Background Trace Gas Concentrations in the Central United States R. J. BREEDING, J.P. LODGE, JR., J. B. PATE, D.C. SHEESLEY, H. B. KLONI$, B. FOGLE, J. A. ANDERSON, T. R. ENGIERT, P. L. HAAGENSON, R. B.

The concentrations of common trace gaseous constituents of the atmosphere have been measured in clean air in rural Illinois and Missouri. Sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/), nitrogen dioxide (NO/sub 2/), ammonia (NH/sub 3/), and aldehydes (rcho) were removed from the air by 1 hour of wet scrubbing. Hydrogen sulfide (H/sub 2/S) was collected by passing air through an impregnated filter for 1 or 2 hours. Background concentrations of SO/sub 2/, NO/sub 2/, and rcho ranged from less than 1 to 5 ppB. The NH/sub 3/ concentrations were found to be as high as 10 ppB. The H/sub 2/S concentrations varied from less than 0.10 to 0.35 ppB. Comparison with previous measurements and with assumed worldwide values indicates that the concentrations of NO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/S assumed to exist over land at temperate latitudes may be too high.

[1]  J. Lodge,et al.  Sensitive method for measurement of atmospheric hydrogen sulfide. , 1972, Analytical chemistry.

[2]  C. Huygen,et al.  The determination of nitrogen dioxide in air after absorption in a modified alkaline solution. , 1971, Atmospheric environment.

[3]  L. Ripperton,et al.  Nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide in non-urban air. , 1970, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association.

[4]  J. Harwood,et al.  Some aspects of the phenol-hypochlorite reaction as applied to ammonia analysis , 1970 .

[5]  H. Georgii.  Contribution to the atmospheric sulfur budget , 1970 .

[6]  J. Lodge,et al.  Fluorescence determinatioof sub-parts per billion hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere. , 1969, Analytical chemistry.

[7]  A. Wartburg,et al.  Estimation of some atmospheric trace gases in Antarctica , 1968 .

[8]  J. Lodge,et al.  Atmospheric Gases and Particulates in Panama , 1966, Science.

[9]  H. Georgii,et al.  Untersuchung über die Verteilung von Spurengasen in der freien Atmosphäre , 1964 .

[10]  A. Wartburg,et al.  Effect of Pararosaniline in the Trace Determination of Sulfur Dioxide. , 1962 .

[11]  J. Lodge,et al.  A Study of the Composition of Marine Atmospheres , 1960 .

[12]  M. Jacobs,et al.  Continuous Sampling and Ultramicrodetermination of Nitrogen Dioxide in Air , 1958 .

[13]  C. Junge.  Chemical Analysis of Aerosol Particles and of Gas Traces on the Island of Hawaii , 1957 .

[14]  P. W. West,et al.  Fixation of Sulfur Dioxide as Disulfitomercurate (II) and Subsequent Colorimetric Estimation , 1956 .

[15]  C. Junge.  Recent Investigations in Air Chemistry , 1956 .

[16]  E. Eriksson,et al.  Current Data on the Chemical Composition of Air and Precipitation , 1955 .

[17]  B. E. Saltzman.  Colorimetric Microdetermination of Nitrogen Dioxide in Atmosphere , 1954 .

[18]  H. Newstein,et al.  Appraisal and modification of West-Gaeke method for sulfur dioxide determination , 1968 .

[19]  J. Tetlow,et al.  An absorptiometric method for determining ammonia in boiler feed-water , 1964 .

[20]  E. Sawicki,et al.  The 3-Methyl-2-benzothiazolone Hydrazone Test. Sensitive New Methods for the Detection, Rapid Estimation, and Determination of Aliphatic Aldehydes , 1961 .