Abstract
Port cities are affected by a wide array of emissions, including those from the shipping, road transport, and residential sectors; therefore, the characterization and apportionment of such sources in a high temporal resolution is crucial. This study presents measurements of fine aerosol chemical composition in Piraeus, one of the largest European ports, during two monthly periods (winter vs. summer) in 2018–2019, using online instrumentation (Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor—ACSM, 7-λ aethalometer). PMF source apportionment was performed on the ACSM mass spectra to quantify organic aerosol (OA) components, while equivalent black carbon (BC) was decomposed to its fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning (BB) fractions. The combined traffic, shipping and, especially, residential emissions led to considerably elevated submicron aerosol levels (22.8 μg m−3) in winter, which frequently became episodic late at night under stagnant conditions. Carbonaceous compounds comprised the major portion of this submicron aerosol in winter, with mean OA and BC contributions of 61% (13.9 μg m−3) and 16% (3.7 μg m−3), respectively. The contribution of BB to BC concentrations was considerable and spatially uniform. OA related to BB emissions (fresh and processed) and hydrocarbon-like OA (from vehicular traffic and port-related fossil fuel emissions including shipping) accounted for 37% and 30% of OA, respectively. In summer, the average PM1 concentration was significantly lower (14.8 μg m−3) and less variable, especially for the components associated with secondary aerosols (such as OA and sulfate). The effect of the port sector was evident in summer and maintained BC concentrations at high levels (2.8 μg m−3), despite the absence of BB and improved atmospheric dispersion. Oxygenated components yielded over 70% of OA in summer, with the more oxidized secondary component of regional origin being dominant (41%) despite the intensity of local sources, in the Piraeus environment. In general, with respect to local sources that can be the target of mitigation policies, this work highlights the importance of port-related activities but also reveals the extensive wintertime impact of residential wood burning. While a separation of the BB source is feasible, more research is needed on how to disentangle the short-term effects of different fossil-fuel combustion sources.
Highlights
Health studies in recent years definitively implicated fine aerosols in a causal relationship with mortality and cardiovascular effects, both for long-term and short-term exposures [1,2]
The results displayed a very good agreement for sulfate and nitrate (r2: 0.84 and 0.80, respectively) between the two methods
It is expected that the actual organic aerosol (OA) concentrations in PM2.5 would be slightly higher than those measured by the Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) due to the small amount of organic particles concentrated in the intermodal range [77]
Summary
Health studies in recent years definitively implicated fine aerosols in a causal relationship with mortality and cardiovascular effects, both for long-term and short-term exposures [1,2]. NE advections are most frequent during winter over the GAA and blow over day and night, while in summer, the northern Etesian wind regime often prevails in the daytime These northern winds usually contribute to atmospheric clearance and the improvement of air quality [44], but it is possible that they transport pollutants to Piraeus 4froof m28 inland (Attica Basin). Strong synoptic-scale N-NE advections are most frequent during winter over the GAA and blow over day and night, while in summer, the northern Etesian wind regime often prevails in the daytime These northern winds usually contribute to atmospheric clearance and the improvement of air quality [44], but it is possible that they transport pollutants to Piraeus from inland (Attica Basin). Due to its central placement at a shipping and rail transportation hub, the site is characterized by intense human and commercial activity
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