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Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends

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A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 32551

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Prof. Dr. Marco Grotti

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Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso, 31, 16146 Genova GE, Italy
Interests: trace elements; atomic spectrometry; polar research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The long-distance transport of contaminants to the remote regions of the planet is a major environmental threat, strongly connected with the atmospheric circulation, and global climate change. Chemicals of concern include greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases, persistent organic pollutants, toxic elements, and radioactive isotopes, but new contaminants (e.g., nanoparticles, technological elements, microplastics) are also emerging. These pollutants can accumulate in the environment, contaminating the food chain and having a major impact on health.

Although valuable monitoring programs are currently ongoing, there is still a clear need for thorough research to address some important issues, including the temporal trends of air contaminants in polar regions, the assessment of possible local and distant sources and their change with time, and the elucidation of the transport pathways. The development of new analytical methods to support these investigations is also of great importance, both to improve the quantification of classic and emerging contaminants and to enlarge the number of suitable environmental markers.

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to provide new insights into the levels, possible sources, and temporal trends of air pollutants in the polar regions, covering the following aspects:

Atmospheric contamination in the polar regions.
Temporal trends of contaminants.
Assessment of local and distant sources.
Impact of local activities (e.g., research stations, maritime traffic, human settlements).
Transport processes and pathways.
Emerging contaminants (e.g., nanoparticles, microplastics).
Emerging local sources due to defrosting.
Urban pollution in Arctic cities.
New analytical tools to support these investigations.

Prof. Dr. Marco Grotti
Guest Editor

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Keywords

chemical contamination
Arctic
Antarctica
source assessment
environmental impact
atmospheric particulate
emerging pollutants
temporal trends.

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Fractionation of Trace Elements in Arctic PM₁₀ Samples

by Eleonora Conca, Mery Malandrino, Agnese Giacomino, Paolo Inaudi, Annapaola Giordano, Francisco Ardini, Rita Traversi and Ornella Abollino

Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091152 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2009

Abstract

In this study, the information potential of a two-step sequential extraction procedure was evaluated. For this purpose, first of all the elemental composition of Arctic PM₁₀ samples collected in Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard Islands) from 28 February 2015 to 21 October 2015 was investigated. Enrichment Factors, Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis were performed to identify PM₁₀ sources and to understand the effects of short- and long-range transport processes. The investigation of the potential source areas was also aided by taking into account back-trajectories. Then, the sequential extraction procedure was applied to some of the samples in order to obtain more information on these sources. This approach allowed us to establish that most of the elements prevalently having an anthropogenic origin not only were present in higher concentrations, but they were also more easily extractable in late winter and early spring. This confirms the common statement that the anthropogenic portion of the elements present in a sample is generally loosely bound to the particulate matter structure, and so it is more easily extractable and releasable on the Arctic snowpack. Moreover, in the samples collected in late winter and early spring, even the elements prevalently having a crustal origin were more easily extractable, probably due to the particle size selection occurred during the long-range transport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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20 pages, 2354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Evolution of the Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Aerosol in Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica)

by Flavio Vagnoni, Silvia Illuminati, Anna Annibaldi, Francesco Memmola, Giada Giglione, Anna Maria Falgiani, Federico Girolametti, Matteo Fanelli, Giuseppe Scarponi and Cristina Truzzi

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12081030 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3189

