Temporal variations, sources and tracer significance of Polonium-210 in the metropolitan atmosphere of Beijing, China. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ouyang, Jie; Song, Li-Juan; Ma, Ling-Ling; Luo, Min; Shao, Yang; Dai, Xiong-Xin; Yang, Guo-Sheng; Yang, Yong-Gang; Luo, Mao-Yi; Xu, Dian-Dou
• Is Part Of: Atmospheric environment. Volume 193(2018)
• Page Start: 214
• Page End: 223
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Radioactive 210Po -- Stable element selenium -- Source identification -- Emission factor -- Emission inventory; Air -- Pollution -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Meteorological aspects -- Periodicals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.09.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-2310

Abstract

Abstract: In the present study, Polonium-210 ( 210 Po) is studied in TSP and coal combustion samples for its potential application in tracing air pollutants. A significant seasonal variation of atmospheric 210 Po in Beijing was observed: winter > autumn > summer > spring. During the combustion of coal, 210 Po was highly enriched in fly ash but was depleted in bottom ash. Using selenium (Se) as an indicator of coal combustion, significantly positive correlation between 210 Po and Se in TSP samples (r 2 = 0.705) revealed that coal combustion was a primary source of atmospheric 210 Po in Beijing. The mean emission factor of 210 Po from industry sector was found to be the highest (1.15 Bq kg −1 ), followed by the residential (0.308 Bq kg −1 ) and coal-fired power plant (0.0776 Bq kg −1 ) sectors. The annual emission inventories of 210 Po from three coal consumer sectors (residential, coal-fired power plant, and industry) in 2016 in Beijing were estimated to be 1.49, 0.0729, and 1.36 GBq, respectively. The ratio of radioactive 210 Po and stable element Se ( 210 Po/Se) was creatively used as a combined indicator or fingerprint of coal combustion emission, which will contribute to the development of radioisotope tracer technology based on nuclide fingerprint database in the source identification of air pollutants. Graphical abstract: Highlights: 210 Po was characterized in TSP and coal combustion samples to trace the air pollutants. A significant seasonal variation of atmospheric 210 Po was observed. 210 Po was highly enriched in fly ash while was depleted in bottom ash. Coal combustion emission was a primary source of atmospheric 210 Po in Beijing. The ratio of 210 Po/Se could be a novel indicator of coal combustion emission.