RESUMEN
Coastal urban areas impact atmospheric chemistry and air quality through various sources, interactions, and processes. This study examines the mass concentrations of fine mode (PM2.5) aerosol and its major and trace components (Al, As, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Te, Ti, Tl, V, Zn). The comprehensive field measurements were conducted in Poland between September 2019 and May 2020. Seasonal distribution and drivers of these pollutants showed considerable variability. In winter, higher concentrations were observed for Pb, Co, and As due to the higher contribution of pyrogenic emission. The Principal Component Analysis provided evidence of anthropogenic sources of trace species associated with coal combustion by industry/power plants, brake wear-related emissions, vehicle emissions, shipping activities, road-resuspended dust, and urban construction activities. These results showed that major chemical elements (Ca, Na, Fe, Mg, Al, and K) contributed to 4.07-34.0% of all components. Se, Zn, and Br contributed 1.29%, 1.25%, and 1.04%, respectively, while other tracers ranged between 0.07% and 0.95%. The diagnostic ratio of V/Ni remained stable between 0.45 and 0.46 during the cold season, then increased in spring, indicating that ship emissions were an important source of these metals during the warm season.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Material Particulado , Estaciones del Año , Polonia , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/estadística & datos numéricos , Emisiones de Vehículos/análisis , Aerosoles/análisis , Ciudades , Análisis de Componente PrincipalRESUMEN
Parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the gas and particle fraction were measured between May and August 2021 at a coastal urban site in Poland, to examine their chemical characteristics, distribution, sources, deposition fluxes and interactions with basic meteorological drivers. The mean concentration of PAHs in the gas phase was significantly higher (26.26 ± 15.83 ng m-3) than levels measured in the particle phase (1.77 ± 1.26 ng m-3). The highest concentration in the gas phase was found for phenanthrene (Phe), followed by fluoranthene (Flt), acenaphthene (Ace) and naphthalene (Naph). The contribution from each group of PAHs to the total particulate phase accounted for 50%, 25%, 14% and 12% for 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-ring compounds, respectively. The mean ΣPAH deposition flux was 59 ± 24 ng m-2 day-1. During the whole field campaign, the efficient removal of PM-bound PAHs was typically observed after precipitation events. Based on statistical analysis, it was found that 4-ring PAHs were less effectively removed (25%) by daily precipitation as compared to 5- and 6-ring components, whose fluxes decreased by 32% and 53%, respectively. This study revealed local urban sources such as vehicular emissions, coal-fired power plants, shipping activities, docks/ports infrastructure and municipal solid waste recycling units as predominant contributors to PM-bound and gas-phase PAHs.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Polonia , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
In this study, the results of PM10-bound PAH measurements were subjected to positive matrix factorization (PMF) approach and diagnostic ratios to investigate their levels, seasonal variability, impact of primary anthropogenic sources, and human health risk via the inhalation route. Daily ground-based observations were carried out at a representative coastal site in Gdynia (northern Poland), from April to December 2019. The concentrations of Σ13PAHs in PM10 varied between 0.45 ng m-3 and 54.02 ng m-3, with a mean of 5.22 ± 8.67 ng m-3. A clear seasonality and distribution profiles of PM10-bound PAHs were observed as a result of local/remote sources and meteorological conditions. The highest Σ13PAH concentration was found in December (18.56 ± 16.45 ng m-3) and the lowest values were observed between June and September (3.89 ± 0.52 ng m-3). The PMF-based analysis revealed five factors, suggesting the importance of primary anthropogenic sources of PAHs, i.e. coal combustion, biomass burning, gasoline/diesel vehicles, industrial and shipping activities as well as natural gas combustion. In summer, PAH levels were mostly controlled by local shipping emissions as well as traffic-related and non-combustion sources such as photochemical decomposition. The winter PAH maxima were attributed to a strong increase in residential coal combustion. A Spearman's rank correlation and multilinear regression analysis showed that ambient temperature and NO× had a significant impact on intra-annual variability in PM10-bound PAH transformation in this region. PAH congeners in coarse-size fraction were positively correlated with SO2, indicating their shared anthropogenic sources. The annual mean of epidemiologically based ILCR value was 6.6 × 10-5. This work indicates a potential carcinogenic risk for the local population and a significant difference in BaPeq levels between the individual seasons in this region.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Humanos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Emisiones de Vehículos/análisis , Polonia , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Estaciones del Año , Carbón Mineral/análisis , Medición de RiesgoRESUMEN
