Concentration, Chemical Composition and Origin of PM1: Results from the First Long-Term Measurement Campaign in Warsaw (Poland)
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Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 18: 636–654, 2018 Copyright © Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research ISSN: 1680-8584 print / 2071-1409 online doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2017.06.0221 Concentration, Chemical Composition and Origin of PM1: Results from the First Long-term Measurement Campaign in Warsaw (Poland) Grzegorz Majewski1*, Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska2,3, Katarzyna Rozbicka1, Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec3, Barbara Mathews3, Andrzej Brandyk1 1 Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland 2 The Main School of Fire Service, Faculty of Fire Safety Engineering, 01-629 Warsaw, Poland 3 Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland ABSTRACT This paper presents a 120-day-long variability of chemical composition of submicron particulate matter (PM1) over Warsaw. The content of the following components was examined in the PM1 mass: primary (POM) and secondary (SOM) organic matter, secondary inorganic matter (SIM), elemental carbon (EC) as well as Na and Cl ions (primary inorganic matter). The 24-hour concentrations of PM1 were subject to seasonal fluctuations which are typical of urban areas in Poland; –3 –3 their values averaged 11 µg m in summer and 17 µg m in winter. Most of the PM1 components and gaseous pollutants (SO2, NO2 and NOx) revealed higher mean concentrations in winter than in summer. A statistical analysis of meteorological parameters and 24-h concentrations of PM1, PM10, SO2, NO2 and NOx confirmed a significant influence of air temperature and precipitation on the concentration patterns of these pollutants over Warsaw. The highest concentrations of PM1 occurred in winter for the following wind directions: S, SE, N and NE; in summer for NE, E and S. The analysis of back trajectories demonstrated that on days with the highest 24-h concentration of PM1 polluted air masses arrived from S and SE and affected the concentration of PM1 over Warsaw. The submicron particulate matter, in as much as 62%, comprises secondary matter (SOM and SIM). The primary sources of its precursors and – to a smaller extent – of the primary matter as well – are traffic and combustion of various fuels for the purpose of heat and power generation. Their average contribution to the development of PM1 was 15% and 51%, respectively, for the entire period of observations. Keywords: Secondary aerosol; Carbonaceous matter; Submicron particles; Air mass inflow; Fossil fuels combustion. INTRODUCTION and precipitation contribute to its substantial decrease (Rogula-Kozłowska et al., 2014; Majewski and Rogula- Synoptic and meteorological conditions have a major Kozłowska, 2016; Widziewicz et al., 2017). It has also role in the development of atmospheric particulate matter been demonstrated, that over Polish areas, at the times of (PM) concentration. The most important parameters affecting strong insolation, the mass fraction of organic and inorganic PM concentration are: the wind speed - influencing the rate secondary aerosols in PM is greater than when insolation is and scale of dispersion of PM, the humidity of air and the smaller. This is particularly noticeable in areas located solar radiation leading to the formation of secondary PM, outside the city centre, i.e., in suburban and rural areas and precipitation influencing the rate of washing PM out of (Rogula-Kozłowska and Klejnowski, 2013; Błaszczak et the atmosphere (Pueschel, 1996; Mues et al., 2012; Seinfeld al., 2016; Pyta et al., 2017). The reason behind very high and Pandis, 2012; Olszowski, 2016; He et al., 2017; concentrations of airborne PM, mainly observed in Poland Olszowski, 2017). Our earlier research shows that on wind- in winter, is also air temperature inversion which favours calm days and without rain, the concentration of PM in the concentration of PM in the atmospheric boundary layer Polish cities is the highest, whereas considerable wind speeds (Majewski and Przewoźniczuk, 2009; Pastuszka et al., 2010; Rogula-Kozłowska et al., 2014; Czarnecka et al., 2016). Atmospheric stability can have a strong influence on PM concentration, also at a local scale (Perrino et al., 2008; *Corresponding author. Pastuszka et al., 2010). Tel.: +48-22-59-353-25 However, the primary factor which determines the E-mail address: [email protected] presence of PM or gaseous precursors of PM in the Majewski et al., Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 18: 636–654, 2018 637 atmosphere (and thus deciding on what and in what was determined for each day of the measurement period. quantities is introduced into the atmosphere and subject to the above-mentioned phenomena), is the emission. In other METHODOLOGY words, the chemical composition of PM at a given location, regardless of the prevailing synoptic and meteorological Collection and Preparation of Samples conditions, depends on the PM origin. (Chow, 1995; Rogula- Observations were conducted