Comparison of PM2.5 and PM10 in A Suburban Area in Korea During April, 2003

Abstract

Airborne particulate matter (PM) concentrations were measured in Iksan, a suburban area in South Korea during April, 2003. PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) and PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) samples were collected, and the chemical characteristics of particles were examined for diurnal patterns, yellow dust/rainfall influences, and scavenging effects. Average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 mass measured were 37.3 ± 16.2 μg m−3 and 60.8 ± 29.5 μg m−3, respectively. The sum of ionic chemical species concentrations for PM2.5 and PM10 was 16.9 ± 7.3 and 23.1 ± 10.1 μg/m3, respectively. A significant reduction in PM mass concentrations during rainfall days was observed for coarse mode (PM2.5 − 10) particles, but less reduction was found for fine (PM2.5) mass concentration. SO42−, NH4+, and K+ predominated in fine particulate mode, NO3− and Cl− predominated in fine particle mode and coarse particle mode, but Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ mostly existed in coarse mode. The high concentration of ammonium due to local emissions and long-range transport neutralized sulfate and nitrate to ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate, which were major forms of airborne PM in Iksan. Average mass concentrations of PM10 in daytime and at night were 57.6 and 70.0 μg m−3, and those of PM2.5 were 35.4 and 42.5 μg m−3, respectively. NO3− and Cl− in both PM2.5 and PM10 were about double at night than in the daytime, while the rest of the chemical species were equal or a little higher at night than in the daytime. The results suggest the formation of ammonium nitrate and chloride when high ammonia concentration and low air temperature are allowed. Backward air trajectory analyses showed that air masses arriving at the site during yellow dust period were transported from arid Chinese regions, which resulted in high concentrations of airborne PM mass concentrations. In the meantime, air mass trajectories during a rainfall period were mostly from the Pacific Ocean or the East China Sea, along with a relatively low PM concentration.