This paper aims to identify the chemical fingerprints of potential PM2.5 sources and estimate their contribution to Thessaloniki port-city's air quality. For this scope, Positive Matrix Factorization ...model was applied on a comprehensive PM2.5 dataset collected over a one-year period, at two sampling sites: the port and the city center. The model indicated six and five (groups of) sources contributing to particle concentration at the two sites, respectively. Traffic and biomass burning (winter months) comprise the major local PM sources for Thessaloniki (their combined contribution can exceed 70%), revealing two of the major control-demanding problems of the city. Shipping and in-port emissions have a non-negligible impact (average contribution to PM2.5: 9–13%) on both primary and secondary particles. Road dust factor presents different profile and contribution at the two sites (19.7% at the port; 7.4% at the city center). The secondary-particle factor represents not only the aerosol transportation over relatively long distances, but also a part of traffic-related pollution (14% at the port; 34% at the city center). The study aims to contribute to the principal role of quantitative information on emission sources (source apportionment) in port-cities for the implementation of the air quality directives and guidelines for public health.
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•PMF is applied on one-year PM data collected at Thessaloniki's port and city.•Traffic and biomass burning comprise the major control-demanding problems.•Shipping/in-port emissions have a non-negligible impact on primary and secondary PM.•Wind pattern and PAHs ratios confirm the spatial origin of the sources.
Indoor environmental conditions (thermal, noise, light, and indoor air quality) may affect workers' comfort, and consequently their health and well-being, as well as their productivity. This study ...aimed to assess the relations between perceived indoor environment and occupants' comfort, and to examine the modifying effects of both personal and building characteristics. Within the framework of the European project OFFICAIR, a questionnaire survey was administered to 7441 workers in 167 "modern" office buildings in eight European countries (Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain). Occupants assessed indoor environmental quality (IEQ) using both crude IEQ items (satisfaction with thermal comfort, noise, light, and indoor air quality), and detailed items related to indoor environmental parameters (e.g., too hot/cold temperature, humid/dry air, noise inside/outside, natural/artificial light, odor) of their office environment. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relations between perceived IEQ and occupants' comfort. The highest association with occupants' overall comfort was found for "noise", followed by "air quality", "light" and "thermal" satisfaction. Analysis of detailed parameters revealed that "noise inside the buildings" was highly associated with occupants' overall comfort. "Layout of the offices" was the next parameter highly associated with overall comfort. The relations between IEQ and comfort differed by personal characteristics (gender, age, and the Effort Reward Imbalance index), and building characteristics (office type and building's location). Workplace design should take into account both occupant and the building characteristics in order to provide healthier and more comfortable conditions to their occupants.
In the frame of the OFFICAIR project, indoor and outdoor PM2.5 samples were collected in office buildings across Europe in two sampling campaigns (summer and winter). The ability of the particles to ...deplete physiologically relevant antioxidants (ascorbic acid (AA), reduced glutathione (GSH)) in a synthetic respiratory tract lining fluid, i.e., oxidative potential (OP), was assessed. Furthermore, the link between particulate OP and the concentration of the PM constituents was investigated.
The mean indoor PM2.5 mass concentration values were substantially lower than the related outdoor values with a mean indoor/outdoor PM2.5 mass concentration ratio of 0.62 and 0.61 for the summer and winter campaigns respectively. The OP of PM2.5 varied markedly across Europe with the highest outdoor OPAA m−3 and OPGSH m−3 (% antioxidant depletion/m3 air) values obtained for Hungary, while PM2.5 collected in Finland exhibited the lowest values. Seasonal variation could be observed for both indoor and outdoor OPAA m−3 and OPGSH m−3 with higher mean values during winter. The indoor/outdoor OPAA m−3 and OPGSH m−3 ratios were less than one with 4 and 17 exceptions out of the 40 cases respectively. These results indicate that indoor air is generally less oxidatively challenging than outdoors. Correlation analysis revealed that trace elements play an important role in determining OP, in particular, the Cu content. Indoor air chemistry might affect OP since weaker correlations were obtained for indoor PM2.5. Our findings also suggest that office workers may be exposed to health relevant PM constituents to a different extent within the same building.
