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Tu IC, Yuan CS, Tseng YL, Lee CW, Lin C. Spatiotemporal variation and inter-transport of atmospheric speciated mercury between Kaohsiung Harbor and neighboring urban areas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123039. [PMID: 38040182 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the spatiotemporal variation, gas-particle partition, and source resolution of atmospheric speciation mercury (ASM) in Kaohsiung Harbor and neighboring Metro Kaohsiung. Four sampling sites were selected to determine the pollution characteristics and inter-transport of ASM between the port and urban areas. The yearly average GEM, GOM, and PBM concentrations were 7.13 ± 2.2 ng/m3, 331 ± 190 pg/m3, and 532 ± 301 pg/m3, respectively. Notably, GEM emerged as the predominant ASM species (85-94%), primarily originating from anthropogenic emissions from the harbor area and nearby industrial complex. The study revealed a distinct seasonal variation in ASM concentrations in the Kaohsiung Area in the following order: winter > fall > spring > summer. Concerning spatial distribution, ASM concentrations in the port areas were generally higher than those in the urban areas. This disparity was chiefly attributed to the influence of the prevailing winds, local sources, and atmospheric dispersion. Backward trajectory simulation revealed that polluted air masses blown from the northeast in winter and spring, moving along the western in-land part of Taiwan Island, were likely influenced by local sources and long-range transport (LRT). In summer, air pollutants originating from the south were likely transported from the coastal industrial sources. During fall, air masses blown from the western offshore waters transported air pollutants from Kaohsiung Harbor to neighboring Metro Kaohsiung. The results obtained from principle component analysis (PCA) indicated that primary sources in the port areas included ship emissions, vehicular exhausts, and nearby industrial complex, which align with the primary source factors identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF), which were mobile sources and coal-fired industrial boilers. Meanwhile, mobile sources and sulfur-containing fuel/waste combustion were identified as the primary sources in the urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Chieh Tu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Shin Yuan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Lun Tseng
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lee
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No. 1, University Road, Kaohsiung, 81148, Taiwan
| | - Chitsan Lin
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No. 142, Haijhuan Road, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
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Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Allen N, Choma N, Johnson W, Lopez S, Russell A, Mei E, Magand O, Dommergue A, Elgiar T. Observations of the chemistry and concentrations of reactive Hg at locations with different ambient air chemistry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166184. [PMID: 37586514 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The Hg research community needs methods to more accurately measure atmospheric Hg concentrations and chemistry. The Reactive Mercury Active System (RMAS) uses cation exchange, nylon, and PTFE membranes to determine reactive mercury (RM), gaseous oxidized mercury, and particulate-bound mercury (PBM) concentrations and chemistry. New data for Atlanta, Georgia (NRGT) demonstrated that particulate-bound Hg was dominant and the chemistry was primarily N and S HgII compounds. At Great Salt Lake, Utah (GSL), RM was predominately PBM, with NS > organics > halogen > O HgII compounds. At Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas (GUMO), halogenated compound concentrations were lowest when air interacting with the site was primarily derived from the Midwest, and highest when the air was sourced from Mexico. At Amsterdam Island, Southern Indian Ocean, compounds were primarily halogenated with some N, S, and organic HgII compounds potentially associated with biological activity. The GEOS-Chem model was applied to see if it predicted measurements at five field sites. Model values were higher than observations at GSL, slightly lower at NRGT, and observations were an order of magnitude higher than modeled values for GUMO and Reno, Nevada. In general, data collected from 13 locations indicated that N, S, and organic RM compounds were associated with city and forest locations, halogenated compounds were sourced from the marine boundary layer, and O compounds were associated with long-range transport. Data being developed currently, and in the past, suggest there are multiple forms of RM that modelers must consider, and PBM is an important component of RM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
| | | | - Natalie Allen
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Nicole Choma
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - William Johnson
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sam Lopez
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Armistead Russell
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Mei
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Olivier Magand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP(1), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France; Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers à La Réunion (OSU-R), UAR 3365, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo France, 97744 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP(1), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Tyler Elgiar
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, Vernal, UT, USA
