PM10-Bound Sugars: Chemical Composition, Sources and Seasonal Variations
Open Access
- 31 January 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Atmosphere
- Vol. 12 (2), 194
- https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12020194
Abstract
The presence of anhydrosugars and sugar alcohols in airborne articulate matter 10) samples collected between December 2018 and June 2019 was studied for two urban environments in Coimbra. Anhydrosugars were used to estimate the biomass burning contribution, and sugar alcohols were investigated regarding biological sources. Anhydrosugars contributed more than sugar alcohols to the total sugars, mainly levoglucosan. Higher levoglucosan concentrations were linked with the use of biomass-fueled heating appliances, mainly during cold periods. A significant contribution from biomass burning smoke was registered, accounting for 20% to 23% of the PM10 mass in the colder period. Xylitol presented higher concentrations in the colder period and was well correlated with levoglucosan, indicating a common origin. Mannitol and arabitol were well correlated with each other but did not present any kind of correlation with anhydrosugars or xylitol, suggesting a natural source. A quantitative estimation based on the concentration of ambient tracers (mannitol) was evaluated, and the results reveal that, for the two sites, the fungal spore relative contribution to PM10 (roadside site: 2.7% to 2.8%; urban background: 1.9% to 2.7%) and OC mass (roadside site: 6.2% to 8.1%; urban background: 3.9% to 7.5%) was significant and always higher in the warmer period.Keywords
Funding Information
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/144550/2019, PD/BD/128048/2016)
- MIT Portugal (MIT-EXPL/IRA/0023/2017)
This publication has 51 references indexed in Scilit:
- Polyols and glucose particulate species as tracers of primary biogenic organic aerosols at 28 French sitesAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2019
- Composition, Sources, and Distribution of PM2.5 Saccharides in a Coastal Urban Site of ChinaAtmosphere, 2018
- Research on aerosol sources and chemical composition: Past, current and emerging issuesAtmospheric Research, 2013
- Saccharide composition in atmospheric particulate matter in the southwest US and estimates of source contributionsJournal of Aerosol Science, 2010
- Aerosol–cloud–precipitation interactions. Part 1. The nature and sources of cloud-active aerosolsEarth-Science Reviews, 2008
- Arabitol and mannitol as tracers for the quantification of airborne fungal sporesAtmospheric Environment, 2008
- Determination of saccharides in atmospheric aerosol using anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and pulsed-amperometric detectionJournal of Chromatography A, 2007
- Contribution of fungi to primary biogenic aerosols in the atmosphere: wet and dry discharged spores, carbohydrates, and inorganic ionsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2007
- Analysis of sugars in environmental samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometryJournal of Chromatography A, 2007
- SugarsDominant Water-Soluble Organic Compounds in Soils and Characterization as Tracers in Atmospheric Particulate MatterEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2004