Large particle nitrate artifacts in the aerodynamic size distributions of ambient aerosols

Abstract Large particle nitrate artifacts on the aerodynamic size distributions of ambient aerosols due to deposition of nitric acid vapor on impactor substrates and back-up filter of cascade impactors when collecting aerosols, may contribute to high values in estimating the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) for airborne nitrate, but not for sulfate aerosols.