Combustion-Related Organic Species in Temporally Resolved Urban Airborne Particulate Matter.

Accurate characterization of the chemical composition of particulate matter (PM) is essential for improved understanding of source attribution and resultant health impacts. To explore this we conducted ambient monitoring of a suite of 15 combustion-related organic species in temporally resolved PM samples during an ongoing animal exposure study in a near source environment in Detroit, MI. All of the 15 species detected were above the method detection limit in 8 hour samples.

An Artificial Turf-Based Surrogate Surface Collector for the Direct Measurement of Atmospheric Mercury Dry Deposition.

This paper describes the development of a new artificial turf surrogate surface (ATSS) sampler for use in the measurement of mercury (Hg) dry deposition. In contrast to many existing surrogate surface designs, the ATSS utilizes a three-dimensional deposition surface that may more closely mimic the physical structure of many natural surfaces than traditional flat surrogate surface designs (water, filter, greased Mylar film). The ATSS has been designed to overcome several complicating factors that can impact the integrity of samples with other direct measurement approaches by providing a passive system which can be deployed for both short and extended periods of time (days to weeks), and is not contaminated by precipitation and/or invalidated by strong winds.

Oil sands development and its impact on atmospheric wet deposition of air pollutants to the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada.

Characterization of air pollutant deposition resulting from Athabasca oil sands development is necessary to assess risk to humans and the environment. To investigate this we collected event-based wet deposition during a pilot study in 2010-2012 at the AMS 6 site 30 km from the nearest upgrading facility in Fort McMurray, AB, Canada. Sulfate, nitrate and ammonium deposition was (kg/ha) 1.

Spatial patterns in wet and dry deposition of atmospheric mercury and trace elements in central Illinois, USA.

An intensive 1-month atmospheric sampling campaign was conducted concurrently at eight monitoring sites in central Illinois, USA, from June 9 to July 3, 2011 to assess spatial patterns in wet and dry deposition of mercury and other trace elements. Summed wet deposition of mercury ranged from 3.1 to 5.

Assessing the emission sources of atmospheric mercury in wet deposition across Illinois.

From August 4, 2007 to August 31, 2009, we collected event-based precipitation samples for mercury (Hg) and trace element analyses at four sites in Illinois (IL), USA. The objectives of these measurements were to quantify Hg wet deposition across the state, and to assess the contributions to Hg in precipitation from major local and regional emission sources. Monitoring sites were located, from north to south, in Chicago, Peoria, Nilwood, and Carbondale, IL.

Atmospheric transport of speciated mercury across southern Lake Michigan: Influence from emission sources in the Chicago/Gary urban area.

Quantifying the local and regional impacts of speciated mercury (Hg) emissions from major urban and industrial areas is critical for understanding Hg transport and cycling in the environment. The Chicago/Gary urban area is one location where Hg emissions from industrial sources are significant and the regional transport of emissions may contribute to elevated ambient Hg concentrations at downwind locations. From July to November 2007, we collected semi-continuous measurements of gaseous elemental Hg (Hg(0)), fine particulate bound Hg (Hgp), and divalent reactive gaseous Hg (RGM) in Chicago, IL and Holland, MI to characterize the impact of Chicago/Gary source emissions on Hg concentrations in southwest Michigan and to improve our overall understanding of speciated Hg transport and deposition.

Sources of mercury wet deposition in Eastern Ohio, USA.

In the fall of 2002, an enhanced air monitoring site was established in Steubenville, Ohio as part of a multi-year comprehensive mercury monitoring and source apportionment study to investigate the impact of local and regional coal combustion sources on atmospheric mercury deposition in the Ohio River Valley. This study deployed advanced monitoring instrumentation, utilized innovative analytical techniques, and applied state-of-the-art statistical receptor models. This paper presents wet deposition data and source apportionment modeling results from daily event precipitation samples collected during the calendar years 2003-2004.

Automated speciated mercury measurements in Michigan.

Automated speciated mercury measurements were made at a rural (Dexter, MI) and an urban (Detroit, MI) site in Michigan during selected times from 1999 to 2002 to assess the concentrations of elemental (Hg0), reactive gaseous (RGM), and particulate mercury (Hgp) in these environments. Here we present the first-ever reported values for RGM in Michigan. Median RGM concentrations were 2.

Long-term atmospheric mercury wet deposition at Underhill, Vermont.

Section 112(m) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, referred to as the Great Waters Program, mandated an assessment of atmospheric deposition of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) to Lake Champlain. Mercury (Hg) was listed as a priority HAP and has continued to be a high priority for a number of national and international programs. An assessment of the magnitude and seasonal variation of atmospheric Hg levels and deposition in the Lake Champlain basin was initiated in December 1992 which included event precipitation collection, as well as collection of vapor and particle phase Hg in ambient air.

Comparison of methods for particulate phase mercury analysis: sampling and analysis.

Accurate and reliable sampling and analysis of mercury forms is an overriding aim of any atmospheric monitoring effort which seeks to understand the fate and transport of the metal in the environment. Although a fraction of the total mercury forms found in the atmosphere, particulate phase mercury, Hg(p), is believed to play a prominent role in both wet and dry deposition to the terrestrial and aquatic environments. Currently, microwave acid extraction and thermoreductive methodologies for analysis of Hg(p) samples are widely used.

Deposition and emission of gaseous mercury to and from Lake Michigan during the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study (July, 1994-October, 1995).

This paper presents measurements of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentrations in Lake Michigan and the application of a mechanistic approach to estimate deposition and emission fluxes of gaseous mercury (Hg2+ and Hg0) to and from Lake Michigan. Measurements of DGM concentrations made during May and July, 1994 and January, 1995 indicate that Lake Michigan was supersaturated with DGM suggesting that transfer of Hg0 occurs from the water to the atmosphere. Over-water concentrations of gaseous Hg2+ were estimated from total gaseous Hg (TGM) concentrations measured at five sites in the basin and used to model dry deposition fluxes of Hg2+.

Atmospheric mercury deposition to Lake Michigan during the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study.

Wet and dry mercury (Hg) deposition were calculated to Lake Michigan using a hybrid receptor modeling framework. The model utilized mercury monitoring data collected during the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study and the Atmospheric Exchange Over Lakes and Oceans Studytogether with high-resolution over-water meteorological date provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (July, 1994-October, 1995). Atmospheric deposition was determined to be the primary pathway for mercury inputto Lake Michigan, contributing approximately 84% of the estimated 1403 kg total annual input (atmospheric deposition + tributary input).

Atmospheric mercury in the Lake Michigan basin: influence of the Chicago/Gary urban area.

The relative importance of the Chicago/Gay urban area was investigated to determine its impact on atmospheric mercury (Hg) concentrations and wet deposition in the Lake Michigan basin. Event wet-only precipitation, total particulate, and vapor phase samples were collected for Hg, and trace element determinations from five sites around Lake Michigan from July 1994 through October 1995 as part of the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study (LMMBS). In addition, intensive over-water measurements were conducted aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian during the summer of 1994 and the winter of 1995 as part of the Atmospheric Exchange Over Lakes and Oceans Study.

Measurements of mercury in dew: atmospheric removal of mercury species to a wetted surface.

The importance of dew in the mercury cycle was investigated during three sampling periods in the Great Lakes region and one in the Florida Everglades. Mercury concentrations ranged from 1.0 to 22.