TY - JOUR
T1 - The contribution of fossil sources to the organic aerosol in the Netherlands
AU - Dusek, U.
AU - ten Brink, H.M.
AU - Meijer, H.A.J.
AU - Kos, G.
AU - Mrozek, D.J.
AU - Roeckmann, T.
AU - Holzinger, R.
AU - Weijers, E.P.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - We measured the radiocarbon (14C) content of organic carbon (OC) samples from two locations in the
Netherlands, the urban location of Amsterdam and the coastal location of Petten. PM10 samples were
collected in Amsterdam and total suspended particles were collected in Petten using high volume
samplers. The 14C/12C fraction in the samples is reported as fraction modern (F14C). It can be used to
roughly estimate the contribution of fossil sources to OC, since F14C of fossil fuels is 0, whereas biogenic
and wood burning sources are characterized by F14C values close to 1. At the coastal location organic
carbon has higher F14C values (0.83 0.04 standard uncertainty) than at the urban location (0.68 0.05).
A fraction modern of 0.68 is in the range of F14C values published for OC of other European urban areas
(0.68e0.81). The coastal F14C of 0.83 agrees well with measurements at the coastal location of Mace
Head, even though in Mace Head measurements were made on particles smaller than 1.5 mm (PM1.5). A
F14C of 0.83 is on the lower end of F14C(OC) values estimated for continental background sites in Europe.
Fossil sources might be contributing slightly more to organic carbon in the Netherlands than in other
European regions. However, a bigger data set is needed to substantiate this finding. On average, fossil fuel
combustion is responsible for approximately 40% of the organic carbon in Amsterdam and approximately
20% at the coastal location. At the coastal location, F14C was clearly lower than average when polluted air
masses reached the measurement site, whereas in the urban area, air mass history did not have a strong
influence on F14C.
AB - We measured the radiocarbon (14C) content of organic carbon (OC) samples from two locations in the
Netherlands, the urban location of Amsterdam and the coastal location of Petten. PM10 samples were
collected in Amsterdam and total suspended particles were collected in Petten using high volume
samplers. The 14C/12C fraction in the samples is reported as fraction modern (F14C). It can be used to
roughly estimate the contribution of fossil sources to OC, since F14C of fossil fuels is 0, whereas biogenic
and wood burning sources are characterized by F14C values close to 1. At the coastal location organic
carbon has higher F14C values (0.83 0.04 standard uncertainty) than at the urban location (0.68 0.05).
A fraction modern of 0.68 is in the range of F14C values published for OC of other European urban areas
(0.68e0.81). The coastal F14C of 0.83 agrees well with measurements at the coastal location of Mace
Head, even though in Mace Head measurements were made on particles smaller than 1.5 mm (PM1.5). A
F14C of 0.83 is on the lower end of F14C(OC) values estimated for continental background sites in Europe.
Fossil sources might be contributing slightly more to organic carbon in the Netherlands than in other
European regions. However, a bigger data set is needed to substantiate this finding. On average, fossil fuel
combustion is responsible for approximately 40% of the organic carbon in Amsterdam and approximately
20% at the coastal location. At the coastal location, F14C was clearly lower than average when polluted air
masses reached the measurement site, whereas in the urban area, air mass history did not have a strong
influence on F14C.
U2 - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.03.015
DO - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.03.015
M3 - Article
SN - 1352-2310
VL - 74
SP - 169
EP - 176
JO - Atmospheric Environment
JF - Atmospheric Environment
ER -