The use of levoglucosan for tracing biomass burning in PM2.5 samples in Tuscany (Italy)

Levoglucosan was present in all samples and its concentrations showed a pronounced annual cycle with maximum levels in the cold season. The annual percentage of ratios of levoglucosan to OC ranged from 0.04 to 9.75% evidencing a major contribution of biomass burning to the aerosol OC during the winter. In the urban-background site, OC was strongly correlated with EC in winter, suggesting that the major fraction of OC was generated as primary particles along with EC. A background levoglucosan component showed that biomass burning was continuously taking place in all the investigated sites. The biomass burning contribution to the Tuscany aerosol was made up of a background component and an additional component during winter probably due to wood burning for domestic heating.

► PM2.5 samples were collected from three sites of different typology in Tuscany, Italy.
► Levoglucosan, OC and EC were investigated to estimate biomass burning contribution.
► Correlations between levoglucosan, OC and EC were evaluated.
► Levoglucosan showed a pronounced annual cycle with maximum levels in the cold season.
► A background biomass burning contribution was estimated in all sites.