title: Sources of organic pollution in particulate matter and soil of Silesian Agglomeration (Poland): evidence from geochemical markers.
abstract: The exact input of particular sources to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in urban and industrial agglomerations is still not well recognized. The major breakthrough is possible using geochemical markers. In the air aerosol and soil samples from areas located in the direct influence of industry/traffic in Silesian Agglomeration (Poland), PAHs and other organic compounds were analyzed, including geochemical markers (biomarkers) and polar compounds from fossil fuels and biomass. Gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were applied to investigate the composition of particulate matter and soil extracts. The results suggest that the predominant source of PAHs is fossil fuel. The presence and distribution of steranes, pentacyclic triterpenoids (i.e., hopanes and moretanes) and alkyl PAHs point to traffic emissions and fossil fuel combustion, mainly bituminous coal for power and heat purposes, as the main source of PAHs in the region. Moreover, the presence of fossil fuel biomarker in particulate matter and soil extracts from a rural site, previously considered to be free of organic pollution, requires a cautious interpretation for PAHs results. Apart from the fossil fuel, also other sources of contamination were identified in particulate matter extracts by their markers: phenols and levoglucosan for biomass and diisopropylnaphthalenes for printing materials combustion. The absence of polar biomass combustion indicators in soil extracts might be related to their higher reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, 60 Będzińska St., 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland. monika.fabianska@us.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Monika J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fabiańska
authors.affiliation: Department of Air Protection, Faculty of Power and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 2 Akademicka St., 44-100, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kozielska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie St., 41-819, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konieczyński
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicz A. Al., 30-059, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D005579:Fossil Fuels; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Diagnostic ratios; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Geochemical markers; Particulate matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Soil