Development of a particulate mass measurement system for tracing pollution sources using atmospheric mercury concentrations and lead isotopes

Abstract:

The Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation Model 602 Beta^Plus (TAPI) particulate measurement system is a unique platform for non-destructive analysis of PM_2.5 mass concentration, and destructive analyses of particulate bound mercury (PBM), perhaps gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), and lead isotopes. Samples were collected at a flow rate of 16.7 Lpm for 24 hours on 47 mm diameter cation exchange membranes (CEM) for mercury (Hg) and Teflon membranes for lead isotopes. We compared total mercury collected on CEM filters from the TAPI to that collected with the UNR active Hg membrane system and a Tekran 2537/1130/1135 system for gaseous Hg at a highway-impacted site (elev. 1370 m) from December 2013 to November 2015. The TAPI and UNR active system were also compared at a high elevation site (elev. 2515 m) adjacent to the highway-impacted site from December 2013 to October 2014. Data collection using the TAPI and UNR active system started in spring and summer of 2015 at Great Basin National Park (GBNP) in eastern Nevada. The UNR active system consists of three CEM and nylon filters (with backups in series to catch break through) sampling at a rate of 1 Lpm for 1-to-4 weeks. A Tekran total Hg system (Model 2600) was used for analyses of CEM filters from the two membrane systems after digestion. Lead isotope samples from the TAPI were analyzed on a multi-collector ICPMS (IsoProbe). Both the TAPI system and the UNR active system should collect reactive mercury (RM=GOM+PBM) on the CEM filters. TAPI measurements differed from those obtained using the Tekran system depending on season at the low elevation site and were lower than the UNR active system at the highway-impacted site and the high elevation site. We hypothesize that, due to the high flow rate and therefore short retention time, the TAPI captures mainly PBM. Lead isotopes and the chemical forms of GOM measured with the UNR active system can be used to track sources, which is important in rural areas such as GBNP.