Sulfur Dioxide In Ambient Air Research Articles

Effects of Fluoride and/or Sulfur Dioxide on Morphology and DNA Integrity in Rats' Hepatic Tissue.

This study was aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of fluoride (F) and/or sulfur dioxide (SO2) on morphology and DNA integrity in liver of male rats. For this, 96 Wistar rats (12-week-old) were randomly divided into four groups after 1-week adaptive breeding: the control group, treated with deionized water; the NaF group, administered high F (100mg NaF/L in the drinking water); the SO2 group, with sulfur dioxide in ambient air (15ppm SO2, 4h/day); and NaF + SO2 group, treated with high F and sulfur dioxide together for 8 consecutive weeks. The body weight, liver organ coefficient, morphology, and DNA damage in the liver of rats were examined. The results showed that the body weight and liver organ coefficient were not significantly changed; however, significant pathological changes of liver tissues were observed in the NaF + SO2 group compared with the individual treated groups and control group. Furthermore, comet assay indicated that DNA damage in liver was significantly increased in the F and/or SO2 treatment groups at 2, 4, 6, and 8weeks, especially at 4weeks. These results indicate that the liver morphology and DNA integrity of rats are adversely affected by F and/or SO2 exposure.

Estimates of Economic Loss of Materials Caused by Acid Deposition in China

China is facing severe acid deposition. Acid deposition can cause economic loss, corrosion, and damage to materials, and the reduction of material life span. In this study, the administrative areas (including municipalities, prefecture-level cities, regions, autonomous prefectures, and leagues—hereinafter referred to the cities) at and above the prefecture level were selected as research areas. Monitoring results of acid precipitation and ambient air sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the China National Environmental Monitoring Network were used, research findings available domestically and abroad were summarized, and a set of material exposure inventory per capita was established, based on urban and rural areas in Eastern, Central, and Western China regions. Losses of construction materials caused by acid deposition in the cities were assessed by using the said materials’ acid rain exposure response functions available. The results showed that, material loss caused by acid deposition in China was 32.165 billion yuan (RMB, similarly hereinafter) in 2013, accounting for 0.057% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and 3.4% of the total investment for environmental pollution governance this year.

Coal mining activities change plant community structure due to air pollution and soil degradation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coal mining activities on the community structures of woody and herbaceous plants. The response of individual plants of community to defilement caused by coal mining was also assessed. Air monitoring, soil physico-chemical and phytosociological analyses were carried around Jharia coalfield (JCF) and Raniganj coalfield. The importance value index of sensitive species minified and those of tolerant species enhanced with increasing pollution load and altered soil quality around coal mining areas. Although the species richness of woody and herbaceous plants decreased with higher pollution load, a large number of species acclimatized to the stress caused by the coal mining activities. Woody plant community at JCF was more affected by coal mining than herbaceous community. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that structure of herbaceous community was mainly driven by soil total organic carbon, soil nitrogen, whereas woody layer community was influenced by sulphur dioxide in ambient air, soil sulphate and soil phosphorus. The changes in species diversity observed at mining areas indicated an increase in the proportion of resistant herbs and grasses showing a tendency towards a definite selection strategy of ecosystem in response to air pollution and altered soil characteristics.

Low cost passive monitoring of sulphur dioxide in ambient air: An effort from developing world

Standard sulphur dioxide (SO2) monitoring techniques require expensive instrumentation which is not easily adapted for large scale monitoring by resource limited countries. This paper presents the use of locally available relatively cheaper polyethylene tubes to be developed as passive diffusive sampler and use for monitoring of ambient sulphur dioxide using Tri-ethanolamine (TEA) as absorbent. After extraction with double distilled water, modified West-Gaeke method was used for analysis of sulphate adduct formed due to reaction of SO2 with TEA using spectrophotometer. The results are successfully compared with other standard methods. The detection limits and precision of the method as expressed as coefficient of variation are good for monitoring of SO2 in ambient air.

