Dynamics of atmospheric ammonia concentrations near different emission sources

Ammonia (NH[sub 3]) is an important alkaline gas and precursor of secondary aerosols or fine particulate matter (such as PM[sub 2.5]) in the atmosphere. NH[sub 3] is mainly from agricultural sources (ammonium based N fertilizers and livestock wastes). However, the contribution of urban and industrial sources to atmospheric NH[sub 3] has become an environmental concern with accelerated urbanization and industrialization in China. Therefore this paper studied the spatial-temporal variability of NH[sub 3] and its applications in environmental protection at different sites near various emission sources in Beijing using ALPHA passive samplers during April 2010 and march 2011. Our results suggest that fattening house of swine farm and raw water pool of refuge landfill were very important NH[sub 3] emission sources compared with fertilized cropland, based on emission densities.