Environmental Science & Technology · 1994 · 31 citations · 12 references
Public HealthEnvironmental SciencesToxicologyAir PollutionAtmospheric ChemistryEnvironmental HealthAir Pollutant SourcesAir PollutantsAir Pollution SourcesAir QualityExposure AssessmentVolatile Organic CompoundsAir Pollution RiskAir Pollution Risk AssessmentAtmospheric Exposure AssessmentBuddhist Cave TemplesEnvironmental Exposure AssessmentPollutant Exposure AssessmentPrimary PollutantsResearch Articles
The Buddhist cave temples at the Yungang Grottoes, \nChina, experience rapid soiling due to the deposition of \nairborne particles. Contributing sources include coal \nmining and combustion, fugitive road dust, and regional \ndust storms. Both particle and gas-phase air pollutants \nare characterized at that site. Annual average coarse \n(diameter, d_p > 2.1 µm) particle concentrations outdoors \naverage 378 µg/m^3, increasing to more than 1200 µg/m^3 \nduring peak 24-h periods. These coarse airborne particles \ninclude crustal dust (e.g., soil dust; over 80% of coarse \nmass) and carbon-containing particles (10 % ). Fine airborne \nparticle concentrations (d_p ≤ 2.1 µm) outdoors average 130 µg/m^3 and consist mainly of carbon-containing particles (45.5%) and crustal dust (24%). Airborne particle concentrations inside cave 6 average approximately \n60% of those outdoors. SO_2 is the principal gas phase air pollutant averaging 31 ppb outdoors and 19 ppb inside cave 6 over the year studied. Other pollutant gases are present at lower average concentrations: NH_3 (4-10 ppb), NO_2 (4-6 ppb), HNO_3 (0.1-0.2 ppb), and HC1(<0.1 PPb).
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