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Temporal characteristics of black carbon concentrations and its potential emission sources in a southern Taiwan industrial urban area

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Abstract

This study investigates the temporal characteristics of black carbon and its potential emission sources, as well as the fractions of BC in PM2.5 levels in Kaohsiung urban area, which is an industrial city in southern Taiwan. Concentrations of BC and PM2.5 are monitored continuously from March 2006 to February 2010, using an aethalometer and a tapered element oscillating microbalance monitor. Additionally, the presence of organic compounds (or UV enhanced species) in particles at the sampling site is determined using the Delta-C (UVBC-BC) value. According to long-term measurement results, BC and PM2.5 concentrations are 3.33 and 34.0 μg m−3, respectively, in the Kaohsiung urban area. The ratio of BC/PM2.5 is approximately 11 %. Low concentration of BC and PM2.5 in the summer of this study period is mostly likely owing to meteorological conditions that favored dispersion of local air pollutants. Nevertheless, BC concentrations peaked markedly during morning hours (7:00–11:00), likely owing to local traffic congestion. Measurement results suggest that BC is released from local traffic activities and emitted from industrial activities at this sampling site. Additionally, Delta-C values are significantly higher than zero during January–March and November–December periods in this industrial urban area, implying that UV enhanced species can be observed. At this sampling site, these UV enhanced species do not only originate from household activity and solid waste burning but also release from industrial activities. The elevated Delta-C values during nighttime (18:00–6:00) in the autumn and winter seasons are likely related to those UV enhanced species in the atmosphere, which can be condensed on particle surface under low temperature conditions. According to long-term measurement results, significantly positive Delta-C values can be observed under temperatures <20 °C and relative humidity of 60–75 % in this study. Despite the household activity and solid waste burning, the major sources of particles that are bound with UV enhanced species in this sampling site are industrial parks and a coal-fired power plant.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan, for financially supporting this research under Contract No. NSC101-2221-E-131-026. Environmental Protection Administration of the Republic of China, Taiwan, is commended for providing the long-term measurement data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, 84, Gungjuan Rd, Taishan, New Taipei, 24301, Taiwan

    Yu-Hsiang Cheng & Cheng-Ju Hsieh

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Kaohsiung, 700, Kaohsiung University Rd, Nantzu, Kaohsiung, 81148, Taiwan

    Chi-Chi Lin

  3. Department of Environmental Monitoring and Information Management, Environmental Protection Administration, 83, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd, Zhongzheng, Taipei, 10042, Taiwan

    Jyh-Jian Liu

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  1. Yu-Hsiang Cheng
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  2. Chi-Chi Lin
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  4. Cheng-Ju Hsieh
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Correspondence to Yu-Hsiang Cheng.

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Responsible editor: Constantini Samara

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Cheng, YH., Lin, CC., Liu, JJ. et al. Temporal characteristics of black carbon concentrations and its potential emission sources in a southern Taiwan industrial urban area. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 3744–3755 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2373-7

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