Characteristics of atmospheric particulate mercury in size-fractionated particles during haze days in Shanghai

During haze days, each size-fractioned PHg concentration was higher than the corresponding fraction on non-haze days, and the dominant particle size was in the accumulation mode, with constant accumulation to a particle size of 0.56-1.0 μm. The mass size distribution of PHg was bimodal with peaks at 0.32-0.56 μm and 3.1-6.2 μm on non-haze days, and 0.56-1.0 μm and 3.1-6.2 μm on haze days. There was a clear trend that the dominant size for PHg in the fine modes shifted from 0.32-0.56 μm during non-haze days to 0.56-1.0 μm on haze days, which revealed the higher growth velocity of PHg on haze days due to the condensation and accumulation of Hg in particles. Traffic emissions and coal combustion may contribute to the high concentrations of Hg, because PHg of every size was found to correlate positively with SO2, NO2, and CO. A correlation was found between every mode of PHg and relative humidity, which affected the gas-particle partitioning of semi-volatile organic compounds, resulting in effective partitioning into aerosols. The strong correlations between Hg and water-soluble ions implied the oxidation of elemental Hg was the main gas-to-particle chemical transformation process.