Nine samples of three Kosa aerosols (Asian dust) were collected at Yaku Island located approximately 900 km southeast off the coast of China, during winter and spring 1988. Aluminum, Mg, Ca and Fe were present in highest concentration, but, as reported previously, high levels of NO3- and SO4(2-) were also found. The increase in NO3- and SO4(2-) levels in Kosa aerosol compared with normal aerosol during non-Kosa events were associated with the coarse size fraction, whereas no increase was found in the fine size fraction. The high correlation coefficient between NO3-, non-sea-salt SO4(2-), and total surface area of aerosol particles for all size fractions of the coarse fraction indicate that these ions are deposited on and transported with the Kosa aerosol.