Temporal Variability of Equivalent Black Carbon Components in Atmospheric Air in Southern Poland

Abstract

This study assesses the air quality in Zabrze (southern Poland) based on the ambient concentrations of equivalent black carbon (eBC). eBC measurement campaigns were carried out from April 2019 to March 2020 using a modern AE33 Aethalometer, accompanied by parallel measurements of gaseous pollutants, PM10 and meteorological parameters. The use of the two-component AE33 model allows for the determination of the eBC from fossil fuel combustion (eBCff) and biomass burning (eBCbb). The obtained results showed a clear seasonal variability of eBC concentrations, with higher average levels in the heating season (4.70 µg·m−3) compared to the non-heating one (1.79 µg·m−3). In both seasons, the eBCff component had a dominant share in total eBC, which indicates significant emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels for heating purposes and from local traffic sources. The obtained results showed high correlation coefficients with gaseous and particulate pollutants, with the strongest relationship for eBC and carbon monoxide (CO). During the non-heating and heating period, both anticyclone and cyclone systems played an important role in shaping eBC, eBCff and eBCbb concentrations. High concentrations of all components occurred with a significant decrease in air temperature and solar radiation in winter.

Long-Term eBC Measurements with the Use of MAAP in the Polluted Urban Atmosphere (Poland)

“…The nearest industrial area is approximately 1 km southeast of the IEE PAS station and includes facilities for the manufacturing, metallurgy, and coke industries. The detailed development of the area of the city of Zabrze was presented in [15]. In most parts of the city of Zabrze (approx.…”

“…60%), the average annual concentration of PM 2.5 in the atmospheric air ranges from 30 to 35 µg•m −3 and from 45 to 50 µg•m −3 for PM 10 [26], which indicates that the permissible levels for average annual concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 (25 and 40 µg•m −3 , respectively) [27] have been exceeded. The air quality in Zabrze was also assessed in terms of the content of eBC ff (eBC from fossil fuels) and eBC bb (eBC from biomass burning), with average annual concentrations of 2.33 ± 2.16 and 0.93 ± 0.76 µg•m −3 , respectively [15]. The seasonal behavior of both eBC fractions confirmed a significant impact of local emission sources-especially combustion of solid (household) and liquid (road transport) fossil fuels-on air pollution by eBC in the urban area of Zabrze.…”

“…The most widely used instruments for optical eBC measurements are etalometers-including a modern aethalometer model AE33-and Multi-angle Absorption Photometer (MAAP) [12]. BC particles are mainly emitted only as a primary pollutant, mainly from anthropogenic sources such as transport, industry, and household combustion of solid fuels and biomass [15,16]. After releasing into the atmosphere, BC negatively affects human health, the environment, and its ecosystems [15].…”

“…BC particles are mainly emitted only as a primary pollutant, mainly from anthropogenic sources such as transport, industry, and household combustion of solid fuels and biomass [15,16]. After releasing into the atmosphere, BC negatively affects human health, the environment, and its ecosystems [15]. The greatest danger of BC to humans is due to its submicron size and developed surface area.…”

“…The harmful effects of black carbon on the climate, the environment, and human health make it an important parameter influencing air quality. Moreover, it has been shown that eBC can be a quick and reliable parameter for assessing air quality in urban areas [15]. For these reasons, tests of the content of carbon matter in the atmospheric air should be introduced as a standard, especially in areas such as the Silesian Voivodeship, which is an area of particular importance on the pollution map in Europe.…”