The effect of atmospheric particulates on the rainwater chemistry in the Yangtze River Delta, China.

To investigate the effect of atmospheric particulates on the chemistry and acidity of rainwater during the washout process in areas with highly acidic rainfall, rainwater and particulates (before, during and after rain) were sampled and analyzed from June 2008 to June 2009 in the Yangtze River Delta region, China. The volume-weighted mean pH of the rainwater was only 4.44 in Hangzhou, and the average concentrations of TSP (total-suspended particulates) and PM (particulates with aerodynamic equivalent diameters of less than 10 μm) during the study period were 191 μg/m and 155 μg/m, respectively. The measured acid buffering capacities of PM and TSP were 1.31 ± 0.45 and 1.61 ± 0.84 ml/mg, on average, respectively, indicating that both had a certain acid buffering capacity. Rain appeared to have a pronounced scouring effect on particulates, except for F and Cl in PM. Upon combining the correlation analysis between ions in particulates and rainwater with Enrichment Factor and Principal Component Analysis of the rainwater chemistry, the results suggested that the components of rainwater were mainly derived from washout processes acting on particulates from crustal dust and building industry sources (Ca), marine sources (Na, K (in spring), Mg and Cl) and anthropogenic sources, especially secondary aerosols emitted from agricultural land, motor vehicles and industrial plants (NO, SO, and NH). The F in rainwater was mainly contributed by gaseous pollutants, such as HF from cooling systems, coal burning and surrounding factories. The interaction between particulates and rain in areas with highly acidic rainfall include the following: rain appears to have a pronounced scouring effect on most components in the particulates; the components of the rainwater are mainly derived from washout processes acting on PM contributed by crustal dust, sea salt and secondary aerosol subcloud; and the acid buffering capacities of PM and TSP in Hangzhou are 1.31 ± 0.45 and 1.61 ± 0.84 ml/mg, respectively, and had a certain acid buffering capacity toward rainwater.