Document of bibliographic reference 144804

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Major ionic species in size-segregated aerosols and associated gaseous pollutants at a coastal site on the Belgian North Sea

Abstract

The chemical composition of airborne particulate matter (PM) was studied at a coastal region near De Haan, Belgium, during a winter–spring and a summer campaign in 2006. The major ionic components of size-segregated PM, i.e. NH₄⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^-, NO₃^-, and SO₄^2-, and related gaseous pollutants (SO₂, NO₂, NH₃, HNO₂, and HNO₃) were monitored on a daily basis. Air mass backwardtrajectories aided in evaluating the origin of the diurnal pollution load. This was characterised with high levels of fine secondary inorganic aerosols (NH₄ ⁺, NO₃^-, and non-sea-salt SO₄^2-) for continental air masses, and sea-salts as the dominant species in coarse maritime aerosols. Seasonal variations in the level of major ionic species were explained by weather conditions and the release of dimethyl sulfide from marine regions. This species was responsible for an increased sea-salt Cl^- depletion during summer (56%), causing elevated levels of HCl. Neutralisation ratios for the coarse fraction (0.6–0.8) suggested a depleted NH4⁺ level, while that for the fine fraction (1.1–1.3) had definitely an excess of NH4⁺, formed by the neutralisation of HCl. The results of factor analysis and the extent of SO₂ oxidation indicated that the major ionic species originated from both local and remote sources, classifying the Belgian coastal region as a combined source–receptor area of air pollution.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000264098400022

Bibliographic citation

Horemans, B.; Krata, A.; Buczynska, A.J.; Dirtu, A.C.; Van Meel, K.; Van Grieken, R.; Bencs, L. (2009). Major ionic species in size-segregated aerosols and associated gaseous pollutants at a coastal site on the Belgian North Sea. J. Environ. Monit. 11(3): 670-677. dx.doi.org/10.1039/b815059a

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true