Seasonal Variations (Autumn, Winter, and Spring) of Atmospheric Particulate and Particulate-Bound Mercury Hg(p) at a Suburban/Coastal Area

Abstract

From September 3, 2009, to March 5, 2010, the dry deposition, total suspended particulate (TSP) matter, coarse and fine particulates, and bound mercury (Hg[p]) in the atmosphere were investigated at Bei-Shi sampling site in central Taiwan. When using projection film as collection medium, the average ambient air particulates for day dry deposition fluxes and TSPs were 162.09 ± 97.69 (μg/(min/cm2)) and 78.71 ± 34.42 (μg/m3), respectively. The average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5–10) were 20.5 ± 6.30 μgm−3 and 11.2 ± 4.44 μg m−3, respectively. Average atmospheric particulates Hg(p) in dry depositions, TSPs, PM2.5−10, and PM2.5were 0.156 ± 0.082 ng/m2*min, 0.07 ± 0.036 ng/m3, 0.011 ± 0.006 ng/m3,and 0.007 ± 0.005, respectively. The average compositions of atmospheric bound Hg Hg(p) in dry depositions, TSPs, PM2.5−10 and PM2.5 were 1.02, 36.8, 4.16 and 2.821, respectively. Also, the highest composition for particulate Hg(p) in TSP was observed in spring (50.74 ng/g), and the highest composition for particulate Hg(p) in PM2.5 occurred in autumn (3.11 ng/g). However, the highest composition for particulate Hg(p) in PM2.5−10 occurred in winter (4.67 ng/g). In what concerns particulate Hg(p) in TSP, the values were all less than those from previous studies (Wang et al., 2006). Related to Hg(p) in PM2.5, the values were also all less than those from previous studies (Tsai et al. 2003; Marsik et al. 2007). In what concerns Hg(p) in PM2.5−10, the values were all less than those of previous studies (Marsik et al. 2007). The data presented in this communication provides information that may be useful in forensic investigations of Hg environmental releases.