Abstract

Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected at Faraglione Camp, 3 km away from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea), from 1 December 2013 to 2 February 2014. A two-step extraction procedure was applied to characterize the soluble and insoluble components of PM₁₀-bound metals. Samples were analyzed for Al, Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS). The mean atmospheric concentrations were (reported as means ± SD) Al 24 ± 3 ng m⁻³; Fe 23 ± 4 ng m⁻³; Cd 0.92 ± 0.53 pg m⁻³; Cu 43 ± 9 pg m⁻³, and Pb 16 ± 5 pg m⁻³. The fractionation pattern was metal-specific, with Al, Fe, and Pb mainly present in the insoluble fractions, Cd in the soluble one, and Cu equally distributed between the two fractions. The summer evolution showed overall constant behavior of both fractions for Al and Fe, while a bell-shaped trend was observed for the three trace metals. Cd and Cu showed a bell-shaped evolution involving both fractions. A seasonal increase in Pb occurred only for the insoluble fraction, while the soluble fraction remained almost constant. Sequential extraction and enrichment factors indicated a crustal origin for Al, Fe, and Pb, and additional (marine or anthropogenic) contributions for Cd and Cu. Back trajectory analysis showed a strong contribution of air masses derived from the Antarctic plateau. A potential low contribution from anthropized areas cannot be excluded. Further studies are necessary to better characterize the chemical composition of the aerosol, to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic sources, and to evaluate a quantitative source apportionment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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17 pages, 5355 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatial Distribution of Black Carbon Concentrations in the Atmosphere of the North Atlantic and the European Sector of the Arctic Ocean

by Sergey M. Sakerin, Dmitry M. Kabanov, Vladimir M. Kopeikin, Ivan A. Kruglinsky, Alexander N. Novigatsky, Viktor V. Pol’kin, Vladimir P. Shevchenko and Yuri S. Turchinovich

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12080949 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2633

Abstract

We discuss the measurements of black carbon concentrations in the composition of atmospheric aerosol over the seas of the North Atlantic and European sector of the Arctic Ocean (21 expeditions in 2007–2020). The black carbon concentrations were measured by an aethalometer and filter method. The comparison of the two variants of the measurements of the black carbon concentrations showed that the data acceptably agreed and can be used jointly. It is noted that the spatial distribution of black carbon over the ocean is formed under the influence of outflows of air masses from the direction of continents, where the main sources of emission of absorbing aerosol are concentrated. We analyzed the statistical characteristics of black carbon concentrations in five marine regions, differing by the outflows of continental aerosol. The largest black carbon content is a salient feature of the atmosphere of the North and Baltic Seas, surrounded by land: average values of concentrations are 210 ng/m³, and modal values are 75 ng/m³. In other regions (except in the south of the Barents Sea), the average black carbon concentrations are 37–44 ng/m³ (modal concentrations are 18–26 ng/m³). We discuss the specific features of the spatial (latitude-longitude) distributions of black carbon concentrations, relying on ship-based measurements and model calculations (MERRA-2 reanalysis data). A common regularity of the experimental and model spatial distributions of black carbon is that the concentrations decrease in the northern direction and with the growing distance from the continent: from several hundred ng/m³ in the southern part of the North Sea to values below 50 ng/m³ in polar regions of the ocean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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16 pages, 3806 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Resolution Chemical Stratigraphies of Atmospheric Depositions from a 4 m Depth Snow Pit at Dome C (East Antarctica)

by Laura Caiazzo, Silvia Becagli, Stefano Bertinetti, Marco Grotti, Silvia Nava, Mirko Severi and Rita Traversi

Atmosphere 2021, 12(7), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12070909 - 14 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 7051

