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Abstract: In this work, a methodology based on the macro-tracer approach was improved to obtain a more reliable estimate of the wood burning impact on PM10 and OC concentrations. Indeed, literature emission factors were weighed by the wood consumption data available for the investigated region and these tailored factors were used in the calculation. Moreover, an alternative approach using the chemical profile of the wood burning source obtained by the Positive Matrix Factorization was introduced. As far as we know, this is the first time that PMF-derived emission ratios instead of source emission factors are used in the macro-tracer method. A critical comparison of the results obtained by the two approaches was carried out. The results suggest that PMF-derived emission ratios can be a feasible alternative to the widely used wood smoke emission factors, which show a high variability. The proposed methodology was applied to a trial dataset of wintertime PM10 samples - characterised for anhydrosugars, organic, and elemental carbon – collected in the frame of a regional project. The results gave a preliminary estimate of the wood smoke contribution to PM10 and OC in different sites in Lombardy (Northern Italy). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The WB Green Agenda (WB GA) aims to implement the GD principles in this region and has defined five priority areas: climate, energy, mobility; circular economy, pollution reduction, sustainable agricultural and food production, and biodiversity. Some of the WB GA goals are strongly related to health: e.g. the continent’s carbon neutrality by 2050, the ambitious climate policy, the reform of energy and transport sectors. The launch of the EU CP is an important opportunity for the WB to promote action in this area. For instance, promoting energy efficiency and supporting building renovation are directly related to the quality of life and hygiene of housing. Reduction or cancellation of coal subsidies as well as the region’s withdrawal from the use of coal is of great importance for reducing externalities. In the WB, citizens are concerned about their health due to air, water and soil pollution and their reduction is in the common interest. To that end, it is necessary, inter alia, to: ratify the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and its protocols in each of the WB economies; to implement air quality strategies; and to strengthen air quality monitoring systems (and network accreditation). Appropriate processes are needed to reduce water and soil pollution, as well as to ensure the transformation of the agricultural sector. It is also necessary to harmonize the agricultural and food sector with EU standards for food safety, plant and animal health and environmental protection. To achieve the WB GA goals it is important to develop policy strategies based on the most up-to-date scientific studies for this region (JRC, 2020). On the basis of the analysis presented in this study we conclude that the processes associated with the GD and the CP will be of benefit for both individual and public health in the EU and in the WB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the European ACTRIS project, the first large Quadrupole Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (QACSM) intercomparison study was conducted in the region of Paris for 3 weeks during the late-fall - early-winter period (November-December 2013). The first week was dedicated to the tuning and calibration of each instrument, whereas the second and third were dedicated to side-by-side comparison in ambient conditions with co-located instruments providing independent information on submicron aerosol optical, physical, and chemical properties. Near real-time measurements of the major chemical species (organic matter, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and chloride) in the non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM1/ were obtained here from 13 QACSM. The results show that these instruments can produce highly comparable and robust measurements of the NR-PM1 total mass and its major components. Taking the median of the 13 Q-ACSM as a reference for this study, strong correlations (r² > 0:9) were observed systematically for each individual Q-ACSM across all chemical families except for chloride for which three Q-ACSMs showing weak correlations partly due to the very low concentrations during the study. Reproducibility expanded uncertainties of Q-ACSM concentration measurements were determined using appropriate methodologies defined by the International Standard Organization (ISO 17025, 1999) and were found to be 9, 15, 19, 28, and 36% for NR-PM1, nitrate, organic matter, sulfate, and ammonium, respectively. However, discrepancies were observed in the relative concentrations of the constituent mass fragments for each chemical component. In particular, significant differences were observed for the organic fragment at mass-to-charge ratio 44, which is a key parameter describing the oxidation state of organic aerosol. Following this first major intercomparison exercise of a large number of Q-ACSMs, detailed intercomparison results are presented, along with a discussion of some recommendations about best calibration practices, standardized data processing, and data treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the European ACTRIS project, the first large Quadrupole Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (Q-ACSM) intercomparison study was conducted in the region of Paris for 3 weeks during the late-fall -- early-winter period (November-December 2013). The first week was dedicated to the tuning and calibration of each instrument, whereas the second and third were dedicated to side-by-side comparison in ambient conditions with co-located instruments providing independent information on submicron aerosol optical, physical, and chemical properties. Near real-time measurements of the major chemical species (organic matter, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and chloride) in the non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM 1) were obtained here from 13 Q-ACSM. The