Influence of rice straw burning on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural county of Taiwan.
Atmospheric particulate and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) size distribution were measured at Jhu-Shan (a rural site) and Sin-Gang (a town site) in central Taiwan during the rice straw burning and non-burning periods. The concentrations of total PAHs accounting for a roughly 58% (34%) increment in the concentrations of total PAHs due to rice-straw burning. Combustion-related PAHs during burning periods were 1.54-2.57 times higher than those during non-burning periods. The mass median diameter (MMD) of 0.88-1.21 microm in the particulate phase suggested that rice-straw burning generated the increase in coarse particle number. Chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model analyses showed that the primary pollution sources at the two sites were similar. However, rice-straw burning emission was specifically identified as a significant source of PAH during burning periods at the two sites. Open burning of rice straws was estimated to contribute approximately 6.3%-24.6% to total atmospheric PAHs at the two sites.
Lai
Chia-Hsiang
CH
Department of Health Safety and Environmental Engineering, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40601, Taiwan, China. chlai2@ctust.edu.tw
Chen
Kang-Shin
KS
Wang
Hsin-Kai
HK
D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D017745:Incineration; D012275:Oryza; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013624:Taiwan
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012906:Smoke