Source identification and trends in concentrations of gaseous and fine particulate principal species in Seoul, South Korea

Journal Article · Sat Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2006.10464506· OSTI ID:20790842

Kang, Choong-Min; Kang, Byung-Wook; Lee, Hak Sung ^[1]

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1. Harvard University, Boston, MA (United States). Department of Environmental Health, Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, School of Public Health

Ambient measurements were made using two sets of annular denuder system during the four seasons and were then compared with the results during the period of 1996-1997 to estimate the trends and seasonal variations in concentrations of gaseous and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) principal species. Annual averages of gaseous HNO{sub 3} and NH{sub 3} increased by 11% and 6%, respectively, compared with those of the previous study, whereas HONO and SO{sub 2} decreased by 11% and 136%, respectively. The PM2.5 concentration decreased by {approximately} 17%, 35% for SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}, and 29% for NH{sub 4}{sup +}, whereas NO{sub 3}{sup -} increased by 21%. Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were 12.8 and 5.98 {mu}g/m{sup 3}, accounting for {approximately} 26 and 12% of PM2.5 concentration, respectively. The species studied accounted for 84% of PM2.5 concentration, ranging from 76% in winter to 97% in summer. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis was used to identify possible source areas affecting air pollution levels at a receptor site in Seoul. High possible source areas in concentrations of PM2.5, NO{sub 3}{sup -}, SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}2, NH{sub 4}{sup +}, and K{sup +} were coastal cities of Liaoning province, inland areas of Heibei/Shandong provinces in China, and typical port cities of South Korea. The PSCF results may suggest that air pollution levels in Seoul are affected considerably by long-range transport from external areas, such as the coastal zone in China and other cities in South Korea, as well as Seoul itself. It appears that the NO{sub 3} contribution to PM2.5 increased by {approximately} 4%, whereas the SO{sub 4}{sup 2-} contribution decreased by {approximately} 2%. This trend may be explained by a shift of fuel patterns from fossil fuel to LNG, according to the governmental policies. 44 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 20790842
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 56; ISSN JAWAEB; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
AMMONIA
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
CARBON
CHINA
COAL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FUEL OILS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
KEROSENE
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
NITRATES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION SOURCES
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SHIPS
SULFATES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
URBAN AREAS
WOOD