Composition and source of saccharides in aerosols in Guangzhou, China

The total suspended particles （TSP） collected during 2002 to 2003 in Wushan district and Liwan district in Guangzhou were analyzed for the saccharide compositions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC/MS） and N,O-bis-（trimethylsilye）trifluoroacetamide （BSTFA） derivatization. The results showed that the saccharides were composed of anhydrosaccharides consisting of levoglucosan, mannosan, galactosan and 1,6-anhydro-β-glucofuranose, and primary saccharides with sucrose as the most abundant, followed by α- and β-glucose, α- and β-fructose, mycose, and saccharide polyols. The highest saccharide levels occurred in autumn. The anhydrosaccharides came from biomass burning, whereas primary saccharides were the result of resuspention of surface soil dust associated with the agricultural activities and the decay of the falling leaves.