Radiocarbon analysis of carbonaceous aerosols in Bratislava, Slovakia

Author(s)

Ivan Kontuľ, Jakub Kaizer, Miroslav Ješkovský, Peter Steier, Pavel P. Povinec

Abstract

Aerosols dispersed in the atmosphere represent important factors influencing not only the environment, but also human health. Carbonaceous aerosols are one of the main components of total atmospheric aerosols, and their sources are of great interest. Radiocarbon analysis provides an excellent way to determine the fraction of fossil and non-fossil aerosols in the atmosphere. Over the period of one year (June 2017–June 2018), we sampled atmospheric aerosols with size greater than 0.3 μm in Bratislava, Slovakia and used the exposed quartz filters for radiocarbon analysis of the elemental carbon (EC) aerosol fraction. The results show that on average the fossil fuel combustion is the dominant source of EC aerosol particles in Bratislava. In summer months, they represent more than half (65–80%) of the total EC aerosols. The relative amount of EC particles derived from biomass burning was 20–35% in summer, which increased to 40–55% in winter months. The dominance of fossil fraction is caused by high degree of industrialization and urbanization of the city. The increase of biomass fraction in winter is probably caused by domestic wood burning in areas surrounding the Bratislava city.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

External organisation(s)

Comenius University in Bratislava

Journal

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

Volume

218

No. of pages

5

ISSN

0265-931X

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106221

Publication date

07-2020

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103014 Nuclear physics, 103039 Aerosol physics, 103037 Environmental physics

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry, Waste Management and Disposal, Pollution, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/radiocarbon-analysis-of-carbonaceous-aerosols-in-bratislava-slovakia(314b9e16-95e5-412d-aaa9-8b5d0ebd2139).html