TSP Samples Research Articles

Spatial variations in selected metal contents and particle size distribution in an urban and rural atmosphere of Islamabad, Pakistan

Spatial variations in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) were investigated for distribution of metals and particle size fractions in the urban and rural atmosphere of Islamabad, Pakistan. The metals Na, K, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Ni and Co, and the particle fractions <2.5, 2.5–10, 10–100 and >100 μm were included in the study. TSP samples were trapped on glass fibre filters using high volume samplers and quantification of metals was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry employing HNO 3 based wet digestion. At the urban site, Na was dominant at 2.384 μg/m 3 followed by K, Fe and Zn with 0.778, 0.667 and 0.567 μg/m 3 as mean concentrations, respectively. The metal levels for the rural site ranged from 0.002 μg/m 3 for Cd to 1.077 μg/m 3 for Na. However, compared with the urban site, mean Pb concentration showed an almost two-fold enhancement, i.e., 0.163 Vs. 0.327 μg/m 3. Metals and particle size source identification was done using Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. Five sources were traced out for the urban site: industrial, soil, automobile emissions, metallurgical industries and excavation activities. For the rural site, four sources were recorded: agricultural, automotive emissions, excavation activities and metallurgical units. Collectively, for both the sites, PM 10–100 emerged as a major contributor to TSP, followed by PM 2.5–10, PM <2.5 and PM >100 in that order. The metals showed in general positive relationship with fine particulate fractions (PM 2.5–10, PM <2.5), and negative correlation with coarse fractions (PM 10–100, PM >100). Comparison with the corresponding data from various Asian sites revealed that the levels of Na, K, Fe, Mn, Co and Ni for the present study were lower than those reported for grossly polluted cities of the world.

Platinum concentrations in ambient aerosol at a coastal site in South China

Abstract With the burgeoning vehicle ownership in China, the emissions of certain trace pollutants are becoming more widespread and of more concern. We present results from the first measurements of platinum in airborne total suspended particulate matter (TSP) at a suburban (CityU) and a roadside (MK) sampling site in southern China at Hong Kong. TSP samples were taken with high volume air samplers at these sites with low and high traffic density, respectively, on a 2-day basis and were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma—dynamic reaction cell—mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-MS). The results are similar from the use of two different isotopes: 194 and 195. The 48-h average Pt concentrations were 8.8 pg m−3 at CityU and 24.1 pg m−3 at MK, being higher at the site with greater traffic density, and were in the range from 6 to 38 pg m−3. The airborne Pt was found to be significantly correlated with vehicle tracer species (Zr and Ce) as well as with NO and NOx. The ratio Ce/Zr was the same at both sites whereas the ratios Pt/Zr and Pt/Ce were about 20% greater at the MK site, showing the different mobility of Pt, attributed to chemical and/or particle size effects.

Chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols from Zhenbeitai, China, and Gosan, South Korea, during ACE‐Asia

Studies were conducted as part of Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE‐Asia) to characterize the major ion and elemental composition of aerosol particle samples collected at Gosan, an ACE‐Asia supersite (GOS, Korea, total suspended particle or TSP samples) and at Zhenbeitai (ZBT, China, TSP and particles &lt; 2.5 μm diameter or PM2.5 samples), a site closer to the sources for Asia dust. The concentrations of 24 elements in the ZBT PM2.5 samples were correlated with Al (an indicator of mineral dust), and the ratios of these elements to Al were similar to those in a loess certified reference material, but a second group of elements was enriched over crustal proportions most likely as a result of pollution emissions. The concentrations of various water‐soluble (WS) cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) also were generally well correlated with Al in both the ZBT and GOS samples, with the exception being WS K+ at ZBT, where biomass burning may have had an effect. The percentage of calcium that was soluble approached 100% at ZBT versus ∼60% at GOS, and the ratio WS Ca2+/Al also was higher at ZBT. The molar ratio of sulfate to WS Ca2+ was ∼0.1 at ZBT but increased to near unity at GOS, where the aerosol nitrate/WS Ca2+ ratio was tenfold to hundredfold higher compared with ZBT, presumably because of anthropogenic influences. The observed differences in aerosol characteristics between sites can only be explained as the end product of different source contributions combined with complex processes involving gas‐particle conversion, size‐dependent fractionation, and aerosol mixing.

