Contribution of biomass burning to atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at three European background sites

MANDALAKIS, M., O. GUSTAFFSON, T. ALSBERG, A.L. EGEBACK, C.M. REDDY, L. XU, Jana KLANOVA, Ivan HOLOUBEK and E.G. STEPHANOU. Contribution of biomass burning to atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at three European background sites. Environmental Science & Technology. USA, 2005, vol. 39, No 9, p. 2976-2982. ISSN 0013-936X.

Basic information

• Original name: Contribution of biomass burning to atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at three European background sites
• Name in Czech: Prispevek spalovani biomasy k atmosferickemu znciseiteni polyaromatickymi uhlovodiky ve tech evropskch pozaovch lokalitch.
• Authors: MANDALAKIS, M. (300 Greece), O. GUSTAFFSON (752 Sweden), T. ALSBERG (826 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), A.L. EGEBACK (826 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), C.M. REDDY (840 United States of America), L. XU (840 United States of America), Jana KLANOVA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Ivan HOLOUBEK (203 Czech Republic) and E.G. STEPHANOU (300 Greece).
• Edition: Environmental Science & Technology, USA, 2005, 0013-936X.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10406 Analytical chemistry
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 4.054
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/05:00025531
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• UT WoS: 000228781700023
• Keywords in English: radiocarbon analysis; polyaromatic hydrocarbons; atmosphere; biomass burning; air pollution; Europe
• Tags: air pollution, Atmosphere, biomass burning, Europe, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, radiocarbon analysis

Abstract

Radiocarbon analysis of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three background areas in Sweden, Croatia and Greece was performed to apportion their origin between fossil and biomass combustion. Diagnostic ratios of PAHs implied that wood and coal combustion was relatively more important in northern Europe, while combustion of fossil fuels was the dominant source of PAHs to the southern European background sites. The stable carbon isotopic composition (d13C) of PAHs ranged from -29.2 to -27.7, suggesting that diesel combustion is of minor importance in all areas. The radiocarbon content (Ä14C) of atmospheric PAHs in Sweden ranged between -388 and -381, while more depleted values were observed for Greece (-914) and Croatia (-888). Using a 14C isotopic mass balance model, it was calculated that biomass burning contributes nearly 10% of the total PAH burden in the studied southern European atmosphere with fossil fuel combustion making up the 90% balance. In contrast, biomass burning contributes about 50% of total PAHs in the aerosols of central Sweden. Our results suggest that the relative contributions of biomass burning and fossil fuels to atmospheric PAHs may differ considerably between countries and therefore different national control strategies might be needed if a further reduction of these pollutants is to be achieved on a continental-global scale.

Abstract (in Czech)

Radiocarbon analysis of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three background areas in Sweden, Croatia and Greece was performed to apportion their origin between fossil and biomass combustion. Diagnostic ratios of PAHs implied that wood and coal combustion was relatively more important in northern Europe, while combustion of fossil fuels was the dominant source of PAHs to the southern European background sites. The stable carbon isotopic composition (d13C) of PAHs ranged from -29.2 to -27.7, suggesting that diesel combustion is of minor importance in all areas. The radiocarbon content (Ä14C) of atmospheric PAHs in Sweden ranged between -388 and -381, while more depleted values were observed for Greece (-914) and Croatia (-888). Using a 14C isotopic mass balance model, it was calculated that biomass burning contributes nearly 10% of the total PAH burden in the studied southern European atmosphere with fossil fuel combustion making up the 90% balance. In contrast, biomass burning contributes about 50% of total PAHs in the aerosols of central Sweden. Our results suggest that the relative contributions of biomass burning and fossil fuels to atmospheric PAHs may differ considerably between countries and therefore different national control strategies might be needed if a further reduction of these pollutants is to be achieved on a continental-global scale.

Links

• MSM0021622412, plan (intention): Name: Interakce mezi chemickými látkami, prostředím a biologickými systémy a jejich důsledky na globální, regionální a lokální úrovni (INCHEMBIOL) (Acronym: INCHEMBIOL)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Interactions among the chemicals, environment and biological systems and their consequences on the global, regional and local scales (INCHEMBIOL)