Impacts of severe residential wood burning on atmospheric processing, water-soluble organic aerosol and light absorption, in an inland city of Southeastern Europe

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 2022-07, Vol.280, p.119139, Article 119139
• Main Authors: Kaskaoutis, D.G., Grivas, G., Oikonomou, K., Tavernaraki, P., Papoutsidaki, K., Tsagkaraki, M., Stavroulas, I., Zarmpas, P., Paraskevopoulou, D., Bougiatioti, A., Liakakou, E., Gavrouzou, M., Dumka, U.C., Hatzianastassiou, N., Sciare, J., Gerasopoulos, E., Mihalopoulos, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass burning; Carbonaceous aerosols; Greece; Heterogeneous chemistry; Levoglucosan; WSOC
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119139

This study examines the concentrations and characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols (including saccharides) and inorganic species measured by PM2.5 filter sampling and a multi-wavelength Aethalometer during two campaigns in a mountainous, medium-sized, Greek city (Ioannina). The first campaign was conducted in summer and used as a baseline of low concentrations, while the second took place in winter under intensive residential wood burning (RWB) emissions. Very high winter-mean OC concentrations (26.0 μg m−3) were observed, associated with an OC/EC ratio of 9.9, and mean BCwb and PM2.5 levels of 4.5 μg m−3 and 57.5 μg m−3, respectively. Simultaneously, record-high levoglucosan (Lev) concentrations (mean: 6.0 μg m−3; max: 15.9 μg m−3) were measured, revealing a severely biomass burning (BB)-laden environment. The water-soluble OC component (WSOC) accounted for 56 ± 9% of OC in winter, exhibiting high correlations (R2 = 0.93–0.97) with BB tracers (nss-K+, BCwb, Lev), nitrate and light absorption, potentially indicating the formation of water-soluble brown carbon (BrC) from fast oxidation processes. The examination of diagnostic ratios involving BB tracers indicated the prevalence of hardwood burning, while the mean Lev/OC ratio (22%) was remarkably higher than literature values. Applying a mono-tracer method based on levoglucosan, we estimated very high BB contributions to OC (∼92%), EC (∼64%) and WSOC (∼87%) during winter. On the contrary, low levels were registered during summer for all carbonaceous components, with winter/summer ratios of 4–5 for PM2.5 and BC, 10 for OC, 30 for BCwb and ∼1100 for levoglucosan. The absence of local BB sources in summer, combined with the photochemical processing and aging of regional organic aerosols, resulted in higher WSOC/OC fractions (64 ± 13%). The results indicate highly soluble fine carbonaceous aerosol fraction year-round, which when considered alongside the extreme concentration levels in winter can have important implications for short- and long-term health effects. [Display omitted] •PM2.5 chemical characterization in a semi-mountainous city of Southeast Europe.•Severe PM2.5, OC and levoglusocan levels are found due to wood burning in winter.•Biomass burning contributes 92%, 87%, 64% to OC, WSOC, EC, respectively in winter.•High levoglucosan-to-OC ratio (22%) is found for local hardwood burning emissions.•Fresh wood burning aerosols were highly water-soluble with implication for toxicity.