Organic Compound Concentrations of Size-Segregated PM10 during Sugarcane Burning and Growing Seasons at a Rural and an Urban Site in Florida, USA

Abstract

Florida has the most land used to grow sugarcane crops in the United States. The preharvest sugarcane leaf burning elevates ambient particle matter (PM) concentrations in rural areas with dominant sugarcane agriculture (Belle Glade) and affects the air quality of coastal urban sites (Delray Beach). In this study, ambient particles segregated by size were analyzed to identify trace organic compounds from PM sources that may cause adverse health effects. The sampling campaign was conducted simultaneously at urban and rural sites, and revealed that the organic compound concentration of each particle size varies significantly between the sugarcane burning season (SBS) in January and sugarcane growing season (SGS) in May. The results indicated that PM 3 contains at least 76% of the organic compound concentrations detected in the samples collected from both sites and during both seasons. The concentrations of trace organic compounds were higher in the SBS than in the SGS. Combustion-oriented hopanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and oxygenated PAHs were mainly detected in PM 0.49 . The detection of elevated levoglucosan concentrations at the urban site indicates that fine particles generated from biomass burning traveled from the rural site to the urban site. Secondary organic compounds such as dicarboxylic acids, phytol, and 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone exhibited similar concentration patterns in the rural and urban sites during both seasons. In the SGS, PM 10 concentrations at both sites were extremely similar; however, the organic compound levels were lower at the rural site than at the urban site in the SBS. This result should be investigated further by researchers investigating the health aspects of organic compound concentrations.

Satellite-Surface Perspectives of Air Quality and Aerosol-Cloud Effects on the Environment: An Overview of 7-SEAS/BASELInE

“…To summarize, biomass-burning smoke contains significant amounts of nanoparticles whose surface area provides a substrate for reactions with chemicals such as PAHs (Sevimoglu and Rogge, 2015;Tiwari et al, 2015). This implies that particles emitted from biomass-burning activities may have a greater potential of inducing oxidativeinflammatory responses and carcinogenesis in the lungs (or other tissues) after inhalation.…”

Investigation of Biomass Burning Chemical Components over Northern Southeast Asia during 7-SEAS/BASELInE 2014 Campaign

“…Over Southeast Asia, this activity usually peaks in the dry season Hyer and chew, 2010;Permadi and Kim Oanh, 2013;Mahmud, 2013), which includes both forest fires and open burning of crop residues for preparation of planting areas (Chantara et al, 2012;Kim Oanh and Leelasakultum, 2011). BB emissions severely affect human health (IPCC, 2007;Chuesaard et al, 2014;Sevimoglu and Rogge, 2015), as well as regional/global climate (Arola et al, 2007;Pratt et al, 2010;Alonso-Blanco et al, 2014). Chemical profiling of BB aerosols is essential to distinguishing various source origins, and can be used to evaluate effects on health and climate .…”

Emission Profiles of PM10-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Biomass Burning Determined in Chamber for Assessment of Air Pollutants from Open Burning

“…This method represents a considerable source of atmospheric pollutants (Korenaga et al, 2001;Chang et al, 2015;Lyu et al, 2015). The principal pollutants emitted by biomass Sevimoglu and Rogge, 2015). The particles with a diameter of less than 10 µm (PM 10 ) can deposit themselves and thereby accumulate in the respiratory system, representing a significant threat to human health (WHO, 2000;Armstrong et al, 2004;US EPA, 2010;Khan et al, 2015;.…”