Gürdal Tuncel

Intercomparison of methods for sampling and analysis of atmospheric mercury species

An intercomparison for sampling and analysis of atmospheric mercury species was held in Tuscany, June 1998. Methods for sampling and analysis of total gaseous mercury (TGM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and total particulate mercury (TPM) were used in parallel sampling over a period of 4 days. The results show that the different methods employed for TGM compared well whereas RGM and TPM showed a somewhat higher variability. Measurement results of RGM and TPM improved over the time period indicating that activities at the sampling site during set-up and initial sampling affected the results. Especially the TPM measurement results were affected. Additional parallel sampling was performed for two of the TPM methods under more controlled conditions which yielded more comparable results.

Trace element and major ion composition of wet and dry depositon in Ankara, Turkey

Daily, wet-only precipitation samples collected over a two year period were analyzed for SO42−, NO3−, Cl−, NH4+, H+, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Al, Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, V and Ni. Weekly dry-deposition samples collected on petri-dishes over the same period were analyzed only for major ions. Concentrations of ions and elements in Ankara precipitation are comparable with concentrations reported in literature for other urban areas. However, the wet deposition fluxes are the lowest among literature values, owing to small annual precipitation in the region. Although, annual average pH in precipitation is 4.7, episodic rain events with fairly low pHs were observed. Approximately half of the acidity in Ankara precipitation is neutralized in the winter season, while the acidity is completely neutralized by airborne soil particles that are rich in CaCO3 in the summer precipitation. The SO42− and NO3− contributes approximately equally on the free acidity in winter. Main forms of SO42− and NO3− in precipitation are CaSO4 and Ca(NO3)2, respectively. Crustal elements and ions have higher concentrations during summer season, while anthropogenic ions and elements did not show well-defined seasonal cycles. The lack of industrial activity in Ankara has profound influence on the temporal behavior of elements and ions.

Investigation of the sediment pollution in Izmir Bay: trace elements

Abstract The pollution of Izmir Bay was investigated by measuring the trace elements of the surface sediments. The sediment samples were collected from 100 locations in Izmir Bay, five rivers and five sewer outfalls. The collected samples were acid digested and analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), flame atomic emission spectrometry (FAES), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) for a total of 16 trace elements. Selected samples were also analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for 39 additional elements. The AAS, XRF and INAA techniques agreed fairly well for most of the elements studied. The concentrations of elements showed significant differences between inner, middle and outer bays with higher concentrations in the inner bay. The distributions of the crustal enrichment factors were also prepared and investigated.

Atmospheric mercury distribution in Northern Europe and in the Mediterranean region

Mercury species in air have been measured at five sites in Northwest Europe and at five coastal sites in the Mediterranean region during measurements at four seasons. Observed concentrations of total gaseous mercury (TGM), total particulate mercury (TPM) and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) were generally slightly higher in the Mediterranean region than in Northwest Europe. Incoming clean Atlantic air seems to be enriched in TGM in comparison to air in Scandinavia. Trajectory analysis of events where high concentrations of TPM simultaneously were observed at sites in North Europe indicate source areas in Central Europe and provide evidence of transport of mercury on particles on a regional scale.

Particulate matter (PM(2.5), PM(10-2.5), and PM(10)) and children's hospital admissions for asthma and respiratory diseases: a bidirectional case-crossover study.

Epidemiological studies reported adverse effects of air pollution on the prevalence of respiratory diseases in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between air pollution and admissions for asthma and other respiratory diseases among children who were younger than 15 yr of age. The study used data on respiratory hospital admissions and air pollutant concentrations, including thoracic particulate matter (PM10), fine (PM2.5), and coarse (PM10-2.5) particulate matter in Zonguldak, Turkey. A bidirectional case-crossover design was used to calculate odds ratios for the admissions adjusted for daily meteorological parameters. Significant increases were observed for hospital admissions in children for asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and upper (UPRD) and lower (LWRD) respiratory diseases. All fraction of PM in children showed significant positive associations with asthma admissions. The highest association noted was 18% rise in asthma admissions correlated with a 10-μg/m3 increase in PM10-2.5 on the same day of admissions. The adjusted odds ratios for exposure to PM2.5 with an increment of 10 μg/m3 were 1.15 and 1.21 for asthma and allergic rhinitis with asthma, respectively. PM10 exerted significant effects on hospital admissions for all outcomes, including asthma, AR, UPRD, and LWRD. Our study suggested a greater effect of fine and coarse PM on asthma hospital admissions compared with PM10 in children.

Chemical composition of precipitation near an industrial area at Izmir, Turkey

Abstract Wet and dry deposition samples were collected near an industrial area on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Concentrations of major ions (Cl − , SO 4 2− , NO 3 , H + , Na + , K + , Cat 2+ Mg 2+ and NH 4 + were determined. The pH of the precipitation, calculated from the volume weighted H+ concentration, was found to be 5.6, indicating extensive neutralization of the acidity in the rain. Neutralization was found to be a local process. The main base responsible for the neutralization of acidity was NH 3 from fertilizer used in the region. The CaCO 3 from resuspended soil accounts for 16% of the neutralized acidity. The annual wet deposition of ions was determined by two parameters, namely the precipitation amount and concentrations of ions in the precipitation. Precipitation amount accounted for approximately 70% of the annual wet deposition of ions in the Menemen region, whereas concentrations of ions in precipitation had only a minor influence. Although concentrations decrease with precipitation amount due to dilution in heavy rain, precipitation amount is not the only factor affecting concentrations of ions in precipitation. The main source of ions in wet deposition is the emissions from nearby industries. However, airborne NH 4 NO 3 and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fertilizer particles may also contribute to observed concentrations of SO 2 2− and NO 3 − in rainwater. Dry deposition of most of the ions was higher than their annual wet deposition.

