Variations of nitrate and sulfate in the atmosphere on days of high and low particulate matters

Particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM 10) were collected with high-volume samplers for four periods of consecutive samplings. Each period included a high PM10 (defined as PM10 ≥ 110 μg/m3) episode. The concentrations of all ionic species of high PM10 day (HPD) samples were higher than those of low PM10 (defined as PM10 < 10μg/m3) d (LPD) samples. Using the ionic concentrations of HPD samples at each station divided by those of LPD samples at respective stations, the results showed that NO3- increased most from LPD to HPD among the eight ionic species examined. A high mean value (3.15) of NO3-/ elemental carbon (EC) ratio of HPD divided by that of LPD indicates that concentration variations due to chemical formation and nonchemical factors apparently were higher than those of the concentration variations due to nonchemical factors alone. The NO3-/SO4 2- ratio of HPD divided by that of LPD ranged from 1.62 to 3.92 for the four periods. The results indicate that more nitrate than sulfate had formed during high PM10 episodes. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the percentage of NH4+ associated with nitrate and sulfate decreased and the percentage that could be explained by Ca 2+ and Na- increased on HPD. The reactions of HNO 3 and H2SO4 with sea salt particles and with aqueous carbonates on soil particles during HPD were considered the main causes leading to these variations.