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Yuan CS, Chiang KC, Yen PH, Ceng JH, Lee CE, Du IC, Soong KY, Jeng MS. Long-range transport of atmospheric speciated mercury from the eastern waters of Taiwan Island to northern South China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 318:120899. [PMID: 36565910 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the temporospatial distribution, gas-particle partition, and pollution sources of atmospheric speciated mercury (ASM) from the eastern offshore waters of the Taiwan Island (TI) to the northern South China Sea (SCS). Both gaseous and particulate mercury were simultaneously sampled at three remote sites in four seasons. The average concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), and particulate bound mercury (PBM) were 2.05 ± 0.45 ng/m3, 19.17 ± 5.39 pg/m3, and 0.11 ± 0.06 ng/m3, respectively. The concentrations of GEM and PBM in the cold seasons were higher than those in the warm seasons, but those of GOM had an opposite trend. In terms of gas-solid partition, ASM was apportioned as 91.3-97.3% of GEM and 2.7-8.7% of GOM and PBM. The average concentrations of GEM, GOM, and PBM at the Green Island (GI) were 2.21 ± 0.47 ng/m3, 22.31 ± 5.35 pg/m3, and 0.12 ± 0.06 ng/m3; those at the Kenting Peninsula (KT) were 2.11 ± 0.43 ng/m3, 20.57 ± 4.38 pg/m3, and 0.11 ± 0.06 ng/m3; and those at the Dongsha Islands (DS) were 1.84 ± 0.40 ng/m3, 15.19 ± 3.58 pg/m3, and 0.08 ± 0.05 ng/m3, respectively. Overall, the spatial distribution of ASM concentrations showed the order as: GI > KT > DS. Air masses blown mainly from the West Pacific Ocean (WPO) and SCS in summer showed the lowest ASM concentrations. Oppositely, high ASM concentrations were commonly observed in spring and winter when polluted air masses were blown by Asian Northeastern Monsoons (ANMs). The transport routes of polluted air masses were originated mainly from North China, Central China, Northeast China, Korea and Japan, and mostly passed through the urban and industrial regions in the northeastern Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Shin Yuan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC; Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Kuan-Chen Chiang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Po-Hsuan Yen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jun-Hao Ceng
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cheng-En Lee
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - I-Chieh Du
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ker-Yea Soong
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Shiou Jeng
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Green Island Marine Research Station, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia. Sinica, Green Island, Taitung County, Taiwan, ROC
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Dunham-Cheatham SM, Lyman S, Gustin MS. Comparison and calibration of methods for ambient reactive mercury quantification. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159219. [PMID: 36202360 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) is the dominant form of atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposited and sequestered within ecosystems. Thus, accurate, calibrated measurements of GOM are needed. Here, two active membrane-based collection systems (RMAS) were used to determine GOM and particulate-bound Hg (PBM), as well as reactive Hg (RM = GOM + PBM), and compared with two dual-channel systems (DCS) and a Tekran 2537/1130 speciation system. The DCS measured operationally defined GOM by difference, using concentrations of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) and total gaseous Hg. One DCS was linked to a custom-built, automated calibration system that permeated GEM, HgBr2, or HgCl2. The five systems were co-located for one-year to develop a dataset that would allow for understanding limitations of each system, and assessing measurement accuracy and long-term precision of the calibrator. The Tekran system measured ~14.5 % of the GOM measured by the other systems. The USU and UNR DCS and RMAS were significantly correlated, but the DCS was 50 and 30 % higher, respectively, than the RMAS. The calibrator performed consistently in the field and lab, and the DCS fully recovered GOM injected by the calibrator. Since the uncalibrated DCS measured the same concentrations as the calibrated DCS, they are both accurate methods for measuring RM and/or GOM. Some loss occurred from the RMAS membranes. SYNOPSIS: Accurate and calibrated measurements of atmospheric reactive mercury using membranes and two dual-channel systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarrah M Dunham-Cheatham
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Mail Stop 186, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
| | - Seth Lyman
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, 320 N Aggie Blvd, Vernal, UT 84078, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Mail Stop 186, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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Atmospheric Modelling of Mercury in the Southern Hemisphere and Future Research Needs: A Review. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13081226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can negatively impact the population’s health and the environment. The research on atmospheric mercury is of critical concern because of the diverse process that this pollutant suffers in the atmosphere as well as its deposition capacity, which can provoke diverse health issues. The Minamata Convention encourages the protection of the adverse effects of mercury, where research is a part of the strategies and atmospheric modelling plays a critical role in achieving the proposed aim. This paper reviews the study of modelling atmospheric mercury based on the southern hemisphere (SH). The article discusses diverse aspects focused on the SH such as the spatial distribution of mercury, its emissions projections, interhemispheric transport, and deposition. There has been a discrepancy between the observed and the simulated values, especially concerning the seasonality of gaseous elemental mercury and total gaseous mercury. Further, there is a lack of research about the emissions projections in the SH and mercury deposition, which generates uncertainty regarding future global scenarios. More studies on atmospheric mercury behaviour are imperative to better understand the SH’s mercury cycle.
