Influence of Individual Household Heating on PM2.5 Concentration in a Rural Settlement

Comparative Study of PM10 Concentrations and Their Elemental Composition Using Two Different Techniques during Winter—Spring Field Observation in Polish Village

The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations and elemental composition of PM10 in the village of Kotórz Mały (Poland), to analyse their seasonal variability, to determine the sources of pollutant emissions and to compare the consistency of the results obtained using different methods. Sampling and weather condition measurements were carried out in the winter (January–February) and spring (April) of 2019. Two combinations of different techniques were used to examine PM10 concentrations and their chemical composition: gravimetric method + atomic absorption spectrometry (GM+AAS) and continuous particle monitor + energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (CPM+EDXRF). In winter, the average concentrations of PM10 measured by the GM and CPM were similar (GM 44.3 µg/m3; CPM 34.0 µg/m3), while in spring they were clearly different (GM 49.5 µg/m3; CPM 29.8 µg/m3). Both AAS and EDXRF proved that in both seasons, Ca, K and Fe had the highest shares in the PM10 mass. In the case of the lowest shares, the indications of the two methods were slightly different. Factor analysis indicated that air quality in the receptor was determined by soil erosion, coal and burning biomass, and the combustion of fuels in car engines; in the spring, air quality was also affected by gardening activities.

Detailed Carbon Isotope Study of PM2.5 Aerosols at Urban Background, Suburban Background and Regional Background Sites in Hungary

The aim of this study was to estimate and refine the potential sources of carbon in the atmospheric PM2.5 fraction aerosol at three sampling sites in Hungary. Quantification of total, organic and elemental carbon (TC, OC and EC, respectively), as well as radiocarbon (14C) and stable carbon isotope analyses were performed on exposed filters collected at an urban background site, a suburban background site of the capital of Hungary, Budapest from October 2017 to July 2018. Results were also collected from the rural regional background site of K-puszta. Compared to TC concentrations from other regions of Europe, the ratio of the lowest and highest values at all sites in Hungary are lower than these European locations, probably due to the specific meteorological conditions prevailing in the Carpathian Basin over the observation period. The concentration of OC was constantly higher than that of EC and a seasonal variation with higher values in the heating period (October–March) and lower values in the non-heating vegetation period (April–September) could be observed for both EC and OC fractions. Using 14C, the seasonal mean fraction of contemporary carbon (fC) within the TC varied between 0.50 and 0.78 at the sites, suggesting that modern sources were remarkable during the year, regardless of the heating or vegetation period. At the two urban sites, assuming constant industrial emission during the year, the fossil fuel combustion sources were responsible for the seasonal variation of EC, while modern carbon emissions from biomass-burning and biogenic sources influenced the OC concentration. The higher EC/TC ratios at these sites were associated with lower fC and δ13C values, which can be explained by soot emission from transportation. The notably high EC/TC ratios in the spring were likely caused by the reduced concentration of OC instead of increased EC concentrations. This could probably be caused by the ending of winter biomass burning, which emits a huge amount of OC into the atmosphere. On the contrary, the rural K-puszta site showed some differences relative to the sites in Budapest. No correlation could be revealed between the EC/TC ratio, fC and δ13C results, suggesting that the structure of sources was very stagnant and balanced in each season. In autumn, however, some less depleted values were observed, and agricultural corn-stalk burning after harvesting in the southern and eastern directions from Hungary can be suggested as the main source.

