Asian Dust effects on Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) compositions at Gosan in Jeju Island, Korea

The compositions of TSP between AD and NAD storm periods were compared to study their long-term variations and chemical characteristics. TSP samples were collected at Gosan site in Jeju Island of Korea from February to May of 1992–2004. The major ionic and elemental species of TSP aerosols were analyzed. During AD periods, the concentrations of crust components (nss-Ca²⁺, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Ti) increased remarkably, and the concentrations of anthropogenic components (nss-SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, S, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd), with the exception of NH₄⁺, increased weakly. The concentration ratios of all major components between AD and NAD periods showed ranges from 1.2 to 8.5, except for NH₄⁺. The slope of the linear regression indicated that the contribution of CO₃²⁻ may have comprised up to 17% of the total anions. Our results suggested that the AD storm greatly influenced TSP compositions. Linear regression analyses indicated that NH₄⁺ was not correlated with NO₃⁻, but highly correlated with nss-SO₄²⁻ during both periods. The nss-SO₄²⁻ was also correlated with NH₄⁺, K⁺, nss-Mg²⁺, and nss-Ca²⁺ during both periods. Interestingly, NO₃⁻ was associated with nss-Ca²⁺ and nss-Mg²⁺ during AD periods. Of the metal elements, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, Mn, Ba, Sr, V, and Co were highly correlated with Al during both periods, signifying that these metals were mostly originated from soils.     

Seasonal trend of particulate PAHs at Gosan, a background site in Korea between 2001 and 2002 and major factors affecting their levels

The concentrations of particulate Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at Gosan, a background site in Korea for 1 year between November 2001 and November 2002. The total concentrations of 14 PAH compounds at Gosan were between 0.52 and 14.76 ng m^− 3 and about 3–15 times higher than those at other rural or remote sites in the world. Seasonal trend was observed for particulate PAHs concentrations at Gosan with higher levels during heating season due to increased fossil fuel usage and the movement of air parcels from Asian continent. Principal component factor analysis (PCF) for PAHs showed three factors; combination of coal combustion and vehicular emission, natural gas combustion, and unidentified one. However, PCF for the combined data of PAHs, inorganic ions, and elements revealed that the unidentified factor consists of crustal species, sea salts, and four PAH compounds. Thus, this factor is thought to be transport of crustal species with organics from combustion sources. The major variables which determine the sources of PAHs are the heating season and the movement of air parcels from Asian continent.