•PM2.5 mass concentration and oxidative potential (OP) varied markedly across Europe.•The I/O PM2.5 mass concentration ratio was less than one with two exceptions.•Generally, it is better to stay indoors than outdoors regarding particulate OP.•OP metrics were associated mainly with traffic-related trace elements (e.g., Cu).•Indoor air chemistry may play an important role in the OP of indoor PM.
The chemical characterization of PM2.5 fraction was studied during a one-year sampling campaign conducted at an urban area (city center) of Thessaloniki, Greece. PM2.5 samples were analyzed for ...polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, minerals and trace elements, water soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon. The average PM2.5 concentration (37.7 μg/m3) was significantly higher than the EU legislated annual limit of 25 μg/m3 underlining the temporal problems of air quality in the city. PM mass and chemical composition data collected at the city center were compared to the corresponding data which were simultaneously collected at a site near the port. The atmosphere in the port area has been found to be more aggravated compared to the city center area. Statistical analysis and diagnostic ratios of the collected chemical data at both sites were used to identify the main sources contributing to the pollutant levels: traffic, biomass burning for domestic heating, shipping and port activities and dust resuspension. In general, chemical analysis highlighted that PM2.5 mass was mainly composed by secondary inorganic aerosols and particulate organic matter, reflecting the simultaneous contribution of both regional and local emission sources.
•PM2.5 chemical composition for Thessaloniki was comprehensively studied (149 days).•Simultaneous measurements at city and port areas were conducted for the first time.•PM sources were identified through statistical analysis and diagnostic ratios use.•Both regional and local emission sources contribution was found for both sites.•Results indicate a more aggravated atmosphere in the area near the port.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) measurements were carried out in two field campaigns (summer and winter) in European office buildings (approximately 140 office rooms) in eight countries, as part of the ...EU-funded OFFICAIR project. A source identification study was performed with principal component analysis (varimax rotation) on a database containing volatile organic compound (VOC) and aldehyde concentration data during summer and winter monitoring campaigns. The common indoor and outdoor sources of VOCs and aldehydes were identified through a critical evaluation based on checklist data and knowledge of material and product emissions from the literature.
The dominant source of variance, accounting for 29% and 26% of the explained variance in the summer and winter campaigns, respectively, was attributed to the ingress of outdoor air into indoor environments. The other most relevant sources for variance were directly or indirectly associated with building materials, such as flooring materials (in particular carpets), wood-based products and various types of paint. Ozone-initiated indoor air chemistry played a key role only during summer, in which a specific source linked to ozone-initiated reactions was clearly identified. Other indoor sources explained less than 10% of the variance, such as printer emissions in both campaigns and cleaning products in winter.
•VOCs and aldehydes were sampled in European offices to identify emission sources.•The major VOC sources are of outdoor origin in both seasonal campaigns.•The other important sources derive from building material emissions.•Ozone-initiated reactions were clearly identified only in summer.•Less prominent sources are linked to cleaning products and office equipment.
In the frame of the OFFICAIR project, office buildings were investigated across Europe to assess how the office workers are exposed to different particulate matter (PM) characteristics (i.e. PM2.5 ...mass concentration, particulate oxidative potential (OP) based on ascorbate and reduced glutathione depletion, trace element concentration and total particle number concentration (PNC)) within the buildings. Two offices per building were investigated during the working hours (5 consecutive days; 8h per day) in two campaigns.
Differences were observed for all parameters across the office buildings. Our results indicate that the monitoring of the PM2.5 mass concentration in different offices within a building might not reflect the spatial variation of the health relevant PM characteristics such as particulate OP or the concentration of certain trace elements (e.g., Cu, Fe), since larger differences were apparent within a building for these parameters compared to that obtained for the PM2.5 mass concentration in many cases. The temporal variation was larger for almost all PM characteristics (except for the concentration of Mn) than the spatial differences within the office buildings. These findings indicate that repeated or long-term monitoring campaigns are necessary to have information about the temporal variation of the PM characteristics. However, spatial variation in exposure levels within an office building may cause substantial differences in total exposure in the long term. We did not find strong associations between the investigated indoor activities such as printing or windows opening and the PNC values. This might be caused by the large number of factors affecting PNC indoors and outdoors.
•PM characteristics varied markedly among the European office buildings.•One order of magnitude difference was observed for the PNC and the OP metrics.•Spatial variation within a building is less significant than temporal variation.•Trace element concentrations showed the largest variation within a building.•Differences within a building might be more relevant in long term than short term.
