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On the origin of water-soluble organic tracer compounds in fine aerosols in two cities: the case of Los Angeles and Barcelona

  • 14th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment (ICCE 2013, Barcelona, June 25 - 28, 2013)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs), represented by anhydro-saccharides, dicarboxylic acids, and polyols, were analyzed by gas chromatography interfaced to mass spectrometry in extracts from 103 PM1 and 22 PM2.5 filter samples collected in an urban background and road site in Barcelona (Spain) and an urban background site in Los Angeles (USA), respectively, during 1-month intensive sampling campaigns in 2010. Both locations have similar Mediterranean climates, with relatively high solar radiation and frequent anti-cyclonic conditions, and are influenced by a complex mixture of emission sources. Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares analyses were applied on the database in order to resolve differences and similarities in WSOC compositions in the studied sites. Five consistent clusters for the analyzed compounds were obtained, representing primary regional biomass burning organic carbon, three secondary organic components (aged SOC, isoprene SOC, and α-pinene SOC), and a less clear component, called urban oxygenated organic carbon. This last component is probably influenced by in situ urban activities, such as food cooking and traffic emissions and oxidation processes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Xavier Querol, Manuel Dall’Osto, Joost de Gouw, Jochem Stutz, Jason Surratt, John Seinfeld, and Jose Luis Jimenez, the organizers of the SAPUSS and CalNex-LA campaigns, for their service to the community. Technical assistance from R. Chaler and D. Fanjul is acknowledged. Financial support for this study was provided by projects: CTQ2009-11572, SAPUSS (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, Project number 254773) and AEROTRANS (CTQ2009-377 14777-C02-01).

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Author notes

  1. M. Dall Osto

    Present address: Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain

    M. Alier, R. Tauler, J. O. Grimalt & B. L. van Drooge

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Y.-H. Lin & J. D. Surratt

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  1. M. Alier
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  2. M. Dall Osto
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  3. Y.-H. Lin
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  4. J. D. Surratt
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  5. R. Tauler
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  6. J. O. Grimalt
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  7. B. L. van Drooge
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Correspondence to B. L. van Drooge.

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Responsible editor: Gerhard Lammel

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Alier, M., Osto, M.D., Lin, YH. et al. On the origin of water-soluble organic tracer compounds in fine aerosols in two cities: the case of Los Angeles and Barcelona. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 11649–11660 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2460-9

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