Source aportionment of atmospheric PAHs in the western Balkans by natural abundance radiocarbon analysis.

ZENCAK, Zdenek, Orjan GUSTAFSSON, Jana KLÁNOVÁ and Ivan HOLOUBEK. Source aportionment of atmospheric PAHs in the western Balkans by natural abundance radiocarbon analysis. Environmental Science & Technology. USA: The American Chemical Society, 2007, vol. 41, No 41, p. 3850-3855. ISSN 0013-936X.

Basic information

• Original name: Source aportionment of atmospheric PAHs in the western Balkans by natural abundance radiocarbon analysis.
• Name in Czech: Hledání zdrojů atmosférických PAHs na západním Balkáně na základě přirozené abundance radionuklidů uhlíku.
• Authors: ZENCAK, Zdenek (756 Switzerland), Orjan GUSTAFSSON (752 Sweden), Jana KLÁNOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor) and Ivan HOLOUBEK (203 Czech Republic).
• Edition: Environmental Science & Technology, USA, The American Chemical Society, 2007, 0013-936X.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10511 Environmental sciences
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 4.363
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/07:00023697
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• UT WoS: 000246843300007
• Keywords in English: Source aportionment; PAHs; Radiocarbon analysis;Western Balkan
• Tags: PaHs, radiocarbon analysis, Source aportionment, Western Balkan
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Combustion of fossil fuels is the major source of energy for today global economy but is also largely responsible for both the greenhouse effect and air pollution of significant public health concern. While statistical information exists for fossil fuel usage and emissions in different countries, the contribution of biomass combustion (as energy source or simply as open fires, forest fires, waste incineration, etc.) to atmospheric pollution is much more difficult to constrain. Predictions based on traditional emission inventory approaches fail because of the very large variations in emission factors for different biomass combustion processes. The challenge of apportioning the pollution sources is further exacerbated for countries where data about energy usage and extent of combustion of non fossil material is limited due to difficult socio economic conditions. We propose that progress in source apportionment can be made by an inverse approach to emission inventorying, namely receptor based compound specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) of target pollutants. Here we apply CSRA of the combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the atmosphere of the countries of the former republic of Yugoslavia and reveal significant contribution (35-58%) of combustion of non fossil material to the atmospheric pollution by PAHs, even in urban and industrialized areas. This quantitative source apportionment provides a direction for remedial action.

Abstract (in Czech)

Combustion of fossil fuels is the major source of energy for today global economy but is also largely responsible for both the greenhouse effect and air pollution of significant public health concern. While statistical information exists for fossil fuel usage and emissions in different countries, the contribution of biomass combustion (as energy source or simply as open fires, forest fires, waste incineration, etc.) to atmospheric pollution is much more difficult to constrain. Predictions based on traditional emission inventory approaches fail because of the very large variations in emission factors for different biomass combustion processes. The challenge of apportioning the pollution sources is further exacerbated for countries where data about energy usage and extent of combustion of non fossil material is limited due to difficult socio economic conditions. We propose that progress in source apportionment can be made by an inverse approach to emission inventorying, namely receptor based compound specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) of target pollutants. Here we apply CSRA of the combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the atmosphere of the countries of the former republic of Yugoslavia and reveal significant contribution (35-58%) of combustion of non fossil material to the atmospheric pollution by PAHs, even in urban and industrialized areas. This quantitative source apportionment provides a direction for remedial action.

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)