In this study, 16 USEPA-prioritized PAHs in gas- and particle-phase (PAHg+p), associated chemical and meteorological parameters, and backward trajectory simulations were explored in a coastal city in Poland, between April 2019 and May 2020. This study reports several important aspects of PAHg+p, i.e. variation, composition, distribution profiles, impact of weather conditions, and correlation analysis between target PAH compounds and influencing inorganic gaseous pollutants. Specifically, higher and more variable concentrations of total PAHg+p (mean ± SD, ng m-3) were observed during winter (36.38 ± 24.19) compared to autumn (22.3 ± 17.44), summer (21.52 ± 13.30) and spring (19.90 ± 13.13). A distribution profile of parent PAHg+p was as follows: 3-ring > 4-ring > 2-ring > 5-ring > 6-ring, although their relative contribution to the total PAHs showed statistically significant differences between seasons (p < 0.05). Precipitation-driven loss of ΣPAHg+p was lower in the warm period than in the cold one, reflecting higher PAH concentrations in winter. A seasonal model-based analysis of incremental lifetime cancer risk showed a higher potential cancer risk for children than those for adult females and males. The adverse health impacts associated with PAH exposure via inhalation route indicate the need for implementation of pollution-control policies in this region.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Neoplasias , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Niño , Adulto , Humanos , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Estaciones del Año , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Gases/análisis , China , Material Particulado/análisisRESUMEN
This study combines an interseasonal variation of deposition profiles of fine-particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PM2.5-bound PAHs) with source apportionment analysis. Comprehensive measurements were conducted in four representative periods of 2019 in the coastal urban region of the Baltic Sea in Poland. The mean daily deposition flux of Σ13PAHs was 229 ng m-2 day-1, which was lower than in other urban/industrial sites of Europe and Asia. The seasonal PAHs distribution exhibited a clear U-shaped pattern, reaching maximum values in January and December and the minimum in June. A strong influence of local/regional anthropogenic emissions and meteorological factors (precipitation, ambient temperature, wind regimes) was observed. The contribution of medium molecular weight PAHs (fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene) to the total sum of PAHs deposition fluxes increased from 24% in spring to 38% in summer, as a result of photochemistry, urban traffic, and shipping emissions. The highest contribution of 5- and 6-ring PAHs occurred primarily in autumn (55%), followed by winter (39%), spring (35%), and summer (26%). Benzo(a)pyrene (human carcinogenic compound) had a relatively high deposition flux in winter, which was almost 14 and 20 times higher than the values registered in spring and summer, respectively. The FLEXTRA dispersion model was used to study potential pollution regions for PM2.5-bound PAHs and to investigate changes in the PAH deposition regime in different seasons. This study reveals that the winter contribution of PAHs was mostly impacted by local urban activities (i.e., residential heating and coal-fired power plants). Winter PAH deposition fluxes were particularly associated with atmospheric particles transported from surrounding areas and industrially impacted regions of SE-S-SW Poland and Europe.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Humanos , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Polonia , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Estaciones del Año , ChinaRESUMEN
This study focuses on the inter-seasonal distribution and variability of thirteen native PAHs adsorbed onto respirable PM2.5 fraction collected in a coastal-urban region of northern Poland, in 2019. The backward trajectory analysis and several diagnostic ratios were applied to determine seasonal profiles of PAH congeners and their major sources in airborne samples. The annual cumulative mean value of total PAHs in PM2.5 was 6.92 ± 10.1 ng m-3, varying in the following range: 0.32 ng m-3 (May) - 68.57 ng m-3 (January). Seasonal mass concentrations of total particulate PAHs were ranked as follows: summer (1.27 ng m-3) < spring (4.83 ng m-3) < autumn (6.16 ng m-3) < winter (18.5 ng m-3). Clear seasonal differences in PAH concentrations can be explained by direct impact of local and regional urban/industrial activities, with priority winter contribution of coal combustion in residential and commercial sectors. In addition, for summer measurements the diagnostic ratios indicated that high molecular weight PAHs were mainly derived from vehicle emission and petrochemical industry, while relatively low mass contribution of 4-ring congeners to the total sum of PAHs was attributed to photochemical processing. The analysis of meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity) and gaseous precursors (SO2, NO2, NOx, O3 and CO) exhibits their statistically significant correlations with PAHs, indicating local/regional primary emission. The incremental lifetime cancer risk was 1.23 × 10-5, suggesting potential toxicity and carcinogenicity for adult females and males. This study highlights the importance of the implementation of health risk assessment model in urbanized coastal zones.