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Yang Y, Zhou J, Xie C, Tian W, Xue M, Han T, Chen K, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Huang Y, Sun H, Liu C, Li SM. A New Methodology for High Spatiotemporal Resolution Measurements of Air Volatile Organic Compounds: From Sampling to Data Deconvolution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12488-12497. [PMID: 38958408 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c05669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air is crucial for understanding their atmospheric impacts and advancing their emission reduction plans. This study presents an innovative integrated methodology suitable for achieving semireal-time high spatiotemporal resolution three-dimensional measurements of VOCs from ground to hundreds of meters above ground. The methodology integrates an active AirCore sampler, custom-designed for deployment from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), a proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) for sample analysis, and a data deconvolution algorithm for improved time resolution for measurements of multiple VOCs in air. The application of the deconvolution technique significantly improves the signal strength of data from PTR-MS analysis of AirCore samples and enhances their temporal resolution by 4 to 8 times to 4-11 s. A case study demonstrates that the methodology can achieve sample collection and analysis of VOCs within 45 min, resulting in >120-360 spatially resolved data points for each VOC measured and achieving a horizontal resolution of 20-55 m at a UAV flight speed of 5 m/s and a vertical resolution of 5 m. This methodology presents new possibilities for acquiring 3-dimensional spatial distributions of VOC concentrations, effectively tackling the longstanding challenge of characterizing three-dimensional VOC distributions in the lowest portion of the atmospheric boundary layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanrong Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jietao Zhou
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Conghui Xie
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Laboratory of Gas Instrument Testing, Center for Environmental Metrology, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Wang Tian
- PipeChina Institute of Science and Technology, PipeChina, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Ming Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, CNPC Research Institute of Safety and Environmental Technology, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Tianran Han
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Keyu Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yayong Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yufei Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Haijiong Sun
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chang Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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2
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Han T, Liggio J, Narayan J, Liu Y, Hayden K, Mittermeier R, Darlington A, Wheeler M, Cober S, Zhang Y, Xie C, Yang Y, Huang Y, Wolde M, Smyth S, Barrigar O, Li SM. Quantification of Methane Emissions from Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand Extraction in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58. [PMID: 38832692 PMCID: PMC11295119 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) is an extraction process for heavy oil in Canada, with the potential to lead to higher CH4 venting than conventional oil sites, that have not been adequately characterized. In order to quantify CH4 emissions from CHOPS activities, a focused aerial measurement campaign was conducted in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in June 2018. Total CH4 emissions from each of 10 clusters of CHOPS wells (containing 22-167 well sites per cluster) were derived using a mass balance computation algorithm that uses in situ wind data measurement on board aircraft. Results show that there is no statistically significant difference in CH4 emissions from CHOPS wells between the two provinces. Cluster-aggregated emission factors (EF) were determined using correspondingly aggregated production volumes. The average CH4 EF was 70.4 ± 36.9 kg/m3 produced oil for the Alberta wells and 55.1 ± 13.7 kg/m3 produced oil for the Saskatchewan wells. Using these EF and heavy oil production volumes reported to provincial regulators, the annual CH4 emissions from CHOPS were estimated to be 121% larger than CHOPS emissions extracted from Canada's National Inventory Report (NIR) for Saskatchewan. The EF were found to be positively correlated with the percentage of nonpiped production volumes in each cluster, indicating higher emissions for nonpiped wells while suggesting an avenue for methane emission reductions. A comparison with recent measurements indicates relatively limited effectiveness of regulations for Saskatchewan compared to those in Alberta. The results of this study indicate the substantial contribution of CHOPS operations to the underreporting observed in the NIR and provide measurement-based EF that can be used to develop improved emissions inventories for this sector and mitigate CH4 emissions from CHOPS operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianran Han
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - John Liggio
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Julie Narayan
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Yayong Liu
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Richard Mittermeier
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Andrea Darlington
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Michael Wheeler
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Stewart Cober
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment and
Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Conghui Xie
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yanrong Yang
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yufei Huang
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Mengistu Wolde
- Flight
Research Laboratory, National Research Council
Canada Aerospace Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1J8, Canada
| | - Steve Smyth
- Pollutant
Inventories and Reporting Division, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, Québec K1A 0H6, Canada
| | - Owen Barrigar
- Pollutant
Inventories and Reporting Division, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, Québec K1A 0H6, Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- State
Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control,
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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3
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An T, Li Y, Wang R, Jing S, Gao Y, Liu S, Huang D, Zhou M, Dai H, Huang C, Lu J, Wang H, Fu Q. Characteristics of typical intermediate and semi volatile organic compounds in Shanghai during China International Import Expo event. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141779. [PMID: 38537709 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141779] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
To ensure good air quality during the China International Import Expo (CIIE) event, stringent emission-reduction measures were implemented in Shanghai. To assess the efficacy of these measures, this study measured typical categories of intermediate/semi volatile organic compounds (I/SVOCs), including alkanes (C10-C26 n-alkanes and pristane), EPA-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylnaphthalenes, benzothiazole (BTH) and chlorobenzenes (CBs), at an urban site of Shanghai before and during two CIIE events (2019 and 2020; non-CIIE versus CIIE). The average concentrations of alkanes and PAHs during both 2019 and 2020 CIIE events decreased by approximately 41% and 17%, respectively, compared to non-CIIE periods. However, the decline in BTH and CBs was only observed during CIIE-2019. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from alkanes, PAHs and BTH was evaluated under atmospheric conditions, revealing considerable SOA contributions from dimethylnaphthalenes and BTH. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis further revealed that life-related sources, such as cooking and residential emissions, make a noticeable contribution (21.6%) in addition to the commonly concerned gasoline-vehicle sources (31.5%), diesel-related emissions (20.8%), industrial emissions (18.6%) and ship emissions (7.5%). These findings provide valuable insights into the efficacy of the implemented measures in reducing atmospheric I/SVOCs levels. Moreover, our results highlight the significance of exploring additional individual species of I/SVOCs and life-related sources for further research and policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taikui An
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yingjie Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China.
| | - Rui Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Sheng'ao Jing
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yaqin Gao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China; Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Shuyu Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Dandan Huang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Min Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Haixia Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Jun Lu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Hongli Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Qingyan Fu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
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4
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Li K, Zhang J, Bell DM, Wang T, Lamkaddam H, Cui T, Qi L, Surdu M, Wang D, Du L, El Haddad I, Slowik JG, Prevot ASH. Uncovering the dominant contribution of intermediate volatility compounds in secondary organic aerosol formation from biomass-burning emissions. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae014. [PMID: 38390366 PMCID: PMC10883696 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Organic vapors from biomass burning are a major source of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Previous smog chamber studies found that the SOA contributors in biomass-burning emissions are mainly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) are efficient SOA precursors and contribute a considerable fraction of biomass-burning emissions, their contribution to SOA formation has not been directly observed. Here, by deploying a newly-developed oxidation flow reactor to study SOA formation from wood burning, we find that IVOCs can contribute ∼70% of the formed SOA, i.e. >2 times more than VOCs. This previously missing SOA fraction is interpreted to be due to the high wall losses of semi-volatile oxidation products of IVOCs in smog chambers. The finding in this study reveals that SOA production from biomass burning is much higher than previously thought, and highlights the urgent need for more research on the IVOCs from biomass burning and potentially other emission sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Jun Zhang
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - David M Bell
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Houssni Lamkaddam
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Tianqu Cui
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Lu Qi
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Mihnea Surdu
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Dongyu Wang
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Lin Du
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Imad El Haddad
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Jay G Slowik
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Andre S H Prevot
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
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5
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He M, Ditto JC, Gardner L, Machesky J, Hass-Mitchell TN, Chen C, Khare P, Sahin B, Fortner JD, Plata DL, Drollette BD, Hayden KL, Wentzell JJB, Mittermeier RL, Leithead A, Lee P, Darlington A, Wren SN, Zhang J, Wolde M, Moussa SG, Li SM, Liggio J, Gentner DR. Total organic carbon measurements reveal major gaps in petrochemical emissions reporting. Science 2024; 383:426-432. [PMID: 38271520 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj6233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic organic carbon emissions reporting has been largely limited to subsets of chemically speciated volatile organic compounds. However, new aircraft-based measurements revealed total gas-phase organic carbon emissions that exceed oil sands industry-reported values by 1900% to over 6300%, the bulk of which was due to unaccounted-for intermediate-volatility and semivolatile organic compounds. Measured facility-wide emissions represented approximately 1% of extracted petroleum, resulting in total organic carbon emissions equivalent to that from all other sources across Canada combined. These real-world observations demonstrate total organic carbon measurements as a means of detecting unknown or underreported carbon emissions regardless of chemical features. Because reporting gaps may include hazardous, reactive, or secondary air pollutants, fully constraining the impact of anthropogenic emissions necessitates routine, comprehensive total organic carbon monitoring as an inherent check on mass closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan He
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jenna C Ditto
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lexie Gardner
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jo Machesky
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tori N Hass-Mitchell
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christina Chen
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peeyush Khare
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bugra Sahin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - John D Fortner
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Desiree L Plata
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Brian D Drollette
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Katherine L Hayden
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeremy J B Wentzell
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard L Mittermeier
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amy Leithead
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick Lee
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Darlington
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sumi N Wren
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Junhua Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Samar G Moussa
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Drew R Gentner
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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6
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Jones N. Canada's oil sands spew massive amounts of unmonitored polluting gases. Nature 2024:10.1038/d41586-024-00203-8. [PMID: 38273062 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-00203-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
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7
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Cheng Y, Zhong YJ, Liu JM, Cao XB, Yu QQ, Zhang Q, He KB. Considerable contribution of secondary aerosol to wintertime haze pollution in new target of the latest clean air actions in China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122362. [PMID: 37567407 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122362] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Northeast China was targeted by national-level clean air policy for the first time in 2022, with the release of Action Plan to eliminate heavy air pollution events. In this study, we investigated sources of PM2.5 during three successive winters in Harbin, a megacity in Northeast China, based on observational results from several recent campaigns in 2018-2021. During the 2020-2021 campaign, daytime and nighttime samples were collected in specific months in addition to 24-h integrated measurements, and the two sets of samples were combined in different ways to run a positive matrix factorization model. The source apportionment results suggested that the resolved secondary organic carbon (SOCPMF) had an uncertainty of ∼12%. Secondary aerosols were found to show the following features for the typical winters without agricultural fires. First, SOCPMF could be properly constrained by results from another widely-used approach for SOC estimation, the elemental carbon-tracer method. Second, secondary PM2.5 calculated using SOCPMF and secondary inorganic ions were generally in line with the independent estimations based on air quality data. Third, secondary components accounted for more than 50% of PM2.5 on average and contributed even more significantly during severe haze episodes, which were the focus of the latest Action Plan. This study also found that the wintertime PM2.5 decreased more slowly during 2017-2021 compared to 2013-2017, by ∼1 and 10 μg/m3 per year, respectively, for the metropolitan area where Harbin is located at. Our results highlighted the importance of secondary aerosols for further improving air quality in Northeast China, and for avoiding heavy pollution as required by the latest Action Plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Ying-Jie Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Jiu-Meng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China.
