Determination of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and ammonia in ambient air using the passive sampling method associated with ion chromatographic and potentiometric analyses

Abstract

Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ), and ammonia (NH 3 ) were determined in the ambient air of Al-Ain city over a year using the passive sampling method associated with ion chromatographic and potentiometric detections. IVL samplers were used for collecting nitrogen and sulfur dioxides whereas Ogawa samplers were used for collecting ozone and ammonia. Five sites representing the industrial, traffic, commercial, residential, and background regions of the city were monitored in the course of this investigation. Year average concentrations of ≤59.26, 15.15, 17.03, and 11.88 μg/m 3 were obtained for NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 , and NH 3 , respectively. These values are lower than the maxima recommended for ambient air quality standards by the local environmental agency and the world health organization. Results obtained were correlated with the three meteorological parameters: humidity, wind speed, and temperature recorded during the same period of time using the paired t test, probability p values, and correlation coefficients. Humidity and wind speed showed insignificant effects on NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 , and NH 3 concentrations at 95% confidence level. Temperature showed insignificant effects on the concentrations of NO 2 and NH 3 while significant effects on SO 2 and O 3 were observed. Nonlinear correlations (R 2 ≤ 0.722) were obtained for the changes in measured concentrations with changes in the three meteorological parameters. Passive samplers were shown to be not only precise (RSD≤13.57) but also of low cost, low technical demand, and expediency in monitoring different locations.

A pilot study of gaseous pollutants' measurement (NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, NH<sub>3</sub>, HNO<sub>3</sub> and O<sub>3</sub>) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: contribution to an overview of gaseous pollution in African cities

“…This concentration in Abidjan is comparable to those measured in Bamako (16.2 ppb) and Shenzhen (20.7 ppb) reported by Adon et al (2016) and Xia et al (2017). However, it remains lower than the concentrations obtained in Dakar (31.7 ppb) and Al Ain in the Middle East (31.5 ppb) and reported respectively by Adon et al (2016) and Salem et al (2009). The average concentration of NH 3 measured at the Abidjan traffic site (27.2 ppb) in this study is higher than those obtained in Dakar (21.1 ppb), Al Ain (17.1 ppb) and St John's (9.5 ppb), respectively reported by Adon et al (2016), Salem et al (2009) and Kumar et al (2004).…”

“…However, it remains lower than the concentrations obtained in Dakar (31.7 ppb) and Al Ain in the Middle East (31.5 ppb) and reported respectively by Adon et al (2016) and Salem et al (2009). The average concentration of NH 3 measured at the Abidjan traffic site (27.2 ppb) in this study is higher than those obtained in Dakar (21.1 ppb), Al Ain (17.1 ppb) and St John's (9.5 ppb), respectively reported by Adon et al (2016), Salem et al (2009) and Kumar et al (2004). Adon et al (2016) also reported a concentration of NH 3 in Bamako (46.7 ppb) 2 times higher than that obtained in Abidjan.…”

“…Passive samplers have also been used for the measurement of gaseous pollutants' concentration in urban areas during the POLCA program (Adon et al, 2016). Passive samplers can be used for indoor and outdoor pollution monitoring in all environments (Salem et al, 2009) and provide good results (Gorecki and Namiesnik, 2002). Moreover, they are suitable to investigate the spatial distribution of gaseous pollutants in an air quality monitoring network (Carmichael et al, 2003;Cox, 2003;Cruz et al, 2004).…”

Passive Sampling of Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide at Toll Plazas in Malaysia

“…Majority of the studies reviewed revealed results comparable to outdoor NO 2 concentrations measured at Putra-Makhota and Kajang Toll Plaza, with low and medium traffic densities respectively. For example, NO 2 concentrations in a high traffic area in Abu Dhabi varied from 0.023 to 0.043 [53], while da Silva et al [21], reported NO 2 concentrations ranging between 0.031 -0.036 in Brazil, which are within the range of NO 2 concentrations measured at Putra Makhota Toll Plaza. High traffic density highway NO 2 concentration in Texas [54] was found to be lower than those reported in this study, as well as Salem et al [53] and da Silva [21].…”

Associativity Analysis of SO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> for Alberta Monitoring Data Using KZ Filtering and Hierarchical Clustering

“…Their disadvantages are low sensitivity, inability to resolve short duration 15 concentration peaks, and adverse effects of meteorological conditions on reported observations (Tang et al 1997(Tang et al , 1999Krupa and Legge, 2000;Tang, 2001;Kirby et al, 2001;Partyka et al, 2007;Fraczek et al, 2009;Salem et al, 2009;Zabiegala et al, 2010). Moreover, the passive monitors depend on monthly meteorological information, needed in order to calculate diffusion rates.…”