Abstract
Parallel measurements of PM1 and PM2.5 aerosols were conducted in the urbanized coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea. The main aim of the research was to assess and determine annual, seasonal (heating and non-heating), and daily concentration variability of benzo(a)pyrene in aerosols, these being the most dangerous constituents to human health. The average annual concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) was equal to 2.6 ng·m−3 in PM1 and 4.6 ng·m−3 in PM2.5, and both values were several times higher than the level of 1 ng·m−3 which was set out in the CAFE Directive. High mean daily concentrations of B(a)P persisted for 50 and 65% of the study period in PM1 and PM2.5, respectively. In order to determine the sources of B(a)P in both aerosol fractions, organic (OC) and elemental (EC) carbon concentrations were examined. The highest concentrations of all carbon species were reported during the heating season under local or regional land advection and at low air temperatures. The origin of pollutants was the same and was primarily related to the combustion of fossil fuels in the communal-utility sector. During the non-heating period, the role of transportation, both land and marine, increased and may have been significant in creating higher concentrations of carbon compounds in PM1 and PM2.5. Regardless of the size of the aerosol fractions, B(a)P loads introduced into the Baltic coastal zone were several times higher during the heating period compared to the non-heating season.Graphical abstractᅟ
Highlights
A considerable fraction of atmospheric aerosol consists of carbonaceous material (Matta et al 2003; Kim et al 2012; Duhl et al 2014)
The mean concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in PM1 was on a level of 2.6 ± 3.6 ng·m−3, and in PM2.5 it amounted to 4.6 ± 6.1 ng·m−3 (Table 2)
Regardless of the form of data presentation, B(a)P concentration measured in Gdynia in 2012 was high and exceeded 1 ng m−3, both in PM1 and PM2.5 (Table 2)
Summary
A considerable fraction (up to 50–70%) of atmospheric aerosol consists of carbonaceous material (Matta et al 2003; Kim et al 2012; Duhl et al 2014). Carbonaceous particles can affect the radiation balance of Earth, either in a negative (cooling) or a positive (warming) sense, depending on its single scattering albedo (Harrison & Yin 2008; Khan et al 2010) They are very important in the context of local air quality and human health, especially in urban areas (Vanos et al 2015; Witkowska et al 2016a). In the central and eastern part of Europe benzo(a)pyrene is a pollutant of increasing concern because its concentrations are often above the threshold set to protect human health (Garrido et al 2014; Rybak and Olejniczak 2014) It is a ubiquitous and unavoidable contaminant, especially in the urban environment (Wickramasinghe et al 2012). The mean concentration of B(a)P measured in total suspended matter (TSM) in the heating season in 2008 was equal to 2. 18 ng·m−3 in comparison to the non-heating season, when the concentration was 50 times smaller (mean 0.05 ng m−3) (Staniszewska et al 2013)
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