Determination of gaseous and particulate carbonyls (glycolaldehyde, hydroxyacetone, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, nonanal and decanal) in the atmosphere at Mt. Tai

Researchers found that gaseous carbonyl compounds, particularly glyoxal and methylglyoxal, dominate the atmospheric composition at Mount Taishan (Mt. Tai), with concentrations significantly higher than particulate counterparts—up to 20 times more abundant. These findings suggest a strong influence of biomass burning from agricultural waste on the site's atmosphere, supported by correlations with levoglucosan, a tracer for such activities. The study employed a two-step filter cartridge system to measure semi-volatile carbonyls every three hours over several days in June 2006, revealing that glycolaldehyde and hydroxyacetone also exhibit distinct phase distributions. While no clear diurnal pattern emerged for most compounds, upward transport of pollutants from the North China Plain was identified as a key process shaping atmospheric conditions at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kawamura, K., Okuzawa, K., Aggarwal, S. G., Irie, H., Kanaya, Y., & Wang, Z. (2013). Determination of gaseous and particulate carbonyls (glycolaldehyde, hydroxyacetone, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, nonanal and decanal) in the atmosphere at Mt. Tai. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 13(10), 5369–5380. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-5369-2013