Atmospheric outflow of anthropogenic semivolatile organic compounds from East Asia in spring 2004

ENVR 87

Toby Primbs1, Staci L. Simonich, staci.simonich@oregonstate.edu2, David Schmedding3, Glenn Wilson3, Dan Jaffe4, Akinori Takami5, Shungo Kato6, Shiro Hatakeyama5, and Yoshizumi Kajii6. (1) Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 1007 ALS Bldg, Corvallis, OR 97331, (2) Departments of Chemistry and Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 ALS Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, (3) Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 ALS Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, (4) University of Washington-Bothell, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA, (5) Atmospheric Environmental Division, National Institute of Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan, (6) Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
To estimate the emissions of anthropogenic semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs) from East Asia and to identify unique SOC molecular markers in Asian air masses, high volume air samples were collected on the island of Okinawa, Japan, between 22nd of March and the 2nd of May 2004. Contributions from different source regions (China, Japan, the Koreas, Russia and ocean/local) were estimated using source region impact factors (SRIFs). Elevated concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs and particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were attributed to air masses from China. A large proportion of the variation in the currently used pesticides, gas-phase PAHs and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations was explained by meteorology. Chlordanes showed a technical mixture profile and similar concentrations regardless of source region. α/α HCH and trans/cis chlordane ratios did not vary significantly with different source regions and had regional averages of 2.5±1.0 and 1.2±0.3, respectively. Particulate-phase PAH concentrations were significantly correlated (p-value<0.05) with other incomplete combustion byproduct concentrations, including elemental mercury (Hg0), CO, NOx*, black carbon, submicron aerosols and SO2. Using measured SOC, CO and black carbon concentrations and estimated CO and black carbon emission inventories, the emission of 6 carcinogenic PAHs was estimated to be 1,518-4,179 metric tons/year for Asia and 778-1,728 metric tons/year for China, respectively.
 

The C. Ellen Gonter Environmental Chemistry Awards
1:30 PM-4:35 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Beacon Hill Rm, Oral

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007