Characteristics of Ambient Black Carbon Mass and Size-Resolved Particle Number Concentrations during Corn Straw Open-Field Burning Episode Observations at a Rural Site in Southern Taiwan

Abstract

Information on the effect of open-field burning of agricultural residues on ambient black carbon (BC) mass and size-resolved particle number concentrations is scarce. In this study, to understand the effect of such open-field burning on short-term air quality, real-time variations of the BC mass and size-resolved particle number concentrations were monitored before and during a corn straw open-field burning episode at a rural site. Correlations between the BC mass and size-resolved particle number concentrations during the episode were investigated. Moreover, the particle number size distribution and absorption Ångström exponent were determined for obtaining the characteristics of aerosol emissions from the corn straw open-field burning. The results can be used to address public health concerns and as a reference for managing similar episodes of open-field burning of agricultural residues.

Association of Long-term Exposure to Airborne Particulate Matter of 1 μm or Less With Preterm Birth in China

“…26 The reason for this finding may be that some women engage in more outdoor activities in autumn, for example, farmers tend to their harvest during this season. 5,27,28 In addition, we found that mothers from rural areas who were farmers appeared to be particularly sensitive to PM 1 exposure. Their lower socioeconomic status, excess exposure due to outdoor work, and shortage of protective measures (eg, use of a mask or air purifier and building design) could be reasons for the apparent enhanced risk.…”

Chemical characterization of fine particulate matter, source apportionment and long-range transport clusters in Thohoyandou, South Africa

“…The first component is comprised of Na, Mg, Si, Al, Sb, S, Ca, Zr, and soot. Mg, Al, Si, Ca has been linked with crustal materials throughout the literature (Zhang et al, 2008;Xia and Gao, 2011;Santanna et al, 2016;Yu et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2013;Cheng et al, 2016) and thus component one is showing emissions from crustal material i.e. dust resuspension.…”

The impact of PM2.5 on kidney

“…PM2.5 concentrations shows strong seasonality (Bell et al, 2007), and pollutant sources from different regions also showed obvious differences (Bell et al, 2007; Song et al, 2017). In rural areas, particulate matters mainly come from open‐field burning of agricultural residues (Cheng & Yang, 2016). In big cities, they mainly come from vehicle emissions and industrial fuel burning (Xu, Nie, et al, 2018).…”