Characterization and Seasonal Variations of Organic and Elemental Carbon and Levoglucosan in PM10 in Krynica Zdroj, Poland

Abstract

Abstract:In this study, the ambient aerosol (PM 10 ) concentrations of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), total carbon (TC), and levoglucosan are reported for a Polish health resort following a one-year (March 2016-April 2017) sampling campaign. The seasonal variation of OC, EC, and levoglucosan (LG) concentrations showed their maximum during the heating season for this site, with monthly mean total carbonaceous material/PM 10 ratios ranging between about 0.28 and 0.44 depending on the season. Average EC concentration was 1.1 ± 0.6 µg·m −3 and changed from 0.3 µg·m −3 up to 2.3 µg·m −3 during the sampling campaign. The OC concentration at the site ranged from 2.4 µg·m −3 during the non-heating season up to 22 µg·m −3 in the heating season, with an average of 7 µg·m −3 . A strong correlation between OC and EC in the heating season suggested that they were produced from similar sources during this time. Mean LG concentration during the sampling campaign was 0.51 µg·m −3 , while in the heating season it was 0.72 µg·m −3 and in 0.19 µg·m −3 in the non-heating season. The obtained results indicated a strong influence of local primary source emissions on air quality, especially during the heating period.

Methods for the determination of levoglucosan and other sugar anhydrides as biomass burning tracers in environmental samples – A review

“…LG: 1.0 ng/m 3 [40] Sediments CE-PAD; capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection PSA; pressurized solvent extraction analysis required a small amount of material, allows on-line sampling and due to this reason could give information about composition changes of wood smoke depending on burn conditions [30]. The aerosols samples were also determined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy (for chemical functional group) together with GC-MS.…”

“…One method required special attention because the extraction and derivatization proceed in situ. Samples of PM 2,5 collected on PTFE membrane filters [31] or quartz filters [40] were placed in a vial and pyridine with MSTFA [31] or BSTFA with TMCS [40] was added. This reacted for 30 min at 40 • C. Poor [31] reported that the recovery of LG was in the range of 94-104% and LOD was 0.1 μg/mL.…”

“…This reacted for 30 min at 40 • C. Poor [31] reported that the recovery of LG was in the range of 94-104% and LOD was 0.1 μg/mL. Klejnowski et al [40] showed the LG recovery to be 95% and LOD was 1.0 ng/m 3 .…”

Source Contributions to Rural Carbonaceous Winter Aerosol in North-Eastern Poland

“…The final stage was the inclusion of a fixed volume loop used to inject the external standard at the end of each analysis. That allowed optimal and stable measurement conditions, increasing the repeatability of the analytical method [53]. Only OC and EC values from the measurements at the PM 2.5 inlet were used in this study.…”

Carbonaceous Aerosols in the Atmosphere

“…The contribution from wood burning was significantly higher during the cold period (21 ± 11%, versus 6 ± 7% in the warm period). In Klejnowski et al [32], the seasonal trend of carbon content in PM 10 was investigated in the Krynica Zdroj area (Cracow, Poland) using data collected between 2016 and 2017. Results showed that OC, EC, and levoglucosan concentrations were at their maximum during the heating season for this site, with monthly mean total carbonaceous material/PM 10 ratios ranging between about 0.28 and 0.44 depending on the season.…”