Characteristics of atmospheric hydrogen peroxide variations in Seoul megacity during 2002-2004

Meehye Lee, Joo Ae Kim, Young Mi Kim, Gangwoong Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Atmospheric hydrogen peroxides (H2O2) and methyl hydroperoxide (CH3OOH) were measured in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Experiments were performed for several days almost every month from January 2002 to April 2004. Gaseous hydroperoxide was collected in aqueous solution and determined by HPLC-fluorescence method. In general, the higher levels of H2O2 were found in warm and humid air with high ozone concentrations, but lower concentrations of SO2, NO2, CO and PM10. For two-year measurements, seasonal factor was the most dominant and the concentrations of H2O2 were highest in summer, for which the median, mean, and upper 90% values were 0.53 ppbv, 0.81 ppbv, and 1.61 ppbv, respectively. In highly polluted metropolitan Seoul, the photochemical activity controlling H2O2 variations was seemingly more sensitive to meteorological conditions than the level of chemical pollutants. It was mainly due to high emissions of pollutants, particularly NOx, which was demonstrated by the occasional occurrence of CH3OOH.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)299-308
Number of pages10
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume393
Issue number2-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 Apr 15

Keywords

  • Asian dust
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Methyl hydroperoxide
  • Ozone
  • Seoul
  • Urban air pollution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characteristics of atmospheric hydrogen peroxide variations in Seoul megacity during 2002-2004'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this