Determination of Sulphur Dioxide Concentrations in Ambient Air of Some Selected Traffic Areas in Kaduna Metropolis

This research study was aimed at determining concentrations of sulphurdioxide in ambient air of some selected areas viz: industrial area (Kakuri), high vehicler traffic/commercial area (Leventis Roundabout), traveling route (Kawo overhead bridge), Low vehicler traffic area (Tafawa Balewa Roundabout), residential area (Kawo New Extension) and a control site (NFA base) in Kaduna metropolis Nigeria. Air sample was collected at each sampling site by passing ambient air through an impinger bottle containing hydrogen peroxide (absorbent), at a flow-rate of 10 L/min for 30 min using air vacuum pump. The concentration of SO 2 in the resultant solution (absorbent) was determined by titrating against 0.005 moL/dm 3 NaOH solutions. The average SO 2 concentrations in the six sampling stations were within the range 0.16-0.75 ppm, with the highest values of 0.75 and 0.70 ppm at highly industrialized area (Kakuri) and a high traffic area (Leventis roundabout) respectively. The ambient air concentrations of SO 2 depict the pattern; Industrial area (Kakuri) >High vehicler traffic/commercial area (Leventis roundabout) >Traveling route (Kawo overhead bridge) >Low traffic area (Tafawa Balewa roundabout) >Residential area (Kawo New Extension) >Remote area (NAF Base Mando). Except for highly industrial area (Kakuri) and the high traffic area (Leventis), The ambient air SO 2 concentration are within the acceptable limits of United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Nigeria's Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) standard limit which is 0.5 ppm for 30 min exposure time.

Low cost Passive Monitoring of Nitrogen dioxide and Sulphur dioxide in ambient air

Standard nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) monitoring techniques require expensive instrumentation which is not easily adapted for large scale monitoring by resource limited countries. This paper presents the use of locally available relatively cheaper polyethylene tubes to be developed as passive diffusive sampler and use for monitoring of ambient nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide using Triethanolamine (TEA) as absorbent. After extraction with double distilled water, modified Griese-Saltzmann method and West-Gaeke method were used for analysis of nitrite and sulphate adduct formed due to reaction of NO2 and SO2 respectively with TEA using spectrophotometer. The results are successfully compared with other standard methods. The detection limits and precision of the method as expressed as Coefficient of variation are good enough for monitoring of NO2 and SO2 in ambient air.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jncs.v27i1.6439 J. Nepal Chem. Soc., Vol. 27, 2011 34-45Uploaded date: 16 July, 2012

A Simple Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Determination of Sulfur Dioxide in Ambient Air Using Potassium Tetrachloromercurate as the Absorbing Reagent

This paper presents development of a simple, rapid, and precise analytical method for determination of sulfur dioxide in ambient air by a gas to solid-phase conversion method. Sulfur dioxide is determined in the form of sulfite (SO3(2-)) because the absorbing reagent, potassium tetrachloromercurate (TCM), used in this method absorbs sulfur dioxide from the atmosphere in the form of sulfite. Determination of submicrogram levels of sulfur dioxide was based on the selection of a quantitative analytical peak at 495 cm(-1) among the 3 observed vibrational peaks for the dichlorosulfitomercurate complex formed after reaction of sulfur dioxide with TCM and measurement of absorbance using diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The limits of detection and quantification of the method were found to be 0.09 and 0.4 microg/g SO3(2-), respectively. The precision in terms of standard deviation and relative standard deviation (RSD) at a level of 2 microg SO3(2-)/10.1 g KBr for n = 10 was found to be 0.036 microg SO3(2-) and 1.8%, respectively. The RSD (n = 10) for determination of sulfur dioxide in ambient air was observed to be in the range of 2.7-4.2%. The method proposed is time saving and eliminates the slow and cumbersome steps of pH maintenance of the reaction mixture and color formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended West and Gaeke spectrophotometric method and other methods for quantitative determination of sulfur dioxide.

