Concentrations of nano and related ambient air pollutants at a traffic sampling site

Abstract

A micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and a nano-MOUDI were used to measure the atmospheric coarse (PM2.5 -10), fine (PM2.5), ultrafine (PM0.056-1) and nano (<0.056 microm) particle concentrations and size distributions at a traffic sampling site in winter in central Taiwan, from November 2004 to January 2005. Concentrations of metallic elements (Fe, Mg, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu) and major ion (SO4(2-), NO3(-), NH4(+)) in particles of various sizes (nano, ultrafine, fine and coarse) were measured. Ambient air particulates generally exhibited a bimodal size distribution in the range 0.056-10 microm. The results show that the concentrations followed the order, Fe>Mg>Cr>Zn>Pb> Cu in PM10, fine, ultrafine and nano-sized particles. Moreover, the data showed that the average metallic elements Fe and Zn have similar concentration distributions: the concentration decreased as the particle size fell in the nano size range.