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Adulto , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , China , Carbón Mineral/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Material Particulado/análisis , Polonia , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Medición de Riesgo , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
A large group of trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn) was measured for the first time in 226 air samples collected at a coastal monitoring station in Gdynia (northern Poland), in the period from January 12th to August 30th, 2019. The 24 h measurements included fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations, meteorological parameters and backward air mass trajectory analyses. The monthly mean PM2.5 mass concentration ranged from 17.3 µg m-3 to 55.0 µg m-3, and the peak value of 167 µg m-3 was found in February. Overall, considerable differences in the trace element concentrations were observed. However, their seasonal distributions were not similar. In particular, elements such as Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, V and Zn showed significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) in winter compared to spring or summer. The winter peak of trace element concentrations in PM2.5 indicated that local power plants and fossil fuel/coal combustion in the residential sector were the major anthropogenic sources of air pollutants. Based on multivariate analysis (PCA) of the standardized database (14 elements and PM2.5), a significant contribution of different sources and processes was identified, i.e. local traffic emission, local/regional coal/oil burning in power plants and domestic heating units, industrial activities, petrochemical industry and maritime transport. The Cu/Fe ratios revealed that both local traffic and brake-wear emission considerably influenced the chemical composition of PM2.5. In addition, the results of the V/Ni ratio suggested local mixed industrial sources (petrochemical refinery and industrial plants) with possible contributions from the port area and shipping activities to the total PM2.5 loadings. The local ship emission was more pronounced during the summer period.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Oligoelementos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Ciudades , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Material Particulado/análisis , Polonia , Estaciones del Año , Oligoelementos/análisisRESUMEN
Measurements of trace element (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn) deposition fluxes were conducted simultaneously in two contrasted environments, i.e., urban and forest, between April 2013 and October 2014. This was the first such project in central Poland, aimed at long-term observations of trace elements in the atmosphere and their distribution, transport, and deposition pattern. The receptor sites were different in terms of local meteorological conditions, emission potential, and distance to major anthropogenic sources. The deposition fluxes of all trace elements showed clear seasonal variations, with relatively higher values in winter than in summer. The main factors affecting interannual differences in concentrations and deposition of trace elements in central Poland were local emission from industrial and commercial sources, and changes in atmospheric conditions (wind speed and direction, boundary layer, precipitation amount, air mass origin). In this study, the impact of regional and long-range transport on trace element deposition was determined using the air back-trajectory cluster analysis. During the summertime of 2013 and 2014, the predominant SW and E advections from regional and remote anthropogenic sources in Europe were responsible for high deposition of Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, and Zn, whereas during the wintertime of 2013/2014, we observed a significant influence of polluted air masses from southeastern regions. Based on the Pb/Zn ratio, it was found that regional sources significantly influenced the aerosol composition and rainwater chemistry within the study domain. However, the role of a long-range transport of anthropogenic pollutants was also important. In addition, a relatively small difference in the Pb/Zn ratio between both sites (urban 0.26 ± 0.18, forest 0.23 ± 0.17) may suggest (1) very similar contribution of anthropogenic sources and (2) minor importance of atmospheric transformation processes of these metals in the aqueous phase.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Metales Pesados/análisis , Oligoelementos/análisis , Aerosoles , Atmósfera/análisis , Bosques , Polonia , Estaciones del Año , VientoRESUMEN