| | - Xu-Bing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Qin-Qin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Ke-Bin He
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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8
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Liu Y, Huang Y, Liggio J, Hayden K, Mihele C, Wentzell J, Wheeler M, Leithead A, Moussa S, Xie C, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Han T, Li SM. A newly developed Lagrangian chemical transport scheme: Part 1. Simulation of a boreal forest fire plume. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 880:163232. [PMID: 37023817 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Forest fire research over the last several decades has improved the understanding of fire emissions and impacts. Nevertheless, the evolution of forest fire plumes remains poorly quantified and understood. Here, a Lagrangian chemical transport model, the Forward Atmospheric Stochastic Transport model coupled with the Master Chemical Mechanism (FAST-MCM), has been developed to simulate the transport and chemical transformations of plumes from a boreal forest fire over several hours since their emission. The model results for NOx (NO and NO2), O3, HONO, HNO3, pNO3 and 70 VOC species are compared with airborne in-situ measurements within plume centers and their surrounding portions during the transport. Comparisons between simulation results and measurements show that the FAST-MCM model can properly reproduce the physical and chemical evolution of forest fire plumes. The results indicate that the model can be an important tool used to aid the understanding of the downwind impacts of forest fire plumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayong Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871
| | - Yufei Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Cris Mihele
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Jeremy Wentzell
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Michael Wheeler
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Amy Leithead
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Samar Moussa
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Conghui Xie
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871
| | - Yanrong Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871
| | - Tianran Han
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871.
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9
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Barhoumi B, Guigue C, Touil S, Johnson-Restrepo B, Driss MR, Tedetti M. Hydrocarbons in the atmospheric gas phase of a coastal city in Tunisia: Levels, gas-particle partitioning, and health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:162986. [PMID: 36958548 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have focused on aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs and PAHs) in different environmental compartments, especially atmospheric particles (aerosols), due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. However, much less information is currently available on the content of AHs and PAHs in the atmospheric gas phase, which is a major reservoir of volatile and photoreactive compounds. Here, for the first time, we assessed the levels, gas-particle partitioning, human health risks and seasonal variations of AHs and PAHs in the atmospheric gas-phase of Bizerte city (Tunisia, North Africa) over a one-year period (March 2015-January 2016). Σ34PAH concentration in the gas phase over the period ranged from 6.7 to 90.6 ng m-3 and on average was 2.5 times higher in the cold season than in the warm season. Σ28AH concentration in the gas phase over the period ranged from 14.0 to 35.9 ng m-3, with no clear seasonal variations. In the gas phase, hydrocarbons were dominated by low-molecular-weight (LMW) compounds, i.e. 3- and 4-ring for PAHs and < n-C24 for AHs. Gas-phase concentrations of PAHs and AHs accounted for up to 80 % of the total (gas + particle phases) atmospheric concentrations of PAHs and AHs. Further analysis of gas-particle partitioning showed that LMW hydrocarbons preferential accumulated in the gas phase, and that gas-particle partitioning was not in equilibrium but dominated by absorption processes into the aerosol organic matter. Benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalency quotient (BaP-TEQ) in the gas phase represented on average 37 % of the total atmospheric BaP-TEQ concentration, which was always higher in the cold season. Atmospheric gas is a significant factor in the risks of cancer associated with inhalation of ambient air. The Monte Carlo simulation-based exposure assessment model predicted that outdoor air exposure to PAHs does not pose a cancer risk to infants, but the children, adolescent, and adult populations may face a lower cancer risk during the warm season and a higher risk in the cold season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badreddine Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Hetero-Organic Compounds and Nanostructured Materials (LR18ES11), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia; Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France.
| | - Catherine Guigue
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Soufiane Touil
- Laboratory of Hetero-Organic Compounds and Nanostructured Materials (LR18ES11), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Boris Johnson-Restrepo
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University Campus of San Pablo, University of Cartagena, Zaragocilla, Carrera 50 No. 24-99, Cartagena, 130015, Colombia
| | - Mohamed Ridha Driss
- Laboratory of Hetero-Organic Compounds and Nanostructured Materials (LR18ES11), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Marc Tedetti
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
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10
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Chen M, Chen W, Wang Y, Ding M, Zhang Z, Liu D, Mao D. Hydrogen-Bonded amphiphilic polymer viscosity reducer for enhancing heavy oil Recovery: Synthesis, characterization and mechanism. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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11
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Incorporating Industrial and Climatic Covariates into Analyses of Fish Health Indicators Measured in a Stream in Canada’s Oil Sands Region. ENVIRONMENTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/environments9060073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Industrial and other human activities in Canada’s oil sands region (OSR) influence the environment. However, these impacts can be challenging to separate from natural stresses in flowing waters by comparing upstream reference sites to downstream exposure locations. For example, health indicators of lake chub (Couesius plumbeus) compared between locations in the Ells River (Upper and Lower) in 2013 to 2015 and 2018 demonstrated statistical differences. To further examine the potential sources of variation in fish, we also analyzed data at sites over time. When fish captured in 2018 were compared to pooled reference years (2013–2015), results indicated multiple differences in fish, but most of the differences disappeared when environmental covariates were included in the Elastic Net (EN) regularized regression models. However, when industrial covariates were included separately in the EN, the large differences in 2018 also disappeared, also suggesting the potential influence of these covariables on the health of fish. Further ENs incorporating both environmental and industrial covariates along with other variables which may describe industrial and natural influences, such as spring or summer precipitation and summer wind speeds and distance-based penalty factors, also support some of the suspected and potential mechanisms of impact. Further exploratory analyses simulating changes from zero and the mean (industrial) activity levels using the regression equations respectively suggest effects exceeding established critical effect sizes (CES) for fish measurements may already be present or effects may occur with small future changes in some industrial activities. Additional simulations also suggest that changing regional hydrological and thermal regimes in the future may also cause changes in fish measurements exceeding the CESs. The results of this study suggest the wide applicability of the approach for monitoring the health of fish in the OSR and beyond. The results also suggest follow-up work required to further evaluate the veracity of the suggested relationships identified in this analysis.
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12
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Arciszewski TJ. A re-analysis and review of elemental and polycyclic aromatic compound deposition in snow and lake sediments from Canada's Oil Sands Region integrating industrial performance and climatic variables. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 820:153254. [PMID: 35065131 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Much of the research from Canada's oil sands region (OSR) shows contaminants of concern (CoCs) throughout the ambient environment surrounding the industrial facilities. While there are some well-established sources of the CoCs, there is also spatial and temporal variability suggesting activity intensity, changes in technology, types and amounts of fuels combusted at the facilities, and climate may affect the results of deposition studies. This study re-analysed published data on the deposition of elements and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in snow and the sediments of some lakes by incorporating production data from facilities and climate. Using the Elastic Net (EN) regularized regression, variables describing potential associations between facility-specific activity and climate on the deposition of CoCs were identified. Among the selected variables, the combustion of delayed petroleum coke at the Suncor Basemine was associated with the deposition of CoCs, including elements in snow and in some lakes. Similarly, combustion of petroleum coke at Syncrude Mildred Lake was also identified in some models. In both cases, the effects of petroluem coke combustion are likely associated with the emission and deposition of fly ash. The mass of stored petroleum coke was not selected in snow CoC models, but the speed of the wind was a common driver for PACs. However, the mass of stockpiled petcoke was more closely associated with both elements and PACs in lake sediments. While the potential influence of other variables on the occurrence of CoCs in the OSR was also identified, including the production of crude bitumen and synthetic crude, the use of process and natural gases, temperature, and precipitation, these analyses support much of the earlier work and provides additional nuance. While more work is required, these results suggest facility-specific production and climatic data can be coupled with existing approaches to improve the identification of sources of CoCs in Canada's OSR and practices associated with their release.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Arciszewski
- Resource Stewardship Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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13
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Li J, Li K, Li H, Wang X, Wang W, Wang K, Ge M. Long-chain alkanes in the atmosphere: A review. J Environ Sci (China) 2022; 114:37-52. [PMID: 35459500 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As a representative species of intermediate volatile organic compounds (IVOCs), long-chain alkanes are considered to be important precursors of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the atmosphere. This work reviews the previous studies on long-chain alkanes in the atmosphere: (1) the detection methods and filed observations of long-chain alkanes in both gas and particle phases are summarized briefly; (2) the laboratory studies of long chain alkanes are reviewed, the kinetic data, reaction mechanism, SOA yields, and physicochemical properties of SOA are included in detail; (3) the research progress related to model simulations of long-chain alkanes are also discussed. In addition, based on available research results, several perspective contents are proposed that can be used as a guideline for future research plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Kun Li
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Xuezhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Weigang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Ke Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Maofa Ge
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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14
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Horb EC, Wentworth GR, Makar PA, Liggio J, Hayden K, Boutzis EI, Beausoleil DL, Hazewinkel RO, Mahaffey AC, Sayanda D, Wyatt F, Dubé MG. A decadal synthesis of atmospheric emissions, ambient air quality, and deposition in the oil sands region. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:333-360. [PMID: 34676977 PMCID: PMC9299045 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This review is part of a series synthesizing peer-reviewed literature from the past decade on environmental monitoring in the oil sands region (OSR) of northeastern Alberta. It focuses on atmospheric emissions, air quality, and deposition in and downwind of the OSR. Most published monitoring and research activities were concentrated in the surface-mineable region in the Athabasca OSR. Substantial progress has been made in understanding oil sands (OS)-related emission sources using multiple approaches: airborne measurements, satellite measurements, source emission testing, deterministic modeling, and source apportionment modeling. These approaches generally yield consistent results, indicating OS-related sources are regional contributors to nearly all air pollutants. Most pollutants exhibit enhanced air concentrations within ~20 km of surface-mining activities, with some enhanced >100 km downwind. Some pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides) undergo transformations as they are transported through the atmosphere. Deposition rates of OS-related substances primarily emitted as fugitive dust are enhanced within ~30 km of surface-mining activities, whereas gaseous and fine particulate emissions have a more diffuse deposition enhancement pattern extending hundreds of kilometers downwind. In general, air quality guidelines are not exceeded, although these single-pollutant thresholds are not comprehensive indicators of air quality. Odor events have occurred in communities near OS industrial activities, although it can be difficult to attribute events to specific pollutants or sources. Nitrogen, sulfur, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), and base cations from OS sources occur in the environment, but explicit and deleterious responses of organisms to these pollutants are not as apparent across all study environments; details of biological monitoring are discussed further in other papers in this special series. However, modeling of critical load exceedances suggests that, at continued emission levels, ecological change may occur in future. Knowledge gaps and recommendations for future work to address these gaps are also presented. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:333-360. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C. Horb
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Gregory R. Wentworth
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Present address: Environmental Protection BranchEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Paul A. Makar
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | | | | | - Ashley C. Mahaffey
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Diogo Sayanda
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
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15
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Zhang Y, Pelletier R, Noernberg T, Donner MW, Grant-Weaver I, Martin JW, Shotyk W. Impact of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires on atmospheric deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and trace elements to surrounding ombrotrophic bogs. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106910. [PMID: 34607041 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fort McMurray and the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) experienced major wildfires in 2016, but the impact of these on regional deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace elements has not been reported nor compared to industrial sources of these pollutants in the region. Living moss (Sphagnum fuscum) was collected in triplicate from five ombrotrophic bogs in the AOSR after the wildfires, and analyzed for PAHs and trace elements. These post-wildfire data were compared to data from previous years at the same sites, and also to remote reference bogs in Alberta and Ontario. Elevated post-wildfire concentrations and flux of naphthalene and fluorene were observed at all five bogs in the AOSR, but no consistent trend was evident for higher molecular weight PAHs or the sum of priority PAHs (∑13PAH). Trace elements at most AOSR bogs were not elevated post-wildfire, except at one bog in the burned area (MIL), but even here the elements that were increased (1.7-5.6 × ) were likely of bitumen-origin (i.e., V, Ni, Se, Mo and Re). Significant post-wildfire correlations between PAHs and most trace elements suggested a common source, and few significant correlations were observed with retene, suggesting that wildfires were not the dominant source of most contaminants detected. Mass balance receptor models were used to apportion sources, indicating that the major sources of trace elements among five AOSR bogs post-wildfire were oil sands ore (mean 42%), haul road dust (17%), and petcoke (11%), whereas wildfire was always a minor source (3-4%). For PAHs at the most contaminated site (MIL), delayed petcoke (27%) and wildfire (25%) were the major sources, but the contribution of wildfire to PAHs at other sites was less or not discernable. Impacts of the 2016 wildfires on regional atmospheric deposition of major pollutants was less than from ongoing deposition of anthropogenic dust from oil sands activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Rick Pelletier
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 348B South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
| | - Tommy Noernberg
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 348B South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
| | - Mark W Donner
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 348B South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
| | - Iain Grant-Weaver
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 348B South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada; Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-106 91, Sweden.
