Abstract
Ambient air samples were collected between March 17, 2009 and May 22, 2009 at a highway traffic site located in Sha-Lu, central Taiwan. Atmospheric particulates and particulate bound mercury Hg(p) dry deposition fluxes, concentrations (PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and TSP ) were studied. The results indicate that the average ambient air particles dry deposition, PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and TSP. concentrations were 145.03 μg/m2-min and 15.47, 9.50, 65.14 μg/m3, respectively. And the average dry deposition, PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and TSP bound mercury Hg(p) concentrations were 0.9519 ng/m2-min and 0.1140, 0.0106, 0.0763 ng/m3, respectively. In addition, the average ambient air particles bound mercury Hg(p) compositions for PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and TSP were 3.60, 3.45 and 44.99 ng/g, respectively. The results indicate that both of these two models (Baklanov and Sorensen, 2001; Zhang et al., 2001) are estimated as the measured dry deposition mass flux. The Baklanov model performs better results in the prediction of mass dry deposition flux. In addition, both of these two models slightly underestimate the measured dry deposition mass flux for particle bound Hg(p). Zhang’s model performs better results in the prediction of Hg(p) dry deposition flux.
Highlights
In recent years, there has been an increase in human health and environmental concerns related to mercury emissions because of the toxicity of methylmercury
The results indicate that the average ambient air particles dry deposition, PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and total suspended particulate (TSP). concentrations were 145.03 ȝg/m2-min and 15.47, 9.50, 65.14 ȝg/m3, respectively
Understanding the mercury emissions-to-deposition cycle is required for the assessment of the environmental risks posed by methylmercury (EPRI, 1996; Schroeder and Munthe, 1998; Sakata and Asakura, 2007). These studies as well as studies conducted in other parts of the US have shown elevated Hg concentrations and deposition close to urban/industrial regions, with lower values in rural areas (Dvonch et al, 1998; USEPA, 1998; Liu et al, 2007)
Summary
There has been an increase in human health and environmental concerns related to mercury emissions because of the toxicity of methylmercury. Understanding the mercury emissions-to-deposition cycle is required for the assessment of the environmental risks posed by methylmercury (EPRI, 1996; Schroeder and Munthe, 1998; Sakata and Asakura, 2007). These studies as well as studies conducted in other parts of the US have shown elevated Hg concentrations and deposition close to urban/industrial regions, with lower values in rural areas (Dvonch et al, 1998; USEPA, 1998; Liu et al, 2007). A few direct measurements of mercury fluxes and speciation from natural sources are available in the literature
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