Spatial Distribution of SO 2 , NO 2 , and O 3 Concentrations in an Industrial City of Turkey Using a Passive Sampling Method

• Published in: Clean : soil, air, water Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 423 - 428
• Main Authors: Pekey, Beyhan, Özaslan, Ümmiye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2013
• ISSN: 1863-0650; 1863-0669
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.201200172

Abstract Ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and ozone (O 3 ) were measured at 51 sampling points by passive sampling technique in Kocaeli, an important industrial city in Turkey. Samples were analyzed by UV‐spectrophotometry for NO 2 and O 3 and by ion chromatography for SO 2 , respectively. Concentrations of SO 2 , NO 2 , and O 3 were determined to investigate their spatial distribution and source characterization. The sampling campaigns revealed an average concentration of 8 µg/m 3 (max. 82 µg/m 3 ) for SO 2 , and 14 µg/m 3 (max. 40 µg/m 3 ) for NO 2 , in summer; while average winter concentrations were 25 µg/m 3 (max. 61 µg/m 3 ) for SO 2 , and 50 µg/m 3 (max. 100 µg/m 3 ) for NO 2 . The maximum ozone concentrations were determined to be 86 µg/m 3 in summer and 61 µg/m 3 in winter downwind of the source areas of the precursor pollutant emissions. The results showed that NO 2 and SO 2 concentrations in industrial and urban areas were two to four times higher compared with rural areas in the summer and winter. In the light of the information obtained from the spatial interpolation of the pollutant concentrations, a selection of appropriate locations for continuous monitoring was suggested according to the European Community (EU) directives.