Assessing the Contribution of Diffuse Domestic Burning as a Source of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PAHs to the U.K. Atmosphere

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2000-07, Vol.34 (14), p.2892-2899
• Main Authors: Lohmann, Rainer, Northcott, Grant L, Jones, Kevin C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; British Isles; Coal; Combustion and energy production; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Heat; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Wood
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es991183w

Ambient air samples were taken concurrently at four sites in northwest England to assess the role of domestic burning of coal/wood on ambient levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs (including co-PCBs), and PAHs. Fifty-six samples (ca. 800 m3 each) were taken in January and February 1998 at an urban site, a rural reference site, and two village sites, which relied on domestic burning for space heating. Correlations with meteorological parameters found the urban site to be a source area of all POPs investigated, while the village sites had a local impact of PAHs and, to a lesser extent, PCDD/Fs. PCDD/F-levels changed simultaneously at all sites, pointing toward a combination of regional meteorological effects and increased domestic burning. Two sampling events, marked by low ambient temperatures and wind speeds, showed substantial increases in PCDD/F and PAH concentrations (by factors of 2−5). We estimate that local sources at the villages accounted for ∼25% of the ΣTEQ (with ∼75% stemming from advective transport) and ∼75% of the ΣPAHs in the ambient air at those sites (∼25% advective transport) during our winter sampling events. This study singled out PCDFs, notably the lower chlorinated ones, as good indicators of domestic burning, together with a range of PAHs. The co-PCBs #126 and 169 were found to behave like PCDD/Fs and PAHs rather than the more abundant “regular” PCBs, confirming that they have different sources to the environment.