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The aim of this study was to identify determinants of aldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) indoor air concentrations in a sample of more than 140 office rooms, in the framework of the ...European OFFICAIR research project. A large field campaign was performed, which included (a) the air sampling of aldehydes and VOCs in 37 newly built or recently retrofitted office buildings across 8 European countries in summer and winter and (b) the collection of information on building and offices’ characteristics using checklists. Linear mixed models for repeated measurements were applied to identify the main factors affecting the measured concentrations of selected indoor air pollutants (IAPs). Several associations between aldehydes and VOCs concentrations and buildings’ structural characteristic or occupants’ activity patterns were identified. The aldehyde and VOC determinants in office buildings include building and furnishing materials, indoor climate characteristics (room temperature and relative humidity), the use of consumer products (eg, cleaning and personal care products, office equipment), as well as the presence of outdoor sources in the proximity of the buildings (ie, vehicular traffic). Results also showed that determinants of indoor air concentrations varied considerably among different type of pollutants.
The chemical characterization of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 fraction was studied during a 1-year sampling campaign conducted at a site near Thessaloniki’s port area. PM2.5 collected samples were ...chemically analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, minerals, and trace elements (Pb, Ni, Cu, V, Mn, Cr, Zn, Mg, K, Ti, Fe, Ca, and Al); water-soluble ions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, K⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺); and organic and elemental carbon. The average annual PM2.5 concentration (66.0 μg/m³) was at the highest level compared with other studies reported for the same city but different sampling sites. The average daily sum of the measured concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was 12.76 ng/m³; this value decreased to 6.73 ng/m³for the warm period and reached the value of 19.8 ng/m³for the cold period. The average concentration of benzoapyrene during the sampling period was 0.75 ng/m³, which is below the European Union limit value of 1.0 ng/m³. The ionic content comprised, on average, 22.6 % of the PM2.5 mass, with sulfate and ammonium being the most abundant species (31 and 26 %, respectively, of measured ions during the whole sampling period). The annual mean concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were 10.5 ± 6.3 and 2.3 ± 1.5 μg/m³, respectively. The OC/EC ratio ranged from 1.6 to 9.9, suggesting that there is a significant influence of residential wood burning for heating as well as ship and vehicle emissions to the sampling area. Finally, the elemental composition of associated PM2.5 was dominated by Ca, Fe, and Al. Although conclusions based only on PM2.5 measurements cannot entirely estimate all harbor sources’ contribution, there is evidence to support that port activities affect the city’s air quality and vice versa.
Source apportionment (SA) for indoor air pollution is challenging due to the multiplicity and high variability of indoor sources, the complex physical and chemical processes that act as primary ...sources, sinks and sources of precursors that lead to secondary formation, and the interconnection with the outdoor environment. While the major indoor sources have been recognized, there is still a need for understanding the contribution of indoor versus outdoor-generated pollutants penetrating indoors, and how SA is influenced by the complex processes that occur in indoor environments. This paper reviews our current understanding of SA, through reviewing information on the SA techniques used, the targeted pollutants that have been studied to date, and their source apportionment, along with limitations or knowledge gaps in this research field. The majority (78 %) of SA studies to date focused on PM chemical composition/size distribution, with fewer studies covering organic compounds such as ketones, carbonyls and aldehydes. Regarding the SA method used, the majority of studies have used Positive Matrix Factorization (31 %), Principal Component Analysis (26 %) and Chemical Mass Balance (7 %) receptor models. The indoor PM sources identified to date include building materials and furniture emissions, indoor combustion-related sources, cooking-related sources, resuspension, cleaning and consumer products emissions, secondary-generated pollutants indoors and other products and activity-related emissions. The outdoor environment contribution to the measured pollutant indoors varies considerably (<10 %- 90 %) among the studies. Future challenges for this research area include the need for optimization of indoor air quality monitoring and data selection as well as the incorporation of physical and chemical processes in indoor air into source apportionment methodology.
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•The identified sources indoors, their tracers and the SA method used are summarized.•The number/type of identified sources strongly depends on the tracers used for SA.•78 % of the indoor SA studies focus on PM chemical composition/size distribution.•SA for organic compounds is complicated due to the wide range of their sources.
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