Composition of aerosols in an industrialized area of Northeastern China

Abstract

Surface level aerosol samples were collected utilizing conventional high volume air sampler in the highly industrialized area of Shenyang, China, located in the northeastern part of the country. Sampling was conducted in the severely polluted Tiexi District area on December 25, 1995 and again from August 23–30, 1997. The average SO2 and TSP concentrations obtained during the summer was 38 ppb and 388μg/m3, respectively. SO4 2‐, NO3 ‐ and Cl‐ were the detected water‐soluble anions with respective summerconcentrations of 3.6–10.6μg/m3, 3.2–6.5μg/m3 and 4.5–7.8μg/m3. In addition, elevated levels of heavy metals such as iron, lead, and zinc in aerosols were noted, which most likely resulted from the combustion of coal and other fuels and/or emissions associated with nearby industrial facilities. As expected, concentration levels of TSP, water‐soluble ions and heavy metals were found to increase during the winter months.