Characteristics of Seasonal PM1 Chemical Components in the urban area of Ansan

Abstract

In this study, chemical properties of particulate matter (PM₁) present in the urban area of Ansan in 2021 were analyzed using a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS). Intensive observation was conducted during the measurement periods of spring (22 days), summer (29 days), autumn (60 days), and winter (29 days). High concentrations of PM₁ were observed when a wind speed was low (< 0.81 m/s) and a direction of air flow was the east. PM₁ concentration was the highest in spring (March), followed by summer (June and August), winter (December), and autumn (September and October). The main components of PM₁ were organic, followed by nitrate, ammonium, and sulfate. The ratio of organic oxygen to organic carbon (O/C) was high in summer (0.64) and low in winter (0.51); conversely, the ratio of organic hydrogen to organic carbon (H/C) was higher in winter (1.66) than in summer (1.58). As for the oxidation rates of inorganic components, the nitrogen oxidation rate and sulfur oxidation rate were the highest in spring (NOR, 0.12; SOR, 0.64), which directly affected the rise in PM₁ mass concentration in spring. Highly soluble nitrate was the largest component among the inorganic components of PM₁, and the PM₁ was found to be rich in ammonium in all seasons. PM₁ mass concentration and chemical composition increased with an increase of relative humidity (RH): the concentration of PM₁ in wet conditions (RH > 60%) was found to be more than twice of that in dry conditions (RH < 40%). The largest component of PM₁ in Ansan consisted of organic compounds; however, a high proportion of inorganic components, including nitrate, was also recorded.