Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the 2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures
Stable nitrogen isotope composition (<i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N) offers new opportunities to address the long-standing and ongoing controversy regarding the origins of ambient ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), a vital precursor of PM<sub>2.5</sub> (particulate...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/11635/2016/acp-16-11635-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819084302521991168 |
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| author | Y. Chang Y. Chang X. Liu C. Deng A. J. Dore G. Zhuang |
| author_facet | Y. Chang Y. Chang X. Liu C. Deng A. J. Dore G. Zhuang |
| author_sort | Y. Chang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stable nitrogen isotope composition (<i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N) offers new
opportunities to address the long-standing and ongoing controversy regarding
the origins of ambient ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), a vital precursor of
PM<sub>2.5</sub> (particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter equal or less than 2.5 µm) inorganic components, in the urban
atmosphere. In this study, the <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values of NH<sub>3</sub> samples
collected from various sources were constrained using a novel and robust
chemical method coupled with standard elemental analysis procedures.
Independent of the wide variation in mass concentrations (ranging from 33
(vehicle) to over 6000 (human excreta) µg m<sup>−3</sup>), different
NH<sub>3</sub> sources have generally different <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values (ranging from
−52.0 to −9.6 ‰). Significantly high
<i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values are seen as a characteristic feature of
all vehicle-derived NH<sub>3</sub> samples (−14.2 ± 2.8 ‰), which can be distinguished from other sources emitted at environmental
temperature (−29.1 ± 1.7, −37.8 ± 3.6, and −50.0 ± 1.8 ‰ for livestock, waste, and fertilizer,
respectively).
<br><br>
The isotope <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N signatures for a range of NH<sub>3</sub>
emission sources were used to evaluate the contributions of the different
sources within measured ambient NH<sub>3</sub> in Beijing, using an isotope mixing
model (IsoSource). The method was used to quantify the sources of ambient
NH<sub>3</sub> before, during and after the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, when a set of stringent air quality control measures were
implemented. Results show that the average NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations (the
overall contributions of traffic, waste, livestock, and fertilizer) during
the three periods were 9.1 (20.3, 28.3, 23.6, and 27.7 %), 7.3 (8.8, 24.9,
14.3, and 52.0 %), and 12.7 (29.4, 23.6, 31.7, and 15.4 %) µg m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively, representing a 20.0 % decrease first and then a
74.5 % increase in overall NH<sub>3</sub> mass concentrations. During (after)
the summit, the contributions of traffic, waste, livestock, and fertilizer
decreased (increased) by 56.7 (234.2), 12.0 (−5.0), 39.4 (120.8), and
−87.7 % (−70.5 %) when compared with periods before (during) the summit,
respectively, signifying that future NH<sub>3</sub> control efforts in megacities
like Beijing should prioritize traffic sector as well as livestock breeding.
The results show that isotope ratio measurements of NH<sub>3</sub> to be a
valuable tool to quantify the atmospheric sources of NH<sub>3</sub> in urban
atmospheres. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:46:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1cc04c9cd9194469b94bf5ea9f27a15a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:46:18Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-1cc04c9cd9194469b94bf5ea9f27a15a2022-12-21T18:50:49ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242016-09-0116116351164710.5194/acp-16-11635-2016Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the 2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signaturesY. Chang0Y. Chang1X. Liu2C. Deng3A. J. Dore4G. Zhuang5Center for Atmospheric Chemistry Study, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Chinacurrently at: Yale-NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 10044, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaCenter for Atmospheric Chemistry Study, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, ChinaCentre for Ecology & Hydrology Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UKCenter for Atmospheric Chemistry Study, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, ChinaStable nitrogen isotope composition (<i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N) offers new opportunities to address the long-standing and ongoing controversy regarding the origins of ambient ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), a vital precursor of PM<sub>2.5</sub> (particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter equal or less than 2.5 µm) inorganic components, in the urban atmosphere. In this study, the <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values of NH<sub>3</sub> samples collected from various sources were constrained using a novel and robust chemical method coupled with standard elemental analysis procedures. Independent of the wide variation in mass concentrations (ranging from 33 (vehicle) to over 6000 (human excreta) µg m<sup>−3</sup>), different NH<sub>3</sub> sources have generally different <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values (ranging from −52.0 to −9.6 ‰). Significantly high <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values are seen as a characteristic feature of all vehicle-derived NH<sub>3</sub> samples (−14.2 ± 2.8 ‰), which can be distinguished from other sources emitted at environmental temperature (−29.1 ± 1.7, −37.8 ± 3.6, and −50.0 ± 1.8 ‰ for livestock, waste, and fertilizer, respectively). <br><br> The isotope <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N signatures for a range of NH<sub>3</sub> emission sources were used to evaluate the contributions of the different sources within measured ambient NH<sub>3</sub> in Beijing, using an isotope mixing model (IsoSource). The method was used to quantify the sources of ambient NH<sub>3</sub> before, during and after the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, when a set of stringent air quality control measures were implemented. Results show that the average NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations (the overall contributions of traffic, waste, livestock, and fertilizer) during the three periods were 9.1 (20.3, 28.3, 23.6, and 27.7 %), 7.3 (8.8, 24.9, 14.3, and 52.0 %), and 12.7 (29.4, 23.6, 31.7, and 15.4 %) µg m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively, representing a 20.0 % decrease first and then a 74.5 % increase in overall NH<sub>3</sub> mass concentrations. During (after) the summit, the contributions of traffic, waste, livestock, and fertilizer decreased (increased) by 56.7 (234.2), 12.0 (−5.0), 39.4 (120.8), and −87.7 % (−70.5 %) when compared with periods before (during) the summit, respectively, signifying that future NH<sub>3</sub> control efforts in megacities like Beijing should prioritize traffic sector as well as livestock breeding. The results show that isotope ratio measurements of NH<sub>3</sub> to be a valuable tool to quantify the atmospheric sources of NH<sub>3</sub> in urban atmospheres.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/11635/2016/acp-16-11635-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Y. Chang Y. Chang X. Liu C. Deng A. J. Dore G. Zhuang Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the 2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the
2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures |
| title_full | Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the
2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures |
| title_fullStr | Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the
2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the
2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures |
| title_short | Source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before, during, and after the
2014 APEC summit in Beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures |
| title_sort | source apportionment of atmospheric ammonia before during and after the 2014 apec summit in beijing using stable nitrogen isotope signatures |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/11635/2016/acp-16-11635-2016.pdf |
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