metal elements of Al, Ba, Cu, K, Mg, Pb, and Sr. Before (background), trial, during, and after the beehive firework display, the Ba, K, Cu, Mg, Pb, and Sr (commonly regarded as firework display indicator elements) accounted for 0.520, 2.45, 26.4 and 0.849% mass of PM1, respectively, while for PM_(2.5) the corresponding data were 0.777, 2.32, 23.8, and 0.776%, respectively.

Highlights

The short-term effects of air pollution on health have attracted increasing attention in recent years
This study investigates metals in the PM1.0 and PM2.5 collected using a micro-orifice uniform deposition impactor (MOUDI) sampler in the YanShuei area of southern Taiwan during a beehive firework display
According to the results of metal composition ratio, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and upper continental crust (UCC) analyses, the concentrations of particle-bound Al, Ba, Cu, K, Mg, Pb, and Sr increased during the beehive firework displays, suggesting that firework-display aerosols contained abundant metal elements of Al, Ba, Cu, K, Mg, Pb, and Sr

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The short-term effects of air pollution on health have attracted increasing attention in recent years. The firecracker/firework display emitted abundant PM2.5 at the short-term. The mass concentrations and chemical compositions (metal components/concentrations) of PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 from beehive firework displays have seldom been investigated. This study investigates the mass concentrations in PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10, as well as the metal components (Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) and concentrations in particles that were collected in the YanShuei area of southern Taiwan. The results of an analysis show that a beehive firework display emits significant amounts of PM1 and PM2.5 degrading, short-term air quality, requiring that related health concerns be addressed

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Background

CONCLUSIONS