Moch, Jonathan M., Dovrou, Eleni, Mickley, Loretta J. et al. (13 more authors) (2020) Global Importance of Hydroxymethanesulfonate in Ambient Particulate Matter:Implications for Air Quality. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. e2020JD032706. ISSN 2169-8996
Abstract
Sulfur compounds are an important constituent of particulate matter, with impacts on climate and public health. While most sulfur observed in particulate matter has been assumed to be sulfate, laboratory experiments reveal that hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS), an adduct formed by aqueous phase chemical reaction of dissolved HCHO and SO2, may be easily misinterpreted in measurements as sulfate. Here we present observational and modeling evidence for a ubiquitous global presence of HMS. We find that filter samples collected in Shijiazhuang, China, and examined with ion chromatography within 9 days show as much as 7.6 μg m−3 of HMS, while samples from Singapore examined 9–18 months after collection reveal ~0.6 μg m−3 of HMS. The Shijiazhuang samples show only minor traces of HMS 4 months later, suggesting that HMS had decomposed over time during sample storage. In contrast, the Singapore samples do not clearly show a decline in HMS concentration over 2 months of monitoring. Measurements from over 150 sites, primarily derived from the IMPROVE network across the United States, suggest the ubiquitous presence of HMS in at least trace amounts as much as 60 days after collection. The degree of possible HMS decomposition in the IMPROVE observations is unknown. Using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model, we estimate that HMS may account for 10% of global particulate sulfur in continental surface air and over 25% in many polluted regions. Our results suggest that reducing emissions of HCHO and other volatile organic compounds may have a co-benefit of decreasing particulate sulfur.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | ©2020. The Authors Funding Information: This research was funded by the Harvard Global Institute, by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (DGE1144152) and Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS1644998), by the Onassis Foundation scholarship for Hellenes, and by Assistance Agreement 83587201 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This work has not been formally reviewed by the EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the EPA. IMPROVE is a collaborative association of state, tribal, and federal agencies, and international partners. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the primary funding source, with contracting and research support from the National Park Service. The Air Quality Group at the University of California, Davis is the central analytical laboratory, with ion analysis provided by Research Triangle Institute, and carbon analysis provided by Desert Research Institute. Measurements in the Po Valley were supported by Supersito funded by Regione Emilia‐Romagna (DRG 428/10 and DGR 1971/2013) and PEGASOS funded by the European Commission (265148). The authors would like to thank Guorong Chen for assisting filter sampling in Singapore and to thank Ann Dillner for assistance with HMS decomposition experiments and helpful discussions. Funding Information: This research was funded by the Harvard Global Institute, by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (DGE1144152) and Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS1644998), by the Onassis Foundation scholarship for Hellenes, and by Assistance Agreement 83587201 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This work has not been formally reviewed by the EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the EPA. IMPROVE is a collaborative association of state, tribal, and federal agencies, and international partners. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the primary funding source, with contracting and research support from the National Park Service. The Air Quality Group at the University of California, Davis is the central analytical laboratory, with ion analysis provided by Research Triangle Institute, and carbon analysis provided by Desert Research Institute. Measurements in the Po Valley were supported by Supersito funded by Regione Emilia-Romagna (DRG 428/10 and DGR 1971/2013) and PEGASOS funded by the European Commission (265148). The authors would like to thank Guorong Chen for assisting filter sampling in Singapore and to thank Ann Dillner for assistance with HMS decomposition experiments and helpful discussions. |
Keywords: | aerosols,air pollution,cloud chemistry,formaldehyde,hydroxymethanesulfonate,sulfate |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Chemistry (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 03 Oct 2023 12:30 |
Last Modified: | 03 Nov 2024 01:29 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD032706 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1029/2020JD032706 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:203904 |
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Description: JGR Atmospheres - 2020 - Moch - Global Importance of Hydroxymethanesulfonate in Ambient Particulate Matter Implications
Licence: CC-BY 2.5