Publication Date:
2018-07-23
Description:
Anthropogenic biomass burning is poorly represented in models due to a lack of observational data but represents a significant source of short‐lived toxic gases. Guy Fawkes Night (bonfire night) is a regular UK‐wide event where open fires are lit and fireworks are set off on 5 November. Previous gas phase studies of bonfire night focus on persistent organic pollutants primarily using off‐line techniques. Here the first simultaneous online gas phase measurements of several classes of compounds including isocyanates, amides, nitrates, and nitro‐organics are made during bonfire night (2014) in Manchester, UK, using a time‐of‐flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (ToF‐CIMS) using iodide reagent ions. A shallow boundary layer and low wind speeds favor pollutant buildup with typical HCN, HNCO, and CH3NCO concentrations of tens of parts per thousand increasing by a factor of 13 to potentially harmful levels 〉1 ppb. Normalized excess mixing ratios relative to CO for a range of isocyanates and amides are reported for the first time. Using a HNCO:CO ratio of 0.1%, we distinguish emissions from flaming and smoldering combustion and report more accurate normalized excess mixing ratios for the distinct burning phases. While bonfire night is a highly polluting event, NO2 concentrations measured at this location are higher at other times, highlighting the importance of traffic as an NO2 emission source at this location. A risk communication methodology is used to equate enhancements in hourly averaged black carbon and NO2 concentrations caused by bonfire night as an equivalent of 26.1 passively smoked cigarettes.
Print ISSN:
2169-897X
Electronic ISSN:
2169-8996
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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