| | - William Shotyk
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 348B South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada.
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16
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Decker ZCJ, Wang S, Bourgeois I, Campuzano Jost P, Coggon MM, DiGangi JP, Diskin GS, Flocke FM, Franchin A, Fredrickson CD, Gkatzelis GI, Hall SR, Halliday H, Hayden K, Holmes CD, Huey LG, Jimenez JL, Lee YR, Lindaas J, Middlebrook AM, Montzka DD, Neuman JA, Nowak JB, Pagonis D, Palm BB, Peischl J, Piel F, Rickly PS, Robinson MA, Rollins AW, Ryerson TB, Sekimoto K, Thornton JA, Tyndall GS, Ullmann K, Veres PR, Warneke C, Washenfelder RA, Weinheimer AJ, Wisthaler A, Womack C, Brown SS. Novel Analysis to Quantify Plume Crosswind Heterogeneity Applied to Biomass Burning Smoke. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15646-15657. [PMID: 34817984 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel method, the Gaussian observational model for edge to center heterogeneity (GOMECH), to quantify the horizontal chemical structure of plumes. GOMECH fits observations of short-lived emissions or products against a long-lived tracer (e.g., CO) to provide relative metrics for the plume width (wi/wCO) and center (bi/wCO). To validate GOMECH, we investigate OH and NO3 oxidation processes in smoke plumes sampled during FIREX-AQ (Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality, a 2019 wildfire smoke study). An analysis of 430 crosswind transects demonstrates that nitrous acid (HONO), a primary source of OH, is narrower than CO (wHONO/wCO = 0.73-0.84 ± 0.01) and maleic anhydride (an OH oxidation product) is enhanced on plume edges (wmaleicanhydride/wCO = 1.06-1.12 ± 0.01). By contrast, NO3 production [P(NO3)] occurs mainly at the plume center (wP(NO3)/wCO = 0.91-1.00 ± 0.01). Phenolic emissions, highly reactive to OH and NO3, are narrower than CO (wphenol/wCO = 0.96 ± 0.03, wcatechol/wCO = 0.91 ± 0.01, and wmethylcatechol/wCO = 0.84 ± 0.01), suggesting that plume edge phenolic losses are the greatest. Yet, nitrophenolic aerosol, their oxidation product, is the greatest at the plume center (wnitrophenolicaerosol/wCO = 0.95 ± 0.02). In a large plume case study, GOMECH suggests that nitrocatechol aerosol is most associated with P(NO3). Last, we corroborate GOMECH with a large eddy simulation model which suggests most (55%) of nitrocatechol is produced through NO3 in our case study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary C J Decker
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
| | - Siyuan Wang
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Ilann Bourgeois
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Pedro Campuzano Jost
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
| | - Matthew M Coggon
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Joshua P DiGangi
- NASA Langley Research Center, MS 483, Hampton, Virginia 23681, United States
| | - Glenn S Diskin
- NASA Langley Research Center, MS 483, Hampton, Virginia 23681, United States
| | - Frank M Flocke
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Alessandro Franchin
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Carley D Fredrickson
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Georgios I Gkatzelis
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Samuel R Hall
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Hannah Halliday
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air Quality Research Division (AQRD), Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto M3H 5T4, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher D Holmes
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32304, United States
| | - L Gregory Huey
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jose L Jimenez
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
| | - Young Ro Lee
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jakob Lindaas
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Ann M Middlebrook
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Denise D Montzka
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - J Andrew Neuman
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - John B Nowak
- Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI), Hampton, Virginia 23666, United States
| | - Demetrios Pagonis
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
| | - Brett B Palm
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Jeff Peischl
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Felix Piel
- Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo 0315, Norway
| | - Pamela S Rickly
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Michael A Robinson
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
| | - Andrew W Rollins
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Thomas B Ryerson
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Kanako Sekimoto
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0027, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Joel A Thornton
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Geoff S Tyndall
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Kirk Ullmann
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Patrick R Veres
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Carsten Warneke
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | | | - Andrew J Weinheimer
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Armin Wisthaler
- Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo 0315, Norway
| | - Caroline Womack
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Steven S Brown
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
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17
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Exploring the Influence of Industrial and Climatic Variables on Communities of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Collected in Streams and Lakes in Canada’s Oil Sands Region. ENVIRONMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/environments8110123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Identifying and tracking the influence of industrial activities on streams and lakes is a priority for monitoring in Canada’s oil sands region (OSR). While differences in indicators are often found in waterbodies adjacent to mining facilities, the confounding influence of natural exposures to bitumen and other stressors can affect the identification of industrial effects. However, recent work suggests metrics of industrial activity at individual facilities, including production and fuel consumption, may be used in site-specific analyses to identify influence of the industry as a whole as well as individual operations. This study further examined the potential relationships between industrial and climatic variables on benthic communities from 13 streams and 4 lakes using publicly available data from the minable region and the Elastic Net (EN) variable selection technique. From the full set of possible industrial and climate variables, the EN commonly identified the negative influence of plant and fuel use of petroleum coke at the Suncor Basemine on benthic communities in streams and lakes. The fuel/plant use of petroleum coke at Suncor likely reflects the emission and regional deposition of delayed coke fly ash. Among the other industrial variables, crude bitumen production at Syncrude Mildred Lake and other facilities, steam injection rates, and petroleum coke stockpiling were also selected for some benthic invertebrate indices at some sites. Land disturbance metrics were also occasionally selected, but the analyses largely support the predominant influence of industrial facilities via (inferred) atmospheric pathways. While climate variables were also commonly selected by EN and follow-up work is needed, this study suggests that integrating industrial performance data into analyses of biota using a site-specific approach may have broad applicability in environmental monitoring in the OSR. More specifically, the approach used here may both resolve the long-standing challenge of natural confounding influences on monitoring the status of streams in the OSR and track the influence of industrial activities in biota below critical effect sizes.