Short-term and spatial variation of selected metals in the atmosphere of Niterói City, Brazil

In this work, the atmospheric concentration of selected trace elements (Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, V and Zn) was determined in total suspended material (TSP) from three sampling sites located at Niterói, an urban medium city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. TSP samples were collected with a high volume air sampler and glass fibber filters. The determinations of Cd, Pb and Zn were performed by ICP-AES while V was determined by ETA-AAS and Fe and Mn were measured by FAAS. Among all elements, Fe showed the highest concentrations (0.5–12.5 μg/m 3) during the study but the concentrations of all elements varied along the week. The maximum levels of TSP, Fe, Mn, Cd and V were observed on Wednesday which was characterised by the highest winds frequency with higher speeds coming from the North quadrant, mainly from the Northeast direction. Enrichment factors showed that Cd, Pb and Zn are enriched in all sites suggesting that anthropogenic sources play important roles for those elements. Statistical analysis has been carried out to evaluate the effect of meteorological parameters and characterisation of sampling sites.

The study of fine and coarse particles, and metallic elements for the daytime and night-time in a suburban area of central Taiwan, Taichung

Daily average concentrations of fine and coarse particulates, and TSP samples have been measured simultaneously at daytime and night-time periods by using Universal and PS-1 sampler in a suburban area of central Taiwan from June to August 1998. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the fine and coarse particulate concentrations of metallic elements (Ca, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr). The concentration of PM 2.5 and TSP showed a decreased trend for the daytime period. The fine particle concentrations were about two times as that of coarse particulate concentrations. The averaged fine particulate concentrations at daytime are higher than at night-time. Ca and Fe were mostly in the coarse particulate mode. The correlation coefficients were 0.63 and 0.69 for elements Ca and Fe in the coarse particle mode for day and night periods. Pb showed a similar distribution ratio with Mn for the fine to coarse particle ratios at both day and night period. Pb and Mn are highly correlated for the day ( R=0.78) and night period ( R=0.61) at particle size <2.5 μm. Cu and Zn were mainly in fine particles at both day and night period. Fe and Ca consist of the major parts of all the elements. Elemental Mn is the lowest among the rest of the heavy metals.

Characterization of airborne particulate matter in thessaloniki, Greece

TSP samples, collected at two stations in the area of Thessaloniki during the period July 1987‐June 1988, were analysed for heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni and V). Flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for metal determinations. Metals determined were characterized with respect to their origin from natural or man‐made emission sources. Source identification was attempted by relation of metal concentrations to wind direction, and interelement correlations. Results obtained showed that Pb, Zn and Cu are emitted from man‐made sources (traffic, domestic heating, industry), V, Ni and Co are derived partially from natural and man‐made sources, while Cr is mainly soil‐derived.

Source Apportionment of the El Paso Aerosol by Particle Class Balance Analysis

A particle class balance analysis has been applied to ambient particulate samples from El Paso, Texas. Profiles of particle class mass fractions from 20 sources were previously developed using advanced pattern recognition methods. These source profiles show very low collinearity and were thus applied to apportioning the mass fractions of the particle class observed in ambient TSP samples. For TSP samples taken near the sources, excellent fits to the data were obtained. Sampling sites farther removed from the sampled sources showed much poorer quality fits. The results suggest that the large number of measured particle classes in the source profiles provides for greater resolution of sources than is generally possible with conventional hulk analysis of particle samples.

