Three iron-containing atmospheric aerosol samples werecollected, one at a tunnel, one near a viaduct, and one at apark in Shanghai City. These samples were studied byMössbauer spectroscopy. The experimental results showthat ultrafine particles
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-Fe
2O
3 (about 13 nm) are the maincomponent of the iron-containing atmospheric aerosolsin the tunnel, and high-spin Fe
3+ in sulfate containing a smallamount of
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-FeOOH is the main component of iron-containing particles in the aerosols from the other twoplaces. The concentrations of iron in these locations,compared with those of some foreign cities, are much higher.To explore the chemical compositions of iron compoundsin aerosols, SPM (scanning proton microprobe) hasalso been used. From these results, a possible chemicalprocess by which the iron oxides converted to iron sulfatein air was discussed.