Aspects of atmospheric pollutant origin and deposition revealed by multielemental observations at a rural location in eastern Canada

Journal Article · Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD093iD04p03773· OSTI ID:5246281

Barrie, L A

During autumn 1984, at a location in central Ontario, a study of the elemental composition of aerosols and precipitation was undertaken to determine the feasibility of making daily multielemental measurements on a routine basin, to probe the potential for gaining insight into pollutant origin from multielemental composition, and to estimate trace element deposition to an acid-sensitive watershed. The concentrations of Ti, Br, Mn, In, Na, V, Al, Ca, Se, As, Sb, Pb, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Cd in aerosol and of Pb, Mg, Ca, As, Br, I, Mn, and V in precipitation were measurable routinely, using neutron activation, X ray fluorescence, and plasma emission spectroscopy. Standard high volume samplers for total aerosols below 15-..mu..m diameter as well as dichotomous samplers and Anderson impactors for size fractionation were operated simultaneously with two wet-only precipitation collectors. Aerosol data revealed four components: one soil (Mg--Ti--Al--Ca--Fe) and three anthropogenic (Se--Sb--Pb--Cd--Br; Mass--Cu-So/sub 4//sup =/; In--As). Ranked in order of increasing mass fraction in 2.1- to 10-..mu..m diameter particles are the elements Pb, S, Se, Br, As, Cl, Na, V, In, Cu, Mn, Al, Ba, Ti, Ca.

• Research Organization: Atmospheric Environment Service, Downsview, Ontario, Canada
• OSTI ID: 5246281
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 93:D4; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500400* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOL MONITORING
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CANADA
CHEMISTRY
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
ORIGIN
POLLUTANTS
SPECTROSCOPY