in Warsaw (λE = 21° 02′, Kozłowska, 2014; Chow et al., 2015; Błaszczak et al., 2016; φN = 52° 09′) at a measurement site located in the district Hong et al., 2017). of Ursynów, selected to satisfy the criteria of urban In Polish urban areas, main sources of PM and its background location as specified in the Directive 2008/50/EC gaseous precursor emissions are: the so-called low or (Fig. 1). Topographical and meteorological conditions, the communal emissions, which involves dust and gases from structure and amount of emissions from PM and gas the combustion of coal and its derivatives in household pollution sources (the fraction of local emissions from stoves and local boiler plants. They tend to be occasionally boiler plants and rooms, stoves, industrial facilities and fed with plastics, solid and organic waste. The main sources traffic at the sampling point) were typical of the whole also involve energy sector and industries (such as coking conurbation (Majewski et al., 2014; Majewski and Rogula- plants, foundries, steel mills and cement plants), and – first Kozłowska, 2016). of all – road traffic emissions in a broad sense (Rogula- From 24 June to 22 August 2014 (60 samples; summer) Kozłowska et al., 2015). A dense network of traffic routes, and from 8 January to 8 March 2015 (60 samples; winter), increasing traffic volumes, growing numbers of vehicles, 120 diurnal samples of PM1 were collected by means of an often with faulty catalytic converters or diesel particulate MVS6D PM sampler (provided by ATMOSERVICE; filters (DPFs), largely contribute to the increase of PM Poznań, Poland). The sampler was equipped with a sampling concentrations in urban areas in Poland (Rogula-Kozłowska head (produced by TSI; PM inlet with PM1 jet impactor) 3 –1 et al., 2013; Rogula-Kozłowska, 2015). which aspired PM1 at a flow of 2.3 m h (according to The Warsaw conurbation is the largest metropolitan area EN14907). The PM1 was collected using quartz fibre filters in Poland with 1,735,442 inhabitants on a surface of 517 km2. (Quartz Air Sampling Filter, Grade QMA, 47 mm circle; Data on PM pollution over Warsaw conurbation comes GE Healthcare Life Sciences Corp.; Piscataway, NJ, USA). directly from measurements carried out at six air quality The mass of PM1 was determined by weighing the filters monitoring stations, being part of the national network. before and after exposure; MYA 5.3Y.F micro balance Concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) are analysed at (RADWAG; Radom, Poland) was used (1-µg resolution). only four of these stations. As a matter of fact, there is no Before each weighing, the filters were conditioned for 48-h data on chemical composition of PM in that part of the in the weighing room (relative air humidity 45 ± 5%, air country. At the same time, in order to establish the source temperature 20 ± 2°C). of PM and implement measures to control PM concentrations The adopted method of PM sampling and the subsequent in urban areas, comprehensive research has been conducted gravimetric analysis of PM were consistent with EN around the world already for years, regarding chemical 14907/2005 - Standard gravimetric measurement method composition of PM (Chow et al., 2015). for the determination of the PM2.5 mass fraction of suspended Submicron particulate matter (PM1) is a significant particulate matter and EN 12341/1998: Air quality element of PM-related research due to typically anthropogenic Determination of the PM10 fraction of suspended particulate origin and prevalent mass fraction in PM, as well as matter reference method and field test procedure to insufficiently studied chemical composition (in Polish and demonstrate reference equivalence of measurement methods. other European conurbations). Correlation between exposure The weighing accuracy, determined as three standard to submicron particles and health effects, as well as their deviations of the mean from ten weightings of a blank filter influence on other environmental components, and even (conditioning performed every 48-h), was equal to 16 µg. climate change, have been proven and are widely discussed When the concentration of PM1 was established, a 1 × 1 in literature (Massolo et al., 2002; Pope and Dockery, 2006; cm square was cut out of each diurnal sample in which the Karlsson et al., 2009; Paasonen et al., 2013; Atkinson et organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) content were al., 2015; Badyda et al., 2016; Majewski et al., 2018). determined. The remaining portion of each sample was In this paper, concentrations and chemical composition then used to determine the content of ions from water- of PM1 were analysed on the basis of 120-day-long soluble compounds. measurement campaign conducted at one measurement site within the Warsaw conurbation. We consider it to be the first Chemical Analysis long-term study where day-by-day differences in chemical The OC and EC contents of PM1 were determined using composition of PM1 are shown in typical urban area in a Lab OC-EC Aerosol Analyzer (Sunet Laboratories Inc.; Central-Eastern Europe. Correlations between PM1 and its Portland, OR, USA) and the EUSAAR protocol.