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18
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Li K, Wentzell JJB, Liu Q, Leithead A, Moussa SG, Wheeler MJ, Han C, Lee P, Li SM, Liggio J. Evolution of Atmospheric Total Organic Carbon from Petrochemical Mixtures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12841-12851. [PMID: 34525806 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Reactive organic compounds play a central role in the formation of ozone and secondary organic aerosols. The ability to accurately predict their fate, in part, relies upon quantitative knowledge of the chemical and physical parameters associated with the total organic carbon (TOC), which includes both precursors and oxidation products that evolve in the atmosphere over short to long time scales. However, such knowledge, obtained via limited carbon closure experiments, has not been attained for complex anthropogenic emissions. Here we present the first comprehensive characterization of TOC in the atmospheric oxidation of organic vapors from light and heavy oil mixtures associated with oil sand operations. Despite the complexity of the investigated oil mixtures, we are able to achieve carbon closure (83-116%) within the uncertainties (±20%), with the degree of the closure being dependent upon the vapor composition and NOx levels. In contrast to biogenic precursors (e.g., α-pinene), the photochemical time scale required for a largely complete oxidation and evolution of chemical parameters is very long for the petrochemical vapors (i.e., ∼7-10 days vs ∼1 day), likely due to the lower initial precursor reactivity. This suggests that petrochemical emissions and their impacts are likely to extend further spatially than biogenic emissions, and retain more of their complex composition and reactivity for many days. The results of this work provide key parameters to regional models for further improving the representation of the chemical evolution of petrochemical emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy J B Wentzell
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Qifan Liu
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Amy Leithead
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Samar G Moussa
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Michael J Wheeler
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Chong Han
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Patrick Lee
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
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19
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Moussa SG, Staebler RM, You Y, Leithead A, Yousif MA, Brickell P, Beck J, Jiang Z, Liggio J, Li SM, Wren SN, Brook JR, Darlington A, Cober SG. Fugitive Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Tailings Pond in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12831-12840. [PMID: 34524801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tailings ponds in the oil sands (OS) region in Alberta, Canada, have been associated with fugitive emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants to the atmosphere. However, the contribution of tailings ponds to the total fugitive emissions of VOCs from OS operations remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, a field study was conducted in the summer of 2017 at Suncor's Pond 2/3 to estimate emissions of a suite of pollutants including 68 VOCs using a combination of micrometeorological methods and measurements from a flux tower. The results indicate that in 2017, Pond 2/3 was an emission source of 3322 ± 727 tons of VOCs including alkanes, aromatics, and oxygenated and sulfur-containing organics. While the total VOC emissions were approximately a factor of 2 higher than those reported by Suncor, the individual VOC species emissions varied by up to a factor of 12. A chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model was used to estimate the contribution of the tailings pond to VOC pollution events in a nearby First Nations and Metis community in Fort McKay. CMB results indicate that Suncor Pond 2/3 contributed up to 57% to the total mass of VOCs measured at Fort McKay, reinforcing the importance of accurate VOC emission estimation methods for tailings ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar G Moussa
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Ralf M Staebler
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Yuan You
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Amy Leithead
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Meguel A Yousif
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Peter Brickell
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - James Beck
- Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3Y7, Canada
| | - Zhimei Jiang
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Sumi N Wren
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey R Brook
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 223 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R4, Canada
| | - Andrea Darlington
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Stewart G Cober
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
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20
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Thienpont JR, Yang Z, Hall RI, Wolfe BB, Hollebone BP, Blais JM. Tracking petrogenic hydrocarbons in lakes of the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Alberta, Canada using petroleum biomarkers. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 286:117286. [PMID: 33990046 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117286] [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: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) receives a mixture of hydrocarbons from biogenic, pyrogenic, and petrogenic processes. Source apportionment in the PAD has focussed on polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), which are ubiquitous in the environment and susceptible to weathering. In contrast, petroleum biomarkers of terpanes, hopanes, and steranes are degradation-resistant organic compounds found uniquely in petroleum products that can identify the input and origin of petrogenic hydrocarbons (PHCs). We provide an analysis of environmentally-relevant PHCs (including n-alkanes, PACs, and petroleum biomarkers) in surficial sediments of strategically selected lakes in the Athabasca and Peace deltas and adjacent boreal uplands. Alkanes were found to be predominately biogenic in all lakes. PAC sources were identified as wood combustion in the upland boreal lakes, a mixture of petrogenic and pyrogenic combustion in two closed-drainage lakes in the Peace Delta, and predominately petrogenic in two flood-prone Athabasca Delta lakes. Using multivariate analyses, raw Alberta oil sands were identified as a potential source of PHCs to the two flood-prone lakes in the Athabasca Delta. Biomarkers of terpanes and hopanes were identified in the Peace Delta and boreal uplands, likely from bitumen and transported atmospherically. These findings validate the use of petroleum biomarkers as tracers for bituminous sands in surficial lake sediments and their potential use in paleolimnological investigations at the PAD to improve understanding of relative roles of natural and industrial processes on far-field deposition of PHCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Thienpont
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zeyu Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roland I Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brent B Wolfe
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bruce P Hollebone
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Robinson MA, Decker ZCJ, Barsanti KC, Coggon MM, Flocke FM, Franchin A, Fredrickson CD, Gilman JB, Gkatzelis GI, Holmes CD, Lamplugh A, Lavi A, Middlebrook AM, Montzka DM, Palm BB, Peischl J, Pierce B, Schwantes RH, Sekimoto K, Selimovic V, Tyndall GS, Thornton JA, Van Rooy P, Warneke C, Weinheimer AJ, Brown SS. Variability and Time of Day Dependence of Ozone Photochemistry in Western Wildfire Plumes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10280-10290. [PMID: 34255503 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the efficiency and variability of photochemical ozone (O3) production from western wildfire plumes is important to accurately estimate their influence on North American air quality. A set of photochemical measurements were made from the NOAA Twin Otter research aircraft as a part of the Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (FIREX-AQ) experiment. We use a zero-dimensional (0-D) box model to investigate the chemistry driving O3 production in modeled plumes. Modeled afternoon plumes reached a maximum O3 mixing ratio of 140 ± 50 ppbv (average ± standard deviation) within 20 ± 10 min of emission compared to 76 ± 12 ppbv in 60 ± 30 min in evening plumes. Afternoon and evening maximum O3 isopleths indicate that plumes were near their peak in NOx efficiency. A radical budget describes the NOx volatile - organic compound (VOC) sensitivities of these plumes. Afternoon plumes displayed a rapid transition from VOC-sensitive to NOx-sensitive chemistry, driven by HOx (=OH + HO2) production from photolysis of nitrous acid (HONO) (48 ± 20% of primary HOx) and formaldehyde (HCHO) (26 ± 9%) emitted directly from the fire. Evening plumes exhibit a slower transition from peak NOx efficiency to VOC-sensitive O3 production caused by a reduction in photolysis rates and fire emissions. HOx production in evening plumes is controlled by HONO photolysis (53 ± 7%), HCHO photolysis (18 ± 9%), and alkene ozonolysis (17 ± 9%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Robinson
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Zachary C J Decker
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Kelley C Barsanti
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92507, United States
| | - Matthew M Coggon
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Frank M Flocke
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Alessandro Franchin
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Carley D Fredrickson
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Jessica B Gilman
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Georgios I Gkatzelis
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Christopher D Holmes
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Aaron Lamplugh
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Avi Lavi
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92507, United States
| | - Ann M Middlebrook
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Denise M Montzka
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Brett B Palm
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Jeff Peischl
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Brad Pierce
- Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
| | - Rebecca H Schwantes
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Kanako Sekimoto
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Vanessa Selimovic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Geoffrey S Tyndall
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Joel A Thornton
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Paul Van Rooy
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92507, United States
| | - Carsten Warneke
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Andrew J Weinheimer
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Steven S Brown
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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22
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Chemical Composition of Gas and Particle Phase Products of Toluene Photooxidation Reaction under High OH Exposure Condition. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12070915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, the photooxidation reaction of toluene (C7H8) was investigated in a Potential Aerosol Mass Oxidation Flow Reactor (PAM OFR). The hydroxyl radical (OH) exposure of toluene in the PAM OFR ranged from 0.4 to 1.4 × 1012 molec cm−3 s, which is equivalent to 3 to 12 days of atmospheric oxidation. A proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) and a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) were used to study the gas-phase products formed and particle number changes of the oxidation reaction in PAM OFR. The secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed in the PAM OFR was also collected for off-line chemical analysis. Key gas-phase reaction products of toluene, including glyoxal, methyl glyoxal, unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and benzaldehyde, were identified by the PTR-MS. Second generation products, including acetic acid, formaldehyde, formic acid, and acetaldehyde, were also detected. By comparing the mass spectrums obtained under different OH exposures and relative humidity (RH), changes in the two parameters have minimal effects on the composition of gas-phase products formed, expect for the spectrum obtained at OH exposure of 0.4 × 1012 cm−3 s and RH = 17%, which is slightly different from other spectrums. SMPS results showed that particle mass concentration increases with increasing OH exposure, while particle number concentration first increases and then decreases with increasing OH exposure. This result probably suggests the formation of oligomers at high OH exposure conditions. Off-line chemical analysis of the SOA sample was dominated by C4 diacids, including malic acid, citramalic acid, and tartaric acid. The well-known toluene SOA marker 2,3-Dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, as well as 2,3-dihydroxyglutaric acid, which has not been identified in previous toluene photooxidation experiments, were also detected in the SOA sample. Our results showed good agreements with the results of previous smog chamber studies of toluene photooxidation reaction, and they suggested that using PAM OFR for studies of oxidation reaction of different VOCs can be atmospherically relevant.
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23
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Chen T, Chu B, Ma Q, Zhang P, Liu J, He H. Effect of relative humidity on SOA formation from aromatic hydrocarbons: Implications from the evolution of gas- and particle-phase species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 773:145015. [PMID: 33582345 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Relative humidity (RH) plays a significant role in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, but the mechanisms remain uncertain. Using a 30 m3 indoor smog chamber, the influences of RH on SOA formation from two conventional anthropogenic aromatics (toluene and m-xylene) were investigated from the perspective of both the gas- and particle- phases based on the analysis of multi-generation gas-phase products and the chemical composition of SOA, which clearly distinguishes from many previous works mainly focused on the particle-phase. Compared to experiments with RH of 2.0%, SOA yields increased by 11.1%-133.4% and 4.0%-64.5% with higher RH (30.0%-90.0%) for toluene and m-xylene, respectively. The maximum SOA concentration always appeared at 50.0% RH, which is consistent with the change trend of SOA concentration with RH in the summertime field observation. The most plausible reason is that the highest gas-phase OH concentration was observed at 50.0% RH, when the increases in gas-phase OH formation and OH uptake to aerosols and chamber walls with increasing RH reached a balance. The maximum OH concentration was accompanied by a notable decay of second-generation products and formation of third-generation products at 50.0% RH. With further increasing RH, more second-generation products with insufficient oxidation degree will be partitioned into the aerosol phase, and the aqueous-phase oxidation process will also be promoted due to the enhanced uptake of OH. These processes concurrently caused the O/C and oxidation state of carbon (OSc) to first increase and then slightly decrease. This work revealed the complex influence of RH on SOA formation from aromatic VOCs through affecting the OH concentration, partitioning of advanced gas-phase oxidation products as well as aqueous-phase oxidation processes. Quantitative studies to elucidate the role of RH in the partitioning of oxidation products should be conducted to further clarify the mechanism of the influence of RH on SOA formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzeng Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Biwu Chu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Qingxin Ma
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong He
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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24
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Ding Y, Hu B, Zhuang L, Wang J, Wu J, Liu F, Wang J. Confined Channels Induced Coalescence Demulsification and Slippery Interfaces Constructed Fouling Resist-Release for Long-Lasting Oil/Water Separation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:30224-30234. [PMID: 34130447 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c07918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Superwetting membranes based on steric exclusion and affinity difference have drawn substantial interest for oil/water separation. However, the state-of-the-art membranes fail to literally sort out fouling and permeability decline and so limit their viability for long-term separation. Inspired by Dayu's philosophy of "draining rather than blocking water", herein, we achieve a long-lasting and efficient separation for viscous emulsions by designing poly(hydroxyethyl methylacrylate) (PHEMA)- and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-compensated poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes based on coalescence demulsification via chemical coordination phase separation. The symmetric and torturous microporous structure facilitated oil spatial confining and coalescence demulsification, while the synergistic compensation of PHEMA and PDMS coordinated the fouling resist and release properties, which was confirmed by multichannel confocal laser scanning microscopy. The developed membrane shows an unprecedented permeability half-life (τ) for viscous emulsions (e.g., decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, soybean oil paraffin, n-hexadecane, and isooctane) under cross-flow operation, far more beyond common superwetting membranes under applied bench-scale dead-end filtration. Our technique for designing "nonfouling" membranes opens up opportunities for advancing next-generation membranes for oil/water separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Ding
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Bihan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Liwei Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jianqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jindan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Fu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jiping Wang
- Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 200336, P. R. China
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25
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A Deep Look into the Microbiology and Chemistry of Froth Treatment Tailings: A Review. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9051091. [PMID: 34069522 PMCID: PMC8161226 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR), over 1.25 billion m3 of tailings waste from the bitumen extraction process are stored in tailings ponds. Fugitive emissions associated with residual hydrocarbons in tailings ponds pose an environmental concern and include greenhouse gases (GHGs), reduced sulphur compounds (RSCs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Froth treatment tailings (FTT) are a specific type of tailings waste stream from the bitumen froth treatment process that contains bioavailable diluent: either naphtha or paraffins. Tailings ponds that receive FTT are associated with the highest levels of biogenic gas production, as diverse microbial communities biodegrade the residual diluent. In this review, current literature regarding the composition, chemical analysis, and microbial degradation of FTT and its constituents is presented in order to provide a more complete understanding of the complex chemistry and biological processes related to fugitive emissions from tailings ponds receiving FTT. Characterizing the composition and biodegradation of FTT is important from an environmental perspective to better predict emissions from tailings ponds and guide tailings pond management decisions.