Performances and application of a passive sampling method for the simultaneous determination of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in ambient air.

The performances and applicability of a diffusion tube sampler for the simultaneous measurements of NO2 and SO2 in ambient air were evaluated. SO2 and NO2 are collected by the passive sampler using triethanolamine as trapping agent and are determined as sulphate and nitrite with ion chromatography. The detection limit (2.3 microg m(-3) of NO2 and 4.2 microg m(-3) of SO2 for two weeks sampling) is adequate for the determination of concentrations in urban and industrial areas. Precision of the method as RSD is in mean 5% for NO2 and 12% for SO2 at the concentration levels in urban areas. Calibration of the method was performed in the field conditions by comparison between the responses of sampler and the concentrations measured by the continuous monitors. High degree of linearity (correlation coefficients > 0.8) is found between the passive sampler tube and the continuous monitor data for both NO2 and SO2. To reduce the wind velocity influence on passive sampling of diffusion tubes, a protective shelter was tested in this study. The overall uncertainty of one measure for the optimised method is estimated at 5 microg m(-3) for NO2 and 6 microg m(-3) for SO2. Suitability of this passive sampling method for air pollution monitoring in urban areas was demonstrated by the results shown in this paper on a campaign carried out in the French agglomeration.

Performance of Birch Seedlings Replanted in Heavily Polluted Industrial Barrens of the Kola Peninsula, Northwest Russia

AbstractIndustrial barrens replacing coniferous forests around the Severonikel smelter in the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia, have recently expanded over 3000 ha or more. Total concentrations of metal contaminants in the upper soil layers approach 3000–5000 μg/g, and maximum hourly concentrations of sulphur dioxide in ambient air exceed 1000 μg/m3. To monitor possibilities for vegetation recovery in the denuded landscapes continuously affected by industrial emissions, we conducted several experiments with 4‐ to 15‐year‐old (1–25 cm tall) seedlings of Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovi (mountain birch), replanted to two barren sites. Specifically, we investigated the effects of wind‐sheltering, watering, and fertilization on seedling performance in the polluted sites. Sheltered and watered seedlings had more symmetrical leaves than control seedlings, suggesting less environmental stress. Consistently, sheltering and (to a lesser extent) watering improved the survival of seedlings compared with controls. The beneficial effects of watering and sheltering were most pronounced the first 2–4 weeks following planting and were greatest in the most polluted site. We conclude that the revegetation of industrial barrens can be significantly promoted by inexpensive treatments such as wind sheltering and watering, even under current emissions.

Determination of passive-sampled sulphur dioxide in ambient air as sulphate ion by flow injection analysis with an in-line reaction column

A modified FIA method was developed for the determination of sulphur dioxide (SO 2) in ambient air collected by a passive sampler. SO 2 was oxidized by hydrogen peroxide and determined as sulphate ion in solution. Barium-dimethylsulfoazo-III complex was used as spectrophotometric reagent. A BaSO 4-immobilized in-line reaction column was introduced into the flow system to increase the sensitivity and reproducibility. An in-line cation exchange column was used to eliminate triethanolamine, which was used as the absorbent reagent in the passive sampler. Sulphate ions can be analyzed in the range of 0.08–10.00 mg l −1 with the R.S.D. less than 1.6% at the rate of 15 samples h −1. It was satisfactory to apply this method to the analysis of sulphur dioxide in ambient air and the results agreed with those obtained by ion chromatography.

