Calculating source contributions to urban atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using 1-nitropyrene and pyrene: An application to an Asian dust event. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hayakawa, Kazuichi; Tang, Ning; Matsuki, Atsushi; Inomata, Yayoi; Toriba, Akira; Nagato, Edward G.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 280(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: 1-Nitropyrene -- Pyrene -- Emission source contribution -- Automobile -- Coal combustion -- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130662
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: A method to calculate source contributions to atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated congeners (NPAHs) is proposed, using pyrene (Pyr) and 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), as respective representatives of PAHs and NPAHs. This is based on the known increases in NPAH to PAH ratios as combustion temperatures increase. The fractions of 1-NP and Pyr from high temperature combustion sources in total 1-NP and Pyr are respectively calculated as a (0 < a <1) and b (0 < b < 1). By using atmospheric concentrations of Pyr and 1-NP obtained at monitoring sites, contributions of high and low temperature combustion sources were calculated. Using this method, the contributions of automobiles and coal combustion facilities/industries to atmospheric Pyr and 1-NP concentrations were calculated for atmospheric samples collected in Kanazawa, Japan during a seasonal Asian dust event. The results show that Pyr was almost entirely emitted from industries in China and transported long-range to Japan. By contrast, 1-NP was emitted primarily from automobiles in Kanazawa and its surrounding areas, with a small amount of 1-NP possibly transported from China. The proposed method can provide greater clarity on source identification compared to the typically used PAH isomer pairs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A new method to calculate source contributions to atmospheric PAHs and NPAHs. Temperature dependence of 1-NP to Pyr concentration ratio. Automobiles and coal combustion as major sources. Efficiency increase by combining with the method for source contributions to PM2.5 Source contributions to PAHs, NPAHs and PM2.5 during the Asian dust season.