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Qian Y, Liang Y, Cao Q, Wang Z, Shi Y, Liang H. Concentration and speciation of mercury in atmospheric particulates in the Wuda coal fire area, Inner Mongolia, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:3879-3887. [PMID: 34402015 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15805-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coal-seam fire is a source of atmospheric mercury that is difficult to control. The Wuda Coalfield in Inner Mongolia, China, is one of the most severe coal fire disaster areas worldwide and has been burning for more than 50 years. To investigate atmospheric mercury pollution from the Wuda coal fire, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations and atmospheric particulate mercury (PHg) speciation were measured using a RA-915+ mercury analyzer and the temperature-programmed desorption method. Near-surface GEM concentrations in the Wuda Coalfield and adjacent urban area were 80 ng m-3 (65-90 ng m-3) and 52 ng m-3 (25-95 ng m-3), respectively, which are far higher than the local background value (22 ng m-3). PHg concentrations in the coalfield and urban area also reached significantly high levels, 33 ng m-3 (25-45 ng m-3) and 22 ng m-3 (14-29 ng m-3), respectively (p < 0.05). There is no clear evidence that PHg combines with organic carbon or elemental carbon, but PHg concentration appears to be controlled by air acidity. PHg mainly exists in inorganic forms, such as HgCl2, HgS, HgO, and Hg(NO3)2·H2O. This work can provide references for the speciation analysis of atmospheric PHg and the safety assessment of environmental mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yanci Liang
- Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Qingyi Cao
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yunyun Shi
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Handong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China.
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
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Abstract
This review focuses on providing the history of measurement efforts to quantify and characterize the compounds of reactive mercury (RM), and the current status of measurement methods and knowledge. RM collectively represents gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and that bound to particles. The presence of RM was first recognized through measurement of coal-fired power plant emissions. Once discovered, researchers focused on developing methods for measuring RM in ambient air. First, tubular KCl-coated denuders were used for stack gas measurements, followed by mist chambers and annular denuders for ambient air measurements. For ~15 years, thermal desorption of an annular KCl denuder in the Tekran® speciation system was thought to be the gold standard for ambient GOM measurements. Research over the past ~10 years has shown that the KCl denuder does not collect GOM compounds with equal efficiency, and there are interferences with collection. Using a membrane-based system and an automated system—the Detector for Oxidized mercury System (DOHGS)—concentrations measured with the KCl denuder in the Tekran speciation system underestimate GOM concentrations by 1.3 to 13 times. Using nylon membranes it has been demonstrated that GOM/RM chemistry varies across space and time, and that this depends on the oxidant chemistry of the air. Future work should focus on development of better surfaces for collecting GOM/RM compounds, analytical methods to characterize GOM/RM chemistry, and high-resolution, calibrated measurement systems.
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Luippold A, Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Castro M, Luke W, Lyman S, Zhang L. Use of Multiple Lines of Evidence to Understand Reactive Mercury Concentrations and Chemistry in Hawai'i, Nevada, Maryland, and Utah, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:7922-7931. [PMID: 32506903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
To advance our understanding of the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle, concentrations and chemistry of gaseous oxidized Hg (GOM), particulate-bound Hg (PBM), and reactive Hg (RM = GOM + PBM) need to be known. The UNR-RMAS 2.0 provides a solution that will advance knowledge. From 11/2017 to 02/2019, the RMAS 2.0 was deployed in Hawai'i, Nevada, Maryland, and Utah to test system performance and develop an understanding of RM at locations impacted by different atmospheric oxidants. Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawai'i, impacted by the free troposphere and the marine boundary layer, had primarily -Br/Cl RM compounds. The Nevada location, directly adjacent to a major interstate highway and experiences inputs from the free troposphere, exhibited -Br/Cl, -N, -S, and organic compounds. In Maryland, compounds observed were -N, -S, and organic-Hg. This site is downwind of coal-fired power plants and located in a forested area. The location in Utah is in a basin impacted by oil and natural gas extraction, multiday wintertime inversion episodes, and inputs from the free troposphere. Compounds were -Br/Cl or -O, -N, and -Br/Cl. The chemical forms of RM identified were consistent with the air source areas, predominant ion chemistry, criterion air pollutants, and meteorology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriel Luippold
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Sarrah M Dunham-Cheatham
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Mark Castro
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | - Winston Luke
- Air Resources Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Seth Lyman
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, Vernal, Utah 84322, United States
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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