In the present paper, the inter-seasonal Hg variability in snow cover was examined based on multivariate statistical analysis of chemical and meteorological data. Samples of freshly fallen snow cover were collected at the semi-urban site in Poznan (central Poland), during 3-month field measurements in winter 2013. It was showed that concentrations of atmospherically deposited Hg were highly variable in snow cover, from 0.43 to 12.5 ng L-1, with a mean value of 4.62 ng L-1. The highest Hg concentration in snow cover coincided with local intensification of fossil fuel burning, indicating large contribution from various anthropogenic sources such as commercial and domestic heating, power generation plants, and traffic-related pollution. Moreover, the variability of Hg in collected snow samples was associated with long-range transport of pollutants, nocturnal inversion layer, low boundary layer height, and relatively low air temperature. For three snow episodes, Hg concentration in snow cover was attributed to southerly advection, suggesting significant contribution from the highly polluted region of Poland (Upper Silesia) and major European industrial hotspots. However, the peak Hg concentration was measured in samples collected during predominant N to NE advection of polluted air masses and after a relatively longer period without precipitation. Such significant contribution to the higher Hg accumulation in snow cover was associated with intensive emission from anthropogenic sources (coal combustion) and atmospheric conditions in this area. These results suggest that further measurements are needed to determine how the Hg transformation paths in snow cover change in response to longer/shorter duration of snow cover occurrence and to determine the interactions between mercury and absorbing carbonaceous aerosols in the light of climate change.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Mercurio/análisis , Nieve/química , Aerosoles , Atmósfera/análisis , Cambio Climático , Carbón Mineral/análisis , Polonia , Centrales Eléctricas , Estaciones del Año , Población Suburbana , Emisiones de Vehículos/análisisRESUMEN
Particulate mercury concentrations were investigated during intensive field campaigns at the urban and forest sites in central Poland, between April 2013 and October 2014. For the first time, quantitative determination of total particulate mercury in coarse (PHg2.2) and fine (PHg0.7) aerosol samples was conducted in Poznan and Jeziory. The concentrations in urban fine and coarse aerosol fractions amounted to < MDL ± 77.1 pg m(-3) and < MDL ± 604.9 pg m(-3), respectively. Aerosol samples collected during the whole study period showed statistically significant differences for particulate mercury concentrations. A strong impact of meteorological conditions (wind velocity, air mass direction, air temperature, and precipitation amount) on particulate mercury concentrations was also observed. In particular, higher variation and concentration range of PHg0.7 and PHg2.2 was reported for wintertime measurements. An increase in atmospheric particulate mercury during the cold season in the study region indicated that coal combustion, i.e., residential and industrial heating, is the main contribution factor for the selected particle size modes. Coarse particulate Hg at the urban site during summer was mainly attributed to anthropogenic sources, with significant contribution from resuspension processes and long-range transport. The highest values of PHg0.7 and PHg2.2 were found during westerly and southerly wind events, reflecting local emission from highly polluted areas. The period from late fall to spring showed that advection from the southern part of Poland was the main factor responsible for elevated Hg concentrations in fine and coarse particles in the investigated region. Moreover, September 2013 could be given as an example of the influence of additional urban activities which occurred approx. 10 m from the sampling site-construction works connected with replacement of the road surface, asphalting, etc. The concentrations of particulate Hg (>600.0 pg m(-3)) were much higher than during the following months when any similar situation did not occur. Our investigations confirmed that Hg in urban aerosol samples was predominantly related to local industrial and commercial emissions, whereas the main source of Hg in particulate matter collected at the forest site was connected with regional anthropogenic processes. This paper provides the results of the first long-term measurements of size-fractionated particulate mercury conducted in central Poland, which could be an important insight into atmospheric Hg processes within such a scarcely investigated part of Europe.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Mercurio/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Aerosoles/análisis , Ciudades , Europa (Continente) , Bosques , Tamaño de la Partícula , Polonia , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
