Multi isotope systematics of precipitation to trace the sources of air pollutants in Seoul, Korea

Multiple sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen and strontium isotope compositions of precipitation collected from Seoul, South Korea were analyzed to study the sources, transportation and deposition of air pollutants in East Asia. The δ³⁴S[subscript sulfate] values (from 1.9 to 14.6‰ with a median of 4.7‰) and the δ¹⁵N[subscript nitrate] values (from −2.0 to 13.3‰ with a median of 1.0‰) suggest that fossil fuel use (emission from coal combustion and vehicle exhaust) is a predominant source for sulfur and nitrogen, but other natural sources including biogenic contributions of DMS also add to their total budget. The seasonal variations are observed in δ³⁴S[subscript sulfate] and δ¹⁵N[subscript nitrate] values (both higher in winter season), which is likely to result from the increase of coal use for domestic heating in China. The δ¹⁸O[subscript nitrate] values also varied seasonally depending on the NOx oxidation pathway, being about 20‰ higher in winter than in summer season. The Δ³³S[subscript sulfate] and Δ³⁶S[subscript sulfate] values are not anomalous, showing the absence of MIF signals in precipitation of Seoul. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the precipitation samples range from 0.70988 to 0.71487 with a median of 0.71073, indicating the influence of at least three end-member (silicate dust, carbonate dust and anthropogenic emission). Ionic ratios such as (K++NH₄ +)/(Ca²++Mg²+) and Cl−/Na+ suggest the overwhelming effect of anthropogenic input rather than carbonate dust on the end-member with lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117548
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749121011301
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02697491
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Kim, Yeongmin
  • Lee, Insung
  • Farquhar, James
  • Kang, Jisuk
  • 0000-0001-6870-6593
  • Villa, Igor M
  • Kim, Hyoungbum
• Publication Date: 2021-10-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Serial:
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Volume: 286
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier Publishing Company, Limited
  • ISSN: 0269-7491
  • Serial URL: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-pollution

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Exhaust gases; Isotopes; Pollutants; Precipitation (Meteorology)
• Geographic Terms: Seoul (Korea)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01777088
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 23 2021 3:25PM