| 1. |
- Alves, Celia, et al.
(författare)
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Organic compounds in aerosols from selected European sites - Biogenic versus anthropogenic sources
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310. ; 59, s. 243-255
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Atmospheric aerosol samples from a boreal forest (Hyytiala, April 2007), a rural site in Hungary (K-puszta, summer 2008), a polluted rural area in Italy (San Pietro Capofiume, Po Valley, April 2008), a moderately polluted rural site in Germany located on a meadow (Melpitz, May 2008), a natural park in Spain (Montseny, March 2009) and two urban background locations (Zurich, December 2008, and Barcelona, February/March 2009) were collected. Aliphatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbonyls, sterols, n-alkanols, acids, phenolic compounds and anhydrosugars in aerosols were chemically characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, along with source attribution based on the carbon preference index (CPI), the rations between the unresolved and the chromatographically resolved aliphatics, the contribution of wax n-alkanes, n-alkanols and n-alkanoic acids from plants, diagnostic ratios of individual target compounds and source-specific markers to organic carbon ratios. In spite of transboundary pollution episodes, Hyytiala registered the lowest levels among all locations. CPI values close to 1 for the aliphatic fraction of the Montseny aerosol suggest that the anthropogenic input may be associated with the transport of aged air masses from the surrounding industrial/urban areas, which superimpose the locally originated hydrocarbons with biogenic origin. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in samples from San Pietro Capofiume reveal that fossil fuel combustion is a major source influencing the diel pattern of concentrations. This source contributed to 25-45% of the ambient organic carbon (OC) at the Po Valley site. Aerosols from the German meadow presented variable contributions from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. The highest levels of vegetation wax components and biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) products were observed at K-puszta, while anthropogenic SOA compounds predominated in Barcelona. The primary vehicular emissions in the Spanish city accounted for around 25-30% of the OC in aerosols. Besides the traffic input (10% of OC), residential wood burning was found to be another dominant emission source contributing to the atmospheric aerosol (up to 38% of OC) at the Swiss urban location. It was estimated that around 10% of the OC mass in the urban sites originates from cooking emissions. Aerosols from the urban area of Zurich presented a much higher PAH content, and benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentrations sometimes exceeding the mandatory limit. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Baduel, Christine, et al.
(författare)
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Summer/winter variability of the surfactants in aerosols from Grenoble, France
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 47, s. 413-420
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many atmospheric aerosols seem to contain strong organic surfactants likely to enhance their cloud-forming properties. Yet, few techniques allow for the identification and characterization of these compounds. Recently, we introduced a double extraction method to isolate the surfactant fraction of atmospheric aerosol samples, and evidenced their very low surface tension (<= 30 mN m(-1)). In this work, this analytical procedure was further optimized. In addition to an optimized extraction and a reduction of the analytical time, the improved method led to a high reproducibility in the surface tension curves obtained (shapes and minimal values), illustrated by the low uncertainties on the values, +/- 10% or less. The improved method was applied to PM10 aerosols from the urban area of Grenoble, France collected from June 2009 to January 2010. Significant variability was observed between the samples. The minimum surface tension obtained from the summer samples was systematically lower (30 mN m(-1)) than that of the winter samples (35-45 mN m(-1)). Sharp transitions in the curves together with the very low surface tensions suggested that the dominating surfactants in the summer samples were biosurfactants, which would be consistent with the high biogenic activity in that season. One group of samples from the winter also displayed sharp transitions, which, together with the slightly higher surface tension, suggested the presence of weaker, possibly man-made, surfactants. A second group of curves from the winter did not display any clear transition but were similar to those of macromolecular surfactants such as polysaccharides or humic substances from wood burning. These surfactants are thus likely to originate from wood burning, the dominating source for aerosols in Grenoble in winter. These observations thus confirm the presence of surfactants from combustion processes in urban aerosols reported by other groups and illustrates the ability of our method to distinguish between different types of surfactants in atmospheric samples.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Cyrys, Josef, et al.
