Abstract
Temuco, like most Southern Chile cities, has a long-standing air pollution problem due to residential wood heating. Here, we study the temporal and spatial distribution of PM2.5 and the biomass-burning tracers levoglucosan and water soluble potassium (Ksol). PM2.5 samples were collected at 40 sites throughout the city and sampled four times in four different sessions between 2017 and 2018. Large concentrations were observed for all species, particularly in winter. Signs of spatial and temporal correlation were observed from multilevel models for the different concentrations and ratios. Ratios of levoglucosan and Ksol to PM2.5 were lower in summer. Spatial clustering was observed both from spatial autocorrelation tests and kriging, with clusters of higher ratios for of all three species (comparing rotating to central site) observed in some neighborhoods. Clusters correlated with lower socioeconomic status (SES), which may reflect population density and lower quality stoves. Clusters of higher Ksol to PM2.5 ratios in some neighborhoods were moderately correlated with higher SES, which may reflect the use of better-quality stoves (e.g., pellets). The current work provides a case study and example of the investigation of wood burning as an air pollution source in a city where many inhabitants use wood as a fuel for heating and cooking. It reveals key temporal and spatial patterns which can assist the design of mitigation strategies.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 119529 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Atmospheric Environment |
Volume | 294 |
Early online date | 5 Dec 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported as part of the project: “Impact of Wood Burning Air Pollution on Preeclampsia and other Pregnancy Outcomes in Temuco, Chile” (DPI20140093) by CONICYT and Research Councils UK. Juana Maria Delgado-Saborit is supported by the Generalitat Valenciana - Regional Ministry of Education, Research, Culture and Sport under the Talented Researcher Support Programme - Plan GenT (CIDEGENT/2019/064). María Elisa Quinteros was supported by a doctoral scholarship by CONICYT Beca Doctorado Nacional No 21150801, Chile. Estela Blanco acknowledges ANID - MILENIO - NCS 2021_013.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords
- Biomass burning
- Clustering
- Kriging
- Levoglucosan
- Moran's I
- Pellets
- Soluble potassium
- Wood smoke
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Science