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

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Abstract

Generally, coal is rich in boron (B) and has distinctive negative δ11B values. In this study, we aim to evaluate the extent to which emissions from coal combustion facilities affect the atmospheric concentration and δ11B of particulate B in their surrounding environment. We analyzed the variations in atmospheric concentration and δ11B 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 δ11B 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 δ11B 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.

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Data Availability

The authors confirm that the data used in this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Aerosol sampling was conducted by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, where M.S. was a research scientist, under contract with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in the fiscal year 2002–2006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Environmental Health Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan

    Masahiro Sakata & Yohei Tani

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  1. Masahiro Sakata
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  2. Yohei Tani
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Y.T. conducted the experimental work and data analysis with the supervision from M.S. Y.T. drafted the manuscript, and M.S. provided comments and revisions based on that.

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Correspondence to Masahiro Sakata.

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Sakata, M., Tani, Y. Variations in Atmospheric Concentration and Isotopic Composition of Particulate Boron Related to Emissions from Coal Combustion in Japan. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 396 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05309-7

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