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Retene—a molecular marker of wood combustion in ambient air

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Abstract

The use of wood as a fuel has increased since the oil embargo in 1973. Several studies have shown that wood combustion may make a significant contribution to air pollution. Using 14C as a tracer for contemporary carbonaceous materials, 30–70% of the atmospheric carbon has been shown to originate from wood combustion in areas affected by this source1–3. Other studies have shown that emissions from wood combustion contain large amounts of particles4–6 and organic compounds, one class being poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)7–11. However, these compounds are also formed by combustion of other carbonaceous materials. In our studies on PAH in wood combustion emissions and in ambient air in wood-heated residential areas, we have identified several PAH compounds which may be related to combustion of coniferous wood. These are alkylated phenanthrene compounds with the main compound 1-methyl-7-isopropylphenanthrene (trivial name retene) formed by thermal degradation of resin compounds in the wood.

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Ramdahl, T. Retene—a molecular marker of wood combustion in ambient air. Nature 306, 580–582 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306580a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/306580a0

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