Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3740
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3740
03 Feb 2025
 | 03 Feb 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

Measurement Report: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated (RPAHs), nitrated (NPAHs) and oxygenated (OPAHs) derivatives in the global marine atmosphere: occurrence, spatial variations, and source apportionment

Rui Li, Yubing Shen, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, Ziwei Yao, Qian Liu, Xing Liu, and Guitao Shi

Abstract. Ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives have severe adverse impacts on organism health and ecosystem safety. However, their global distributions, sources, and fate in marine aerosols remain poorly understood. To fill the knowledge gap, high-volume air samples were collected along a transect from China to Antarctica and analyzed for particulate PAHs and derivatives. The highest PAH concentrations in marine aerosols were observed in the Western Pacific (WP: 447±228 pg/m³), followed by the East China Sea (ECS: 195 pg/m³), Antarctic Ocean (AO: 111±91 pg/m³), East Australian Sea (EAS: 104±88 pg/m³), and the lowest in the Bismarck Sea (BS: 17±12 pg/m³). Unexpectedly, PAH concentrations in the AO were even higher than those in the EAS and BS. This could be attributed to the relatively low anthropogenic PAH emissions from Australia and Papua New Guinea, whereas AO is often affected by emissions from engine combustion and biomass burning. In contrast to the distribution of PAHs, OPAH levels in the EAS were much higher than those in the AO. It was assumed that OPAHs mainly originated from the secondary formation of parent PAHs through reactions with O3 and OH radicals, both of which are more prevalent in EAS. Several source apportionment models suggested that PAHs and their derivatives in marine aerosols are dominated by three sources: coal burning and engine combustion emissions (56 %), wood and biomass burning (30 %), and secondary formation (14 %). Specifically, marine aerosols in ECS and WP were significantly affected by coal burning and engine combustion, while those in BS and EAS were mainly influenced by wildfire and coal combustion. AO was primarily dominated by biomass burning and local shipping emissions.

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Rui Li, Yubing Shen, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, Ziwei Yao, Qian Liu, Xing Liu, and Guitao Shi

Status: open (until 17 Mar 2025)

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Rui Li, Yubing Shen, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, Ziwei Yao, Qian Liu, Xing Liu, and Guitao Shi

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Measurement Report: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated (RPAHs), nitrated (NPAHs) and oxygenated (OPAHs) derivatives in the global marine atmosphere: occurrence, spatial variations, and source apportionment R. Li https://zenodo.org/records/14291911

Rui Li, Yubing Shen, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, Ziwei Yao, Qian Liu, Xing Liu, and Guitao Shi

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Short summary
It is the first time to reveal the global variations of PAHs derivatives in the marine air. We found that marine aerosols in East China Sea (ECS) and Western Pacific (WP) were significantly affected by coal and engine combustion, while those in Bismarck Sea (BS) and East Australian Sea (EAS) were mainly influenced by wildfire and coal combustion. Antarctic Ocean (AO) was dominated by biomass burning and local shipping emissions. This finding help elucidate the mechanism of global PAH cycle.
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