Application of dual carbon and sulfur isotopes as tracers of PM1 pollution sources
2 Department of nuclear research, Center for Physical ScieDepartment of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technologynces and Technology
3 Department of nuclear research, Center for Physical ScienceDepartment of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technologys and Technology
4 DepartmenDepartment of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technologyt of nuclear research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology
5 Department of Environmental Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology
6 Department Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technologyand Technologyof nuclear research, Center for Physical ScienceDepartment of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technologys and Technology
7 Department of nuclear research, Center for Physical Sciences Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technologyand Technology
P 4.3 in Environment and Pollution
The aim of this work was to apply a multiple isotope approach to the characterization and source apportionment of sulfate and carbonaceous particulate matter in an urban environment. Sulfur and total carbon (TC) concentrations and isotopic compositions were measured in PM1 samples collected during a period from 11/11/2020 to 21/10/2021 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Dual carbon (14C/12C, 13C/12C) and sulfur isotope analyzes (34S/32S) were performed to quantify the contribution of fossil and non-fossil emissions to carbon- and sulfur-containing PM1. Source apportionment revealed three main sources of TC emissions: biomass burning, coal burning and transportation. TC concentrations were in the same range before and during the COVID-19 lockdown but the pandemic lockdown affected the TC isotopic composition (δ13C) and source distribution, additionally the transport emission fraction was on average 2.3 times lower. The dominant sources of sulfate were coal burning and biomass burning. However, biomass burning becomes the predominant local source of PM1-related sulfate in Lithuania, associated with increased household heating activities in winter. In addition, the origin of the air masses were also considered to interpret changes in isotopic composition and the PM1 source contributions.