Ambient naphthalene and methylnaphthalenes observed at an urban site in the Pearl River Delta region: Sources and contributions to secondary organic aerosol

Naphthalene (Nap) and methylnaphthalenes (MN) are among important intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) that contribute substantially to the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), yet studies about their ambient levels, source contributions and SOA productions are quite limited. In this study a field campaign was conducted from September 23rd to October 4th, 2019 at an urban site in the megacity Guangzhou in south China for characterizing ambient Nap and MN. Measured Nap, 2-MN, and 1-MN concentrations were 94.0 +/- 23.1, 25.3 +/- 4.5, and 11.8 +/- 2.1 ng m(-3) (mean +/- 95% C.I.), respectively. Initial levels and chemical losses of Nap and MN were estimated using a photochemical age-based parameterization method, and results demonstrated that on average similar to 60% of Nap + MN were degraded during photochemical ageing. During the photochemically active period (12:00-15:00), Nap and MN could contribute 12.4% of estimated SOA formed from single-ring aromatics, Nap and MN altogether, while their initial levels were less than 2% of single-ring aromatics. Source apportioning by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) coupled with the photochemical age-based parameterization revealed that gasoline exhaust was the largest source, accounting for 39.1% of Nap and MN, followed by biomass/coal burning (29.9%), diesel exhaust (26.3%) and industrial emission (4.7%).

Automated summary

This study conducted a field campaign in Guangzhou to characterize ambient levels of Naphthalene and methylnaphthalenes, finding that about 60% of Nap + MN were degraded during photochemical aging. During the photochemically active period, Nap and MN could contribute 12.4% of estimated SOA formed from single-ring aromatics. Source apportioning revealed that gasoline exhaust was the largest source of Nap and MN, followed by biomass/coal burning, diesel exhaust, and industrial emission.