Variations in Atmospheric Concentration and Isotopic Composition of Particulate Boron Related to Emissions from Coal Combustion in Japan

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2021-10, Vol.232 (10), Article 396
• Main Authors: Sakata, Masahiro, Tani, Yohei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air pollution; Analysis; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric temperature; Boron; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Coal; Coal-fired power plants; Combustion; Earth and Environmental Science; Electric power-plants; Emissions; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Fossil fueled power plants; Hydrogeology; Industrial areas; Industrial plant emissions; Industrial sites; Iron and steel plants; Iron industry; Low temperature; Power plants; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Soil Science & Conservation; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Winter; Zinc
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-021-05309-7

Generally, coal is rich in boron (B) and has distinctive negative δ 11 B values. In this study, we aim to evaluate the extent to which emissions from coal combustion facilities affect the atmospheric concentration and δ 11 B of particulate B in their surrounding environment. We analyzed the variations in atmospheric concentration and δ 11 B of particulate B observed over 2 years at three sites (Kakogawa, Nishio, and Komae) in urban and industrial areas, including major coal-fired power plants and iron works, in Japan, and at one site (Betsukai) in a background area as a reference. At all the sites, the particulate B concentration increased during winter and decreased during summer, and the particulate B concentration tended to increase with decreasing atmospheric temperature at temperatures lower than approximately 18 °C. Thus, the increase in particulate B concentration during winter may be attributable primarily to the enhanced condensation of gaseous B on atmospheric particles owing to low temperatures. On the other hand, the seasonal changes in the δ 11 B of particulate B at the urban and industrial sites were opposite to those in the particulate B concentration. The urban and industrial sites had higher particulate B concentrations than the background site and negative δ 11 B values, which are characteristic of coal, during winter. This shows that particulate B at the urban and industrial sites is strongly affected by emissions from coal combustion facilities during winter. Moreover, using the Pb/Zn ratio of aerosols, we determined whether particulate B originates from coal combustion in Japan or China.