Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece
Port cities are affected by a wide array of emissions, including those from the shipping, road transport, and residential sectors; therefore, the characterization and apportionment of such sources in a high temporal resolution is crucial. This study presents measurements of fine aerosol chemical com...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/12/1686 |
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| author | Iasonas Stavroulas Georgios Grivas Eleni Liakakou Panayiotis Kalkavouras Aikaterini Bougiatioti Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis Maria Lianou Kyriaki Papoutsidaki Maria Tsagkaraki Pavlos Zarmpas Evangelos Gerasopoulos Nikolaos Mihalopoulos |
| author_facet | Iasonas Stavroulas Georgios Grivas Eleni Liakakou Panayiotis Kalkavouras Aikaterini Bougiatioti Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis Maria Lianou Kyriaki Papoutsidaki Maria Tsagkaraki Pavlos Zarmpas Evangelos Gerasopoulos Nikolaos Mihalopoulos |
| author_sort | Iasonas Stavroulas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Port cities are affected by a wide array of emissions, including those from the shipping, road transport, and residential sectors; therefore, the characterization and apportionment of such sources in a high temporal resolution is crucial. This study presents measurements of fine aerosol chemical composition in Piraeus, one of the largest European ports, during two monthly periods (winter vs. summer) in 2018–2019, using online instrumentation (Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor—ACSM, 7-<i>λ</i> aethalometer). PMF source apportionment was performed on the ACSM mass spectra to quantify organic aerosol (OA) components, while equivalent black carbon (BC) was decomposed to its fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning (BB) fractions. The combined traffic, shipping and, especially, residential emissions led to considerably elevated submicron aerosol levels (22.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) in winter, which frequently became episodic late at night under stagnant conditions. Carbonaceous compounds comprised the major portion of this submicron aerosol in winter, with mean OA and BC contributions of 61% (13.9 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) and 16% (3.7 μg m<sup>−3</sup>), respectively. The contribution of BB to BC concentrations was considerable and spatially uniform. OA related to BB emissions (fresh and processed) and hydrocarbon-like OA (from vehicular traffic and port-related fossil fuel emissions including shipping) accounted for 37% and 30% of OA, respectively. In summer, the average PM<sub>1</sub> concentration was significantly lower (14.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) and less variable, especially for the components associated with secondary aerosols (such as OA and sulfate). The effect of the port sector was evident in summer and maintained BC concentrations at high levels (2.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>), despite the absence of BB and improved atmospheric dispersion. Oxygenated components yielded over 70% of OA in summer, with the more oxidized secondary component of regional origin being dominant (41%) despite the intensity of local sources, in the Piraeus environment. In general, with respect to local sources that can be the target of mitigation policies, this work highlights the importance of port-related activities but also reveals the extensive wintertime impact of residential wood burning. While a separation of the BB source is feasible, more research is needed on how to disentangle the short-term effects of different fossil-fuel combustion sources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:35:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f14bbd1dc8f4c5b80223a773bb6f04b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:35:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f14bbd1dc8f4c5b80223a773bb6f04b2023-11-23T03:47:24ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-12-011212168610.3390/atmos12121686Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, GreeceIasonas Stavroulas0Georgios Grivas1Eleni Liakakou2Panayiotis Kalkavouras3Aikaterini Bougiatioti4Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis5Maria Lianou6Kyriaki Papoutsidaki7Maria Tsagkaraki8Pavlos Zarmpas9Evangelos Gerasopoulos10Nikolaos Mihalopoulos11Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceEnvironmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceEnvironmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceEnvironmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreeceEnvironmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreeceEnvironmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceEnvironmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, GreecePort cities are affected by a wide array of emissions, including those from the shipping, road transport, and residential sectors; therefore, the characterization and apportionment of such sources in a high temporal resolution is crucial. This study presents measurements of fine aerosol chemical composition in Piraeus, one of the largest European ports, during two monthly periods (winter vs. summer) in 2018–2019, using online instrumentation (Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor—ACSM, 7-<i>λ</i> aethalometer). PMF source apportionment was performed on the ACSM mass spectra to quantify organic aerosol (OA) components, while equivalent black carbon (BC) was decomposed to its fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning (BB) fractions. The combined traffic, shipping and, especially, residential emissions led to considerably elevated submicron aerosol levels (22.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) in winter, which frequently became episodic late at night under stagnant conditions. Carbonaceous compounds comprised the major portion of this submicron aerosol in winter, with mean OA and BC contributions of 61% (13.9 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) and 16% (3.7 μg m<sup>−3</sup>), respectively. The contribution of BB to BC concentrations was considerable and spatially uniform. OA related to BB emissions (fresh and processed) and hydrocarbon-like OA (from vehicular traffic and port-related fossil fuel emissions including shipping) accounted for 37% and 30% of OA, respectively. In summer, the average PM<sub>1</sub> concentration was significantly lower (14.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) and less variable, especially for the components associated with secondary aerosols (such as OA and sulfate). The effect of the port sector was evident in summer and maintained BC concentrations at high levels (2.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>), despite the absence of BB and improved atmospheric dispersion. Oxygenated components yielded over 70% of OA in summer, with the more oxidized secondary component of regional origin being dominant (41%) despite the intensity of local sources, in the Piraeus environment. In general, with respect to local sources that can be the target of mitigation policies, this work highlights the importance of port-related activities but also reveals the extensive wintertime impact of residential wood burning. While a separation of the BB source is feasible, more research is needed on how to disentangle the short-term effects of different fossil-fuel combustion sources.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/12/1686Athensharborshipping emissionsPM<sub>1</sub>chemical speciationorganic aerosol |
| spellingShingle | Iasonas Stavroulas Georgios Grivas Eleni Liakakou Panayiotis Kalkavouras Aikaterini Bougiatioti Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis Maria Lianou Kyriaki Papoutsidaki Maria Tsagkaraki Pavlos Zarmpas Evangelos Gerasopoulos Nikolaos Mihalopoulos Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece Atmosphere Athens harbor shipping emissions PM<sub>1</sub> chemical speciation organic aerosol |
| title | Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece |
| title_full | Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece |
| title_fullStr | Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece |
| title_short | Online Chemical Characterization and Sources of Submicron Aerosol in the Major Mediterranean Port City of Piraeus, Greece |
| title_sort | online chemical characterization and sources of submicron aerosol in the major mediterranean port city of piraeus greece |
| topic | Athens harbor shipping emissions PM<sub>1</sub> chemical speciation organic aerosol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/12/1686 |
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