Intercomparison of measurements of sulfur dioxide in ambient air by carbonate‐impregnated filters and Teco pulsed‐fluorescence analyzers

In two previous University of Washington field programs, airborne measurements of SO2 using carbonate‐impregnated filters and a Teco pulsed‐fluorescence analyzer showed excellent agreement over a range of ambient concentrations from 2 to 127 ppbv. As part of the Gas‐Phase Sulfur Intercomparison Experiment (GASIE), ambient air, diluted fivefold to tenfold with zero air, was sampled in the concentration range of 0.02 to 4 ppbv. With the bulk of the measurements in the range of 40 to 230 parts per trillion by volume (pptv), agreement between the two techniques was again very good (regression equation: Teco =1.07(filter)+4.5 pptv, r=0.93). Using careful precleaning, impregnation, storage, and handling techniques for the filter substrates, at sub‐100 pptv concentrations, the filter method is capable of an accuracy of better than ±10% with a ±7 pptv uncertainty (due to blank variability) for 6 m3 samples. In addition, the Teco model 43S is capable of rather precise measurements of sub‐100 pptv concentrations (approximately ±16 pptv) provided a suitable averaging time is employed (at least 10 min).

Development of a passive sampling technique for the determination of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide in ambient air

Since conventional badge-type samplers depend entirely on an empirical calibration against gas mixtures and use of the constant determined for calculations, a system based on the use of two badge-type passive samplers of different lengths has been studied for the determination of NO 2 or SO 2. The samplers make use of a filter membrane barrier to damp out eddy motions and promote molecular diffusion from the ambient air to the trapping medium. The badges have a large ratio of crosssectional area to length of diffusion in order to increase sensitivity. Diffusion theory applied to this configuration shows that the concentration results are independent of wind-flow velocity. The samplers have been evaluated at different levels of relative humidity ranging from 0% to 90%. Batches of samplers were exposed for 48 h side-by-side with samplers exposed for consecutive periods of 24 h over the same interval. The results, expressed as a ratio ( R) between the 48 h and the consecutive 24 h periods showed that the analytes collected (nitrite and sulphate) are stable ( R = 0.98 ± 0.05 for nitrite and R = 1.08 ± 0.09 for sulphate). The detection limit attained (5 ppb of NO 2 and 10 ppb of SO 2 for a 24 h sampling) is adequate for the determination in urban and rural areas. The accuracy of the proposed method, expressed as percent relative error, when compared to a standard denuder technique for NO 2 and SO 2, was found to be better than about ±10% with coefficient of variation of 5.5% and 6.5%, respectively.

A diffusive sampler for the ion‐chromatographic measurement of sulfur dioxide in ambient air

We have combined a diffusive sampler and ion chromatograph to determine SO2 in ambient air. The sampler is made of a three‐piece cassette holder containing a triethanolamine‐impregnated glass‐fiber filter. We here describe the absorbent used, sample treatment, method of analysis and the assessment of the sampler in the laboratory and on site. We conclude that the samplers are satisfactory for ion‐chromatographic measurement of SO2, but problems due to loss of SO2 must be considered during long‐term sampling and storage.

Studies of tolerance of certain succulent plants to ambient air sulfur dioxide levels in urban environments of a city in India — a new approach

The paper deals with the studies of the ambient air quality with reference to SO2 and succulent plants in two types of urban situations in Hyderabad (India), in low polluted residential‐cum‐industrial areas and high polluted industrial areas. The sulfur dioxide tolerance index (STI) was used to obtain the sensitivity of plants and their tolerance capacities. The index provides a relative ratio between the physiological sum, which is the natural defence potential, and the sulfate for the tolerance index. The higher the index value the greater is its ability to withstand pollution stress. Group “A” plants, viz. Opuntia monocantha and O. dillenia, represent higher tolerance and are suggested for growing them in polluted zones; “B” plants like Kalanchoe marmorata and Crassula may be used as sinks; “C” plants such as Bryophyllum and Aloe are sentinels and “D” plants like Bryophyllum tubiflorum and Euphorbia cattamindoios suffer from chronic damage and are deemed as susceptibles. These succulent plants, which a...

Determination of sulfur dioxide in ambient air by a computer-controlled thermodenuder system.

