Size distributions of nitrated phenols in winter at a coastal site in north China and the impacts from primary sources and secondary formation

Nitrated phenols in particulate matters are among the major components of brown carbon, harm plant growth and human health. To understand the size distributions of nitrated phenols in the polluted coastal region and the factors influencing these distributions, size-resolved particulate matters were collected from a rural site in the coastal city of Qingdao, China, in January 2019, and analyzed for the presence of 11 nitrated phenols. The average concentrations of total nitrated phenols in fine- and coarse-mode particles were 123.6 and 37.2 ng m−3, respectively. 4-Nitrophenol was found to be the dominant nitrated phenol, followed by 3-methyl-6-nitrocatechol, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, and 4-nitrocatechol. On average, maximum concentrations of nitrated phenols were in condensation-mode particles, whereas a minor concentration peak of nitro-salicylic acids was present in droplet-mode particles. In addition, a minor concentration peak of 4-methyl-2,6-dinitrophenol was noticed in coarse-mode particles. Comparisons of the size distributions under different situations confirmed that both primary emissions and secondary formation had significant effects on the abundances and particle-sizes of nitrated phenols. Coal combustion in residential villages and firework burning during a festival led to a sharp increase of nitrated phenols in condensation-mode particles, whereas dust promoted their heterogeneous formation in coarse-mode particles, and high humidity in the coastal area facilitated their aqueous formation in droplet-mode particles. [Display omitted] •Concentrations and size distributions of 11 nitrated phenols (NPs) were presented.•Primary sources and secondary formation had impacts on size distributions of NPs.•Coal combustion and fireworks promoted the increases of NPs in condensation mode.•Dust in the atmosphere caused the heterogeneous formation of NPs in coarse particles.•High humidity obviously facilitated the aqueous formation of NPs in droplet mode.