Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan
Particulate matter (PM) can have adverse effects on human health. Moreover, because the mechanisms of PM formation and behavior in the atmosphere are notably complicated, to reduce PM concentrations effectively and meet environmental standards, source–receptor relationships must be clearly understoo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Stockholm University Press
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Tellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2019.1627846 |
| _version_ | 1811301172390133760 |
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| author | Hiroto Kawashima |
| author_facet | Hiroto Kawashima |
| author_sort | Hiroto Kawashima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Particulate matter (PM) can have adverse effects on human health. Moreover, because the mechanisms of PM formation and behavior in the atmosphere are notably complicated, to reduce PM concentrations effectively and meet environmental standards, source–receptor relationships must be clearly understood. Stable isotope ratios can be used to detect chemical processes and distinguish sources. In environmental science, especially in research on aerosols, stable isotope ratios have proven to constitute a powerful tool for source identification. However, there are few long-term studies of isotope fractionation during secondary aerosol formation. In this study, stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) of ammonia gas (NH3), nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2), nitric acid vapor (HNO3), particulate nitrate (NO3−), and ammonium (NH4+) in suspended PM (SPM) were analyzed to investigate seasonal trends and isotope fractionation during aerosol formation for long term sampling in Akita, Japan. The results indicated that δ15N-NH4+ in SPM and δ15N-NH3 gas ranged from 1.3‰ to 38.5‰ (mean 16.1‰) and from −33.6‰ to −0.0‰ (−16.9‰), respectively. Furthermore, δ15N-NO3− (SPM) and δ15N-NO2 and δ15N-HNO3 (gaseous) ranged from −4.6‰ to 4.8‰ (mean −0.5‰), from −8.2‰ to −3.1‰ (−5.4‰), and from −7.5‰ to 2.7‰ (−5.0‰), respectively. The mean annual isotope fractionation factors for transformations from gaseous NH3 to NH4+ in SPM, from gaseous NO2 to gaseous HNO3, and from HNO3 gas to NO3– in SPM in the atmospheric environment were +33.3‰, +0.5‰, and +4.9‰, respectively. Isotope fractionation of NH4+ in SPM was much higher than that of NO3– in SPM. As the chemical reaction from gaseous precursors progressed, δ15N-NO3– in SPM became steadily heavier. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:04:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2af383ccbad94c6da334c66bf012bbb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1600-0889 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:04:09Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Stockholm University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2af383ccbad94c6da334c66bf012bbb42022-12-22T02:57:02ZengStockholm University PressTellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology1600-08892019-01-0171110.1080/16000889.2019.16278461627846Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, JapanHiroto Kawashima0Akita Prefectural UniversityParticulate matter (PM) can have adverse effects on human health. Moreover, because the mechanisms of PM formation and behavior in the atmosphere are notably complicated, to reduce PM concentrations effectively and meet environmental standards, source–receptor relationships must be clearly understood. Stable isotope ratios can be used to detect chemical processes and distinguish sources. In environmental science, especially in research on aerosols, stable isotope ratios have proven to constitute a powerful tool for source identification. However, there are few long-term studies of isotope fractionation during secondary aerosol formation. In this study, stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) of ammonia gas (NH3), nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2), nitric acid vapor (HNO3), particulate nitrate (NO3−), and ammonium (NH4+) in suspended PM (SPM) were analyzed to investigate seasonal trends and isotope fractionation during aerosol formation for long term sampling in Akita, Japan. The results indicated that δ15N-NH4+ in SPM and δ15N-NH3 gas ranged from 1.3‰ to 38.5‰ (mean 16.1‰) and from −33.6‰ to −0.0‰ (−16.9‰), respectively. Furthermore, δ15N-NO3− (SPM) and δ15N-NO2 and δ15N-HNO3 (gaseous) ranged from −4.6‰ to 4.8‰ (mean −0.5‰), from −8.2‰ to −3.1‰ (−5.4‰), and from −7.5‰ to 2.7‰ (−5.0‰), respectively. The mean annual isotope fractionation factors for transformations from gaseous NH3 to NH4+ in SPM, from gaseous NO2 to gaseous HNO3, and from HNO3 gas to NO3– in SPM in the atmospheric environment were +33.3‰, +0.5‰, and +4.9‰, respectively. Isotope fractionation of NH4+ in SPM was much higher than that of NO3– in SPM. As the chemical reaction from gaseous precursors progressed, δ15N-NO3– in SPM became steadily heavier.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2019.1627846stable nitrogen isotope rationh3no2hno3 |
| spellingShingle | Hiroto Kawashima Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan Tellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology stable nitrogen isotope ratio nh3 no2 hno3 |
| title | Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan |
| title_full | Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan |
| title_short | Seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in Akita, Japan |
| title_sort | seasonal trends of the stable nitrogen isotope ratio in particulate nitrogen compounds and their gaseous precursors in akita japan |
| topic | stable nitrogen isotope ratio nh3 no2 hno3 |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2019.1627846 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hirotokawashima seasonaltrendsofthestablenitrogenisotoperatioinparticulatenitrogencompoundsandtheirgaseousprecursorsinakitajapan |