Chemical Characteristics, Spatiotemporal Distribution, and Source Apportionment of PM2.5 Surrounding Industrial Complexes in Southern Kaohsiung
Huazhen Shen, Po-Hung Cheng, Chung‐Shin Yuan, Zong-Mou Yang, Chung-Min Hung, Iau-Ren Ie
Abstract
This study investigated PM2.5, specifically, its chemical characteristics and spatiotemporal variation, and identified its potential sources in the Linhai industrial complex of southern Kaohsiung. Seasonal 12-h PM2.5 samples were collected simultaneously at three sampling sites. The results showed that high PM2.5 concentrations mainly occurred during winter and spring, with concentrations at the downwind sites always exceeding those at the upwind sites due to the transport of secondary aerosol by the prevailing winds. 31.4–56.8% of the PM2.5 consisted of water-soluble ions (WSIs), which were dominated by secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) (SO42– + NO3– + NH4+). High mass ratios between the SIA and the PM2.5 (SIA/PM2.5) were also observed during winter and spring, suggesting that SIA was the primary contributor to the high levels of PM2.5. A neutralization ratio (NR) < 1 indicated that the PM2.5 was acidic, and a nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR) > 0.1 and a sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) > 0.25 showed that SIA frequently formed during winter and spring. The metallic elements, which accounted for 12.0–20.2% of the PM2.5, tended to exhibit higher concentrations during daytime than nighttime, and the enrichment factors (EFs) revealed that the trace metals (Ni, Cr, Cu, and Zn) were mainly anthropogenic in origin. Carbonaceous content formed 9.3–24.3% of the PM2.5, and high mass ratios between the organic and the elemental carbon (OC/EC) were also observed during winter and spring. Moreover, the mass ratios between the malonic and the succinic acid (M/S) were always > 1.0 during winter and spring and < 1.0 during summer and fall, demonstrating that organic acids dominated the SOA during the first two seasons. The major sources of PM2.5 in the Linhai industrial complex were steel plants, followed by secondary sulfate and nitrate, vehicular exhaust, petrochemical plants, and incinerators.