The Application of Active Biomonitoring with the Use of Mosses to Identify Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Atmospheric Aerosol

The use of biological indicators of environmental quality is an alternative method of monitoring ecosystem pollution. Various groups of contaminants, including organic ones, can be measured in environmental samples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have not yet been determined by the moss bag technique. This technique uses several moss species simultaneously in urban areas to select the best biomonitoring of these compounds, which are dangerous to humans and the environment. In this research, a gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used for the determination of selected PAHs in three species of mosses: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax and Dicranum polysetum (active biomonitoring) and for comparison using an air filter reference method for atmospheric aerosol monitoring. The chlorophyll fluorescence of photosystem II (PSII) was also measured to assess changes in moss viability during the study. As a result of the study, the selective accumulation of selected PAHs by mosses was found, with Pleurozium schreberi being the best bioindicator—9 out of 13 PAHs compounds were determined in this species. The photosynthetic yield of photosystem (II) decreased by 81% during the exposure time. The relationship between PAHs concentrations in mosses and the total suspended particles (TSP) on the filter indicated the possibility of using this bioindicator to trace PAHs in urban areas and to apply the moss bag technique as a method supporting classical instrumental air monitoring.

The problem of energy poverty in the activities of agricultural advisory centres in Poland

It is necessary in agricultural consulting to take into account the current problems as well as economic and social challenges facing rural areas. Undoubtedly, sustainable economy and energy policy is such a problem in Poland, including the issue of access to energy from renewable sources and financial possibilities of meeting the electricity demand of households and agriculture. Therefore, advisory and information activities in the field of reducing energy poverty and improving air quality are important. The main purpose of the paper was to identify and assess the role of advisory entities in the process of counteracting energy poverty in rural areas in Poland. The basic research method was an expert (survey) study. Research shows that the subject of energy poverty is relatively rarely taken up by consulting institutions as part of training courses, especially issues related to saving electricity in the household/agricultural sector are marginalized; monitoring and analysis of energy consumption; selection of technical devices in terms of energy efficiency. Based on expert research, there were identified consultancy activities that are and may be important in the topic under study. Experts indicated co-financing of activities in the field of energy efficiency as the preferred way to fight energy poverty in agriculture and rural areas. The results may constitute an important direction in the development of consultancy, the basis for building priority programs, which in turn may affect the behaviour and actions of farmers and other inhabitants of rural areas in the context of energy transformation. The performed research may constitute the basis for further, in-depth analyses in other countries and on an international scale.

Economic Determinants of Low-Carbon Development in the Visegrad Group Countries

Low-carbon development is one of the more significant problems of the Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary). It is related, among others, to the improvement of life quality in economic terms while taking into account activities for environmental protection. The aim of the article is to identify and explain the problems connected with low-carbon development. The purpose of the analyses is also to prove the negative impact of the emission of greenhouse gas emission (GHG) and other harmful substances into the air on the quality of human life and the natural environment. During the research, an assessment of the eco-efficiency of the used energy resources and technologies that negatively affect the environment was carried out. Moreover, the paper also presents methods to use greener energy sources and analyses the potential of implementing solutions supporting low-carbon development. The study recommends actions that may contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These include the limitation of the use of fossil fuels for the benefit of renewable energy and the development of distributed energy.

Impact of Municipal, Road Traffic, and Natural Sources on PM10: The Hourly Variability at a Rural Site in Poland

The paper presents data from a monthly campaign studying the elemental composition of PM10, as measured by a specific receptor in Kotórz Mały (Opole Voivodeship)—located in the vicinity of a moderately inhabited rural area—measured in one-hour samples using a Horiba PX-375 analyzer. The hourly variability of SO2, NO, NO2, CO, and O3 concentrations, as well as the variability of meteorological parameters, was also determined. On average, during the entire measurement period, the elements related to PM10 can be arranged in the following order: As < V < Ni < Pb < Cr < Mn < Cu < Ti < Zn < K < Fe < Ca < Al < Si < S. Trace elements, including toxic elements—such as As, V, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Mn—were present in low concentrations, not exceeding 10 ng/m3 (average daily value). These elements had fairly even concentrations, both daily and hourly. The concentrations of the main elements in the PM10, as measured by the receptor, are subject to strong hourly changes related not only to changes in the structures of the sources identified in the statistical analysis, but also to wind speed and direction changes (soil and sand particle pick-up and inflow of pollutants from coal combustion). It has been shown that the transport emissions measured by the receptor can have an intense effect on PM10 in the afternoon.