Chemical characterization of atmospheric fine particles in Sapporo with determination of water content

Chemical components of atmospheric fine particles (aerosols less than 2 μm in diameter) were measured every half month in Sapporo from November 1991 to October 1992. Water content of the particles was, in particular, analyzed with Karl Fischer method as well as elemental carbon, organics, sulfate, nitrate, chloride, ammonium, sea-salt cations and soil particles. Total particulate mass (TPM) of the fine particles ranged from 10.9 to 35.0 μg m-3 at relative humidity less than 30%. Atmospheric concentrations of the water contained in the particles ranged from 0.05 to 1.11 μg m-3, which comprised 0.4–3.2% of TPM. The sum total of the chemical components represented 90–116% of TPM. Atmospheric fine particles in Sapporo were, thus, made up of above nine components.