Mass and ionic composition of atmospheric fine particles over Belgium and their relation with gaseous air pollutants

Original article can be found at: http://www.rsc.org/publishing/journals/EM/Index.asp Copyright Royal Society of Chemistry. DOI: 10.1039/b805157gMass, major ionic components (MICs) of PM2.5, and related gaseous pollutants (SO2, NOx, NH3, HNO2, and HNO3) were monitored over six locations of different anthropogenic influence (industrial, urban, suburban, and rural) in Belgium. SO42-, NO3- NH4+, and Na+ were the primary ions of PM2.5 with averages diurnal concentrations ranging from 0.4-4.5, 0.3-7.6, 0.9-4.9, and 0.4-1.2 g/m3, respectively. MICs formed 39% of PM2.5 on an average, but it could reach up to 80-98 %. The SO2, NO, NO2, HNO2, and HNO3 levels showed high seasonal and site-specific fluctuations. The NH3 levels were similar over all the sites (2-6 g/m3), indicating its relation to the evenly distributed animal husbandry activities. The sulfur and nitrogen oxidation ratios for PM2.5 point towards a low-to-moderate formation of secondary sulfate and nitrate aerosols over five cities/towns, but their fairly intensive formation at the rural Wingene. Cluster analysis revealed the association of three groups of compounds in PM2.5; (i) NH4NO3, KNO3; (ii) Na2SO4; and (iii) MgCl2, CaCl2, MgF2, CaF2, corresponding to anthropogenic, sea-salt, and mixed (sea-salt + anthropogenic) aerosols, respectively. The neutralization and cation-to-anion ratios indicate that MICs of PM2.5 appeared mostly as (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 salts. Sea-salt input was maximal during winter reaching up to 12 % of PM2.5. The overall average Cl-loss for sea-salt particles of PM2.5 at the six sites varied between 69 and 96 % with an average of 87 %. Principal component analysis revealed vehicular emission, coal/wood burning and animal farming as the dominating sources for the ionic components of PM2.5.Peer reviewe

Chapter 9 Outdoor air pollutants sources, characteristics, and impact on human health and the environment

In this chapter, sources and characteristics of outdoor air pollutants are presented along with their effects on human health and the environment. In addition, emphasis is given to air pollutant monitoring by exploring the type of monitoring programs, sampling methods, and emission standards and by presenting the case of air pollution monitoring in the United Arab Emirates. Finally, the chapter explores the case of climate change by looking into its causes and economic and environmental impacts