(författare)
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Variation of NO2 and NOx concentrations between and within 36 European study areas : Results from the ESCAPE study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 62, s. 374-390
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ESCAPE study (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) investigates long-term effects of exposure to air pollution on human health in Europe. This paper documents the spatial variation of measured NO2 and NOx concentrations between and within 36 ESCAPE study areas across Europe.In all study areas NO2 and NOx were measured using standardized methods between October 2008 and April 2011. On average, 41 sites were selected per study area, including regional and urban background as well as street sites. The measurements were conducted in three different seasons, using Ogawa badges. Average concentrations for each site were calculated after adjustment for temporal variation using data obtained from a routine monitor background site.Substantial spatial variability was found in NO2 and NOx concentrations between and within study areas; 40% of the overall NO2 variance was attributable to the variability between study areas and 60% to variability within study areas. The corresponding values for NOx were 30% and 70%. The within-area spatial variability was mostly determined by differences between street and urban background concentrations. The street/urban background concentration ratio for NO2 varied between 1.09 and 3.16 across areas. The highest median concentrations were observed in Southern Europe, the lowest in Northern Europe.In conclusion, we found significant contrasts in annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations between and especially within 36 study areas across Europe. Epidemiological long-term studies should therefore consider different approaches for better characterization of the intra-urban contrasts, either by increasing of the number of monitors or by modelling.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Hoffmann, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Remote sensing and in situ measurements of tropospheric aerosol, a pamarcmip case study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 52, s. 56-66
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this work, a closure experiment for tropospheric aerosol is presented. Aerosol size distributions and single scattering albedo from remote sensing data are compared to those measured in-situ. An aerosol pollution event on 4 April 2009 was observed by ground based and airborne lidar and photometer in and around Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen, as well as by DMPS, nephelometer and particle soot absorption photometer at the nearby Zeppelin Mountain Research Station. The presented measurements were conducted in an area of 40 x 20 km around Ny-Alesund as part of the 2009 Polar Airborne Measurements and Arctic Regional Climate Model Simulation Project (PAMARCMiP). Aerosol mainly in the accumulation mode was found in the lower troposphere, however, enhanced backscattering was observed up to the tropopause altitude. A comparison of meteorological data available at different locations reveals a stable multi-layer-structure of the lower troposphere. It is followed by the retrieval of optical and microphysical aerosol parameters. Extinction values have been derived using two different methods, and it was found that extinction (especially in the UV) derived from Raman lidar data significantly surpasses the extinction derived from photometer AOD profiles. Airborne lidar data shows volume depolarization values to be less than 2.5% between 500 m and 2.5 km altitude, hence, particles in this range can be assumed to be of spherical shape. In-situ particle number concentrations measured at the Zeppelin Mountain Research Station at 474 m altitude peak at about 0.18 mu m diameter, which was also found for the microphysical inversion calculations performed at 850 m and 1500 m altitude. Number concentrations depend on the assumed extinction values, and slightly decrease with altitude as well as the effective particle diameter. A low imaginary part in the derived refractive index suggests weakly absorbing aerosols, which is confirmed by low black carbon concentrations, measured at the Zeppelin Mountain as well as on board the Polar 5 aircraft.
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| 7. |
- Hyder, Murtaza, et al.
(författare)
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Yearly trend of dicarboxylic acids in organic aerosols from south of Sweden and source attribution
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310. ; 57, s. 197-204
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Seven aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (C3-C9) along with phthalic acid, pinic acid and pinonic acid were determined in 35 aerosol (PM10) samples collected over the year at Vavihill sampling station in south of Sweden. Mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (ratio 1:3) was preferred over water for extraction of samples and extraction was assisted by ultrasonic agitation. Analytes were derivatized using N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) containing 1% trimethylsilyl chloride and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Among studied analytes, azelaic acid was found maximum with an average concentration of 6.0 +/- 3.6 ng m(-3) and minimum concentration was found for pimelic acid (1.06 +/- 0.63 ng m(-3)). A correlation coefficients analysis was used for defining the possible sources of analytes. Higher dicarboxylic acids (C7-C9) showed a strong correlation with each other (correlation coefficients (r) range, 0.96-0.97). Pinic and pinonic acids showed an increase in concentration during summer. Lower carbon number dicarboxylic acids (C3-C6) and phthalic acid were found strongly correlated, but showed a poor correlation with higher carbon number dicarboxylic acids (C7-C9), suggesting a different source for them. Biomass burning, vehicle exhaust, photo-oxidation of volatile organic compounds (natural and anthropogenic emissions) were possible sources for dicarboxylic acids. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Klingberg, Jenny, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Variation in ozone exposure in the landscape of southern Sweden with consideration of topography and coastal climate