Abstract

In this work, we present chemical stratigraphies of two sampling lines collected within a 4 m depth snow pit dug in Dome C during the Antarctic summer Campaign 2017/2018, 12 years after the last reported snow pit. The first sampling line was analyzed for nine anionic and cationic species using Ion Chromatography (IC); the second sampling line was analyzed for seven major elements in an innovative way with Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after sample pre-concentration, allowing the study of deposition processes of new markers especially related to crustal source. This coupled analysis, besides confirming previous studies, allowed us to investigate the depositions of the last decades at Dome C, enriching the number of the detected chemical markers, and yielding these two techniques complementary for the study of different markers in this kind of matrix. As a result of the dating, the snow layers analyzed covered the last 50 years of snow depositions. The assessment of the accumulation rate, estimated about 9 cm yr⁻¹, was accomplished only for the period 1992–2016, as the eruption of 1992 constituted the only tie-point found in nssSO₄²⁻ depth profile. Na, the reliable sea salt marker, together with Mg and Sr, mainly arose from marine sources, whereas Ca, Al and Fe originated from crustal inputs. Post-depositional processes occurred on Cl⁻ as well as on NO₃⁻ and methanesulfonic acid (MSA); compared to the latter, Cl⁻ had a more gradual decrease, reporting a threshold at 2.5 m for the post-depositional process completion. For NO₃⁻ and MSA, instead, the threshold was shallower, at about 1 m depth, with a loss of 87% for NO₃⁻ and of 50% for MSA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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18 pages, 4435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Oxides (NO_x) in the Arctic Troposphere at Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard Islands): Effects of Anthropogenic Pollution Sources

by Antonietta Ianniello, Roberto Salzano, Rosamaria Salvatori, Giulio Esposito, Francesca Spataro, Mauro Montagnoli, Rosanna Mabilia and Antonello Pasini

Atmosphere 2021, 12(7), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12070901 - 13 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3401

Abstract

Atmospheric measurements of nitrogen oxides (NO_x = NO + NO₂), ozone (O₃) and other constituents were carried out during three field campaigns (29 March–30 April 2010, 1–26 April 2011, 18 May–8 October 2015) at Ny-Ålesund. The study focused on the variability of important O₃ precursors, such as NO_x, in the Arctic troposphere, and on the impact from anthropogenic sources on their measured concentrations: higher NO and NO₂ levels were mostly associated with the lowest wind speeds and northern directions, indicating local pollution. Long-range transported sources from Russia and Europe were also identified with an occurrence of high NO_x levels. Several ozone depletion events were observed and associated to winds blowing from the north-west direction (Arctic Ocean). Most of these events were connected to the lower NO and NO₂ concentrations. Measurements of halogen and low molecular weight carbonyl compounds in 2010 and 2011, respectively, showed variable effects during the ozone depletion events. Other data, such as high time-resolved radon progeny measurements, were used in 2015 to identify source tracking and transport of air masses, local effects and atmospheric stability dynamics that could influence the NO_x concentrations at Ny-Ålesund. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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15 pages, 1395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occurrence of Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Pollutants in the Russian Arctic Atmosphere: The International Siberian Shelf Study Expedition (ISSS-2020)

by Dmitry S. Kosyakov, Irina S. Shavrina, Nikolay V. Ul’yanovskii, Dmitry E. Lakhmanov and Albert T. Lebedev

Atmosphere 2021, 12(6), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12060767 - 14 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3333

Abstract

Environmental issues in the Arctic region are of primary importance due to the fragility of the Arctic ecosystem. Mainly persistent organic compounds are monitored in the region by nine stationary laboratories. Information on the volatile (VOC) and semi volatile (SVOC) organic priority pollutants is very limited, especially for the Russian Arctic. Air samples from 16 sites along the Russian Arctic coast from the White Sea to the East Siberian Sea were collected on sorption tubes packed with Tenax, Carbograph, and Carboxen sorbents with different selectivity for a wide range of VOCs and SVOCs in 2020 within the framework of the International Siberian Shelf Study Expedition on the research vessel Akademik Keldysh. Thermal desorption gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry with Orbitrap was used for the analysis. Eighty-six VOCs and SVOCs were detected in the air samples at ng/m³ levels. The number of quantified compounds varied from 26 to 66 per sample. Benzoic acid was the major constituent, followed by BTEX, phenol, chloroform, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and carbon tetrachloride. The study allowed for obtaining the first ever data on the presence of 138 priority pollutants in the air of Russian Arctic, whereas the thorough assessment of their possible sources will be the aim of a next investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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16 pages, 2352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Year-Round Measurement of Water-Soluble Trace and Rare Earth Elements in Arctic Aerosol: Possible Inorganic Tracers of Specific Events

by Clara Turetta, Matteo Feltracco, Elena Barbaro, Andrea Spolaor, Carlo Barbante and Andrea Gambaro