results show that these instruments can produce highly comparable and robust measurements of the NR-PM 1 total mass and its major components. Taking the median of the 13 Q-ACSM as a reference for this study, strong correlations (r² > 0.9) were observed systematically for each individual Q-ACSM across all chemical families except for chloride for which three Q-ACSMs showing weak correlations partly due to the very low concentrations during the study. Reproducibility expanded uncertainties of Q-ACSM concentration measurements were determined using appropriate methodologies defined by the International Standard Organization (ISO 17025, 1999) and were found to be 9, 15, 19, 28, and 36% for NR-PM 1, nitrate, organic matter, sulfate, and ammonium, respectively. However, discrepancies were observed in the relative concentrations of the constituent mass fragments for each chemical component. In particular, significant differences were observed for the organic fragment at mass-to-charge ratio 44, which is a key parameter describing the oxidation state of organic aerosol. Following this first major intercomparison exercise of a large number of Q-ACSMs, detailed intercomparison results are presented, along with a discussion of some recommendations about best calibration practices, standardized data processing, and data treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically resolved atmospheric aerosol data sets from the largest intercomparison of the Aerodyne aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSMs) performed to date were collected at the French atmospheric supersite SIRTA. In total 13 quadrupole ACSMs (Q-ACSM) from the European ACTRIS ACSM network, one time-of-flight ACSM (ToF-ACSM), and one high-resolution ToF aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) were operated in parallel for about 3 weeks in November and December 2013. Part 1 of this study reports on the accuracy and precision of the instruments for all the measured species. In this work we report on the intercomparison of organic components and the results from factor analysis source apportionment by positive matrix factorisation (PMF) utilising the multilinear engine 2 (ME-2). Except for the organic contribution of mass-to-charge ratio m/z 44 to the total organics (f44), which varied by factors between 0.6 and 1.3 compared to the mean, the peaks in the organic mass spectra were similar among instruments. The m/z 44 differences in the spectra resulted in a variable f44 in the source profiles extracted by ME-2, but had only a minor influence on the extracted mass contributions of the sources. The presented source apportionment yielded four factors for all 15 instruments: hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA), cooking-related organic aerosol (COA), biomass burning-related organic aerosol (BBOA) and secondary oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA). ME-2 boundary conditions (profile constraints) were optimised individually by means of correlation to external data in order to achieve equivalent / comparable solutions for all ACSM instruments and the results are discussed together with the investigation of the influence of alternative anchors (reference profiles). A comparison of the ME-2 source apportionment output of all 15 instruments resulted in relative standard deviations (SD) from the mean between 13.7 and 22.7% of the source's average mass contribution depending on the factors (HOA: 14.3 º 2.2 %, COA: 15.0 º 3.4 %, OOA: 41.5 º 5.7 %, BBOA: 29.3 º 5.0 %). Factors which tend to be subject to minor factor mixing (in this case COA) have higher relative uncertainties than factors which are recognised more readily like the OOA. Averaged over all factors and instruments the relative first SD from the mean of a source extracted with ME-2 was 17.2 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically resolved atmospheric aerosol data sets from the largest inter-comparison of the Aerodyne aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSM) performed to date were collected at the French atmospheric super-site SIRTA. In total 13 quadrupole ACSMs (Q-ACSM) from the European ACTRIS ACSM network, one time-of-flight ACSM (ToFACSM), and one high-resolution ToF aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) were operated in parallel for about three weeks in November and December 2013. Part 1 of this study reports on the accuracy and precision of the instruments for all the measured species. In this work we report on the inter-comparison of organic components and the results from factor analysis source apportionment by positive matrix factorisation (PMF) utilising the multi-linear engine 2 (ME-2). Except for the organic contribution of m=z 44 to the total organics (f44), which varied by factors between 0.6 and 1.3 compared to the mean, the peaks in the organic mass spectra were similar among instruments. The m=z 44 differences in the spectra resulted in a variable f44 in the source profiles extracted by ME-2, but had only a minor influence on the extracted mass contributions of the sources. The presented source apportionment yielded four factors for all 15 instruments: hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA), cooking-related organic aerosol (COA), biomass burning-related organic aerosol (BBOA) and secondary oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA). Individual application and optimisation of the ME-2 boundary conditions (profile constraints) are discussed together with the investigation of the influence of alternative anchors (reference profiles). A comparison of the ME-2 source apportionment output of all 15 instruments resulted in relative SD from the mean between 13.7 and 22.7% of the source's average mass contribution depending on the factors (HOA: 14.3±2.2 %, COA: 15.0±3.4 %, OOA: 41.5±5.7 %, BBOA: 29.3±5.0 %). Factors which tend to be subject to minor factor mixing (in this case COA) have higher relative uncertainties than factors which are recognised more readily like the OOA. Averaged over all factors and instruments the relative first SD from the mean of a source extracted with ME-2 was 17.2 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]