OC/EC from PM10 in the vicinity of Turów lignite open-pit mine (SW Poland): Carbon isotopic approach

Concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter) were measured at sampling points located in the vicinity of the Turów open-pit mine, southwest Poland, in April 2008. The samples were analysed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IR-MS) to determine the stable carbon isotope compositions of organic carbon (δ13COC) and elemental carbon (δ13CEC). The daily PM10 concentrations ranged from 15 to 99 μg m−3 with an average value of 50 ± 24 μg m−3. The analysed δ13COC values ranged from −25.1 to −19.9‰ with an average value of −23.1 ± 1.9‰, and the values of δ13CEC ranged from −25.6 to −24.1‰ with an average value of −25.0 ± 0.5‰. Additionally, the average δ13CTC value of lignite from the open-pit mine reached −25.8‰, and calculated δ13COC of lignite using an isotopic mass balance (IMB) value reaches −25.7 ± 0.1‰, whereas lignite δ13CEC value reaches −25.9 ± 0.2‰. The calculated major possible sources indicated that organic carbon (OC) in PM10 are represented probably by primary OC originated from the local lignite open-pit mine, whereas elemental carbon (EC) in PM10 are probably derived from local coal/lignite combustion products. If a data base of δ13COC and δ13CEC values from other possible “pure” sources (coal/gasoline/diesel/biomass/etc) is created, it will be possible to calculate individual isotopic mass balances for OC and for EC, which would yield more information than was obtained for total carbon (TC). The method could be a new and very helpful tool for calculating the percentage input of possible sources of OC and EC in atmospheric particles, and it can be applied to data from locations throughout the whole world.