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26
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Blanchard D, Aherne J, Makar P. Dissolved Organic Carbon in Lakes of the Athabasca Oil Sands Region: Is Color an Indicator of Acid Sensitivity? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:6791-6803. [PMID: 33913702 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in north-eastern Alberta, Canada, contains the world's third largest known bitumen deposit. Oil sands (OS) operations produce emissions known to contribute to acidic and alkaline deposition, which can alter the chemistry of the receiving surface waters, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Little is known regarding the natural variability of aquatic DOC among lakes within the AOSR. Surface-water data from 50 lakes were analyzed; variables known to be associated with the light-absorptive properties of DOC (true color [TC]) were evaluated to investigate the potential variability of chromophoric DOC (CDOC). Comparison of TC and DOC revealed two distinct "high" (H) and "low" (L) lake subpopulations, the former being characterized by high relative TC and low DOC, and the latter by the inverse. The H lakes were defined by variables known to be associated with CDOC, while L lakes appeared well-buffered potentially owing to groundwater inputs. The divergent optical properties between subpopulations appeared partially attributable to pH-limited Fe complexation. Trajectory analysis indicated that H lakes most likely to receive atmospheric deposition from OS sources experienced significantly lower pH. These results are contrary to previous studies that found OS emissions to have minimal acidifying effect over lakes throughout the AOSR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dane Blanchard
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
| | - Julian Aherne
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
| | - Paul Makar
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3H 5T4
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27
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Drollette BD, Gentner DR, Plata DL. Waste Containment Ponds Are a Major Source of Secondary Organic Aerosol Precursors from Oil Sands Operations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:9872-9881. [PMID: 32806916 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The surface mining and bitumen extraction of oil sands (OS) generates over one million barrels of heavy oil each day in the Alberta Oil Sands Region of Canada. Recent observations suggest that emissions from OS development contribute to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, but the chemical composition, mass fluxes, and sources of those emissions are poorly delineated. Here, we simulated OS extraction and used comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography to quantify and characterize direct air emissions, bitumen froth, residual wastewater, and tailings components, ultimately enabling fate modeling of over 1500 chromatographic features simultaneously. During the non-ice cover season, tailings ponds emissions contributed 15 000-72 000 metric tonnes of hydrocarbon SOA precursors, translating to 3000-13 000 tonnes of SOA, whereas direct emissions during the extraction process itself were notably smaller (960 ± 500 tonnes SOA yr-1). These results suggest that tailings pond waste management practices should be targeted to reduce environmental emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Drollette
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Exponent, Incorporated, Maynard, Massachusetts 01754, United States
| | - Drew R Gentner
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Desiree L Plata
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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28
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Lu Q, Murphy BN, Qin M, Adams PJ, Zhao Y, Pye HOT, Efstathiou C, Allen C, Robinson AL. Simulation of organic aerosol formation during the CalNex study: updated mobile emissions and secondary organic aerosol parameterization for intermediate-volatility organic compounds. ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS 2020; 20:4313-4332. [PMID: 32461753 PMCID: PMC7252505 DOI: 10.5194/acp-20-4313-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We describe simulations using an updated version of the Community Multiscale Air Quality model version 5.3 (CMAQ v5.3) to investigate the contribution of intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in southern California during the CalNex study. We first derive a model-ready parameterization for SOA formation from IVOC emissions from mobile sources. To account for SOA formation from both diesel and gasoline sources, the parameterization has six lumped precursor species that resolve both volatility and molecular structure (aromatic versus aliphatic). We also implement new mobile-source emission profiles that quantify all IVOCs based on direct measurements. The profiles have been released in SPECIATE 5.0. By incorporating both comprehensive mobile-source emission profiles for semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and IVOCs and experimentally constrained SOA yields, this CMAQ configuration best represents the contribution of mobile sources to urban and regional ambient organic aerosol (OA). In the Los Angeles region, gasoline sources emit 4 times more non-methane organic gases (NMOGs) than diesel sources, but diesel emits roughly 3 times more IVOCs on an absolute basis. The revised model predicts all mobile sources (including on- and off-road gasoline, aircraft, and on- and off-road diesel) contribute ~ 1 μgm-3 to the daily peak SOA concentration in Pasadena. This represents a ~ 70% increase in predicted daily peak SOA formation compared to the base version of CMAQ. Therefore, IVOCs in mobile-source emissions contribute almost as much SOA as traditional precursors such as single-ring aromatics. However, accounting for these emissions in CMAQ does not reproduce measurements of either ambient SOA or IVOCs. To investigate the potential contribution of other IVOC sources, we performed two exploratory simulations with varying amounts of IVOC emissions from nonmobile sources. To close the mass balance of primary hydrocarbon IVOCs, IVOCs would need to account for 12% of NMOG emissions from nonmobile sources (or equivalently 30.7 t d-1 in the Los Angeles-Pasadena region), a value that is well within the reported range of IVOC content from volatile chemical products. To close the SOA mass balance and also explain the mildly oxygenated IVOCs in Pasadena, an additional 14.8% of nonmobile-source NMOG emissions would need to be IVOCs (assuming SOA yields from the mobile IVOCs apply to nonmobile IVOCs). However, an IVOC-to-NMOG ratio of 26.8% (or equivalently 68.5 t d-1 in the Los Angeles-Pasadena region) for nonmobile sources is likely unrealistically high. Our results highlight the important contribution of IVOCs to SOA production in the Los Angeles region but underscore that other uncertainties must be addressed (multigenerational aging, aqueous chemistry and vapor wall losses) to close the SOA mass balance. This research also highlights the effectiveness of regulations to reduce mobile-source emissions, which have in turn increased the relative importance of other sources, such as volatile chemical products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanyang Lu
- Center of Atmospheric Particle Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participation Program at the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Benjamin N Murphy
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Momei Qin
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participation Program at the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Peter J Adams
- Center of Atmospheric Particle Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yunliang Zhao
- Center of Atmospheric Particle Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Havala O T Pye
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Christos Efstathiou
- General Dynamics Information Technology Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chris Allen
- General Dynamics Information Technology Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Allen L Robinson
- Center of Atmospheric Particle Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Zhang P, Chen T, Liu J, Chu B, Ma Q, Ma J, He H. Impacts of Mixed Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants on Secondary Particle Formation during Ozonolysis of Butyl Vinyl Ether. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3909-3919. [PMID: 32108486 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To clarify how coexisting atmospheric pollutants affect secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, we investigated the effects of mixed gaseous pollutants (CO and SO2) and mixed organic-inorganic (MOI) particles on SOA formation during n-butyl vinyl ether (BVE) ozonolysis. Higher CO levels (90 ppm) were found to significantly change the chemical composition of SOA (prompting monomers while reducing oligomer formation) without causing much change in the overall SOA mass. Based on the positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis, heterogeneous chemical conversions between preformed and newly formed SOA were the major pathways of SOA formation in the presence of MOI particles. Furthermore, MOI particles had an enhancing effect on SOA formation at 1% relative humidity (RH) but a negligible effect at higher RH (10 and 55%). The enhancing effect was attributed to the formation of multifunctional products resulting from high functionalization of preformed and newly formed SOA. The negligible effect observed was ascribed to the cleavage of unstable oligomers as a result of the reversible oligomerization of preformed and newly formed SOA. Even so, MOI particles could still affect the composition of newly formed SOA. These results highlight the need to account for the significant effect of mixed gaseous and particulate pollutants on both SOA constituents and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tianzeng Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Biwu Chu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingxin Ma
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinzhu Ma
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong He
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Robichaud A. An overview of selected emerging outdoor airborne pollutants and air quality issues: The need to reduce uncertainty about environmental and human impacts. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2020; 70:341-378. [PMID: 31994992 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1723738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
According to the literature, it is estimated that outdoor air pollution is responsible for the premature death in a range from 3.7 to 8.9 million persons on an annual basis across the world. Although there is uncertainty on this figure, outdoor air pollution represents one of the greatest global risks to human health. In North America, the rapid evolution of technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, unconventional oil and gas rapid development, higher demand for fertilizers in agriculture) and growing demand for ground, marine and air transportation may result in significant increases of emissions of pollutants that have not been carefully studied so far. As a result, these atmospheric pollutants insufficiently addressed by science in Canada and elsewhere are becoming a growing issue with likely human and environmental impacts in the near future. Here, an emerging pollutant is defined as one that meets the following criteria: 1) potential or demonstrated risk for humans or the environment, 2) absence of Canada-wide national standard, 3) insufficient routine monitoring, 4) yearly emissions greater than one ton in Canada, 5) insufficient data concerning significant sources, fate, and detection limit, and 6) insufficiently addressed by epidemiological studies. A new methodology to rank emerging pollutants is proposed here based on weighting multiple criteria. Some selected emerging issues are also discussed here and include the growing concern of ultrafine or nanoparticles, growing ammonia emissions (due to rapid expansion of the agriculture), increased methane/ethane/propane emissions (due to the expanding hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas sector) and the growing transportation sector. Finally, the interaction between biological and anthropogenic pollution has been found to be a double threat for public health. Here, a multidisciplinary and critical overview of selected emerging pollutants and related critical issues is presented with a focus in Canada.Implications: This overview paper provides a selection methodology for emerging pollutants in the atmospheric environment. It also provides a critical discussion of some related issues. The ultimate objective is to inform about the need to 1) address emerging issues through adequate surface monitoring and modeling in order to inform the development of regulations, 2) reduce uncertainties by geographically mapping emerging pollutants (e.g., through data fusion, data assimilation of observations into air quality models) which can improve the scientific support of epidemiological studies and policies. This review also highlights some of the difficulties with the management of these emerging pollutants, and the need for an integrated approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Robichaud
- Air Quality Modelling and Integration Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dorval, Quebec
