Comprehensive characterization of ambient nanoparticles collected near anindustrial science park: Particle size distributionsand relationships with environmental factors
Yuhjeen Huang , Lingyen Hsu , Yunghsun Chang
DOI:
Received September 23, 2010,Revised January 19, 2011, Accepted , Available online
Volume 23,2011,Pages 1334-1341
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We investigated the characteristics of ambient particles and their relationships with various environmental factors, including
gaseous pollutants (CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), total hydrocarbons (THC), NOx, CO, SO2), meteorological parameters
(humidity, temperature), and time (day/night, workday/weekend). We used an electrical low-pressure cascade impactor to measure
the number and size distributions of ambient particles (0.007–10 m) that were collected approximately 1 km northwest of Hsinchu
Science Park in Taiwan between February and May 2007. The number concentrations of particles were enhanced through photochemical
reactions during the day. In addition, high traffic flow during workdays increased the formation of particulates. Except for SO2, all of
the gaseous pollutants we studied (CH4, NMHC, THC, NOx, CO) correlated positively with the total number concentrations of ambient
particles during daytime, indicating that they might contribute to the particulate burden. The poorer relationship between the SO2 level
and the total number concentration of particles suggests that SO2 might participate indirectly in the nucleation process during particle
formation, The high enrichment factors for Zn, Pb, Cu, and Mn, which mostly comprised the ultrafine particles (diameter: < 0.1 m)
and fine particles (diameter: 0.1–1 m), presumably arose from emissions from traffic and high technology factories. Heterogeneous
reactions on solid particles might play a role in the removal of SOx and NOx from the atmosphere. Sulfides and nitrides can further
react with these local pollutants, forming specific Cu-containing compounds: CuO (39%), CuSO4 (34%), and Cu(NO3)2 (27%), within
the ambient particles in this industrial area.
