Chao-Yang Huang

Atmospheric total arsenic (As), (As3+) and (As5+) pollutants study in central Taiwan

This investigation measures the concentrations of arsenic (As), (As3+), (As5+) in total suspended particles (TSP) and dry deposits at five characteristic sampling sites in central Taiwan during the years 2009–2010, and identifies their seasonal variations. The investigation was performed in region in which a science park, transportation, waste incineration facility, fossil fuel combusting steel factory, electronics factory, plastic factory, chemical factory and Taichung Thermal Power Plant (TTPP) are located. The Bei-shi sampling station and He-mei town sampling station were located in, an area of heavy transportation. The Quan-xing sampling station was close to an electronics factory and a fossil fuel combusting steel factory. The As for Chang-Hua sampling station was located at the chemical factory. Finally, the Gao-Mei wetland sampling station was close to a waste incineration; they were characterized as a waste incineration plant and TTPP. The highest average concentrations of arsenic in TSP were found at Quan-xing (industrial) and the lowest were found at He-mei (residential). The average amounts of dry deposited arsenic (As), (As3+) and (As5+) were highest at the Quan-xing (industrial) site and lowest at the Gao-mei (wetland) site. The average seasonal concentrations of (As), (As3+) and (As5+) in TSP and the average dry deposited amounts were highest in the autumn and lowest in the summer at five sampling sites.

Concentrations and analysis of health risks of ambient air metallic elements at Longjing site in central Taiwan

The concentrations of particulates and metallic elements that were bound to total suspended particulates in ambient air at Long Cyuan Elementary School (LCYES), Lung Ching Elementary School (LCHES) and Long Shan Primary School (LSPS) sampling sites in the Longjing area were measured. Significant difference tests were conducted at LSPS, LCYES and LCHES sites. Finally, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values for LSPS, LCYES and LCHES sites in the Longjing district were evaluated. The results show that the most average particulate and metallic element concentrations were highest in October, November, January, February, March, April, August, and September The average particulate and metallic element concentrations at LCHES were higher than at the other sampling sites. The Concentration Scatter Diagrams reveal the absence of significant variation among the LSPS, LCYES and LCHES sampling sites in the Longjing district. Therefore, these sampling sites are inferred to have similar emission sources. The children and adults inhalation carcinogenic risks which referenced US EPA method were all within acceptable ranges. Non-carcinogenic risks revealed that all metallic elements considered herein were harmless to human health.

Ambient air particulates-bound metallic elements sources identifications during winter and summer at a Science Park

The ambient air particulates pollutants of total suspended particulates (TSP) and PM2.5 were collected by using PS-1 and Wilbur PM2.5 sampler, simultaneously during the year of 2015–2017 at a photoelectric factory in Science Park of central Taiwan. And those of the ambient air atmospheric metallic elements (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) concentrations which attached on the TSP and PM2.5 were analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. In addition, identifying anthropogenic and natural pollutants sources were conducted by using the enrichment factor (EF) and principal component analysis (PCA) methods. The results indicated that the average TSP and PM2.5 concentrations were ranked highest in winter season, while summer season was ranked lowest during the year of 2015–2016. In addition, the average highest metallic element concentrations were occurred in winter season for both TSP and PM2.5 during the year of 2015–2016, while the average lowest metallic elements concentrations in TSP and PM2.5 were also occurred in winter season during the year of 2016–2017. Moreover, the EF analysis results showed that the metallic element Zn came from anthropogenic emission source. As for metallic element Mn, the results showed that metallic element Mn was mainly attributed to natural emission in this study. Finally, the PCA results showed that metallic elements Cr, Zn and Pb were the dominant emissions metallic elements in this study. As for PM2.5, the results showed that the metallic elements Cr, Cu and Pb were the dominant emissions metallic elements at this HPB sampling site.

Comparisons of particulate-bound mercury (PBM) compositions in soil and vegetation at a traffic site

ABSTRACT This investigation analyzes the particulate-bound mercury (PBM) compositions in soil and vegetation at a traffic sampling site in Taichung, Taiwan, during a sampling period from October to December, 2015. A direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80) was used to measure the particulate-bound mercury (PBM). A T-test was conducted to determine the mean differences between the PBM composition in soil and that in vegetation at the site. The results indicate that 1) the mean particulate-bound mercury compositions in soil and vegetation were the lowest in November, when the (mean OR average) wind speed was the highest (4.1 m/s); 2) Particulate-bound mercury compositions (PBM) in both soil and vegetation correlated weakly with temperature, humidity and wind speed; 3) T-test statistical results denoted that the PBM compositions did not significantly differ between soil and vegetation in the three-month sampling period.

PM2.5 particulates and particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) concentrations in a mixed urban, residential, traffic-heavy, and industrial site

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the concentrations of ambient fine particulates and particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) at sampling sites in various areas in central Taiwan during a sampling period from January to April 2015. A Wilbur PM2.5 sampler was used to collect PM2.5 from ambient air and a DMA-80 direct mercury analyzer was used to analyze the concentration of mercury Hg(p) that was attached to PM2.5. The results show that the mean PM2.5 and Hg(p) concentrations were highest in March. The Chinese Lantern Festival and the “Faithful Pilgrims Who Follow Matsu through Taiwan” are hosted in this month. Many fireworks and firecrackers are let off at this time, releasing particulate matter into the atmosphere, increasing the concentrations of atmospheric particulate pollutants. The highest average PM2.5 concentrations were measured in January. A dust storm in Mainland China may have been responsible for this result. February saw the lowest mean PM2.5 recorded in this study, possibly because commercial districts and factories were closed in February for Chinese Lunar New Year. April saw the highest mean wind speed, diluting particulate pollutants in ambient air.