Impact of Municipal, Road Traffic, and Natural Sources on PM10: The Hourly Variability at a Rural Site in Poland

Abstract

The paper presents data from a monthly campaign studying the elemental composition of PM10, as measured by a specific receptor in Kotórz Mały (Opole Voivodeship)—located in the vicinity of a moderately inhabited rural area—measured in one-hour samples using a Horiba PX-375 analyzer. The hourly variability of SO2, NO, NO2, CO, and O3 concentrations, as well as the variability of meteorological parameters, was also determined. On average, during the entire measurement period, the elements related to PM10 can be arranged in the following order: As < V < Ni < Pb < Cr < Mn < Cu < Ti < Zn < K < Fe < Ca < Al < Si < S. Trace elements, including toxic elements—such as As, V, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Mn—were present in low concentrations, not exceeding 10 ng/m3 (average daily value). These elements had fairly even concentrations, both daily and hourly. The concentrations of the main elements in the PM10, as measured by the receptor, are subject to strong hourly changes related not only to changes in the structures of the sources identified in the statistical analysis, but also to wind speed and direction changes (soil and sand particle pick-up and inflow of pollutants from coal combustion). It has been shown that the transport emissions measured by the receptor can have an intense effect on PM10 in the afternoon.

The influence of meteorological factors and terrain on air pollution concentration and migration: a geostatistical case study from Krakow, Poland

“…The occurrence of abnormally high concentrations of PM2.5 in relation to neighboring clusters in the morning and evening hours may be associated with increased car traffic in these areas. This is in line with observations in Opole (Poland) 57 . The low-high clusters are mainly associated with land elevations, except for the K4 sensor located in the eastern part of Nowa Huta.…”

Air Pollution Research Based on Spider Web and Parallel Continuous Particulate Monitoring—A Comparison Study Coupled with Identification of Sources

“…However, for Fe particles collected by CPM, only minimal enrichment in this element was found, hence its origin should be rather assigned to natural sources and occasionally to anthropogenic activities (long range transport as hypothesized based on Figure 2 or rail-wheel-brake interactions [12,56]). As a confirmation, in the paper by Mach et al [62] also a low EF value (2.5 average for the period) was found, indicating rather natural sources of Fe in PM 10 in this region. However, it needs to be remembered that the EF value was calculated based on the CPM results (reporting only PM 10 ).…”

Comparative Study of PM10 Concentrations and Their Elemental Composition Using Two Different Techniques during Winter–Spring Field Observation in Polish Village

“…Particulate matter is a mixture of solid and liquid particles, suspended in the air, originating from both natural and anthropogenic sources [13,14]. The sources of PM in the atmosphere which are then enriched with toxic elements or compounds have been widely investigated in many works, including Rodríguez et al [15], Majewski et al [16], Rogula-Kozłowska et al [17] and Mach et al [18]. Over the last decade, the number of papers reporting results of studies conducted in the areas of compact rural buildings and small villages has increased.…”

“…Concentrations of aerosol particles within local air sheds are affected also by meteorological parameters [19]. An occasional increase in rural aerosol concentrations was mostly attributed to the transportation of particles from polluted urban or industrial areas and remote natural sources [18,26].…”

“…Many methods are used in aerosol testing, including direct measurements, indirect measurements or mathematical modelling [18]. For the study of the mass concentration of particulate matter and its constituents, the reference methods should be the gravimetric method (GM) followed by an analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), while other methods may be used if their equivalence to the reference method has been demonstrated [27].…”