Monitored Asbestos Concentrations in Connecticut

An air asbestos survey was conducted between late 1974 and early 1977 to define the magnitude of the health hazard posed by airborne asbestos fibers in Connecticut prior to the promulgation of the State's proposed asbestos air quality standard (i.e., 30 ƞg/m3 or 30,000 total asbestos fibers/m3, 30-day average). A newly developed low volume particulate sampler, which operates continuously for 30 days at an air sampling flow rate of 4 cfm, equipped with special membrane filters was used to collect ambient TSP samples for subsequent chrysotile asbestos electron microscopic determination by the Bat-telle-Columbus Laboratories and Walter C. McCrone Associates. Approximately 40 monitoring sites were selected; ambient locations included "typical" urban sites removed from known stationary sources of asbestos emissions, rural-background sites, stations contiguous to 4 industrial users of asbestos (i.e., manufacturers of friction products, insulated wire and cable, ammunition and molding compounds), 3 toll plazas situated at various points along Interstate 95 and indoors at a swimming pool at the University of Connecticut (the ceiling over the pool was sprayed with an asbestos-containing insulating material). Ambient chrysotile asbestos levels removed from asbestos emission sources in both urban and rural locations were below 10 ƞg/m3. However, asbestos concentrations above 30 ƞg/m3 were measured near each of the industrial users of asbestos. Furthermore, asbestos levels adjacent to the toll plazas were also elevated (in the 10 ƞg/m3 to 25 ƞg/m3 range), implicating asbestos emissions from vehicle braking lining decomposition as a significant source of airborne asbestos fibers. Indoor air asbestos levels were below 1 ƞg/m3 suggesting that the risk to public health associated with the deterioration of asbestos surface coatings applied indoors may not be as severe as previously thought.

The measurement of the sulfuric acid and sulfate content of particulate matter resulting from the combustion of coal and oil

Recent evidence has demonstrated a difference between oil and coal combustion emissions of sulfuric acid and inorganic sulfate compounds (primary sulfate emissions). In general, for a given fuel sulfur content, sulfate emissions from residual oil combustion are from 5 to 10 times higher than those from coal. These differences are thought to be due to the increased oxidation of SO 2 by vanadium and nickel found to be present in oil in greater quantities relative to coal. A microdiffusion method for the measurement of total water soluble sulfate and the free sulfuric acid content of combustion particulate has been used as a diagnostic tool to identify boiler/fuel combinations producing significant quantities of primary sulfate emissions. The method accounts for the potential neutralization of acid by the contamination from ammonia during sample preparation and storage. A laboratory study of the recovery efficiencies of H 2SO 4 and (NH 4) 2SO 4 as well as data obtained from the analysis of field samples from coal and oil-fired boilers are discussed. Oil ash samples were found to contain about 20 times more water-soluble sulfate and about 10 times more free sulfuric acid than ash from coal combustion. The results suggest that in areas where the principal sources of ambient suspended particulate matter (TSP) are emissions from fossil fuel combustion, one should expect that the sulfate to TSP ratio is greater for regions dominated by fuel oil usage than in locations using coal. Measurement of the acid and sulfate content of boiler ash could be helpful in identifying individual chemical compound constituents in TSP samples and to elucidate the relative proportion of primary sulfate as compared to sulfate formed by the atmospheric transformation of SO 2.

High Volume Sampling: Errors Incurred during Passive Sample Exposure Periods

The current Federal EPA reference method for the determination of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) in the atmosphere is the high volume method (hi-vol).1 The hi-vol sampler is normally operated for a 24 hr period by drawing air through an 8 X 10 in. glass fiber filter at an air sampling flow rate of between 40-60 cfm. TSP samples are presently collected in this manner every 6th day (61 samples/year). Results are used to determine compliance with existing National Primary Ambient Air Quality Standards for TSP (i.e., 260 µg/m3, maximum 24 hr average, not to be exceeded more than once a year; 75 µg/m3, annual geometric mean). However, when the sampling frequency is diminished to only 61 out of a possible 365 measurements each year, the degree of certainty associated with meeting these air quality standards is also decreased.2,3 This partial sampling schedule also introduces other sampling errors. One such error caused by the exposure of the collection filter both prior and subsequent to the desired s...