Land-based sources of pollution along the black sea coast of Turkey: Concentrations and annual loads to the black sea

Abstract Concentrations of inorganic pollutants, pesticides and PCBs were measured in 42 sources including rivers, streams, and industrial and domestic discharge points along the Turkish Black Sea coast in three seasons of the year 1993. The measured concentrations were compared with water quality standards currently effective in Turkey in order to determine the levels of pollution in the rivers and streams. Concentrations were also combined with the water discharge data to determine annual loads of pollutants discharged from each source into the Black Sea. Concentrations of measured parameters were much higher in domestic and industrial discharges, as expected. Most of the rivers and streams were polluted with organic material, nitrogen and phosphorous species due to discharges of untreated domestic wastes into these streams. Metal concentrations measured in the rivers and streams were fairly low due to the lack of extensive industrialization in the drainage areas of the streams. Some of the small streams, including the Neyren, Kilimli, Zafir and Tabakhane streams, are heavily polluted and were identified as sources having the potential to generate hot spots along the coast. Annually, a total of 39.700 tons of nitrogen, 3.700 tons of phosphorous, 15 tons of Cd, 340 tons of Cu, 60 tons of Pb, 1.200 tons of Zn, 12 tons of heptachlor, 11 tons of aldrin, 31 tons of dieldrin, 180 tons of endrin and 500 tons of DDT are discharged from Turkish sources into the Black Sea. Except for trace metals, rivers and streams dominate the flux of pollutants. Large industries along the coast that discharge their wastes directly to the Black Sea account for a significant fraction of the annual metal discharges. Pesticides and PCBs were detected in most of the sources included in the study indicating their illegal use in agriculture. The Sakarya river was the most important source of pesticides.

Atmospheric trace element concentrations over the eastern Mediterranean Sea: Factors affecting temporal variability

Concentrations of elements and ions were measured in aerosol samples collected between March 1992 and December 1993 at a rural station on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Concentrations of pollution-derived elements are lower than corresponding concentrations reported for the western Mediterranean region, due to the longer distances traveled by the particles to reach the eastern Mediterranean region. Concentrations of elements vary on timescales ranging from days to seasons. Short-term variations in the concentrations of pollution-derived elements are explained by transport from source regions. Short-term variations in the concentrations of sea-salt and crustal elements, on the other hand, are due to the episodic nature of wind-induced particle generation mechanisms. Transport failed to explain long-term variations due to lack of seasonal changes in air mass transport patterns. The seasonal variations in the concentrations of anthropogenic elements are determined by the wet deposition of particles, which is more extensive in the wet season, and distances between source regions and the sampling site. The long-term variations in the concentrations of crustal and sea-salt elements are explained by seasonal changes in their source strengths. Distant rains on the path of the air masses which transport anthropogenic particles to the eastern Mediterranean are more influential on the observed seasonal behavior of pollution-derived elements than local rain events.

Major ion composition of wet and dry deposition in the eastern Mediterranean basin

Abstract Major ions were analysed in wet and dry deposition samples collected for 1 year (1992), using daily and weekly sampling periods at the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The dry deposition fluxes of marine and crustal ions were found to be higher than their corresponding wet deposition. However, wet deposition fluxes of ions with anthropogenic sources, such as SO 4 2− and NO 3 − were found to be higher than their dry deposition rates. The annual average pH of the precipitation was 5.17, with high variability in the observed values due to different source regions. High concentrations of SO 4 2− and NO 3 − measured in samples with high pH indicated extensive neutralization of acidity by alkaline species. Results suggest that more than 70% of the acidity has been neutralized by CaCO 3 which originate both from airborne local soil and dust transported from North Africa.

Ionic composition of precipitation at the Central Anatolia (Turkey)

Abstract Concentrations of major ions, SO42−, NO3−, Cl−, H+, Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and conductivity were measured in approximately 300 daily, wet-only rain samples collected at a permanent rural station between 1993 and 1998. Concentrations of anthropogenic ions NH4+, SO42− and NO3− were among the highest values reported in whole EMEP network, suggesting that the Anatolian plateau is under strong influence of distant emission sources. Although transport of pollutants have significant influence on the chemical composition of precipitation, average pH of the rainwater is 6.2 due to extensive neutralization of acidity. Approximately 95% of the acidity in collected samples is neutralized, particularly in summer season. The neutralizing agents are primarily CaCO3 and NH3. Concentrations of crustal ions are higher in summer season due to enhanced resuspension of soil particles from dry surface soil. Concentrations of anthropogenic ions SO42− and NO3− do not change significantly between summer and winter due to higher intensity of rains in summer season. Although concentrations of ions measured in this study is among the highest reported in EMEP network, wet deposition fluxes are low compared to flux values reported for similar sites in Europe, due to low annual precipitation in the Anatolia. Wet deposition fluxes of all measured parameters are highly episodic. Source regions affecting chemical composition precipitation in the Central Anatolia is investigated using trajectory statistics.