Estimation of Natural Burden to Aerosols in Urban Air (II)

Abstract

Measurements of total aluminum and water-soluble coarse (>2μm) sodium concentrations in the aerosols of Nagoya urban area were made, from September 1976 to April 1979 and the contributions of soil and sea salt to aerosols in urban air was described. The average background concentration of soil particles in the three seasons except spring was about 15 μg/m³. In the spring, yellow sand dusts called Kasa were transported from North China to Japan, so that the concentration increased to about 30 μg/m³. On the other hand, the average background concentration of sea salt particles was about 2-3 μg/m³. It was estimated that the environmental impact from primary natural sources was about 25% of the total aerosols in the Nagoya urban area, and especially in spring was about 40%.