The use of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons molecular diagnostic ratios as a source identification tool - case study

Abstract

Levoglucosan (LG) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic substances emitted from variety of anthropogenic sources, mainly as a result of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic material. The seasonality of PAHs emissions is a well demonstrated fact, observed in most monitoring studies, where PAHs air concentrations in winter are much higher than their respective in the summer, due to seasonally variable emission sources. Various techniques have been proposed as ideal source identification (or apportionment) tools, and much debate exists in scientific literature about the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies. The most common methodology is the use of molecular diagnostic ratios (MDRs). Based on the annual measurement campaign in rural site located on South Poland, were levoglucose and PAHs were analyzed, the MDRs were determined. The results showed that the combustion processes of solid fuels, including biomass, are mainly responsible for air quality.