Cosmogenic Be; Particle size distribution and chemical composition of Be-carrying aerosols in the atmosphere in Japan

Narazaki, Yukinori*; Sakoda, Akihiro   ; Takahashi, Shunta*; Momoshima, Noriyuki*

The particle size distributions of airborne aerosols with Be were measured using cascade impactors at Dazaifu, a city in western Japan, in 2018 to observe their seasonal variation. Be was found to be attached to aerosols with a particle size of less than 2.1 m; in general, particles sized 0.43-0.65 m had the highest Be activity concentrations. The activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of Be was in the range of 0.39-0.52 m, which is the size range of particles that can reach human alveoli, and had an annual mean of 0.430.035 m. The activity concentrations of Be were significantly lower in summer, which affected its activity concentrations in the particle size distributions of Be. The particle size distribution of Be-carrying aerosols was also affected by that of the aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Finally, findings suggest that Be was mainly attached to sulfate aerosols (particularly ammonium sulfate aerosols).