Major inorganic ion composition of atmospheric aerosols at the coastal site in Visakhapatnam City--India.

Abstract

Atmospheric aerosols were sampled at a coastal site and analyzed for H+, NH+4, Ca++, Mg++, Na+, SO4- -, HCO(-3), Cl- and No3-. The analysis demonstrated that these ions are the main constituents of the aerosols sampled. The correlation coefficients are calculated for each possible pair of anions and cations. Ionic balance in the ambient aerosols indicate that the main compounds existed are in the order of sodium chloride; bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium; sulphates of sodium, magnesium and calcium; and nitrates of sodium, magnesium and calcium. The existence of cations has exceeded the anions which indicate that ionic composition of the aerosols are not very much determined by background marine nature but may also be due to transport of polluted air masses from the surrounding areas.