AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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Source Apportionment of PAHs in the Vicinity of Industrial Activities: PMF-based Approach from Long-term Filter Data
EMMANUEL JANTZEM, Jean-Eudes Petit, Alexandre Ockler, Jean-Pierre Schmitt, Air Lorraine
Abstract Number: 58 Working Group: Source Apportionment
Abstract The impacts of air pollution on human health is directly linked to its chemical composition. In particular, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and especially benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), are known carcinogenic and concentrations are regulated by European directives.
Within BaP evaluation program over the 2011-2015 period, Air Lorraine, the regional association for air quality monitoring in Lorraine (East of France), has conducted a source apportionment study of PAHs at a rural site in the vicinity of industrial activities (cement factory). Daily filter sampling has been carried out, evenly distributed year-long in order to take into account seasonal variations of meteorological conditions and sources. Concentrations of 9 major PAHs, monosaccharides (among which levoglucosan), sugar alcohols and 5 major metallic compounds were retrieved. Source apportionment has been performed by Positive Matrix Factorization (EPA PMF).
The 3-factor solution are respectively related to wood-burning, biogenic aerosols and mixed factor of traffic and industrial emissions. Similarly to what is found in the literature, wood burning explains most of PAHs variabilities (80%), emphasizing the need of stakeholder initiatives on this source in rural areas, even in the vicinity of industrial activities.
Surprisingly, the use of metallic compounds in the PMF did not allow to resolve primary traffic and the cement plant. However, wind analysis, performed by Non-parametric Wind Regression, applied on selected species clearly highlighted specific industrial emissions. Indeed, while Al, Ti and Mn show a clear hotspot towards the cement plant, Cu and Fe highlighted different patterns. This industrial activity can thus still influence air quality sporadically in the village, although its precise quantification remains laborious. This finally underlines the synergy between source apportionment and geographical origin works.