Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe
<p>We investigated the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on individual ambient aerosol particles at the Swedish western coast in a pristine environment for 10 d in October 2019. The measurements were carried out using new technology with single-particle mass spectrometry...
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Copernicus Publications
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/22/1495/2022/acp-22-1495-2022.pdf |
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| author | J. Passig J. Passig J. Passig J. Schade J. Schade J. Schade R. Irsig R. Irsig R. Irsig T. Kröger-Badge T. Kröger-Badge H. Czech H. Czech H. Czech T. Adam T. Adam H. Fallgren J. Moldanova M. Sklorz T. Streibel T. Streibel R. Zimmermann R. Zimmermann R. Zimmermann |
| author_facet | J. Passig J. Passig J. Passig J. Schade J. Schade J. Schade R. Irsig R. Irsig R. Irsig T. Kröger-Badge T. Kröger-Badge H. Czech H. Czech H. Czech T. Adam T. Adam H. Fallgren J. Moldanova M. Sklorz T. Streibel T. Streibel R. Zimmermann R. Zimmermann R. Zimmermann |
| author_sort | J. Passig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>We investigated the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on individual ambient aerosol particles at the Swedish western coast in a
pristine environment for 10 d in October 2019. The measurements were carried out using new technology with single-particle mass spectrometry
(SPMS) that reveals both the inorganic particle composition as well as the particle-bound PAHs (Schade et al., 2019). More than 290 000 particles
were characterized; 4412 of them reveal PAH signatures. Most of the PAH-containing particles were internal mixtures of carbonaceous material,
secondary nitrate and metals from distant sources in central and eastern Europe. We characterize the aerosol with respect to the inorganic
composition, comparable to conventional SPMS, before we discuss the distribution of PAHs within this particle ensemble. Vice versa, we analyze the
single-particle PAH spectra for characteristic patterns and discuss the inorganic composition, origin and atmospheric processing of the respective
particles. The study period comprised different meteorological situations: clean air conditions with winds from the North Sea/Kattegat and little
terrestrial air pollution, long-range transport from eastern Europe and southern Sweden, and transport of aerosols from central Europe over
the sea. For all meteorological conditions, PAHs were detected in particles whose inorganic content indicates traffic emissions, such as
combinations of soot, iron and calcium as well as in particles with biomass-burning signatures. However, there were variations in their amounts,
dependent on the geographic origin. Because of strong mixing, rapid degradation and speciation limits, e.g., for PAHs of the same nominal mass, the
application of diagnostic ratios for source apportionment is limited under the conditions of our study. Nevertheless, the combination with the
inorganic content and meteorological data provides unique insights into the particles' origin, aging and mixing state. We exemplarily show how the
observation of PAH profiles and inorganic secondary components on a single-particle level can open a new door to investigate aerosol aging
processes. To our best knowledge, we herewith present the first comprehensive study on the single-particle distribution of PAHs in ambient air as
well as the first set of combined data on PAHs and inorganic composition on a single-particle level.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:14:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-09c483cbc2604ae09fe2d62b3a3c4c42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:14:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-09c483cbc2604ae09fe2d62b3a3c4c422022-12-21T23:51:20ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242022-01-01221495151410.5194/acp-22-1495-2022Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern EuropeJ. Passig0J. Passig1J. Passig2J. Schade3J. Schade4J. Schade5R. Irsig6R. Irsig7R. Irsig8T. Kröger-Badge9T. Kröger-Badge10H. Czech11H. Czech12H. Czech13T. Adam14T. Adam15H. Fallgren16J. Moldanova17M. Sklorz18T. Streibel19T. Streibel20R. Zimmermann21R. Zimmermann22R. Zimmermann23Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81379 Munich, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyInstitute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyPhotonion GmbH, 19061 Schwerin, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81379 Munich, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81379 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyIVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 411 33 Gothenburg, SwedenIVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 411 33 Gothenburg, SwedenJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81379 Munich, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81379 Munich, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair for Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, GermanyJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81379 Munich, Germany<p>We investigated the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on individual ambient aerosol particles at the Swedish western coast in a pristine environment for 10 d in October 2019. The measurements were carried out using new technology with single-particle mass spectrometry (SPMS) that reveals both the inorganic particle composition as well as the particle-bound PAHs (Schade et al., 2019). More than 290 000 particles were characterized; 4412 of them reveal PAH signatures. Most of the PAH-containing particles were internal mixtures of carbonaceous material, secondary nitrate and metals from distant sources in central and eastern Europe. We characterize the aerosol with respect to the inorganic composition, comparable to conventional SPMS, before we discuss the distribution of PAHs within this particle ensemble. Vice versa, we analyze the single-particle PAH spectra for characteristic patterns and discuss the inorganic composition, origin and atmospheric processing of the respective particles. The study period comprised different meteorological situations: clean air conditions with winds from the North Sea/Kattegat and little terrestrial air pollution, long-range transport from eastern Europe and southern Sweden, and transport of aerosols from central Europe over the sea. For all meteorological conditions, PAHs were detected in particles whose inorganic content indicates traffic emissions, such as combinations of soot, iron and calcium as well as in particles with biomass-burning signatures. However, there were variations in their amounts, dependent on the geographic origin. Because of strong mixing, rapid degradation and speciation limits, e.g., for PAHs of the same nominal mass, the application of diagnostic ratios for source apportionment is limited under the conditions of our study. Nevertheless, the combination with the inorganic content and meteorological data provides unique insights into the particles' origin, aging and mixing state. We exemplarily show how the observation of PAH profiles and inorganic secondary components on a single-particle level can open a new door to investigate aerosol aging processes. To our best knowledge, we herewith present the first comprehensive study on the single-particle distribution of PAHs in ambient air as well as the first set of combined data on PAHs and inorganic composition on a single-particle level.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/22/1495/2022/acp-22-1495-2022.pdf |
| spellingShingle | J. Passig J. Passig J. Passig J. Schade J. Schade J. Schade R. Irsig R. Irsig R. Irsig T. Kröger-Badge T. Kröger-Badge H. Czech H. Czech H. Czech T. Adam T. Adam H. Fallgren J. Moldanova M. Sklorz T. Streibel T. Streibel R. Zimmermann R. Zimmermann R. Zimmermann Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe |
| title_full | Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe |
| title_fullStr | Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe |
| title_short | Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe |
| title_sort | single particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern europe |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/22/1495/2022/acp-22-1495-2022.pdf |
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