Regional Characteristics of Sulfur and Lead Isotope Ratios in the Atmosphere at Several Chinese Urban Sites

Abstract

Sulfur and lead isotope ratios in the atmosphere were measured at several selected sites (Harbin, Changchun, Dalian, Waliguan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guiyang) in China and Tsukuba (Japan), to reveal regional sources characteristics over Eastern Asia. Average S isotope ratios for SO2 and sulfate in the atmosphere in China were close to those of the coals used in each region, indicating a considerable contribution of coal combustion to the sulfur compounds in the atmosphere. Most northern cities had around 5% sulfur isotope ratio, while Guiyang, a southwestern city in China, showed a considerably lower sulfur isotope ratio (about -3%) because of the unusually light sulfur isotope ratio of coals in this region. These were considerably different from the value (-1.4%) for Tsukuba (Japan). Lead isotope ratios also suggested that coal combustion considerably contributed to atmospheric lead in some cases in China. At the same time, influences by the emission of Chinese lead ores were also observed in northern cities. Seasonal variations of both sulfur and lead isotope ratios indicated the existence of a certain amount of industrial sources other than coal combustion. In addition, fractionation effect between SO2 and sulfate showed a seasonal tendency (high in winter (0-6%) and low in summer (-1-3%)), suggesting the oxidation pathway of SO2 changed seasonally.

Chemical characteristics and ^|^delta;34S^|^ndash;SO42^|^minus; of acid rain: Anthropogenic sulfate deposition and its impacts on CO2 consumption in the rural karst area of southwest China

“…Thus, we concluded that the SO x produced by the combustion of local coal was the main source of anthropogenic sulfate in the rainwaters. This is same as was found in other studies of rain in China (Aas et al, 2007;Larssen et al, 2006;Mukai et al, 2001;Xiao and Liu, 2002). The δ 34 S-SO 4 2-NSS of precipitation of type SE, type SW, and type S were -10.7‰, -9.2‰, and -8.0‰, respectively, and we link these differences to different sulfate sources, as these samples were collected in the same season, between the end of May and the beginning of June, 2007.…”

Effect of the pollution control measures on PM2.5 during the 2015 China Victory Day Parade: Implication from water-soluble ions and sulfur isotope

“…Sulfur from coal combustion is an important source for atmospheric sulfur in China (Mukai et al, 2001;Guo et al, 2010). It is reported that the d 34 S values of atmospheric sulfate in different regions of China are associated with local coal combustion (Mukai et al, 2001).…”

“…Guo et al, 2016). Many investigations have been conducted in Europe (Sinha et al, 2008), China (Mukai et al, 2001;Guo et al, 2010;, Japan (Sakata et al, 2013) and Antarctica (Kunasek et al, 2010) to trace atmospheric sulfate sources using sulfur isotopes. Recently, Z. investigated the sulfur isotopic composition of PM 2.5 in Nanjing and identified the major sulfur sources of PM 2.5 .…”

Chemical and sulfur isotopic composition of precipitation in Beijing, China

“…Previous studies (e.g., Mukai et al 2001;Xiao and Liu 2002;Zhang et al 2010a) have suggested that coal burning gives a significant contribution to rainwater sulfate in most Chinese cities. The δ 34 S values of Chinese coals exhibit a very wide range (−15 to + 50‰).…”