Concentrations, phase partitioning and deposition of specific alkyl-lead compounds in the atmosphere

✍ Scribed by Yun Wang; Alan B. Turnbull; Roy M. Harrison

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 324 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2605
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0739(199710/11)11:10/11<889::aid-aoc657>3.0.co;2-t

✦ Synopsis

Measurements of alkyl-lead compounds in air and rain at rural and urban sites in central

England during 1996 are reported. Vapour, aerosol and rain concentrations of individual tetra-, tri-and di-alkyl-lead species have been determined simultaneously at both sites, along with inorganic lead aerosol. The results show the predominance of vapour-phase over particle-associated species, with tetramethyl-lead being the most prevalent vapour-phase compound, with concentrations of up to 5.8 ng Pb m Ϫ 3 . Theoretical phase-partitioning coefficients for individual alkyl-lead compounds have been calculated and compared with measured values. Washout ratios for alkyl-lead compunds were found to be smaller than for inorganic lead. Atmospheric concentrations of both organic and inorganic lead appear to be falling, broadly in line with recent reductions in the use of alkyl-lead in gasoline.