Sensitivity Analyses for Atmospheric Scavenging Ratio of Total PCDD/Fs-TEQ Wet Deposition: Case of Wuhu City, China

Abstract

This study investigated the monthly average dry, wet and total deposition fluxes in total-PCDD/Fs-WHO2005-TEQ in Wuhu and Bengbu, respectively. In addition, sensitivity analyses for both scavenging ratio and wet deposition of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO2005-TEQ in Wuhu were also conducted. In 2015, the annual dry deposition fluxes, wet deposition fluxes, and total deposition fluxes were 6407, 1538, and 7945 pg WHO2005-TEQ m–2 year–1 in Wuhu, and were 7101, 1525, and 8626 pg WHO2005-TEQ m–2 year–1 in Bengbu. The annual scavenging ratios of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO2005-TEQ were 30144 and 31267 in Wuhu and Bengbu, respectively. As to the sensitivity analysis for the scavenging ratio of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO2005-TEQ, the most positive sensitivity parameters were PCDD/Fs concentration and PM10 concentration; the second positively correlated sensitivity parameter was PM2.5 concentration, then, followed by atmospheric temperature, which was negatively correlated; the last negative correlated sensitivity factor was the rainfall. In terms of the sensitivity analysis for wet deposition of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO2005-TEQ, the most positive sensitivity parameter was air temperature; the second positive or negative correlated sensitivity factor was atmospheric PCDD/Fs mass concentration, followed by PM2.5 and PM10 concentration, which were positively correlated; the last positive correlated sensitivity factor was the rainfall. This study led to greater insight into the parameters affecting the atmospheric wet deposition of PCDD/Fs, which will benefit development of appropriate control strategies for PCDD/Fs and provided useful information for the scientific community.