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Shah RU, Coggon MM, Gkatzelis GI, McDonald BC, Tasoglou A, Huber H, Gilman J, Warneke C, Robinson AL, Presto AA. Urban Oxidation Flow Reactor Measurements Reveal Significant Secondary Organic Aerosol Contributions from Volatile Emissions of Emerging Importance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:714-725. [PMID: 31851821 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mobile sampling studies have revealed enhanced levels of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in source-rich urban environments. While these enhancements can be from rapidly reacting vehicular emissions, it was recently hypothesized that nontraditional emissions (volatile chemical products and upstream emissions) are emerging as important sources of urban SOA. We tested this hypothesis by using gas and aerosol mass spectrometry coupled with an oxidation flow reactor (OFR) to characterize pollution levels and SOA potentials in environments influenced by traditional emissions (vehicular, biogenic), and nontraditional emissions (e.g., paint fumes). We used two SOA models to assess contributions of vehicular and biogenic emissions to our observed SOA. The largest gap between observed and modeled SOA potential occurs in the morning-time urban street canyon environment, for which our model can only explain half of our observation. Contributions from VCP emissions (e.g., personal care products) are highest in this environment, suggesting that VCPs are an important missing source of precursors that would close the gap between modeled and observed SOA potential. Targeted OFR oxidation of nontraditional emissions shows that these emissions have SOA potentials that are similar, if not larger, compared to vehicular emissions. Laboratory experiments reveal large differences in SOA potentials of VCPs, implying the need for further characterization of these nontraditional emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishabh U Shah
- Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- Mechanical Engineering , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Matthew M Coggon
- Chemical Sciences Division , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth Systems Research Laboratory , Boulder , Colorado 80305 , United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Georgios I Gkatzelis
- Chemical Sciences Division , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth Systems Research Laboratory , Boulder , Colorado 80305 , United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Brian C McDonald
- Chemical Sciences Division , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth Systems Research Laboratory , Boulder , Colorado 80305 , United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Antonios Tasoglou
- R. J. Lee Group Inc. , Monroeville , Pennsylvania 15146 , United States
| | - Heinz Huber
- R. J. Lee Group Inc. , Monroeville , Pennsylvania 15146 , United States
| | - Jessica Gilman
- Chemical Sciences Division , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth Systems Research Laboratory , Boulder , Colorado 80305 , United States
| | - Carsten Warneke
- Chemical Sciences Division , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth Systems Research Laboratory , Boulder , Colorado 80305 , United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Allen L Robinson
- Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- Mechanical Engineering , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Albert A Presto
- Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- Mechanical Engineering , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
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Cheng Y, Li SM, Liggio J, Gordon M, Darlington A, Zheng Q, Moran M, Liu P, Wolde M. Top-Down Determination of Black Carbon Emissions from Oil Sand Facilities in Alberta, Canada Using Aircraft Measurements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:412-418. [PMID: 31834792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Black carbon (BC) emissions from the Canadian oil sand (OS) surface mining facilities in Alberta were investigated using aircraft measurements. BC emission rates were derived with a top-down mass balance approach and were found to be linearly related to the volume of oil sand ore mined at each facility. Two emission factors were determined from the measurements; production-based BC emission factors were in the range of 0.6-1.7 g/tonne mined OS ore, whereas fuel-based BC emission factors were between 95 and 190 mg/kg-fuel, depending upon the facility. The annual BC emission, at 707 ± 117 tonnes/year for the facilities, was determined using the production-based emission factors and annual production data. Although this annual emission is in reasonable agreement with the BC annual emissions reported in the latest version of the Canadian national BC inventory (within 16%), the relative split between off-road diesel and stack sources is significantly different between the measurements and the inventory. This measurement evidence highlights the fact that the stack sources of BC may be overestimated and the off-road diesel sources may be underestimated in the inventory and points to the need for improved BC emission data from diesel sources within facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Cheng
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Mark Gordon
- Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Andrea Darlington
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Qiong Zheng
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Michael Moran
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Peter Liu
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Mengistu Wolde
- National Research Council Canada, Flight Research Laboratory, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
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Li K, Liggio J, Han C, Liu Q, Moussa SG, Lee P, Li SM. Understanding the Impact of High-NO x Conditions on the Formation of Secondary Organic Aerosol in the Photooxidation of Oil Sand-Related Precursors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:14420-14429. [PMID: 31751130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Oil sands (OS) are an important type of heavy oil deposit, for which operations in Alberta, Canada, were recently found to be a large source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). However, SOA formation from the OS mining, processing, and subsequent tailings, especially in the presence of NOx, remains unclear. Here, photooxidation experiments for OS-related precursors under high-NOx conditions were performed using an oxidation flow reactor, in which ∼95% of peroxy radicals (RO2) react with NO. The SOA yields under high-NOx conditions were found to be lower than yields under low-NOx conditions for all precursors, which is likely due to the higher volatilities of the products from the RO2 + NO pathway compared with RO2 + HO2. The SOA yields under high-NOx conditions show a strong dependence on pre-existing surface area (not observed in previous low-NOx experiments), again attributed to the higher product volatilities. Comparing the mass spectra of SOA formed from different precursors, we conclude that the fraction of m/z > 80 (F80) can be used as a parameter to separate different types of SOA in the region. In addition, particle-phase organic nitrate was found to be an important component (9-23%) of OS SOA formed under high-NOx conditions. These results have implications for better understanding the atmospheric processing of OS emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
| | - Chong Han
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
| | - Qifan Liu
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
| | - Samar G Moussa
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
| | - Patrick Lee
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- Air Quality Process Research Section , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 , Canada
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Rangel-Alvarado RB, Willis CE, Kirk JL, St Louis VL, Amyot M, Bélanger D, Ariya PA. Athabasca oil sands region snow contains efficient micron and nano-sized ice nucleating particles. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 252:289-295. [PMID: 31158657 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, is an important source of atmospheric pollutants, such as aerosols, that have repercussions on both the climate and human health. We show that the mean freezing temperature of snow-borne particles from AOSR was elevated (-7.1 ± 1.8 °C), higher than mineral dust which freezes at ∼ -15 °C and is recognized as one of the most relevant ice nuclei globally. Ice nucleation of nanosized snow samples indicated an elevated freezing ability (-11.6 ± 2.0 °C), which was statistically much higher than snow-borne particles from downtown Montreal. AOSR snow had a higher concentration (∼2 orders of magnitude) of >100 nm particles than Montreal. Triple quadrupole ICP-(QQQ)-MS/MS analysis of AOSR and Montreal snow demonstrated that most concentrations of metals, including those identified as emerging nanoparticulate contaminants, were much more elevated in AOSR in contrast to Montreal: 34.1, 34.1, 16.6, 5.8, 0.3, 0.1, and 9.4 mg/m3 for Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Cd, and Pb respectively, in AOSR and 1.3, 0.3, 2.0, <0.03, 0.1, 0.03, and 1.2 mg/m3 in Montreal snow. High-resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy/Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) imaging provided evidence for various anthropogenic nano-materials, including carbon nanotubes resembling structures, in AOSR snow up to 7-25 km away from major oil sands upgrading facilities. In summary, particles characterized as coming from oil sands are more efficient at ice nucleation. We discuss the potential impacts of AOSR emissions on atmospheric and microphysical processes (ice nucleation and precipitation) both locally and regionally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chelsea E Willis
- Environmental Protection Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, QC, J8Y 3Z5, Canada
| | - Jane L Kirk
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Vincent L St Louis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Dominic Bélanger
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Parisa A Ariya
- Department of Chemistry and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada; Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada.
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Brook JR, Cober SG, Freemark M, Harner T, Li SM, Liggio J, Makar P, Pauli B. Advances in science and applications of air pollution monitoring: A case study on oil sands monitoring targeting ecosystem protection. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2019; 69:661-709. [PMID: 31082314 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1607689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The potential environmental impact of air pollutants emitted from the oil sands industry in Alberta, Canada, has received considerable attention. The mining and processing of bitumen to produce synthetic crude oil, and the waste products associated with this activity, lead to significant emissions of gaseous and particle air pollutants. Deposition of pollutants occurs locally (i.e., near the sources) and also potentially at distances downwind, depending upon each pollutant's chemical and physical properties and meteorological conditions. The Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Program (JOSM) was initiated in 2012 by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta to enhance or improve monitoring of pollutants and their potential impacts. In support of JOSM, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) undertook a significant research effort via three components: the Air, Water, and Wildlife components, which were implemented to better estimate baseline conditions related to levels of pollutants in the air and water, amounts of deposition, and exposures experienced by the biota. The criteria air contaminants (e.g., nitrogen oxides [NOx], sulfur dioxide [SO2], volatile organic compounds [VOCs], particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm [PM2.5]) and their secondary atmospheric products were of interest, as well as toxic compounds, particularly polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), trace metals, and mercury (Hg). This critical review discusses the challenges of assessing ecosystem impacts and summarizes the major results of these efforts through approximately 2018. Focus is on the emissions to the air and the findings from the Air Component of the ECCC research and linkages to observations of contaminant levels in the surface waters in the region, in aquatic species, as well as in terrestrial and avian species. The existing evidence of impact on these species is briefly discussed, as is the potential for some of them to serve as sentinel species for the ongoing monitoring needed to better understand potential effects, their potential causes, and to detect future changes. Quantification of the atmospheric emissions of multiple pollutants needs to be improved, as does an understanding of the processes influencing fugitive emissions and local and regional deposition patterns. The influence of multiple stressors on biota exposure and response, from natural bitumen and forest fires to climate change, complicates the current ability to attribute effects to air emissions from the industry. However, there is growing evidence of the impact of current levels of PACs on some species, pointing to the need to improve the ability to predict PAC exposures and the key emission source involved. Although this critical review attempts to integrate some of the findings across the components, in terms of ECCC activities, increased coordination or integration of air, water, and wildlife research would enhance deeper scientific understanding. Improved understanding is needed in order to guide the development of long-term monitoring strategies that could most efficiently inform a future adaptive management approach to oil sands environmental monitoring and prevention of impacts. Implications: Quantification of atmospheric emissions for multiple pollutants needs to be improved, and reporting mechanisms and standards could be adapted to facilitate such improvements, including periodic validation, particularly where uncertainties are the largest. Understanding of baseline conditions in the air, water and biota has improved significantly; ongoing enhanced monitoring, building on this progress, will help improve ecosystem protection measures in the oil sands region. Sentinel species have been identified that could be used to identify and characterize potential impacts of wildlife exposure, both locally and regionally. Polycyclic aromatic compounds are identified as having an impact on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife at current concentration levels although the significance of these impacts and attribution to emissions from oil sands development requires further assessment. Given the improvement in high resolution air quality prediction models, these should be a valuable tool to future environmental assessments and cumulative environment impact assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Brook