An automatic thermodenuder system for the measurement of SO/sub 2/ is described. Air is sampled by Cu/CuO coated denuder tubes. When the denuders are heated to 800/sup 0/C, SO/sub 2/ is liberated and detected by a standard monitor. For a sampling time of 30 min the limit of detection is 0.1 and 0.015 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/ SO/sub 2/ for a pulsed-fluorescence and a flame-emission monitor, respectively. For both instruments the response is linear up to 100 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/. Sulfuric acid, sulfate aerosols, and organic sulfur compounds like CS/sub 2/, COS, and dimethyl sulfide do not interfere at concentrations up to 100 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/. Interference of H/sub 2/S can be eliminated by a NaHSO/sub 4//Ag/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ coated predenuder placed in the sample line. The measurement of SO/sub 2/ concentrations at background levels and the determination of dry deposition velocities by measurement of SO/sub 2/ gradients are obvious applications.

Extraction--spectrophotometric determination of sulphur oxide.

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of sulphur dioxide, after fixation in buffered formaldehyde solution, is described. The method is based on the reaction between iodate and sulphur dioxide in the presence of an excess of chloride ions. The resulting ICI4- species forms an ion pair with pyronine-G, which is then extracted into benzene. The colour system obeys Beer's law in the range 0–4 µg of sulphur dioxide. The coefficient of variation is 4.3% for 10 determinations of 2 µg of sulphur dioxide. The effect of interfering gases is discussed. The method has been applied to the determination of sulphur dioxide in ambient air in the vicinity of a coal-fired power station and the results have been compared with the widely used pararosaniline method.

Linear regression analyses of ozone and sulphur dioxide in ambient air

Linear regression analyses were performed on ozone and sulphur dioxide concentrations measured in real time. The predicted values of O 3 and SO 2 from these regression equations were close to the observed values. The relationship between O 3 and SO 2 is explained on theoretical considerations: sulphur dioxide absorbs light and forms an excited electronic state of molecular oxygen which readily combines with O-atoms.

Spectrophotometric determination of sulphate for measuring sulphur dioxide in air

A simple spectrophotometric method for the determination of low concentrations of sulphate using Sulphonazo III reagent is described. The method involves precipitation of barium sulphate and formation of a blue complex between unreacted barium and Sulphonazo III. The absorbance is inversely proportional to sulphate content and the working range for the method is from 3 to 30 µg (as SO42–) per 5 ml of sample (0.6 × 10–5 to 6 × 10–5M). For standard sulphate solutions (0.6–6 µg ml–1) the standard deviation is less than 0.1 µg ml–1. The procedure is intended mainly for the determination of sulphur dioxide in ambient air after absorption in dilute hydrogen peroxide.

Galvanic Detection of Sulfur Dioxide in Ambient Air at Trace Levels by Anodic Oxidation

A continuous method for the measurement of SO2 in ambient air at trace levels is described. The principle of detection is based on the anodic oxidation of SO2 in a galvanic cell. A differential measuring technique with a cell with two anodes and one cathode is used; background and noise current are low and stable. A feature of the measuring system is that the air sample is passed through a porous anode against a head of electrolyte on the other side of the anode. The minimum values for the time constant and the lower detection limit were 3 seconds and about 3 μg/m3, respectively. The selectivity of the method was compared with those of other techniques in field testing. Trace concentrations measured by the galvanic method in the range from 12 to 135 μg/m3 were in good agreement with those of the flame photometric and the West-Gaeke method. With a Pt/Ni2B/graphite anode the mean oxidation efficiency was 94 ± 2% on the basis of 2 faraday/mol of SO2 within the tested concentration range of 50 to 560 μg/m3. During a field test no decrease in the anode activity was observed over a period of ten months. Examples are given for the galvanic detection of other compounds using porous measuring electrodes. Chemicals/CAS: sulfur dioxide, 7446-09-5