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Sources of organic pollution in particulate matter and soil of Silesian Agglomeration (Poland): evidence from geochemical markers

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Abstract

The exact input of particular sources to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in urban and industrial agglomerations is still not well recognized. The major breakthrough is possible using geochemical markers. In the air aerosol and soil samples from areas located in the direct influence of industry/traffic in Silesian Agglomeration (Poland), PAHs and other organic compounds were analyzed, including geochemical markers (biomarkers) and polar compounds from fossil fuels and biomass. Gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were applied to investigate the composition of particulate matter and soil extracts. The results suggest that the predominant source of PAHs is fossil fuel. The presence and distribution of steranes, pentacyclic triterpenoids (i.e., hopanes and moretanes) and alkyl PAHs point to traffic emissions and fossil fuel combustion, mainly bituminous coal for power and heat purposes, as the main source of PAHs in the region. Moreover, the presence of fossil fuel biomarker in particulate matter and soil extracts from a rural site, previously considered to be free of organic pollution, requires a cautious interpretation for PAHs results. Apart from the fossil fuel, also other sources of contamination were identified in particulate matter extracts by their markers: phenols and levoglucosan for biomass and diisopropylnaphthalenes for printing materials combustion. The absence of polar biomass combustion indicators in soil extracts might be related to their higher reactivity.

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Abbreviations

APM:

Ambient particulate matter

DR:

Diagnostic ratio

H:

A4 highway

Ha:

APM collected on A4 highway

Hs:

Dust collected on pavement

PMc:

Particulate matter from coal-fired district heating plants

PMw:

Particulate matter from wood-fired domestic heating boilers

PMd:

Particulate matter from automobile diesel engines

R:

Radlin

Ra:

APM collected in Radlin

Rs:

Sample of soil collected in Radlin

S:

Soil or dust collected on a pavement

SPE:

Solid phase extraction

Z:

Zabrze

Za:

APM collected in Zabrze

Zs:

Sample of soil collected in Zabrze

ZP:

Złoty Potok

ZPa:

APM collected in Złoty Potok

ZPs:

Sample of soil collected in Złoty Potok

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Grant No. N523 751840. Sampling of diesel exhaust particulate matter by BOSMAL Automotive Research and Development Institute Ltd is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, 60 Będzińska St., 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland

    Monika J. Fabiańska

  2. Department of Air Protection, Faculty of Power and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 2 Akademicka St., 44-100, Gliwice, Poland

    Barbara Kozielska

  3. Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie St., 41-819, Zabrze, Poland

    Jan Konieczyński

  4. Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicz A. Al., 30-059, Cracow, Poland

    Adam Kowalski

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  1. Monika J. Fabiańska
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Correspondence to Monika J. Fabiańska.

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10653_2015_9764_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Supplementary Material contains Figure S1 showing a map with sampling sites. Distribution of the following compounds is shown in ion chromatograms: n-alkanes (Figure S2), pentacyclic triterpanes (Figure S3), steranes (Figure S4), diisopropylnaphthalenes (Figure S5), and methylchrysenes with methylpyrenes (Figure S6) (PDF 9919 kb)

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Fabiańska, M.J., Kozielska, B., Konieczyński, J. et al. Sources of organic pollution in particulate matter and soil of Silesian Agglomeration (Poland): evidence from geochemical markers. Environ Geochem Health 38, 821–842 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9764-2

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