- a Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - S G Cober
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - M Freemark
- c National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change, Ottawa , Canada
| | - T Harner
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - S M Li
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - J Liggio
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - P Makar
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - B Pauli
- c National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change, Ottawa , Canada
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36
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McCune JL, Colla SR, Coristine LE, Davy CM, Flockhart DT, Schuster R, Orihel DM. Are we accurately estimating the potential role of pollution in the decline of species at risk in Canada? Facets (Ott) 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2019-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollution is a pervasive, albeit often invisible, threat to biodiversity in Canada. Currently, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) relies on expert opinion to assess the scope (i.e., the proportion of a species’ population that may be affected) of pollution to species at risk. Here, we describe a spatially explicit, quantitative method for assessing the scope of pollution as a threat to species at risk in Canada. Using this method, we quantified the geographic co-occurrence of 488 terrestrial and freshwater species and pollution sources and determined that, on average, 57% of the mapped occurrences of each species at risk co-occurred with at least one pollution source. Furthermore, we found a weak correlation between the scope of the threat of pollution as assessed by COSEWIC expert panels and the geographic overlap of species occurrences and pollution sources that we determined with our quantitative method. Experts frequently identified scope of pollution as absent or negligible even for species with extensive co-occurrence with pollution sources, especially vascular plants. Clearly, a quantitative approach is needed to make accurate estimates of the scope of pollution as a threat to species at risk in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L. McCune
- Geomatics and Landscape Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Sheila R. Colla
- Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Laura E. Coristine
- Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia—Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Christina M. Davy
- Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - D.T. Tyler Flockhart
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, MD 21532, USA
| | - Richard Schuster
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
- Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - Diane M. Orihel
- School of Environmental Studies and Department of Biology, Queen’s University, 116 Barrie Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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Chen T, Liu Y, Chu B, Liu C, Liu J, Ge Y, Ma Q, Ma J, He H. Differences of the oxidation process and secondary organic aerosol formation at low and high precursor concentrations. J Environ Sci (China) 2019; 79:256-263. [PMID: 30784449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Current atmospheric quality models usually underestimate the level of ambient secondary organic aerosol (SOA), one of the possible reasons is that the precursors at different concentrations may undergo different oxidation processes and further affect SOA formation. Therefore, there is a need to perform more chamber studies to disclose the influence. In this work, SOA formation over a wide range of initial precursor concentrations (tens of ppb to hundreds of ppb levels) was investigated in a 30 m3 indoor smog chamber, and mainly through the analysis of multiple generations of VOCs detected from HR-ToF-PTRMS to expound the difference in the oxidation process between low and high precursor concentrations. Compared to high initial concentrations, gas-phase intermediates formed at low concentrations had a higher intensity by about one order of magnitude, and the low-volatility compounds also had a higher formation potential due to the competition between semi-volatile intermediates and precursors with oxidants. In addition, the formed SOA was more oxidized with higher f44 value (0.14 ± 0.02) and more relevant to real atmosphere than that formed at high concentrations. This work should help to deeply understand SOA formation and improve the performance of air quality models for SOA simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzeng Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yongchun Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Biwu Chu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Changgeng Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanli Ge
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingxin Ma
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinzhu Ma
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong He
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Measured Canadian oil sands CO 2 emissions are higher than estimates made using internationally recommended methods. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1863. [PMID: 31015411 PMCID: PMC6478833 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09714-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The oil and gas (O&G) sector represents a large source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. However, estimates of O&G emissions rely upon bottom-up approaches, and are rarely evaluated through atmospheric measurements. Here, we use aircraft measurements over the Canadian oil sands (OS) to derive the first top-down, measurement-based determination of the their annual CO2 emissions and intensities. The results indicate that CO2 emission intensities for OS facilities are 13-123% larger than those estimated using publically available data. This leads to 64% higher annual GHG emissions from surface mining operations, and 30% higher overall OS GHG emissions (17 Mt) compared to that reported by industry, despite emissions reporting which uses the most up to date and recommended bottom-up approaches. Given the similarity in bottom-up reporting methods across the entire O&G sector, these results suggest that O&G CO2 emissions inventory data may be more uncertain than previously considered.
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Liu H, Tian H, Zhang K, Liu S, Cheng K, Yin S, Liu Y, Liu X, Wu Y, Liu W, Bai X, Wang Y, Shao P, Luo L, Lin S, Chen J, Liu X. Seasonal variation, formation mechanisms and potential sources of PM 2.5 in two typical cities in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:657-670. [PMID: 30677932 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In order to probe the seasonal variation, formation mechanisms as well as geographical origins of fine particles and its chemical components in two cities (Zhengzhou, ZZ and Xinxiang, XX) in Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, daily PM2.5 aerosol samples were collected for four consecutive seasons during 2017-2018. The annual average concentrations of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm) were calculated at 70.5 ± 50.8 and 69.0 ± 46.3 μg m-3 at ZZ and XX, respectively. Daily ambient PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 18.2 to 303.0 μg m-3, among which >81% of the total sampling days exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of China (NAAQS, 35 μg m-3 as an annual average). Additionally, concentrations of PM2.5 and its major chemical components were seasonally dependent, usually with the highest mass concentration in winter. Compared with previous studies, higher NO3-/SO42- were observed in this study depicted that air pollution caused by motor vehicle exhaust cannot be ignored. OC concentration was higher at ZZ than XX during sampling campaign likely partially caused by larger number of motor vehicles, chemical pesticide and solvent used in ZZ. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions played an important role in the formation of nitrate, while heterogeneous reactions dominated the formation of sulfate. We also found a faster increase in nitrate than in sulfate during the evolution of haze. The characteristics of long-range transportation of PM2.5 and its major chemical components and gaseous precursors were observed at both sites through back trajectories and WPSCF analysis, suggesting the complexity of air pollution and the multi-influence among cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanjia Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Hezhong Tian
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Shuhan Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ke Cheng
- School of Environment, Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Shasha Yin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Research Institute of Environmental Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yongli Liu
- School of Environment, Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Xiangyang Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yiming Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Bai
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yong Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Panyang Shao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lining Luo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shumin Lin
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jing Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xingang Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Liu JM, Du ZY, Gordon M, Liang LL, Ma YL, Zheng M, Cheng Y, He KB. The characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol in Beijing during a season of transition. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 212:1010-1019. [PMID: 30286530 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.08.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Carbonaceous aerosol was measured during fall of 2010 in Beijing. Daily variation of organic carbon (OC) was found to coincide with that of relative humidity (RH), and the OC to elemental carbon (EC) ratios were more than doubled during the more humid periods (RH above 0.75) compared to other conditions. This large increase in OC/EC could not be explained by the variations of primary biomass burning emissions but was accompanied by a five-fold increase in the sulfate to EC ratio. It was then inferred that secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation was enhanced under the more humid conditions, presumably through aqueous-phase processes. This enhanced SOA formation might be partially associated with particles externally mixed with black carbon, as indicated by the RH-dependent relationships between aerosol optical attenuation and EC loading. In addition, organic aerosols exhibited different properties between the more humid and the other periods, such that they were less volatile and charred more significantly during thermal-optical analysis in the former case. These differences coincided with the evidence of enhanced SOA formation under the more humid conditions. This study highlights the necessity of incorporating aqueous-phase chemistry into air quality models for SOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiu-Meng Liu
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Du
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing, China
| | - Mark Gordon
- Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lin-Lin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather and Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Liang Ma
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Zheng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Cheng
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
| | - Ke-Bin He
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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41
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Bari MA, Kindzierski WB. Ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in communities of the Athabasca oil sands region: Sources and screening health risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 235:602-614. [PMID: 29331893 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 11/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
An investigation of ambient levels and sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and associated public health risks was carried out at two northern Alberta oil sands communities (Fort McKay and Fort McMurray located < 25 km and >30 km from oil sands development, respectively) for the period January 2010-March 2015. Levels of total detected VOCs were comparatively similar at both communities (Fort McKay: geometric mean = 22.8 μg/m3, interquartile range, IQR = 13.8-41 μg/m3); (Fort McMurray: geometric mean = 23.3 μg/m3, IQR = 12.0-41 μg/m3). In general, methanol (24%-50%), alkanes (26%-32%) and acetaldehyde (23%-30%) were the predominant VOCs followed by acetone (20%-24%) and aromatics (∼9%). Mean and maximum ambient concentrations of selected hazardous VOCs were compared to health risk screening criteria used by United States regulatory agencies. The Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to identify and apportion VOC sources at Fort McKay and Fort McMurray. Five sources were identified at Fort McKay, where four sources (oil sands fugitives, liquid/unburned fuel, ethylbenzene/xylene-rich and petroleum processing) were oil sands related emissions and contributed to 70% of total VOCs. At Fort McMurray six sources were identified, where local sources other than oil sands development were also observed. Contribution of aged air mass/regional transport including biomass burning emissions was ∼30% of total VOCs at both communities. Source-specific carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values were also calculated and were below acceptable and safe levels of risk, except for aged air mass/regional transport (at both communities), and ethylbenzene/xylene-rich (only at Fort McMurray).
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Aynul Bari
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-57 South Academic Building, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9 Canada.
