Impact of Biomass Combustion on Urban Fine Particulate Matter in Central and Northern Europe

The impact of biomass combustion on atmospheric particulate matter was investigated at Central and Northern European urban background sites (Duisburg, Prague, Amsterdam, Helsinki) in 2002-2003. In Helsinki, additional 4-week sampling campaigns were carried out during the four seasons in 2003-2004. During campaigns fine particles (PM₂.₅) and size-segregated samples were collected with a virtual impactor and a ten-stage Berner low-pressure impactor, respectively. From the aerosol samples monosaccharide anhydrides (MA) were determined as source specific tracers for biomass combustion. MA comprised 0.29-6.3% of the PM₂.₅ mass and 0.45-7.3% of its organic carbon content. According to size-segregated samples, the mean diameter of a prominent MA mode coincided with the accumulation mode of particulate mass, except for Prague where the MA mode appeared in a slightly smaller particle size range than the mass. The estimated contribution of biomass combustion to the OC and PM₂.₅ mass concentration was the highest in wintertime Prague, 79% and 37%, respectively. It seems that, in addition to traffic in densely populated areas, incomplete biomass combustion with current heating appliances can be a major source of particulate pollution both at local and regional scales.