Size-resolved characteristics of inorganic ionic species in atmospheric aerosols at a regional background site on the South African Highveld

Venter, Andrew D.; Zyl, Pieter G. van; Beukes, Johan P.; Swartz, Jan-Stefan; Josipovic, Miroslav; Vakkari, Ville; Laakso, Lauri; Kulmala, Markku

doi:10.1007/s10874-018-9378-z

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The species K + , an excellent tracer for wood and biomass burning (Zhang et al, 2013;Yu et al, 2016), is present in higher abundances during winter, as also observed by Venter et al (2018) at Welgegund. This is consistent with the fire burning season, which reaches maximum intensity in South Africa in September (Scholes et al, 1996a and b).…”

Section: Ionic Sosupporting

confidence: 63%

“…2and NH 4 + were the most abundant species in PM 2.5 . This has also been seen in a number of studies undertaken at various sites in South Africa (Tiitta et al, 2014;Conradie et al, 2016;Venter et al, 2018;Muyemeki et al, 2021). These species are strongly correlated at both sites, again indicating a common secondary origin, such as coal combustion, of these species.…”

Section: Ionic Somentioning

confidence: 52%

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Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse aerosols in Embalenhle and Kinross, South Africa

Walton¹,

Piketh

Zyl

et al. 2021

Clean Air J.

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The South African Highveld is recognised as a region having significant negative ambient air quality impacts with its declaration as an Air Quality Priority Area in 2007. Such areas require the implementation of specific air quality intervention strategies to address the air quality situation. A greater understanding of the composition of the atmospheric aerosol loading and the contributing air pollution sources will assist with the formulation and implementation of these strategies. This study aims to assess the composition and sources of the aerosol loading in Embalenhle and Kinross located on the Highveld. Fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5-10) aerosol samples were collected during summer and winter, which were quantified using the gravimetric method. Wavelength-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (WD-XRF) and Ion Chromatography (IC) analysis were used to determine the chemical composition of aerosols. Mean PM2.5 concentrations in Embalenhle and Kinross ranged from 16.3 to 34.1 µg/m3 during winter and 7.4 to 19.0 µg/m3 during summer. Mean PM10-2.5 concentrations ranged from 10.3 to 114 µg/m3 during winter and 5.9 to 11.2 µg/m3 during summer. Si, Al, S, Na (winter only), Ca (summer only), SO42- and NH4+ were the most abundant species in PM2.5 during both seasons. In PM10-2.5, Si, Al, Na (winter only), SO42- and F- were the most abundant species during both seasons. The elements S and Ca also had high abundances at Embalenhle and Kinross, respectively, during summer. Source apportionment was undertaken using Positive Matrix Factorisation, which identified five sources. Dust, secondary aerosols, domestic combustion, wood and biomass burning, and industry were determined to be the contributing sources. Any measures to mitigate particulate air pollution on the Highveld should consider these key sources.

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Section: Ionic Sosupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Ionic Somentioning

confidence: 52%

Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse aerosols in Embalenhle and Kinross, South Africa

Walton¹,

Piketh

Zyl

et al. 2021

Clean Air J.

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“…This can possibly be attributed to the occurrence of potassium chloride (KCl) in the fresh smoke of burning savannah grass, which can react to form halogenated organic compounds (Aurela et al 2016). Venter et al (2018) collected inorganic aerosols at Welgegund from…”

Section: Fire Countsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of polar organic aerosols at a regional background site in southern Africa

et al. 2019

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A recent paper reported GCxGC-TOFMS analysis used for the first time in southern Africa to tentatively characterise and semi-quantify ~1 000 organic compounds in aerosols at Welgegund-a regional background atmospheric monitoring station. Ambient polar organic aerosols characterised are further explored in terms of temporal variations, as well as the influence of meteorology and sources. No distinct seasonal pattern was observed for the total number of polar organic compounds tentatively characterised and their corresponding semi-quantified concentrations (sum of the normalised response factors, ∑NRFs). However, the total number of polar organic compounds and ∑NRFs between late spring and early autumn seemed relatively lower compared to the period from mid-autumn to midwinter , while there was a period during late winter and early spring with significantly lower total number of polar organic compounds and ∑NRFs. Relatively lower total number of polar organic compounds and corresponding ∑NRFs were associated with fresher plumes from a source region relatively close to Welgegund. Meteorological parameters indicated that wet 2 removal during late spring to early autumn also contributed to lower total numbers of polar organics and associated ∑NRFs. Increased anticyclonic recirculation and more pronounced inversion layers contributed to higher total numbers of polar organic species and ∑NRFs from mid-autumn to midwinter, while the influence of regional biomass burning during this period was also evident. The period with significantly lower total number of polar organic compounds and ∑NRFs was attributed to fresh open biomass burning plumes occurring within proximity of Welgegund, consisting mainly of volatile organic compounds and non-polar hydrocarbons. Multiple linear regression substantiated that the temporal variations in polar organic compounds were related to a combination of the factors investigated in this study.

