Abstract Ash samples from biomass combustion or co-combustion with coal were analysed. The aim of this study of ash was to determine its mineral and chemical composition, and the chemical composition of solutions obtained during one-step water extraction. Besides the chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) were applied. The mineral and chemical composition of ash samples differ strongly. The content of heavy metals in the ash is generally low, but in some samples the limits of the content of some elements determined for fertilizers or soil amendments are exceeded. The relatively poor correlation between the concentration in leachate and bulk content in ash indicates that numerous elements are present in different forms in the studied samples. The results indicate that the potential use of biomass ash, or ash from biomass–coal co-combustion, requires complex studies that explore ash and leachates.
By implementing appropriate legal steps, it has been possible to reduce pollutant emissions worldwide and their transport to the Arctic, i.e. the cause of the "Arctic haze" phenomenon in the spring. However, with climate change, a new problem has arisen due to the remobilization of pollutants from secondary sources such as Arctic glaciers, seawater, permafrost and soil. To identify pollutants typical for human activity in the atmospheric air in Hornsund area we have investigated air pollutant samples collected during the spring of 2019. Air samples were collected for particulate matter (PM), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) analysis. The field data of meteorological conditions (mean air temperature (T), precipitation (P), wind speed and direction) during the sampling campaign were also presented. Single particle analysis of PM indicates that beside the prevailing natural aerosols, anthropogenic ones were present. The likelihood of anthropogenic origin of some particles was established: spherical Fe-rich or aluminosilicate particles formed in high temperature processes or metal-rich particles of the chemical composition corresponding to industrial products but not typical for natural components. Particles formed in combustion processes (soot, tar balls) are probably predominantly of anthropogenic origin. Ca-sulphate particles were formed as secondary aerosols in a reaction of anthropogenic or biogenic SO2. For some anthropogenic particles both local and remote sources are probable (e.g. soot), for other only remote industrial sources could be accepted.In case of POPs, we found that concentrations of ΣHCHs with an increasing share of lindane and ΣDDTs from aged sources were higher than determined previously in neighbouring areas. On the contrary, the results of ΣPCBs indicate clearly their more volatile composition and long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) source. Based on backward air-mass trajectories, we describe the possible sources of POPs as reemission from seawater and revolatilisation from snow cover, as well as LRAT.
Abstract. It is well established that airborne, magnetic nano- and microparticles accumulate in human organs (e.g. brain) thereby increasing the risk of various diseases (e.g. cancer, neurodegenerative diseases). Therefore, precise characterization of the material, including its origins, is a key factor in preventing further, uncontrolled emission and circulation. The magnetic fraction of atmospheric dust was collected in Kraków using a static sampler and analysed using several methods (scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) measurements). The magnetic fraction contains magnetite, hematite and α-Fe, as well as quartz, feldspar and pyroxene often attached to the magnetic particles. The magnetic particles vary in size, from over 20 µm to nanoparticles below 100 nm, as well as in morphology (irregular or spherical). Their chemical composition is dominated by Fe, often with Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, Si, Al, S, Ca and other elements. Mössbauer spectroscopy corroborates the composition of the material, giving further indications of particles smaller than 100 nm present in the atmospheric dust. VSM measurements confirm that the strength of the magnetic signal can be treated as a measure of the anthropogenic impact on the suspended particulate matter, once again highlighting the presence of nanoparticles.
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