Atmosphere 2021, 12(6), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12060694 - 29 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2868

Abstract

This study presents the year-round variability of the water-soluble fraction of trace elements (wsTE) and rare earth elements (wsREE) among size segregated airborne particulate matter samples collected at Ny-Ålesund in the Svalbard Archipelago from 26 February 2018 to 26 February 2019. Six different aerosol dimensional fractions were collected using a multi-stage Andersen impactor to better understand local and global circulation with the aim of disentangling the source of inorganic tracers from specific natural or anthropogenic sources. The wsTE and wsREE content, especially in the finest fractions in remote areas, is primarily related to long-range transport and it gives valuable information on (1) the global circulation, (2) the natural sources and (3) the contribution of human activities to aerosol composition. A Factor Analysis was applied to the dataset, including levoglucosan and methanesulfonic acid (MSA), to assess the possibility of using certain inorganic tracers as indicators of specific transport events or circulation regimes. We also investigate back-trajectories to determine potential source areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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14 pages, 1606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Brominated Flame Retardants in Antarctic Air in the Vicinity of Two All-Year Research Stations

by Susan Maria Bengtson Nash, Seanan Wild, Sara Broomhall and Pernilla Bohlin-Nizzetto

Atmosphere 2021, 12(6), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12060668 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3452

Abstract

Continuous atmospheric sampling was conducted between 2010–2015 at Casey station in Wilkes Land, Antarctica, and throughout 2013 at Troll Station in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Sample extracts were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the naturally converted brominated compound, 2,4,6-Tribromoanisole, to explore regional profiles. This represents the first report of seasonal resolution of PBDEs in the Antarctic atmosphere, and we describe conspicuous differences in the ambient atmospheric concentrations of brominated compounds observed between the two stations. Notably, levels of BDE-47 detected at Troll station were higher than those previously detected in the Antarctic or Southern Ocean region, with a maximum concentration of 7800 fg/m³. Elevated levels of penta-formulation PBDE congeners at Troll coincided with local building activities and subsided in the months following completion of activities. The latter provides important information for managers of National Antarctic Programs for preventing the release of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances in Antarctica. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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17 pages, 6909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Source Areas for Atmospheric Lead Reaching Ny-Ålesund from 2010 to 2018

by Andrea Bazzano, Stefano Bertinetti, Francisco Ardini, David Cappelletti and Marco Grotti

Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030388 - 17 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2844

Abstract

Lead content, enrichment factors, and isotopic composition (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) measured in atmospheric particulate matter (PM₁₀) samples collected for nine years at Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard islands, Norwegian Arctic) during spring and summer are presented and discussed. The possible source areas (PSA) for particulate inferred from Pb isotope ratio values were compared to cluster analysis of back-trajectories. Results show that anthropogenic Pb dominates over natural crustal Pb, with a recurring higher influence in spring, compared to summer. Crustal Pb accounted for 5–16% of the measured Pb concentration. Anthropogenic Pb was affected by (i) a Central Asian PSA with Pb isotope signature compatible with ores smelted in the Rudny Altai region, at the Russian and Kazakhstan border, which accounted for 85% of the anthropogenic Pb concentration, and (ii) a weaker North American PSA, contributing for the remaining 15%. Central Asian PSA exerted an influence on 71–86% of spring samples, without any significant interannual variation. On the contrary, 59–87% of summer samples were influenced by the North American PSA, with higher contributions during 2015 and 2018. Back-trajectory analysis agreed on the seasonal difference in PSA and highlighted a possible increased influence for North American air masses during summer 2010 and 2018, but not for summer 2015. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in the Polar Regions: Levels, Sources and Trends)

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