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“…In addition, the winter months are also characterised by increased household combustion for space heating and cooking, while seasonal open biomass burning generally occurs in the period from August to October, typically peaking during spring in September (Laban et al, 2018). Furthermore, the removal rate of atmospheric pollutants associated with precipitation is also reduced during the dry season (Venter et al, 2018).…”

Section: Site Descriptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement report: Size-resolved chemical characterisation of aerosols in low-income urban settlements in South Africa

et al. 2022

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Abstract. Naturally and anthropogenically emitted aerosols, which are determined by their physical and chemical properties, have an impact on both air quality and the radiative properties of the earth. An important source of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in South Africa is household combustion for space heating and cooking, which predominantly occurs in low-income urban settlements. The aim of this study was to conduct a detailed size-resolved assessment of chemical characteristics of aerosols associated with household combustion through the collection of particulates in low-income urban settlements in South Africa to quantify the extent of the impacts of atmospheric pollution. Outdoor (ambient) and indoor aerosols in different size fractions were collected during summer and winter in four low-income urban settlements located in the north-eastern interior on the South African Highveld, i.e. Kwadela, Kwazamokuhle, Zamdela, and Jouberton. Mass concentration and chemical composition was determined for three size fractions, namely, PM1, PM2.5, and PM2.5−10. The highest concentrations of particulates were measured indoors with the highest mass concentration determined in the indoor PM2.5−10 (coarse) size fraction. However, the highest mass concentrations were determined in PM1 in all outdoor aerosol samples collected during winter and summer, and in indoor samples collected during summer. Significantly higher concentrations were determined for SO4-2 in outdoor and indoor particulates compared to other ionic species, with NH4+ and NO3- being the second most abundant. SO4-2 and NH4+ almost exclusively occurred in the PM1 size fraction, while NO3- was the major constituent in the larger size fractions. The highest SO4-2 levels were recorded for the winter and summer outdoor campaigns conducted at Zamdela, while NO3- and NH4+ concentrations were higher during the winter outdoor campaign. The combined concentrations of trace elements were higher for indoor particulates compared to outdoor aerosols, while the total trace element concentrations in PM1 were substantially higher than levels thereof in the two larger size fractions of particulates collected during all sampling campaigns. No distinct seasonal trend was observed for the concentrations of trace elements. Na, Ca, and Cr had the highest concentrations in particulates collected during outdoor and indoor sampling campaigns. Ni concentrations in outdoor and indoor aerosols exceeded the annual average European standard. PM1 collected during all sampling campaigns in low-income urban settlements had the highest organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations. The highest OC and EC levels were determined in PM1 collected during the winter indoor campaign. OC and EC concentrations were highest during winter, which can be attributed to changes in meteorological patterns and increased household combustion during winter. Low OC/EC ratios determined for particulates collected in low-income urban settlements are indicative of OC and EC being mainly associated with local sources of these species. OC concentrations determined in this study were an order of magnitude lower than OC concentrations determined for ambient aerosols collected in the north-eastern interior of South Africa, while similar EC levels were measured. According to estimated dust concentrations, it was indicated that dust is the major constituent in all size ranges of particulates collected in this study, while trace elements were the second most abundant. However, trace elements made the highest contribution to indoor PM1 and PM1−2.5 mass. Mass concentrations and chemical concentrations determined for aerosols collected in low-income settlements reflect the regional impacts of anthropogenic sources in the north-eastern interior of South Africa and the influence of local sources.

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Size-resolved characteristics of inorganic ionic species in atmospheric aerosols at a regional background site on the South African Highveld

Cited by 9 publications

References 42 publications

Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse aerosols in Embalenhle and Kinross, South Africa

Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse aerosols in Embalenhle and Kinross, South Africa

Assessment of polar organic aerosols at a regional background site in southern Africa

Measurement report: Size-resolved chemical characterisation of aerosols in low-income urban settlements in South Africa

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