Distribution of atmospheric nitrogenous pollutants at a Los Angeles area smog receptor site

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00107a006· OSTI ID:6125685

Grosjean, D

An intensive field study of atmospheric nitrogenous pollutants was conducted at a Los Angeles area smog receptor site, during selected 1980 air pollution episodes. Highest 4-h averaged concentrations were 47 ..mu..g m/sup -3/ for particulate nitrate (NO/sub 3//sup -/) and 36 ..mu..g m/sup -3/ for nitric acid (HONO/sub 2/). HONO/sub 2/ and NO/sub 3//sup -/ exhibited opposite diurnal variations. The highest peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) concentration recorded was 47 ppb. Methyl nitrate was consistently observed at trace levels (<5 ppb) with diurnal variations closely following those of PAN. Interferences due to PAN and to nitric acid were found to result in chemiluminescent measurements of NO/sub 2/ significantly overestimated, by as much as 50-60% of the actual NO/sub 2/ values. In air masses sampled downwind of the central Los Angeles area, emitted oxides of nitrogen have undergone significant oxidation, with the products PAN, HONO/sub 2/, and NO/sub 3//sup -/ accounting for up to 40% of the total nitrogen. Of the two important NO/sub x/ chemical removal pathways, NO/sub x/ ..-->.. PAN and NO/sub x/ ..-->.. HONO/sub 2/ + NO/sub 3//sup -/, PAN formation constitutes a major sink for atmospheric NO/sub x/. On a nitrogen basis, PAN accounted for approx.60% of the NO/sub x/ oxidation products.

• Research Organization: Environmental Research and Tech., Inc., Westlake Village, CA
• OSTI ID: 6125685
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 17:1; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CALIFORNIA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DAILY VARIATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ESTERS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FIELD TESTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LOS ANGELES
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
NITRIC ACID ESTERS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PEROXYACETYL NITRATE
POLLUTION
SMOG
TESTING
USA
VARIATIONS