Abstract
The presence of anhydrosugars and sugar alcohols in airborne articulate matter <10 µm (PM10) samples collected between December 2018 and June 2019 was studied for two urban environments in Coimbra. Anhydrosugars were used to estimate the biomass burning contribution, and sugar alcohols were investigated regarding biological sources. Anhydrosugars contributed more than sugar alcohols to the total sugars, mainly levoglucosan. Higher levoglucosan concentrations were linked with the use of biomass-fueled heating appliances, mainly during cold periods. A significant contribution from biomass burning smoke was registered, accounting for 20% to 23% of the PM10 mass in the colder period. Xylitol presented higher concentrations in the colder period and was well correlated with levoglucosan, indicating a common origin. Mannitol and arabitol were well correlated with each other but did not present any kind of correlation with anhydrosugars or xylitol, suggesting a natural source. A quantitative estimation based on the concentration of ambient tracers (mannitol) was evaluated, and the results reveal that, for the two sites, the fungal spore relative contribution to PM10 (roadside site: 2.7% to 2.8%; urban background: 1.9% to 2.7%) and OC mass (roadside site: 6.2% to 8.1%; urban background: 3.9% to 7.5%) was significant and always higher in the warmer period.
Highlights
Airborne particulate matter (PM) is composed of primary and secondary compounds arising from anthropogenic and biogenic sources
Part of the meteorological data was obtained from the portable meteorological station that was installed nearby the University Stadium, but some gaps and additional details had to be filled with data provided by the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of the University of Coimbra
The evolution of six sugars compounds in particulate matter
Summary
Airborne particulate matter (PM) is composed of primary and secondary compounds arising from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. In Europe, in recent years, there has been a substantial reduction of pollutant emissions from anthropogenic sources, especially from industrial processes and vehicle exhaust [1]. Among other reasons, this decrease can be attributed to increased regulation, better technologies and, in some cases, the relocation of heavily polluting and energy-intensive manufacturing industries outside Europe. The awareness of the contribution of biogenic derived sources to airborne particulate matter loadings has been increasing [2,3,4]. To better understand the contribution of each primary source and to establish the specific tracers of each source, it is necessary to conduct organic speciation studies
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