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Concentrations and Origins of Atmospheric Lead and Other Trace Species at a Rural Site in Northern ChinaIn this study we analyze the ambient levels of lead and other trace species in the bulk aerosol samples from a rural site approx.70 km ESE of Beijing in spring 2005. Lead (0.28+/-0.24 micro-g/cu m, average +/- standard deviation), along with several pollution \related trace elements, was enriched by over 100 fold relative to the Earth's crust. The ambient lead levels showing large synoptic variations were well-correlated with other anthropogenic pollutants (e.g., CO and SO2). The Unmix receptor model resolved four factors in the aerosol composition data: a biomass burning source, an industrial and coal combustion source, a secondary aerosol source, and a dust source. The first three sources were strongest in weak southerly winds ahead of cold fronts, while the dust source peaked in strong northerly winds behind cold fronts. The second source, primarily representing emissions from industrial processes and relatively small \scale coal burning such as in home and institutional heating, was identified as the main source of ambient lead in this study. Mobile sources might also contribute to this factor, but there was no distinct evidence of emissions due to combustion of leaded gasoline, despite a correlation between lead and CO. Potential source contribution function, calculated from backward trajectories and aerosol composition, further reveals that lead observed in this study was predominantly from the populated and industrialized areas to the south and SW of Xianghe, rather than Beijing to the west. Our results and several recent studies show that the lead levels in suburban areas near big cities in China, although generally lower than those in industrial districts and urban areas, are substantial (near or above 0.15 micro-g/cu m). More extensive studies on airborne lead and its emission sources in China are called for.
Document ID
20110008509
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Li, Can
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Wen, Tianxue
(Academia Sinica Beijing, China)
Li, Zhanqing
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Dickerson, Russell R.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Yang, Yongjie
(National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement Beijing, China)
Zhao, Yanan
(Academia Sinica Beijing, China)
Wang, Yuesi
(Academia Sinica Beijing, China)
Tsay, Si-Chee
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 2010
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres
Volume: 115
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM0412040
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG04GE79G
CONTRACT_GRANT: DEFG0208ER64571
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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