IMPACT OF BIOMASS BURNING ON PM10 CONCENTRATIONS

The combustion of pruning residues of olive trees in field is a common practice in South of Italy. Since fields are usually close to densely populated areas, the biomass burning emission may cause seasonally increasing exposure to air pollutants and may present a potential health risk for the population. The goal of this work was to carry out the chemical characterization of PM originated from open burning of agricultural biomass and to provide tracer species or concentration ratios characteristics of this source. In this work preliminary results about the chemical characterization of PK10 aerosol collected a few meters from the plume of a bonfire and throughout its duration are shown. In particular the data showed that during open burning of olive tree residues, PK10 mean concentrations were about fifty times higher than PMic, collected at background site in no biomass burning event. Moreover the particulate matter composition was especially enriched in K, OC, Pb and PAHs, and in particular in benz[a]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene; this pollutants in fact show the biggest Enrichment Factor values. The BaP/BghiP ratio registered in biomass burning event (1.88) was three times greater than in no event condition (0.57); and this ratio result better than IP/[IP+BghiP ratio for discriminating between two emission sources of PAHs, such as diesel exhaust and biomass burning. Finally BaA has been demonstrated to be a better marker of biomass combustion source with respect to BaP and the other PAHs.