| | - Warren B Kindzierski
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-57 South Academic Building, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9 Canada
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Li K, Li J, Wang W, Li J, Peng C, Wang D, Ge M. Effects of Gas-Particle Partitioning on Refractive Index and Chemical Composition of m-Xylene Secondary Organic Aerosol. J Phys Chem A 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b12792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Junling Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Weigang Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jiangjun Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Chao Peng
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Dong Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Maofa Ge
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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43
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Willis CE, Kirk JL, St Louis VL, Lehnherr I, Ariya PA, Rangel-Alvarado RB. Sources of Methylmercury to Snowpacks of the Alberta Oil Sands Region: A Study of In Situ Methylation and Particulates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:531-540. [PMID: 29198105 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Snowpacks in the Alberta Oil Sands Region (AOSR) of Canada contain elevated loadings of methylmercury (MeHg; a neurotoxin that biomagnifies through foodwebs) due to oil sands related activities. At sites ranging from 0 to 134 km from the major AOSR upgrading facilities, we examined sources of MeHg by quantifying potential rates of MeHg production in snowpacks and melted snow using mercury stable isotope tracer experiments, as well as quantifying concentrations of MeHg on particles in snowpacks (pMeHg). At four sites, methylation rate constants were low in snowpacks (km = 0.001-0.004 d-1) and nondetectable in melted snow, except at one site (km = 0.0007 d-1). The ratio of methylation to demethylation varied between 0.3 and 1.5, suggesting that the two processes are in balance and that in situ production is unlikely an important net source of MeHg to AOSR snowpacks. pMeHg concentrations increased linearly with distance from the upgraders (R2 = 0.71, p < 0.0001); however, snowpack total particle and pMeHg loadings decreased exponentially over this same distance (R2 = 0.49, p = 0.0002; R2 = 0.56, p < 0.0001). Thus, at near-field sites, total MeHg loadings in snowpacks were high due to high particle loadings, even though particles originating from industrial activities were not MeHg rich compared to those at remote sites. More research is required to identify the industrial sources of snowpack particles in the AOSR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea E Willis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jane L Kirk
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division , Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Vincent L St Louis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga , Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
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Liggio J, Stroud CA, Wentzell JJB, Zhang J, Sommers J, Darlington A, Liu PSK, Moussa SG, Leithead A, Hayden K, Mittermeier RL, Staebler R, Wolde M, Li SM. Quantifying the Primary Emissions and Photochemical Formation of Isocyanic Acid Downwind of Oil Sands Operations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:14462-14471. [PMID: 29210280 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Isocyanic acid (HNCO) is a known toxic species and yet the relative importance of primary and secondary sources to regional HNCO and population exposure remains unclear. Off-road diesel fuel combustion has previously been suggested to be an important regional source of HNCO, which implies that major industrial facilities such as the oil sands (OS), which consume large quantities of diesel fuel, can be sources of HNCO. The OS emissions of nontraditional toxic species such as HNCO have not been assessed. Here, airborne measurements of HNCO were used to estimate primary and secondary HNCO for the oil sands. Approximately 6.2 ± 1.1 kg hr-1 was emitted from off-road diesel activities within oil sands facilities, and an additional 116-186 kg hr-1 formed from the photochemical oxidation of diesel exhaust. Together, the primary and secondary HNCO from OS operations represent a significant anthropogenic HNCO source in Canada. The secondary HNCO downwind of the OS was enhanced by up to a factor of 20 relative to its primary emission, an enhancement factor significantly greater than previously estimated from laboratory studies. Incorporating HNCO emissions and formation into a regional model demonstrated that the HNCO levels in Fort McMurray (∼10-70 km downwind of the OS) are controlled by OS emissions; > 50% of the monthly mean HNCO arose from the OS. While the mean HNCO levels in Fort McMurray are predicted to be below the 1000 pptv level associated with potential negative health impacts, (∼25 pptv in August-September), an order of magnitude increase in concentration is predicted (250-600 pptv) when the town is directly impacted by OS plumes. The results here highlight the importance of obtaining at-source HNCO emission factors and advancing the understanding of secondary HNCO formation mechanisms, to assess and improve HNCO population exposure predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Liggio
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Craig A Stroud
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Jeremy J B Wentzell
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Junhua Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Jacob Sommers
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Andrea Darlington
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Peter S K Liu
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Samar G Moussa
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Amy Leithead
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Richard L Mittermeier
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Ralf Staebler
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
| | - Mengistu Wolde
- National Research Council Canada , Flight Research Laboratory, Ottawa, Ontario Canada , K1A 0R6
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario Canada , M3H 5T4
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Munkittrick KR, Arciszewski TJ. Using normal ranges for interpreting results of monitoring and tiering to guide future work: A case study of increasing polycyclic aromatic compounds in lake sediments from the Cold Lake oil sands (Alberta, Canada) described in Korosi et al. (2016). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 231:1215-1222. [PMID: 28760527 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Since the publishing of the Kelly et al. papers (2009, 2010) describing elevated contaminants in snow near the Alberta oil sands, there has been a significant expansion of monitoring efforts, enhanced by $50M a year contributed by industry to a regional Joint Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM) program. In parallel to the intensification of research and monitoring efforts, including expansion of measured indicators, techniques for chemical analysis have also become more sensitive. Both factors contribute to the increased sensitivity and power, and improve our capacity to detect any change. The increase in capability requires a counterbalance to account for trivial change. This can be done using an interpretative approach that requires contextualization of differences to meaningfully inform environmental monitoring programs and provide focus for action. Experience obtained through 25 years of involvement with Canada's Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program has shown that a tiered program informed by triggers can provide the context to make decisions about monitoring priorities. Here we provide a potential interpretation framework using a case study around the Korosi et al. (2016) study which found recent increases in alkylated polycyclic aromatic compounds (aPACs) in the Cold Lake in situ oil sands area. Public contaminant profiles from the JOSM studies in the oil sands region are used to evaluate the changes using an interpretation framework based on estimated normal ranges using existing data for site-specific, local and regional (distant) levels that was modelled after the tiered Canadian EEM design.
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Wnorowski A, Charland JP. Profiling quinones in ambient air samples collected from the Athabasca region (Canada). CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 189:55-66. [PMID: 28926789 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents new findings on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon oxidation products-quinones that were collected in ambient air samples in the proximity of oil sands exploration. Quinones were characterized for their diurnal concentration variability, phase partitioning, and molecular size distribution. Gas-phase (GP) and particle-phase (PM) ambient air samples were collected separately in the summer; a lower quinone content was observed in the PM samples from continuous 24-h sampling than from combined 12-h sampling (day and night). The daytime/nocturnal samples demonstrated that nighttime conditions led to lower concentrations and some quinones not being detected. The highest quinone levels were associated with wind directions originating from oil sands exploration sites. The statistical correlation with primary pollutants directly emitted from oil sands industrial activities indicated that the bulk of the detected quinones did not originate directly from primary emission sources and that quinone formation paralleled a reduction in primary source NOx levels. This suggests a secondary chemical transformation of primary pollutants as the origin of the determined quinones. Measurements of 19 quinones included five that have not previously been reported in ambient air or in Standard Reference Material 1649a/1649b and seven that have not been previously measured in ambient air in the underivatized form. This is the first paper to report on quinone characterization in secondary organic aerosols originating from oil sands activities, to distinguish chrysenequinone and anthraquinone positional isomers in ambient air, and to report the requirement of daylight conditions for benzo[a]pyrenequinone and naphthacenequinone to be present in ambient air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Wnorowski
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate, Air Quality Research Division, Analysis and Air Quality Section, 335 River Rd., Ottawa, ON, K1V 1C7, Canada.
| | - Jean-Pierre Charland
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate, Air Quality Research Division, Analysis and Air Quality Section, 335 River Rd., Ottawa, ON, K1V 1C7, Canada
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47
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Udagawa O, Furuyama A, Imai K, Fujitani Y, Hirano S. Effects of diesel exhaust-derived secondary organic aerosol (SOA) on oocytes: Potential risks to meiotic maturation. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 75:56-64. [PMID: 29158200 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Particulate air pollution (PM 2.5) is a worldwide concern. Growing epidemiological evidence has shown pathophysiological effects of PM 2.5, not only on cardiovascular system but also on reproductive performance. The composition and physicochemical properties of PM 2.5 vary depending on the emission sources, climate conditions, and complex chemical reactions in the air. These factors make it difficult to understand the cause and mechanistic details of the adverse health effects of PM 2.5. Here, we show potential impacts of PM 2.5 on oocyte maturation in mice by utilizing diesel exhaust-derived secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a major component of urban PM 2.5. We found that the SOA destabilized microtubules of mouse oocytes and p-benzoquinone is one of the candidates for the microtubule-destabilizing compounds. We propose that some biologically reactive components of PM 2.5 should be prioritized for the regulation of atmospheric quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Udagawa
- Center for Health & Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Akiko Furuyama
- Center for Health & Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Koji Imai
- Center for Health & Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuji Fujitani
- Center for Health & Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Seishiro Hirano
- Center for Health & Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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48
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Bari MA, Kindzierski WB. Ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in Canadian oil sands communities: Levels, sources and potential human health risk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 595:828-838. [PMID: 28411566 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
An investigation of levels and potential sources affecting ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and associated risk to public health was undertaken at two Canadian oil sands communities (Fort McKay and Fort McMurray) using a 4-year dataset (2010-2013). Geometric mean concentrations of PM2.5 at Fort McKay and Fort McMurray are not considered high and were 5.47μg/m3 (interquartile range, IQR=3.02-8.55μg/m3) and 4.96μg/m3 (IQR=3.20-7.04μg/m3), respectively. Carcinogenic risks of trace elements were below acceptable (1×10-6) and/or within tolerable risk (1×10-4), and non-carcinogenic risks were below a safe level of concern (hazard index=1). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) modeling revealed five sources, where fugitive dust appeared as the major contributor to PM2.5 mass (Fort McKay: 32%, Fort McMurray: 46%) followed by secondary sulfate (31%, 42%) and secondary nitrate/biomass burning (26%, 8%). Other minor sources included a mining/mobile and a Mn-rich/Mn-Co-Zn-rich source. Source-specific risk values were also estimated and were well below acceptable and safe level of risks. Further work would be needed to better understand the contribution of secondary organic aerosols to PM2.5 formation in these oil sands communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Aynul Bari
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-57 South Academic Building, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada.
| | - Warren B Kindzierski
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-57 South Academic Building, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
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49
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Torres A, Amaya Suárez J, R. Remesal E, Márquez AM, Fernández Sanz J, Rincón Cañibano C. Adsorption of Prototypical Asphaltenes on Silica: First-Principles DFT Simulations Including Dispersion Corrections. J Phys Chem B 2017; 122:618-624. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b05188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Torres
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Amaya Suárez
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Elena R. Remesal
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Antonio M. Márquez
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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50
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Mungall EL, Abbatt JPD, Wentzell JJB, Lee AKY, Thomas JL, Blais M, Gosselin M, Miller LA, Papakyriakou T, Willis MD, Liggio J. Microlayer source of oxygenated volatile organic compounds in the summertime marine Arctic boundary layer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:6203-6208. [PMID: 28559340 PMCID: PMC5474767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1620571114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Summertime Arctic shipboard observations of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) such as organic acids, key precursors of climatically active secondary organic aerosol (SOA), are consistent with a novel source of OVOCs to the marine boundary layer via chemistry at the sea surface microlayer. Although this source has been studied in a laboratory setting, organic acid emissions from the sea surface microlayer have not previously been observed in ambient marine environments. Correlations between measurements of OVOCs, including high levels of formic acid, in the atmosphere (measured by an online high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer) and dissolved organic matter in the ocean point to a marine source for the measured OVOCs. That this source is photomediated is indicated by correlations between the diurnal cycles of the OVOC measurements and solar radiation. In contrast, the OVOCs do not correlate with levels of isoprene, monoterpenes, or dimethyl sulfide. Results from box model calculations are consistent with heterogeneous chemistry as the source of the measured OVOCs. As sea ice retreats and dissolved organic carbon inputs to the Arctic increase, the impact of this source on the summer Arctic atmosphere is likely to increase. Globally, this source should be assessed in other marine environments to quantify its impact on OVOC and SOA burdens in the atmosphere, and ultimately on climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Mungall
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada ON M5S 3H6
| | - Jonathan P D Abbatt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada ON M5S 3H6;
| | - Jeremy J B Wentzell
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada M3H 5T4
| | - Alex K Y Lee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576
| | - Jennie L Thomas
- Sorbonne Universités, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Université Versailles St-Quentin, CNRS, Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers, Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, 75252 Paris, France
| | - Marjolaine Blais
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski (Québec-Océan), Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC, Canada G5L 3A1
| | - Michel Gosselin
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski (Québec-Océan), Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC, Canada G5L 3A1
| | - Lisa A Miller
- Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sidney, BC, Canada V8L 4B2
| | - Tim Papakyriakou
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Megan D Willis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada ON M5S 3H6
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada M3H 5T4
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