This work presents the first results from winter field campaigns focusing on trace metals and metalloid chemistry in the snow cover from an urbanized region in central Poland. Samples were collected between January and March 2013 and trace element concentrations were determined using GF-AAS. A large inter-seasonal variability depending on anthropogenic emission, depositional processes, and meteorological conditions was observed. The highest concentration (in µg L(-1)) was reported for Pb (34.90), followed by Ni (31.37), Zn (31.00), Cu (13.71), Cr (2.36), As (1.58), and Cd (0.25). In addition, several major anthropogenic sources were identified based on principal component analysis (PCA), among which the most significant was the activity of industry and coal combustion for residential heating. It was stated that elevated concentrations of some trace metals in snow samples were associated with frequent occurrence of south and southeast advection of highly polluted air masses toward the sampling site, suggesting a large impact of regional urban/industrial pollution plumes.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente , Nieve/química , Oligoelementos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/estadística & datos numéricos , Carbón Mineral/análisis , Contaminación Ambiental/análisis , Contaminación Ambiental/estadística & datos numéricos , Polonia , Estaciones del Año , UrbanizaciónRESUMEN
Spatial and temporal variability of carbon species in rainwater (bulk deposition) was studied for the first time at two sites located in urban area of Poznan City and protected woodland area (Jeziory), in central Poland, between April and December 2013. The mean concentration of total carbon (TC) for the first site was 5.86 mg L(-1), whereas for the second, 5.21 mg L(-1). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration accounted for, on average, 87 and 91 % of total carbon in precipitation at urban and non-urban sites, respectively. Significant changes in TC concentrations in rainwater were observed at both sites, indicating that atmospheric transformation, transport, and removal mechanisms of carbonaceous particles were affected by seasonal fluctuations in biogenic/anthropogenic emission and meteorological conditions (i.e., precipitation height and type, atmospheric transport). During the warm season, the DOC concentration in rainwater was mostly influenced by mixed natural and anthropogenic sources. In contrast, during the cold season, the DOC concentration significantly increased mainly as a result of anthropogenic activities, i.e., intensive coal combustion, domestic wood burning, high-temperature processes, etc. In addition, during the winter measurements, significant differences in mean DOC concentration (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05) were determined for rain, mixed rain-snow, and snow samples. It was found that rainwater TOC concentration measured in Poznan and Jeziory reflected a combination of local, regional, and distant sources. Backward trajectory analysis showed that air masses advected from polluted regions in western Europe largely affect the DOC amount in rainwater, both at urban and non-urban sites. These data imply that carbonaceous compounds are of crucial importance in atmospheric chemistry and should be considered as an important parameter while considering wet deposition, reactions with different substances, especially over polluted environments.
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Carbono/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Contaminantes Ambientales/análisis , Bosques , Compuestos Orgánicos/análisis , Estaciones del Año , Carbono/química , Contaminantes Ambientales/química , Compuestos Orgánicos/química , Polonia , Lluvia/química , Nieve/química , UrbanizaciónRESUMEN
An investigation of atmospheric mercury was conducted in the urban coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea, Poland) in 2008. Rainwater samples were collected in bulk samplers and Hg concentration was determined using AAS method. Total mercury concentration ranged from 1.9 to 14.8 ng l(-1) (the mean was 8.3 ng l(-1) with standard deviation ±3.7), out of which about 34 % were water-soluble Hg(II) forms. Distribution of Hg species in rainwater was related to both the emission source and the atmospheric processes. During the sampling period, two maxima of Hg concentration in precipitation were observed: the first in the cold season and the second one in the warm season. Elevated concentrations of Hg in wintertime precipitation were generally the result of local urban atmospheric emission connected with the following anthropogenic sources: intensive combustion of fossil fuels in domestic furnaces, individual power/heat generating plants, and motor vehicles. During summertime, Hg° re-emitted from contaminated land and sea surfaces was photochemically oxidized by active atmospheric substances (e.g., hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, halogens) and could be an additional source of atmospherically deposited Hg. The results presented in this work indicate that rainwater Hg concentration and deposition values are not much higher in comparison with other urban locations along the Baltic Sea basin and other coastal cities. However, the elevated mercury concentration in rainwater and, consequently, higher deposition ratio could appear occasionally as an effect of intensive anthropogenic emissions (domestic heating) and/or photochemical reactions.