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310. ; 47, s. 252-260
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ozone concentrations ([O3]) and meteorological parameters were measured with a mobile monitoring station at two coastal and five inland sites in southwest Sweden. Three of the five inland sites were located topographically low and two high compared to the surrounding landscape. In addition, [O3] data from six permanent monitoring stations in southern Sweden were analysed in relation to the positions of the measurement sites in the landscape. [O3] was also measured with passive diffusion samplers at two other sites. Both the diurnal temperature range (DTR) and the diurnal [O3] range (DOR) were to a large extent explained by the strength of the nocturnal temperature inversions at the sites. To investigate the influence of topography, the relative altitude of the sites was defined as the average altitude within a 3 km radius subtracted from the altitude of the site. Statistically significant relationships were obtained for average [O3] as well as DOR with relative altitude. Inland low sites experienced stronger nocturnal temperature inversions, lower average [O3] and larger DOR compared to inland high and coastal sites. Relative altitude was found to be superior to site altitude in explaining the variation of average [O3] and DOR in the landscape. This study underlines the importance of including local topography, as well as vicinity to the coast, in modelling [O3] and in O3 environmental risk assessments.
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| 9. |
- Larsen, B. R., et al.
(författare)
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Sources for PM air pollution in the Po Plain, Italy: II. Probabilistic uncertainty characterization and sensitivity analysis of secondary and primary sources
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310. ; 50, s. 203-213
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Very high levels of ambient particulate matter (PM) are frequently encountered in the north of Italy and air quality limits are regularly exceeded. To obtain quantitative information on the pollution sources and to gain understanding of the dynamics of pollution episodes in this populated area PM10 and/or PM2.5 samples were collected daily at nine urban to regional sites distributed over the central Po Plain and one site in the Valtelline Valley. In total, 23 five-week winter campaigns and one comparative summer/ autumn campaign (2007-2009) were organized. The PM was analyzed for 61 chemical constituents and a data-base was built up consisting of approx. 70000 records of the concentrations and their associated uncertainty. In addition C-14/C-12 ratios were determined in PM10 from four sites. Primary and secondary sources were quantified using macro-tracer methods in combination with chemical mass balance modelling and positive matrix factorization and the combined results were computed by probability-and sensitivity analysis. Monte Carlo simulations yielded probability distributions for seven source categories contributing to the carbonaceous fraction of PM and five major source categories contributing to the PM10 and PM2.5 mass. Despite large uncertainties in the combined source contribution estimates the paper demonstrates that secondary aerosol formed simultaneously over the Po Plain is the main responsible for the typical, rapid build-up of air pollution after clean-air episodes. Next to secondary sources, the most important sources are primary emissions from road transport followed by biomass burning (BB). In the Valtelline Valley, higher contributions from BB and lower contributions from secondary sources were observed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Li, Yingming, et al.
(författare)
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Study of PCBs and PBDEs in King George Island, Antarctica, using PUF passive air sampling
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 51, s. 140-145
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polyurethane foam (PUF)-disk based passive air samplers were deployed in King George Island, Antarctica, during the austral summer of 2009-2010, to investigate levels, distributions and potential sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Antarctic air. The atmospheric levels of Sigma indicator PCBs and Sigma(14) PBDEs ranged from 1.66 to 6.50 pg m(-3) and from 0.67 to 2.98 pg m(-3), respectively. PCBs homologue profiles were dominated by di-PCBs, tri-PCBs and tetra-PCBs, whereas BDE-17 and BDE-28 were the predominant congeners of PBDEs, which could be explained by long-range atmospheric transport processes. However, the sampling sites close to the Antarctic research stations showed higher atmospheric concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs than the other sites, reflecting potential local sources from the Antarctic research stations. The non-Aroclor congener PCB-11 was found in all the air samples, with air concentrations of 3.60-31.4 pg m(-3) (average 15.2 pg m(-3)). Comparison between the results derived from PUF-disk passive air sampling and high-volume air sampling validates the feasibility of using the passive air samplers in Antarctic air. To our knowledge, this study is the first employment of PUF-disk based passive air samplers in Antarctic atmosphere.
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