Source aportionment of atmospheric PAHs in the western Balkans by natural abundance radiocarbon analysis.
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Environmental Science & Technology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Air pollution and control |
| Keywords | Source aportionment; PAHs; Radiocarbon analysis;Western Balkan |
| Description | Combustion of fossil fuels is the major source of energy for today global economy but is also largely responsible for both the greenhouse effect and air pollution of significant public health concern. While statistical information exists for fossil fuel usage and emissions in different countries, the contribution of biomass combustion (as energy source or simply as open fires, forest fires, waste incineration, etc.) to atmospheric pollution is much more difficult to constrain. Predictions based on traditional emission inventory approaches fail because of the very large variations in emission factors for different biomass combustion processes. The challenge of apportioning the pollution sources is further exacerbated for countries where data about energy usage and extent of combustion of non fossil material is limited due to difficult socio economic conditions. We propose that progress in source apportionment can be made by an inverse approach to emission inventorying, namely receptor based compound specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) of target pollutants. Here we apply CSRA of the combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the atmosphere of the countries of the former republic of Yugoslavia and reveal significant contribution (35-58%) of combustion of non fossil material to the atmospheric pollution by PAHs, even in urban and industrialized areas. This quantitative source apportionment provides a direction for remedial action. |
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